5 CCs of Politics, Stat!

[Leandros Solus]

Other than Onderon, Concord Dawn was the next best place he called home. Lush farmlands, verdant plains, lively jungles, and all manner of terrain that reminded him of Mandalore. Where it was once a mostly rural agriplanet, the people had become dour and filled with a desire for revenge. It warmed Leandros to see their unity against their foes, but it broke his heart to observe the sudden change in what was originally a pleasant populace. He came here with Lily frequently to teach her more about Mandalorian heritage, and he had been in the middle of a lesson on how absolutely kickass basilisk droids were when he got the call from a confused marauder wondering what the hell they were supposed to do with this woman they had. He groaned, had one of his retinue finish telling the story of how he stormed Corellia on a basilisk, and left.

Leandros was in a tizzy. He knew Keira, the Chancellor, was coming to meet with him. What he didn’t know until ten minutes ago, however, was that her shuttle crash landed before it could reach him, and now she found herself in a medical facility not far from her wrecked shuttle. Some of the medical staff recognized her from the Holonet and, not knowing any better, asked for the big man in charge to come see what was up.

The facility itself wasn’t very impressive, frankly. Concord Dawn wasn’t known for its state-of-the-art hospitals or anything, since it was a frontier world, and he wondered how Keira would react to being in what was basically a medical tent. He entered wearing his typical armor with Mand’alor’s mask, lightsaber bandolier, and carried only a beskad and a pistol on his hip. He saw her covered in soot and ash in one of the medical beds, and he felt, for a moment, a tinge of worry for the woman. He saved her life on Nar Shaddaa some time ago and watched her rise to prominence and form a new Republic. She was a beacon of the very thing he was fighting for and seeing her injured en route to meeting with him made him feel somewhat guilty, especially since it was on one of his worlds.

Leandros approached the bed and folded his arms across his chest as the nurses checked her vitals for probably the fifth time since she came here. ”You’re a magnet for trouble, Chancellor,” he said amusedly, ”If you wanted to make a dynamic entry to our meeting, you could’ve asked to borrow a jetpack.” He hoped the humor would ease the situation. He knew she’d be traumatized, probably in shock, and he was probably one of the last people she’d want to see beside her hospital bed. Unfortunately, he was here, and he likely wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon.

@Sreeya

 

[Keira Zale]

Keira had failed to pass the interrogation the Mandalorians put her through. They recognized her, but they weren’t sure what to make of her. Was she affiliated with Jedi? Was she Sith? Keira had appeared neutral on Holonet, and did that mean she was friendly with enemies? Despite a million questions, they had effectively gone nowhere.

In the end, Keira was happy to be given a bed to rest in. Her feet were horribly sore from the walk across the canyon, and her injuries from the crash were still throbbing. She had been given some dressing for her wounds, and mercifully some painkillers. Keira was about to pop some meds and took a sip from a glass of water when the Mand’alor himself walked in.

Keira sprayed some of her water out in shock, quickly wiping off her chin. Her eyes went wide and her cheeks flushed in embarrassment, “Oh...Uh...I didn’t….expect to find you here,” She sputtered out unprofessionally. She had practiced so many times meeting him again and how she would do her opening remarks. All of that went right out with that spray of water.

Keira struggled with words for a moment before giving him a half smile, “You know, after how we last met, this shouldn’t exactly be a surprise. And you probably know by now I have a flair for theatrics,” She said jokingly, referring to her many appearances in media now. Keira was happy to see he was still approachable, and not the terrifying man she had seen on Holonet.

She began to get up from the bed, but she winced in pain, gritting her teeth. Keira swung her legs over and remained seated, “I was coming to see you. I didn’t want you to be bothered with coming all the way out here,” She glanced up at him, “I hope you’ve at least been taking care of yourself.”

 

[Leandros Solus]

Leandros waved away the various caretakers crowding around them, curious to see why the Mand’alor was so interested in this woman. They slinked off, occasionally shooting them curious glances and chattering amongst themselves. He ignored them and instead focused on the wounded Chancellor. Her alarm upon seeing him was pretty clear when she decided to wear her water instead of drinking it, and that elicited a slight grin. He’d never get used to having that effect on people, even though he knew the way she reacted when they first met, and she found out who he was.

It was an amusing sight: The Chancellor of the Republic on some backwater Mandalorian world in a medical tent dribbling water on herself and stuttering over her own words and all he did was walk in and poke fun at her. She went quiet for a bit before cracking a slight smile and explaining herself. Leandros remained quiet, but when he saw her attempt to move, he took a step forward to try and help. The effort of getting up seemed like too much trouble, so she relegated herself to sitting on the side of the bed to talk to him. When she apologized, he waved his hand dismissively and reached out to grab a chair, sliding it underneath him as he sat down across from her.

”You’re one for a dramatic entrance, that’s for sure,” he agreed, his helmet hiding his amused expression, ”But this takes the cake even for you.” He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, studying her as she winced in pain occasionally. ”Coming out to see you in a med tent wasn’t exactly on my to-do list today. I was in the middle of telling my daughter a story when I got the call.” He shrugged lightly, sighing to himself, ”Story time can wait. Miss Keira Zale, however, cannot.”

”I’ve been… better,” he said, turning his head to look away. It was possibly the understatement of the century, claiming that he wasn’t in a good spot, but things were slowly improving for him. ”And you’ve done well for yourself. Chancellor of the Republic…” he trailed off and chuckled curtly to himself, turning his attention back to Keira, ”…Funny how our lives turned out, isn’t it?”

 

[Keira Zale]

Keira’s face turned bright red when he explained that he had been in the middle of spending time with his daughter. This couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start, and she felt absolutely terrible. However, he moved on quickly and seemed to be in a lighthearted mood at least. Keira smiled back at him, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. She looked at him for a moment, sighing.

“Yes, but I took up my position by choice,” She said quietly, looking at him where his eyes would be, “I….truly am so sorry for your loss,” Keira could never imagine the pain he had gone through from seeing his wife and home all taken from him. However, she did not want to drag him back into thoughts of despair. She didn’t think they were the type to open up about their feelings too easily.

“I wanted to come see you to understand where you’d like to go with the way things are shaping up in the galaxy,” It felt strange to talk about all this while she was in a medical bay, but she very well couldn’t simply reschedule an opportunity like meeting with the Mand’alor.

“I want to be here to get an understanding and reaffirm that I do not want to make an enemy out of the Mandalorian people,” Keira looked down and sighed, “I know some of the planets under your control have sought to join the Republic, and I do not want you to see it as a slight against you.”

 

[Leandros Solus]

Leandros’ smile faded at Keira’s apology and a tinge of red began to show on his cheeks. Since the attack, it was difficult to control his emotions, and his mental state was far more volatile than it had ever been. He’d since worked on that, but every so often it would bubble to the surface and he’d be reminded of everything he lost. He remained quiet as Keira continued to talk, his mind dancing between his own self-pity and the Chancellor’s words. Eventually he shook his head clear of the thoughts, thankful for the anonymity his mask provided. He’d lose the air of authority he held if Keira saw him as the emotional wreck he really was.

Keira had shifted the conversation to something more political in nature. Always to the point, always wondering about the fates of their people – that was what they shared in common. Even here, in a medical tent on a rural agricultural planet, the discussion on the future of their two peoples was at the forefront of their minds.

When she had finished, he spent a few moments thinking and mulling over her words, pondering where he wanted to go with this. ”My people have suffered a great deal, Keira,” he said, addressing her by her name and losing any semblance of formality, ”But that’s how we live. The search for that next fight, win or lose, to gain some measure of glory.” He nodded to himself, shrugging at his own words,. ”We aren’t meant to be some great empire. When I die, the clans will split and fight themselves until someone emerges the winner. Eventually, those clans will turn against your Republic.”

He was grim, but realistic, and though he was talking with her about her own people becoming the target of a war, he felt a swell of pride in how far they’ve come. ”But I’m not dead, and your Republic isn’t an enemy. Most of the planets flying our banner did so of their own free will. If they want to join your Republic, they’ll find I won’t stop them. What you value is what Raz died defending: freedom, and I’d sooner die than see that taken away.” He smiled underneath his mask; Mandalorians wanted nothing more than a good fight and the chance to earn glory. They had thrown off their shackles long ago, and now all that was left was eradicating any trace of their oppressor ever existing. The Republic was bound to absorb their worlds into its yoke, but until that time, the Mandalorian dominion would rule its planets unopposed.

”But that’s hardly my concern. You’re hurt,” he said, gesturing towards her, ”And it’s a bad look for it to have been done on my world. I’m certain this means I owe you a favor. Anything you want; my speeder’s outside and my ship’s nearby.” He stood up and folded his arms across his chest, looking down at Keira. ”I think that makes you the most powerful woman in the galaxy if even the Mand’alor owes you one,” he said, leaving his fate up to her.

He might not have been responsible for her shuttle crashing – and he’d certainly have that looked into – but he felt personally guilty for her injuries on their planet. He’d come to realize that dwelling in his negative emotions did nothing but put him deeper into the emotional rut he found himself in, so offering Keira the chance for him to redeem himself gave him the opportunity to make the both of them feel better. She’d likely turn down his offer, but he was a stubborn, stubborn man, and he already settled on the fact that her injuries were his burden to bear.

 

[Keira Zale]

Keira was more than shocked at his words and how much he was divulging. She never in a million years would have expected him to admit that his people were never meant to be an empire. Keira’s eyes were wide, especially as he spoke of the time after his death. She was even more struck when he mentioned that she and Raz shared similar visions. It was probably the highest praise he could have ever given anyone.

She looked away from him, not following him into the subject change. He recovered from things quicker than she did, or so it seemed with the helmet on. Keira kept her gaze away, tears welling up in her eyes unexpectedly. She bit her lip, reminding herself that this was unprofessional and that she wasn’t being a Chancellor like this.

“She was holding the galaxy together,” Keira said quietly, the tears now falling. She turned to look at him, genuine sadness in her eyes, “Everything….everything just fell apart after Mandalore. Everything. It fell apart for everyone. I was never meant to be Chancellor, Leandros,” Her voice cracked as she spoke, “And you were never meant to be Mand’alor. You were meant to stand by her side just as I was meant to work my way into being the Senator of Tirahnn where that was the extent of the burden on my shoulders.”

“But everything is so kriffed,” She squeezed her eyes shut, more hot tears coming, “There is so much bloodshed, so much pain and agony. What kind of world are we building? Is this the world we want for our children?” Keira looked at him again, “Are we letting only pain lead the way?”

 

[Leandros Solus]

Leandros observed the shock on Keira’s face as he admitted the nature of his people to her. For as long as he lived, his people were his concern; whether they held dominion over an entire galaxy, or a single world mattered little to him. All that mattered was that they had gained the honor and glory they were owed, that they had rid this galaxy of those who sought to prey on the weak. He led his people, but he was their servant, and at the fore of any battle is where they would find him.

Whatever he said had a profound effect on Keira, and the tears began showing as she digested his words. His attempt to steer the conversation away from the pain they felt – beyond mere physical inconveniences – had failed, and Keira began to fall apart. Leandros watched the tears well up in her eyes, and his own face grew hot with pangs of regret and guilt as his mind turned to Raz. He couldn’t stop the thoughts, nor did he try, and soon Keira’s own tears would be accompanied by the immense pain Leandros had suffered in the past year. Again, the mask would not betray his emotions, and even before an outsider, the Mand’alor silently wept; not for himself, but for the people he bled for.

”We lead because we must,” he asserted at the end of her questions. He walked back to his chair, but did not take a seat. Instead, he looked down at Keira, his tears having stopped after their brief return, though they remained on his cheeks. ”We were meant for these roles, we just weren’t ready. Not until it was time to take up our mantles.” He extended his hand to Keira to take. If she took it, he’d help her to her feet, despite the pain of the act were she to do it alone. He’d catch her, should she falter, and if she refused to stand, he would simply pull his hand back in and fold his arms across his chest. He was Mandalorian, and though she was his guest, he would treat her as he would any other among his people. He wanted to see if she was strong enough to stand.

”This galaxy knows only pain, but we are the ones who chose to end its suffering,” he continued, shaking his head, ”Fear conquers fear; that’s how we Mandalorians do it. By counterposing to fear of death a greater fear: a fear of dishonor, of a galaxy that suffers as we did.” There was a steely resolve behind what he said, guided, perhaps, by that fear of dishonor he espoused. Perhaps it was simply the uncaring words of a man whose only purpose is to raze worlds and slaughter populations trying to rationalize the nobility of his goal. The speaker did not know, nor did he care to know. The gods would judge him for his actions in the afterlife. He knew the nobility of his deeds, and the opinions of those who never raised a weapon for their people meant less than those of his own kind.

He looked into her bloodshot and tear-filled eyes, regardless if she rose or not, and continued to speak. His tone was even measured and carried a weight of authority behind it; though he felt the pain of loss, the hope of a better future carried him onwards. ”I fight for a peace I will never enjoy. You fight for a peace the galaxy will always remember. Never forget that. Pain leads the way, but we are its guide, and we determine the path our people take. We are the architects of a better future.” Even despite the nobility of his words, there was a certain... hate that sat in the tone of his speech, suffusing everything he said with darker meaning. She fought with words, but he would destroy worlds and crush populations to get to his goal. They had many similarities, but these were their stark differences. Leandros would always be a fighter, but what would Keira become in the coming years?