Words are flowing out
Like endless rain into a paper cup
They slither while they pass
They slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow waves of joy
Are drifting through my open mind
Possessing and caressing me
~ The Beatles
A redheaded human female walked through the dark and gloomy palace, her robes shined and contrasted starkly with the dimly lit hallways. As she walked, she passed Devaronians, Zygerrians, Humans, Neimodians and many other creatures all dressed in the high-class fashion of the respective systems.
She got towards the door that was assigned to her, showing her card to a greyish-looking Besalisk, he looked her up and down as he checked her data card. Eventually, he let her in so the woman could look at her seat for the evening
The seats looked like a mockery of the galactic republic's senate, with a giant podium in the middle, and the platforms for the seats around it. The woman had managed to get a seat relatively close to the podium, which made her feel very conflicted, she fingered with her datapad, looking at some orbital activity, a ship to arrive, maybe.
'Tonight, we have something special planned for you!' A Noghri man exclaimed in Huttese as he stepped onto a makeshift platform. 'We know why you are here, and we have delivered. Our lord is kind in his gifts and for the right price they could be your assets, but first, let me introduce our master. Lord Vudu.'
A disgusting Chevin walked on stage and all applauded him. The red-haired woman tried her best to hide her disdain for the man as she gazed upon leathery skin, hair as coarse as hay, and a mouth that moistened with saliva it couldn't contain.
'My dear people,' He grunted, the woman had not expected the voice of an angel, but this was more horrible than all her expectations. 'I come here today to offer you gifts of my gratitude. Today you can make a difference, for I have the finest slaves in the rim.'
That was always what it was about, credits, and in the outer rim, they had found that slavery was the best way of getting it. The woman looked at the Chevin, who was talking about his "prospects" and what an "opportunity" it was for them.
'With my assets, you can increase profitability, keep your properties cleaner, or give yourself the pleasure you deserve.' With the pleasure statement, the whole crowd went wild as they cheered and applauded. 'You can create an army that can topple even the Jedi!'
The redhead scoffed as she continued watching.
'I hope you will all enjoy the show, I know they will give you their best.' The Chevin growled as his ugly face turned into a gut-wrenching smile. 'They'll have to.'
The Noghri took over again as he introduced the first "assets" to the crowd. It was a prisoner of war, to include in an army, the Kyuzo man looked fierce as he stared into nothing, keeping his head on high. He was sold quickly to a Zabraki Woman.
Then a Twi'leki woman came on the stage and the crowd went wild.
'This asset is perfect for you. She's a fighter, but what is war without a bit of love.' The Noghri touched her cheek and the Twi'lek tried to bite it, but she got a shock out of her inhibitor chip. 'Feisty one, who bids?'
The redheaded woman could only watch as sentient living beings were sold like cattle, she saw Wookies get sold to work the spice mines, an older Chiss man having to work as a scholar, multiple warriors from Ryloth or Dathomir being sold to the highest bidder. Never once did she feel the need to touch the pad and bid on one of these unfortunate souls, she stared every time someone got sold to the buyers, her least a pale Zabrak that was seated next to her, he looked vile, his tattoos indicating he was from Iridonia.
'And now for our final asset, we have something special.' All people sat at the tip of their chair awaiting the last slave to be brought by. The Noghri man signed and two pig-faced Gamorreans came with a girl between them, chained by the neck, ankles, and wrists, all together in one structure so that she couldn't escape. There was one difference between all the other slaves and this one, the young woman, with brown hair that framed her face so nicely, was entirely naked. The red-haired woman roared silently in anger at seeing such a young woman like this, she felt for the girl as she knew she shouldn't have.
'Here is our last asset and our masterpiece.' The man said as he grabbed the chain and yanked the young human towards him. 'Her parents couldn't pay their debts, so we took their children, her brother died in the arena, fighting for his freedom, and this bitch was taken to be sold into slavery.'
The chained woman trembled as she heard the words as if she hadn't known her brother had died, a silent tear crept across her face.
'You can do anything you want to her.' He said as he grabbed a nipple and twisted hard. 'You could pierce these, or rip them off with your teeth, she won't mind she has to do your bidding.'
The redheaded woman looked in disgust as the Noghri listed the filth you could do to the slave. She had to do something, and yet she felt powerless.
'She even has a name,' The Noghri growled. 'What is your name?'
'Whore.' Came the soft voice from the slave.
'That's right, you are a whore, you don't have any other use.' The Noghri told her. 'Well, let's start with an opening bid, and to give you an extra incentive; our asset is still pure and never touched.'
'100.000 credits.' Prices flashed on a big screen in the middle, with a vid of the person sitting in the chair as well. This bid was down by a young Hutt.
'200.000 credits.' A Twi'leki man across from her.
'500.000 credits.' The Zabrak next to her.
'550.000 credits.' The Hutt again.
'600.000 credits.' The woman hadn't even noticed that she herself had started bidding.
'1.000.000 credits.' The Zabrak glared at her as he upped the bid, the cruel man really wanting the slave, but the redhead wasn't about to give up.
'1.500.000 credits.' The woman needed to outbluff him and bid high.
'1.600.000 credits.' The Zabrak bid, not as much of a difference, she knew that she'd win.
'1.750.000 credits.' Was her bid, she hoped it would be the final one but the Zabrak raised it with 50.000 credits, to which she offered 2 million. She saw the Zabraki brute seize her up and sighed in defeat, the redheaded woman had won her slave. She transferred the money from her account and as the highest bidder was immediately asked to pick up her new asset, she felt her commlink buzz and knew what that meant.
The Besalisk that had been on guard at her door escorted her through the halls, she walked past people hooded in a dark cloak as she didn't want to attract too many people. All she cared about right now was get to her ship and to safety, preferable with her purchase.
She was led in a round room, where she faced the vile Noghri man.
'We thank you for your purchase.' He snapped his fingers, and the woman was brought in and placed to stand next to the taller Noghri. 'Whore, this is your new mistress, you have to obey her commands, every command.'
The woman didn't dare to look at the redheaded woman, she hoped her new mistress was kind, wasn't in need of her services all too often. Maybe she'd get her own quarters and life wouldn't be so bad for her as in the cold cell she had been staying ever since she had been taken.
'And on your knees, if she talks to you.' The Noghri kicked her as she fell on her knees, letting out a small cry of pain.
'Don't you dare!' Her new mistress screamed. 'Damage my asset, you absolute lowlife.'
As she stared at the floor, slow tears falling down her cheeks, she felt a shadow falling across her when her new mistress knelt beside her. Her warm breath felt good on her naked skin as she shivered. Almost immediately a warm cloak was placed on her shoulders as her new mistress hid her body.
'Could I have the keys to make sure she can walk?' She heard her ask.
'I only have those that connect the bonds to each other.' The Noghri went to touch her but his hand was swatted away by her new mistress who flung an arm protectively around her. Her touch felt warm and so comfortable after all the cold touches, more warmth than she had felt from fellow slaves and slavers.
'You will give me the key and we will be on our way.' Her mistress said.
'I will give you the key and you will be on your way.' The Noghri repeated.
'Hold out your arms and legs please.' Her mistress didn't remove
'You need to be careful; she does not have the chip as that would leave a mark,' The Noghri said. 'And we wanted her body to be without scars of any sorts, pure for your liking.'
'Thank you, I will take her to my ship, and we will be off.' Her new mistress helped her to her feet and grabbed the chain around her neck she had left, she threw her one last glance with a smile, before walking off and gently dragging her asset behind her.
The redhead walked through halls full of people, guiding the girl behind her on a chain, feeling for her presence. They reached the docking bay where she saw an unexpected admirer of her ship, the baydoor was open and the pale Zabrak stood on the ramp of her ship with five of his guards.
'Good, you've brought her to me.' The man said as he laughed, slowly fingering his gun on his holster.
'What have you come here for?' She asked him, looking around the room for perfect spots to hide or duck.
'You know what I want, I want her.' The Zabrak pointed at her recently purchased slave.
'She's mine.' She growled possessively. 'You'll have to kill me.'
'I will.' He said as he drew his gun. 'Shoot her, but keep the asset intact, whoever kills her can have her body to use freely.'
'Duck!' She yelled at her slave as she pushed them behind large crates, once she knew her asset was safe, she whispered to her. 'Get to my ship, don't get shot. I shall keep you safe.'
Quickly the slave obeyed her as she stayed where she was and looked for an opening, the five men were shooting at them and they were between them and the ship.
'Now.' Her mistress yelled and both of them started running, her mistress was a bit behind her as she heard a weird noise, it sounded like an ignition of a light weapon, she didn't look back. The ship was her safety and all the Zabraki men focussed on her mistress so she could run freely to the opening of the ship. She reached it, but curiosity got the best of her as she had to know what happened behind her.
Holy shit, she thought, her new mistress was a Jedi, she turned around to watch her from the safety of the ship, she was wielding her light sabre as she deflected bolt after bolt, trying her best not to die. The slave watched as muscles could be seen on the pale woman who owned her. There were three Zabraks left, with one of them being the leader, he ordered his two guards to perform a melee attack which resulted in there being one Zabrak still living.
Her mistress walked up to him and put out her sabre, saying something to him. The Zabrak hung his head and she walked off towards her ship. The slave screamed as she saw him draw his gun and pointed it at her back. Quickly, the woman cut him down, she didn't even look as she started running towards her ship.
Natasha Romanov had not expected to buy a slave, it was an infiltrating mission so republic forces could shut it down, she had felt pain as the slaves were sold, her own upbringing reflected in their fates but had remained somewhat indifferent as a proper Jedi. But when she had seen this girl, naked and broken she couldn't stop herself and bid, just to try to spare the girl from this fate.
She had been infiltrating and when her commlink had vibrated it meant that the republic forces were en route. She needed to get out before the airstrike began, which was why she hurried to get her and the slave she saved out of here.
She had latched on the heartbeat and feelings of the girl, which is why she felt it when she the Zabrak had almost shot her in the back, her reaction although unheard through a thick window, wasn't unheard through the force.
She stepped onto her own ship as she quickly closed the door, she ran to the cockpit to fly her ship away from this vile place. They lifted off and flew into the sky where she saw gunship coming out of hyperspace, she put her destination for the rendezvous in the navicomp, and as soon as she reached lightspeed she put her ship in autopilot and went to check on the other woman.
The slave had been sitting on the floor next to a chair the whole time, staring at her knees, she still had the Jedi's cloak around her body. She looked up when the Jedi threw something in front of her.
'Here, these are some spare tunics,' She pointed at the clothes. 'You can put them on.'
The slave fingered the fabric, nicer than anything she'd ever owned. She shed the cloak and put it on, not caring for her nakedness, not that it mattered her new owner had turned around so she couldn't see her, strange, the slave thought.
'Done.' The slave said and the woman turned around.
'I haven't introduced myself, I'm Natasha Romanov, but just call me Nat.' Her owner told her. 'What's is your name?'
'I'm whore, mistress.'
'I will have none of that.' The slave got a good look at her owner, as she carefully lifted her head to meet blue eyes. 'I'm Nat, and you must have had a name before they did this horrible thing to you?'
'Wanda.' The girl flinched as she expected a punch, she got pain treatment as part of her education, and to use her own name was one of the worst of sins.
'I'm not going to hurt you.' Nat told her as she reached out for Wanda's face, she flinched her head away again, but then her training hit in and she brought her face close towards the outstretched hand. The hand cupped her cheek as her mistress smiled kindly at her, then the hand reached lower towards her neck. The fear in the slave's eyes was evident for the Jedi. 'I'm not hurting you, please, trust me.'
Slowly Wanda felt the chain around her neck loosening and eventually coming off completely, she thought she heard Nat mutter something as she stroked an angry red mark on her neck where the chain had cut her.
'Where are you from, where is your family?'
'Why?'
'Because I'm freeing you, no one should live like a slave.' Nat said.
'I'm from a moon near the system we just left, but I can't go back.' She told Nat.
'I know, I'm getting you and your family out there.'
'Dead, all of them, they killed my parents when they took us, and my brother died in an arena.' She cried, she hadn't processed it just yet what happened, the Noghri had told her about the death of her brother, she was alone now.'
'Fuck…' The other woman thought for a while. 'Is there anywhere you can go?'
'Can I,' Wanda started as tears rolled down her cheeks. 'Maybe… stay with you, I'd feel safer with you.'
'I'll keep you safe.' Nat said as she embraced the crying woman. 'No-one will ever hurt you again.'