Colonel Yularen clapped Eli and Thrawn on the shoulders as they exited they party, stepping to the street to wait for the valet to bring their transport around. "Well, gentlemen, I do think tonight was a success."

Eli was just happy to be out of the party, away from the core world snobs who seemed to think of Thrawn as some novelty item and he as… well they didn't even acknowledge his existence. This was not where he belonged. These were not his kind of people.

Thrawn, on the other hand, seemed to take the matter in stride. It was painfully obvious people were more fascinated by how he looked than they were actually interested in the reason he and Eli were present at the party. He'd lost count of how many people he'd seen whispering to each other, pointing at Thrawn. There was absolutely no way Thrawn hadn't noticed them as well.

Maybe he was just used to people staring at him and pointing.

Thrawn inclined his head slightly, "Yes, thank you for the opportunity Colonel Yularen. We shall see if our efforts worked to our advantage."

Yularen nodded, his eyes focused on something down the street. "Is that…"

It was late into the night, the street lit by glittering lamps. Plenty of people were out and about, likely headed to other parties. On the far side of the street, facing away from them, a woman was attempting to hail a cab. One neared, slowed, and then picked up speed right as it reached her, disappearing down the street.

"Ah, it is! I didn't know she'd be here..." He started toward the woman. "If our transport comes, hold off for a few."

Thrawn spoke when Yularen was out of earshot. "Do you feel our attempts were a success, Ensign?"

He huffed a little. "I don't know. I just hope we didn't go through all that for nothing."

"I am afraid I'm not terribly savvy with these events. I appreciate that Colonel Yularen chose to accompany us."

Yularen could be heard from the end of the street, speaking to the woman, "Senator! How are you? It's been far too long!"

"Yeah." Eli agreed, his attention half on Yularen. He wondered just how many senators the man knew. He'd introduced them to half a senate's worth already.

Yularen returned to them, with the woman, his hand on her back guiding her in a fatherly fashion. It was only when they were close enough to fall under the light of a streetlamp that Eli finally could make out the woman's features. She was relatively young for a senator.

She was also blue, very much like Thrawn. He had to do a double take, thinking for a moment she might be Chiss. But no, her eyes were different. They were gold, rather than red. And her hair was a light shade of purple.

"Senior Lieutenant Thrawn, Ensign Vanto, I'd like to introduce you to Senator Riyo Chuchi, representative of Pantora."

The woman smiled politely at them, bowing her head, "It's good to meet you both. Yularen tells me you've made quite the mark on the Imperial Navy over the past few years." She nodded to Thrawn, "I've heard rumors of a Pantoran officer shaking things up in the Navy over the past few years. Am I safe to assume that is you, Lieutenant?"

Maybe the man was just worn out from the hours of meet-and-greet, or maybe Eli was just imagining things, but he swore Thrawn hesitated for just a slight moment before responding. "Yes, I imagine it was. It is good to meet you, Senator Chuchi."

"The Senior Lieutenant gets mistaken for a Pantoran fairly often," Yularen chuckled.

"Only seven times tonight." Thrawn said.

The Senator gave a warm smile. "Well, I can't say I blame them. Other than the eyes, you'd be indistinguishable. There are worse things you could be mistaken for."

The valet pulled up with their transport. Yularen cleared his throat, "Riyo, where are you heading?"

He addressed her by her first name. Eli wondered how long he'd known her.

"Just back to the apartment I'm subletting, in the eastern tower of the Trinity Complex."

"That's perfect; we're staying there as well. Let us give you a lift back."

"Oh, thank you Colonel. I would appreciate that."

No doubt the cab earlier had picked up the pace and left her there as soon as the driver saw she wasn't human. In the current political climate, he couldn't imagine it was easy for her to be involved in Imperial politics, much less live on Coruscant.

The Senator got into the transport first, and Eli ended up seated across from her.

"I'm sorry, I'm afraid I just missed your name…"

"Vanto. Ensign Eli Vanto."

"You're the Lieutenant's assistant?"

"Yes, ma'am. I mean… Senator." Showing his Wild Space colors again.

She laughed, like she thought the mistake was more endearing than disrespectful toward her. "You must be from Wild Space? I can hear it in your speech."

"Yes, I grew up on Lysatra."

"I'm afraid I'm not familiar."

"It's very close to the Unknown Regions."

"How interesting…" Her striking, golden eyes turned to Thrawn. "If you don't mind me asking, where are you from Lieutenant?"

"My people, the Chiss, they reside within the Unknown Regions."

The statement felt odd - he realized, suddenly, that he couldn't actually remember hearing Thrawn volunteer the name of his people before, without specifically being asked.

"I see. I suppose the Unknown Regions aren't so unknown to you."

"I am better acquainted with the area than most Imperials. It is a vast region, and generally speaking is more difficult to traverse than much of the inner regions, so even my knowledge is limited."

"You must be a valuable asset to the Empire."

"I do hope to prove my value."

"The man is being devastatingly modest," Yularen said. "The Emperor himself instated him into the Navy, and he's already proven himself of great value more than once." Yularen launched into the same speech he'd given to so many others that night, detailing Thrawn and Eli's involvement in the tibanna gas incident, and how tactfully and intelligently they'd handled everything, and how they were now under fire simply due to the politics of Coruscant.

Eli heard the story so many times over the evening he was completely sick of it.

The Senator, gracefully, seemed genuinely interested. She asked questions, fully engaged in the Colonel's story.

They came to a halt in front of the tower just as his story came to a close. Yularen, a very classically mannered man, jumped out of the transport first, offering his hand to the Senator.

"It was a pleasure to see you again, Senator. It has been far too long." Yularen said to her as they stood in the foyer of the complex.

She smiled kindly, "It has been too long."

"I don't see you around here often enough anymore."

The smile on her face faltered for a moment. "Yes, well, these are difficult times for my people. They're difficult times for many people. I'm torn between two worlds at the moment."

Yularen bowed his head to her, "Your people should consider themselves lucky to have a leader as graceful and experienced as you."

She bowed back to him, "I hope you're right. Thank you for the transport." She nodded to he and Thrawn, "Lieutenant Thrawn, Ensign Vanto, it was lovely to meet you both."

None of them spoke as she walked away. Eli felt like she may have taken all their words with her.

Yularen cleared his throat, "Don't underestimate that one. Despite her age, and the fact that she's one of the very few nonhuman senators left, she carries a great deal of influence. She's been a senator since the Clone Wars."

Eli thought she looked young for a senator, but she certainly looked very young for someone with that sort of tenure. "Really? Have you known her since then, sir?" He asked.

Yularen nodded, "Yes, I met her when she was around 20. She'd already been a Senator for a few years then."

"That seems quite young for a senator." Thrawn said.

"She was. It's a rather long story; I encourage you to ask her about it if you ever see her again. She has a fascinating background." He paused. "She's also one of the classiest women I think I've ever met. I'm glad you both had the opportunity to meet her."