"Ah, no worries. They're growing on me...although I think we're going to have find some way to give them baths. Long, soapy, baths." He looked down at his shirt and laughed, looking to the Tuk'ata with a wan smile. 
"Well, I suppose I'm being quite the hypocrite, aren't I?" The one that had been sniffing his hand now sniffed his knee, snorting a moment later.
"Oh it's not that bad!" He leaned forward and scratched behind the creature's ears, telling Aria as he did so:
"You know, I had a couple of dogs when I was growing up on Taris. One medium sized, potato shaped dog that had stumpy legs and another much larger mountain dog that had massive paws. They were fun companions, although a bit long in the tooth when we met them. My parents, according to them, had gotten both of them before we were born, so they weren't all that active...still, they were great to be around. Lysa always preferred the potato...that was his name, by the way. Potato." He patted the creature on the flanks, hand coming away with a sticky film. 
"Yeah, baths are in your future." The Knight looked down to Aria, whose jaw was quivering. 
"Woah, hey, hey..." He scooted down to the floor, once again placing a comforting arm around her shoulders, allowing her to lean in if she wished. 
"It's ok to keep crying, you know." He motioned to the barely populated command center in the middle of the room. 
"No one's going to notice...I think everyone over there is sleep walking or taking naps. Look at Reggie, he doesn't seem like he's all that into watching the map for Saresh's ship." The baby faced Reggie was currently hunched over in a chair similar to the one Yerbol had occupied, loudly snoring. Behind him, a couple of others shuffled to comm units that were silent, exchanging whispered sentiments. 
"I'm sorry, by the way. For not being there for you as much as I should've been the past few days. Neta had me sprinting around the edge of the compound to make sure the energy shields weren't totally damaged, then had me rebuilding that bloody hole in the wall in the hangar. What on earth did the Alliance troopers have down here, rocket launchers? Proton cannons? Surprised that they weren't able to take down the base with that kind of firepower." A soft beeping came from the center console, prompting Reggie to snort loudly, awakening from his slumber to spot five blips heading towards them. Fumbling for the comm unit, he squeaked:
"Envoy incoming!" With that, the once quiet command center began to bustle with activity once more. 
"Well, that was a short interlude." Blowing out a sigh, Yerbol looked down to his companion.
"I've got an idea I want to talk to you about. Something awesome, something grand in scope...it also involves steak." He grinned, kissing her on the side of her head before rising(he didn't think about the gesture all that much at the specific moment).
"You're gonna love it! Just gotta negotiate GALACTIC PEEEAAACCEEEEEE!!!" 
"GAAALAAACTICCC PEEAACCCEEEE!!!" Bex called out as he emerged from the military wing of the complex, the duo chuckling at their inside joke. 
"Gonna get it today, Bex! Gettin it TO. DAY!" The sudden burst of excitement was surprising to the once thoroughly exhausted Yerbol, but he was rejuvenated by what he had come up with for he and Aria while working around the base...well, that and knowing that their fight would soon be over. Hopefully. 

_______________

The briefing room, which once saw chairs in a circle, now had rows of chairs facing each other. Saresh and her convoy of diplomats, all of which had some sign of exhaustion on their faces, sat on the side opposite the doorway. Neta and Elara greeted them, led them into the room and was about to call the diplomats in when Saresh shook her head.
"First, I need to talk to the Masters as well as Yerbol and Aria."
"Fair enough." 

Once the surviving Force users came together, Saresh addressed them:
"What has occurred over the past six months has been trying. For all of us." 
"You destroyed two Orders of the Force, Chancellor. Let's rephrase that a bit, shall we?" Voldon jabbed, eyes boring into the Twi'lek's skull with ferocity. 
"I'm not attempting to reduce the severity of your suffering, Master Naylon, but we too had been deceived. Bracknell had grown increasingly erratic in his behavior, attempting to bully advisers, ambassadors, policy makers and the entire Senate into passing harsh, extreme measures against Force users. More and more of those who had joined the Alliance grew wary of our partnership and pushed for me to challenge him(believe me, there were MANY who left after the destruction of Tython and even more when Korriban was laid waste. Our numbers weren't as massive as they seemed). When I pressed him two months ago, he..." She trailed off for a momentary pause, gathering her thought before continuing:
"He made so much sense. Everything made sense when he spoke. It was as if a divine miracle occurred when we had first met. Total peace between Empire and Republic? I wanted nothing less." She sat back. 
"But it was all for naught. The cost that was incurred by our actions was massive and I will constantly be seeking to repay those of you who fought so bravely for true peace." 
"There's a 'but' coming, isn't there?" Matt quipped, brow furrowing. 
"Perception of Force users has become rather slanted, to the point that we've had several planets declare a ban on those who use the Force." 
"I'm aware." Voldon's jaw tightened. 
"While I understand the anger and the venom Force users may possess towards the galaxy, they also will have to understand that what Bracknell and I sought to do was-"
"Stomp us out, eradicate us?!" Matt nearly shrieked, Voldon instantly clapping a hand on his shoulder to restrain him. 
"Our original intent, Master Carnagie, was to establish a separation of state. We were going to call together the respective Councils and negotiate a way for both the Jedi and Sith to remain in their respective domains without interfering in the Alliance's interests." Yerbol then angrily retorted:
"Which meant taking helpless kids on transport vessels? Allowing both Tython and Korriban to erupt into civil war while sitting back on your haunches while YOU DID NOTHING?! I FOUGHT ON BELSAVIS, CHANCELLOR! I BLED WITH THOSE REPUBLIC TROOPERS AND YOU WANT TO INVALIDA-"
"YERBOL, THAT'S ENOUGH!" Voldon roared, taking in a deep breath. 
"You'll forgive us, Chancellor, but we're on edge." Some of the ambassadors had recoiled in their seats from the display, but Saresh wasn't flustered. 
"Understandable. This subversive war has taken a toll on your people, hence my proposition to your unified Council." She straightened her full length skirt as she continued: 
"In order for the galaxy to recover, we'll need refuge cities, places where Force users can safely get help and assistance while we attempt to mend the gaping wounds of public outcry. We can have certain locales set up in the Core worlds as well as the Outer Rim and this planet...?"
"Zinuthra." Matt muttered.
"So Zinuthra. We will need, of course, experienced Force users at these locations to begin setting up. We'll dedicate resources to helping you as well." 
"What's the end goal, Chancellor?" 
"To hopefully integrate Force users back into mainstream society where...well, let's cross one bridge at a time, shall we?" 
"We need this all in writing. You people love your 'treaties'. We want one." 
"I expected as much. I'll have my people draw one up."
"No, no, we have our own diplomatic core." Yerbol added, smirking at Saresh's sigh of disapproval. 
"Before we leave..." Voldon looked over at the others.
"I feel like some of us have other things they'd like to say."
"Of course."