Ask Naboo Old Family

[Sandé A Veruna]

"Sometimes there are things that no one can fix."

~ Padmé Amidala​

The pace of change always moved quickly. It was something she had known since she was a child, but seeing it happen in person was quite different. The Jedi, effectively exiled from New Republic Space, the Sith Empire still blazing a trail of death across the Galaxy, the Syndicates at large, and the Consortium growing in its nationalistic zeal, which had even swept up parts of her own world. For Sandé, new into her first term, it was deeply unsettling.

Yet, she stood here today as Queen Réillata of the Naboo, adorned in one of her many dresses, a floor-length black silk gown, with the royal credit picked out in gold thread around its hem. She stepped off her transport and looked around at the gathered dignitaries for a visit of the 'Apprentice Legislative Program' here at the heart of Theed.

"Before we begin, your Majesty, your guest is here. Shall I ask her to wait?" one of her handmaidens stepped up behind her, keeping her voice down as she had been trained. "No, she is coming with us." the Queen replied, waiting for her guest to approach.

@Mockingjay

 

[Celesté Naberrie]

Celesté stood on a balcony overlooking the city of Theed for the first time since she was a young pilot in the Royal Naboo Starfighter Corps. She had only been a girl then, and her Force-sensitivity had been discovered soon after, but it was a feeling she never forgot. The Jedi Order shunned things like personal attachment or nostalgia. Yet, in the face of the splendor of her home, Celesté could not help but feel the tug of yearning. She had refused to come back here during her Barash, fearing that being home again would make her leave the Jedi Order forever. But when the queen of your homeworld calls you home, the invitation is one that cannot be refused.

She wore a variation of her typical blue Jedi robes—a dress she had taken with her when she left for training, which had belonged to her mother—to the audience. A small crown of jewels adorned her head. For once, she felt less like a Jedi and more like she was home again, a member of the queen's court. But she had to remember why she had come on her way back home to answer the call of Grand Master Voran. Much as her heart yearned for home, she was here on the Order's behalf. Few would find invitations to the Consortium during these times of anti-Jedi sentiment. She had to take what she could get.

"The queen will see you now," a voice from behind told her. A handmaiden, she suspected.

She turned and followed the girl down a long hallway which was lined with dignitaries and others who had come to greet their monarch. At the end of the corridor, she passed under an archway and onto to the receiving pad for the queen's transport. The queen was still young. Celesté was nearly twice her age, and yet, she knew such things didn't matter on Naboo. Her own ancestor had been barely sixteen when she assumed the throne. So, when she knelt, she did so with all the reverence the office of monarch deserved.

"My queen," Celesté said. "It is good to be home." @Nor'baal

 

[Taryst Dak]

The Kel Dor was among the various dignitaries that at the moment surrounded the Queen. He was as always accompanied by his loyal protocol droid, who for the moment entertained itself by quietly chit-chatting with another droid, receiving a few short glares by some of the other people around them.

Taryst had arrived on Naboo to attend to a particular program meant to teach aspiring politicians and such how to do their job, study galactic law, examine the major cultures and planets... Lots of stuff for a six-week-long seminar! Despite all the difficulties, the Kel Dor was diligent, listening to the lessons and the many important people that gave lessons. Today apparently was the turn of none else than the Queen of Naboo herself!

@Nor'baal @Mockingjay

 

[Sandé A Veruna]

She had to suppress a smile as Celesté approached. Being a member of the famous Nabierre Family, the Queen felt a little bit star-struck to actually be meeting her! Gently, she indicated that Celesté should stand, and inclined her head as best as her large hairpiece would allow "Lady Nabierre -" she looked at her guest "- welcome home." the Queen added, loud enough for onlookers to hear with ease.

Come what may, Force-User or not, Naboo was Celesté home, and the Queen would not begrudge her access to it because of the actions of a few. "And you must be Mr Dak?" she asked the Kel Dor "Are you here to attend the program?" she asked, keen to discerene the man's intentions on her homeworld "A sage no-less. You will find the Naboo to be a welcoming people, so please, enjoy your time here." the Queen added, hoping to put the man's mind at ease in a galaxy that was becoming ever-more hostile to his kind.

"Tell me," she aimed her question at the both of them "- what has brought the two of you to Naboo, in what can only be called, 'trying times'?"

 

[Celesté Naberrie]

Celesté rose as she was bidden, lightly taking stock of the Kel Dor gentlebeing as he was addressed. The Force was strong with him. She could feel it humming in him like a soft song. The way it only could if training was involved. Was this Kel Dor another Jedi, perhaps? He couldn't be Sith. He bore none of their dark stain. But he didn't exactly strike her as a Jedi either. Time would tell, and this was hardly the place to ask.

"I wish I returned home under better circumstances, Your Majesty," Celesté spoke softly, but dutifully. She was not only in the presence of the Queen of Naboo, she was doing so as a representative of the Jedi Order. This matter had to be handled delicately. "The Jedi currently find themselves friendless in the galaxy. And while I do not labor under the impression that you can change this with a stroke of your pen any more than I can with my lightsaber, there yet may still be something we can do." She wet her lips with her tongue, gathering her courage and fortitude, before continuing. "This planet has always stood for education and diplomacy. I believe our two people need those things now more than ever. Bridges that have been burnt need to be rebuilt."

She looked slightly behind her at the assembled. Many were young members of the Legislative Youth Program, the future of galactic politics. There would be no better opportunity than now. "I am aware the process of rebuilding them is a long one. With your permission, I would like to lay the first stone here today. By reaffirming my love for my homeworld, by reaffirming the long friendship Naboo has shared with the Jedi Order going all the way back to my ancestor, Queen Padmé Amidala Naberrie, and by sharing a bit about us with those who have gathered here today to learn." Celesté peered out upon the assembled youth again, a twinkle of hope sparkling in her eyes. "Conflict with Force-users will never end so long as the public, and those who become their leaders, fear us." She looked now squarely to her queen. "And the greatest weapon against fear is information, should you allow me to share it."

Her petition made, Celesté bowed respectfully and stepped back to allow the Kel Dor to answer the queen's question. @Nor'baal @samdragon

 

[Taryst Dak]

Taryst's visage remained seemingly expressionless due to the mask and goggles he had to wear to survive on Naboo, but his bow and manners showed that he was happy of meeting the Queen herself. "Yes, Your Majesty, I'm Taryst Dak, of the Baran Do Sages. It's an immense pleasure to be in your presence" he answered to her first question, and let her talk with the other woman. A Jedi, of all things. He had the impression that she bore the Force indeed.

At the woman's second question, he straightened his back some. "Well, I've come to Naboo for the Legislative Youth Program, with a similar objective our Jedi friend here mentioned, so to try better the relations between the public and Force sensitives in general, not just the Jedi - with all due respect, miss" he said with an apologetic look at Celesté. "The thing that personally worries me the most is that ban of the Jedi from New Republic worlds. Will it stop just to Jedi, and of course Sith, or will they extend it also to other Force sensitive organizations like the Baran Do Sages from Dorin and the Luka Sene from Alpheridies, or even worse, ban naturally Force sensitive species like the Miraluka or the Aing-Tii altogether? What's your thought about this concern, if may I ask you, ladies?"

@Nor'baal @Mockingjay

 

[Sandé A Veruna]

"As a citizen of this world, you are welcome here no matter the circumstances." the Queen reminded her gently. She wasn't wrong, there was nothing, legally, she could do to prevent her from entering the Naboo airspace, she was a Naboo, this was her home. She was dubious as to the reasons why the Jedi were so unpopular across the Galaxy, 'bad PR' seemed to have trumped their historic value to the people in recent years. In her mind, there must be an agenda for such a move against the Jedi, and the people motivating such an agenda were who she really found herself concerned about.

"Education is the building block of trust, and I am quite content to allow debates to be held with our students here, on the merits, and the drawbacks of the Jedi way of life. However," she considered how best to phrase what came next "- I cannot affirm a friendship between Naboo and the Jedi, the ultimatum that the Sith Empire has issued is clear in that regard, and I cannot assure the safety of my people should the Empress take umbridge with such an affirmation of friendship between us."

Next, she focused her attention on the Kel Dor, who seemed focused on learning whatever the Naboo had to teach him. "I do not know. I would, however, not be surprised to see the ban extend further. I make no secret of the fact that I am concerned about the wider effects of such a ban, and what measures would need to be introduced to enforce it, and, where I can, I shall raise those concerns with the powers that be."

She started to walk toward the legislative program building "However, I will not, for as long as I am Queen, adhere to a species based ban, should it ever be introduced - on that, you have my word."

 

[Celesté Naberrie]

Celesté merely bowed her head in acknowledgement and thanks of the queen's reply. She had never harbored any delusions that Naboo would declare an open friendship with the Jedi Order. Such a friendship could open Naboo and the Consortium to potential aggression with the Sith. She could not forgive herself if her longing for home put its people in harms way. But she was thankful for the queen's allowance. This bit of education might mean all the difference in the future if it should resonate with the young scholars here.

"If I may, Your Majesty," she said. "I have a proposal that I think might satisfy all parties." She turned and smiled at the Kel Dor man standing alongside her. "Mr. Dak, perhaps the two of us could give a sort of joint lecture on the nature of Force-sensitives. What it means to feel the calling of the Force, the ways in which it can express itself. The fact that some species are naturally born with it, while it only manifests in a few in others." She turned, now again, to the queen. "A lecture without dogma. That way no one can mischaracterize our meeting as a union between Naboo and the Jedi Order. If the students wish to know about the Force religions in our galaxy, we could certainly answer their questions, but for today, I will put aside my own religion for the greater good."

She lightly touched the Kel Dor man's shoulder, a sign of brotherhood, of understanding. "Mr. Dak makes an excellent point. The bigotry we've seen in the galaxy at large has not just impacted the Jedi Order. All Force-sensitives are conflated with the Jedi or the Sith. They should not all suffer for the continued warfare of our two orders. It is our duty to ensure laws are not drawn up that would segregate people who have never touched the Jedi religion, nor seek to fight its wars." Another light smirk touched the corners of her mouth. She eyed the queen, a twinkle in her eye. And, yes, maybe it was presumptuous to speak to a monarch this way. But she was home. The queen was her kindred, even if this was only their first meeting. She would surely understand. "Then, perhaps we can take Mr. Dak into the lake country my family calls home. This world has splendors he should see before returning to his duties." @Nor'baal @samdragon

 

[Taryst Dak]

The Kel Dor rubbed his chin thoughtfully at Celesté's proposal of a joint lecture on Force-sensitives. "Hmm... This actually sounds like an interesting idea miss. We could even call in representatives from other major Forse-sensitive orders and species, if we have enough time to reach out for them. If not, there's no problem" he said, following the women as they paced down the corridor. "In any case, regardless your decision, your Majesty, I'm sure that my people will support you. Perhaps there may even spark a collaboration between the Consortium and the Free Worlds Alliance, although i may be getting ahead of myself, as I'm no senator just yet" he added with a chuckle. "I'd happily join you on a brief pleasure trip to your estate, miss Naberrie. Actually I have my whole day free given that the lecturers decided to give us some free time to rest from the sometimes tedious and heavy lessons we've been having in the last few days" he concluded.

@Nor'baal @Mockingjay