It's All Relative

[Arda Breaux]

Chandrila

The shuttle shook slightly as it entered through the atmosphere, jolting Arda out of a brief moment of shut eye, her body taking advantage of the moment to relax before she met with the Chancellor of the Republic. The view-port was covered in water droplets and the Jedi placed a finger against the cool duraglass, measuring the drop against her forefinger. Arda sat a bit taller as the shuttle shook again, the rumbles of thunder heard over the engines as she stood up from her seat and headed into the cockpit where the pilot was bringing the ship in to the landing pad.

The Duro pilot looked over his shoulder to the Grandmaster as she stood behind him. He spoke softly and Arda could not catch it all, but the Force reassured they were nearly done with this trip to the Senate building. Her thoughts stirred, imaginary situations and conversations popped up and she felt herself rehearsing. She never was one for diplomacy, she grew up a street rat, making sure she was always ahead and never behind, being left behind meant death and now she could not help to find the irony of where she was now, the Grandmaster who had to slow down for her Order to keep up. However, she would dismiss the conversations in her head, inhaling deeply as she reached within to her earliest lessons in trusting the Force.

The ship landed as close as it could near the door she would enter. Arda pulled the hood of her Jedi robes over her head to keep her as dry as possible as she stepped off the ship, guards and a liaison met her and escorted her inside. Guided through the halls, she was glad she was not too rushed to the Chancellor as she took a moment to take in for what she felt would be the one and only time she would seen inside these halls. Her slightly in awe state nearly caused her to run into the liaison, but she was lead inside the meeting room where she would be expecting to meet with Keira.

@Sreeya

 

[Keira Zale]

Keira knew this meeting was coming, and she was more nervous than she expected. She had met with Teran, but he had been her friend for some time. The Grandmaster was on a whole different level, and Keira felt too inexperienced to know exactly how to act in her presence. She had been pacing back and forth, thinking of ways to greet her and show her the utmost respect. Being Chancellor didn’t mean she had suddenly grown up - she had been thrust into the role. The Grandmaster, on the other hand, had a long history of being a Jedi and had worked her way up and faced many challenges to become a seasoned leader.

She was informed the woman had arrived, and she quickly put away her notes. Keira stood up from her desk as the Grandmaster was led in, and she offered the woman a smile. Arda would note right away that the Chancellor looked even younger in person than on Holonet, and Keira privately hoped the woman wasn’t the type to brush off those that looked inexperienced.

“Grandmaster Breaux,” Keira said warmly as she shook the woman’s hand, “It’s truly an honor meet you,” She was about to offer a drink, but she suddenly blanked on whether or not Jedi drank. Teran didn’t seem to fit the mold of traditional Jedi, and Keira was suddenly confused. She cleared her throat and stepped back to offer the woman a seat, deciding to start there first.

“I appreciate you coming all this way to meet me,” Keira said as she sat across from her, “I know...I know things have been very tough for you and your people. I am very good friends with Teran Atrix and have known him for years,” Keira thought about him, wondering how the meeting she had helped set up with the Mand’alor was going for him, “Please let me know what I can do for you.”

@GABAdactyl

 

[Arda Breaux]

When Arda stepped into the room, Chancellor Zale was already present, standing up behind her desk as she greeted the woman with the offer of a hand shake. Arda gave the woman a small smile shaking her hand in return, "Likewise, Chancellor, I remember when the UP was first formed, you have come so far and I am eager to see what you will bring for the those of the Republic." It was when Arda came to the realization that she was getting to the point to where she had grown old enough that those around her were beginning to look younger and younger. It was enough of a distraction for her to never mind the Chancellor's own nerves and her attention was brought back to focus as the woman cleared her throat and took a seat. Arda sat down also.

Keira spoke of appreciations as Arda smoothed a wrinkle in her robes over the edge of her knee, pausing however when she spoke of Teran. Arda glanced up, slowly folding her hands in her lap, letting the woman finish before she spoke. Her thoughts of course, did turn to Teran briefly, his meeting with the Manda'lor brought her worry, more so as a teacher worried for her pupil, however, she held her faith in the Force and its guidance for Teran.

"Thank you Chancellor, being a Jedi comes with its challenges and also its mistakes." she started, "I've come to apologize for the proposal that was made in your Senate hearing. It was undoubtedly selfish in a way and took away from a very important moment for the now, the Republic. I wanted to clarify that is not the way of the Jedi, to become an army for any singular form of government. Our purpose is to advise and guide, and serve for the greater good of all the galaxy; it was what my predecessors wanted and I understand now why they cautioned against becoming too involved in the decisions of war." explained Arda, "It is why I am here to today to address this proposal made by one of our own to the Senate and where the state of affairs between the Jedi and Senate should lie." she paused waiting for the Chancellor's response.

@Sreeya

 

[Keira Zale]

Keira couldn’t help but smile at Arda’s words, fully understanding and having expected this, “It was an exciting moment for us all, so I can’t entirely blame the young woman there for wanting to step up and be a part of it,” She thought back to how much life and energy the Jedi Master had as she proposed the motion to have the Jedi join them.

“We directed the focus back on the formation of the Republic,” Though she guessed Arda knew that already, “As you can understand, it is difficult for us to ally ourselves with anyone really. Even the Mandalorians are kept at an arm’s length,” Keira admitted, “I want to maintain a cordial relationship with them because of the tremendous amount of power they hold, but I have no intention of a formal alliance,” How long before the Republic became leashed by them if that happened?

Keira silently gazed at Arda for a moment, “I want you to know that if there are more….discreet ways for me to assist your order, I will. I can’t endanger the Republic by making friends with enemies of the biggest galactic power out there right now, but I can certainly help make it more difficult for said galactic power to seek out and destroy the Jedi,” Even speaking such things out loud was risky, but Teran was one of her closest friends. If he was Jedi, then she would always look out for Jedi.

@GABAdactyl

 

[Arda Breaux]

Arda felt a little taken aback by the Chancellor's response, her smile bringing a relief to the Grandmaster as Keira continued, explaining her position and the one the Republic had their hand forced into with the declaration by the Manda'lor. She declared no formal alliances and Arda could sense honesty from the Chancellor, but the future would remain uncertain and her successors may have a different opinion. Though faith in doing what was right had kept the Grandmaster and the Order alive for this long, she had to have faith the leaders of the Republic would do the same.

Keira continued the conversation, the tone concerned, but sincere as she offered herself open to suggestions on how to continue to support the Jedi. Arda leaned back in her seat in thought, she honestly was not expecting that response from the Senator. In all the darkness that had seemed to fall quickly on Jedi Order, Arda found the flickers of light that still existed inside and out, "I want the Republic to be successful and I trust the necessities that are taken now will make it stronger." Arda reassured she understood the Chancellor's position. She fell quiet once more, her thoughts turning in her head, looking for the right string of words before speaking.

"Bring the worlds under the Galactic Alliance into the Republic, they had joined the rebels with the intention of forming a Republic one day and now that it is here, it would be time for them to join. Many of them also support the Jedi and they will be targeted." Arda explained, "Even though we will be gone, the Mandalorians will still come and there is no telling what they will do or at measure they will stop until they are satisfied."

@Sreeya