Disclaimer - I DO NOT own ANY PART of the Star Wars galaxy. o.o In case I didn't make that clear enough.... I DO NOT OWN ANY PART OF THE STAR WARS GALAXY. EVERYTHING is based on the universe created by George Lucas himself. I do not intend on using this to make money - this is just for FUN.
Author's Note - Well. Here it is. A good three weeks in the making. +_+;; If you're wondering about the relevence of this story to the events that happen in the latter Trilogy - there is none. o.o' I've just basically written about the background of my roleplay character, Ka'Anor. And no, I did -not- realise the name was already used in some other series, (Discworld or something) it came off the top of my brain at the time.
There are only a vague group of people I should thank, and that is a very small, select group of people that actually roleplay Star Wars on Neopets. Even then, timezones and such prevent us from doing so on a regular basis.
Poppy (xwolfsspiritx) and others like sapphirespike, forte, seki, etc - Just because we've written a few sentences together doesn't mean a THING. O_o'
Swift Circumstance.
Impotence
So this is what a sandstorm's like.
A fiery tempest had pronounced the fate of the trifling homesteads that lined the outskirts of Mos Espa. Billowing winds ravaged the perilous landscape with no mercy; Tatooine's neutrally brown sands were scooped up and hurled into the air, producing a cloud so dense it would be impossible for any living creature to sustain life for little more than a few moments.
There was so sign at all the it was otherwise a perfectly fine day - sunshine, humidity far above anybody's expectations. Much to her disappointment, of course. She had around five minutes left to enjoy the scenery. And yet, enjoy was not the right word for when submitting to such a forced exercise...
A stifled cough echoed miserably through the dank cell. It's foul, rot-covered walls were thick enough to keep the frigid cold in, and keep unruly slaves from getting out. Even the womp rats were lining up just outside the doorway, earnestly trying to get inside where the conditions were perfect. A single pillar, thoroughly disfigured over its prolonged life, positioned carefully in the center of the cell, held the reins of a youth. An unruly youth, according to the Lord of the Estate. She didn't think so. Clutching the icy chain in one hand, the slight girl made a second feeble attempt to free herself of the heavy burden.
Further and further onwards she persevered, towards the light, all the while gingerly shifting the durasteel clasp around her neck so as not to hurt herself. Pain was inevitable, though, and a sharp stab in the back of her neck made her recoil instantly; the fact that she had very nearly choked herself on her last effort kept her wary. She sighed, and peered longingly out the narrow slit in the wall that had been nominated as a window, a viewing deck. Her verdant features were a sickly shade of green, not only indicitive of her poor health, but of the girl's species. She was still considered to be a child on her homeworld, Ryloth. But the days had gone by so slowly she could no longer count the hours, months, years that she had been fated to this oppressive hell-hole, and thrown in such scant garments that, if not for her tradtional lack of modesty, wouldn't have even been regarded as clothing.
Footsteps...
The girl let out a low gasp and scurried behind the grand old pillar; it's base was wide enough for her to safely hide behind for the time being. Her eyes fluttered closed, serpant like lekkus twitching anxiously.
What if it was the Master?
Several dull metallic 'clunk's resounded hollowly, sending a sharp thrill up her spine. The girl chose not to answer. He would only let himself in, anyway. She would not give him the pleasure of knowing she was suffering. A long silence fell after that, she was positive the storm had died down. She relaxed slightly. Perhaps he'd gone. It might have even been someone dropping something as they passed...
Unlikely.
"Ka'Anor."
She jumped. Her heart beating wildly, the girl wrenched an eye open, and found herself face to face with another of her kind. A Twi'lek. The man's gleaming red eyes bored into the youth's vague grey ones. In startling contrast to her own dusky green features, his skin was a pasty salmon.
"Come with me, young one." He sneered with a heavy accent, and grabbed her by the wrist. The girl named Ka'Anor flinched. His talon-like claws dug deep into her supple flesh. With a derisive snort, the man gestured to a pair unseen behind her - Gammorean guards, most likely. A slight inclination of her head confirmed their identities. Only a feint jingle of keys could be heard before the boar-like creatures set her loose with a loud clank. Any attempts to escape would have been futile, as the Twi'lek male had seized her shackles in the blink of an eye. Ka'Anor allowed herself to sigh heavily. She would have given anything to be rid of these chains. A feral grin from her captor suggested that she had already admitted defeat.
Damn.
Sick of these mind games, Ka'Anor bit her lip, and shot the man a dark look. His eyes were narrowed to slits; a malevolent glare was thrown back. She would pay for her impertinence soon enough.
He had to practically drag her through the maze-like passageways that lead into the main chamber. Creatures of all sorts lined the way, many casting Ka'Anor looks of utter disdain. Others leered. There was even the occasional catcall. How he'd pay later on.
A blast of foul air sought her nostrils, and she shuddered. The main chamber was packed with shrewd, underhanded creatures who had paid a large amount of truggarts to attend this extravagant affair. A thick blanket of smoke covered the room, allowing it's occupants to go about their business in relative peace, it's dim lighting allowed minor acts of dishonesty to go unnoticed.
And there, right before her eyes, sat the Lord, in all his adulterated glory. So fat he had to be seated on a platform rather than in a conventional chair or stool, so hideous naught but his own kind could adore him, and so rich that even his golbets were of a precious metal that was unrecognisable on first glance.
The vile servant, as he so clearly was now, held her restraint, keeping her at close hand, until they were so deliberately handed over to the Aristocrat.
Ka'Anor's face screwed up as the Lord brought her closer and closer to his bloated head. His breath was worse than the putrid gases lurking around the mine fields of her homeworld. Thankfully, he forced her aside at the last minute, preoccupied with another petty matter. She could hardly contain her relief.
So she grudgingly knelt by his side, scanning her bleak enviroment with idle comtempt. Almost every species you could think of had congregated in this fairly large chamber. Ithorians, Humans, Sullustians, Aqualish, Rodians - she even thought she spied a Bothan lurking about the bar area. Ka'Anor's attempts to delve into thought were cut short when she heard some movement behind her. Her attention returned to her Lord. Her eyes did not.
The Twi'lek servant stumbled out of the darkness to the rear of her. He cleared his throat loudly - it was all that was needed to ensnare the crowd's attention. A thousand or so eyes fell on ... no, not me, the idiot behind me ... , and an anticipating silence soon followed.
The corpulent being grumbled a broken sentence or two, far too busy chewing to be bothered speaking properly. The servant didn't seem to notice, as he clapped his hands together, and announced shortly, "My master bids you welcome to his humble palace, " at this, Ka'Anor snorted, " and introduces you once more to the Max Rebo band. As some extra entertainment, he has brought out Oola, Yarna, along with Ka'Anor for your enjoyment."
Your enjoyment. His enjoyment, more like. Disgusting.
The crowd erupted in cheers and jeers. A trio of Bimms begun to play a spirited number, before the rest of the band joined in. The lively atmosphere was enough to make her sick. In fact, it very nearly did.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a pair of familiar faces emerging from the hallway to her left. Oola, she mused, smiling feintly, looked more confident than ever. Head held high, her closest friend sauntered onto the dance floor. She took the humility head on. After all, she was the Lord's favourite; the woman had to have some dignity. Just like her and the man she met previously, Oola was a Twi'lek. She even had the same coloured skin as Ka'Anor, which meant that there was probably some distant connection tracing back many generations.
Possibly...
Following Oola, a larger woman. Shorter and stockier than her counterpart, Yarna D'al was certainly humanoid, however her adipose figure, her six breasts, and her horrifically contorted features altered one's perception of her species. Later, upon inquiry, Ka'Anor had discovered she was Askajian. She had found out the hard way that D'al was a hardened criminal, and was to be avioded as much as possible. Her nose crinkled as she regarded her willing colleague with great dislike.
A painful tug of the elongated chain that bound Ka'Anor to the platform brought her out of her musings. It was her turn to go next. Unwillingly pulled to her feet, she stood still in defiance, folding her arms accordingly. An outburst of slurred howls from the far side of the chamber, all but ruining the zealous pace the band had worked so hard to produce, interrupted the procession. The Master's lamplike eyes widened to the size of small rock pools. "Chu pasa!" He boomed, backhanding the male Twi'lek that stood at his side. The servant promptly scurried forth, and thrust the girl down the stairs. "Dance!" He hissed, shooeing her irritably.
Ka'Anor blanched. She'd rather die than dance for Jabba the Hutt again.