After Reetha's small episode of anger management, the Jedi duo stepped into the chic hall. 

"Remember Reetha, deep breaths." 

Repeating Obi-wans's mantra in her a billion times while taking her seat in front of her lady-ship. Kriya held her fingers to her face, stressfully pinching her forehead but still maintaining her high-quality elegance. Reetha was reminded of how much power this woman held on her own, where even the balance of the Republic's fate would solely rest in what went down in the room where it happened. 

Point one, Lady Kriya's manufacturing facility creates sound-proofing for the Republic's fighter jets. 

Point two, Lady Kriya requires the Rizo Gems, gems that provide the needs for soundproofing. How you ask? Well, Lady Kriya was not keen on sharing her company secrets. The mine for extracting the gems ore collapsed, creating a pause in its distribution to Kriya's facility. 

Point three, Lady Kriya always gets what she wants. Having her status and power basically granted her the ability to get everything and anything on demand. If those aren't met, she'd break any existing agreement without a second of thought, unless an alternative can be provided. 

Point four, Reetha just gave some attitude to the woman who hardly anyone, no one, had the courage to say no to. What Reetha says next would determine the success of the negotiation. She just hoped that what she would offer to her ladyship would suffice. 

Kriya did not spare a glance at either Jedi, she just swirled the contents of her cup. 

"My Lady, before we start I believe an apology is in order. I am sorry for the outward projection of my anger. It was displaced and uncalled for and unprofessional for a Jedi... especially a padawan."

Reetha didn't need the feel to explain herself more. She figured that the Lady Kriya wouldn't care for humbleness at this point, just plain cold facts and truths. Kriya's golden eyes pinned on Reetha's black orbs. For a moment, the look on Kriya's face almost convinced Reetha that the negotiation was no longer relevant. 

"Outburst. The word you are looking for is an outburst." Kriya lazily hung her legs over the armrest of her leather chair. She set the glass on the table and traced the rim with her index finger, creating a resonating sound with the contents in it. "I absolutely find your outburst of anger repulsing and revolting." 

Dank farrik!

"Although, in the light of the situation I was rather impressed by your straightforward attitude. Kind of reminds me of... me. Obi-wan certainly has yet to show this sort of behaviour. Obviously, it's not Jedi like, but it is interesting that you are able to show this much emotion. I'm impressed, to say the least." 

Obi-wan had hope in his eyes. "So you would still be inclined to negotiate the term of the deal?"

Kriya gave him a curt nod. "Only, if the padawan carries out the negotiation." 

---

Obi-wan paced in front of the heavy doors where two guards were his only company. Essentially, he was kicked out by the Ladyship and was not allowed to oversee the negotiation. Reetha would be safe since Kriya had no appetite to kill, maybe. 

What if everything went south again? What if- No. Obi-wan believed that Reetha is more than capable than she leads on. It's just a matter of time to overcome her learning curve.

Kriya and Reetha sat eye to eye. The hall was huge, the decorations in it, statues and antiquities from all across the galaxy, taxidermied animals, and fancy painting on the gold walls. Kriya's chair fit her like a glove, Reetha almost sunk into the material of her chair. 

"I believe you have an alternative then. Seeing as your Master Kenobi does not intend to leave me in peace anytime soon." 

Reetha nodded, "Yes ma'am." Lady Kriya waited silently. "We realize that the gems are of the utmost importance and-" 

"Don't repeat facts I already know padawan. Tell me what I need to know, what I want to know. Do you have an alternative for my gems?" 

Mouth gaping, Reetha repeated Obi-wan's mantra. "..as I was saying. We do have an alternative." 

Delight sprang in the older woman's eyes. "Well this is splendid, isn't it. Do carry on." She leaned in on the table.

"Recently my team and I discovered a certain material on one of our missions. It is of Separatist origin but none of its kind has been witnessed in use in the expanse of the Separatist army. When we took over a small droid base, we found soundproofing disks. These disks were placed along the perimeters of a mine and the base itself. Cutting off all sound within that particular area. " 

Kriya's brows crinkled together, gathering the details. "And you have an example of this disk?" 

Reetha, you see has a simple hobby of collecting oddities to swap them off with some other oddity of equal or greater value. In this case, the success of the negotiation was of greater value. An honourable swap, she thought. From one of her pockets, Reetha produced a flat disk, no bigger than her palm and placed it on the table for the Lady Kriya to see. 

"This?" She picked it up with some disgust on her face. Figures, she's used to the fancy and shiny stuff. Kriya examined the disk. It didn't look like much, save from the thin blue lines that circumference the disk. "Would you demonstrate a test please?" 

Reetha took out her holo-projector and contacted Obi-wan. When the Jedi Master picked up, Reetha placed the holo between herself and Kriya. 

"Reetha, is everything alright? Are you-" 

While it was apparent that Obi-wan was still talking in the holo, no sound could be heard when the disk was placed beside the holo. 

"-need help? Ree-" 

Reetha repeated the steps about three times. Though the heavy doors were well, heavy, the two women in the room could faintly hear Obi-wan talking. This showed the Lady that the disk did indeed work. 

"-Come in. Can you hear me?" 

"We hear you just fine Obi-wan." Kriya replied. 

"Well, you're in a happy mood my dear." 

"I am and I believe, the Republic will still have my services after all." 

The holo call was swiftly turned off. "I congratulate you on your negotiation. You've sold me. I agree to use this as an alternative until the mine is ready. Exactly how many of these disks do you have?" 

"We currently have about two crates of them. We studied the makeup of the disks and managed to recreate them. We have working prototypes." 

Kriya hummed. "Thank you for the offer, but I don't want your prototypes. My company hires only the best engineers to work and I am confident we will be able to recreate better versions of these disks." a smile laced her words. Standing up, the meeting ended. While walking towards the door, Kriya stopped to face the padawan. If Reetha were intimidated, she didn't dare to show it. 

"Before we end I have a few things to say. First of all, I still find your prior attitude extremely rude and unladylike. Second, you certainly need to work on your accent, it's too dry and normal." 

'Jeex, does anything please this woman' Reetha thought.

"Finally, I am very very much curious about you. Among all the people who meet me, no one has ever stood up to me. I don't like it, but it was some of the more courageous actions I have ever seen." 

'What?' Did Lady Kriya just compliment her? Reetha tried not to gawk, no doubt unprepared for praise. "I don- Thank you, my Lady."

"Your welcome," Kriya smirked. "I give praise when it's due. Although, do work on your anger management." 

---

Her Ladyship had been kind enough to offer Obi-wan and Reetha free dinner, of course, due to her expensive taste in things, the dinner service was simply divine. Kriya even had a small party send the master and padawan off.

The ride back to the Negotiator wasn't the best to say, since Obi-wan was kept away in his thoughts. Except for the pilot, the LAAT only carries Reetha and her master. 

"That was some good skills back there. Where did you learn that?" Reetha snapped from her small daze, the Jedi Master was smiling at her.

She shrugged. "Oh, you know, no one else has the best negotiating skills than yourself master." 

"Flattery won't get you anyway my dear padawan." Obi-wan chuckled and Reetha found herself tagging along. "Still, you're little flare of anger didn't go quite unnoticed." 

'Ah, he remembered.' The playfulness in the knight's voice disappeared, now replaced with some worry. "Yeah...uh, I'm sorry master. It won't happen again." Reetha cast her eyes to her feet just as the LAAT reached the cruiser bay doors, not wanting to address her embarrassing behaviour. Her anger always seemed to be an issue. Initially, she thought that the issue had been settled with Master Plo but it seemed that anger followed her everywhere. 

The transport landed and just as Reetha stepped out, Obi-wan held her back by her shoulder. "Padawan, would it be alright if I talked to you for a moment?" He could sense a slight hesitation but Reetha nodded. Thanking the pilot, Obi-wan led them to a meditation room. 

Obi-wan sat on a cushion while Reetha took her seat across him. "Tea?" 

"Sure." 

"How is it?" He asked, laughing to himself when he saw the girls grimace. 

"No offence master, but it tastes like hot leaf juice to me." 

"Well, I guess I have to improve on it then. Now about earlier, why were you so angered?"

Sighing, Reetha once again cast her sight to anywhere other than Obi-wan. He understood her reluctance, Anakin was just like that when it came to his anger issues. "Master, are the Jedi afraid of me?" 

A knowing look came over Obi-wan's face. "So the council has told you about their current decision. I take it, you didn't agree." 

Eyes rolling as if it was the most obvious thing. "Not really, no." 

"From the recent reports from the 104th battalion, your exploits are commendable but in doing so you make yourself vulnerable to the-" 

"To the dark side of the force." She echoed. "I know master, but if I can't use my abilities won't that just look over the point of my training? I am supposed to be learning about my abilities and how to handle my emotions when I transform through the Force." 

One did not need to be a Jedi to know where she was coming from. It is true, sometimes the council makes decision's that Obi-wan himself did not agree to but they have a reason. He knew that this poor girl was not angry, just frustrated and lost. Anyone would be if a huge life secret was kept away, only to be made known when they are on the brink of death or imminent danger.

"I- I will be honest with you, Reetha. The decision to hold back on your abilities is not something I agreed on, nor did Master Plo. We bought thought that you would learn better on your abilities, but the council has its reasons. Though we may not know them yet, we need to only trust in the Force." 

Seemingly done with the conversation, she cut back to her original question. "Do they fear me?" 

Sad blue eyes tried to meet sadder onyx ones, he told her with a heavy heart. "Yes. From a certain point of view." 

That told Reetha all she needed to know. "Thank you for the tea master." She composed herself and even smiled, truly thankful for Obi-wan's time. She did believe that he and Plo Koon would stick up for her, but it didn't fix the current fact that she knew.

"I'm glad to spend time with you my padawan." Obi-wan understood the storm in her mind. "You should get some rest for now. I will meet you in the morning after breakfast for a mission briefing." 

" A new mission? Where to?" 

"Onderon." He told her. 

---

Back in her room, she quickly washed up, changed out from her robes to some comfortable clothing and dropped on her bed. The day was catching on to her, although she did nothing but talk, the thoughts that ran in her mind made fatigue wash over her. 

That night, she went to bed with no soothing thoughts, except for one known truth, the Jedi don't trust her as much as she thought they did. In fact, they feared her. Could they just be fearing for her? No, Obi-wan was quite clear, they feared her. 'From a certain point of view' 

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