I don't own Star Wars: The Clone Wars or its characters, but I only own Nadia Aomori, her family and other OCs.
Enjoy!
Threads of Destiny
Chapter 40: Slaves of the Republic
Kidnapped!
During a Separatist invasion of the planet Kiros, thousands of peaceful colonists were abducted by Zygerrian slavers.
Determined to find the missing colonists, the Jedi travel to Zygerria, home to the galaxy's most notorious slave empire.
Anakin, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, Nadia and Rex travel to Zygerria aboard the Tecora, only to find the orbit of the planet crawling with spaceships that obviously meant a sign of an important event.
"It looks like Zygerria is a popular place these days."Anakin complemented with a hint of sarcasm.
"Hmm, whatever is happening is attracting plenty of high class scum."Obi-Wan retorted.
Afterwards...
The group were now walking by slave markets near the palace.
Anakin, Obi-Wan and Rex wore Zygerrian armors and helmets while Ahsoka and Nadia had dark grey matching cloaks to cover the outfits they were wearing.
"Let's just hope the information our spies gave us about the Queen is accurate."Anakin stated."Remember, I'll keep her occupied while you locate the missing people of Kiros."
"How do you plan on keeping the Queen occupied?"Obi-Wan asked.
"With my magnetic charm, of course."Anakin replied.
"Oh, yes, of course."Obi-Wan said simply.
"Oh brother..."Nadia muttered under her breath.
Anakin and Obi-Wan glanced at Artoo.
"Hold on to this, will you, buddy?"Anakin asked.
Artoo beeped as Anakin and Obi-Wan gave their lightsabers to him.
The group and Artoo began to head out of the ship.
"Remind me why we're the ones playing the part of the slaves?"Ahsoka demanded.
"At least your outfit is more comfortable than mines, Soka."Nadia scowled.
Nadia sent Anakin a cold glare at Anakin, who simply smiled at her respond.
"Hey, you're both young and the roles of the slaves suit you both."Anakin admitted with a sarcastic smile."Besides, the role of master comes easily to me."
"Really?"Ahsoka scoffed."Well, this time try to be convincing at it."
The five companions and Artoo went to the slave markets near the palace.
There they saw many different types of people being sold as slaves.
Nadia groaned in annoyance at the awful sight that she and her companions were seeing.
"How can a civilisation this advanced still practice slavery?"Ahsoka asked with a frown.
"It makes them wealthy and powerful at the expense of others."Anakin replied coldly."Before the Hutt Clan sold me and my mother into slavery, we were in a market just like this."
Nadia was saddened by Anakin's sentence of what occurred to him and his late mother before being sold into slavery by the Hutt Clan.
Then the three companions and Artoo saw an old Twi'lek lady drop to the floor.
Atai shoved passed the other slaves and glared down at the old Twi'lek lady.
"Get up, you useless skug."Atai ordered cruelly.
"Master, the bonds, they are too heavy."the old Twi'lek lady replied weakly.
"Tell it to my whip."Atai snarled.
Atai then took out his electro-whip from his belt.
Just before Atai could harm the old Twi'lek lady, Ahsoka grabbed him by the arm.
"You don't want to do that."Ahsoka retorted.
"You dare touch me!"Atai said angrily.
"Excuse my slave, friend."Anakin commented as he came forward."She is freshly caught."
Two Zygerrian guards ran up behind Atai.
"Hmm, what have we here?"Atai said."You wear Zygerrian armour, but you're not one of us. Who are you?"
"I came for an audience with Queen Miraj."Anakin replied.
"Then you have an invitation?"Atai assumed."We can't just let anyone in to speak with Her Majesty."
"No invitation, but I do bring news, news Queen Miraj will be eager to hear."Anakin stated.
"I doubt that, you're nothing more than a brigand."Atai said with a hint of anger.
"I wouldn't say that, especially when Queen Miraj learns you prevented her from hearing the news about Bruno Denturri."Anakin admitted smugly.
Atai took a few stepped toward Anakin as more Zygerrian guards showed up, but then an observation droid flew in front of him.
"Cease all hostilities, Prime Minister Atai!"the Observation Droid ordered."This man, the astromech and the two women to be escorted to the palace by order of Queen Miraj!"
Atai then started to walk away to the Royal Palace of Zygerria as Anakin, Artoo, Ahsoka and Nadia followed him.
Inside the Royal Palace, Queen Miraj stood in her throne with three Convorees near her.
Queen Miraj glanced at her female Twi'lek slave upon seeing Anakin give her a charming smile.
"Make certain all preparations are complete for this evening and fetch refreshments."Queen Miraj stated.
The female Twi'lek slave nodded as she walked away from the Zygerrian Queen.
"My Queen, I present Lars Quell."Atai declared.
Ahsoka and Nadia bowed to Queen Miraj in silent.
"Hmm, so, you are the man who claims to be acquainted with Bruno Denturri?"Queen Miraj asked.
"Yes, Your Highness."Anakin said as he removed his helmet."However, when I spoke with him he failed to describe your beauty."
"Really?"Queen Miraj asked and became angry."And did Bruno speak of my intense hatred of him? Or did that escape his memory as well?"
Atai pointed his blaster at Anakin.
"He needed not speak of it, Your Majesty."Anakin stated with a smirk as he lowered the blaster."In fact, Bruno Denturri won't be speaking ever again."
"What do you mean?"Queen Miraj questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Bruno Denturri's dead at my hand."Anakin replied."Here's a slaver and dancer from his palace. Compensations for my efforts."
"Oh no..."Nadia thought nervously.
Anakin then removed Ahsoka and Nadia's cloaks revealing their outfits.
Ahsoka wore a yellow gold tiara with grey gems at the top of her head with a stylish sleeveless small cyan shirt and a matching long skirt. There were fingerless gloves on her arms.
Nadia wore a light pink v neck crop top with see through hot pink fabric sleeves which revealed her entire midriff and her chest covered in flawless pale skin generously and a pair of orange purple striped leggings that left little to the imagination by allowing others to see her delicate shaped slender figure covered in flawless porcelain skin. Her raven black hair was styled in its usual high ponytail. On her head was an extravagant gold headband and gold hoop earrings to match. She also had a purple choker around her neck and had purple anklets to match.
Ahsoka glared at Anakin, removing her wrist from his grip.
"Unhand me, brigand!"Ahsoka said in a fake angry tone.
Anakin raised an eyebrow, making Ahsoka shrug with a nervous look at her poor acting.
Nadia blushed and slightly covered herself with her arms, due to be embarrassed with how she was dressed.
Queen Miraj, however, was impressed upon seeing the two slaves girls.
"You impress me, Lars Quell."Queen Miraj declared with a smile.
Queen Miraj rose from her throne and one Convor went on her shoulder while her two of her Convorees stood on her throne.
The Zygerrian guards and the slavers bowed at the Queen, making Anakin gesture the two girls to do the same.
"They are both quite a prize and to have defeated Bruno Denturri in combat, you must be quite the warrior."Queen Miraj praised.
Queen Miraj then circled Ahsoka and Nadia looking at them from top to bottom.
"Hmm, mmm-hmm."Queen Miraj murmured as she looked at Ahsoka and Nadia."This slave and dancer are certainly of fine stock. Bruno always knew how to choose beautiful females."
Queen Miraj then rubbed her fingers in Nadia's arm, making her get angry.
"Don't you dare touch me!"Nadia snapped.
This caused the Zygerrian Queen to look at the raven haired girl in suspicion.
"Thought they both have to be processed."Queen Miraj commented and looked at Anakin."Their demeanours leaves much to be desired. What's your price for them?"
"With respect, how can I price the beauty of this slave and dancer, when I look upon the magnificence of Your Highness, whose beauty would make the brightest star seem dull by comparison."Anakin admitted with a smile.
Ahsoka and Nadia rolled their eyes in annoyance while Queen Miraj chuckled at Anakin's response.
"Lars Quell, you flatter me."Queen Miraj stated.
"No, Your Majesty, however..."Anakin started.
Anakin whispered something in the Zygerrian Queen's ear, making both Ahsoka and Nadia look on in disgust.
Queen Miraj chuckled at Anakin's respond.
"Lars, stop it, stop it."Queen Miraj responded, lightly smacking Anakin's shoulder."You are a bold one, aren't you?"
"My reputation precedes me then."Anakin stated.
"Perhaps we can find a way to put prices on your slaves."Queen Miraj remarked and held out her arm."Come, walk with me."
Anakin wrapped his arm around Queen Miraj's and the two walked to the balcony followed by Ahsoka, Nadia, Artoo and Atai.
Obi-Wan and Rex were looking for Governor Roshti while acting like they were Zygerrian guards.
"Sir, take a look at this."Rex informed.
The two men then saw the Togruta governor of Kiros, Gupat Roshti, weak and broken from his ordeal and beneath the ground.
"Stand watch, I'll take a closer look."Obi-Wan ordered.
Rex nodded as the Jedi went down to check on the wounded Governor of Kiros.
"Governor Roshti?"Obi-Wan asked.
"No!"Governor Roshti panicked."No!"
"Governor Roshti, I'm a friend and Jedi here to help."Obi-Wan replied as he removed his helmet."Where are your people?"
"They're not here."Governor Roshti said weakly.
Governor Roshti passed out.
Obi-Wan put the wounded Torguta over his shoulder as he went back up.
"Sir, did you find out where the others are?"Rex asked.
"Not yet."Obi-Wan answered as he placed Governor Roshti down."We gotta get him out of here."
Obi-Wan and Rex prepared to leave, only to be spotted by one of the Zygerrian guards.
"You there, what are you doing with that slave?"A Zygerrian guard demanded.
Obi-Wan and Rex both began to make a run for it.
However, the alerted Zygerrian guards managed to stop and capture Obi-Wan and Governor Roshti while Rex escaped from their clutches.
In the Royal Palace of Zygerria...
Queen Miraj, Anakin, Ahsoka and Nadia were in the top balcony of the palace.
The female Twi'lek slave brought two drinks for Queen Miraj and Anakin.
"Slavery is the natural order of things."Queen Miraj stated."The weak deserve nothing more than to kneel before the strong, bound to our service. I will need men with your talents to spread our ways across the galaxy."
But then the Twi'lek slave girl admitted to stab the Queen, but Anakin stopped her.
"Let me go!"the Twi'lek slave girl panicked.
"You dare raise a hand against your master?"Queen Miraj questioned coldly."Clearly you require further processing."
"No!"the Twi'lek slave girl shouted as she went at the top of the balcony."I won't go back there!"
"Wait!"Anakin protested."Stop!"
The Twi'lek slave girl screamed as she fell to her death in the ground below.
Ahsoka and Nadia looked on in silence and shock at what they just witnessed.
"Such a waste."Queen Miraj said simply, unfazed by her servant's suicide."Perhaps she was more trouble than she's worth but you, Lars, are proving quite resourceful."
The Zygerrian Queen looked at Ahsoka and Nadia.
"Very well, I will pay your price for this slave and dancer."Queen Miraj admitted and chuckled."It seems I'm in need of a new servant and performer."
Anakin brought his attention back at Queen Miraj and smiled at her.
"They're my gifts to you, Your Highness."Anakin commented with a smile.
"You're a man of many surprises, it pleases me."Queen Miraj admitted."I wish you to be my guest at the slave auction and to sit at my side."
Queen Miraj offered her hand and Anakin took it as he helped her stand up.
Ahsoka and Nadia frowned of what their eyes have witnessed before following after the Zygerrian Queen and the Jedi Knight.
Inside a prison cell, a Zygerrian guard tortured Obi-Wan trying to find out who he was by hitting him with a electro-whip.
Atai walked up to the Zygerrian guard.
"Well, who is he?"Atai asked.
"He hasn't talked, but I'll loosen his tongue."the Zygerrian guard answered.
The Zygerrian guard whipped Obi-Wan once more, making him groan in pain.
"Why would a slaver try to rescue a slave from the palace?"Atai retorted."It's suicide."
However, the Prime Minister of Zygerria recognised Obi-Wan from his and Count Dooku's talk with Darts D'Nar on Kiros.
"Wait, I know you from Count Dooku's and my conversation with Commander D'Nar."Atai said coldly, grabbing Obi-Wan's face."I never forget a Jedi."
At the Auction...
In a balcony, Anakin stood on the left side of Queen Miraj while Ahsoka and Nadia stood on the right.
"Your Highness, Zygerrians, and guests from a thousand worlds, our auction begins with slaves of unmatched quality and impossible quantity."An Zygerrian Auctioneer stated."I give you, a Togruta from the Kiro System!"
The door opened as Governor Roshti was shoved out and walked towards the Announcer.
"Oh, no."Ahsoka whispered in shock.
Nadia had a calm face to cover her anger of the sight before them.
"This handsome sample represents a lot of numbering, no less than fifty thousand beings."the Zygerrian Auctioneer commented."Note the compliance, virtually untrained in combat there will be no rebellion from these slaves."
Anakin glanced at Queen Miraj.
"So where do you keep 50,000 slaves like the people of Kiros?"Anakin asked.
Then Atai came into the room.
"Your Majesty, I have urgent news."Atai stated.
Atai whispered something in the Queen's ear before she looked back at Anakin.
"All will be revealed in time."Queen Miraj answered.
Ahsoka and Nadia went next to Anakin as the Zygerrian Queen stood up from her seat.
"Before we begin the auction, I would welcome a most special guest, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Master of the Jedi Council!"Queen Miraj commented.
Anakin, Ahsoka and Nadia's eyes widen in shock as a wounded Obi-Wan came out of the door.
"Master?!"Nadia thought with a terrified expression.
The big crowd started booing and shouting in anger at seeing Obi-Wan.
"Down with the Jedi Order!"
"The Jedi Order isn't so tough!"
Queen Miraj then began speaking to the angry crowd.
"My good friends, don't fear the Jedi Order! They're no different from others we've forced into submission!"Queen Miraj announced."For their ideals have made them serve corrupt people. Every Jedi has become a slave of the Republic! The Jedi Order's weak and we'll help break it!"
The crowd cheered in cruel delight as Queen Miraj took a electro-whip and glanced at Anakin.
"Teach Master Kenobi his place."Queen Miraj insisted.
Anakin took the electro-whip as he left the room.
Ahsoka and Nadia looked on as a Zygerrian guard hit Obi-Wan, making him kneel with hands on his head.
Nadia clenched her fist in anger at seeing her Master getting hurt, but Ahsoka quickly placed her hand on her best friend's shoulder to calm her down.
Anakin then stepped up behind Obi-Wan while holding the electro-whip.
"Whip Kenobi!"
"Whip Kenobi!"
"Whip Kenobi!"
"Whip Kenobi!"
"Looks like I have to rescue you again, old man."Anakin said quietly.
"I knew you'd have a backup plan."Obi-Wan whispered.
"Prove to me you're a slaver!"Queen Miraj stated."Swing that whip or die beside him."
"Those are some lousy options."Anakin mumbled and activated the whip as he bowed."You leave me no choice, Your Highness."
The Jedi Knight then gave a signal, making Artoo making the droid take out his lightsaber.
Anakin wrapped the electric-whip on the Zygerrian guard's gun and pulled it away before Obi-Wan rolled forward to push him away.
Artoo threw the lightsabers into the pit causing Anakin to grab them.
Anakin activated his lightsaber while he gave Obi-Wan the other one, who activated it.
"Guards, subdue them!"Queen Miraj ordered.
The two Jedi deflected the lasers with their lightsabers while Rex took down the guards near him.
Ahsoka used the Force to slam Atai into the wall while Nadia used her Force Judgement to take down the Zygerrian guards.
"Ahsoka, Nadia, capture Queen Miraj!"Anakin called out.
Ahsoka and Nadia activated their lightsabers and pointed them at Queen Miraj as the two girls surrounded her.
"Looks like your slave empire is finished, again."Ahsoka commented.
"Get those things out of my face, you little skugs!"Queen Miraj growled.
The Zygerrian Queen then pressed a button on her chair.
This caused both Ahsoka and Nadia to get electrified and scream in pain.
Then both girls collapsed on the floor, making them drop their lightsabers in the process.
Anakin slowly opened his eyes and saw two Convorees squawking at him before he notice he was in Queen Miraj's bedroom.
He then notice the Zygerrian Queen a couple of steps away from the bed.
"You destroyed my auction and frightened my customers."Queen Miraj declared."Count Dooku and half my kingdom are demanding your death."
Queen Miraj gasped as Anakin started choking her with the Force.
"You should have listened to them."Anakin declared coldly as he got off the bed."My friends, where are they?"
"Continue to misbehave and they die."Queen Miraj gagged.
Anakin simply released Queen Miraj from his Force grip as the Zygerrian Queen stood up as she coughed and touched her throat.
"A most curious Jedi who cares more about his friends than his own mission. Hero. General."Queen Miraj chuckled in amusement as she walked up to Anakin."And now my servant."
Anakin looked away from Queen Miraj.
"I will not serve you."Anakin scowled.
Queen Miraj simply laughed at Anakin's reply.
"Your heart is not in your words. You will stand beside me, a testament to my power."Queen Miraj admitted and held out Anakin's lightsaber."Here, my bodyguard will need a weapon."
Anakin took his lightsaber as the Zygerrian Queen began to walk away.
"And you need not worry about your friends, they will be quite safe."Queen Miraj admitted.
Queen Miraj then left her bedroom with Anakin following her from behind.
Meanwhile...
Nadia woke up and found herself in a cage that was dangling at the top of the Royal Palace of Zygerria.
"Where am I?"Nadia demanded and notice her lightsabers were gone."Great."
The raven haired girl then remembered Anakin, Ahsoka, Obi-Wan and Rex.
What had happened to them?
She hoped in silence that they were still alive.
Despite noticing the electric collar around her neck, Nadia carefully touched the small little red gem on her gold right earring and smirked a bit.
"At least, they didn't know what this actually is."Nadia murmured with a relieved look.
Nadia looked down and gulped a bit upon seeing how high she was from the ground below.
What could she do?
If she tried to head down to the slave markets, she would obviously get unwanted attention due to the way she was dressed.
Knowing how Anakin flattered Queen Miraj, the Jedi Knight was probably in her custody to use him as a symbol of power to enslave the Jedi and the people of Republic.
However, Nadia knew Artoo must be out of danger since he survived far worst the Queen Miraj and her kingdom and probably took her lightsabers back.
But the problem was she couldn't look for him since she was stuck.
That's when Nadia remembered that RG-G1 had tagged along with her and her friends as well as still waiting in the Tecora for her to contact him.
Perhaps the hidden comlink in her earring could come in handy in a way after all.
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter
See you all in the next one and have a good day!