TheAnnoyingFanGirl: I know, I know... I've just been really busy. I had another story I was working on which I really wanted to finish... and finish it I did. Now its just a matter of oneshots and sequels to plan. However, now that its done, I can go back to working on this one full time - and finish it. :D Understandable, understandable... yes its perfectly understandable... sorry, got sidetracked. :P Well, I am uploading two now, and will have more on the way soon. So, I'm looking forward to hearing from you. Again, my apologies for not updating sooner, but I've just really wanted to get my AU story done, and now that it is, I can focus on this one. My goal is to get all my stories done before I launch into a new one. :)
SmartAssAssassin: Hello there :) I'm glad you like it. Just out of curiosity, what do you mean 'Its on the sexist side'? How can I improve that? I'm very grateful you were honest on that score, as I really want people to just tell me what they think. :) Haha, well, here's two chapters just for you :D and everyone else while I"m at it. Please review, I'm looking forward to hearing from you.
Guest: Well, we'll see when that happens. Not until she finds out just *who* he is, I think, because of the kind of person she is - if she gets together with him and still thinks he's Lars then she'll never see him again out of pride. So, I hope you like how this pans out. :)
Okay, again I am sorry for the delay, but I've been busy. I hope you all have been well, and I'm looking forward to your reviews for this and the next chapter. :) As I came up with these on a whim, I really need to know what you think of it. If you think that anything at all should be changed, let me know and I will work with you to iron things out. Peace out.
Echtra was nothing like Ariadné remembered it. The once-beautiful city of Ker Luthia had been burnt to the ground, replaced by the darker city of Morco. She refrained from allowing a disgusted look to cross her face as she glanced around, the squaller of those who lived in the city something which nearly made her heart break – but she had to move on, ignore those around her. She was no longer Captain Llewellyn, as that woman had been left on the other side of the river; and Khariya Faria was not someone who would look at the children against the wall in pity.
Myrna was not as easily hidden in her thoughts, nearly going over to a child who was screaming for its mother to comfort it, but stopped by the iron hand of her Captain. They couldn't risk it, the survival of Liboria depended upon it.
The house of Yete, as Yul the gatekeeper had instructed for them to go to, was easy to find, and the two women had no problem in knocking on the door – earning a rather deathly glare in return from the dark-haired woman who answered. She was slight, but her posture gave the inclination that she was not one to be crossed... and understandably so. For if Ariadné had seen behind her back, she would have found a few knives held rather fiercely in her fist.
Clearing her throat, and checking her voice box to make sure that she spoke correctly, she announced to the person who she wished to see and why.
"Who are you?" the woman who Ariadné assumed was 'Yete' replied.
"Khariya Faria," the Captain said for the seemingly thousandth time, as they had to get directions a few times. "We were told by Yul to come here for lodgings."
Yete's black brow rose, and with a curt nod, she let them in.
The house was surprisingly clean, despite its rather filthy exterior. "Yul didn't tell me that I should be expecting visitors." Yete said.
"We just arrived." Myrna replied, a kindness in her voice which made the other woman look up in alarm.
"Where are you from?" she asked suspiciously.
Ariadné sent a meaningful look toward Myrna, and the other woman hung her head in embarrassment. "Tycho." she answered for her friend, providing their location as on the other side of Echtra, near the edges of the Eridanus but on the complete other side. "We made a few... enemies there."
Yete looked interested, "Oh? And what'd you do?" she asked.
"Killed a man." Ariadné answered, Myrna looked at her in slight shock. This wasn't what they had been debriefed about. "He uh, well, decided that a certain young lady had caught his fancy a little more than Myrna here had. We ended up... disagreeing. His brother is after my blood at this point. He's chased us over Echtra, and a bit on the other side..."
The Echtrian smirked, "Well then," she began, stretching out her hand in welcome. "I think you've come to the right place. We're the Tatooine of Echtra, I'm afraid."
"Doubtful." Ariadné replied, "Echtra is the Tatooine of Echtra, and you couldn't get worse than that."
Yete laughed, "Alright, well either way I think you'll do well here. We seem to like murderers and... disagreeable folk." she said with a smile.
Ariadné smiled as well, although inwardly she cringed in disgust. How far had she truly fallen? If Dreadnaught saw her, he might think he was fully reasonable to want to kick her out of her position. "Well, considering we're new, what are the events around here?"
"Well, there's the trading down by the docks, they usually start at dusk. But considering you're new, I doubt you'd want a slave right now." Yete answered.
Myrna's eyes widened, but Ariadné took it in stride. "True. Though I must ask, where do you get your slaves?"
"Eh, the other side mostly. Raided villages and such, homesteads that wouldn't be missed by the Guardians. Those people are so little that they don't really matter to the Captain on the other side. She's clueless to their suffering." Yete replied, leading them to a room. "Sometimes we get them from some neighboring planets, we send out parties to scout."
"Raiding." Ariadné muttered to herself.
"That's right, some of our boys are proud of it too. You wouldn't believe how much they boast of catching some planet who didn't know we existed off guard. Its a spectacle that's for sure." Yete continued, opening up a door and leading them it.
It was small, but relatively clean in comparison to the rest of the house. "I hope this suits." Yete said.
"Sufficiently." Ariadné replied, nearly saying 'Thank you' at the end. If there was one thing she'd learned from Echtrians before, it was that they were not ones for being kind to one another. It was their pitiful predicament. "What times are the eating hours?"
Yete looked at the clock, explaining both mealtime and rules. "Firstly, no men here. I don't want them sneaking off to my room when they're done with you. Second, do not flirt with my brother – its not good for him. Third, these rooms are only yours as long as you don't anger me, which is easy to do. When you do get a slave, they will not eat at the table. And lastly, I fully expect you to clean up your own messes, I will not deal with them." she said, counting off her fingers.
"Agreed." Ariadné said, paying her, and shutting the door in her face. They placed their small bags on the beds, not ready to turn in, but quite exhausted.
"I don't know if I can do this." Myrna whispered, "I could barely walk through those streets without crying about the children – and slaves? When did slavery begin here?"
"Probably after the new regime." Ariadné answered calmly, suddenly standing. "I'm going to go down there."
"What?" Myrna nearly shouted, looking around and hoping that Yete had not heard her. "How can you possibly want to go down there?" her whisper was harsh.
Ariadné straightened out her jacket. "Because I need to know everything there is to know about this place. If we intend to get behind enemy lines and break them, I need to know just who it is who is ruling this place. That includes mingling with the folk around here, and getting their trust. Obviously slavery is something which is condoned around here, and I will have no choice but to at least attend." she explained, going to the door and turning around. "Myr – Fatine, you must remember who we are supposed to be here-"
"Are we supposed to lose our true identities while we do this?" Myrna asked rhetorically.
Ariadné sighed, "I would never tell you that. But please, try to act the part."
"You can't-"
"Very well, as your commanding office, your orders are to act the part of an Echtrian. That includes a heartless disrespect for all things living; and cold, calculating behavior at all times." the Captain ordered, her voice firm and daring Myrna to disrespect it.
Myrna's eyes widened, and she dumbly nodded with a 'Yes, Ma'am.' before laying on the bed as Ariadné went to walk out again. "Captain," she stopped the woman in her tracks. "My apologies for my disrespect."
The brunette turned, "You don't need to apologize. I know this is hard... but it is our only hope." and with that, she walked out the door.
When Leia woke next, she was forced to swallow the lump of fear in her throat. The walls around her were made of stone, and after trying to move her arms, she found herself shackled to the cold, unmoving wall. She peered across the dimly lit stone cell, and could vaguely see Han's shape on the other side. "Han." she whispered, "Han!"
Her husband cracked an eye open, "Well, Leia, it seems we are right back to where we first met. Where's Luke?" he mumbled, still somewhat unconscious.
"I don't know where Luke is, but I do know that we are currently locked in chains somewhere." Leia retorted, a small smile on her face. "By the way, welcome to the world of the living."
Han chuckled faintly, "Thank you, hon, I am happy to be here." he said, the clanking of his own chains an indicator that he was trying to gather information. "Do you know what happened?" he asked.
"No." Leia replied, "I just woke up."
A small growl in the corner alerted them that Chewbacca was awake. "Chewie, what happened." Han asked, knowing that he would probably know much more than any of them. The Wookiee made some kind of moan, "Who took us?" his co-pilot roared softly.
"What's he saying?" Leia asked.
"He said that some men with lightsabers took us... apparently they liked the way you look." Han growled out, "I don't know what-" he was interrupted as the door opened, light streaming onto their faces before a large shadow fell over them.
"Well, well, well..." a voice sang before its owner walked in. Leia could make the shape of a woman against the light, her blond hair falling past her waist, giving her an appearance of elegance. "You did do well, Heren." she eyed Han, who looked at Leia in a slightly panicked look. "Hmm... my master will reward you well for this, I can assure you."
'Heren' leered, bowing slightly toward the woman. "Anything we can do for the General." he said, "Name your price."
"I have a bad feeling about this." Han mumbled, aware that it was him who was being bartered for. He looked over at Leia again as the woman gave the slavetrader his due, and two men who were with her walked in. "Leia... I don't know if we'll ever see each other again... but please, always know that I am grateful for the amount of time I had with you – and that I love you."
"Don't talk like that!" Leia hissed, but Han just looked at her with his trademark smirk as they tried to reach toward each other, an inch of space coming between them.
"Oh, how quaint. Its alright deary, he'll live." the woman cooed, as the men took his shackles off the wall.
"Take care of her Chewie!" Han ordered his friend as he was led out. The Wookie gave a yell, and the woman turned toward him.
"I'd take him too... but I'm afraid we can only handle one at a time. Those are my orders." she said.
"Of course, Mistress. I'm sure he'll be sold later, along with the woman." Heren assured her. She smiled sadly as she looked between Leia and Chewie.
"Such a waste." she mourned, walking out of the cell.
Leia closed her eyes, tears slipping down her face. She couldn't believe that this was happening again, hadn't she and Han gone through enough? Couldn't they just live happily ever after, have children, and never have to concern themselves with such matters again? Chewie gave another yell of despair as he tried to get a little closer to comfort Leia.
They stayed that way for Force-only-knew how long before the door opened again and Heren came in. "Take them both to the docks." he instructed a group of men who were behind the door. They all walked in, two taking Leia off the wall, and four trying to get Chewie – who tossed them off with a light push, making his way toward Leia. "Tranquilize him, dammit, I'm not going to lose another slave because one of them decides to get testy!" Heran shouted, but was unheard over Chewie's mighty roar...
Leia watched in fascination as Chewie threw off each of the men, vaguely wondering if that was what Han and Luke made it look like on the Death Star. Suddenly, she found herself being grabbed from behind, a taser to her throat. Chewie looked over, suddenly stopping.
"Now, I don't want to have to hurt her, but I think its time for you to calm down." Heran said, "So, do as I say, and no harm will come to her. I doubt you'll get such an offer later on."
The Wookiee looked over at Leia, as if to ask her what to do. She sighed, "Just... calm down, Chewie." the Wookie yelled, "Look! We can't help Han if I'm handicapped and you're locked up."
Heren chuckled behind her ear. "Oh, trust me honey, you are beyond helping Han." he whispered, "In fact, if I had a chance, I'd take you for myself."
Leia fought back a grimace, knowing that Chewie would not hesitate to rip the man limb from limb if she as much as showed her discomfort. Instead, Chewie growled just once more before he finally gave up, allowing the men to cuff him once more. He looked at Leia, as if to say 'You better be right about this, cause I just lost my chance'.
"I hope I am, Chewie." Leia replied to his face, "I hope I am."
The docks were not something which Ariadné was thrilled to see. Contrary to what Myrna believed about her, slavery made her physically sick. She had seen it in the Vogelfrei camps, and in a few visitors to Tyrn; neither had made her particularly comfortable. Yet, here she was, forcing herself to move her legs as she went even closer to the podium where the slaves would be auctioned.
The first she saw, was a young boy. The tousled blond hair hid the youthful face, as Ariadné surmised he could not be more than seven. The marks on his face making it obvious that he had been beaten recently. He was a Force-user, she could tell, the small sliver of light within him threatened to be overshadowed by a hatred which began to grow. She shuddered with the thought, quelling the instinct to simply slaughter all who were there and save the boy as the slavetrader began.
The boy was from Alderaan originally, and one of the recent raids of a neighboring system had brought him here. Her conclusion of his age had been correct, and he was proven to be only six. According to the trader, he had no family who would be able to get revenge, and was a Force-sensitive.
Counting how much money she had mentally, she surmised that for what the boy was being sold for, she could easily buy him his freedom. To add to it, Myrna would no doubt want some companionship as she went around spying. Raising her hand, she made a bid. She, Captain Ariadné Llewellyn, hero of Liboria... made a bid for a slave. She was grateful that Myrna stayed behind.
The tradesman looked at her a moment, regarding her raised hand and continuing the bid. A cloaked figure raised their hand as well, and Ariadné feared that she would be unable to help the boy. Using the Force, she caused the cloaked figure to be unable to raise their hand a second time, automatically causing for the trader to choose her as the boy's new owner. The cloaked head turned sharply toward her, and she could feel the heat of their glare; ignoring it, she approached the podium.
"Well? Pay up before you can have him." the trader said. Ariadné said nothing as she handed him the amount which had been stated. "You're not from around here are you?" the trader asked. Ariadné looked down at the boy, ignoring the question. "I said-"
"I heard you." Ariadné replied, "But I didn't think it was any of your business." she allowed her voice to become cold as she placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "You have your money, and I have my property."
The Trader looked at her skeptically for a moment before he cracked a smile. "Very well, are you making any other purchases today, stranger?"
"I might." she answered vaguely. "It all depends on where the next slave is from."
He nodded quickly, and Ariadné took the boy back to where she had been standing earlier. He followed easily, as if resigned to his fate, but his face showed his anger with the situation. She ignored him for now, and although she did not expect to buy anyone else, she stayed for pretense.
Leia grunted as she was forced onto the podium, trying her hardest to ignore the leering looks of the men who surrounded it.
"Now, here is quite the specimen." Heren exclaimed, "This little firebird landed in the Badlands. A visitor to Tyrn. Is she not beautiful?" Leia felt like killing the man. Her mind flashed right back to Jabba the Hutt... the situation was eerily similar. "Now, who would like to bid on this delicate creature?" she snorted, her brown eyes wandering the people below.
Suddenly her gaze caught one of the only women who were standing in the crowd. Her brown gaze watching Leia with interest, almost quizzically. She raised her hand, careful to keep another hand on the blonde boy in front of her.
"Very well, I have one bid... do I have another?" a few men raised their hands, and Leia watched as the woman shifted her gaze, a hand coming up in a familiar way. Luke did it before, he called it a 'Jedi Mind Trick'. "Thank you gentlemen, anything else from the young woman in the back?" she nodded, and the tradesman blinked a moment before pandemonium struck.
Although Leia was curious about the woman who had made a bid on her, she wasn't too keen on becoming a salve again. Using what little she knew of the Force, she threw the trader back a few feet and jumped off the back of the podium. She heard Chewie give a roar in the background, but could only hope he made it free as she hid behind a building. For once, she was grateful she wore black the day that Han told her they were leaving, as it seemed to do well with the color people wore around this place.
However, her freedom was short-lived as a lightsaber ignited across her neck. She turned, somewhat astonished to see the woman from the slaving, without the young boy. "Well, well, too bad he didn't explain that you were a flight risk." the woman quipped, her tone as that of an outer rimmer. "He should have warned us that you were fast."
"I've been a slave before, I wasn't in the mood to go through that again." Leia replied dryly.
The woman smirked, "Well, I'm not in the mood to chase you over Morco... though if you let me catch my breath, I may be game again." she said dryly.
Leia narrowed her eyes, half-considering taking off again when the huffing Heren came up behind the woman. "Hello again." the woman greeted, "Lost something?"
Heren growled something under his breath, reaching for Leia's arm – except the woman's saber came between them. "What are you doing?" Heren demanded.
"C'mon, what makes you think that you'll be able to sell her now? Who wants a slave that can take off at any moment?" the mystery woman asked.
The trader smirked, "Plenty. She's still got looks." he answered, reaching for Leia again.
"Well, I'm not so sure I'm content with that answer." the woman replied, turning toward Leia. "So I think that we're going to make a deal."
Heren scoffed, "With you?" the saber came to his neck. "I am a businessman, and I'm sure I can get a better price than what you offer-" he was cut short as he found himself choking. Leia's eyes widened as she watched the woman do what she had only seen Vader do. "Name it."
The woman grinned, looking at Leia for another moment. "For a very reasonable price, you sell her... to me."
Well? What did you think of my comeback? Please review, it makes me very very happy :D