Chapter 59: Fruits of One's Labor

Once back in her room, Rey collapsed on her couch with a hangover setting in. Emi transferred the data to the Admiral's men for her, though she mentioned it would need to be decoded and reviewed closely before the culprit could be identified. This would take several hours, and the Jedi also had a Conference in the afternoon to attend, so the results would only be viewable that evening.

The Jedi was ready to take a long nap, but just as she was getting sleepy, the room to her door flew open. In stormed Minerva looked furious, causing an instinctual reaction in Rey that made her want to run and hide. Emi likewise froze up, then hung her head and swiftly sat beside Rey, awaiting punishment. The lecture that followed put Bail Organa's speech on the prosecution of war crimes to shame. She was so fiery and heated that the Jedi felt like she might just melt into a puddle right then and there. Rey even thought that the woman might be secretly force-sensitive and was now using some sort of Force-Speech just to make her feel guilty.

After almost an hour, the woman grabbed her head and groaned, "You burned down Admiral Adolfus's warehouse of secrets. The man's personal information, collecting capital. You almost started a galactic war." She looked up at the two cowering girls and sighed again before grumbling, "Good job." The two looked up, shocked, and she glared back blisteringly, "Don't expect me to say it again."

The Vice-Chancellor moved forward and gestured for them to move. They did so, and she sat down between them, wrapping both in a hug. She now spoke softly with an emotional voice, "You girls are going to worry me to death someday." Rey felt the knot that had formed in her heart due to her fear that Minerva was disappointed in her melt away. She glanced at Emi, whose expression was already lost and blissful as she leaned into the woman's neck. Minerva went on more firmly, "What you did was every kind of stupid, but you pulled it off, so I better congratulate you."

Rey spoke up, half in a trance, "You mean you're not going to kill us."

Minerva made a noise in her throat that expressed her resistance and immense anger, though she responded, "Not today, at least; I'm far too busy." Her eyes grew murders as she grumbled, "If I'm going to kill anyone today, it's going to be that damnable Admiral." The woman calmed herself down and refocused, "Anyways, like I said. From a tactical point of view, the two of you have done very good today. Hopefully, the data you stole will mark a new chapter in our investigation on those damn cultists."

Emi spoke up at this, her voice full of affliction and affection, "I won't do anything rash ever again."

Minerva laughed at this and stroked the cyborg's arm with her hand as though she were comforting a child, "Oh my sweet girl, being a little rash is ok." Her tone grew irritated as she looked at Rey and remarked, "So long as it does not involve a Jedi."

Rey whined out at this, "It wasn't supposed to end up this way."

The woman squeezed the Jedi and grumbled, "Shush, count your blessings that I'm not putting you under house arrest." Rey grew a bit depressed at this, and in her half-drunken state, her sadness was tangible in her body positioning. Minerva tried to hold back, but her worried motherly instincts surmounted her rage. She let out a frustrated sigh and spoke calmly, "Enough pouting both of you. I believe my message has sunk in, so we shall put this matter behind us." She turned to the Jedi and spoke sweatily, "Rey, my dear, I have been so impressed by you these past few days. Your performance at your first Conference was steller and has given us a great advantage. Your wisdom and strength always amaze me." The Jedi now had to hold back tears of happiness as the woman turned and addressed her aid, "And Emi, my sweet little girl. I have no doubt you're the real brains behind everything that is going on over here. You have performed your duty with the utmost integrity and have made so many wonderful things possible through your diligence and dedication. I don't have the words to express how proud I am of you." Rey glanced to see the cyborg, who had appeared to experience shock from sheer happiness. Minver hugged them both tightly and finished, "You two are as dear to me as my own daughters. I know you have work to do, and it's important, but do be smart and as much as you can be safe."

Rey had long come to view the vice-chancellor as a motherly figure, but the woman's praise and affirmation always felt to her like that of a supervisor conversing with a subordinate, which was their natural relationship. However, at this moment, for the first time, Rey came to know the warmth of a mother's love. She had no doubt her birth mother had loved her, but her memories barely reached back that far. What the Jedi was feeling now was raw, present, and deep. It satisfied a deep hunger that had always been inside her and, at that moment, was the most wonderful feeling in the world.

A few moments passed, and the spell was broken as the woman sighed angina and released them. She spoke playfully, "Now I wish I could lecture you two further, but some of us have jobs that aren't arson." She rose to her feet and winked at the taken girls playfully, "It's been good catching up, but we must go to a spa when this nasty concord is done." She rubbed her cheek and added, "All this stress is giving me more wrinkles." Minerva waved as she arrived at the door and called, "By my darlings, please don't start a war in my absence."

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At this point, she exited, leaving the Jedi and cyborg in a state of shock and bliss. For the next several hours, they both just sat there. Emi was in her own happy trance while Rey contemplated her feelings. For a Jedi, familial love was dangerous and could lead one to attachment; her first Master Luck had even said her growing up without a family was a blessing in disguise. At the moment, she felt like she was progressing backward as a Jedi. Her feelings for Fama were not as they should be, and now the same thing had happened with Minerva. She refused to believe these feelings were wrong but was lost as to how to not let them cloud her judgment or lead her into making selfish attachments. This worried her and, even for the first time in many months, caused her to feel a deep and true sense of fear.

As soon as this emotion appeared, she halted her train of thinking and calmed herself. AT times, overthinking a problem could be as harmful as disregarding one. Rey knew that as long as she was vigilant, she would not easily stray to the path of the dark side, and she decided to address her emotions later. The Concord only lasted another four days, and after this, she could find herself a place to build her temple with Primidian's information and seek clarity on these problems. She also pondered asking her Godfather for advice on the subject, given his vast knowledge of both Jedism and life. Rey was still convinced the mysterious man was a Jedi or at least used to be one, and longed to understand why he made the choices he had. In the end, there was nothing she could do about any of this at the moment, and she decided it would be best for her to rest.

Sleep took her swiftly, and by the time Emi woke her, the Jedi felt fully recovered. She still had a small hangover, but it wasn't any worse than what she had to deal with the past few days when she tried to forcefully use her Jedi abilities. Her excitement to participate in the Concord waned drastically as she was informed by Emi that a fourth attack had taken place. It was smaller this time but managed to take out another Chairman of Corporate Alliance by the name of Liz Nobel. Although the attack did spark further outrage, it also was not with much sorry as Ms. Nobel was one of the Galaxy's most notorious weapons and spice dealers who barely bothered to conceal her illegal business practices.

Rey's day might have been ruined if not for the news that the initial analysis of the data they had stolen had resulted in the identification of a suspect. Primidian had already sent his men to apprehend this person and interrogate them. With luck, they will have additional information about the cultists within the next few hours.

With this information, the Jedi could participate in her next Conference feeling a little better. That day's discussion would be on the merits of standing galactic military as compared to localized security forces. For once, Rey could agree with the majority of the imperialists in the fact that the Galaxy did need an army. She had seen the devastation brought by pirates and warlords. Localized security was safer in the sense that the military could not try to take over the government, but the idea that every inhabited system could afford such a force was laughable.

Regrettably, her grand dream of offering valuable insight on the subject was dashed by the shouting match that quickly broke out between a band of ex-rebels and ex-imperials. The mediator from the Corporate Alliance did not bother to stop this at all and only tried to de-escalate just as a physical brawl was about to break out. At this point, I finally managed to get a few words in and declared, "I acknowledge my fellow delegates of the New Republic's view that a standing military does pose a risk to the established government. However, I have also seen the desolation brought about by pirates and warlords. There are many systems that can not provide for the well-being of their own citizens, let alone a defensive military fleet. Therefore I must…"

A sudden voice shouted out, "Aya, won't you just shut up." The entire room was stunned and turned to a rather disheveled man with an eyepatch and patchy hair. He glared at the room as though everyone was his enemy, then pointed at Rey and proclaimed, "What kind of Jedi are you? All you've been doing is yammering." He began to spit out his words, "Conceding time after time, what did you even fight for. You ain't no Jedi." he grew angry and shouted, "Jedi destroy Death Stars, Jedi kill Emperors…" He sneered at Rey and jeered, "You're just a coward the Imperials bought."

The room fell silent while Rey was boiling with anger; she breathed in and out, trying to control this emotion. For a frightening moment, she didn't know if she was going to calm down or explode at this man, but her hesitation was broken by a hearty laugh. The room turned and a collective shiver went through the crowd as a charismatic voice called, "It seems you know very little about Jedism.

Admiral Primidian rose to his feet from an out-of-the-way spot in the room next to an older ex-imperial officer. The mediator lurched up as well and called out, "Admiral, your anime was not listed on the attendance list for this event. I implore you to excuse yourself so our debate may continue."

The man chuckled at this and gestured to the room boldly, "I do remember being in the room when the Conference rules were written. I may not be called on to make an address, but I can certainly spectate and offer rebuttals." He eyed the mediator and inquired, "Do you still import me."

The Corporate Alliance lucky cowered back and worriedly responded, "Not at all; I was out of place."

Primidian nodded and responded, "It takes courage to admit one's faults; do not be ashamed of it." He then turned to the room and announced, "No then, I do have a few words to add to this conversation."