Private Caryatid

[Ala Quin]

Pride was an interesting emotion to have at this moment. But it was a welcome change of pace. So much of her meditation spent had been overcoming the overwhelming spirals into grief since the Battle of Thyferra.

Standing in a stiff parade rest, looking out over Shiraya's Sanctuary, Ala struggled to understand how she was supposed to do all this. Having barely begun to repair her heart after Lorn's departure, and then the Vanguard break away...the incident with the Sith Her ...and then holding a dead Lorn in her arms just like her vision had predicted.

It was a lot. More than one should bare alone. And yet, here she was. Alone among hundreds that called her Jedi-kin.

Suspicions still lingered as to the nature of the man she had killed above Thyffera. It was not beyond the reach of the Sith to have performed some trickery, and she had not been able to confirm from Vanguard sources if Lorn had been seen. In truth, she had no Vanguard sources.

And when should she tell Isla Reingard ? Should Ala tell her. The Padawan's father had already abandoned her to the care of the Grandmaster, if he never came back, and was never seen from again...could that potentially be better for Isla?

So much uncertainty. And so much of it that no one could help with.

But there was one thing that could be helped, and that is why Ala was proud. Proud of a recently promoted Padawan, a woman experienced in politics, which had definitely proven to be Ala's great weakness. Sela Basran could help only so much, and her work as liaison to the Senate would remain invaluable. But the political climate surrounding the Jedi had changed. The Vanguard had changed it. Thyferra had changed it.

And Ala was Grandmaster. Whether she liked the weight of the title or not, she could no longer afford to put a foot wrong.

The door slid open, and Ala's diminutive figure turned towards the entrant. "Ah. Jedi Knight." A tentative smile found its way to Ala's face. "The title suits you."

She stepped forward and extended a hand towards Sira. "It is good to meet you without an entire promotion ceremony happening around us." There it was — just the faintest return of warmth to her eyes. "Please, sit." Ala gestured towards the seats before taking one herself.

"I would very much like to hear what you think of our present situation. Particularly the parts where you think I might be wrong." Her lips pursed together for just a moment as she considered the thought. "I suspect those may prove the most useful."

She settled back into the chair. "And then, perhaps, we can work out what comes next."

| Sira Esmeray |​

 

[Sira Esmeray]

Ala Quin​

Sira entered with perhaps a few too many datapads in her hands, though her blue eyes promptly left the precarious stack to sparkle at Ala as the woman complimented her.

"Grandmaster, thank you."

She offered a bow toward Ala, only for one of the datapads to slip from the stack and strike the floor with a distinctly loud clunk.

For the briefest moment, Sira froze. Internally, she was mortified.

Swiftly, she extended one finger, drawing the fallen datapad back toward her with the Force. It lifted obediently enough, though the motion was noticeably less graceful than she would have liked, and she caught it against her palm with barely enough telekinetic grip to keep it from falling again.

She said nothing about it.

Sira made her way to the offered seat, listening as Ala spoke before arranging the datapads in front of her and selecting one from the stack.

"I believe our present weakness is rather significant, Grandmaster. We are rebuilding our numbers, our reputation, and our identity simultaneously."

She tapped her pointer finger against the datapad's screen. It illuminated, and she entered the code to unlock it. In that brief period of time, she wondered what the Grandmaster might think of her relying on notes. Perhaps it made her look unprepared. Too young. Too inexperienced.

She pushed the thought aside.

"More than that, I think we're reaching the point where… well, there are some significant decisions that need to be made, Grandmaster," Sira continued. "I believe the Order should determine what it wants its relationship with the Republic to look like."

She glanced briefly toward Ala. "If you'll allow me to continue..."

Spoiler: Click if Ala Allows Sira to Keep Going

Sira turned the datapad around and slid it across the desk toward the Grandmaster. "There is this as a possible option. A proposal for a concordat."

The Jedi Knight let Ala look over the datapad before continuing.

"It would address several layers of the problems we're facing. More importantly, it would establish a formal separation between the institutions while still defining how they cooperate. A political and legal firewall, in a sense. If something went wrong, the Republic could make clear that the Jedi Order is an independent institution and that its actions were not undertaken on behalf of the Republic. The Jedi could make the same distinction in return."

Her fingers folded together atop the table.

"And it wouldn't have to be permanent in the sense of being inflexible. The terms could include periodic review and renegotiation, allowing the relationship to adapt as the needs of the Republic and the Order change. We would be defining the relationship without making the Jedi part of the Republic."

She paused, then glanced down at the datapad.

"There may also be a way to address the Vanguard within that framework."

Sira looked back toward Ala.

"Rather than cutting them off entirely, could we establish specific provisions for them? Certain rights, responsibilities, and restrictions, while granting them enough institutional separation to prevent their actions from being mistaken for the policy of the wider Order."

Her attention shifted to a different datapad for a moment, though she didn’t reach for it yet.

"Then there is Naboo, Grandmaster." She’d wait to see if Ala still let her speak before simply adding, “I believe it would be a political disaster for the Order to remain here."

 

[Ala Quin]

How to endear yourself immediately to Ala Quin 101. Drop something.

Ala's face beamed as her eyes grew wide and a smile took over. And then, the Grandmaster mask immediately fell back into place. There was no room in this meeting for Ala's well-known manic energy. She had to keep up the appearance of being respectable.

"Go ahead..." She took her seat and prepared for the singular thing she assumed Sira might bring her.

Instead, she got the whole kitchen sink.

"Oh..." she said, at the mention of the concordat. The mere idea of renegotiating anything made her groan internally.

The Vanguard mention brought raised eyebrows in response. Ala truly hoped the matter with the Vanguard would soon be resolved. Hopefully, everyone would take up the amnesty and the problem would be over. Only Lorn and Acier truly had to go to jail, so far.

And then, when Sira brought up the idea of leaving Naboo, Ala's shoulders slumped just a little. It was not something she had given a great deal of thought to, but upon hearing it aloud, there seemed an almost tragic finality to it. Like a dam had broken now that someone had finally spoken the words.

Having allowed Sira to say her part, Ala smiled softly and silently mouthed, "Wow."

"You came in all guns blazing, now didn't you?" Nothing about her tone suggested she was offended.

"Do you have any recommendations for where you might suggest we move?" Ala asked, leaning forward on her elbows. One issue at a time.

| Sira Esmeray |​

 

[Sira Esmeray]

Ala Quin
​

Grandmaster Ala’s comment about having come in “all guns blazing” seemed to carry no insult with it. Sira felt some of the tension she'd been holding in her shoulders ease, though she kept her expression composed.

The Jedi Knight paused when Ala asked where she would suggest they move. Then, slowly, a smile touched her face.

Sira couldn't hide the spark of enthusiasm that appeared in her eyes next. This was something she had come prepared to answer as well.

She reached for another datapad, this one with a noticeable but small holoprojector built into its upper edge. Her fingers moved across its surface, bringing up another set of files before she placed it on the table between them.

“I've done a substantial amount of research into this and found several strong candidates,” Sira said, her earlier nervousness giving way to a more comfortable certainty as she began navigating the data.

With another tap, the datapad displayed a list of planets. Each was accompanied by a collection of notes.

“I was looking primarily for somewhere within the Republic's interior rather than toward its borders. If we're going to establish a new home, I don't think it would be wise to make ourselves a tempting target by settling somewhere strategically exposed. At the same time, I wanted to avoid a world with an established humanoid population.”

She glanced briefly toward Ala before continuing, her attention returning to the datapad.

“I also considered the planet's natural resources, its ability to sustain a settlement, the surrounding systems, and our access to hyperspace routes.”

Her finger settled on the first entry. The datapad gave a soft electronic hum in reaction and a miniature holographic version of the planet rose from its projector. A second later, another layer of information appeared around it, highlighting the nearby hyperspace routes and neighbouring systems.

Sira gestured toward the projection. “On the top of the list, Vendaxa. It offers the Order a relatively central position within High Republic space, and it has no established sentient population.”

Another small gesture brought additional information into view—resource assessments and environmental data. “The planet is also capable of supporting agriculture, which could eventually allow the Order to become considerably more self-sufficient rather than relying entirely upon imported food and supplies.”

Her attention shifted briefly to the network of hyperspace lines. Her pointer finger brushed over the projection by mistake rather than simply pointing, and Sira's stomach gave a small, nervous turn. She quickly drew her finger back, hoping the little slip had gone unnoticed before she continued speaking, "Its... proximity to the Corellian Run would also provide reliable access to the wider Republic, while its position away from the main artery would offer some security and privacy from the traffic and attention the route draws."

Sira let her hand fall back to her side once she was done and looked up in hope of catching Ala’s eyes again. She didn’t want to go on about the rest of the list. Not unless asked. She was beginning to wonder if she had already gone on too long, or if there was some other concern the grandmaster had about a potential location. Besides, all the information was already there on the datapad in front of the Grandmaster, available for Ala to read through herself if she wanted.

 

[Ala Quin]

The smile on Ala's face seemed permanent now - not a grand, overwrought grin, but a soft lift that gently pushed her cheeks upward. Much to the little elves' relief, Sira was proving entirely competent. Even as her new helper spoke, Ala felt the heavy burden of political posturing begin to lift from her shoulders.

"Vendaxa..." Ala tested the word, her voice quiet.

"...Vendaxa..." It felt strange, catching awkwardly in the back of her throat.

Her face contorted slightly as she tried a third time. "...Ven...dax...ah..."

Swinging around in her chair, Ala practically bounced to her feet. "I am not familiar with...Ven.. daxa." There it was again - that phantom obstruction in her throat, snagging on the syllables. A frown creased her brow, her nose scrunching in that private, deep-thinking way she only allowed when she thought she was alone.

Absently, she wound a long lock of hair around her finger. "You have clearly given this matter a great deal of thought...but seeing this place might be necessary."

The tension in her face dissipated as she turned her gaze back to Sira. "Have you been to Vendaxa?"

| Sira Esmeray |​

 

[Sira Esmeray]

Ala Quin
​

For just a moment, Sira found herself noticing how unexpectedly charming the Grandmaster was. There was something in the way she fumbled over the unfamiliar name, her expression scrunching up in concentration as she tried to sound it out.

Sira promptly set the thought aside; she couldn’t afford to be distracted now.

The Grandmaster's next words prompted Sira to shake her head. “No, Grandmaster. I haven't. Which is why I would recommend sending a survey team.”

“There are some things that can't be determined from records alone. The acklay population is the most obvious concern. A species of large predatory crustaceans. They're dangerous, but they're also native to Vendaxa…” Sira’s voice lowered into something slightly softer, quieter. “...it's already their home.”

“If we establish where they're most concentrated, where they hunt, and what environments they rely on, we may be able to identify an area where their presence is minimal and establish the settlement there instead. Ideally, we could design the settlement around the existing ecosystem rather than disrupting it.”

Sira hesitated. "Though… I realise that may cost more time than may be practical." Her gaze dropped to the datapad again. “I believe the Order should leave Naboo as soon as reasonably possible.”

 

[Ala Quin]

"You are right to concern yourself with the wellbeing of the native lifeforms," Ala said, as she sat not on her chair, but on the edge of her desk. It was not on purpose, but her legs did dangle a little and it took a little scooting to get herself settled on the desktop properly. "Wherever we might go, we must live in communion with the environment...not fight against it...and nature better provide some way to for there to be a caf stand involved..."

The humour was accompanied by a look of mischief in Ala's eyes, as if she were testing some boundaries that Sira might have. It was important to know what sort of working relationship this would be. Could Ala be a little more herself? Or would Sira lose respect for her unless Ala maintained the persistent, and cumbersome, guise of decorum at all times.

"We do have the Lightspire...that would be a suitable temporary base of operations...though it would be a little crowded if we all moved there. But it could be used as a home as we search for something planetside and permanent?"

| Sira Esmeray |​