Kess hid in the droid locker before muster and walked into the giant room at the last minute, after Luke had already stepped up to the podium. She wouldn't let herself look at him as she moved to the front row where the managers always collected by the side door. She tried her damnedest to ignore his monotone voice and fought chill in her shoulders about Luke's secret blood relation. She stared unyielding at the dingy tile of the stage directly in front of her.
In her mind, she played with words on how to approach him about it, but realized he would probably pull her aside before she narrowed in on a strategy. She could see him out of the corner of her eye, leaning tired elbows on the scratched podium. Instead of the khaki uniform, she imagined a flowing black cape and polished helmet.
H
