Elan
The house was luxurious, and Maris a pleasant, helpful, and mildly sarcastic presence in the midst of staff that mostly kept their distance. Elan had started skimming through the recent holos, Maris standing just over her shoulder, offering insight on the state of the Republic.
"The war has been going on four years now," he said. "We've watched the Chancellor amass more power for himself in the midst of it. I suspect the Republic is in for a military coup, if this goes on much longer."
"Orchestrated by the Chancellor?" she asked mildly. Maris nodded.
"But of course. It surprises me that these people do not seem to see it, but they're very trusting of their leaders, it seems. He plays himself as the hero, the savior. Even the Jedi go along with him."
The word Jedi rolled off his tongue with less animosity than she would have expected. She glanced up at him, and he shrugged. "They're not all bad. I've met a few through my Senate connections."
"Shades of gray. So are we all," Elan said, offering him a smile to let him know she appreciated his candor. He would be useful, this one. Well connected, with eyes open to what was happening around him, and not blindingly Hapan in his thinking.
A deep chime rang through the house, and Maris looked up, brows furrowed. "Someone is here. Perhaps that Senator has thought better and come back."
"Perhaps he's sent someone to arrest me," Elan said, half joking.
Maris shook his head. "No one will get in if that is so. And there are escape routes through the basement."
Ah, the Hapans. Ever prepared for the worst.
Maris disappeared down the long hall. She heard the indiscernible rumble of men's voices, then footsteps as Maris came back toward her.
"It is the Senator," he said, eyebrows raised. "And a Jedi. Do you wish to see them, or shall I send them away?"
And a Jedi. Was that good news, or bad? Perhaps he'd come to arrest her after all. Perhaps Jedi arrested the dangerous ones in the old days.
But she'd just come with intel. More likely it was a Jedi in on the whole Rebellion thing, a more perceptive presence to test her insane claim.
"Let them in," she said, shutting down the holo screen.