If life in a run down apartment block on Nar Shaddaa was bad, life in a slaver's cargo hold was worse. They often stopped on weird planets and were inspected by various people. The fear of losing her sister was palpable at every stop. The two of them stayed together, hands firmly held as they were passed over and inspected by all types. From clean, fair looking citizens of the galaxy to the dirtiest, most sinister looking individuals that made the population of Nar Shaddaa look decent.

It was only three stops before they got the attention that Laylah so desperately wanted. It came like a blessing.

"Oh, how adorable you two are!" a figure in black and red robes walked over to the pair of twins. She was human with a dark, olive skin and amber eyes, her brown hair tied into a bun that seemed to defy gravity. "I want them. These two. How much are you charging for them?"

The Kaleesh walked over and shrugged. "Was going to go for five thousand credits each."

The woman waved her hand. "I think that two thousand for both of them would be a fair deal, don't you?"

"I..." the Kaleesh started, "believe that would be fair, yes. Two thousand it is."

The woman smiled wide and offered her hand to the two of them, tossing a credit chit to the slightly dazed Kaleesh. "Come now, children. We need to put you to work," she said almost cheerfully, though Laylah could feel a sinister tone to the woman's voice. Still, it was better than remaining on board the slaver's ship and so she took the woman's hand, forming a link between the robed woman and Irin. "What are your names?"

"Laylah."

"Irin."

"Laylah and Irin," the woman mused as she walked, making her way out of the hangar in the Dromund Kaas spaceport, "how wonderful. I am Lord Eidella, but you will address me as 'my lord' or 'my lady', is that clear?"

"Yes, my lord," Irin replied.

"Splendid!" the woman immediately responded with a small amount of glee as she directed them to a speeder. The journey to the woman's rather sizeable estate was full of conversation as Lord Eidella tried to get to know the two girls, though they only maintained conversation only in fear of getting shocked. "You two will be in charge of cleaning. It's not hard, you make sure the mess is not on my property," Lord Eidella instructed as they entered the front door. "Oh, and you won't need these," she uttered as she effortlessly removed the shock collars from the two girls.

"Why not?" Laylah inquired, causing the woman to giggle. She outstretched her hand, pointing at Laylah.

"Because I can do it myself," she answered, sending a jolt of lightning into Laylah. She fell to the floor as the unnatural electricity coursed through her. Irin gritted her teeth and rushed at the woman, though she met the same fate as Laylah, stopped in her tracks by a quick jolt of lightning. "And it's so much more satisfying to do it myself... Anyway, chop chop! These floors won't clean themselves!"

At that, the woman walked off happily, leaving the two girls slightly dazed on the floor. Laylah got to her feet first and was met by the deep, red eyes of a girl who had appeared from nowhere. The girl had blue skin and black hair worn messily in a pony tail similar to Laylah's. She did not look much older than the twins, but the way she carried herself betrayed a far higher level of maturity.

"What... Who are you?" Laylah asked as Irin got to her feet, cradling her head.

"My name is Sul'ari'inrokini, but you can call me Larii," the girl replied with a friendly smile.

"Name's Laylah, and this is my twin sister, Irin."

"Twins, huh... So that was what Lord Eidella was ranting on about," Larii replied thoughtfully, walking over to the nearby window.

"What do you mean? She knew about us or something?" Irin asked, still with her hand on her forehead.

"Sort of. Lord Eidella wanted a pair of twins for her collection." The girl leaned against the edge of the window, folding her arms. "I guess she got what she wanted in the end. She always does." Larii's voice changed slightly, her tone harbouring a large amount of resentment.

"Why's that?" Laylah inquired curiously.

"Because the Sith always get what they want. She wanted a Chiss to be her personal singer, so she got one, despite the potential diplomatic repercussions!"

"You're a singer?" Irin cut in, her tone curious like Laylah's.

"No, but to Lord Eidella I am. She has no idea what she's going to bring to herself."

"Why do you say that?" Irin asked again, causing Larii to sigh.

"Look. The Chiss Ascendancy, my people, are official allies with the Sith Empire. The fact that a Sith is holding me as a slave would cause quite the political shockwave if it got out."

Laylah and Irin both looked at each other, both seeking answers from the other but neither having any. Larii shook her head.

"Fine. Just... Follow me and I'll show you where the cleaning supplies are. Lord Eidella never tells anyone anything, then delights in punishing them when they do something wrong." The Chiss started to walk off, motioning for the two to follow her. "Figured I'd at least give you two a fighting chance from day one."