A/N: Hello my dears, I hope you had a lovely week and an even better week-end! Here things are not really calming down, however I am confident into finishing this project soon, so please don't think I abandoned it. This one was written very quickly, the words just flowed and I hope you will like it :). See you below, Meysun.

Sparks of Hope (A Star-Wars Advent Calendar)

By Meysun

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20. In The Right Place (Riyo Chuchi)

21 BBY

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Cold. Senator Riyo Chuchi was cold, despite the warm furs covering her shoulders.

Her golden earrings felt icy, and her body trembled helplessly in the shuttle as she clung to the handle, breathing in the scent of battle-worn men, trying to forget the stench of blood.

Her eyes stung, and Riyo tried to blink back the tears threatening to spill, overwhelmed by what had just happened on Orto Plutonia.

I am the only woman. I am the only woman here.

The thought was circling in her brain, like a crazed animal trying to break out, and Riyo tried to breathe out – because she was a Senator, someone who had to represent her people and had managed to do so, finally achieving peace between Pantora and the tribe of Chieftain Thi-Sen.

I am just a woman. I am just a woman.

"Are you all right, my lady?"

The metallic voice of Threepio rose beneath her and Riyo nodded, forcing her eyes to stare ahead, into space, into nothingness.

He made me feel like a girl. I felt like just a girl, brushed away and trampled upon. And so many died.

Chairman Cho had shocked and frightened her, had made her feel small and brittle inside, just like the worst moments of her life, in the Legislative Youth Program, where some had mocked her shyness and reserve – before Padmé and Mo had stepped in and made her feel like she finally belonged in politics.

Riyo was used to the political world – to the polite sneers and the paternalistic sentences, all these small, unseen obstacles that were so hard to remove because so many of them were implicit.

But what she had discovered, that day – the display of brute power, of pure colonialism, of prejudice and violence… and all those soldiers around her… the sweat and blood and fight and death…

So many died.

She had felt like a savage herself. Witnessing all this. Unable to say anything, until it was her turn to speak. Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi had urged her on, and something in the way he had looked at her had allowed something warm and brave to unfold deep within her – something Riyo Chuchi would never have believed to harbour.

She had spoken words she did not know she had in herself – and in those kind, intelligent eyes of Chieftain Thi-Sen… In those eyes of the one Chairman Cho had dared to call a beast, she had read consideration. Respect. Trust.

He saw me as a whole. He did not belittle me. He raised me up.

The sky blurred before her eyes, and Riyo raised a hand, wiping her cheek, feeling herself tremble. There was no one directly beneath her, the troopers and the Jedi careful to give her some space, but the space was crowded, and she could still feel them, hear them, smell them – the adrenaline and sweat and post-battle euphoria.

Yet so many had fallen, and her cheeks burned with icy tears.

"Senator Chuchi, allow me…"

The voice raising behind her was soft. There was no bloodlust, nothing overwhelmingly virile in Master Obi-Wan Kenobi – at least not with her. Riyo had seen him in combat, though, also in the Senate, when he was trying to argue for the Jedi, and held nothing but admiration for him – how could she not, when he was the one Duchess Satine held in such esteem...?

She also knew that he was, perhaps, the only man in this small aircraft to be able to soothe her and understand a bit of what she felt. She had seen Master Kenobi's eyes, as Chairman Cho had decided to wage war. Had witnessed his gestures, as he tried to communicate with the Talz – Knight Skywalker had joked with the men, had told them Master Kenobi had been fiercely hugged.

But right now, Riyo was unable to do anything but acknowledge him with a nod, knuckle still wiping her tears delicately, staring into nothingness.

May I join you, Senator…?

It was not a voice, not really. It was something tentative, like a hand stretched out, a soft brush against her very essence.

It felt delicate. Considerate. Like a snow-flower peaking between icy slopes.

And so Riyo nodded, and allowed the Jedi Master to step into the small space she had claimed for herself.

"I brought you some tea", Master Kenobi told her, handing her a steaming cup – and she realised he had removed his gloves, hands somewhat red in the relative cold of the ship.

Yet how comforting it felt to see fingers, not fists. To meet kind, concerned grey eyes, not scowls and sneers of contempt.

Riyo Chuchi took the cup, placing both hands around it, warming her palms without drinking, for a while. And she realised, then, that the voices of the troopers seemed muffled, as well as their presences.

It was just the window. The inky sky. And her and a Jedi Master.

"I shielded us with the Force. I should have done so earlier, Senator. I apologize."

Riyo breathed out, somewhat shakily. It felt better. Safer, somehow. So much calmer – allowing her to gather the strength to lift the cup to her lips, taking a sip that soon warmed her chest.

"It is I who should apologize", she whispered, in the end. "I… I did not mean to turn away from you. I… I should…"

"Senator Chuchi…"

His voice was so very gentle. He was not touching her, was not invading her private space – yet she felt his warmth, somehow. His calm and kindness.

"Please know that every man here deeply respects you for what you have achieved today. And believe me when I tell you that I am, truly, aware of the difficulties you had to face, and still have. Men and women – and species - should be treated equally. I wish the world could be more like the Temple in that respect. Alas, there is still so much to achieve…"

"I… I am not sure… I am not sure to be in the right place, Master Kenobi."

There. It was out. It made more tears spill, tears she valiantly tried to hide taking another sip of tea. But when she finally mustered the courage to gaze up at him, there was nothing but warmth and compassion in his grey eyes.

"I know the feeling, Senator Chuchi."

She had not expected these words. Not from someone so masterful, so accomplished and so strong as him.

"My Master, however, used to tell me that doubt it is a double-edged sword. It can cripple us. Make us feel little. Unable us to move. But… it can also protect us from forgetting to be reflective. Teach us to reconsider. To always be humble, and to act because we seek to do what is good, not what can bring us power."

Riyo blinked, allowing his words to sink in, finally finding a semblance of calm. And Master Kenobi went on:

"As a Senator, you are entrusted with power and responsibility. People look up to you. They trust you. They allow you to represent them. And it is only if you keep wondering, asking yourself the question 'am I still in the right place?', that you will remain so. In the right place. And tending towards what is good, to your best abilities."

He was smiling at her, head gently tilted to the side. And Riyo felt something warm within her – something reminding her of the fire in herself, when she had faced the Talz, determined to stop this war. But it was not as burning, not as ephemeral. It was rather like an ember, something that would not vanish, but grow as she would enfold, learning to be more confident.

Because she was not doing it for herself. She was doing it for others – to serve and protect them. And… they had seen it. Those who truly mattered. Chieftain Thi-Sen. Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. Knight Skywalker. Captain Rex. And the troopers that were standing around her, still shielded by the Force, but no longer making her feel threatened.

Senator Chuchi took a deep breath, and then she lowered her cup, a shy smile on her lips.

"I thank you, Master Kenobi. I feel much better now. And I would like to thank your men, as well as Knight Skywalker."

"You are most welcome, Senator."

He bowed, slightly, and then, very softly, the invisible curtain he had drawn around themselves and the others vanished. They were both back in the loud, crowded ship, surrounded by men who were used to battles and fights, but who were all yearning to do their best.

She was no longer afraid. And so, Senator Chuchi lifted her chin, gathered her fur around her shoulders and turned around.

For a while, all was silent.

And then, one of the troopers cheered, the acclamations soon echoing in the whole ship, making her blush, then smile, then laugh softly and bow her head in silent thanks.

"Hurray for the Senator! Hurray for that speech! Hurray for peace!"

Riyo no longer felt cold. She felt daring, and brave, and fiery, and taller than ever – but she also knew it was because of them. And so, she stood even straighter, lifted a small fist, like she had done on Orto Plutonia, and placed her other hand above it in a salute that was also a vow.

"We will make it last."

Her cheeks glowed, and the ember within her was alight – because, just here and now, Senator Riyo Chuchi felt indeed in the right place.

A/N: I love Riyo Chuchi, and I dearly love S01E15 'Trespass' - everyone in there save of course Chairman Cho is just so wonderful. This chapter allowed me to express some thoughts very dear to me - working in the medical field that *used* to be a men's world but is no more, yet is still ruled by so many implicit and unvoiced "rules" and where sexism unfortunately has not vanished in the least made me want to voice Senator Chuchi as someone struggling with the same issues in the political world. Plus, let's face it, the political space is still a difficult space to be for a woman in our world - so hmm... I was thinking that, in the Galaxy we love, it might be a bit the same, especially with someone like Palpatine taking power (ugh...). I'm so, so curious about your thoughts but mostly, I hope you are safe and well! Feel free to message me or to find me on Tumblr under mahizli. Take care, much love, Meysun.