Chapter Text
Am’hara looked over the resume of the last applicant that she was going to interview for the new environmental program for Mandalore. She purposely set this interview to be the last among a dozen others. The others were all clearly connected to established Mandalorian clans and while many had some sort of science or environmental training or education to a variety of levels, this next applicant was on a different level - actual experience and a solid formal education; albeit in Mid Rim worlds. Am’hara, a human female, couldn’t help but wonder what would entice a Mid Rimmer to want to tackle the environmental challenge that was the scourge of Mandalore, but she was very much hoping to find out.
She took a sip of caf (coffee) from her mug and looked up at the person who entered without interrupting her drink. A rodian. A female rodian applied to be an environmental science coordinator on Mandalore. The applicant, Shy’ila, took the empty seat in front of the desk silently as Am’hara looked down, swallowed the sip that prevented her from giving a formal greeting, and continued to suppress any visual cues of surprise. While this response could be interpreted as a rude gesture on Am’hara’s part, maybe this could be turned into an advantage?
“Shy’ila,” Am’hara said formally with a smile while staying seated, “Thank you for coming in today and thank you for applying for this role.”
“Thank you for considering me,” the rodian offered back.
“I hope you could forgive the condition of the facilities? We are still very much a work in progress. I hope you can embrace the vision our planet is working towards, rather than the condition of the current state. Hence, the desired skill set for this role,” Am’hara replied with a touch of hope in her tone.
“Yes,” Shy’ila replied with equal formality, “I hope to see our planet restored to its former glory in the coming years.”
Am’hara smiled; noting the subtle manner that Shy’ila indicated ownership of Mandalore. A motivational clue. Am’hara began the interview by asking Shy’ila accomplishments in her previous role as a senior environmental analyst on Nanth'ri and marked the key aspects, such as her team leadership, program execution, and results of expanding protected wilderness territory, improving water supply quality, and increasing agricultural yields through bacterial studies within the soil composition. Shy’ila’s answers were leagues beyond those of the other applicants - she was the right person to grow this program and restore the natural cycles of Mandalore. More than that, these were the items that first caught Am’hara’s interest when she was researching the candidate’s background through public works reports.
“If I were to ask you to propose an overview of what would you implement to heal the ecological state of the planet, what would you tell me?” Am’hara asked as she worked at trying to soften her intense stare that narrowed on the applicant.
“Based on what I have seen, Mandalore needs to focus on protecting the water sources and manage the amount used for residential and commercial purposes versus what remains in the natural landscapes. Hundreds, if not thousands of soil studies need to be completed all over to gain a comprehensive profile. Only then can we focus our resources wisely. I would spend more effort on improving arable land, but our wilderness also needs to be healthy in order for our farmlands to flourish,” Shy’ila responded professionally.
Am’hara leaned back in her chair and casually placed her hands behind her head to try to fight her excitement from the potential. She needed to break the tension in order to ease the candidate into the next round of questions.
“Your next responses won’t impact your standing for this position. I want to ask you a few questions informally with your permission?” Am’hara asked.
“Sure, you’re welcome to,” Shy’ila said as she shifted in her chair in an attempt to relax, but the movements did not relieve her trepidation.
“Why do you want this job?”
“My grandparents lived here on Mandalore. My mother was Mandalorian. I always felt like I grew up in exile. I grew up on Nanth'ri and I visited my father’s family on Rodia, but neither place felt like home. I want to get back to my roots and helping to heal Mandalore would be such an honor,” Shy’ila said while she let her shoulders down a bit.
“May I be honest with you?” Am’hara asked darkly.
“Yes, please,” Shy’ila answered and brought her elbows inward as she braced for a negative response.
“You are the best qualified candidate that has interviewed for this post. You are perfect for this role,” Am’hara changed position to lean forward and placed her hand under her head as she evaluated Shy’ila’s response, “I would like to know how much you would like to take on this job? I need to know what you are willing to go through to make this place your home?”
“What do you mean?” Shy’ila asked in a concerned manner, “I would really like this role, but I would like this place to be my home organically.”
“I would like to see that, too, but candidly, you will be facing a challenge. You belong here. You belong in this role. You bring an unmatched skillset to help achieve our vision, but your suitability will be questioned. And probably be questioned often. I need to know if you are willing to move past the questions and let your competency speak for itself. Can you take ownership of these responsibilities knowing that you are the best qualified?” Am’hara asked with a slight smirk on her face.
“Questioned often?”
“Yes, that’s possible,” Am’hara reinforced, “but know that you have my full support. I want you as prepared for this role as much as possible. I want you to know the negative aspects and be successful against what’s ahead. Let me ask you, Shy’ila, are you Mandalorian?”
“Yes, I am,” replied Shy’ila with pride pushing her shoulders back authoritatively.
“You abide by the Resol'nare?”
“Elek (Yes).”
“Good. Who is the best qualified for this role?”
“You said I was.”
“Yes, now are you ready to accept this position?” Am’hara asked.
“I am. I would be happy to accept.”
“Good! Now come with me. We are going to get you set up.” Am’hara finished a few items on her display, then stood up to open the door for Shy’ila, then led the way through the corridors towards the throne room.
“Get me set up now?” Shy’ila asked with surprise.
“Yes, there’s no time to waste on getting you started and exposed to the team,” Am’hara said as she opened the door to the throne room. Shy’ila hesitated momentarily upon seeing the Mand'alor, Din Djarin, standing in full beskar armor with five other Mandalorians, some sitting with others standing nearby with their helmets off. All heads turned towards Am’hara, but Shy’ila felt the attention directly on her. While she knew that in the past, Mandalorian armor often obscured the individual’s species, she could tell that everyone in this room was human. She saw everyone’s eyes on her as if questioning why a rodian was in the room as if to single her out. Everyone was silent, but Shy’ila couldn’t tell if any previous conversations were interrupted by their entrance. Shy’ila recognized the iconic Bo-Katan Kryze from the historical holovids from her family’s historical collection. She tried to not feel self-conscious amongst all the silent attention.
“Am’hara,” Din said evenly.
“My love,” Am’hara returned in greeting without making any other movement or statement. She stood along with the group while everyone waited for the obvious introduction that didn’t come. Bo-Katan graciously smiled, but her blinking in quick succession betrayed her annoyance.
“Am’hara, are you going to introduce us to your visitor?” Bo-Katan asked.
“Oh! Yes!” Am’hara replied with a tinge of mock thoughtlessness, “I am pleased to present Shy’ila, Mandalore’s new environmental science coordinator. Shy’lia, meet Din Djarin, my husband and the Mand'alor, this is Bo-Katan Kryze, Cara Dune, Koska Reeves, and Axes Woves,” Am’hara gestured towards each person as she gave names that Shy’ila was not able to keep up with, then Am’hara paused, “Excuse me, if you will.” Am’hara moved behind the group towards a supply bin as the Mandalorian group shot each other incredulous glances.
“Does this mean that you’ve completed the interviews?” Bo-Katan asked in her still controlled annoyed tone.
“Yes, it does,” Am’hara answered as she returned to the group, looking down at a data pad and a data rod in her hands.
“The process is, if I am not mistaken,” Bo-Katan directed her statement towards Din as Am’hara busied herself with the devices in full view of the team, “is that approval is needed for this role’s fulfillment.” Din looked towards Am’hara but said nothing as if to allow others to waste the time and energy squabbling over the matter.
“Yes, it is,” Am’hara said while finally raising her face to Bo-Katan, “Fortunately, I made the executive decision to fill the role based on her qualifications and the urgency of the matter. I sent Din the decision rationalization.” Din lifted his data pad silently with his helmet hiding any expression. Bo-Katan’s face still held a royal regality, but her frustration was evident. The room was dead quiet.
Din lowered his pad. “She’s in,” he confirmed. All eyes returned to Am’hara who returned no expression of triumph or joy.
“Thank you,” she simply said.
“These tactics won’t continue to get you your way at every little whim you have, Am’hara,” Bo-Katan stepped forward to threaten, “You will learn to respect authority.” Am’hara’s widened her eyes, but still brought no other expression to the confrontation.
“Oh, I disagree, Bo-Katan,” Am’hara said, raising her head to the challenge, “If you are suggesting that I am using competency to undermine authority, I suggest you re-evaluate your profession.” Am’hara turned and placed a hand on Shy’ila’s shoulder to guide her out of the room. Shy’ila felt jolted and began to wonder if she was merely a tool in a political power play. She noticed that Am’hara was leading her to a different room than the one she interviewed in. Then, Am’hara stopped and turned to face Shy’ila.
“I need to know,” Am’hara began quietly so as to keep this conversation between themselves, “that you can face this every day. That you will come into your post each day and prove everyone in that room wrong. Can you do that?” Am’hara handed the data pad and rod to Shy’ila.
“Every day? To be honest, Am’hara, that was pretty intense. I wasn’t thinking that I would have to face that kind of hostility.”
“Well, you won’t. I manage the science programs and I am expecting you will be operating with significant autonomy. You will be dealing with them when you are presenting your progress to the Mand'alor and when discussing feasibility plans for future projects. But we will make sure you are prepared for those.”
“Presenting to the Mand'alor directly?” Shy’ila asked, “You didn’t even introduce me as a Mandalorian.”
“That’s right,” Am’hara replied, “That’s because you earned this role based on your skillset and your ability, not on your planetary origin. I want them to look like fools when they learn that you are Mando. I know what it feels like to be treated as an outsider. Me? I’m Neimoidian, although a really ugly one.” Am’hara and Shy’ila chuckled at the joke. “Where are you staying now? Planetside?”
“Yes, I returned when the Mand'alor’s rallying call went out.”
“What were you doing for work?”
“I was trying to sell street food snacks, but mostly subsisting off my savings.”
“If you have any problems, any questions, or need support in any way, I want you to come talk to me. You have a daunting task ahead of you, but I want you to enjoy your work enough so that you stay in this role until your happy retirement. That’s the plan anyway. Remember who I said was best qualified?”
“You said I am,” Shy’ila replied.
“Yeah, and you know how you will know that I’m not just blowing smoke up your tail?”
“How?”
“Because, you will be interviewing the same people I did when you build your team.”
“My team?” Shy’ila said with a bit of surprise.
“Yes, it’s not authorized yet, but I want you to have others underneath you who will direct all these tasks. Oh, you’ll get a kick out of some of these people who were recommended for this same position. You won’t believe how bad it got.”
“Oh,” Shy’ila said quietly.
“Last trial,” Am’hara said, changing the subject, “A lot of folks around here are pretty rough around the edges. Just give them time to loosen up, but let’s introduce you to your true peers.” Am’hara continued them down the corridor and took a right. The end of this corridor looked like it looped back into a left almost as if directing foot traffic back to the original location. A doorway sat cleanly in the center of the long walls. Am’hara opened the lock biometrically and the two entered into a large lab that contained rudimentary furniture, but several displays with specifications that quickly flashed off. To the right of the doorway, but off-center with the entire room was a long desk that had two curved extensions on either side that pointed in opposite directions of each other. This gave the appearance of a conjoined desk and allowed two users a Leth (L) shaped desk with mutual collaboration space.
Two palm-colored men sat at each side of the desk in a relaxed manner. The man sitting furthest from the doorway had moved to switch off the displays. He wore a set of shoulder pauldrons that were colored white with blue highlights. Shy’ila recognized that as purity and reliability. The other man was larger and had a chest plate of gray and orange. Mourning and a lust for life.
She thought about her own beskar that was inherited from her mother. She wore it the first few days on Mandalore but decided it was too dangerous to wear her full bronze suit. Too much attention and too many questions, just like today has been.
“This is Vadrik,” Am’hara gestured towards the man who turned off the displays, “and this is Dan. He’s an engineer.” She gestured towards the larger man. “Vadrik, Dan, this is Shy’ila. Our new Mandalorian environmental science coordinator.”
Vadrik nodded with a polite smile and raised his hand in a quick greeting. Dan wasn’t as hospitable.
“We aren’t hiring Mandos anymore?” Dan asked gruffly.
“We are and she is,” Am’hara said bluntly, “One thing you will learn about Dan the Engineer is that he’s always found in my chair. We haven’t figured out why as of yet.”
“Oh, that’s right,” Dan said as he got up, “Here you are.”
“Yes, thank you. It is a comfortable chair and I am pregnant,” Am’hara said as she took her seat, “Very gracious of you. Do you mind pulling Shy’ila up a chair? We need to get her activated.”
“The hiring is already finished?” Vadrik asked with surprise, “Did Bo-Katan accept?”
Am’hara’s expression showed one of paused response. “Ah, well, she eventually came to…No. No, I circumvented her, but that is a fight for another day.”
The discussion between the four of them seemed to be a chaotic flow of information. Am’hara explained the options for governmental employee housing and the sizes available based on family size. Am’hara verbally confirmed various screens on Shy’ila’s data pad once Am’hara activated her profile centrally from her holo-token. In between pauses, she inquired of Dan’s progress in his hiring efforts for the various engineering programs. Dan, it seemed, was accustomed to replying without hiding any traces of negative attitude. Vadrik busied himself on his holo-screen and was given a few assignments that Shy’ila couldn’t understand. As she worked through her initial set up, she began to question her decision since the active discussions were quite distracting.
She also hadn’t anticipated being at the building for as long as she was and she knew her husband would begin to worry. She hadn’t replaced her communicator since she was trying to be as frugal on funds as possible. But he might be able to forgive this lack of communication for the welcomed good news. The idea of a free flat as part of her compensation package was enticing and she began to wonder what it looked like inside. She knew they couldn’t be too picky and almost anything would be an improvement from what they were currently in, but everything was happening all at once and the pace disrupted her joy.
Am’hara asked for the data rod and completed a few executions on her own holo-screen. Then she left Vadrik and Dan as she escorted Shy’ila out the lobby of the governmental building and down to the main level. Past a little ways and down a stair case, Am’hara led Shy’ila to the residential flats that were reserved for those in governmental service; although there was said to be some interesting interpretation to that requirement. The pair stopped in front of a flat that Shy’ila recognized as her assigned housing unit. Am’hara showed her how to open the unit with the data rod and how to assign others access codes.
Shy’ila stepped in hoping to see comfortable accommodations. She wasn’t exactly disappointed, but she wasn’t exactly thrilled either. On other planets, she never thought about the quiet luxury of fine materials, detailed architecture, and the taste that art brought to a room. But here, the flat was devoid of any sort of extravagance. She only saw straight lines and no color. The room was furnished with basic and standard issued bedding, but that was the only additional item the housing afforded without being a mere structure. And yet, this would be home. She could eventually decorate how she saw fit and the actual interior was spacious. Three sleeping quarters that would be large enough for adults, let alone her children, a nice living and dining area, and functional kitchen. She did appreciate the balcony access that broke up the rigid geometry of the layout by offering a generous arc. She would be able to see the rays of sun at this level, unlike some places in the Mid Rim that had her so far down in the lower levels that no sunlight reached through.
Shy’ila offered her approval and Am’hara arranged for her arrival the next day and agreed to a private office area for her to work in peace. When the two returned to the governmental building, Shy’ila’s husband and two children were found outside the front entrance, apparently with a plan to wait outside until they deemed it necessary to expand their search for the female rodian. Am’hara departed their company and the family was excited to celebrate the good news of Shy’ila’s successful, although chaotic first day.
Am’hara returned to her office and found that Dan had left. Vadrik shot Am’hara a warning glance as she sat back down after preparing a cup of caf. She activated her holo-screen to the specification screens that were displayed earlier.
“What is that for?” she asked with an uninterested tone, referring to Vadrik’s look.
“You don’t like Bo-Katan, do you? You’re trying to kotir (defeat) her in a power struggle.”
“Is that what I am trying to do?” Am’hara asked nonchalantly.
“Yes! You know she had preference hires for that role and you bring on someone who doesn’t fit in.”
“Why doesn’t our new hire fit in? She just got here?”
“You know what I mean, Am’hara,” Vadrik chided, “You don’t respect Bo-Katan, do you?”
“Of course I respect her. Just because I don’t agree with her doesn’t mean I don’t respect her. Nor am I trying to overpower her in some meaningless social battle. If she could do what I do, then I will gladly resign. Until then, she can work in that room and I can work in this one.”
“Your disdain for her is apparent,” Vadrik retorted.
“Then I suppose I should change that,” Am’hara said in the same unenthusiastic tone.
“You really should. She openly speaks against you. You aren’t making friends.”
“Nor am I trying to,” she said with annoyance.
“You don’t think that’s important? You don’t think Bo-Katan is valuable?” Vadrik asked.
“Oh, she’s incredibly important,” Am’hara said as she finally looked up from her display, “She represents Mandalorian history; a relic of when the society was at least functioning. Uniting Mandalorians is not as easy as one would think.”
“No one ever said it was going to be easy.”
“Well however difficult someone thinks it will be, the process will actually be more work than that,” she said.
“And you sure are contributing to that difficulty,” Vadrik pointed out.
“Sometimes the battle is worth the scars.”