Chapter: 8 Lord of the Wings
"Freedom is so adamantly spoken of...but for whom?"
The Clone Wars rage on! While countless systems become ravaged battlegrounds between Republic and Separatist forces, another conflict continues. In the Republic capital of Coruscant, battles ensue every day in the Galactic Senate. Overseen by Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine, the senate consists of leaders from across the core systems. As the Republic plunges further into debt within the war effort, some question the conflict's significance. While there are senators who remain silent in favor of the loud majority, there are a vocal few who dare to make their beliefs clear.
It was the moment Elsa had yearned to experience for so long. From the day she'd learned she was to take on the Jedi Trials, she was told Master Obi-wan was taking her to Hoth on a diplomatic mission. Well nothing said "diplomacy" like a droid attack by the ominous General Grievous himself. Since that backfired, Elsa had only endured further chaos on a planet as remote as Scarif. But battle droids, demonic entities and ravenous pirates aside, it was good to be back on Coruscant. Thanks to her master's resources, Elsa was finally able to experience an entirely new type of craziness. She was going to delve into the manic world of politics and spectate an actual session in the Galactic Senate.
She and Master Yelana sat in one of hundreds of stationed platforms. Elsa couldn't help but get excited over seeing so many different species representing vastly different worlds. Each senator stood attentively at their platform, all focused on the older man stationed in the center of the grand chamber. Elsa felt like she was peering down at a celebrity as Chancellor Palpatine himself called the committees to order. He seemed so confident with his words, yet said so very little. He was like a precise, strategic symbol of admiration to her. Then again, so were countless other senators in the room. Their intellectual conversations were all the more alluring to Elsa, who leaned over the platform to listen more intently.
"Careful you don't fall in," Yelana joked. "Find any new role models?"
"About fifty," Elsa quipped. "This is incredible. Thank you for this, master."
"You've earned it," Yelana assured as she rested her back against the cushion. "Sorry I couldn't get us better seats. Everyone looks like specs from up here."
Elsa hastily shook her head. "Are you kidding? This is amazing!" Elsa shrunk, realizing she'd raised her voice and caught the attention of nearby senators.
A blue-skinned Chagrian stood tall beside Chancellor Palpatine. With prominent horns atop his head and lethorns resting from the sides, he spoke in a commanding tone. "The Senate will now hear the case from the planet Avinaria," he announced. His Speaker's Staff made him easily identifiable as Mas Amedda, Vice Chancellor of the Republic. "Senator Finc, you may present."
One of the platforms detached from below Elsa and Yelana. Elsa leaned over the side like a curious feline watching a fish swim below. She'd studied many species, but never had the opportunity to see an Avinarian before. This man was dignified in the way he carried himself. His wide back was defined beneath a navy blue uniform with golden accents. Gleaming epaulets rested firmly on his broad shoulders. The humanoid bird had bright yellow feathers and amber-hued feet. His talons were polished and capped as to not scrape the platform. While his tailfeathers were just as strikingly yellow, their tips looked as though they'd been dipped in the finest, darkest ink. This same, glossy black pigment streaked across his feathered head. His vibrantly blue eyes were focused on the chancellor and his beak was stern. When he finally spoke, his voice was welcoming to the ears. He sounded like an old friend no one had ever met. Someone whose tone of voice was so rich, people just had to listen to know where he was coming from.
"I am Senator Ryx Finc of Avinaria," he stated as his voice amplified across the chamber. "No other introduction can outweigh my own."
Pure poetry, Elsa thought admirably.
Ryx turned to the probe droid beside him so that he could meet the eyes of as many representatives as possible. "People of the Galactic the Senate," he said. "This war has gone on long enough. Every day worlds fall on both sides and its enough for anyone to ask what the true goal is here." Ryx stopped himself. "Now I know we tell ourselves its to stop evil, but we have our own evils in our own nations. Our own Republic is sinking further into debt over this war effort!"
"What are you proposing?" An Ithorian representative asked. "That we stop the production of clones?"
"To do so would spell certain defeat," An aquatic Selkath senator added.
Ryx singled out the Selkath from Manaan. "How ironic," he said calmly. "The Selkath were once a people of pacifism, and here their senator calls for more soldiers." He spun to address the Ithorian and the rest of the gallery. "Unfortunately I realize your views will not be swayed by my words. I have learned this through the observations of the brave few who have also stood against the war. These committees only listen to action, and therefore on behalf of my people-" Ryx turned to Chancellor Palpatine. "We wish to discontinue the military presence on Avinaria."
While several gasps emanated from the platforms, one of the senators dared to yell, "Separatist!"
Such an accusation prompted uproarious jeers while Ryx crossed his arms. Elsa looked to Yelana worriedly but her master merely shrugged. "But he's only begun his statement," Elsa said.
"Welcome to politics, my Padawan." Yelana huffed. "Where it doesn't matter how smart you are, what you went through, or how you got here. All you have to do is talk the loudest."
Elsa shook her head in disbelief and watched the rest of the situation unfold. "You're all completely missing the point," Ryx retorted. "It is the further influences of the Republic that will lead my people to ruin. Avinaria has lost faith in itself and forgotten its values. It puts more trust in these faceless soldiers than it does in its own citizens."
"The clone troopers are the Republic's protecting force, Senator Ryx." Chancellor Palpatine explained. "Their uniformed solidarity brings your planet and every other under the same constitution."
"A constitution you do not have control over," Ryx dared to reply. "None of us do." Palpatine raised a white brow while the rest of the delegates looked on. Ryx jabbed feathered digit to the other platforms. Elsa followed his attention as he singled out a Neimoidian and Muun senator. "It is the corporations who truly run the Republic." A sickening scowl formed across Ryx's beak. "Lott Dod's Trade Federation...Nix Card's Banking Clan...the lot of you play this Senate for fools and fatten your wallets. They gorge on the peoples' hard-earned credits and then wipe their sloppy maws with the desecrated banner of the Galactic Republic."
Elsa's heart raced with Ryx's invigorating words. Though she perceived his claims to be bold and patriotic, she was shocked to find them met with unanimous boos. At least unanimity was easy to perceive with how loud the majority came for Ryx. The Avinarian senator stood firm with clenched fists. He glared at Lott Dod and Nix Card having called them out, but refused to offer any sign of weakness. He only looked away after they had broken eye contact.
"Thank you for such a...vivid description of political economics," Palpatine jested. The delicate hint of sarcasm wasn't enough to sting, but it left a disheartening nick beneath Ryx's thick skin. It seared and festered within as he observed the smugly grinning chancellor. "To withdraw troops from Avinaria is to leave it open to a Separatist takeover. The Republic stands in the name of freedom to prevent such."
Mas Amedda stepped forth to speak. "Senator Ryx," his voice boomed. "You put our system on trial and accuse representatives of electing war over pacifism. Perhaps it is you we should be calling into question."
"Vice Chancellor?" Ryx inquired.
Mas Amedda's brows furrowed as his horns quivered. "You claim no introduction can outweigh your own, but there are those in here who still don't know your story. They would find it ironic that a man of war is here opting for demilitarization and mocking pacifism. Would you care to refute? Did you not serve in the Avinarian Civil War?"
At first, the chamber simmered down into monotonous bickering. Senators mumbled and whispered to one another before simultaneously silencing. Ryx had the floor once more and all eyes were on him. His platform was closest to the Supreme Chancellor's as he stared off into the overhead lights. Where others saw a means of lighting the chamber, Ryx remembered gunship spotlights. The sound of Mas Amedda's staff against the floor sounded like the click his rifle once made. The overwhelming, deafening silence of the room was reminiscent of a bombing run's aftermath.
It was over two decades before the Clone Wars were even a thought. Avinaria had brought about its own chaos, and an eighteen-year-old Ryx Finc was huddled beside a barricade. The warm bodies of his comrades pressed against his as they struggled to share such measly cover. Laserfire erupted all around them as grenades exploded in mid-air. The shrill squawks of wounded Avinarians echoed throughout the fog as sizzling feathers fell to the dirt. Ryx felt one of his squadmates flop against his arm and collapse with a blast through his chest. Two more followed until only he remained amongst their corpses. He nervously loaded his weapon as tears drenched his feathered cheeks. The flags of his divided region were tattered and aflame, yet still they stood above the chaos. He shut his eyes and started grinding his beak as the sounds of enemy Avinarians emanated in the distance. He loosed a horrified yelp as a scarlet-feathered hand took his.
"Come on, boy!" his commanding officer screeched. "If you stay here, you die. I just called an airstrike on the whole damn hill."
"I'm scared!" Ryx whimpered.
"You're a soldier!" she cawed. "You don't have time to be scared, kid! And you don't have time to quit on me. Where's your helmet?"
"B-blown off, Ma'am." Ryx stuttered.
She removed hers and threw it on his head. "No one left behind. Now let's go!" With a wild shriek, his officer leapt from cover and fired indiscriminately. Ryx did as well as they raced to join the rest of the battalion. Amidst the blinding lasers and ear-splitting blasts, Ryx lost count of the lives he'd ended. In trying to survive, he'd obliterated so many others. By the time he'd made it back to base, the amount of blood and soot on his feathers had-
It was like Ryx had blinked as he shuddered from his platform. All eyes were still watching as he stood idle. Rather than block out such traumas, he let them flow like venom in his mind's veins. He cleared his throat and with it, spoke volumes. "In my youth," Ryx began. "I saw things no one should see. And yet for doing so, myself and so many other traumatized souls were considered 'heroes' on Avinaria." Ryx scowled at the word's utterance. "In the end, it didn't matter who won the war if Avinarians were dead on both sides. The Republic likes to take credit for ending our war, but we already undergoing reconstruction when my planet joined. It is because I have seen such horrors on the battlefield that I wish to see a swift end to the Clone Wars. Now it seems all the Republic wants is to prolong this conflict."
Elsa greatly sympathized with the senator's words. He was beyond her years and yet he was still as affected by war as she had been from Hoth. The unseen scars were real, and it was refreshing to see someone speaking to save others from them. "He seems most sincere," Elsa admitted to Yelana.
"Chancellor Palpatine," Ryx said. "My people grow restless as more bases are built to house your war machines. In the past month, we've seen two additional garrisons get deployed in our capital alone. Whatever protection the Republic speaks of is seeming more like an occupation." His final statement left a bitter taste in the mouths of onlooking senators. "Please, Chancellor. For the sake of Avinaria and my faith in the Republic...withdraw your troops."
Palpatine and Mas Amedda conferred quietly amongst each other for a moment. It seemed to drag on as Ryx watched attentively. "Senator Finc," Palpatine answered. "To remove Republic forces from a world under our protection just is not possible. If we were to start with you, then what is to say other systems would not relinquish clone aid as well? Before we knew it, this self-governing...self-appointed militarization wouldn't stand a chance against the Separatists." The Chancellor's words were followed by affirming gestures from the surrounding gallery.
Ryx offered a simple nod. "And so it has come to this then," he admitted. "If you will not demonstrate faith in me, how can I possibly have it in you?" Ryx's voice echoed proudly as he declared, "I raise a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Palpatine's leadership." If Ryx had started a fire before, an inferno was ignited now.
"Can he do that?" Elsa asked.
"I've seen it before," Yelana replied while the Senate descended into madness. "It actually helped Palpatine there get elected. His predecessor, Chancellor Valorum, had his leadership questioned when Queen Amidala called for a vote of no confidence." Yelana cringed at the boisterous masses. "The only difference here is, no one seems to be siding with the Avinarian."
Palpatine didn't even seemed phased by such a proposition. It was as if Ryx was a mere flea nipping at the hem of his elegant robes. As Senator Finc looked across the Senate, he did so with a glare of betrayal. Yet despite feeling so abandoned in a moment of need, he expected such behavior. "There is no saving this Republic," Ryx announced. "Nor is there salvation for the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Under this notion, I hereby declare that Avinaria will secede from the Galactic Republic."
Gasps and taunts filled the chamber until Mas Amedda was forced to call for order. Elsa was so far on the edge of her seat that her master had to guide her backwards. The ensuing chaos was so inconclusive, that the Chancellor was forced to adjourn the session.
"Wait, that's it?" Elsa blurted as the doors behind them opened.
"That's a day in the Galactic Senate for you," Yelana replied. "It is most disheartening to hear of this secession."
"More and more planets slip from the Republic as the war goes on," Elsa mourned. "I thought we were stronger together."
"We are stronger together!" a gruff voice squawked behind her as the tap of talons followed.
A smile crept across Yelana's face as she slowly recognized the familiar voice. "Can it be?" she asked and turned with widened eyes.
A pair of Avinarian Jedi strutted up to the ladies. The master was stockier and shorter compared to Senator Finc. What was most unique about him was his wide, feathered, facial disk. A pair of silvery feathers protruded from his head like a horns and stretched to his brows. With a noble hoot, the Avinarian master narrowed his yellow eyes and smiled through a hooked beak. "Master Yelana," he rejoiced. "It's been too long, old friend."
"Master Chuza," Yelana relished as the elders embraced. "Now this is a treat. Elsa, this old bird and I were younglings under the same tutelage long ago."
He extended a wing to Elsa as she admired his time-faded feathers and the stories they could tell. "You're in good hands, young lady. Yelana's one of the-" Chuza paused as he caught Elsa staring at his royal blue robes. She'd seen them before, only in far worse condition...given they were on corpses in Huzwan Temple. "Do you like them?" Chuza chuckled. "They are-"
"Old Republic era," Elsa answered to the master's astonishment.
"That's precisely correct. I'm positively obsessed with that age, when the Jedi were truly peacekeepers. Now politics have become such a filthy component."
"And it's gonna cost our homeworld," brayed a strident, younger voice. A pale Avinarian leaned against the wall with folded arms. His feathers were speckled with the same blackness that coated his beak and feet.
"Ah yes," Chuza said. "Yelana, Elsa. This is my Padawan, Gav Riden."
He humored the group with a brief nod of acknowledgment and scoffed. "While we're passing the time with introductions, there's a serious dilemma on the line here." Gav said. "Master, there must be something we can do as Jedi to keep Avinaria in the Republic."
"Unfortunately, young man." Yelana replied. "There's no way we can speak in the Senate hearings on this matter. However, if we could arrange talks with Senator Finc, perhaps we could persuade him to remain with the Republic."
"Ryx is a steadfast man," Chuza explained. "If we were to speak with him, we'd only get one shot at it. Two tops if we split into groups. Any hint of overpressure and he'd secede indupitably."
An idea formulated in Yelana's mind. She paced about the senatorial hall before pivoting back to her companions. "Perhaps we can also turn this into a learning exercise on negotiations for our Padawans," she said. "What better practice is there than in the real world?"
"What are you proposing?" Chuza inquired.
"You and I will form a team to speak to Ryx as masters of the Jedi Order. We will present ourselves as older citizens of the Republic and Force-willing we will have some luck. Elsa and Gav will work together to serve as Ryx's glimpse into the future. Since they are both of similar age, they will come off as uninfluenced by a master in whatever they tell him."
Chuza ruffled his feathers and chuckled. "This just might be crazy enough to work. Alright then, here's to keeping Avinaria in the Republic!"
While he talked to his Padawan, Yelana seized the opportunity to put her arm around Elsa. "I have full confidence in your abilities, young one." she said.
Elsa bit her lip. "I'll do my best."
"Of course you will. Elsa, you're the heroic Padawan of Hoth...the vanquisher of Dark Side demons...and soon you will be responsible for having saved Avinaria from a terrible mistake."
No pressure, Elsa jested to herself. She'd gotten so used to feeling like she was 'tolerated' over the years, that the sudden burst of praise felt inundating. Elsa had accepted her recent accomplishments, and would've already cast them aside had those around not continuously brought them up. She didn't want to dwell on what she'd completed, for she believed it would only lead to pride and arrogance. Plus, she felt enough pressure to convince Senator Finc already.
Yelana took it a step further and placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "And if you ever catch yourself doubting your abilities," she said. "Just remember who now has two Jedi Trials under her belt."
"Right," Elsa cringed. "I still think it's unfair that only I passed the Trial of Insight when Anna was in that Temple too."
Yelana glowered. "The Trial of Insight requires a Jedi to see beyond illusion. Your sister lacked the ability to see what you could, and relied on you. I don't know how many times we must go over that."
Elsa hung her head and sighed. "Good luck, Master. I'm going to do some research." She departed to meet with Gav, leaving Yelana concerned about the Padawan's wellbeing.
The Jedi Archives served as one of Elsa's favorite sanctuaries. If she ever had spare time or seem stressed by the world around her, she could disappear into one of its maze-like aisles and bury herself in data. Sitting amidst the cool, blue hues of over a thousand data entries made Elsa feel like she was nestled in an ice palace. She tucked herself in her favorite spot since she was a youngling and leaned towards a computer. Typing and swiping away, Elsa browsed countless panels on Avinaria. Her eyes scoured the historical paragraphs while an orator lectured her through earpieces in another tab.
She overheard Gav's irritated mumbling beside her and removed her headset. "What was that?" she asked.
"Why are you wasting time learning about the planet? I'm Avinarian." he grumbled.
"But when's the last time you've actually been there?" Elsa retorted. She smirked when he answered with an eye roll. "Exactly. The senator is gonna throw anything and everything at us. We have to be ready."
Gav sulked back in his chair with arms crossed. "I don't understand why Senator Ryx would do this. To be neutral is to be weak."
Elsa pouted and slid off her headset yet again. "That's not necessarily true. Take Mandalore for example. Much like Avinaria, it too had a civil war prior to the Clone Wars. When it ended, Duchess Satine had to rebuild Mandalore and declared it neutral in this war."
Gav scoffed. "But Satine also opts for pacifism. That peacetime is temporary until new players step in and walk all over her. If Ryx pushes neutrality and pacifism on Avinaria, it'll-"
"Gav," Elsa intoned. "Do you want to keep your planet in the Republic?" She brandished a fraudulent grin and twitched her eye. "Because all you're doing right now is impeding my efforts to do so while you do nothing except complain. If I'm wrong, please tell me. Otherwise turn around, log into that computer, and do some blasted research...please." Elsa threw her headset back on and resumed her work while Gav remained dumbfounded. He looked as though his brain had lost signal for a moment before reconnecting. As if no one had ever talked to him like that before. With a huff and a groan, Gav inevitably got to work.
By the Force, Elsa worried. I sounded like my sister. That was...kinda neat.
Yelana and Chuza rode the elevator to the senatorial suites. "I'm not sure if our collective calmness is reassuring or unsettling," she jested.
Chuza offered his old companion a grin and reminisced on past times. "We are masters of serenity, friend. It will be our kindred ally as we confront...erhm...speak with the senator. If only we still lived in the Old Republic." Chuza peered out through the glass elevator and observed the glistening cityscape. "It was the birth of freedom for so many. The Jedi were respected wherever they traveled. Not even the stars beyond the Outer Rim were considered limits of exploration. Evils were so easily identifiable, and now they're the highest bidders. The Jedi are a mockery...even feared by some. This is not what our ancestors died for."
Yelana thought on his words and was surprised to find him on the brink of tears. "Chuza," she began. "What you say is true, the Old Republic was a golden age. But it had its own set of unique tribulations. I mean goodness, the Sith had an entire empire back then. We're lucky it's just Count Dooku and his underlings now."
"I suppose," Chuza halfheartedly agreed.
"Our ancestors wouldn't want us dwelling on the 'good old days'. They'd want us to find solutions for our world today," Yelana insisted. "Our only hope is to adapt to the new ways life throws at us."
"I'm sorry, Yelana." Chuza sighed. "But the 'new ways' you speak of are exactly why Senator Finc wants to leave the Republic." The doors opened as the pair made their way down the hall. Their robes beckoned a level of respect that appealed to Chuza's earlier statement. Senators and their aids offered the Jedi passing glances and gossiped about their potential purpose.
The duo halted at a door guarded by a BD-3000 luxury droid. From the back, one would've thought the droid was a woman given its hourglass figure and humanoid mannerisms. With bright blue photoreceptors and a blonde dome standing in for hair, the droid appeared very friendly. Its honeyed voice was all the more welcoming as it said, "Good morning, masters. How may I be of assistance?"
"We wish to speak with Senator Finc," Yelana answered.
"The senator is very busy today," the droid answered. "But I'd be happy to schedule a meeting for a later day-"
"Listen, BD-300." Chuza said. "I know you are following your programming, but this is urgent."
"She has a name," a voice cawed from behind the door. "Minerva, dear." Ryx called. "Who's causing a commotion?"
"Jedi Masters, sir." Minerva answered.
There was a distinct pause before Ryx answered. "Let them in." The doors opened as the Jedi found Ryx swamped with data work. "I was worried you were Trade Federation or Banking Clan goons. I wouldn't put it past them to shoot a laser through my head after I called them out in the Senate."
"It was noble to challenge them and root out corruption," Yelana commended as she and Chuza sat down.
"But the bureaucrats are so far up the Banking Clan's rear, I doubt anything I say will bring about change," Ryx said. "But I digress. How can I help the mighty Jedi?"
"It's more so how we can help you," Chuza added as Ryx raised a brow. "Senator, threatening to secede from the Republic could have major...irreparable consequences. Without aid, your planet...our planet will be exposed to Separatist influence. If you think the Republic is an issue now, imagine if Dooku was to invade Avinaria."
Yelana joined in. "If the Republic intervened in such a conflict, your planet would become a battleground once more. It could be worse than your civil war."
Ryx clicked his beak and sat back for a moment. "You came all this way to make me change my mind. The Separatists would never take Avinaria because we would beat them back. Since our civil war, we have become a united people. Take it from someone who fought in it."
"Let's not forget you are only united because the Republic stepped in to oversee the reconstruction," Chuza hooted. "After the Avinarians slaughtered each other over territorial disputes, an outside power had to step in."
He'd truly struck a nerve as Ryx's eyes widened. He leaned forward with a sneer and refuted, "If by 'stepped in' you mean seized an opportunity to colonize, I agree. This Republic likes to take credit for everything, even against the Jedi." Chuza was about to retort when Ryx interjected. "Did you fight in the war, Master Jedi?"
Yelana glanced at her colleague, already knowing the answer. "No," Chuza whispered. "No I did not."
"Then like so many of those fools in the Senate, don't you dare tell me how our civil war happened when you weren't there. You didn't see severed limbs and smoking entrails through bloodshot eyes. You haven't slept on the floor for the last twenty-seven years even though you've got a perfectly cushioned bed beside you. So long as the Republic resides in the blind decadence of war, Avinaria deserves a chance to be free of it."
While Chuza sat in self-contemplation, Yelana chose to assert herself. "I thought better of you, senator. I'm sorry for what you endured in your war, but you are not the only one traumatized by violence. We Jedi do not sit around meditating for hours on end, and I am sure you know there are those amongst us who serve as generals. I have seen how corrupt our Republic can be. Many in the Order are aware of it and while our power is limited, you do not see us exiling."
"What are you getting at?" Ryx inquired.
"We are stronger together," Yelana intoned. "If the boat is flooding, you don't jump for it. The honorable action is to grab a bucket."
"That still doesn't fix the hole, Master Jedi." Ryx quipped. "I don't know how many times you've visited the Senate, but it's a miracle anything gets accomplished in there. The infighting and deflecting is enough to make anyone lose faith. There's no saving this sinking vessel, but we can build a new one elsewhere."
"By yourself," Yelana spat.
"Avinaria stands with me," Ryx affirmed. "Now if you excuse me, I have to prepare my speech of secession for those vultures."
"Senator," Chuza insisted. "Please reconsider-"
"That will be all," Ryx boomed. "I've had my fill of Jedi, who I once believed were free from the biddings of politicians. Minerva, show them out."
The BD-3000 slid the door open and mimicked her boss' stern tone. "Good day, Jedi." Yelana and Chuza reluctantly departed while Ryx buried himself in a datapad. His stylus rigorously scribbled away as he sneered towards the words.
"And so fail the mentors," Chuza grieved.
"Take heart," Yelana assured. "I believe my Padawan's tenacity will help turn the tide of this predicament."
Elsa's eyes widened as she scrolled through a file among her fleet of tabs. A downloaded image depicted Senator Finc walking beside his people. Other pictures showed him dedicating memorials to those who fell in the Avinarian Civil War. He was knelt beside a crippled, older veteran. Together they shook hands while surrounding soldiers saluted. Of all of the images Elsa browsed, the one that caught her eye most was that of Ryx with his family. He was at a public event and laughing beside his plum-feathered wife. An Avinarian chick with the same plumage as her mother merrily clung to Ryx's leg. "Happier times," Elsa said. "This could all prove useful. What have you found, Gav?"
"I've found," Gav hissed. "That this is a complete waste of time." He bolted up and Elsa winced at his chair's screech. "I could've had three conversations with the senator by now." He stormed off, leaving Elsa to stomp after him.
"Where are you going?" she shouted.
"To deal with this matter myself. This pointless partnership is through."
Elsa had nearly caught up to him when chief librarian, Jocasta Nu, intercepted her. "Madame Jocasta," Elsa gasped.
"Padawan," the elder intoned. "What is the meaning of this outburst?"
Elsa glanced over the librarian's shoulder to see the doors shutting behind her. With Gav long gone, all she could do was sulk. "I'm sorry, Madame. My...former partner was very adamant about working alone."
Jocasta smiled faintly and shook her head. "You're lucky I like you, Elsa. Do try to keep it down though."
They exchanged nods as Elsa spun to see another obstacle. "Yeah," Hans Westgard said as he filed data entries. "Some of us are trying to get work done."
This sideburned thorn in her side seemed ready to kick her while she was down. "What's he doing here?" Elsa asked.
"Hans is on temple probation," Jocasta explained and immediately sensed Elsa's unease. "And he still has plenty of filing to do so he'd best hush up and get to it."
Hans rolled his eyes while Jocasta offered Elsa a wink. As nice as it was to hear about that tormentor being on probation, why of all places did it have to be in the Jedi Archives? Elsa deduced she'd gathered enough information and departed down the halls. As she reactivated her holocom, she realized he had a missed message. She watched as a recorded hologram of Yelana looking disappointed appeared in her palm.
"I trust you're working diligently, Elsa." Yelana said. "I'd expect nothing less from you. I regret to report that Chuza and I have failed to negotiate with Senator Ryx. In fact he seems to have his mind quite made up and will refuse to meet with any more Jedi. Nevertheless, I still have faith you can turn this around."
The message ended and Elsa felt all the more distressed. While she worried about undertaking the rest of the assignment on her own, it was certainly better than working with dead weight like Gav. Still, Elsa could feel the rising responsibility to succeed which her master had placed upon her. Now the senator wasn't even willing to speak with Jedi, making matters worse.
Force, Elsa called. I could really use your help right now. What should I do next? She focused intently, hoping an image or action would materialize in her mind's eye. Elsa loosed a resigned sigh. "Well it was worth a shot," she said. A familiar voice lifted Elsa's spirits as she rounded the next corner. Her Togruta friend, Ahsoka Tano was walking alongside Obi-wan Kenobi and another Jedi. "Thank the Force," Elsa praised.
Ahsoka gave her fellow Padawan a joyous wave. "Hey Elsa! What are we thankful for?"
"You're not looking well," Obi-wan added.
"Just stressed out," Elsa answered and hurriedly straightened her braid. "I see you decided to take a Padawan, Master Kenobi. That's wonderful!"
Ahsoka and Obi-wan exchanged perplexed glances. "Oh I'm not her master," Obi-wan chuckled.
"I am," the younger man behind them proclaimed. His chest was proud along with the rest of his stature. Contrary to such poise was the mop of chestnut hair swaying atop his head. His bold, blue gaze was as memorable as the scar over his right eye.
"Oh," she realized. "I'm Elsa Dellian. Who are you?"
The Jedi was taken aback for a moment. He glanced at Obi-wan who awkwardly shrugged. "Is she serious?" the stranger mumbled. He stepped closer to Elsa, making sure she could hear the mechanisms in his iconic, cybernetic hand. "I hold command over the 501st Legion," he boasted.
Elsa was unsure how to respond. "And...your...name is?"
"Oh come on, Skyguy!" Ahsoka snapped. "Quit messing with her."
Her master groaned and offered a hand to Elsa. "Anakin Skywalker. Jedi Knight."
"The Anakin Skywalker?" Elsa realized.
"Took you long enough," Anakin huffed.
"I thought you were older, no offense."
"And I was just about to compliment your bravery on Hoth," Anakin replied.
"I don't want your compliments," Elsa blurted. "Not from you or anyone."
"What's troubling you, Elsa?" Obi-wan asked.
She recollected herself. "I've been tasked with convincing Senator Finc of Avinaria to withdraw his notion to secede from the Republic. My master has already failed and now the senator won't even speak to Jedi on the matter." Elsa rubbed her throbbing temples as she felt a headache coming on. "I really wish I had your negotiation skills this time."
Obi-wan stroked his beard and contemplated a solution. "You can only carry so much of the burden, Elsa. Such is our role as Jedi...to maintain the balance of order, but not eliminate the free will of the people." he said. "Ultimately the decision will be the senator's."
"But won't it be detrimental if Avinaria leaves the Republic?" she asked. Ahsoka curiously looked to the others for their response.
"In my personal opinion," Anakin considered. "Absolutely. The Republic is the galaxy's safe haven. It brings peace, freedom, justice, and security to countless worlds. We can't risk Avinaria becoming a Separatist occupant, battleground, or both. If it's your responsibility to change this senator's mind, you need to do everything possible to do so."
"But how can I even get close enough to him if he won't speak to Jedi?" Elsa questioned.
Ahsoka paced for a moment before snapping her fingers. "Padmé!" she exclaimed.
"Padmé?" Anakin choked.
"Who-mé?" Elsa wondered.
Anakin swiftly cleared his throat. "Senator Amidala of Naboo," he answered so formally. Elsa recognized that name with her master's story. If she was the queen who had the power to get Chancellor Valorum ousted, she was certainly influential. "You might be onto something, Snips."
"Perhaps she could arrange a meeting between you two," Obi-wan realized.
It was reinvigorating to be surrounded by so many supportive Jedi. Unlike Yelana, this trio had offered Elsa advice beyond blind praise. Anakin nodded and dialed on his comms. "I'll see what kind of arrangement I can work up," he said.
Minutes felt like hours in the senate suite, but Elsa had to trust Anakin's judgement. With the windows dimmed and not another soul to be found, Elsa chose to activate her lightsaber. She stood in the spacious, carpeted center of the room and kept her blade at low-guard position. "Wide angle," Elsa whispered to herself. "Relax the wrist. Flick upwards and roll it back." She took a massive, calculated step and shifted her weapon above her head. "Keep it balanced...and strike." Elsa forced her hands back to her starting stance. "Don't get carried away. Keep it controlled. Breathe."
Practicing her saber technique only made her miss her sister. While part of her worried such attachment was problematic, Elsa made an exception considering how stressed she'd been. She withdrew her holocom and called Anna, who surprisingly answered. Elsa was perplexed as to why her sister's head was bobbing through the projection.
"Hey sis!" Anna grunted.
"Padawan!" Mattias scolded from an unseen region.
"What?" she panted. "I can do crunches and take a call."
"You got two minutes."
"How's Form VI treating you?" Anna asked.
"Niman seems to suit me," Elsa admitted. "I have you to thank for that. It's helping keep my mind off this political mess I've been whisked into."
"Well you're an up and coming Jedi Knight. I'm sure you can handle it."
Elsa frowned at her sister's words. "So are you, Anna. It wasn't fair that I got to pass the Trial of Insight and you didn't."
"Hey, you saw through the illusions," Anna replied sounding extremely resigned. "I'm the one who thought I'd killed you."
"But-"
"Elsa," Anna interrupted with a beaming, yet questionable smile. "You're flying your own ship. I'm in one too. Mine's way cooler, but we're still heading on different paths towards the same goal. When I pass my trials, I'll earn them myself."
"Times up!" Mattias barked.
"Gotta go, sis." Anna said. "Good luck with your politics!"
The call ended and left Elsa distraught. She sought to center herself through more saber practice. She raised her weapon just as the doors before her opened. Senator Padmé Amidala entered and braced for the worst. "Oh sorry!" Elsa gasped and hurriedly deactivated. "I was just...practic-...no meditating...um...Form VI is also known as the Diplomat's Form! I was just channeling my inner-" Elsa ceased her rambling.
Padmé stopped reaching into her sleeve and sighed. "You must be the Padawan that Master Skywalker was talking about," she said. "Elsa, right?"
"Yes ma'am." Elsa answered nervously.
Padmé's steely brown eyes looked Elsa up and down while she hummed thoughtfully. "You should fit," she considered. One of her aids approached with a set of mauve robes identical to hers. "Change into these and meet me outside. I could only get us a small time window so don't linger."
Rushing to wear the fine garments proved to be easy. Each intricate piece was significantly smooth against Elsa's skin. Once she draped the soft hood over her head, only her hands and face were visible. Despite being within the safe confines of the Senate building, Elsa found herself torn on whether or not she should bring her lightsaber. After stowing it beneath the bulk of her robes, she rendezvoused with Padmé outside.
"Not bad," the senator admitted. "You get to be one of my handmaidens for the day. You can take a break, Teckla."
Padmé's true handmaiden departed with a dutiful nod, leaving Elsa to wriggle in her garbs. "Do you think it'll work?" she asked.
"I disguised myself as a handmaiden while I was queen of Naboo and no one suspected a thing." Padmé peered behind Elsa. "But walk beside me instead of trailing behind. You're an assistant, not a slave."
"Right," Elsa gulped and scurried to Padmé's left. She admired the senator's distinct headdress and wondered if it was composed of her real hair.
"I've arranged a meeting with Senator Finc in the suite above this one. He knows I stand against the war, so was willing to hear me out. During our encounter, I'll step out and that will be your opportunity to speak freely to him."
"Thank you for this," Elsa added.
"As much as I respect Finc for calling out the Republic's deeply-seeded corruption, I don't wish to see Avinaria leave and become susceptible to Dooku's wiles."
"Then may the Force be with us in there," Elsa admitted as they took the elevator. Curiosity had prodded her long enough until she finally asked. "Senator Amidala...when you were reaching for your sleeve back there. Did you have a-"
"Let's just say I'm no stranger to having bounty hunters and assassins make attempts on my life," Padmé asserted. "I've got to have contingencies."
They reached the conference room and found Ryx getting a water refilled by his BD-3000. "Thank you, Minerva." He said and turned to the ladies. "Senator Amidala, I was worried you were going to make me late for my speech."
"Thank you for seeing me on such short notice," Padmé replied as they shook hands.
"And who is this?" Ryx asked and observed Elsa. "Is Teckla taking the day off to be with her children?"
While Padmé covered Teckla's whereabouts, Elsa contemplated whether or not she should speak...or if she should even give her real name. He didn't know her. Or did he?
"This is Menzel," Padmé answered. "She's a newer handmaiden so please be patient with her."
"I am honored to meet you, Menzel." Ryx said. "Class, rank, stature...it's all meaningless. I'm only a senator so I can help people see that we all have value. Even droids. That's why she's got a name instead of a serial number." He gestured to Minerva and took a seat. "It pains me to leave the Republic," Ryx admitted. "But it's come to this, Senator Amidala. Surely you agree that the Banking Clan and Trade Federation are playing us all."
"I do," she concurred. "But-" Ryx's grin vanished as Padmé threw up a hand. "Hear me out. Naboo is staying to fight this. I don't think I could walk away from the Republic knowing I could've done more. Not a day would go by where I wouldn't rue the day I let the Senate get the best of me."
"Your philosophy is admirable," Ryx admitted. "But that's your crusade."
"It could be ours," Padmé suggested. "You're not the only Senator who's lost faith in the system."
"Just the only one willing to make noise," Ryx grumbled.
"There are others. Senator Farr of Rodia, Organa of Alderaan, Mothma-"
Ryx scoffed. "I see where you're going with this so I'm just gonna stop you right there. I know those names, and I also know Avinaria will not join that Loyalist Committee. It's also not much of your choice whether Naboo leaves the Republic or not so your relation to my circumstance is discredited. The Supreme Chancellor hails from Naboo, and I'd be damned before Palpatine permit anything to happen to that planet."
Padmé's composure was remarkable. She sat up while discreetly activating a signal on her comlink. "I'm sorry," she said. "I have to take this."
She stepped out while Ryx impatiently checked the time. "Everyone's out to get something," he muttered. "Don't let anyone take advantage of you, Menzel."
"No sir," Elsa answered while her heart pounded within. Once the door closed, she realized she was sealed with the beast himself. This would be her only shot at changing the fate of an entire planet. Yelana, Chuza, Gav, and the rest of the Republic were all counting on her. She opened her mouth several times to speak, but couldn't find the words. It was only a matter of time before Ryx caught on.
"I'm not like other senators," he shared. "I'm not sure what your relationship with Amidala is like, but you can speak freely here."
Elsa took a deep breath and guzzled her glass of water. "Do you love your family?" she asked.
Ryx's brows furrowed as he swiveled in his seat. "Excuse me?"
"Your wife and daughter. You love them right?"
"Of course I do," he replied. "We're expecting a second chick any day now and I'd already do anything for her."
"Even raise your wings?" Elsa asked.
Her question was enough to make Ryx freeze. His blood ran cold as he set his drink down. "How do you know of that phrase?" he asked.
"It's a battle cry, yes?" Elsa stuttered. "To raise one's wings is-"
"To go to war," Ryx finished. He uttered the full phrase in his native tongue through chirps and chitters. "Who are you?" he asked.
"You didn't answer my question," Elsa asserted. "Do you love your family enough, that you recognize being without Republic aid puts them at greater risk for Separatist attack?" Ryx thought on her words as she continued her bombardment. "That through secession, you tear down the gates and place a target on every Avinarian's back? And that if war comes to your doorstep, you will have no choice but to raise your wings again? So that the same invisible scars the civil war left you with can damage so many others?"
"YES!" Ryx squawked and Elsa shuddered. Instantly recognizing the fear in her eyes, he backed away and let his feathers relax. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "What you say is true, but all of those are risks I am willing to take. I am aware of the atrocities committed by the so-called Separatist Alliance, and they scare me. But what scares me more is not actually having a say in what happens to my planet. Being under the Republic, I've watched countless voices...my own included...get drowned out while the worst decisions take over. The Galactic Senate plays with planets and our resources in the name of freedom. This isn't a Republic, it's a dictator's empire lurking beneath a series of poorly-polished ethics." Ryx approached Elsa, only gentler this time. "I've had too many coincidental confrontations today. Who are you, really?"
Elsa couldn't hold it back any longer. With a resigned sigh, she removed her hood and hung her head. Her platinum blonde, Padawan braid sloped over her shoulder while she unfastened her cloak. Between the braid and the saber revealed tied to her sash, Ryx pieced the rest of her identity together himself. "I'm not even mad at this point," the senator huffed. "You Jedi are resourceful, I'll give you that."
"We just want to help," Elsa explained.
"But think about who you're really acting on behalf of," Ryx said. "When did the Jedi have a say in politics? At least like this? The keepers of the peace made their point to me earlier, and I countered with mine. You are young, Menzel. I like to think someone put you up to this but you're more of a free thinker. Take a moment, search into that Force of yours, and think for yourself for once. Now, tell me what you think I should do."
Elsa felt overwhelmed, yet at ease. It was such a peculiar juxtaposition as she stood before Ryx. She considered his words and searched the Force for answers. She willed it to guide her as she recalled how intense Chuza, Gav, and Yelana were.
"Elsa, you're the heroic Padawan of Hoth...the vanquisher of Dark Side demons...and soon you will be responsible for having saved Avinaria from a terrible mistake." Yelana had told her.
"If it's your responsibility to change this senator's mind, you need to do everything possible to do so." Anakin's words were so stern.
"You can only carry so much of the burden, Elsa. Such is our role as Jedi...to maintain the balance of order, but not eliminate the free will of the people." Obi-wan had spoken calmly.
Elsa brought herself back to the moment and looked at Ryx. He wasn't a senator serving as a goal to further any objective. He wasn't part of her Jedi training. He was a father and a war veteran. He was a man preaching value to a choir of charlatans. They were both people just trying to find their way in a world too wild to comprehend yet simple enough to venture through. "Senator Ryx," Elsa began. "I think..."
The Senate Chambers were packed as representatives congregated onto platforms. Yelana had secured one for their group and was relieved when Elsa arrived. "I was beginning to think you'd bailed on us," she said.
"Sorry I'm late," Elsa replied and quickly took a seat. "It wasn't easy, but I managed to talk to Senator Ryx."
Gav nearly combusted in his seat. "How?" he cawed. "I couldn't even get through the Senate security on the first level! And they said he wasn't speaking to Jedi anymore. What kind of trickery did you pull?"
"Enough," Chuza scolded his Padawan. "What matters is that Elsa spoke with him. Had you been patient, perhaps you might've been with her. But this is why she's two Jedi Trials ahead of you."
Elsa sunk back away from her peers and looked over the platform. She clenched the railing as Senator Finc entered the chamber. He wasn't as proud this time, and sported a rather solemn expression. He gave her a nod before continuing onward. Yelana noticed the senators gesture and gave her Padawan a thumbs up. Palpatine and the rest of the Senate watched as Ryx's platform hovered to the center. He looked to a datapad where he'd written a concise speech while probe droids swirled around him. This time, the eyes of the galaxy were upon him. Whether they were moguls in their lounges, pariah in the slums, or even soldiers tuning in from the frontlines, people from across the stars were watching.
With a staunch breath, Ryx decided to shut down his datapad. "If I am to speak on behalf of millions of Avinarians, I will speak to your faces." He said. "I will speak beyond what has been written through rage and frustration. People of the Republic, to raise one's wings is to go to war. This Avinarian proverb may seem simple, but it means so much more. It means to lay your heart on the line in the name of all you hold dear. It calls for you to stand against the insurmountable waves of tyranny, even when others stand in disagreement. Some of you believe me to be a radical...or even a fool for my views on the Republic. But this is Avinaria's will, and the will of the people shall be heard." Ryx stood tall with vigor in his heart as his voice boomed through the speakers. "It's ironic that in a galaxy this vast, we think ourselves so huge. Each and every one of us has worth, and that counts for the people we represent. But this Republic has indeed lost sight of those principles. It thinks itself to be the supreme force in this galaxy when there is still so much to learn. When you look at it that way, it makes this war and the Separatists themselves all the more believable. It's true, the Republic stepped in to help Avinaria rebuild after our civil war, but it wasn't long before they took advantage of our natural resources. Their assistance became an occupancy. If Avinaria continues under the Republic banner, we will completely lose sight of who we are. The corporations will ravage our beautiful world in the name of protection and no one here would lift a finger to stop it. We'd pass bills that'd get struck down while my people looked to me with betrayal in their eyes. So long as I live, I will fight so that the continued suffering of my people never comes to pass." Ryx turned his focus to Palpatine. "Supreme Chancellor, I have concluded that there is no place for Avinaria in this Galactic Republic. This is my official call of secession." Elsa smiled faintly at his words and felt a lone tear drip down her cheek.
Palpatine peered over at the glaring Mas Amedda before looking to Ryx. "Senator Finc," the chancellor began. "I may suggest you reco-"
"You may not," Ryx asserted and took one last look at the chamber. As he departed this time, he was met with an eerie silence. Palpatine maintained a steady, spiteful glare on the Avinarian. Heads swiveled as Ryx's platform hovered away and with it...and entire planet. As Elsa's gaze returned to the platform, she realized all of the Jedi were staring at her with furious faces.
Elsa stood against the wall of an emptied corridor while the others scorned her. She felt like a prisoner against a firing wall, forced to endure a deadly barrage against her mentality. "This is an outrage!" Chuza squawked. "The saddest day in the galaxy since the destruction of Taris! No, the obliteration of the-"
"No one was killed," Elsa quietly defended.
"You don't get to-" Yelana stopped herself from raising her voice. "Elsa, I thought you spoke to Senator Finc. What did you tell him?"
"I know you wanted me to keep him in the Republic," she answered.
"That was the whole point," Gav growled.
Elsa ignored his interruption and breathed. "But his mind was made up. Everything we were doing was strengthening his belief about the Republic. He was onto something about the Jedi being controlled by the politicians." She thought on Obi-wan's words. "We maintain balance, but do not extinguish the will of the people. That's what I told him, and that only he can decide what is best for Avinaria."
"He's a senator!" Chuza screeched and flailed. "You're a Jedi. The Force gives you an innate advantage over those who lack connection to it. You had every right to invoke that you outranked him on that level and were supposed to advise him."
"All people have value," Elsa countered. "I used to admire the Old Republic, but your archaic perspective calls for the death of equality."
"I can't listen to this stupidity any longer." Chuza grumbled. "You've raised a fine one, Yelana."
"As if your Padawan helped!" Yelana barked back. "Or you for that matter. You talk down to Elsa yet you cowered when faced with the senator yourself."
"Don't try to shake this off, Yelana. Your star Padawan has a new title: The Jedi who lost the Republic Avinaria! Put that on a plaque in the Archives!"
Elsa hugged herself and wished to be the smallest being in the hallway. Because of her actions, two childhood friends had become furious enemies. She watched them exchange vexing insults while Gav stared her down. She couldn't take it anymore and stormed off. The Avinarian Jedi trudged away and left Yelana to chase after her.
"Elsa!" she called. "Wait!" Elsa halted as Yelana caught up. "I don't understand. None of this would've happened if you'd just followed the plan."
"You weren't there for me," Elsa admitted. "You haven't been. You-...you said you would be but you were just fighting your friend back there. I did what was right for Avinaria, not for the Republic."
Yelana crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. "Then where can you say your allegiance rests? Because as you get older, wherever you go, it will be called into question."
"I am a Jedi," Elsa stated. "My allegiance is to peace and democracy. Inside and outside of the Republic." Yelana didn't have an answer as Elsa sighed. "I'm sorry I let you down, but I'm not sorry for what I did. I am not perfect and my recent accomplishments have made you overconfident in me. This is why Anna deserves to pass her Trial of Insight too. There was a moment in the temple where I was almost killed by the demonic illusions, but Anna saw through them. She saved my life. I am my own person with weaknesses and bizarre ways of going about things." Elsa ran off as Yelana remained silent.
Ryx was taking a final look out his office window when he heard Minerva calling. "Sir," she computed. "The handmaiden turned Jedi is here to see you."
Ryx spun with a smile only to see a Padawan on the verge of tears. "Menzel? What's wrong? This is a joyous moment."
"My real name's Elsa," she admitted. "I just...I know you said to think for myself and I did. But I feel like it cost me my master and the other Jedi."
"In time you'll learn that others don't always stand by you when you speak your mind. But, you'll also see that you can stand stronger alone and even find like-minded strangers." Ryx brought himself closer. "A new day dawns for Avinaria and it's thanks to us that it will get that chance free of Republic influence. For what it's worth, I'm proud of you. Is it okay if I...are Jedi...allowed to-" He spread his wings for an embrace as Elsa nodded.
She sunk into his chest and felt his feathers brush against her back. Only then did she permit her tears to flow. "There is no emotion," she uttered. "There is peace."
"Oh for feather's sake," Ryx grumbled. "Go ahead and cry as long as you need to here. I won't judge. Will you, Minerva?"
"No sir," the droid assured.
Elsa returned the embrace to Ryx and wiped her tears. "I'm curious, Elsa." he said. "I know Jedi indoctrination starts young but, where are you from?"
"Aren," Elsa sniffled.
Ryx winced. "I'm so sorry."
"Why?" Elsa asked.
He was surprised she didn't know more about her homeworld. "It's got quite a civil war of it's own going on now."
Elsa shook her head in disbelief and slouched back into a seat. "Would you mind telling me about?"
Ryx checked the time and sat across from her. "Minerva," he said. "Fix me something strong to drink. If I'm talking about Aren, I'm gonna need it."