A Wise Opportunity

[Lierra Umdal]

Lierra sat in the confines of her cell, all the dirt and muck of the city lying beneath her, or at least it felt that way. She was abruptly awoken to the sounds of rustling keys and doors being opened, and a rusty plate with two loafs of bread was shoved her way. Lazily reaching for the plate, she wondered what kinds of people she would encounter that day. For as twisted as it seemed, that was her source of entertainment. People. The only thing that offered a distraction from the dull life of living in an uncomfortable, quite confined space most days. More than often they were ignorant, cruel masters shopping for more slaves to bring back to their "humble abode"...not that there was much of a chance for kind and charitable folk to take a detour into the environment that was these slave holders' buildings.

Another slave in a cell just across from her whispered "Just another wonderful day, eh?"

[member="Enigma"]​

 

[Onrai]

[member="Lierra Umdal"]

Circe was out and about, moving to purchase slaves from the slave pens of Nar Shaddaa so she could hire them - with pay and board - for her future products. Not to mention that as Subach had officially been taken off the map, its return from the ashes needed fresh faces. Hence why Circe now walked by the cages of the slaves, Dark Side aura permeating as she traveled, before speaking to the owner.

"How much for this one?"

 

[Lierra Umdal]

The Rodian turned to speak to the woman, "That one over there? Let's say...46,000 credits, eh whaddya say?" Already confident in his deal, the owner motioned two assistants nearby to retrieve the girl from her cell, and then turned to the woman.

Meanwhile, Lierra studied the woman who wished to purchase her. She had always thought it would be some typical Hutt crimelord or unruly gangster who would pick her up. But with her...she simply didn't know what to make of it. Lierra turned to the slave across from her, who whispered with reassuring and hopeful looks in her eyes "You'll be alright, I'm sure this one'll be different somehow". Lierra opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the footsteps of the nearby guards coming to retrieve her.

[member="Enigma"]​

 

[Onrai]

[member="Lierra Umdal"]

"Very well. We have a deal." She nodded, making a transfer with her datapad and completing the purchase. "Bring her forward." Circe smiled, placing an arm around the young woman firmly yet no-harmfully. She would hear a voice whispering in her head for a brief moment as Circe moved to walk out with her. "Just stick with me... We can talk more about why I did this later."

She was quite enigmatic about such things, after all.

 

[Lierra Umdal]

It was never something she, or any other born with the life she lived, could be prepared for. To be bought by someone...different. No criminal scum, no crimelord or wealthy man ready to show his status. But a Sith lord, of which she knew nothing about. It simply didn't fit the picture. Most would've expected Lierra to be overjoyed that this woman would do such an act, yet she still wondered, in fear of what her true intentions might be.

As if her heart weren't beating much faster already, hearing the voices stopped Lierra in her tracks, just footsteps away from the building she'd hoped to never see again. After a few seconds of contemplating, the girl continued to walk, along with the woman at her side. For the first time that day she opened her mouth to speak, "What....what are you?"

[member="Enigma"]​

 

[Onrai]

[member="Lierra Umdal"]

"Someone who understands you, and who doesn't want to see you experience the same fate." Circe nodded, speaking audibly this time as she continued to move with the now-former slave. "Circe Savan. You've probably heard of me as either mass-murderer of Ewoks, pariah of the Fringe, or that queen who just won't die. What's your name?"

 

[Lierra Umdal]

She wished to further question Circe, curious of these titles some may call her. Her nose wrinkled and mouth opened to speak, she thought it better to keep her inquiries to herself for the time being. "Lierra Umdal...I do believe a thanks is in order, for purchasing me from Daro. That bastard is gonna get what he deserves one day, I swear it."

She rose her head while walking, to admire the city of Nar Shadaa. Even in spite of it's all it's crime-filled reputation, she was still amazed by the neon lights, the speeders whizzing by, and the noise of citizens going about their day. And now, she had some time to see it in all it's glory. "Forgive me if I ask too much too quickly, but why would someone such as yourself care about me, enough to spend that many credits too?"

[member="Enigma"]​

 

[Onrai]

[member="Lierra Umdal"]

And with that, Circe chose to be enjgmatic.

"A long time ago there was a rich girl. She ran away from home because she was hated by her peers. She was caught and sold into slavery, where many bad things happened to her. Far more bad things than you have likely experienced. She gave into her rage one day and became a woman steeped in sins: pride, envy, desire. And then she died. And then she came back to life, died again, and had this happen more times. Now imagine that somewhere in that woman's mind, past the lurking madness, is a want to not let the same thing happen to others. And that she chose a girl much like herself to stop the cycle before it was too late."

She gave a half-hearted smile. "Now you know. And knowing is half the battle."

 

[Lierra Umdal]

"And the rest is what?" She stopped and turned to face Circe. "Strength? Wisdom?... or another virtue I'm familiar with?" Lierra began to unintentionally raise her voice in a more hateful tone. Looking out towards the city, she began to tremble as she spoke with each step, "I've had mine stripped from me, from the moment I was born without the love of a father...a mother, who both cared more about gambling in the city rather than caring for their own DAUGHTER!" With this, the girl dropped to her knees, and ran her hands through the ground in her sorrow.

It was foolish. A somewhat childish rage, thinking of her struggles being disregarded by this mysterious woman. She had forgotten what she had in common with this woman, told to her just moments ago. That the two had both been faced with these terrible events in their life, scars left that perhaps would never fade away. At least she had a chance at leaving them behind; Circe was obviously not so fortunate. At last, she had returned to a more relaxed state, and asked the answer to a question she didn't quite understand herself. It simply kept her comfortable at that moment, giving Lierra a sense of having any small amount of control over the situation. She asked, more gently now, "So...what is it then? What's the rest of the battle?"

[member="Enigma"]​

 

[Onrai]

[member="Lierra Umdal"]

"That's up to you. What you fight back with is your own choice. I fight back with darkness. You may fight back with the same, with the Light, or with the Grey. But ultimately, such will be your decision." She stopped for a moment, then turned to look at the young woman she had ownership of. "I have a place where you can become the independent woman I know you desire to be."

 

[Lierra Umdal]

All her life the girl had been drained of any hope..any thought of freedom. Made to believe she was useless and her only purpose was a few wads of credits. Yet here she was, being reminded of that sweet and seemingly hopeless idea of independence, that she had forgotten long ago. Lierra looked to Circe's reassuring face, forgetting all hostility she had created from her own memories. And with eyes oh so hopeful and gleaming, she asked, almost in a whisper,

"Take me to it...please."

[member="Enigma"]​

 

[Onrai]

[member="Lierra Umdal"]

There was not much to say about what happened next. Circe took Lierra onto her shuttle and traveled across the galaxy to the space of the Omega Protectorate, where she had reestablished herself after twin razings. The woman would soon, after all travel was said and done, find herself emerging on a landing pad at a factory building on Sluis Van.

"This is where opportunity begins again. You have an opportunity here to manage my company's factory on this world - and if you come up with anything we can sell, let me know. What do you say?"

 

[Lierra Umdal]

"Could this be true? A real chance to start again, and not just any chance. But that of one with a position of power and managing responsibilities," she thought. It was all she could have ever dreamed of and more. Not something she would allow herself to give up anytime soon.

She turned to the woman who stood just behind her, and replied with a wide smile full of wonder and excitement, "I shall not let you down Circe!"

[member="Enigma"]​

 

[Onrai]

[member="Lierra Umdal"]

"Excellent." She smiled, moving to turn and walk away. "I will expect weekly progress reports. As well, I will also expect information from you regarding new product designs, as well as how the factory is going. This opportunity I've given to you because you need the chance to do things right for a change." She paused, turning back to look at Lierra once more.

"Please don't make me regret this decision, darling."