Private Us and Them

[Aerys Yvarro]

IMPERIAL + LOST SOLDIER
COMMONWEALTH CITIZEN
D O S U U N

Thale Ostidus
​

Aerys had been summoned before by the Secretariat to Governance Row before. She had ignored them before as well, the Board of Governors had submitted the request that she be involved in some way with the Commonwealth's government. Aerys had elected to not be involved at all, and yet they arrived all the same. She had come to enjoy the solitude that being out in the country afforded her. Watched in awe as Dosuun pulled itself together, as it evolved yet again in the face of an ever-changing galaxy. She was sure that their people, the government and those who had an active hand in it had been rather proud of themselves. She busied herself outside of her estate, a walk about the gardens to ease her mind.

Jasper and Rupert had opted to chase whatever small creature had the misfortune of catching their attention. The two dogs were quite dear to her and were her primary source of companionship these days. Although the visit from Kirie was quite nice it had come and gone and Aerys was once again left to her thoughts. When her servants had informed her of yet another summon, Aerys only gave another look. While her sister had taken to destiny's call, Aerys opted to ignore it altogether. She wasn't in a position to lead anyone, she placed her hands at her back and continued her walk. Little did she know then that the call to come forth to Avalonia was not to be as easily ignored this time.

 

[Thale Ostidus]

The transport Thale traveled in landed half a kilometer away from the estate. The craft touched down in a small clearing, its engines kicking up dust that billowed out in an ever growing circle. The vessel was barely on the ground when the exit ramp was lowered, crushing grass and fallen branches alike. Four Commonwealth Commandos, wearing the distinctive white armor that was known across the galaxy in one iteration or another spread out from the landing site, assuming positions at the four corners of the landing site. They inspected the area, checking every potential vector of threat, before finally sending word for the last individual on the transport to emerge.

Thale Ostidus, formerly an admiral in the Seoul Defense Fleet, and newly elected to the position within the Commonwealth Secretariat, descended the ramp with quick, confident strides. His crisp white uniform gleamed in the light of the day, and he tugged it down around the waist to ensure that it was kept in the most presentable state possible. After conferring with the commandos, Thale set off towards the estate in the distance, two of the soldiers coming with him as escort, the others remaining with the transport.

It did not take long for them to come in sight of the estate, the short hike invigorating for Thale after having spent the better part of two months locked up in governmental buildings on half a dozen planets. With a wave of a gloved hand, Thale had the two commandos wait near the tree line as he continued on alone towards the estate. No matter his rank, he was a guest here, and it would ne rude to arrive with soldiers unannounced. Such things had their place, but today, Thale would take a different approach.

Aerys Fortan

 

[Aerys Yvarro]

IMPERIAL + LOST SOLDIER
COMMONWEALTH CITIZEN
D O S U U N

Thale Ostidus
​

It wouldn't have been missed. The site of the ship as it descended, Aerys perked up a brow as she watched it land as close to her home as it could get. It dawned on the former stormtrooper that the Commonwealth was going to pursue her and at this point, there'd be no running from it. As quite literally it was on approach to her. Should have let the Mawites dispatch me on Tython, Aerys dryly mused to herself. A lot had changed from the days of the First Order but a lot had also remained the same, as the site of Stormtroopers now called Commandos wasn't missed either. The gentleman on approach wasn't someone she recognized and perhaps that was for the best.

Aerys sighed and exhaled, already the gears in her mind turned on how was she going to weasel her way out of this. Whatever it was he had come to speak to her about, she wanted no part of it. Shifting her lips to the side as she headed back into her home from the gardens. Aerys wondered about placing a call to one Corellian, in particular, to help get her out of there. The woman had plenty of holes to hide in. They'd likely find her anyway if it was the one thing they carried on from the First Order, their ruthless intelligence services practically inherited from the FOSB. This meant that it would not matter where she went, not even Port Avalon out toward the backend of the sector would hide her from them.

"Have the sitting room prepared for our, guest," ordered Aerys tongue behind her teeth, irritated, to say the least. Her home was still as warmly decorated as it had been when she received Kirie. Gifts, and thank yous from family on Galidraan I when she aided in their evacuation. Mementos of her service with the then New Imperial Order before it became the tyrannical empire. Old and older still were the flags of the First Order, from its founding in the late 840s to the last of it when it finally went under in the late 860s from her sisters' turn at Grand Moff.

Black was still the only color she felt comfortable wearing. From head to toe, Aerys was dressed in plain but complimentary black slacks, a belt, and a button-up shirt. "Lead our guest to the sitting room once they've made themselves known," were the added orders from Aerys as she made her way to the sitting room herself.

 

[Thale Ostidus]

Thale made his approach towards the front of the estate, dark brown eyes taking in every well kept and graceful detail. There were those in the galaxy that thought of Imperial architecture, or First Order architecture for that matter, as a bland and imposing model. To them, the only purpose of the Imperial aesthetic was to dominate and look down upon all those beneath them. Thale though saw the truth of it. Security and prosperity. That is what Imperial designs embodied. It inspired Thale every time he saw it, and there would be much more in the future.

A woman waited before the doors of the estate, her hands folded in front of her, eyes watching Thale closely. He saw intelligence in those eyes, and he expected nothing less. The Fortan family were well known for their...abilities, Thale expected that those in their service would be no less impressive with their talents. "Welcome sir," the woman said, her voice graceful, and cautious, "we were not expecting guests today. Might I know your name so that I can inform the Lady of the Estate?"

Thale inclined his head in greeting, the corner of his mouth quirking up. "My name is Thale Ostidus," he said, folding his arms behind his back, "Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Dosuun. I have come to speak with Aerys Fortan." The woman nodded her head, bowing slightly, before opening the doors to the estate and leading Thale inside. He took notice of the banners, reliefs and other mementos of the past, each one telling a story and shaping Thale's impression of the woman he had come here to meet.

He was ushered inside a sitting room, the door closing behind him, but not before the woman escorting Thale introduced him, and leaving Thale alone with the woman that had been giving the leading members of the Commonwealth a headache for so long. Thale inclined his head towards Aerys, bending at the waist slightly in the proper Seoul style of greeting another. "Lady Aerys, I offer my humblest apology for the intrusion."

Aerys Fortan

 

[Aerys Yvarro]

IMPERIAL + LOST SOLDIER
COMMONWEALTH CITIZEN
D O S U U N

Thale Ostidus
​

While the Secretary-General of Military Affairs was led to Aerys, a servant handed her a thin tablet. The electronic device had information pertaining to the man who had come to visit. Aerys only had time to briefly scan its contents, she handed the tablet back and told her servant to be rid of it. It seemed the Commonwealth's leadership was quite serious in wanting to 'fetch' Aerys. For reasons that eluded the woman at that particular moment. Secretary-General Ostidus had been introduced and so her brow was raised, intriguing. Ostidus isn't a traditional Seoularian name unless I'm being confronted with an Atrisian... Doubtful, so let us see why they are so eager to have my attention. She held up her hand in a friendly enough manner as she dismissed the notion of having been intruded on.

Aerys appreciated his apology all the same though, "accepted." It was far snappier than she intended it to come across, perhaps the lingering legacy of her mother had left its mark. "Please, have a seat, my servants can fetch you whatever drink or refreshment you desire." Even toned, the woman already sounded somewhat bored by the idea of his presence. "Truly, it is my honor to receive a member of the Secretariat. What do I owe the pleasure?" Steely eyes greeted the Seoularian as the Dosuunian-raised Galidraani awaited the man's answer.

 

[Thale Ostidus]

"My thanks, Ms. Fortan. Water will be fine, I have a long flight back to the capital after this." He moved across the sitting room, accepting a glass offered to him by a servant, almost as if she had been anticipating his words. Dark eyes narrowed as claimed a seat near Aerys, though far enough away that he was not intruding upon her. He lowered himself into the richly decorated chair, one leg folding across the other in a casual, disarming gesture. He took a long, drawn out sip from the glass in his hand, drawing out the silence after she had asked her question.

The battle of wills, in this discussion, had begun.

"You are not an easy woman to contact, Aerys. May I call you Aerys?" Thale smiled across at Aerys as she spoke, though the careful eye would see that the smile and warmth in his voice did not reach his eyes. They stared at her, coldly, detached, observing every detail. He took another sip from his glass before placing it on a table, ensuring it sat upon a coaster first to avoid any unintentional harm. "The Commonwealth has sent you no less than seven direct communications requesting your presence at the capital. You've stopped responding to them altogether."

He sat back in his chair, folding his arms across the sides of the chair, and interlocking his hands near his waist. He watched her again in silence, the fake smile still plastered to his face. "The rest of the Secretariat wished to have you brought in by a detachment of...honor guard so that they could speak with you in person. I felt it more polite and poignant to make the trip myself and ask you one simple question."

"Why are you hiding?"

Aerys Fortan

 

[Aerys Yvarro]

IMPERIAL + LOST SOLDIER
COMMONWEALTH CITIZEN
D O S U U N

Thale Ostidus
​

It had certainly begun, as the man took his seat adjacent to Aerys. A battle of wills, a battle of whatever this was, Aerys was slightly amused that the Commonwealth was stretching out its arms to her. She studied the man who drew out the silence, she motioned for him to continue. It didn't matter what he called her, she still felt rather bored by the idea that they just needed her. Of all the citizens in this great nation, the one and only Aerys Fortan was who they needed. Had her sister Ariel suddenly become unavailable? Were there not scores of others in her family more capable? Oh, they were certainly more capable for whatever it was the Commonwealth needed of her. "Seven?" Questioned Aerys rather knowingly but with a smirk on her features, "honestly," a pause as she shifted her weight in her plush and ornate chair, "I stopped counting after the second."

Aerys watched as the Secretary-General relaxed in the chair, and sat back even. He folded his arms and she wondered what purpose he thought it would serve him. The thirty-something-year-old Dosuunian-raised Galidraani held back laughter and snickers that wanted to unravel themselves at the idea of 'honor guards' being dispatched to take her to the capital. "I wasn't exactly hiding, I've been here in plain sight for ages." Although she knew that that wasn't what he meant. Aerys had been running from the very name she claimed for herself upon her return from Tython. She ran from the idea of being Raaf-Fortan, before completely dropping Raaf. The woman had been around enough politicians and grandstanding generals, admirals, and diplomats to know a faked-out polite smile when she saw one.

"I find myself at a disadvantage and I do dislike being at a disadvantage," remarked Aerys as she eyed the man rather seriously. She chewed on the inside of her lip a moment to find words that might get him to leave. "I have no idea what the Commonwealth wants with my person, there are certainly more capable individuals within the family if that was what they were looking for. I am nothing more than a citizen of the Commonwealth who wishes to enjoy their time, alone."

She had considered throwing her hat into the proverbial ring when it came to governing or even education. Aerys had never quite felt the need to follow through with it. "Seven summons and you have all come to me, for whatever reasons - eludes me." Still, an even tone reigned in her voice as words flowed, "If you are seeking any of my many siblings or perhaps a lone cousin or two, then I am afraid you'll have no luck. I've not talked to any of my family in quite some time." That was for the best.

 

[Thale Ostidus]

The smile slipped from Thale's lips as he reached up and reached into his jacket. He withdrew a small black box, two inches across in every direction, and bearing the star emblem of the Commonwealth on its front. He placed the container on a small table between the two of them, and after a moment, gestured for her to open it. "Your family is well known, and for good or bad reasons for each. The Fortans...the Yvarro, you all have your place in galactic history, and the actions of each and every one of you has led drastic changes."

Inside the small container was a golden pin decorated with silver and brass details. It was the same design as the pin that Thale wore on the collar of his own uniform. "Do you think your actions on Tython went unnoticed? Your service to the First Order, the Empire, countless battles and honors lain upon you. Many would call you a hero, Aerys, and in these dangerous, trying times, the people of the Commonwealth, and those that represent them, need heroes."

He leaned back once more in the seat he had, resting one arm on the edge of his chair and holding his head up with it. "By the authority of the Governors of the Dosuunian Commonwealth of Nations, granted to them by the power of the people, you have been elected to the position of Secretary-General of the nation."

The smile returned to his lips then, this time filled with petty enjoyment. "Did you ever wonder why we were so insistent on contacting you? Your name came up in contention for the position, and, lacking your abstention to the vote, you won the post near unanimously. It was quite the event. You have a substantial amount of back pay building up."

Aerys Fortan

 

[Aerys Yvarro]

IMPERIAL + LOST SOLDIER
COMMONWEALTH CITIZEN
D O S U U N

Thale Ostidus
​

Aerys studied the man carefully, watched his movements, and listened with great interest as he spoke. Watched as his smile faded and he withdrew an item, a box from his jacket. Her very fear had come to be realized due to her name, her bloodline, and the very tree that she came from. All of it had come back to this precise moment, Aerys swallowed hard as she slowly leaned over and took the box into her hand. Fortans. Yvarros... How famously and infamously these two names have upheld Dosuun throughout its known political history in the galaxy, how they have been so closely tied with what had been a relatively unknown planet.

The man continued to speak but for once, Aerys' full attention was not on him. The box now open, her eyes laid on the very pin it had concealed, and her mouth went dry. Her breath was shaky as she exhaled, there had been Ariel's failed attempt to live up to their cousin's legacy. Then of course there was their cousin and now there was Aerys, and then a faint whisper in her mind that as some doors closed others would open. The pin in her hand as she looked up to the man who had introduced himself as Thale Ostidus continued on.

As Aerys moved to place the pin back in the box she noticed something underneath the otherwise soft, velvety cushion. Aerys withdrew the cushion and grasped it with the pin in one hand, just barely hanging onto the box. The other hand withdrew a small piece of paper and typed out the exact information Ostidus had told her but with one small attention to detail. The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Aerys M. Fortan. Almost all at once the realization hit Aerys, her attention fixed once more on Ostidus, "the nation?" Her composure and bearings maintained, still, somehow, perhaps the days of getting yelled at by drill instructors during her time with the New Imperial Order were finally paying off. "Wait, I, wasn't there- There are five Secretaries-General, aren't there?"

Quickly, Aerys called forth one of her servants and instructed them to bring her one of the missives that had been sent. The very servant returned not too long after being sent off on their errand. Still with the pin in hand, only now the box and cushion are back in place. The paper that had been inside was placed beside it as she read the missive whilst leaning back in her seat. There had been a restructuring, if ever so slight of the Secretary-Generals. A new Judiciary Affairs, Secretary-General had been appointed and since there had become six, they needed a seventh to help break any sort of tie within the votes. They also wanted there to be a voice, one person who would represent them when speaking with the Crown. "I had wondered, and I honestly was worried that this might very well have been the reason."

There had been rumors that Dosuun's Supreme Leader had vanished, although with the restructuring and creation of the Commonwealth. Aerys didn't think they had so much as disappeared as simply been promoted into a higher office. Not that this had stopped the presses from their salacious if not slanderous prints from going forward. She exhaled and pressed her lips together, the woman would have appeared distant. Could she no? Was she allowed to say no? From the sounds of it, there wasn't room to say no. "Heroics are no substitute for merit," she set the pin down, it rested with the box atop a table that had been situated between them. "I understand that my name was put forward and voted on." Aerys' voice held a cool tone, "and if I must go in person then I suppose I shall, but I cannot accept this." Even if saying no wasn't allowed, it wasn't going to stop her from doing so.

 

[Thale Ostidus]

Thale watched Aerys reactions carefully, dark eyes judging every flicker of the eyes, twitch of the mouth, and curl of the fingers. He had expected her confusion, her worry. This was a decision that, by every indication from reports Thale had read, she would not handle well. That was part of the reason Thale had insisted on being the one to deliver this news. He wanted to see what the elected first among equals did when faced with a difficult decision. So far, he was not impressed.

He was angry.

"What right," Thale said, his words cold and the corners of his mouth twitching in irritation, "do you have to refuse?" He stood up, turning away from Aerys and moving to a corner of the room, arms folded behind his back. He did not say anything else for several seconds, centering himself once more, before finally turning back to face Aerys.

"This is a galaxy of horrors we live in, Aerys. You know it, and I know it. Extra-galactic threats, Force User Cults, Empire and Democracies lurk in every corner of this galaxy. Wars unending, planetary devastation and destruction. Did you know that for the first time in galactic history since the Yuuzhan Vong War the galactic population has declined?" Thale shook his head, turning to look out one of the windows in the sitting room. "In a galaxy as hostile to peace, stability and order as our own, the people need heroes to look to."

Thale turned to look at Aerys, one gloved hand gesturing towards her. "You say your actions do not equal merit. I say it does not matter what you think. Few people in this galaxy have the stomach to stand up and fight against all that would destroy their homes. You have done that, you fought across the width and breadth of the galaxy. You were hailed a Savior of Tython, the greatest battle our galaxy has seen in decades, perhaps centuries. You have stood against the Sith, the horrors of the outer dark. You have stood, and survived. The men, women and children of the Commonwealth, trapped in this hateful galaxy, look for some comfort, a sense of stability and security."

He took a few steps towards her, his arms once more folded behind his back. "You have seen horrors and loss. I cannot begin to imagine the nightmares that must haunt you, as they do every soldier. The sacrifices you have made can never be properly repaid, and in a better galaxy, you would have earned your peace, but this is not that galaxy. You want peace, solitude, and a chance to recover from all that you have seen."

He finally returned to his seat, leaning back in the chair, and letting the silence hang for a moment. "I know what you want, and know what you deserve, but I do not care. The people of the Commonwealth have chosen you to lead and protect them, because you have shown that you can. Could you truly turn your back on them all?"

Aerys Fortan

 

[Aerys Yvarro]

IMPERIAL + LOST SOLDIER
COMMONWEALTH CITIZEN
D O S U U N

Thale Ostidus
​

Easy to provoke, then, Aerys thought to herself. The man's never served a day in his life in the military has he? Otherwise, the man who rose up in fury would have realized the error in showing his cards. "I have every right as a person who wasn't even consulted on whether or not they wanted this. I have the right as every other citizen of this fair nation to decide my own fate, do I not?" Cold as his words may have been his outburst, a sudden flare of anger betrayed whatever he intended to come across as. Aerys meanwhile remained seated and continued to reply, "The population of the galaxy concerns me little, I'm afraid."

The truth of the matter was that people died, all the time, and such was the nature of things. She could agree that stability and order did indeed have a place, most especially here on Dosuun. Heroes? Inwardly she scoffed, Aerys was not a hero not by any stretch of the imagination, the true heroes remain on Tython, their very ashes scatter its landscape, the true heroes of this fine world rest in Victoria... Her thoughts trailed off as she recalled the many tales of heroism displayed by the people of Dosuun during the Fall and the subsequent Reclamation.

A cold and unruly laughter unfurled from her lips, she looked at Ostidus, "Savior?" The words left her mouth like venom, a poison to be spat. "I am no savior, sir. Do me this one favor and never refer to me as such, ever, again." It was more of the promise that laid in her eyes that she would eviscerate him where he stood if that word left his mouth again in reference to her. Aerys' teeth ground against one another, she chewed on the inside of her bottom lip as Ostidus spoke.

She ran her left thumb along the top and mid-knuckle of her fingers, Aerys kept her eyes away from the man while he gave whatever impassioned speech he had planned. When he finally sat down, she wanted so strongly to order him to leave, however, that might just give him what he wanted. "Quite easily," retorted Aerys hotly.

"However."

The name Fortan weighed heavily on her mind, when she chose it, she chose it because of what it stood for. Fortans by their history, by their nature had never shied away from their duties. They not only arose to the occasion but seized their opportunities. "When I was rescued from the burning treetops of Tython and asked for my name by the Alliance soldiers. I told them I was Aerys Fortan, not Myrrine which I had gone by up to that point."

"It represented those who had not shied away from their duties, answered the call, as it were."

The woman turned her gaze and fixed her attention on Ostidus. Aerys looked down at the pin and where it sat, shifting from where she had been seated. Her weight moved forward, as she leaned over and picked up the pin once more. "I'll need a moment to gather a few things before I accompany you back to Avalonia."

Then she shifted her lips from one side to the other whilst she rose to her feet.

"Make sure you have room for two canines," it was not a question, it was a statement. Aerys would not leave her home without the company of her dogs Rupert and Jasper, beautiful Dosuunian retriever-hound mixes.

 

[Thale Ostidus]

Thale inclined his head, rising from the seat he was in. He tapped the com unit attached to the inside of his uniform collar, opening a direct line to his transport ship waiting nearby. "This is Thale, our departure time has been moved forward by one hour. Insure we have plenty of room for..." Thale glanced at Aerys for a moment, considering things, "two canines as well as the expected guest." He cut the link once he received an affirmative, and turned his full attention back to Aerys.

"I was expecting this to take a bit longer. I had a few other speeches prepared if my first one did not work. I will leave you to get prepared, once you are ready I shall meet you at the tree line." With a brief bow, Thale turned and departed from the sitting room.

He had not originally intended to use an emotional approach, but it just so happened to slip out. It worked in the end, so despite the rather unfavorable way it went down, he had to consider this trip a success. He passed servants and staff rushing around the estate, word no doubt already passing through the entire staff in moments. He passed through the doors of the estate, emerging once more into the daylight. He blinked away the sudden glare, and with one hand gestured to the two commandos standing at the edge of the tree line.

"Hold position here and wait for the Secretary-General to emerge, then escort her to the transport." With that said, Thale turned, and made his way back the way he had originally come.

Aerys Fortan

 

[Aerys Yvarro]

IMPERIAL + GENERAL
COMMONWEALTH CITIZEN
D O S U U N

Thale Ostidus
​

Rupert and Jasper were on their best behavior as they walked on either side of their Master. Through the halls of the stately manor as she rattled off orders and gave instructions on what to do with the home while she was away. All the while Aerys wondered just what she would be walking into. A data tablet rested in her hand which told her what exactly she had been elected to, and gave her access to read through the status of everything else within the Commonwealth. Nervously she took another breath, this one deeper than the one before. Aerys exhaled hard, Jasper nudged his muzzle into the palm of her hand.

"I'll be alright," Aerys told the dog as she gave him a scratch behind the ear. "Just not entirely sure what they've pulled me into, truth be told." She wasn't sure she was the person for the job. Yet it seemed a nation of people had voted her in and with such confidence. The woman took one last look at her home before she departed. Data tablet in one hand, dogs on either side of her as she looked up to where Ostidus stood and then to the transport not too far from him. "Secretary-General Ostidus," greeted Aerys properly to the man who had been sent to fetch her.

The two would walk toward the transport mostly in silence. Once aboard the transport, Aerys would break that silence, "I'll need at least one assistant to help maintain everything, schedules, events, needs, and the likes thereof. Next, the Secretariat will convene at their earliest convenience." Which meant right when she arrived, "so I can get a full briefing as to the state of the Commonwealth. Next, I'd like the Archons from the Guild to sit with me and the Secretariat so I may be informed as to what it is they are doing, and what they need if anything from our end."

Whether Aerys knew it or not, she sounded an awful lot like her mother Fiolette in the woman's younger years. Aerys didn't realize just how natural it felt to be there as the transported lifted off the ground. Her estate faded in the distance and the city loomed on the horizon. Other orders were rattled off and sent away as she looked down at the data tablet and sighed. She supposed most military officers found themselves in a position of civic leadership in some form or another.

Aerys who longed to hide away would be hidden no longer, thrust into a position of leadership.

- FIN -​