Chapter Text
Silence hung over the large entry hall to the private quarters of Master Relion’s estate. Edenye crawled over the floor dunking the dirty rag into a bucket at her side. Wringing it out, she sat it down again to scrub the floor. A punishment. To do the work that droids had been made for. She had to wince. Sharp pinches twisted on her back with the newly forming scars. Another punishment, on top of the one she was doing. Scars from whiplashes already littered her back.
Twenty of them. Why she had not been told. Only been pulled from her bed in the deep of the night to be brought to the overseer.
Biting her lip, she pushed the rag across the floor. Who had dirtied this floor in the span of two hours? Obvious who it was. Why was she even asking that herself? Relion was doing this on purpose. Why was he so angry with her? She had done all what he had asked of her! A sudden burn on he left shoulder blade made her stop. Her left hand slackened, fingers losing strength and she sacked in her posture breathing hard.
She bit her lip harshly to prevent a groan in pain. Please please, not another scar opening up again! They would make her wash the bloodied tunics again. Without giving her any bacta while she bled onto the new one. Mercy…, stars, all she asked for was mercy.
Slaves deserved no mercy. What Master Relion had always said. Why was she thinking this? Useless. She was just useless. Only… she was good for one thing. One thing only. A rough cough to her back made her flinch. Frantically, she scrubbed harder on the same spot. If the guards watching her suspected her slacking, they had permission to punish her.
“Get on with it,” the male snapped as the female giggled behind him.
“Just shock her,” she suggested smugly.
Please no. Tears burned at the corners of her eyes as Edenye slid across the smooth stone floor to another patch that needed cleaning. She was doing her work… Just… let her heal. By the stars, she was just a slave. Why did she need two guards watching her? There was nothing she could do except lift a bucket! What danger was she to them? Even if she managed to flee, she would not get far. Not with her injured back and lack of food and money.
“Not necessary,” the man huffed amused, “look at her scrambling.”
The female groaned, but remained quiet. Thank the stars. No minutes of boiling flames running through her veins. Her shock collar weighed heavily on her neck, the two contact points alongside her shoulders digging uncomfortably into her skin and bone. One that fit ill and they had not bothered to give her a fitting one yet.
Why was this spot hard to clean? Solid, dried dirt. She had cleaned it this morning! What had they done in the hours in between? Surely Master Relion would not go through all this trouble to punish her like this?
He had though. What had happened?
Filed down nails scratching at the surface as she scrubbed furiously at it. Biting back the pain flaring up in her left shoulder. Already she could feel something running down her back. Must be blood. No, do not care about it! If she didn’t get this cleaned, then…. her throat closed up. Do not think about it. Nothing good came of any thought of it. It would only show her more red sand. Something she could no longer stomach to see.
She could practically hear the cracking of the whip again tearing up her still healing skin. Though, this time… the familiar crack did not resonate in her skull. Like all the times before, when she heard it and seconds later a mistake happened.
Strange. She straightened her still burning shoulder blade, letting that side’s hand merely rest on the rag as she pushed with the other.
No punishment tonight? Would she finally be able to heal?
She let up with the furious scrubbing, hope digging into her skin refusing to scamper off. Just breathe. Hoping would not help her. Never had, only brought her beatings and bruises. The stone under her knees glittered in the setting sun that shone through the large windows that spanned the small stair case hall of Relion’s estate.
Pretty… almost like a night sky littered with stars.
“Alien scum,” the female hissed suddenly, “Work!”
The electrical charging of her hair underneath the collar was her only warning. She squeezed her eyes shut in already knowing what was to come. There was not enough time to scream. It was as if someone had inserted daggers into her skin and stabbed into her organs. Boiling her blood, making her writhe on the floor. When had she fallen onto her side? Her hands had cramped over the collar, trying to tear it off. Even if it was feeble.
Then it stopped.
Nose burning from the bile that had worked itself into the back of her throat, she tried to breathe. Cool relief seeped into the skin of her cheek that was pressed against the floor, clearing the heat that now collected in her forehead. Groaning, she pressed a hand in front of her mouth. No vomiting. She would have to clean it up. Again. Like all the days beforehand. Ever since that man had come to visit and she had been made to face him.
To see only death staring back and red sand pouring out of the nose. Shaking, she pushed herself to her elbows.
Continue scrubbing. No whip and no more shocking. Her entire body felt numb, nerves dead as her hands clutched at the rag that had slipped from her fingers.
“Get to work,” the man boomed laughing along with the cackling of the female beside him.
She winced. Why did they have to be so loud? Ears rang out from the scratching laughter the two gave out. Of course she had to work! That was her whole life. From birth to death. Unless her Master decided she was fit enough to have children. Or useful enough. Still shaking, she dragged herself to the spot she had to stop scrubbing. Over half way done.
This had to be done. She had to. Could do it. Anything else meant… no don’t think about it.
As long as they no longer shocked her. The pressure behind her nose lessened just as the burning of the acid retreated down to her stomach. At least she recovered fast from these things. Not like some of the others. Old Uom could not move from their bed roll after they had been shocked. How they had lived in the end was beyond her to this day.
Knees ached as the caps dug into the stone again, when she came to a stop. Do not look at the guards. Do not speak up against them. Do not risk more scars. No more pain. The mantra they all had been beaten into for as long as she could remember. Even her mother. Wherever she was now. If she was alive that was. Her memory had been fuzzy of the time she got grabbed and never came back. The skin on her cheeks felt stiff. Tears? Her tongue flicked out to the corners of her mouth. Salty. How had she not felt them spilling? Nevermind. She had to work.
The female guard started cackling, “We could keep shocking her…”
“You know the orders,” the man huffed, “no excessive shocking. He still needs her… dreams.”
Hot embarrassment ran down her spine and she wanted to yell at them. Her dreams were no one’s business. Least of all the two of them, cackling Tukata… They were the reason why she was here right now, scrubbing and enduring their sadistic glee to see her nearly die.
“One more time,” the female suggested, “she doesn’t look cowed enough.”
“Well,” she could practically feel the man’s shrug on her back, “with that justification.”
Red sand floated past her nose… whatever the two behind her said suddenly drowned up in a sudden rush of wind in her ears. Like in so many dreams… the red sand. This time the name Korriban did not resonate within her skull.
Not again.
She squeezed her eyes shut anticipating the familiar crackle of electrical charge built up. Only it never came.
A loud boom shook the ground underneath her. Grip on the rag giving away as her upper body impacted hard on the floor. Sharp pain shot up from elbows up making her teeth rattle. Air rushed out from her lungs. Gasping for air, dust and small pebbles rained down from the ceiling. Slid down her tunic, itching and scratching against her skin. Stars… the agony.
What had just happened?
“What was that?” The female shrilled.
Two blasters clicked off their safety. Fear, ice cold sank into her fore head, numbing the pain in her back and chest down to her elbows.
“I don’t know,” the male replied, uncertainty weighing in his words.
Quickly she glanced back to see the two with their rifles drawn and stepping away from their former position. Carefully, she pushed herself up, back tensing at the exertion. Now on her knees, she looked around. A thin layer of dust coated the room now, while more dust floated in the air. Stupid dust. All that work for nothing now! She would have to start all over again! Tears pooled into her eyes, stinging at the dust that had collected near. Her shoulders were itching and grew painful.
Do not scratch. That would never help. Biting her lip, she rubbed at her eyes. Hopefully she could get the dust out and get back to her work. Metallic tasting scent filled her nostrils, nearly gagging her. Lurching her stomach, she caught herself just in time before dry heaving. Then it was gone. Only leaving a bile at the back of her throat.
Work! That had meant punishment. Could only ever mean that.
Snatching the rag up, she had to bite back a cry when her back stretched too much at the action. Stars, mercy….
Her limbs felt so heavy. Since when had they been shaking? She could not control it, as much as she tried to focus. The cloth nearly slipped from her fingers.
Calm down. Take a breath.
Suddenly the air sent up goosebumps up her arms. Whatever had just happened. Had not been planned. Not with the way her guards were still uncertainly keeping an eye on each door and their coms.
If she continued working, there’d be no reason to use the shock collar. Hopefully. Maybe even food?! When was the last time she had gotten a ration bar? Dunking the rag into the water, she looked back to the patch she would have to start working on.
The ever present ache in her stomach closed up her throat. Too long ago. Taking the rag out, she tried to twist it. It was as if all strength had left her as the cloth fell off her grip and into the water, splashing her face and tunic.
Oh no… One more thing to clean.
Run.
That voice again. Who kept talking to her? Confused she looked to the guards who were still muttering between each other. Anxiety oscillating between them. No, not them. There never was someone talking. But who would or could?
Though… a void opened up near the two still conversing guards, shrouding them. An all consuming void. The one that had gotten her into this trouble to begin with. Death… it was coming. Those two will die. Should she tell them? Cocking her head, she stared at them for a moment. Would they even believe her? No, they would not. More likely they would shock her for her insolence to speak at them when not asked.
Shivering, she turned back to what she should be doing. Whatever had happened in the lower levels was most likely the kitchen appliances finally giving out. Hopefully that would get fixed now.
Run!
Again! She winced. That had been louder and was resonating painfully around her skull. That voice, how could no one ever hear it? Rubbing her aching temple, she looked back to the guards. So oblivious… But they had not noticed her not really working either. She might be able to slowly crawl towards the door closest to her…. Risk it? A slight thumping at the back of her skull started. Yes, she needed to risk it.
Slowly she inched over the floor. No noise. Dragging the rag with her in case the guards turned around. All the while the thumping increased. Faster.
Time slowed down as cold hands gripped her spine. Her eyes were drawn to the window pane.
A small black dot flew towards the glass.
Oh no.
Her legs kicked out and she felt herself flying up away, as glass shattered and…
A loud explosion threw her further, her knees and hands tearing along the floor. Pain exploded all over as heat rushed over her back, scars feeling as if they had burst into fire. Searing pain washed over, choking her pained cry from her throat. Knees and the skin on her hip tore more and more the further she slid. Until she came to a stop. Not a hand’s width away from the door.
The pounding was gone.
Blood filled her mouth, tongue pinching in sharp pain, the metallic taste sending the bile from her throat to back of her nose.
Two pangs of screams filled her ears, before being drowned out by a high-pitched ringing piercing her brain.
Agony… It hurts! Stars, make it stop! Stop!
Chest tight, she tried to draw in a breath. Too tight, no air! Gasping, she grabbed at her throat. Finally air. It was burning her lungs. Until… someone gripped her shoulders. Turning her around, on her back. Grey silhouettes floated into her field of view.
Until the focus shuttered back. Grey helmets, red stars on their shoulders.
Imperials?
What were they doing here? Soot particles floated through the air, flashes of red. Coldness seeped through her stomach, two pangs of ice tearing down her back. Death. It meant death. There was no need to turn around, the two guards were dead.
Numbness spread over her, her eyes flickering over the helmets now encapsulating her field of view. Were they going to kill her too? She was just a slave. What use…
Her neck was yanked backwards, the tendons pulling apart under the force of being heaved up. Armoured hands grabbed her under the arm pits, hauling her to the feet. Bare feet sliding along the floor, hot ash burned through the soles of her feet. So many troopers. Throat burned and itched suddenly, a cough working itself past her mouth. Her body shook violently as she spat out breathed in ash and smoke.
The hands hauling her did not stop, mercilessly pulling on her skin. Skin tearing along her ribs. Tears gathered in her eyes, the air itching and burning them. But she could not look away. Two big lumps laid near the marble stairs, one of the Imperial troopers standing over them. Must be the guards… it felt empty where they were.
Why did they die and she didn’t? Letting her head loll to the side, she looked over to the windows. Or more what still stood of their frames. The intricate metal patterns through the glass had been blown clean off, leaving only gaping holes. More troopers ran in, rifles drawn and crunching the glass under their boots.
Was this how she would die?
The soldiers formed lines, running over to the many doors leading away as the hair on her neck rose. Not in the times before being shocked. No. Something dark hovered over her now, just out of her reach, sucking all the heat from her limbs. She flinched, tugging at the grip of whoever was holding onto her.
Get away.
“Be still, slave,” a modulated voice ordered harshly.
Her body tensed up, completely still as she held her breath. They would kill her without a second thought. Though, why did they spare her to begin with? She was pushed down at the base of the stairs, cold metal snapping around her wrists and feet. Two Imperial soldiers were now in front of her, rifles trained on her face.
“Where are the other slaves?” the one on her right demanded.
Other slaves? What did they want with them? Blinking, she stared at the black visors staring down at her. Had she heard them right? Was she hallucinating? Annoyance flickered and the distinct smell of burned cartridges filled her nose. They were going to shoot her.
“They…,” she stammered out, “Upstairs, cleaning….,” a heavy swallow, “Cellar, living quarters.”
“Were you alone?” the left asked lowering their blaster.
She nodded fervently finally the smell of those burnt cartridges gone finally. Breathing out, she deflated against the cold stairs, a step digging painfully into her lower spine. Quickly she looked to the side where two more groups of the intruding soldiers kneeled by the entry door to the reception rooms for guests. Must be searching for something. Just what? Or who?
They moved like one body, moving smoothly without any pause or a moment of hesitation.
“You know the orders,” the left one sighed, “Round up the slaves and bring them to Darth Malgus.”
Darth Malgus? A Sith?! Panic shot up her spine and she looked to the destroyed window wall. Was that what she had felt? Did a Sith feel so dark? So menacing? Not quite death, but something similar. A promise of doom.
What did a Sith want with them? They were just slaves! Nothing valuable, nothing of note nor…
A sudden burst of blaster fire made her flinch. More pangs of cold needles drove into her shoulder blades. So much death. That darkness had meant death, the promise of it. How stupid was she? Loud footsteps approached through the five doors towards them. Familiar soothing feathers brushed against her mind as… Uom! The old Togruta limped on their right side, still suffering from the time from the electrocution years ago. Then Olern, Ethol… all the others were herded in, chained up like her.
In the end, all hundred slaves had been pushed into the hall. Apprehension and fear charging the spaces between them. Shock collars synced to the troopers guarding them. Unlike the guards that now were carried in as well, dead, small voids in the air…. They were kinder. If one could call the lack of punishing them with shocks as a mercy.
Though, none of them dared to make a peep. Silent they stared at anything and nothing, minds racing. Thoughts rushed past her so fast she could not grasp onto them and see.
Red sand trickled down the walls.
Frowning she stared at the cracks that had formed during the assault. No sand. Was she hallucinating? Maybe she was insane… like all the guests had yelled when she had been forced to tell them what she saw clinging to them.
Like that last one. Must have died. Otherwise they would not be punishing her. Even though she had done as they asked!
Suddenly the air came to still stand, the hair on her neck rising at the anticipation. The Sith was coming and whatever he had in store for them. A silent wall, not like the ones next to her. Closed off, nothing she could feel what he was thinking or feeling.
Four heavily armoured soldiers flanked the door opposite the stairs where she sat. She had to crane her neck to see who was entering. A hooded figure stepped in, coldness settling over her chest, freezing the air in her lungs. Fear sank into her heart, stopping it for a brief moment.
Snow and crystals glittered on the ceiling.
Blinking, she looked back to the hood hovering above the sea of the heads of the slaves she had lived with for her entire lives. The Sith, this Malgus, scanned the slaves gathered in front of him, slowly walking through the lines.
He was searching for something. Or someone specifically. Looking at everyone’s faces, studying them for a moment before moving on. By the Emperor, please not her. Would she be blamed for the man’s death too? Had he been far more important than any of the other men in white imperial attire that had come to visit before? Could she maybe skirt the selection by not even looking at him.
Just then he reached her line, approaching her steadily scrutinizing the slaves on her right.
Then he reached her, eyes locking on hers. The hair on her neck stood on end and she could feel ice coating them. Shivering, she watched with growing horror when he turned to her. Yellow eyes fixating on her discoloured one. That one flaw in her otherwise human face.
“This is the one,” he turned to the nearby soldier, who grabbed her suddenly.
What? No no. Mercy! Was she going to be executed?! Air! Where was the air?! Eyes burning, she stared as the soldier approached, rifle lowered. As if she was no threat to him.
Oh no. Not with her. She was not going to die! Not without a fight.
A prickling broke out from her neck, spreading rapidly through her limbs down to her fingertips. Somehow her hands ripped forwards, flinging the approaching soldier off his feet. It sent him crashing into another who fell over Old Uom who went sprawling to the floor.
Silence fell over them all, shock registering around the entire hall. Except the Sith, who still stood in front of her, not even a wind gust had ruffled his cloak. That had been the wind right? Must have been.
No… all her. Now her entire body was shaking. What had she done? Was this treason?!
“That is the proof,” the Sith stated waving a gauntleted hand.
With a click, her restraints fell off, thudding to the floor. Free? He freed her? Was she in a dream?
Sand filled her nose and she had to cough. Now the Sith stood directly in front of her, pulling the hood off his head. He had no hair, the veins shining black through marring his otherwise human appearance. Yellow eyes looked her over, as if looking for something specific.
Just then the groans of the Imperial soldiers that she had sent flying made her flinch away. Or maybe he had not freed her. But freed her so she could face punishment from those two?
“You will become Sith,” he suddenly said.
He must be talking…. Sith? What? Had she heard him right? Her eyes flickered to the side where other slaves were staring at her openly. Uom had lifted their head as well, small smile tugging on their mouth.
“Eleena,” he turned around waving someone else over.
A calm sense of peace washed over, soothing the frayed edges of her mind. Even nearly made the burning of the now open wounds on her back numb down. Nearly, the dull pounding still ever present.
A Twi’lek pushed through, blue skin gleaming in the now setting sun. Leather armour creaked when she kneeled in front of her. Purple eyes flitted over her face, as if looking for obvious injuries. Or… no. Now her fingers were on her scalp, making circles with her fingertips. Searching.
Searching until… a sharp burn made her hiss in pain. Just behind her ear and jaw.
“Found it,” this Eleena whispered.
Found what? As long as she no longer pressed on that spot… Ow. She never knew about that one. How long had it been there? Gingerly, she fingered the spot Eleena’s finger had dug in.
“Looks like you have a possession chip,” she commented more loudly, gripping her wrists pulling her to the feet, “Needs to be removed surgically.”
Surgically?! But that meant… She swayed on her feet, her back twinging at the discomfort of standing. Surgery meant no one was coming back from it. No! There was no way she’d do it willingly. She was free now, right? All she had to do was open her mouth.
Only, if she could. Her mouth stayed shut. No words forming in her throat.
“Don’t worry,” Eleena said somberly not letting go, “Just means you can no longer be recognized as a slave. You will have to trust me on this.”
“Oh…,” was all she could say.
Say more! Say no! How could she trust any of them! They just barged in, killed how many people she had grown up with, and expected her to trust them?
Clanking to Eleena’s back made her flinch away. The two Imperials she had pushed over were on their feet again, groaning in pain. Now she had to wince. Their fall must have been painful.
“Escort her to my ship,” the Sith ordered, “make sure the medics know what to do.”
“Yes, my Lord!” they replied turning to her and Eleena.
“I will return soon,” he specifically addressed Eleena who nodded curtly, “make sure she knows what is going to happen.”
“Yes, my Lord,” she replied.
Then the Sith turned and continued inspecting the remaining slaves. But all eyes from them were glued to her. Fear, grief and hope flickered around them as Eleena started to pull her past them all. The two soldiers marching behind them with their rifles drawn. But this time their alertness did not clash against her, but enveloped around.
Not a few hours ago they would have shot her if commanded. Now? Now they were tasked with her safety.
The world had gone mad. Surely this was a dream. A twisted and sick dream. Either she had passed out and this was just one vivid dream or… she was really getting out of there. What was she supposed to feel or think? Hopeful like Uom was feeling underneath his aches? Scared like Erlien who had been born here too?
What was freedom? The way Uom had described his childhood and teenage years, it had sounded so much different from the way it felt to be a slave. According to him. Though, she had never been ‘free’. What could she know?
“Don’t worry,” Eleena whispered into her ear as she pulled her along the corridor that would lead to the main entrance, “I know you don’t feel it yet, but in a moment you will see.”
See what? What did Eleena know? It was as if a feeling memory was hovering just out of her reach.
But then they rounded the corner to the entrance hall. It was destroyed, the usually gleaming candelabra had crashed to the floor, the gems littering the floor reflecting the sun light. She had never been further than this room. Relion had restricted her movement to the house, as massive as it was. Though apparently the gardens were vast according to the others who were responsible for its upkeep. Some had been killed for trying to take her outside once.
The doors opened and… cool evening air impacted her and she had to be pulled out. Then… she looked back, over the door threshold back inside. Where she had been all her life. Never outside.
Was this truly being free?
“Told you,” Eleena giggled, “Come on.”
Trees lined the path. Larger than she would have imagined. How did… actually, she could know what the tree trunks felt like. How did it smell like? She just had to walk over.
Her feet took her there, on their own. Sadness drifted over before it diffused within the leaves. Looking back she saw Eleena’s face fall back into a cheery expression. But that sadness had been from her. Definitely, there was no mistaking.
The leaves rustled above her and she looked back up. Never had she seen the leaves move before. Her hand touched the bark. Rough, unevenly rough. There were grooves, the edges digging into the skin of her palms. Why were there grooves in a tree?
Now how did leaves feel like?
“What is she doing?” someone asked quietly, uncertainty oscillating between the two soldiers.
“Just let her,” Eleena commented wistfully, “She is seeing this for the first time.”
Stunned silence fell over the two soldiers. Until understanding dawned that switched rapidly with pity. Pity…. She did not need pity.
What she needed were the lost years back! She formed a fist against the bark, anger surging up. They took it from her. All these years, all her life. All that she had been good for was get him his money, his partner’s secrets if she saw any. Just a tool. A means to an end. Heat flared up from her chest.
Blood ran down the grooves.
Never would she be used again.
A loud crack made her jump away. Surprised she looked at the large rip going through the bark, brownish liquid leaking out now. Oh…, she did it. Why had that power never surfaced when she needed it the most?
“Let’s keep moving,” Eleena was back at her side, gripping her shoulders, “They can no longer keep you here.”
But they could make her become a Sith. Somehow, she had traded one enslavement to another. Shouldn’t she be able to choose?
Though, she bit her tongue before the question slipped out. Would she want to risk being killed? Maybe… she looked at Eleena properly now, she could do her part. The two scars at each side of the Twi’leks neck was all she needed to see.
Sith had power. Which fool would not grasp for it to achieve their goal?
They reached a shuttle standing in an oval patch out of concrete. The estate was only two fingers width high when she looked back. Already so far away? So small. How had she lived there all her life? Never stepping out? Just how?
A loud hiss made her flinch. Whirling around, she stared wide-eyed, as a ramp lowered revealing a door that slid open. Though, she could not see what was inside with how dark it was in there. A ship! She was going to fly?! On what planet were they even?
Eleena giggled quietly at her side, dragging to the ramp and up. Chills ran up her arms when the familiar flow of conditioned air hit her. Somehow her feet could no longer move, mouth open when she finally saw the inside of a ship. A lot of grey metal and artificial light. But there was a row of seats around a holo-com table with several doors leading away from the room.
“The medical room is to your right,” Eleena pointed at the door.
“Alright…,” she finally could say.
Then she had to cringe at how high pitched her voice was. Slowly she approached the door, which as soon as she was ten feet away, slid open revealing a man in a white coat.
“Doc, we need a chip removed! Also some injuries patched up,” Eleena yelled pushing her into the room amusement sparking all around.
The man looked aghast when she stumbled in. Obviously too dirty for him and…, she stepped onto her right foot. Not many clothes on her either. Just a tunic and pants. Bloodied at that too. Must be pathetic to look at.
Then he sighed, resignation colouring his face.
“Alright, please sit down.”
Even the bench was softer than the bed roll she had slept on! She slid a finger over the leather that spanned it. There was a metal one further in the corner next to bacta tanks. But… it was so smooth!
“Hold still,” the Doc said to her left.
The pinch was nothing, not after the whip lashes she had been subjected to days ago. A syringe was now stuck on the inside of her elbow. Blue liquid was pushed into her blood, spreading coolness from the limb up. Soothing and… she felt her eye lids fluttering.
Tired.
Tired? She was not tired?! Panicked, she looked up. Doc and Eleena were crowded around her, staring at her. As if waiting for something. What had they done to her?! How stupid was she to trust them. Her hand shot out, gripping through the air. What had she been trying to hold onto? It was like her mind had been encased between sponges, soaking her brain with water.
Her side impacted with the hard armrest, head tilting over.
And then it went all dark.