"Dark Starr, this is control. You are cleared to land on Platform C2. Thank you for your business and I hope you enjoy our auction."
"Control, this is Dark Starr, I read you and confirm." Serra Winters responded.
She turned off the comm and disengaged the autopilot so she could land her ship herself. Things were quiet in Dark Starr's bridge and the ship rocked as it touched down on the landing platform.
"There," Serra said as she released the controls and unbuckled herself. "We're here with an hour to spare."
Her companion in the co-pilot's seat said nothing.
"Lyrii," Serra said gently, "are you alright? You didn't have to come."
"I'll be fine," Lyrii said sharply. She unbuckled her harness and stood sharply, walking from the bridge.
"Sure," Serra muttered to herself, "just fine."
Serra finished powering down the ship and then walked after Lyrii. She looked down and made sure that her dagger and blaster were present and that her lightfoil was out of sight. Then she walked after Lyrii. Lyrii was wearing a plain gray cloak when Serra caught up to her. It was tugged over her shoulders to hide her lightsabers and the hood was pulled up to hide her yellow eyes.
Serra sighed. "Lyrii, you don't need to wear a cloak. The Republic's got a bounty on my head, not yours."
Serra's attempt to lighten the mood did nothing for Lyrii.
"I don't like being here," Lyrii muttered.
"Then you should have stayed at base with Page," Serra told her as she swung her own cloak over her shoulders and clasped it at the base of her throat.
Hers was a nondescript black instead of Jedi brown. She tugged at the Force and closed her eyes. When she opened them, their gold and crimson color was replaced by a natural blue shade.
"And let you come alone?" Lyrii challenged. She scoffed, "knowing you, that wouldn't be a good idea."
"What does that mean?" Serra growled defensively. "I am not that bad.
Lyrii rolled her eyes and tapped on the landing ramp. It slowly descended. Serra pulled up her hood and walked down it with Lyrii following. They walked from their ship to the town, passing under a giant archway. Instantly, the sun was blocked out by the tall buildings. A collage of sounds came from the stalls set up in the town, and there was wild hooting around the rings where creatures were set to fight to the death.
Neither Sith were bothered by this. The strong survive, that was the way of things. What bothered Serra was seeing a green-skinned Twi'lek girl no older than them standing on the edge of the street. A Zygerrian was speaking to a Weequay, telling him the girl's skills to try and sell her. Zygerrians were one of the few races who understood that the strong rule, but they got it wrong. You do not enslave the weak, you let them die.
Beside Serra, Lyrii pulled the hood up deeper to hide her features and her hatred for this. A gang of Twi'lek slaves were being escorted down a street and so the two of them had to pause to let them pass. The Zygerrian in charge of them was calling orders for them to move faster. When one stumbled and fell the Zygerrian shouted at the scum to get up.
The Twi'lek tried to stand but must have been taking too long because the Zygerrian took a shock whip from his belt and raised it above his head. The crack of it was lost in the bustle of the city and ignored by mostly everyone.
Lyrii's hands slipped inside her cloak for a moment before she caught herself and crossed them in front of her chest defensively. Her lightsabers were hidden in her cloak.
"At ease Lyrii," Serra whispered to her when Lyrii did not remove her eyes from the slave master. "You're not being sold this time."
Finally, the Twi'lek stood and rejoined the line. There were stripes on his back from the whip. The group of Twi'leks passed and they continued walking.
Lyrii was not saying a word. She took a slight inward breath to calm herself. Her past was of no concern to her. Besides, it was not as if any of the slave masters would recognize her.
Serra resumed walking and Lyrii followed. They were early for the slave auction, but it would take some time to walk to the arena. They started heading down the streets. Serra eyed the camera droids that were hovering around and the lounging Zygerrian guards in uniform.
Ahead, two of the guards were walking towards them and Serra could sense that two were coming from behind. They had their weapons ready. Lyrii caught Sera's eye as Serra reached for her blaster instead of her lightfoil. So, it was to be blasters only.
Lyrii didn't give any outward response, but she lowered her hands to her sides.
The guards closed in on them further and a few camera droids buzzed. It all happened in a flash. Evidently, the guards had been trying to take them by surprise but Serra had sensed their intentions. As they reached for their weapons, Serra and Lyrii went back to back.
The guards were surprised by their action and opened fire. They were shooting stun bolts. Serra and Lyrii dodged the bolts and each of them went after two. Around them, the crowd gawked as four guards attacked and four guards were sent sprawling onto the ground. Untouched by the guards, the two girls stood there. Their cloaks were unruffled and their hoods were still up. Serra focused and realized that they were not the target – she was.
The guards stood again quickly, ready for more action. Serra stopped the charade and drew her lightfoil with a snap-hiss. The needle sharp blade of crimson and black glowed as it materialized. Hesitant, the guards froze in their tracks when confronted with the lightfoil.
Serra savored their surprise and hesitant fear as she said calmly. "Unless I'm mistaken, I believe you are looking for me."
"Yes," one of them said as he stood again, arm throbbing from where Serra had dislocated the shoulder. "You're Serra? The Separatist?"
"Serra Winters," Serra introduced fully, ignoring the look Lyrii was giving her. "Are you interested in the bounty?"
"We have no alliance with the Republic," The guard told her.
Disgust curled his lip. He was thinking of how the Republic continually tried to destroy Zygerria's slave trade, its lifeblood. Someone, he thought, needed to enslave those weaklings and he was hopeful that the Confederacy would. All he wanted was a chance to help them out.
"Our queen heard word of your arrival," another guard said. He was older and seemed to be the one in command. "She wished to speak with you."
"Pheraps it would have been better if you had spoken first and readied your weapons second," Serra mused. She deactivated her lightfoil and clipped it onto her belt out of sight, "Although Zygerrians have never been the most diplomatic race."
The people around them, which had fallen silent in excitement and watched for a coming blood bath, now went back to their duties. It was clear that they would get no entertainment from them.
The guards had seething looks as Serra, uninjured, took a step back and calmly waved for them to lead on. They fell in step around the two of them as they led them to the queen, two in front of the girls and two behind. It amused Serra when the four guards encircled them as if they could suddenly be a threat to her.
The doors to the throne room opened quietly and Serra entered with her escort. Beyond her, Miraj Scintel was sitting on her throne. Scintel turned her luminous yellow-green eyes onto the visitors. Another Zygerrian – this one a male in uniform – stood near the throne.
"Serra Winters I presume?" Scintel asked with her entrancing purr.
"You are correct, your majesty," Serra dipped her head in greeting, waving a hand to compliment the bow. "I heard you wished to speak with me."
"Yes," Scintel spoke with a purr. "Word has spread quickly. The defeat of General Kenobi is no mean feat. It is quite a way to introduce yourself to this galaxy."
Scintel stood and walked down from her throne.
"Thank you, your majesty," Serra smiled, remembering her manners.
Scintel waved a hand and a yellow-skinned Twi'lek maiden stepped forward, head bowed and eyes to the floor. She wore a tight-fitting blue outfit and a brilliant pink cap on her head. Mutely, she offered a platter. On it were three wood cups filled with what Serra presumed to be some sort of wine.
"Perhaps if you wish to speak to me, you might instruct your guards to speak before they reach for their blasters," Serra offered.
She took one of the glasses out of respect, but Lyrii waved the Twi'lek girl away.
Scintel chuckled. "Yes, so it appears."
She looked over at the four guards. They had respectfully stayed near the doorway. Despite wearing armor, the queen could tell they were injured. The Zygerrian standing near the throne nodded dismissal to the four guards. They left and the doors closed after him.
The queen took a sip of the wine and Serra raised the glass to her lips, feigning a drink. She didn't believe that Scintel would be foolish enough as to drug her, but it was best safe than sorry.
"Of course" Serra dropped, "the bounty the Republic placed on me could not have anything to do with your knowledge of me."
Scintel laughed. This girl knew a bit about verbal sparring. "It was a factor. Who is your friend?" She glanced at Lyrii. "I do not believe I have met her."
"No," Lyrii promised, her voice sharp, "you haven't."
Scintel recoiled slightly, surprised at the venom in Lyrii's voice. "Not a handmaiden I take it."
"She is a friend," Serra said.
She didn't introduce Lyrii. So far, the Jedi had no intelligence on her. The more people that knew about Lyrii, the greater chance the Republic would learn and Serra preferred to keep them in the dark as much as possible.
Scintel looked at Lyrii and the girl raised her head slightly. The queen saw Lyrii's golden eyes faintly and the hatred in them. Lyrii did not flinch away. She stood at attention, behind Serra, ready to strike and clearly more than willing should it be needed.
"You have not introduced me to your friend either, your majesty," Serra interrupted with a glance at the male Zygerrian.
"That is Atai Molec," Scintel introduced. "He is my Prime Minister."
"Does he always stay in the Throne Room?" Serra asked. With the queen's gaze averted, she was able to shoot a glare over at Lyrii.
"No, he has other duties," Scintel dismissed. "He is helping me prepare for the auction later tonight. That is why you are here, is it not?"
"I am in need of a slave," Serra agreed. "I can think of no better place than Zygerria."
"What kind do you need?" Scintel asked, taking another sip of the drink. "We have many."
"I have become the… guardian of an infant," Serra admitted. "She requires a nursemaid, one well broken."
"Obedience is guaranteed among our slaves," Scintel promised. "Our processing is quite thorough."
Serra nearly winced when Scintel said that. She could feel Lyrii's impatience growing.
"It is?" Serra said, interrupting what Lyrii had been about to say. "That is good."
"Indeed." Scintel was unsure why Serra's companion had so little patience for slavery.
The Confederacy's purchase of slaves had made Zygerria quite well off. Why was she with the Confederacy if she does not like slavery? Perhaps pushing the issue would allow something to come to light.
"Slavery is the natural order of things, do you not agree?" Scintel asked Serra. "I know little of the Sith, but that seems correct."
"The Sith Code says that the strong shall rule," Serra agreed, "or at least that is what I have read."
"Yes and the weak deserve nothing more than to kneel before the strong, bound to our service." Scintel continued with her prodding. That got a response from Serra's companion. She placed her at last.
"It is not often that one of our slave's returns to Zygerria as a free woman," Scintel shot.
Lyrii jerked her head up.
"Pardon?" Serra asked.
"Your friend here," Scintel waved at Lyrii. "The noble selflessness in her eyes, the commitment to something greater then herself – to you and the Confederacy. She was once a slave. I believe she is familiar with our processing so that would make her one of ours."
The yellow Twi'lek's lekku rippled in surprise as she raised her brown eyes to Lyrii. She was a slave and now she was free? You can become free?
Lyrii finally reached up and lowered her hood. Her eyes, turned golden by the Dark Side, glimmered with emotion. The movement tugged aside the hem of her cloak, revealing at least one lightsaber on her the left side of her waist.
"I was but a few years old when I went through your processing, majesty. I think you will find that I would make a very poor slave now." She set a hand on the one lightsaber Scintel had already seen.
Some of the guards that had remained behind in the throne room raised their blasters towards her.
Serra winced at Lyrii's wording. Normally Lyrii was the calm, collected, and foresighted one, yet now Serra found that their roles had switched. She let go of the glass and used the Force to hover it back over to the Twi'lek servant who was watching the exchange.
"Majesty Scintel, the slave auction will begin soon," Serra attempted to barter. "If I may, we need to leave in order to be there in time."
Scintel looked away from Lyrii. She seemed amused.
"Do not," she told Serra.
Serra didn't understand. Don't attend the auction?
"I have no feud with the Confederacy," Scintel elaborated. "Perhaps I could do a private sale. You and your… friend can look around. I will have someone escort you to the pits so you can see."
"Thank you," Serra did bow this time, but only slightly.
Scintel held out a hand and Atai Molec walked to her. "I must see to the auction, but you and your friend may find someone to tend to your child. When you find them come and see me, I wish to speak to you before we leave. I will be at the auction for some time to come."
Serra didn't like it. Scintel had changed her personality too quickly, but she knew well enough to not pick a fight. She nodded and with a motion to Lyrii, followed Scintel outside of the throne room.
Lyrii paused and glanced over at the yellow-skinned Twi'lek. She tilted her head, giving her permission to speak.
"You-you are free now?" The handmaiden whispered.
Lyrii sensed an opportunity to get a little revenge on Scintel for her own enslavement, so she reached out to the Twi'lek's mind gently as she spoke.
"You are free the moment you choose to be," she told the Twi'lek. "Someone needs to teach that lesson to Miraj Scintel."
The Twi'lek didn't say anything as Lyrii left, but she would remember her words. One day, she would try and kill Scintel with a knife and Anakin Skywalker, under the alias Lars Quell, would stop her. That would not happen for some time yet though.
This is right after Serra has her new apprentice - Roo Roo Page. Since she's going off to war, she needs someone to take care of her and she doesn't have very much interest in raising an infant. Not much was mentioned with Lyrii in the last story, but this one will focus more on both her and Serra's history, as well as Heather. There will be no Jedi battles but Cad Bane is obviously in it, and unlike Jedi, bounty hunters fight to win.