Serra had a healthy headache following Mina's help, having to reorganize all her gifts by person and rank. She leaned forward against her desk, sighing. Lyrii's head was still down as she finished organizing the list. Mina smiled wanly at the girls.
"If you decide to wear some of your gifts you'll have to be careful what you chose," Mina continued. "It will indicate which Senators you side with."
Serra lifted her head to face Mina, knowing this was important to hear.
"No one will expect you to take a stand since you are so new to the Senate," Mina cautioned, "but they will eventually."
"Dooku doesn't wear anything from the Senators," Serra pointed out.
Mina thought about it for a moment. "A very good point. Unlike us Senators, you do not have to vie for Dooku's favor. It may be best to remain a neutral overseer keeping the Senate in line, as Dooku does. Sometimes, we do need a babysitter. It's really your choice. Just keep in mind that whatever faction gains your support will get power."
Serra nodded, then lowered her head again.
"How long are you planning to stay here?" Mina decided to ask.
"I'm not sure," Serra replied honestly. "I want to go back in the field, but Dooku has the last say. I suppose he's right about needing more training. There's still a lot I need to learn."
Serra stood, figuring she'd better wrap this up so she could take a break.
"Thank you for your help Senator," Serra stated.
"Any time," Mina stood as well. "Best of luck."
Lyrii saw the Senator out while Serra sat again. Serra believed Mina Bonteri's personality was genuinely nice and helpful, but she also knew she was helping Serra for her own benefit. She was trying to get her favor as well, obviously.
Serra exhaled, recalling her fight on Zygerria yet again. Her mistakes were obvious in hindsight. Bane had beaten her. She refused to let that happen again. If she could just use her spells… She didn't understand why she had so much trouble with it! All she could do was darken the Force so everyone in the area, when they tried to draw on the Force, could draw on only the Dark Side. It wreaked havoc on Jedi like Kenobi, who she'd beaten with the trick. Without the Force, a Jedi was just another human.
Sorcerers were said to be able to do all sorts of things, the darkest kind of miracles. A thought from their mind would scour the flesh from the bones of entire armies. They could turn day into night. They could unleash forceblasts capable of leveling forests. They could do so much more.
Her mother was no Sith, but she could do all sorts of things. One of the stories Serra had never forgot was how her mother stopped a bounty from escaping after he had already gotten in his starfighter and taken off. She held his starfighter in place even as he gunned the engines while altering the mechanisms within to shut down those engines. Then she set it down on the landing pad. When her bounty tried to flee she grabbed him in a force choke and threw him against the side of his craft, knocking him out. The Jedi Order had never stopped looking for her, so she tried to use her powers as subtly as possible. Some moments she just lost her temper. It was rare. Serra didn't know the full story, but that acquisition had been involved with the Huk War. It had always been a touchy subject her mother.
Heather was so powerful, and she had so little training, just a Padawan. She had needed to teach herself as she went, learning fast among the bounty hunters. Serra couldn't even deal with one. She needed to get her spells to work reliably. Right now, she couldn't even use her force lightning on cue.
If Dooku could help her get strong, she would do what he said. She just didn't see how Raxus would help her get stronger. It was trying her patience.
"Serra," Lyrii turned back to her. "Are you sure you've memorized the profiles of the major Senators? You will be attending the next session."
Serra scowled, lounging in her window seat. "I'm good," she promised.
Political nonsense. Why couldn't she just kill Jedi, like they had killed her mother?
Serra smoothed the front of her shirt as she walked, then exhaled. Centered. She needed to be centered. Her mother had taught her how to meditate, even while moving. Without a centered mind, she wouldn't be able to draw on the Force. Lyrii walked a step behind her as they approached the doors of the Senate Parliament.
A small clique of Senators stood out front of the hallway. Serra hesitated. Then she chided herself for it. She knew it was unwise to show timidity. Mina Bonteri was among the group by the entrance. With her were Senators Serra recognized as Kerch Kushi and By Bluss from her studies. They were part of her clique.
"Miss. Winters," Bonteri greeted her with a smile. "I'm glad to see you."
Serra inclined her head in agreement, walking forward to greet them. This was her first time so near the Senate Hall, let alone entering it. All she had to do was observe today's session, but some of the senators may well call on her for something and ask her opinion. She really didn't want to deal with that.
Bonteri turned to her fellow Senators. "I'll meet you in the hall."
"We'll see you inside," Kushi told Bonteri, nudging Bluss.
The two backed away and entered the hall to take their seats.
"Are you ready?" Bonteri asked.
She recalled how frightened she had been the first time she had entered the Republic's Senate Hall. The Confederacy's was more welcoming at least, and she would have leeway being Dooku's heir. Unlike with the bickering between normal senators, no one could afford to be casually cruel to her.
"I'm fine," Serra told her stiffly.
Bonteri decided to accept it and held a hand towards the open doorway. Heather had been marvelous on or off the battlefield, so Serra would surely do fine. She shook herself mentally, deciding not to compare her to her mother without justification. Serra didn't deserve that.
Lyrii followed Serra as she entered. Tall benches lined either side of the hall and there was a rectangular table in the center. Light poured in through stained glass windows. Practically every seat was full. Serra walked up the steps up to where the Speaker, Bec Lawise, stood, waiting for the appointed hour to come. She could feel interested gazes on her as she walked. Unsure what to do, she decided not to look at any of them.
Serra wasn't dressed in her usual two-piece black and silver combat garb, her most comfortable clothing. She didn't wear the formal robes of other senators but black trousers and double-breasted military jacket with epaulettes that had silver stripes to mark her as a Commander. Ten silver buttons went up to her neck in two rows and there were two small silver buttons down the outside of either wrist. The upturned collar reached close to her jaw, an unusual tightness on her throat. Her trousers were tucked into polished laceless knee-high boots. The hexagonal roundel, the Confederacy's symbol, was on her left upper arm in white.
Blasters weren't permitted in the Senate Hall but no one would deny the lightfoil on her polished black leather belt. She also carried her knife in its boot sheathe, hidden from casual sight.
While Lyrii remained back by the wall, Serra entered the box where Lawise was waiting. A holoprojector was built into the floor, letting Dooku attend the meetings even while in the field.
"Here at last," Lawise observed.
Serra nodded once. "Yes."
She had met Lawise already and felt a little more comfortable around him. He was brusque but not mean.
"And just in time," Lawise observed, checking the chronometer.
The holographic projector came online, forming into Dooku. He glanced at Serra, who bowed. She had to obey to learn, though the motion was more uncomfortable then the clothing. Dooku looked back to the senate hall. Lawise sat in a chair near the front by the left corner. Serra took a seat to the right. It was a good view over the hall. She could see almost the entire room. Eyes were looking up at them.
Serra noticed another holoprojector came online a little to the right and below of their box. A bald humanoid appeared, sitting in a holographic seat, back straight. That would be Jax Simms of Umbara.
The doors were closed, a forcefield around the Senate Hall activated. This prevented eavesdroppers and protected the distracted Senators. There would be no interruptions until this was over.
"I call this meeting to order," Lawise announced, standing.
Quiet fell with good speed. Several Senators, the main arguers, took positions by the podiums on the floor.
"Our first issue is to confirm the application of Umbara into the Confederacy of Independent Systems," Dooku began. "For the final step, a voice vote of the Senate is necessary. All in favor of allowing Umbara to join, say aye."
There was a chorus of ayes, even from Bonteri.
"All opposed?" Dooku asked.
There were none.
"The ayes have it," Dooku confirmed, though it was needless.
Serra supposed it was unlikely someone would oppose a new ally. From what she'd studied, Umbara's first Senator, Mee Deechi, had been murdered by another Senator's aide back when Umbara had been part of the Galactic Republic. Deechi was part of the Rootai caste, the highest caste on Umbara, practically considered royalty, they ruled Umbara. After sorting out turmoil at home, the winners seceded from the Republic.
Jax Simms stood and bowed his head in acceptance.
"Senator Simms," Dooku addressed him by his title, "you may speak as a member of this Senate from this point on. However, you will not be permitted to speak via hologram after this session. I advise you arrive before then."
"I am one hyperspace jump away, Count Dooku," Simms vowed.
"Very well," Dooku accepted. "Let us move onto the next item."
Serra was impressed. Dooku looked so calm and controlled. She had never seen him on the battlefield, but supposed if he was this centered there, he really would be unstoppable. She and Dooku practiced Lightsaber Form II: Makashi, the form meant for one-on-one duels with other lightsaber wielders. Unlike some forms, precise control, not power, was critical to properly executing it. It showed. Serra exhaled softly, loosening her shoulders. This was something she wanted to learn.
With the most formal item out of the way, Dooku turned it back to Lawise. Lawise took it up.
"Our next order is to discuss the loss of Haistea to Republic forces. Senator Atell." Lawise looked to her.
Voe Atell was among those already on the floor. A green-skinned humanoid, she had pinkish eyes and a crown of six horn-like protrusions on top of the head, three by each ear. Serra didn't recall her species.
"As one would expect, the loss of the droid refit factories on Haistea will damage the Corporate Alliance's abilities to create new droids." Atell began. "It will also mean new droids must be created, which will be more expensive."
"How much more expensive?" Bonteri asked.
She and Atell stood on opposite sides of the Senate Hall's floor. The dichotomy of the Senate was the same as when any large group was brought together. There were two main factions with polarizing opinions and a third group of neutrals that waited to see which side they should follow. The factions here were Bonteri's and Atell's.
Bonteri's appetite for war had been waning ever since her husband had been slain by Clones. Surely, she argued, the galaxy was large enough for the Republic and Confederacy. Atell, on the other hand, did not believe the Republic would leave them alone, even if they signed a peace treaty. They should finish them off now. The Corporate Alliance, which she was a member of, was also getting rich on the fighting and wanted to continue its war profiteering.
Serra didn't need the Force to sense the annoyance in Atell's glare to Bonteri at the interruption. Personally, she agreed with Atell. She had plenty of examples when the Republic mounted preemptive strikes to protect their interests. The Jedi considered themselves guardians who could do no wrong and their masters were worse. The Republic wouldn't stop. This wouldn't end until the Confederacy forced the Republic to surrender.
"8%," Atell answered.
"8%!" Bonteri gave a start.
Serra glanced around as the other Senators began to argue their outrage at the number. It didn't sound very high to her, but given the quantity of droids the army needed, it probably was.
She recalled Haistea from what she had looked over yesterday. It was a Corporate Alliance planet with droid factories. Instead of making the droids though, droids deemed irreparable were sent there. The insides would be gutted and the frames would be melted back down into the raw material. The metal and any surviving circuitry would be forwarded to the actual droid factories to be used to make new ones. With so many droids regularly destroyed, reusing what they could saved money.
"And how," Kerch Kushi on the floor by Bonteri, asked, "will the Confederacy pay for the new increase?"
Atell turned to him. "The Alliance deals in hardware, not money. We are already giving the Confederacy a substantial discount."
"Substantial?" Kushi challenged.
The arguing and shouting came back. Serra was a little taken aback and glanced over at Lawise, who was shaking his head but didn't look particularly surprised.
"Is this normal?" She asked him.
Lawise seemed almost bemused by her question. "Every form of government has its problems and we are starting to have trouble with funding."
He turned his gaze to the representative of the InterGalactic Banking Clan present. Serra followed it. She didn't trust the Banking Clan. Unlike the staunchly Confederate Alliance, they helped both sides, claiming they were neutral businessmen. Serra was certain they were playing both sides against each other to increase their profits. They may be hampering the Confederacy's cause, a situation Serra found distasteful. Judging from Lawise's expression, he shared her opinion.
"Enough," Lawise stood, voice carrying across the hall. "Huy Ledge of the Banking Clan, what do you say?"
The representative of the Banking Clan responded. "This is a troubling development, but the Banking Clan is willing to lend the Confederacy the money needed for the next wave of droids."
"At what percent interest?" Bonteri demanded.
"I was not expecting this development," Huy admitted. "I'll need to speak to the rest of the clan about this."
Serra found that a bit unlikely. She knew about the complication of Haistea before the meeting began. Surely he did to and knew it would affect him. Was he messing with the Senate? Keeping them in suspense over the loan on purpose?
"You did not?" Dooku spoke.
There was a metallic edge to his words from the holographic system but the tone was mild, bland even. Too mild. Serra smothered a smile, forcing her face to stay neutral as best she could. It seemed he agreed with her.
Huy had not expected to be called out. "Yes, well."
He let his voice trail off, unable to give anything more substantial.
Lawise wondered if Huy was trying to get them to forget about the matter of the interest by not mentioning it, though this deflection was clumsy. Had Serra realized the same? Her expression as she watched the Munn was akin to a hawk appraising a mouse.
When silence fell and it was clear Dooku had nothing more to say, Lawise moved on.
"The next object is Senator Rimbaud's bill to reallocate research funds for the new HMP droid gunship," Lawise looked down at the long-necked brown furred senator as she took the floor. "Senator Rimbaud, you may present your bill for discussion."
Serra listened as the conversations continued.
I wrote this chapter in one sitting. It was killing me for so long and I did it in one sitting. Geez. Well, here you have it, Serra's first taste of the politics of the Confederacy. What you expected?