Chapter Fourteen
Moth finally got back to Verrell for a visit. He flew in from the other side of the planet so he could surprise her and walked in from the village. "Hello, Kotn." Taryn said, as Moth was about to scoop his wife up in a surprise hug. "I felt you entering the star system."
"Ooh! The Force is strong with this one." Moth said pulling her to him. "A race of super Jedi did they say?"
"When are we going to start this race?" Taryn asked.
"Soon, Yoda has made great progress lately." Moth said and nibbled on her neck.
"Ah… Where is he?" Taryn squirmed.
"I dropped him off to take care of his own obligation." Moth mumbled as he nibbled.
oOo
Moth picked up Yoda and headed to Coruscant. The Council was being very secretive about their request for them to come back. Moth worried they had realized he had stopped off to visit Taryn and had changed their minds about his remaining in the Order till Yoda was trained. Moth saw Nyla's ship when they landed and looked forward to seeing her again.
As he approached the Council Chambers she came out fuming. "What is wrong?" Moth asked.
"I'm too mad too say, they will explain it." Nyla stomped past them.
"Mad, she is." Yoda winced. "Anger leads to the Darkside."
"Master Moth, the Council will see you now." The attendant announced.
Moth wasn't sure he wanted to go in. He knew he had never seen Nyla that angry and didn't hold any hope for his meeting going any better for him. 'I haven't seen Nyla for almost two years what could the Council be upset about.'
"Master Moth, come in we had hoped to talk to you before we talked to Nyla but were not able to wait. Have you heard the Holo Net News lately." Master Poof asked.
"No, I haven't, did I miss something important." Moth asked.
"Yes, there has been a governmental change in power on Pyotr. Nyla and her sister if she could be found are being called back to power. This is the Ambassador from Pyotr the Honorable Ifor Diarmid. When the call went out for the return of the Royal Family, we contacted him and told him one of the Royal family members was here. Apparently Nyla would have liked to have been contacted first. That was an unfortunate oversight on our part. We never suspected there would be a problem."
"The Ambassador wants her to resign her Knighthood and return to rule and to produce an heir. She told them she knew where her sister was and there is already an heir. Ambassador Diarmid says the new government wants the spouse to be of Pyotr decent, so a pure Pyotr heir can be achieved. Nyla was not pleased with that suggestion. We would like you to talk to her."
"I would rather be thrown in a gundark nest than try to convince Nyla, she should leave the Jedi order and marry." Moth was shocked at what he was hearing.
"Very fortunate, you were not in space when told her, you were." Yoda warned them. "Would have spaced all of you, or tried."
oOo
"Juri, we're leaving or at least I am! You can stay if you want to." Nyla fumed.
"Master, what is wrong?" Juri asked. She hadn't been allowed to appear before the Council.
"I'm too mad too say right now." Nyla ranted. "They won't make me, they can't make me."
"Nyla, what is wrong? You look positively furious. Yoda and the Head Med Tech go together to…" Nyla turned and Force pushed Gen into the wall behind him. "I surrender!" Gen threw his arms up in shock.
"I'm sorry I… I just got some bad news." Nyla folded up in a pile on the floor of the Temple.
Gen squatted down beside her and said sympathetically. "I was just going to the Council myself, I don't think my news will be any better. There has been a coup on my home plane…" Gen Hillel stopped in the middle of his statement when he saw the look on Nyla's face. "What did I say?"
"Apparently I'm your new Queen and I have to go back to Pyotr and procreate!"
oOo
Moth and Yoda rang the door chime to Nyla's apartment Juri came to the door and whispered. "I think it's safe to come in now, but be careful, she Force pushed the last person she talked to. Do you know what happened? The Council wouldn't let me go in to the meeting with her and when she came out she was furious!"
Moth started to explain to Juri when the holo link beeped. Juri walked over and activated the holo link unit, before she could say anything a very hysterical crying Delī came on. "What happened to Nyla? Is she hurt… dea… no not…"
Moth placed his hand on Juri's shoulder and motioned to go get Nyla. "Delī, she is all right she just heard Pyotr has gone back to a monarchy and they want her to be their new quee..."
Just then Nyla exploded out of her room and snapped. "Don't even say that word! I will talk to Delī in private, please." Motioning them towards the door.
As the door to the corridor closed behind them, Juri said softly, so she couldn't possible be heard by Nyla. "Well, she has the dismiss the troops maneuver down already."
"Dark place she is in, very dangerous." Yoda warned.
"Master Moth!" Gen called out as he came running down the hall. "She does know I had nothing to do with this, doesn't she?"
"Gen? Why would she think you had anything to do with this?" Moth asked the nervous Jedi.
"I am from Pyotr also and they want me to be her Consort." Gen said. "I will back her up in whatever she decides."
The door to the apartment opened and Nyla stepped out. "Gen, I thought I heard your voice. Come in. The rest of you can come in, too." Nyla walked over to the holo link and motioned Gen to step into the holo imager. "Would you mind telling us what the Council told you about the coup?"
"Us?" Gen asked concerned, knowing he was in trouble.
Moth heard Yoda through the Force. / Yes, Royal attitude she has. Give orders like queen. /
Moth shushed Yoda. / You will get us both whipped. /
"I'm sorry." Nyla said. "This is my sister on the other end. She is already married and has a child 'offworld' so she isn't qualified to be the new queen." Nyla took a calming breath and added much calmer. "You said they called you in because you were from Pyotr also. We just wanted to know what else is going on, I was too angry to stay around and hear the whole story. Is there anything else I didn't get?" Nyla asked. "What were they wanting you for?"
Gen had a look of terror on his face when he realized, she wasn't aware of the roll they wanted him to fulfill and he was going it have to tell her. Moth stepped up to pad and stood between them putting a comforting arm around them both. "Hello, Delī. Nyla, they want Gen to be Nyla's Consort." There was dead silence on both ends of the link. Everyone looked from one to the other expecting the bomb to blow at any second, and then both Delī and Nyla exploded …in laughter.
Nyla saw the expression on Gen's face change to embarrassment so she explained through the Force. / No. Please don't be embarrassed. I am just laughing out of relief. I was expecting a gray headed shriveled up old wimp. /
Nyla calmed herself and said. "Delī. I will call you back later?"
/ He is cute. / Delī sent through the Force.
/ Thank you. / Gen answered back to an embarrassed Delī as Nyla cut the holo net connection.
Nyla took a deep breath, composed herself and called the Council. "Is the Pyotr delegation still there?"
"Yes." The attendant replied.
"I would like to speak to them, again." Nyla said boldly.
"I will tell them you are coming." The attendant said.
Nyla cut the com link and turned to the shocked group staring at her and said. "I'm sorry, I took a short trip toward the Darkside but I'm back. If I do this and that is a big if I will need all of your help, would you come with me to the Council to iron out the details ofmy reign? That doesn't even sound real. Gen, could I speak to you privately for a minute?"
"You know we will help you with whatever you need." Moth said and everyone agreed as they stepped out into the corridor to wait on Nyla and Gen.
"Gen, I would be honored if you were my Consort but I will not ask you to leave the Order for me. If you decide to remain in the Order, then as Queen I will see to it they leave you alone." Nyla blushed. "I can't believe I just asked you to be my consort."
"How could I not rescue my Queen from a gray headed shriveled up old wimp?" Gen teased.
"I know, you know, what you are getting into after the last couple of hours at least. Hopefully that is over for good." Nyla said sheepishly. "I can't believe I am going to have to leave the Order."
"Let's go talk to the delegation, you may have scared them into taking your sister or abandoning the monarchy altogether." Gen teased her.
Nyla lead her procession to the Council chambers feeling strangely regal and foolish at the same time. They were ushered in to the Council chambers as soon as they arrived.
"Honored delegates of Pyotr, I was caught completely off guard and beg your forgiveness for my behavior. I never suspected the Monarchy would be reinstated and would have thought Delī would be the logical choice for a queen. Being a Jedi is all I have ever known, all I have ever wanted. If you still want me to be Queen, I will be the best Queen I can be but you had better be warned I am no shrinking violet. My Royal robes will have a decidedly Jedi flair and my court will be marked by Jedi thinking. I will want, if the Council allows, to have a Jedi escort until I am certain the government is stable. I hope to improve the lives of my people. Gen has agreed to be my Consort. (Blush.) I would like my sister to be brought back also and given honors as such. If this is agreeable to you what is our next step."
"Yes, Your Royal Highness, we do want you to be the Queen and be assured your sister is welcome to come back and be part of the Royal family. We are pleased Gen Hillel has agreed to be your Consort and hope you have a long and happy life together, producing many heirs."
'Do they want to scare me off?' Nyla thought.
"We would like to escort you and your future Consort back to Pyotr along with whom ever you would like to act as guards, though I would like to take this time to assure you that this is the will of all of the Pyotr people. The Pyotr people have the greatest respect for the Jedi and their philosophies and it would be a comfort to know that their Queen has been trained in the Jedi teachings. A staff of Royal Robe designers is awaiting your convenience to dress you in the finest robes Pyotr has to offer. As soon as you conclude your business with the Jedi Council, we can begin to prepare you for your new roll."
Nyla turned to Master Poof and realized he was waiting for her to turn in her lightsaber. She paused and thought of all she had done in her life as a Jedi and all she would have to give up to be a Queen. Just the word made her nervous, she thought of hours of long boring meetings and ceremonies, being required to marry and produce an heir, her first instinct was still to run. 'Why couldn't they allow Delī to be Queen?' She took a deep breath and while all her closest friends watched, she handed over her lightsaber. Gen stepped forward after Nyla and handed Master Poof his lightsaber also then stepped back and took Nyla's hand.
oOo
Juri and Yoda were sent to Naboo to pick up Delī, Andrew and young Drew and deliver them to Coruscant. Drew decided Yoda was another child and the antics were on. Moma 2 had showed him some simple Force tricks, how to retrieve a ball from across the room, and how to toss it and he practiced them on Yoda. Yoda would smile and toss the ball back at him or Force lock the cabinet so he couldn't jump out and 'scare him'. Drew decided to try some of Yoda's roots and ended up with a stomachache so Delī had to medicate him and keep him in bed for the remaining time of the trip.
On arriving at Coruscant Delī was taken to Nyla's apartment and the Royal Robe staff started to work on her outfits for the presentation to Court and the People of Pyotr. When both were dressed in matching robes, hair and makeup, it became even more obvious they were related and some of the attendants couldn't tell them apart. Delī loved every minute of the dressing up process and all the pomp and ceremony, Nyla wiggled like a small child if she didn't remind herself she had obligations to fulfill. Delī wore the sleekest slip of a shoe and Nyla pined for her Jedi boots. The sisters insisted on wearing matching robes, only Nyla's necklace and headpiece differentiated them.
The Ambassador of Pyotr approached the sisters and requested. "May I beg your indulgence I have an official request from the head of the transitional government for you, both of you to change your names to be more Pyotrian sounding. Here is a list of suggestions, please chose which ever one you like." Then he turned and walked quickly to the door.
"Well, I know he is a politician, drop a bomb and leave before the fallout." Delī fumed. "How does he not like Nyla and Delī?" Delī turned to see Nyla sitting cross-legged in the floor in her royal robes, calming herself with Jedi meditation techniques. "How do you sit like that?"
"I am a Queen, I can not behead politicians for wanting to change my name. I will remain calm!" Nyla repeated several times then calmly stood back up.
There was a knock at the door and Juri answered it. "Come in, Gen, you haven't seen the result of the makeovers, what do you think, which one is which?"
Both women were dressed in matching outfits down to the hair additions and nails to make them look more regal until their own grew out. As he walked around them, inspecting them, tormenting them, as a general inspecting his troops, he picked up the official name list that they had dropped to the floor and said. "I saw the Ambassador leaving rather quickly so I was expecting to have to restrain you two, I received a similar list of names." Then he walked around and stood nose to nose to Nyla and said. "Dear, you stand like a Jedi."
"I am a Jedi, at least in spirit if not in status. I feel naked without my lightsaber." Nyla pined.
"Trust me, your not. How do you walk in that much material? Are those real gemstones and pearls?" Gen marveled at the workmanship.
"They wouldn't dress your Queen in fakes, would they?" Nyla asked with scorn in her voice.
"Have you looked at the list of names yet? There are some are real doozies on it. I also have to take on a Pyotrian name and your last name. 'Jinnel.' They said the most popular suggestion for the Consort's name is, 'Tra Gon Jinnel' and you my sweet are to be, let's see… 'Quina Lon Jinnel' or 'Quina Nya Jinnel' or' Quina Sui Jinnel' or 'Quina Mar Jinnel.' Quina was your grandmother's name, and she was the last queen to reign on Pyotr so they want you to choose her name apparently." Gen said looking up from the list to see a somber pair of sisters.
"I have no memory of my family. Some people think, you live on in the memory of your loved ones, my family is truly forgotten. I will take Quina Nya Jinnel as my name. How about Delī what are her suggestions?" Nyla asked.
"Delī, they want you to choose among these… Cuina Cae Jinnel or Delila Mara Jinnel or Deliva Bri Jinnel or …"
"Stop, I like the Delila Bri Jinnel." Delī announced. "How am I going to tell Andrew I have to change my name, my last name. What about him?"
"Well, according to this he doesn't have to change his name unless you have to assume the throne. Oh! No! Then you would have to divorce him and marry my cousin and he is a gray headed wrinkled up wimp." Gen read aloud then wished he hadn't. Delī exploded!
oOo
The head of the transitional government sent the most prestigious ship to transport the Royal Highnesses back to Pyotr along with her staff of advisors and Jedi escorts. Nyla made a holo speech to the people from the Official conference room.
"People of Pyotr… I, Queen Quina Nya Jinnel am pleased you choose to return to a Monarchy and asked My sister, Delila Bri Jinnel to return with me, she is one of my most trusted advisors and we hope to bring long life and prosperity to all Pyotrians. I hope to have a readily assessable court and welcome your assistance. We hope to tour our home planet as soon as possible. Thank you for your generous support."
"Ambassador Diarmid, I would like to have a list of thing that would improve the lives of the Pyotrian people. Suggestions for employment- Does every one have a job that needs one? Status of the schools- Is every child being trained to his potential? Infirmaries- Does everyone have access to good healthcare? Roads- parks- Are they accessible and maintained? Trade agreements and products- What do we need and what do we have that we can trade. I want statistics on crime and suggestions on reducing crime. Are the people secure? What are the tax loads on the people and how do we keep them from being overburdened? Is there a problem?" Nyla asked the Ambassador, as he stood open mouthed in shock at her request.
"I… We thought you would… allow the…" He hemmed and hawed.
"If you want a figure head, someone to rubber stamp someone else's decisions you had better turn this transport around now because I will not sit by and watch you rule the people in my place." Nyla boldly set out the boundaries of what she would and wouldn't do.
"No! Your Highness I just meant, I thought you would want to get settled before you dove into these things." The Ambassador back-peddled.
"I have no intention of making a decision without having the proper knowledge to back it up. I hope the transitional government will have a group of advisers to assist me in these decisions, but if my name is on them, they will be my decisions."
"Yes, Your Highness I will contact Administrator Enzio and see to it you have the necessary information as soon as possible." Ambassador Diarmid excused himself to go acquire the information.
"Thought he was going to turn this ship around and take you home, I did." Yoda said stepping up beside of Nyla. "Not sure I trust him."
"I have a feeling they got more than they bargained for. I warned them I was no shrinking violet. I will be a good Queen and help the people, not just the powerful." Nyla asserted.
"Powerful people ones that are closest to throne, population far away. Powerful people dangerous." Yoda warned his friend.
"I know that's why I asked for you, Moth and Juri to be allowed to accompany me. I know you can't stay forever but maybe I can make a difference and people will see I am working for their good. I know you are strong in seeing what is to come, keep a lookout for us."
oOo
As Nyla's ship returned to Pyotr a planetary celebration took place. A Holo feed of the arrival and exiting the ship was broadcast to everyone. A parade in her honor in which it seemed everyone on the planet filed past the palace balcony to see the new Royalty. Nyla and Delī impressed the crowd with their matching outfits. Tra Gon or Gen as Nyla called him in all but the official settings looked noble in his new Royal robes. Drew stole the show by throwing kisses to everyone.
Moth, Juri and Yoda stood back by the door watching the crowd all three had an uneasy feeling about this.
oOo
AN: Jedi? – Queen? Queen? – Jedi? Jedi Queen? Jedi-ish Queen?