First, Do No Harm | Brask'ari'sabosen

[Natasi Fortan]

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"...and then she'll need to find three minutes to eat something before heading into her two o'lock with the new Minister of Health, so --"

The Finance Minister's private secretary cut across Clémence Wallace. "What are you trying to tell me?"

"If I'm only trying to tell you, I'm not doing a good job of it or you're not listening. You asked whether she had time today. She does not. Tomorrow isn't looking good either." Clémence scanned Natasi's schedule; there was no daylight anywhere in it to pencil in the Finance Minister. "That goes for the rest of the week, actually, but she's at Herevan at the weekend. I could possibly swing him for dinner on Friday night."

He hesitated. "I wouldn't be ... pushing in?"

Clémence frowned, then made a thoughtful noise before continuing: "Oh, I don't think so. She's got the Calindas and the Churchills staying."

"Should the rest of us be concerned?"

"Don't be stupid," Clémence replied waspishly. "Do you want it or not? And don't try to tell me he's got plans."

"Some of his fraternity brothers were coming, but -- he won't mind."

Clémence smirked. "Sorry he'll have to cancel the greatest gathering of minds in Dosuun since Natasi Fortan dined alone. You're in - remember they dress for dinner. Must dash." Without waiting for a response, the private secretary hung up, collected the sandwich from her desk and delivered it to Natasi, who was wrapping up a meeting with her liaisons to Ministry of Security and the Ministry of Defense. "Sorry to interrupt, you've got -- sorry -- three minutes to finish that, and then you'll be in with Doctor Br... Doctor Bass-car-ee -- sorry, I'll get it. Doctor -- Doctor Brass-car-ee-suh -- "

"[member="Brask'ari'sabosen"]," Natasi said as she unwrapped her sandwich, then made a face. "Tuna? Again?"

"Doctor's orders, ma'am. I'll go and get the door. You'll be in your private study."

"Thanks," Natasi said. She wrinkled her nose and took a bite of her sandwich. Clémence, for her part, went down to meet the new Minister of Health's car outside the iconic door to the Grand Moff's working residence.

 

[Alleycat]

The appointment to Minister of Health for the First Order had caught Brask'ari'sabosen by surprise, if she was honest with herself. The Chiss doctor would be the first alien to be a member of their Moff Council. Was Karisa to be the token one, or had her merits in the line of duty with the First Imperial Medical Service warranted this most prestigious promotion? She was indeed a highly skilled and proficient physician and surgeon, but to rise above that into the political spectrum of this Imperial faction... now that was a totally different animal. A Minister or Moff would be the equivalent of a Aristocra in the Chiss Ascendancy.

If only my father could see me now, she mused wistfully to herself as the limo speeder slowed, then stopped in front of the Grand Moff's working residence in Avalonia.

That bit of rare sentiment was pushed away down deep as the driver got out and came around to open the door for the new minister. The blue-skinned near human exited from the back seat and offered the human male a curt nod of thanks, then Karisa stepped up to the front door, giving her black uniform tunic a smart tug to smooth it out over her feminine form before ringing the bell.

[member="Natasi Fortan"]

 

[Natasi Fortan]

As [member="Brask'ari'sabosen"] was being seen out of the car by her driver, a bevy of journalists were on the other side of the street, all flash-bulbs and morning stand-ups, reporting on the news of the new Health Minister for the First Order. They weren't quite sure why the previous Minister was out of the position, but the First Order press knew better than to question their overlords. Instead, they simply recorded the azure alien's arrival with curiosity and dignity. It was the same for every new Minister; visitors to Number 10 made for great footage, after all.

Clémence opened the door as the Chiss approached, and extended her hand to shake it. "Doctor -- that is, Minister," said Clémence pleasantly. "The Grand Moff sends her apologies for not greeting you personally. She's finishing up a meeting that's gone long. Won't you come in?" She stepped aside to make way for the Chiss and then shut the door. "She's asked if you would mind joining her in her private study." Clémence stated this in such a way that it wasn't really a question, and instead turned and led the way across the polished black-and-white, checkerboard-patterned marble floor to the stairs. A life-sized portrait of the Supreme Leader hung on the first floor landing, the old man glowering out at them as they rounded onto the stairway to the second floor, and finally to the third, which served, in part, as the Grand Moff's residence.

The principal private secretary paused outside a door off a long, wide corridor, then opened it. "Ma'am, the Minister for Health." After hearing the response, Clémence pushed the door fully open, turning towards the Chiss. "The Grand Moff will see you now." The newly-minted Minister for Health would find a small room with a pair of windows looking over the park and an enclosed bookcase on the other side. A pair of armchairs flanked a fireplace which, in late summer, did not have a fire lit. Above the fireplace was a picture was a painting of Herevan Hold before the fire. Sitting cross-legged in the chair to the left of the fireplace was Natasi Fortan, Grand Moff of the First Order, her dispatch box on the coffee table between the chairs.

In the opposite chair was Jack, silver-grey kitten who looked affronted at having his domain invaded by Natasi, Clémence, and Brask'ari'sabosen. Natasi looked up and set her papers in the dispatch box before standing and meeting the Chiss with a handshake, offering her the opposite seat after removing a very reluctant cat. Clémence lingered in the doorway. "Can I offer you something to drink, Minister?"