Ask Woman to Woman

[Annelyn Lerytel]

Seated on a comfortable chair in the balcony of a small hotel near the outskirts of Osa-Prime, Annelyn contemplated how the lakes of Osarian were so big that they disappeared in the horizon. Someone could say that they were a sea, but in reality it was filled with freshwater. It was a perfect symbol of how the appearances were deceiving.

She smiled with this thought, her presence in Osarian was also deceiving. Anyone that saw her would think that she was a simple old lady having a vacation in a resort world. However, she was here on a mission. It was going to be a meeting with the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order.

Annelyn would have invited her to visit the Lerytel residence in Gatalenta, but the presence of Jedi had been forbidden in Republic Space. Another of the brilliant ideas of the baboon that calls himself Chancellor. Emil could have been the midless puppet of that spoiled brat Vaisra, but at least he understood the necessity of the Jedi.

The only good thing that Xerxes ever did to the Republic was also banning the Sith. However, Annelyn wasn’t sure if he was going to maintain it. The Baboon seemed to be stupid enough to be easily manipulated by the Dark Siders. Or perhaps by someone with a pair of breasts, like how the Empress did to convince him of accepting peace.

It was exactly to solve this situation that Annelyn wanted to talk with the Grandmaster. Even though she couldn’t help the Jedi in her homeworld, the Gatalentan could at least give some support secretly. In the invitation, she had instructed Alexandria Voran to come here casually, as if their meeting had been an accident.

The Senator tapped her things against the arm of the chair, she was already impatient. The Grandmaster was getting late and Annelyn hated when people made her wait for too long.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

The wheels of the galaxy spun slowly. If Alex had learned anything in her long life, it was that. Patience was a great virtue if wielded correctly. Although, she was mightily thin on patience lately. The predictable slog of the Galactic Senate weighed on her soul. They were as blind as ever. Unable to see the truths that stared them in the face…or rather…unwilling. The Senate took the easy path. Why fight the bloody war when they would smile, nod, and slowly lose their freedoms. The Empire would swallow them whole. That much was plain. History would be unkind to those who turned their back on the Order. The thin, wavering line, between them and destruction.

That was why Alex came to Osa-Prime. A world safe from Republic sanctions but with a Republic secret waiting to meet her. She walked slowly, eschewing her Jedi robes from more traditional clothing. Her face partially hidden from view. Alex disliked the secrecy; however necessary it was. Eventually, she came to stand before her counterpart.

“Senator Lerytel…”She bowed her head slightly. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting.” Alex moved smoothly into her seat.

@LouJoVi

 

[Annelyn Lerytel]

”Master Jedi! It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” Annelyn said, still feeling annoyed for having waited so long for Alex to arrive. “I’m an old lady, if you delayed some more, you would have found only a pile of bones here.” it could have sounded like a joke, but the Senator was being very serious. Who knows how long she would live. There was too much that she wanted to do before dying that she couldn’t afford waiting for a slow Jedi to arrive.

Perhaps Annelyn was exaggerating. For someone her age, the Senator was still healthy. However, she wasn’t going to say sorry to the Grandmaster. She still believed that time was too precious to be lost waiting.

“Anyway, we had much to do and discuss.” Annelyn gestured for the Grandmaster to sit in the chair next to her. “Please, take a seat. Florian, don’t stay here watching us like a creepy statue. Go bring some refreshments from the bar.” she said to her protocol droid, who had been watching the two since Alex had arrived. “Preferably, the Gatalentan tea that I brought. I’ll throw myself from that cliff if I drink more of that dirty water that the hotel serves as tea. It’s terrible!” with these orders, the droid went to retrieve the beverages.

“Master Jedi, I need to say that I’m impressed with you. Even after the recent controversies around your Order, you were capable of maintaining the calm.” Annelyn had seen many people in powerful positions like that of Alex to break with less than it. “I never believed in what these tabloids said about you and Ro. I doubt that Gnome had the size to satisfy someone, perhaps only Vaisra. He without any doubt appreciates small things, like his childish brain.”

“But we aren’t here to gossip, like a pair of old ladies.” Annelyn said humorously. She knew very well that the two are indeed old, with the Jedi being even older than her. “I invited you today to offer some help to the Jedi. At least, indirectly. Did you know that the leaders of the mining companies of Rhommamool are going to meet with the leaders of Osarian today in this same hotel? Some of them are my old friends and they would like to meet you. Would you be interested?” at this moment, Florian returned with the tea.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

Alex took the chair while nodding her thanks. The rumors of Annelyn Lerytel did not disappoint. The woman was every bit what Alex expected. Equal parts direct and brilliant. “Perhaps if there was some truth to the tabloids, I would have been able to stop Emil from his worse impulses.” She shrugged. “But men rarely listen to wise women. A truth I’m sure we both know too well.”

Emil remained a tragic figure in her past. There had once been such hope for him. Only to all be thrown away. “It is my age that gifts me such calm, Senator.” Again, a small smile. “Age gives us perspective. Perspective to know even the worst storms pass.” Alex laughed softly. “But there are times, I would rather reach out and strangle the fools holding us back…but…no one likes an angry woman.” And an angry Jedi even less.

“I was surprised to receive your invitation. Although, the galaxy seems to be beginning to understand they have been played by the Empire.” The mention of the mining companies was of particular interest. “To that end, I would love to meet them.” This was going much better than she could have hoped.

@LouJoVi

 

[Annelyn Lerytel]

Annelyn smiled with the Grandmaster’s comment. Besides her brother, she had met some other Jedi in the past, but few talked like her. Most of them sounded like something that came out of a self help holobook. They could use some more personality, rather than being pieces of stone.

“Yes, without any doubt. Then society wants women to listen to the advice of wise men.” she remembered how during her time as a young politician, many of her aides were male and wanted to influence her opinions. “I've known a great number of clever men and I've outlived them all. You know how? I Ignored them.”

“Age can give us many things, indeed. Including arthritis!” the Senator said playfully, before sipping some of her tea. She missed being capable of doing radical sports without feeling pain in her back. If she at least was a Morellian like the Grandmaster. Alas, she would embrace it. Annelyn would never be young again, even if she decided to constantly complain about her age.

When Alex mentioned the Empire, the Senator nodded in agreement. “I thought that the Galaxy would never see the truth about the Sith.” she moved the cup of tea to her lips. Annelyn loved Gatalentan tea, it was far better than that horrible thing that came from Brentaal and was served as a glorified type of tea. Paying for it was a total loss of money.

“Many of my colleagues seem to be oblivious to the fact that once the Empire conquers all the independent worlds, they will turn their eyes to them.” even if the Sith preached to everyone that they wanted peace, Annelyn knew very well that these were empty words. Only idiots would believe that a group that in all of its incarnations was responsible for the worst events of the Galaxy would be telling the truth.

“My friends of Rhommammool and Osarian share such feelings with me. They also believe that the Empire will inevitably fall over them.” if the rest of the New Republic was smart enough, they would see that it was going to happen with them too. “I’m happy that you also want to meet them. They will arrive in the hotel soon. ”

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

“The galaxy is afraid, Senator.” Her eyes shifted towards the floor. “Fear makes us blind.” Alex turned her head back towards Annelyn. “It is easier to pretend the Sith will leave you alone than accept the harsh reality we are all at risk.”

A reality she had failed to get across too many times. “But the truth is much harsher. Once the Empire is done breaking the Free Worlds…once they are done with my Order…they will turn their eyes to the Republic and the ISC. It is their way.” Another inevitable truth.

“We have seen this holo before. When the Sith rise, their Empire expands until it covers the galaxy…unless that are stopped.” She shrugged. “That is all I want. We have few allies, and I will not be choosy.” Alex was prepared to resort to great lengths to preserve life in the galaxy. The Darkside corrupted without impunity and without exception. Even the strongest Sith eventually feel to that corruption.

@LouJoVi

 

[Annelyn Lerytel]

The Senator nodded in agreement. “Fear is perhaps the greatest enemy that someone could have during a crisis. I believe that you Jedi say that it can blind our judgment, doesn't it?” she said, remembering something that her brother used to say when he had joined the Order.

“I believe that nowadays politics need people with more courage. Many of my fellow Senators are happy in watching the FWA to burn, having the stupid opinion that by doing it the Sith will spare them.” Annelyn made a pause to sip more of her tea. “All of them are only delaying their inevitable conquest.”

“Perhaps we can change your problems with allies. Due to the baboon that is the Chancellor and that stupid Senator of Coruscant, I can’t help the Jedi directly.” at least for now she couldn’t do it. Annelyn hoped that she would find similar minded politicians that would want to work with her to change that. “However, I have friends on the independent worlds that would like to have the help of the Order.”

Before she could say anything else, her protocol droid approached the two women. “Ma’am, the representatives already arrived. They are waiting in the conference room.” Florian said and waited for some response from Annelyn.

“Well, it seems that it’s time for you to make some new allies.” Annelyn said, while getting up from her seat. “Would you give a hand to this old lady to get down the stairs? Not everyone have Morellian blood to reach the hundred while looking like a thirty years old.” it was more of her being playful, but the Senator could really use some help.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

Alex smiled soflty. She liked Annelyn. A rare occurrence these days for the Grandmaster and any politician. “Spot on, fear clouds our judgment and obscures the truth. A simple enough fact that is often forgotten.” She left out the larger concerns for those of them that felt the Force. Fear pushed you away from the Light and made the Darkside ever more tantalizing. Fear spread across the galaxy as the Empire spread. Fear that hid the future from her eyes. They walked a blind path now.

Her own musings consumed her thoughts until the protocol droid returned to announce the arrival of the Senator’s friends. Alex stood smoothly, offering her hand to Annelyn. “I don’t expect much sympathy.” The playful note in her voice obvious. “But it can be a blessing and a curse.” A small sad smile curving her lips. “Even now, I think I may have lived far longer than anyone has a right to live.” She shrugged. “But we shouldn’t dwell on the painfully dreary. We’re both alive and well enough to be a pain in the Empire’s ass.” Alex laughed.

“Now, where are we headed.” She maintained a strong grip on the Senator. The woman was old afterall.

@LouJoVi

 

[Annelyn Lerytel]

”Oh dear, people don't forget it! They know that very well, but only prefer to ignore it.” her years working with politics taught Annelyn that sometimes people only ignored something because it was easier this way, rather than needing to work hard. The situation with the Sith was exactly like that. The effort and money that would be necessary to deal with this problem would make many of the politicians in the Senate turn a blind eye.

With a smile at her lips, Annelyn grabbed Alex’s hand. “This is exactly what I hope to do. I can use the rest of my life to torment these stupid Imperials. Without any doubt I can give them some trouble!” she said, while walking with the Jedi toward the stairs. The Senator would complain with the hotel’s owner that they should put an elevator here.

That old miser couldn’t complain about not having money, like how he used to. With how expensive a room in the hotel was, an elevator was the minimum of comfort that the guests’ deserved. After all, this place was famous among the old people and the stairs were terrible for them. It was total disrespect to have it in a place that advertised as the retreat of the retired. There was even bingo on the weekends!

When the two reached the conference room, with Florian following them, the Jedi Grandmaster would find herself surrounded by several individuals of different species. However, they had in common the fact that they were nearly the same age as Annelyn.

“Annelyn! It's been so long since we've seen each other!” a male old Gran said, while approaching the two women. He used a fancy cane to help walk. “This one must be Grandmaster Voran, right?”

“Sheb, your old goat! It has been since that Senate meeting decades ago.” Annelyn said, with a smile at her lips. “Yes, she is Grandmaster Alexandria Voran.” then she turned to the Jedi. “Sheb Rhoegho is the governor of Osarian, but before he was the Senator of this System. It was he who organized this meeting.”

@Valen Pelora