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Thrawn walked down the street toward the café, steps even, head held high. It was for the best, he told himself; not to convince himself, but just to remind himself. He was not afraid of what was to come. He had a mission, and he would see it through.
A few months, he had said to Ar’alani. A year at most.
She had accepted those words despite her anger at the situation; it had made it easier to ensure her cooperation in upholding the plan. And there was a chance that it would end up being so.
But he doubted it.
Thrawn pulled open the door and looked to their table, unoccupied. He drifted over and slowly lowered himself into a chair - his chair - and sat quietly. How many hours had they spent right here? How many conversations shared, how many plates of food eaten, how many games played?
The server came over and Thrawn put in his order. The snack platter arrived quickly; fruit sticks, meat circles, cheese triangles, cracker squares. He pushed it between himself and the empty chair, off to the side, to be reachable by a companion yet to arrive. That would not arrive.
Thrawn pulled the Tactica board out from his bag and set it up slowly, each piece bringing with it a different memory. He allowed himself to reminisce as he ran his fingers over the figures, lost in thought as he slowly set them down in their proper place, one by one, until the board was filled.
He reached out and moved one of his Stingflies forward, then laced his fingers together and rested his mouth against them, elbows on the table. He looked like he was contemplating his next move carefully, but no further moves would come.
Thrawn sat before the board for several hours, eyes half-closed. He did not eat, nor speak, nor move. The staff left him be, and for that he was thankful.
Eventually, his chrono beeped and pulled him back to the present; it was time to prepare for his mission. Thrawn stood up and placed money on the table, then paused. He examined the Tactica board one last time, then reached forward and knocked over his Nightdragon.
His brother had won the game; few would disagree with that.