Talking about Feeedom

Posted on Wed Sep 30th, 2026 @ 2:04pm by Senator Kriton Delratta & Senator Selena T’eeda HRH

2,155 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Coruscant
Location: Corescant, Senater Selena T'eeda HRH's apartments
Timeline: Tbd

A few weeks had gone by since Kriton and Selena had returned to the Senate, after visiting his homeworld. And in that time, they had grown closer with each passing day. Their aides had secretly been very happy for the two senators, as it had been quite some time since either had seemed interested in anyone at all.

As the Senate was letting out for dinner, Kriton made his way to Selena's office, pressing the buzzer at the door. He nodded to a few of their passing colleagues as he waited for a response.

The door opened and her aide waved him in. "The senator is in her back office." the Aide said calmly.

Kriton thanked the aide with a soft grin and dip of his head, then he made his way to where Selena was located.

Selena was standing looking out at the city, Her cane in hand. When the door opened and he entered, she turned and smiled at him. "Hello Senator."

Seeing he standing there, Kriton bowed slightly as he replied. "As ever, it is a pleasure to be in your presence, my lady." He then stepped closer, gently taking her free hand into his and bringing it up to his lips, lightly kissing her knuckles as his eyes locked with hers.

They both knew that they were being watched by the Emperor's spies and surveillance droids, so they would have to keep their affection for one another hidden, save for anything that would be deemed acceptable for how they have already been seen behaving while in public.

Selena smiled and dipped slightly in a curtsey. "You look well," She stated carefully. The Senate was full of empty conversation these days. They knew they had very little power. And they worked despite it.

"Why thank you, my dear," he then gave one of his usually overly flourished bows. When he stood back upright, he smiled broadly. "One must look their best when they are representing their world, wouldn't you agree?" While he had started to grow tired of the charade, he knew that their lives depended on it. He just hoped that Serena would suggest they go inside, to talk about a trade deal between their two worlds, or something else that sounded like a political negotiation. At least then, they could activate the monitoring scramblers in her office, as at least those portions of their lives were still protected by galactic law.

Selena’s smile widened just slightly at the flourish of his bow. Kriton had always possessed a talent for making even the most mundane pleasantry look like a performance worthy of a royal court. “Absolutely,” she replied smoothly. “Though I suspect some of our colleagues spend considerably more time on the appearance of representing their worlds than actually doing so.” There was the faintest spark of amusement in her blue eyes before she turned, the tip of her cane clicking softly against the polished floor. “Fortunately, Senator, your timing is impeccable. There are several matters concerning trade between Arkania and your government that I had intended to discuss with you.” Her tone remained perfectly formal, pitched for any listening device that might be interested in their conversation. “Particularly the mineral export arrangements we spoke of during our recent journey. I believe there are several details that would benefit from a more… private discussion.” She gestured toward the inner office.

“Please.” Selena waited until Kriton had entered before following him inside. The door slid closed behind them, and she crossed slowly toward her desk. Rather than immediately speaking, she reached beneath its edge and activated the privacy system. A soft indicator illuminated, confirming that the room’s legally protected diplomatic countermeasures were active. She waited another few seconds. Only then did her shoulders relax. Selena looked across at Kriton, and the carefully composed expression of Senator T’eeda softened into something far more genuine. “I am beginning to despise having to speak to you as though every conversation is a committee hearing,” she murmured. A small smile touched her lips. “And if you ever bow to me quite that extravagantly when we are alone, Kriton, I may be forced to hit you with this cane.”

Moving over to Serena, Kriton gently wrapped his arms around her, holding her close to his chest. Whispering softly in her ear, he replied honestly. "I am as well, my love. Though, if it keeps us and our people safe for even a day longer, then I will act the carefully crafted fool that I make others believe I am. What matters to me is that you know the truth. Of both me, and my heart." He gently lifted her chin with the side of his right index finger and leaned down to softly kiss her lips.

Selena softened against him and kissed him back gently. "There are rumours." She said softly. "Of trouble in the rim worlds."

Concern filling his eyes some, Kriton loosened his hold on Selena to look her in the face better. "What sort of trouble are the rumors alleging?"

Selena hesitated, her fingers resting lightly against his chest as she considered how much to tell him. Even with the privacy system active, she had become accustomed to choosing her words carefully. "Unrest. Disappearances. Entire communities finding themselves under Imperial scrutiny for little more than questioning the new order." Her expression darkened. "There are reports of increased military activity in the Outer Rim. Ships being stopped, cargo confiscated and people detained without anything resembling due process." She sighed, looking away towards the enormous windows overlooking Coruscant.

"And then there are the whispers of resistance. Not an organised movement, at least not that anyone can prove. Just scattered groups of people who have apparently decided they've had quite enough of being told what to think, what to say and whom they must obey." She looked back at him, her blue eyes searching his face. "The problem, darling, is that I cannot tell you how much of it is true. The information reaching the Senate is so heavily filtered that we might as well be reading children's bedtime stories. My own contacts are becoming increasingly reluctant to communicate through official channels." Her grip tightened slightly on his jacket. "Arkania has resources the Empire considers valuable. Your world has its own strategic importance. I fear it is only a matter of time before one of us is asked to demonstrate our loyalty in a manner that neither of us can stomach." She paused, then gave him a rueful smile. "Do you remember when we were senators who actually debated legislation? When we could disagree with the Chancellor without wondering whether someone would come knocking on our doors in the middle of the night?" Selena reached up to gently touch his cheek.

"I fear we're approaching a point where simply doing our duty to our people will be considered treason." She studied him for a moment before asking quietly, "Have you heard anything from your own contacts? Anything that might suggest these rumours are more than frightened people sharing stories?"

For a few beats, Kriton said nothing. He instead looked deep into Selena's eyes, as if seeing what was in her soul. Finally, he nodded slightly. "I have heard those same reports and more. There are classified reports of guerilla actions against Imperial research bases and shipyards. The Ingram Yards were hit last week. They had been working on some kind of heavy starfighter, with veriable-position wings. I believe it was given the name of X-Wing. The base had had nearly a dozen of the craft, all stolen, along with the technical information regarding how to build more." He reached up and gently brushed a stray lock of red hair from her face, as he continued.

"I have been speaking with Mon Mothma, and she feels that our time here in the senate, is quickly coming to s close. She did hint to me, during our talk at her daughter's birthday party, that she would be willing to include any....like-minded personnel, in any possible...evacuation plans that might come to pass."

Selena went very still. For several seconds, the only sound in the room was the distant murmur of Coruscant beyond the windows. “Mon Mothma said that?”

Her voice had dropped almost to a whisper. She stepped away from Kriton slowly, not out of fear of him, but because suddenly she needed the space to think. Her cane clicked once against the floor as she moved toward the window. The thought of leaving the Senate had crossed her mind before. More than once. But there was a considerable difference between privately wondering whether the institution had become meaningless and hearing that one of the most respected senators still serving believed they might soon need evacuation plans. Selena stared out across the endless lights. “If she is already considering how to get people away from Coruscant, then she believes things are further along than I realised.”

She turned back toward him. “And if there are already organised strikes against Imperial facilities…” Her expression tightened. “Twelve starfighters and their technical specifications do not disappear because a few frightened dissidents became angry.” Selena moved back toward him. “That takes planning. Pilots. Engineers. Transport. Intelligence. People willing to risk execution if they are caught.”

She lowered her voice further. “That is no longer protest.” A pause. “It is the beginning of something.” Selena looked down for a moment, her fingers tightening around the head of her cane. “And I do not know whether that terrifies me or gives me hope.” She gave a quiet, almost humourless laugh. “Perhaps both.” Her gaze returned to Kriton. “Did Senator Mothma say how soon?” There was urgency in the question now. “Because if she genuinely believes we may have to leave, I need time.” Selena began mentally working through the consequences even as she spoke. “There are people on Arkania who depend upon me. Members of my household. My staff. People who have served my family for years. I will not disappear in the middle of the night and leave them to answer Imperial questions about where I went.”

She paused. “And there are records here.” Her eyes moved toward her desk. “Correspondence. Trade agreements. Private communications. Nothing openly seditious, but enough connections between people that an ambitious Imperial investigator could make lives very uncomfortable.” Selena met Kriton’s eyes. “If evacuation becomes necessary, it cannot simply mean getting the two of us onto a ship.” She stepped closer again. “We need routes. Safe contacts. Somewhere to go. And we need to decide who can be trusted before the decision is forced upon us.” Her expression softened slightly.

“I spent most of my life believing that if the Republic ever began to fail, people like us were supposed to stay and repair it.” She looked toward the Senate district beyond the windows. “But this is not the Republic anymore.” The words came quietly. “And every day we remain here, we lend legitimacy to something that is becoming increasingly difficult to defend.” Selena looked back at him. “If Mon Mothma speaks to you again, tell her I am willing to listen.” She took his hand. “Not commit. Not yet.” Her thumb moved gently across his fingers. “But listen.” A small smile touched her lips. “And Kriton?” She waited until his eyes met hers. “If the day comes when we have to run…” Her fingers tightened around his. “We run together.”

Keiton stood there, listening to every word that Selena said with pure focus. He knew that even them talking about this here, could be seen as traitorous. However, his own feelings and experience was telling him that they all were quickly approaching a turning point in how the galaxy existed. His military experience also told him that war was coming. A war he fully intended to be on the right side of.

"I will speak with her again next week. She and I have a trade negotiation to renew between our worlds. It will involve the both of us traveling to each other's worlds and doing inspections. During that trip, I will get the details of her plan, and raise your concerns with her as well." He gently pulled her into his embrace as he added, "We will not leave our own behind."

After a couple beats, he pulled back slightly, to look down into her eyes. "And i promise you this, my love, no matter what happens, no matter what path we choose, we will walk it together."

He leaned in and kissed her gently on her lips, sealing his vow.

Outside, the world continue to move about, unaware of the pressure that was slowly starting to rise, deep under the surface. When the flashpoint was finally reached, it could very well change the face of the entire galaxy. And there was no telling what that new reality would look like.


~OFF~

 

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