Day 11

I asked them the names of the other inhabitants. They never use them themselves, but they did have them, didn't they?

They say, I don't have enough names yet. I do not understand, so they explain. The woman who thinks she is my mother is called Linda, and the Queen' name is Anathena, spyboy is actually named Sinar, an the droideka is Landen.

But that is not all. Each of them has a second name. The first name is for the use of friends and family, the second name for strangers, and to keep them apart. They say, there are many women called Linda in the galaxy, but with the second name, the surname, it was clear who was meant.

I doubt them. There are so many people in the galaxy, certainly there will be more than one Linda Whatever around. But I hold my tongue. I nod.

They asked me which name 'Lancer' was. The second, I am sure about that. Even if it is not my real name at all, it would be my second name. I can't think of a first name, though. It feels strange, as if nobody had ever used a first name on me for forever.

At lunch I talked to spyboy.

"Psst," I called to him under my breath. "Don't look, just listen." From the corner of my eye I could see how he turned back to face his plate quickly.

"You are Sinar, right? I think you might be in trouble." I looked around and eat a little, trying to appear completely inconspicuous.

"I'll drop something when I leave, look under your chair before you go." Judging by his reaction, he believed me enough to have a look later on. My pseudo-professional spy affectations did their job well.

I finished my meal and when I passed spyboy's chair, I stumbled and dropped my tray. While I collected my plate and cutlery, I shoved the prepared report under his chair. Then I left and did not look back. If this worked, he would come to me.

I thought a lot about my lack of a first name. Maybe I really had none. But then, even the Emperor had one, though few might know it. With Palpatine, it was probably more difficult to get at his last name.

Maybe outstanding people have only one name, need only one. If you said 'Palpatine' the probability that you meant the Emperor was much higher than anything else. The same was true for Vader. Emperor Palpatine, Darth Vader, and now Lancer? Where did he lose his first name?