"Ma'am you can't go through this way," said a New Republic Guard blocking Rya from entering the Republic Capital Building. She had returned to Chandrila and was trying to make her way to the Holding Wing where Lee was being held for a court martial.
"Please let me through," She explained, showing the notice that she received about the incident on Hosnian. Helpless and feeling slightly pathetic she tried to hold her composer in front of the guard who had no idea she was once a senator who frequented the building with ease. "I have clearance you see."
"May I be of assistance," a familiar voice came from behind her. A voice she detested. Rya turned to find Cain Ato, the man who had taken her senate seat. "Why Mrs. Tersu, what a lovely surprise. What brings you back to the Galactic Capital? A vacation from the farm?"
Ato smirked, dressed in a gold trimmed tailed cloak. The lines in his face showed his age as the light powder makeup he was wearing was caked on more than needed. He pushed back a stray hair into his neatly gelled pompadour as he enjoyed seeing his former rival dressed modestly and clearly unrecognizable to the common soldier. Rya could care less what Ato thought of her appearance, but she did need his help.
"Cain Ato," she remarked as pleasantly as she could muster up. "A man of the people. If you could, I'd appreciate it. I'm trying to get to my husband, Lee Tersu. He's been transferred here from Hosnian."
"Oh dear," Cain said and paused dramatically. He looked Rya up and down carefully hoping to find a trace of desperation in her demeanor but she was unwavering. He would have to speak with her frankly to get what he wanted. "Come with me."
Ato led her into the building and down a hallway away from the holding wing. Rya, puzzled, followed the senator while looking around for familiar faces that might be of better help to her than this scughole.
"Why the relocation?" She asked suspiciously.
"How much do you know about Hosnian?" Ato asked.
"Apart from my husband and the rest of the base surviving the fire, nothing," She lied. She knew Lee and Jules were both being held for suspicious activities, but to what activities she had no idea. Ato grinned which gave her a feeling that Lee was in more trouble than she realized. "Enough of the pleasantries Ato. Level with me."
"I have plans for Hosnian. But this little incident will derail them. Luckily for me, your husband may be the key to repairing the damage."
"What do you want?" Rya said bluntly.
"It seems Captain Tersu is involved in some unauthorized transfers of high ranking imperial officials to the KSC Guild," Ato revealed with delight.
"The Slavery's Guild?" Rya said in disbelief. "There must be some misunderstanding."
"Perhaps. But your rebel cell did have a reputation for going against orders did it not?" Ato suggested.
"If you believe this rumor then why off to help?" Rya questioned.
"As I said, I have plans for Hosnian. Chandrila has served as the Galactic Capital long enough. I know everyone is partial to it because it is the Chancellor's homeward, but we are trying to move the New Republic into a new era. We need a location that will reflect its progressive thinking and practices."
"As well as developers who are lining your pockets," Rya pointed out. "Don't think that I wasn't approached by the same lobbyists you are now fronting for."
"Regardless, Lee Tersu is under investigation and being held for questioning about the transfers. His clearance was used to redirect files of the prisoners' locations. But it's Commander Roy who is in deep water. Apparently there is a witness from the other side willing to testify. You know these New Republic Bureau Agents, they never leave a puzzle unsolved. And if a piece doesn't fit, they have been known to force it."
"Just what are you insinuating Blope-head?" Rya insulted. "Lee had nothing to do with this. The NRB will surely discover that. How dare you accuse the NRB of such corruption. Who do you think they are, the IBS?"
"It's still so refreshing to see that after all these years of politics and war you still have faith in the system's functionality," Ato laughed. "I would have thought you'd learn that in order to benefit from public service, you must take every opportunity that presents itself."
"I believe that is the politician's take on the definition of corruption, you Di'kut," she turned to leave but he grabbed her arm.
"Listen here Rya. I know you are fiercer than you let on and that you still have allies lurking around the New Republic, but any favors you think you can call in will not work in this case. I am your only hope," Ato offered. "If your husband is willing to testify against Roy, I will get him clemency."
"You've forgotten what it is to be a Lothalite," Rya pulled her arm free. "Not even the loth-rats are that cowardly."
"Have it your way, Mrs. Tersu," he smiled his charming campaign poster grin and left her. As he walked down the hall Denz Loncak rushed by him and purposely bumped into him. "Watch it Ambassador."
"Oh sorry there Ato. Didn't see past that glistening cloak of yours. Tell me, how goes that bill for funding of the Lothal Arts Preservation Program? Did you ever find those funds or are they hidden in that bright cloak of yours?" Ato frowned and continued along his way. Denz smiled knowing he had annoyed the senator just enough to please him for the rest of the week. "Rya."
"Denz, am I glad to see you," Rya said and hugged him tightly. He held his old friend and first love gently. He could feel how thin she had become and was slightly trembling. "Have you seen Lee ?"
"No not yet," He sighed. He hated seeing Rya in such a state."But I got the gist of it. What did Cain Ato want?"
"Blood. But I took care of it. He said Lee is under investigation for funneling imperial prisoners to a Slavers Guild," she said, hoping Denz would deny the accusation. She searched his eyes for an answer and found the one she didn't want. "Well I see why he called you before me."
"This is a tough one I'll admit, but I've always liked a challenge." Denz confirmed. "I've spoken to the Senator from Ryloth and he has taken a special interest in Jules's case. His cousin is a top humanoid rights lawyer and is willing to take the case. They're going to come at an angle with her tragic upbringing and play on twi'lek disapproval for all the recent Imperial Pleas."
"What about Lee?" She asked, concerned. "Is it true? Did he help her?"
"Only with the logs as far as I know," Denz said. "That we can probably get dismissed, but that's not the biggest hurdle."
"What is?"
"The Hosnian Base Fire. It was started by a civilian that Lee brought on base for medical care," Denz began. "The woman was his mother."
"Prisa Tersu?" Rya gasped. She hadn't heard much about her mother-in-law and had never pushed Lee to talk about her more than he wanted. "Everyone thought she was dead."
"Well, she is now," Denz relayed. "They are holding Lee responsible for the damage for bringing unauthorized personnel on base. They most likely will pull the grants they gave him for the farm in exchange for his service."
"That farm is cursed. The sooner it's gone the better." Rya said. "Is there any way I can see him?"
"Ry," Denz began softly. "You know I would do anything for you. But before we go there I need to say something."
"Ok," Rya said uneasily.
"Are you sure you and Lee are good for each other? I know you both love one another, but look at what you've both been through, what you've lost, where has it gotten you both?" Denz asked. Rya frowned. She did not want to face the fact that Denz had a point. Lee and her had become ghosts of their former selves. "Lee, is a lost soldier obsessed with keeping a property he hasn't called home in years. You've become a farmer with no harvest to show. You used to be one of the most progressive minds in the senate…."
"I chose to leave the senate, Lee had nothing to do with it," Rya defended.
"But he let you," Denz snapped. "I would never have let you sacrifice such an opportunity. You were always meant for greater things. I knew it the moment I met you."
"I think we're getting off topic," Rya warned.
"No. We're right on target," Denz sighed. "Ry I love you. I have since we were kids. I hate that I was too much of a bantha fodder to realize it back then, but when I did it was too late. I knew Lee had your heart. And I was fine with that because he took care of you, supported you. But now… you both are going down different paths and it's destroying you."
"Denz…" Rya was speechless. Denz was her first friend and she had loved him from a young age until university. Once she realized Denz was too preoccupied with enjoying his youth and the company of other girls, she had decided to focus on her studies to help Lothal and its people. She never thought she'd fall in love with a young farm boy. But where was the farm boy she fell for? Lee certainly was no longer the same person and neither was she. She was exhausted from struggling and wanted a peaceful life. But with Lee's determination to keep his father's promises she feared her and Prisa would have no chance at peace.
"There's no shame in starting over on your own," Denz encouraged. "You both are not the same people when you met. Not to mention you both have a daughter who deserves the best version of you both. She needs stability."
"Prisa has more stability than we ever did," Rya snapped. "And I won't do that to her. Lee and I both know what it's like to grow up without our whole family. I know we're both lost, but we'll find our way."
"You used to say I was your family," Denz said hurtfully, staring at the ground. Rya placed her hand on his shoulder trying to comfort him but he pulled away. He knew where he stood with her, he always had. But he always hoped it would change. There in the hallway of the Capitol Building his hope dissipated to nothing. "I can't get you in. But I'll tell you how."
"Denz.."
"There is a janitorial crew set to clean the floors in about an hour. You can sneak by when the guards check their keycards."
"Denz," Rya repeated, hoping he wasn't too hurt by the realization that his feelings would never be returned.
"What?" He said shortly.
"Thank you," she whispered. "For everything."
"Sure thing, Lieutenant," He smiled as best he could, turned and left without looking back.
Lee shuffled back and forth in his small cell. He chuckled for a moment realizing it had been years since he had been in a cell. He took a deep breath wondering how Jules was fairing. They had been separated immediately once the fire had been contained on the Hosnian Base. Why didn't he listen to her?
"I am a farmer, like my father before me."
His mother's words haunted him as he remembered the tear in her eyes as he tried to pull her from the fire.
He shook his head to clear his mind. He couldn't believe that after all this time he had found her. But instead of being able to bring her home, he had brought about her demise. If he had listened to Jules, or even the shop owner, perhaps she would still be alive.
"Lee," Rya called quietly from in front of the force shield of the cell.
"Rya!" He turned around. "How'd you get in?"
"I have my ways," Rya smiled, happy to see her husband finally.
"Thank Denz for me," Lee smiled. "I suppose he's filled you in as well."
"Yes," Rya said. "He told me you found your mother."
"Yes. She's gone I'm sorry to say," Lee admitted.
"I know," she said, wishing she could embrace him. "Lee, Denz said the damage done to the base will threaten the grants you used to secure the farm. I understand why you are so adamant about keeping it, but it's time to let it go. It's time to come home to me and Prisa and start a new life."
"As always, you forget I know my way around the New Republic policies too," Lee revealed.
"What do you mean?" Rya asked.
"I'm not giving up the farm. I've found a way to pay for the damage and keep the farm, but I'm afraid I'll be away from you longer than we agreed," he explained.
"Are you talking about the prisoner soldier service program? Lee that program is for imperial war criminals."
"If it's good enough for imps, its good enough for me."
"You're not a prisoner. You're a respected war veteran. But now I'm not so sure. What is this business you're involved in with Jules," Rya argued.
"I'm not involved," Lee said. "Jules needed help. So I helped."
"I know it's useless to debate with you when it comes to her," Rya sighed, "But please for your daughter's sake let this cursed land go. No good has come of it. You've done everything you could, it's not in the cards for us to be farmers. Let it go."
"I can't!" Lee yelled. Rya jumped startled by Lee's outburst. He turned away frustrated. "I never thought I'd find my mother alive. Of course I hoped, but I always knew it was unlikely. But Lenore, I know she's out there somewhere."
"Lee," Rya thought of how to best address Lee's optimistic point of view. She didn't want to crush him, but she needed him to focus on the present problem. "It's been so long since you've seen her. You have to consider the possibility that Lenore is gone, or she doesn't want to be found."
"I've been looking for her," Lee confessed.
"And have you found anything?" Rya asked.
"No…" Lee admitted. "But I'm not going to lose hope. I promised I wouldn't."
"If you sign up for his Prisoner Service you might as well be abandoning your family,"Rya scolded. "I've done everything I can to make you see that there's no future in the farm. Maybe it's time for me to realize that there may be no future for us."
"Rya," Lee said, shocked. "Please, don't threaten me. For Prisa's sake. I know it's hard to believe but I'm right about this. I know it. I can feel it. The farm is all that is left. After everything we faced, lost, did, that piece of land is the only future for any of us. We can even build and take in veterans like you suggested years ago, become a safe haven, really make a difference for those who need it."
"The only difference we've made is in ourselves. We're not the same people we once were, Lee," Rya tried to hold it together.
"No we're not," Lee agreed. "But we're not supposed to be."
"Hey! You! You're not authorized to be here." A guard yelled and ran over to Rya. "Come with me."
"Rya, don't lose hope!" Lee called out as the guard led Rya out of the holding wing. He hung his head down wondering if he would ever see Rya or Prisa again. "Don't lose hope, Tersu. Not yet."
