"I couldn't help but notice that you punished Alaema," Sedriil did not hide the satisfaction in his voice. "She deserved it, you know."

"Brother, I do not require instructions on how to allocate discipline," Skori said flatly, taking the lead on their way from the night bus to the garden district. He had been understandably grumpy since Sedriil woke him from his sleep mode, even though he had cited some urgent summons given to them on the Orb Network from an old Android Equality Force colleague. "And to be honest, you really need to be a bit more compassionate. She can't help being what she is, you know."

"So now you're siding with her?" Sedriil said testily.

"I said nothing of the sort," Skori replied. They rounded the corner from the bus stop into Riniksiss square. It was a large plaza filled with open-air restaurants. The night was young and clear, and the outdoor pavilions were wide open to the usual crowds. "The both of you need to get over your pettiness, and learn to live in harmony. As I recall, you were never this much at odds with anyone else back in the force."

"Well, she started it," Sedriil murmured as they found their destination: a small Garushnit-style restaurant. Izari's was painted in enchanted sparkling letters upon its large green awning.

"Is this the place?" Skori said.

Sedriil re-checked the sheet of paper in his pocket. "It's where he said he'd be."

"He'd better be here," Skori said with an annoyed grunt. The restaurant had a distinctive style of the respective nation about it, from the flowing script of Garushnit common upon its limestone walls, to the angular woodwork of the chairs, tables and booths, engraved with sharp patterns. The waiters and waitresses wore traditional togas and robes, clasped at the hips and sleeves with gold and mithril bands. "He had a bad enough time remembering things back during the war."

"I think his memory's improved somewhat," Sedriil said brightly, and pointed towards a lone booth at the restaurant's far end, near the bar. It was big enough for four, but was occupied by only one person: a human with beady eyes and wire-rimmed glasses sitting upon his prominent nose. His face was lean and stubble-chinned except for his squared jaw, and his brown hair lay in wispy strands, not unlike Aldrec's. He wore an old blue military jacket, which was decorated with several award pendants.

Upon noticing the two androids, he emphatically gestured their way.

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