2; Mother Knows Best

"To those accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression." ~Anonymous

Keana Nyco

Keana watched as billions of stars flashed past the glass as she put in the coordinates for home. She was glad to get Catalea out of the political scene, but knew only more scheming awaited them back home. The elders won't take kindly to a treaty drawn up by a naive queen, no matter how sincere her intentions may be.

Baethea was used to the hostility from its ruling neighbor and would expect nothing less than superiority from its current regent. They won't trust someone who bows to their ways so easily. They have been looked upon like dirt for centuries and won't submit to someone looking at them as equals, especially if that someone is a woman, without knowing all the facts.

Keana thanked the pilot before making her way to the back where her husband and mistress were seated. Erix had busied himself with cleaning his sword paying no mind to the heir hard at work beside him. Catalea on the other hand was obsessing over the new treaty she had been handed.

"Has it changed in the last five minutes?"

Catalea shot a dirty look at Keana, "I'm just checking to make sure the wording is in our favor."

Erix snorted, "If it's not the elders will have a fun time chewing you up and spitting you out."

Keana sat down and grabbed her blade from Erix with a look of annoyance, "I won't be surprised if they scrap the idea altogether. We all know when it comes to them that Mama Adonis won't let it touch their hands until she inspects."

The trio fell silent at Keana's statement. No one wanted to admit the truth, but it was a fact. Catalea's mother, Sabrya Adonis, had her hands in almost everything involving Baethea's rule. When it had been announced that Catalea was the next generation to ascend the throne Sabrya had not taken it well. Keana worried whether Sabrya would go as far as to sabotage her own daughter's ascension.

"Do you really think they will turn down Naboo's offer of peace?" Catalea asked after a moment.

Keana glanced up at the girl that had overtime become her little sister. She knew the young heir wanted nothing to do with her family and their quest for fame and fortune. The only person she really talked to was her father, but he was off overseeing a large shipment of crystals being sent to Coruscant. He wouldn't be home for another day or so at best.

Erix was the one to answer the lady, "It's your first submission as heir. They want to see what kind of queen you'll be. If you want my opinion I think this is the best step for Baethea's future. We need to be free of Naboo's reign and if this is what it takes then so be it. The elders can't stop change any more than they can stop death. It's inevitable, you're inevitable."

"Thanks Erix."

Keana smiled at her husband's carefully thought out words. She knew it would raise Catalea's spirits to know she wasn't alone in her fight for freedom. The couple had been fighting for many years for peace, but this was the first real step towards it. Catalea had made her intentions clear to them from the start. She was going to be different and she would get results.

Keana stood up silently and gestured for Erix to follow her lead to their shared room. He followed her move and got up to join her. Together they made their way towards a compartment not far from where Catalea lounged in the mess hall. They knew she was safe among the select few chosen for this mission and felt comfortable closing the door on the world for a moment.

As soon as the door whooshed shut Keana wrapped her arms around Erix's tall frame and brought him into a passionate kiss. She has been wanting to do that since the banquet in Naboo, but they could never find any time alone. Keana felt Erix return the kiss just as passionately bring his hands up and weaving his fingers into her soft curls. When they pulled away for breath they shared a knowing smile.

"I really hope that door is sound proof." Keana said while stripping layers of clothing.

Erix chuckled, "If it's not I'll find a way to make it so."

He flung his trousers and flopped onto the bed with a sigh relishing the feeling the silk against his bare back. It didn't take long for Keana to join him with eagerness having missed his erotic touch. She giggled as he pulled her to his side and closed her eyes allowing her husband to love her with everything he had.

Sabrya Adonis

Sabrya stood on the landing pad with a legion of people behind her and a permanent smirk etched onto her marble features. She had received a transmission that her daughter was coming home with a solution to the growing tension between Baethea and its enemy, Naboo. Although she was doubtful that Catalea could come up with a solution so fast if she had already set up precautions should she need to contain the situation should it get out of hand.

The pearl white cruiser entered the atmosphere with grace and landed with a resounding hum onto the marble platform below. Sabrya had always been jealous of the royal ship. The ship was the latest model and had all the refined elegance of a majestic spacecraft. It's beige interior and steel flooring were always polished and ready to receive guests at a moment's notice, and it could jump into hyperspace without so much as a tweak from the engines.

Sabrya straightened her already perfect posture as she watched her daughter and her crew descend from the ramp. Catalea was dressed in a lovely lavender pantsuit made of silk with a kyber crystal belt hanging to her side like a sash. In her hand was a black leather folder which Sabrya assumed contained the treaty she had made up in an attempt to gain attention.

Sabrya was the first to greet them, "Welcome home my daughter. I trust your mission proved fruitful."

"It did indeed. Naboo has given us cause for great discussion, one that I hope leads to new beginnings. Summon the elders to the council chamber as well as the leaders of each elite house I want to only announce this once. Have them ready for me in an hour."

Sabrya watched in shock as her daughter snuffed her attempt to be motherly as her bodyguards escorted her to her office. Although she knew Catalea was the most independent of her two daughters she had not expected her to just send her away with a flick of her wrist. She watched her daughter's petite figure walk into the golden doors of Baethea's palace and could feel her control slip through her fingers as it shut tight.

Sabrya quickly did as her daughter bid and rallied the council and heads of each elite house in Baethea, but told them the meeting would take place in half an hour. She watched as her flock of mischief-creating crows flew to the nest to deliver her messages. Now she could only hope they responded in time for Sabrya to set her plans in motion before her husband returned home. He had always had a soft spot for his eldest.

The aging mother took a leisurely stroll through the endless corridors of what was now her own. She was bating her time as she made her way to the announcement hall. She knew once she entered those doors there would be no turning back. Those loyal to the heir would try to unearth her plot, but her supporters were greater and far more vast to be housed in Baethea alone. She was making an army and it was to take back what rightly should have belonged to her generation.

When Sabrya arrived almost all the seats in the chamber were filled, saved for Catalea's and her own. The elders and leaders stood in respect as she made her way towards her daughter's chair. Sabrya took her place at the center of the room and glanced around at the sharks before her. She waved her hand in a small, but acceptable greeting, before motioning them to take their seats.

"It has been brought to my attention that Baethea's Heir has an update in regards to the open rebellion against Naboo's rule. It seems to me that this treaty she has brought home will only benefit Baethea on the service, but will eventually cause more harm than good."

The once silent room erupted with shouts of displeasure and intrigue as loyalist and deceivers stood in protest. Sabrya knew she had planted a seed of doubt among the council and she had seen first hand what a small amount can do to someone's reign. She didn't want to be seen as taking over her daughter's spotlight, but she knew her daughter didn't have what it took to rule an entire planet.

"Enough!"

Sabrya watched gleefully as one of Catalea's supporters tried to reign in the chaos. She knew the envoy, sent by Naboo, would want to take a look at this treaty. However she knew the rest would be skeptical. No one really believed that Catalea had done it. Since the beginning of Baethea's dynasty they had been in Naboo's grasp and now a child had found and delivered the keys to a rusty old lock.

"I can't believe you would doubt your own daughter."

Sabrya smirked at the accusation, "I have two daughters in the prime of their lives. One of them was elected Heir to the throne. I take that very seriously. I just want the transition of power to be a smooth one and right now Naboo's naïve queen is digging her claws into my daughter. I won't sit idle and do nothing. Everything you and I do is for the good of Baethea."

The envoy seemed to want to add more to his statement, but stopped in the end. He was in a room of opinionated women and in Baethea a woman always had the last say. The room took his silence as an admission of defeat and Sabrya relished in it as the crowd began to descend into turmoil once more.

Catalea Adonis

Catalea sat in her private garden making mental notes of the treaty while watching Keana and Erix do some light sparring. It felt good to be among the safe walls of her personal paradise. It's lush green grass and little pond that flowed softly and freely offering water where plants needed it most. She knew her every move was vital to her planet's survival, but couldn't help feeling safe in her own home.

The white marble palace was luxurious to all who entered it with it's soaring white pillars and extensive white domes. It reminded her very much of a painting she saw in Coruscant on her first trip there. It was titled 'The White House' and was painted to be quite modest in size. While everything was covered from ceiling to floor in white marble the palace was much grandeur and held significant touches to each of the four reigning houses.

Catalea found the prospect of putting her own little touches riveting, but she wanted to focus more on the gardens. While the inside lacked nothing in the refinery, the outside looked plain and dull. The palace had been built into the side of the mountain which held the crystals her people were so found of. The views were hard to beat and places like this made carrying the weight of a planet bearable.

She let out a gentle sigh before closing the treaty for the final time. She could feel the weight on her shoulders become heavier as she glanced over at her protectors. There was a part of her that felt guilty at keeping them locked to their oaths. They had sworn themselves to her side and by her side they would remain until their last breath.

Erix was the first to notice Catalea's stare, "See something you like?"

The comment earned him a glare from his wife and laughter from Catalea, "Your not my type."

Erix shrugged, "Too bad. Our children would have been beautiful."

Erix ducked as Keana swung the hilt of her blade at his head, "That's enough out of you."

"I'm only having fun."

Catalea smiled in Keana direction, "I don't mind. Besides I know he's got a thing for brunettes with a goddess like body."

Keana let out a puff of air, "Too bad I'm married."

Erix let out a chuckle and pulled Keana in for a kiss, "Admit it. You fell in love the moment you saw me."

"Actually it was when you sang karaoke the night you helped Catalea escape for some fun. You have a nice pixie voice."

"Don't hate on vocal chords."

Catalea laughed as she watched the couple descend into a light banter as they readied themselves for the meeting in the council chambers. They had always been her greatest supporters and she didn't know what she would do if she ever lost them. They had taken an oath to her and now she silently pledged to be loyal to them. If they, or their descendants, ever needed a place to call home they would find it with Catalea Adonis.

The light atmosphere that followed the trio down the hall towards the council chamber seemed to fade as chaos ensued. Catalea could hear the arguments coming from behind the intimidating brass door and she frowned. The meeting wasn't supposed to start for another five minutes and yet already they were tearing each other apart.

The brass door swung open and Catalea entered the room, causing the loud uproar to falter. The young heir wanted to steal a look at her audience, but she kept her head high and stared at the direct source of the chaos. Her mother didn't flinch as Catalea strode in her direction, instead she smirked as if she had won some debate.

"I believe you are in my spot."

Sabrya moved out of the way for Catalea to take center stage with Keana and Erix flanking either side of the girl. Her guards kept a watchful eye for any threats, beside Sabrya, against the heir as she unrolled the treaty she received from Queen Amidala of Naboo. The crowd watched with bated breath as the paper unfurled before their eyes. Some were skeptical about its contents, but most sent a silent prayer of hope.

"This treaty," Catalea began, wasting no time in getting down to business. "was written in the interest of both Baethea and Naboo. The newly elected queen was eager to hear our plight after studying our previous agreement that was signed so long ago. The clause gives Baethea and her people the freedom we have longed for as well as giving us the choice of how we rule our government. I was also able to establish trade routes for new loads of kyber crystals to be shipped across the galaxy through Naboo's ports."

There was a chorus of both out cries and cheers at the news that freedom had finally been given to the Baethean people. It was music to Catalea's ears as she allowed to relax slightly. She knew this had been a long road of revolt after revolt and to finally say with confidence that they were free. It was a feeling she would hold onto for as long as she could.

"What does this queen ask in return?" Sabrya asked, a hint of malice at Catalea's astonishing feat in Naboo. "Perhaps we are to give up our vote in the Senate or only side in affairs that favor Naboo?"

Catalea could feel the daggers being sent to her mother from her bodyguards. Catalea had only wanted to deliver good news, but now she was forced to watch her own mother pick her treaty apart. She had already thought of all the ways this treaty could go wrong and was more than willing to have knowledgeable scholars thoroughly check for anything she may have missed.

"Do you think I would lock my own people in another treaty that would see them enslaved once more. I made sure that it would benefit our home and our home alone. The queen agreed that independence was needed and only requested that we establish a permanent trade route with them."

Sabrya smirked, "Are you smitten with the young queen?"