Emancipation - Part 2

The next morning she was as sore as anything and tired beyond belief. Blood still clung to her skin, now dried and flaked into the bed below her. The majority of her ripped and bloodied clothes from the night before in a pile on the floor. Zaiya would have to wash and dress if she was to be accompanying this Tesar to wherever he was going. It was then she realised what had woken her. There were people walking around outside and they had drawn too close to her door. She was always hesitant when it came to footsteps. She'd had to learn what sounds belonged to who, what it meant when a door was closed too sharply, what body language indicated about a person's mood. It was sometimes hard to tell, but now, she was able to tell by the way D'Sarr placed his glass on his desk, what kind of day she would have.

Zaiya stood and took her clothing to the bathrooms. No one spoke to her as they saw her enter, fresh cuts over her pale body. The lines of her tattoos that snaked over her hips, down her legs, up her back and along her arms in lines with meanings unknown to the others. The old scars were mostly faded but the new were an angry red across her thighs, arms and torso. She would have to make sure she washed them well today, lest they get infected again. The water was cold, and the soap and rags for washing were harsh, but she had long stopped caring about it. Her fingernails were blue by the end of it and her lips trembled from the shockingly cold water, her hands trembled as she dried herself on a threadbare towel and pulled the new white garments on. Very similar to the previous day's outfit, though without the feathers, thankfully.

Mostly dressed, she returned to her room to finish dressing and dispose of the previous night's clothes. D'Sarr didn't care for her to rewear things. He liked the idea of the fabric to be clean, fresh, untouched… unspoiled. So that he could be the one to mark it, stain it. Be the first to ruin the virgin cloth. It wasn't the only thing. She clamped down on the memories and forced them aside. They would do no good here.

In her room, she was lacing up her boots when she heard footsteps coming her way. Zaiya paused in her movements to concentrate. Soft footfalls, hesitant but a quick pace. Ieya. She tied the lace quickly and stood, opening the door, looking down at the Twi'lek whose hand was raised, about to knock. She jumped on seeing the white haired nightsister and stepped back. Zaiya just stared, expectantly.

"May I enter?" She signed with her hands. Zaiya did not respond other than to step into the room and leave the door open. Ieya entered swiftly and shut the door behind her. The witch waited for an explanation. Ieya turned and with shaking hands she signed. "Nannie said this was for you." From her tunic, pulled out a small gold filigree item, dotted with rubies, intricately designed, yet broken in half… Zaiya's eye widened. How…? She reached out a trembling hand of her own and grasped it. A breath exploded from her as the familiar warm metal touched her gloveless hand. She stared at it in shock, then up to Ieya and back again.

"Nannie found me and had me hide this… the other item was a decoy, in case she had been seen. Clare was following her, but she didn't see Nannie give this to me." The twi'lek signed hesitantly. She dared a peek up at Zaiya's face, surprised to see the shock across it. Carefully, Zaiya took the pendant and slipped the cord over her head, hiding it beneath her clothing, the metal pressing between her breasts against her skin, near her hearts. She looked back at Ieya with more emotion in her expression than the twi'lek had ever seen.

"Thank you." Was all the Nightsister was able to sign, and in an effort to show the depth of her gratitude, reached for the smaller female's hand, and squeezed in both of her own. Ieya had not seen this side of Zaiya before, but broke from her nerves and smiled. It seemed she understood the importance of the broken necklace to the white clad woman. After a moment, Zaiya released the twi'lek and made sure the pendant was hidden, her face smoothing into expressionless calm once more. It was as though nothing happened. Ieya nodded, and hurried off. Zaiya tugged on her gloves and put some changes of clothes into a bag to take with her and left the room to meet with the head of the house.


He was in his office again, and seemed focused on his data pad, and seemed more irritable. Good. Though she was not sure if he was going to take it out on her again or whether she would remain in good condition for her journey. Surely he did not want his associate to travel with visibly damaged goods.

She took her usual position, though when she placed the bag down beside her, he turned his head slightly and gave out a little growl, but said nothing else. Did he not want her to go? After he had decided that she would? She frowned inwardly, the only indication of such was a tiny twitch of her brow, which he failed to notice. She remained there a long time, internally growing ever-impatient at the passing hours. It was not until the afternoon that the grey-furred Tesar arrived.

Zaiya took a better look at him now, in the daylight, fur combed back, well-groomed and a sinister gaze in his beady eyes. He was well dressed in greens and blues, fancy trimmings and fine cloth, it made sense why D'Sarr was eager to deal with him and willing to offer her as a possible assurance, he wanted to make a good impression. Perhaps the Slaver was not so self-assured as she had thought?

"Ah, Harasan!" Tesar grinned, looking pleased, a flash of a white grin behind the fur. At first glance one might think these two were friends. Though Zaiya saw the way Tesar's smile twitched slightly, the mistrust in his eyes. She saw the way D'Sarr's hand curled into a fist behind his desk. This was an alliance of convenience. Ah, he had sent her to keep an eye on the other Zygerrian. Why he would choose a slave that did not speak, she couldn't fathom. Perhaps he trusted her? Stupid. She was the least disruptive to him, though she was not loyal. Not to him. Never to him.

"Is everything ready?" D'Sarr asked, lacing his fingers together, he didn't seem to be in the mood for banter today. Most of the time she had stood there, ignoring the ache in her legs, the Zygerrian had just grumbled, muttered to himself and occasionally tossed aside a datapad in anger. Whatever he was grumpy about, it had gotten worse through the day, so now he was speaking through his teeth in a smile that was so forced it could have been painted on.

"Ready, my friend." Tesar replied with a chuckle. Their voices hid the animosity they held for the other, but this was business. "Your guards are prepping the ship now. We are just awaiting the final bodyguard." He looked pointedly at Zaiya, who avoided eye contact by staring straight ahead.

"Yes, of course." He stood, slightly stiff as he rounded the side of his desk. With a snap of his fingers, she dipped low to pick up the bag beside her. "You will be careful, won't you?" He laughed mockingly. "I do not want my possessions damaged." Of course he didn't. She was a useful tool. A toy. Nothing more, whatever pathetic and twisted affections might be held by the male, they were fleeting and disingenuous.

Zaiya followed the Zygerrians out to the hall, along the corridors, down stairs and across the courtyard, there was no sign of the blood where Nannie had fallen. As though it had not happened. But Zaiya knew better. Having carried the body away herself to the medical wing to be disposed of. Like trash. Her hand clenched at her side.

Past the courtyard, the archway led out to a personal launchpad where a small shuttle readied to take them off world. She had to play it calm, any indication from D'Sarr she was anything but bored, then he would want to make her stay, she was sure of this. She could not show she wanted to leave the planet, else suspicions would rise as to why. And they could not discover the amulet. D'Sarr lingered a few feet from the ship, seeming hesitant as he stood looking up at the sky. He made that face often when he changed his mind. She glanced at Tesar. Come on you ignorant sleemo, just go already. The agony of silence was driving her mad. She anticipated a change in terms any minute, D'Sarr demanding she stay… He opened his mouth.

"I expect regular reports on this, Tesar." He stated cooly, reaching into his coat and handing over… the remote to her collar. While he had multiple eyes on the operation, but the slaver had not gotten so powerful by being careless. Paranoia was always there. And giving up this piece of control was clearly painful for him.

"Of course, as soon as we touch down on the planet and as soon as the deal is done." He assured, with a smile that was just slightly too tense. He wanted out of here too, Zaiya reasoned. Tesar shook D'Sarr's hand once more, and with that, it was done. Tesar walked toward the ship and Zaiya followed suit.

"Angel." D'Sarr called, and she froze. Slowly, she turned, her face forced to remain blank. He stepped closer.

Give them nothing.

"Represent me well, my Angel." He purred, running his hand over her hair, tugging on a stray lock gently. The touch might have been affectionate if not for the cruel look in his eye. He tugged harder, and pulled out a few strands which forced Zaiya to blink the sudden pain away. "If you do not… you will wish for the way I punished you in the past." With a twisted smirk, he waved a hand, dismissing her. Zaiya couldn't get on the ship fast enough. She didn't look back.


The trip was not so long, a cycle until they reached their destination. A few hours there and a cycle back. Such a small window of opportunity. Zaiya would have to be careful. The guards took the main bunks, and Tesar took the more luxurious Captain's cabin. Zaiya, being a slave and merely cargo, only there to stand about and look intimidating, was pushed to the cargo hold. There was little insulation and space was indeed very cold. Crates were strapped to one side of the hold, some larger, some smaller. Spice and weapons, apparently, if what she had vaguely heard from the discussion the day before was true. This is where she would stay for the rest of the journey apparently. It was evening on Zygerria now, so near the time when she would be sleeping anyway, standing all day had made her legs so sore, and the cold was certainly not helping. She curled up on the floor, her head on her little rucksack and pulled out the amulet. The smallest smile graced her lips. This was so dangerous. This was hope. She thought she could almost feel the pulse of heartbeats through the ever-warm metal. This was her past, a reminder of who she was. Memory and hope. Hope was potentially devastating, if it failed… would there be anything left of her? She had to try and get the remote off of Tesar somehow. With that, then she might have a chance.

Hours passed as she rested, if one could call it that, the cold seeping into her skin, down to her bones as she lay curled on the metal floor. She didn't know how much time had gone by. Most of the minutes ticked away and she could not even say she was even asleep, just drifting in and out of semi-consciousness, vaguely aware of the sounds from the ship and people moving around on the upper floor. All the unfamiliar footsteps made her uneasy.

Then the footsteps grew louder. Her eye snapped open and she was on her feet just before the door slid open. She stood at attention, hands behind her back facing into the room, the door at her left as though she were guarding it. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Tesar enter, flanked by two of D'Sarr's guards. They glanced at her briefly, but kept walking. He was explaining what to do when they landed, regarding the delivery, what to watch out for, though never said the name of the person they were meeting, just that they were shifty. Wasn't that half the Galaxy these days?

She kept her focus, remaining still. They would not have cause to target her for slacking off or rolling her eyes… which she was doing so internally. As Tesar moved to pass her, he glanced her way and paused. Oh joy.

"I don't see what he sees in you." The Zygerrian snarled. "You're just a weak little girl." His sneer was evident in his voice which had dropped so only she could hear. Who would she tell, after all? "But at least he isn't so smug now." Tesar let out a chuckle. So bringing her was mostly to annoy D'Sarr. Even she couldn't be upset about that. She kept her stare straight head, and he didn't bother to attempt further jibes, seeming to lose interest.

"Sir! We're coming upon the planet now!" Called a voice from further in the ship. Thank the Fanged God. Perhaps she had managed some sleep after all.


Notes:

Well, at least noone died this time!

Next week, Zaiya encounters someone familiar in Emancipation - Part 2! The following chapter is titled Return!

As always, I adore all your comments and kudos and I love to hear from you! Until next week my lovelies!