"Altering the future is difficult and dangerous work, Sophia," her commander had often pointed out, "but sometimes fate hands a mission to you on a silver platter." This was the first time that old windbag's prediction came true. Now for some fast acting.
Sophia quickly dusted on some make-up and whipped her slightly greasy hands on the inside back of her long denim jacket. Some quick but accurate lip-gloss later, she walked straight for the café gate, paused a moment at the posted menu, and turned to look for a table. Walking purposefully toward the shaded area where there were no extra tables she turned to the high commander.
"Is this seat taken?" she asked politely.
"Wouldn't you rather sit in the sun?" Thrawn's cool voice was like flowing water. Perhaps not so much acting would be necessary, Sophia thought.
"It's a bit warm out today, besides my eyes are a bit sensitive to the sun." Sophia's UV reactive glasses had turned a deep navy blue, to back up her story and conceal her dreamy gaze. The light lavender shirt Thrawn wore was about the same shade as his pale blue skin and just tight enough to look wonderful. His eyes did not nearly glow as red as the description indicated, they had shifting patterns of twinkling light. His hair was not simply dark blue, but an iridescent black color that would shine indigo when the light hit it. Even his skin, Sophia belatedly realized, seemed to be a bit reflective instead of a flat tone.
"In that case I don't think I'd mind the company after all, as long as you don't mind more questions." Thrawn politely gestured to the empty seat across from him.
You are in the presence of a god, the little voice pleaded, don't screw it up.
"I never mind questions, as long as they don't come too quickly," Sophia tactfully admitted as he took the offered chair.
"No worry of that, Miss…?"
"Sophia Grey, Sophie will do for this."
"Well, Sophie, you are obviously not from around here with that accent. Where are you from?" Thrawn smoothly began.
"I don't have much of a home. I travel from place to place doing a bit here and there to get by."
"What "bit" would bring you here?"
"Well, Mr….?"
"Thrawn."
"Thrawn, I'm here to observe, record, and report. Then I get my orders and move a piece into position."
"A reporter with organized crime connections, what a person to run into!"
"No crime, just The Organization. Imagine a huge game of strategy with hundreds upon thousands of possible players and moves. A high-stakes game where winner takes all, but the loser didn't exist in the first place. Each move making the web more tangled."
"Sounds like a war game between some powerful criminal organizations."
"You have it backwards entirely! To win the game we prevent conflict, promote peace, inspire inventors and idealists, and most of all prevent wars."
"So this Organization steps in to stop all wars it can?"
"No, sometimes a war must be fought for the sake of higher purposes. A particularly bloody war may shock a society to embrace peace for hundreds of years to come. A technological or cold war might advance science greatly with minimal loss of life. Sometimes it is the only way to teach a people an important lesson, or to reform a corrupt society permanently." Sophia droned on, encouraged by Thrawn's cool interest and logical acceptance.
"Is this a recruitment speech?" he asked when she finished.
"You asked, I answered, and may I now ask you some questions?"
"I don't see the harm in it."
"Have you eaten here before?"
"Yes," Thrawn suspiciously replied.
"Then could you suggest anything, the waiter is coming our way." Sophia gestured to the approaching woman and put her largish pack beneath her chair.
