36 BBY, a Sullustan is born in the slums of the first level of Corusant. Sure, it was deemed uninhabitable but that didn't stop people from living there.. Poverty and squalor was the usual. Natural light is an urban legend told amongst children who don't know better. Among those children is one Albee Neeyo born and raised to a single mother. He was very slim and had a small head for his race. His ears were short and rounded along with his eyes were significantly smaller than that of his peers. He would be considered very strange from an outsiders perspective but down there, weird looking people were all around. Children with one eye. People with no hair. Missing limbs, extra fingers.

23 BBY. Death sticks. Very true to the name. They were in glass vials and gave immediate euphoric effects to whoever took them. They ruined lives, destroyed families and wrecked homes. They were flavoured and glowed neon thanks to all the toxic chemicals poured inside. Some people took the liquids out of puddles and vialed the contents. People were desperate and would often use whatever they could get their hands on. All the good stuff got shipped from the upper levels where all the sophistos hung out, that the people from these levels couldn't contact..

Albee was among these people that could escape this depressing world via these glowing vials of heaven. They were expensive but paid off. 16 hours of non stop eternal bliss just for you. Or maybe it was just a slow way for people to kill themselves; digesting toxins that would make you feel good on your departure from the cruel society.

Albee stood behind an alley, leant against a wall waiting for his daily delivery. A Quarren who never let him down. He got a fake batch in the past and the experience almost killed him. After that, he needed a reliable dealer and who other than a friend from infancy?

While there were many different races and cultures all tangled up where ever they lived, all had to learn how to speak Galactic Standard. Even though neighborhoods were largely species divided, with shops to accommodate for needs of specific races, all official events did not. The other good thing about everyone learning Standard was it meant that all species and races could communicate freely. Albee took interest in learning Standard, wanting to hopefully leave this dreaded place and being someone important, like a senator... Wishful thinking.

"Albee!" The Quarren exclaimed, late by several minutes.

"Hey... You covering me?"

"Not today.. But-"

"I'm not doing this. I can wait a day f-"

"Bare with me. You know those mercs on the upper levels? Well, I got word that they are leaving a huge batch of your stuff unguarded on the second level in a warehouse."

"I'm not going to the second level."

"Hear me out. We'll split the batch half and half. You take half for you and I'll the the rest and boost it myself. Shame losing my best customer but.. Making dues, eh?" He chuckled

"What if it is guarded? Then, they wipe you off the map. They'll have you removed from photos."

"But, I have this." The Quarren took a shodilly made blaster pistol out of a bag. It was ready to fall apart couldn't be shot any more than twice by the looks of it.

"Its gonna explode."

"Pshh. What are you talking about? It'll last me my whole life."

"If I die, I get to take all your money."

"Deal."

Albee and The Quarren began walking to a transport station -an elevator that could take you between levels, for a fee-. Nobody from the first level had actually used one before as even on the second level, you were treated as below a person. Which is why the level divide only increased over time with no sign of stopping.

The transport station made a rough whining sound as it went upwards, likely from its lack of use. It was deafening.

"I could use some sticks right about now!" Albee exclaimed over the whining noise, in hopes of lightening the mood. It was always depressing and melancholy around so humour was a must at the lower levels.

"Trust me, you'll have all the death sticks your body desires. Give me time."

They made their way to the second level and were immediately blown away. It was a lot more lively and bussling. Bright neon signs covered the whole street and sent them back. It was still very shoddy but more they were ever used to. It almost brought tears to their eyes.

"Let's just... Get the sticks and..." They kept staring at the signs, absolutely changed by all the lights and colors.

"Yeah..."