Chains

[Ao Xian]

K O R R I B A N

Kuraii hated Korriban. Everything about it, separately and in combination. The way the grey dust became grey mud. The lack of greenery, of blue lakes and white clouds. The hard stone and grit. The way the entire place smelled of must and old blood- of decay in the undertones of everything, even if most of the monkeys couldn't sense it themselves. The sounds of a crack of a whip, or the silenced wail of a child. She hated the work, from dawn until dusk, forced to move, to lift, to carry until she thought her claws would simply fall off. The food, bland, cold, congealed and never in a quantity necessary to fuel the desires of those who watched with dark eyes and blind souls. She hated the hard cot, the damp hovel that were the only things slaves were afforded in this place. She hated the overseer with his beady eyes, and how he looked at the humanoid females in his 'care.'

But there was one thing, in all of Korriban, that she didn't hate.

Over two meters tall, the Trianii ducked through the door. Her spine groaned in protest, the joints of her knees grinding together with an almost sickening pain. Her orange fur was caked with grey mud, streaking over most of the beautiful stripping that, in another time and place, she had been so proud of. Golden eyes were dulled by exhaustion and pain- she had not moved fast enough for the overseer's tastes. But then, that wasn't anything new.

​She winced as she stood back up, the raw stripe across her shoulders pulling as she did.

As the cloth fell over the door behind her, cutting out at least the sight of the slave slums, she felt at least some of that exhaustion, pain and anger slip away.

"You are back early, Kala," she growled, her voice low and rough as she padded the scant two meters over to the table where her only friend in the world was bent over a scrap of flimsy.

Her ears flicked as she leaned over to look, but she couldn't decipher the scratchings. It could have been words, or something more esoteric as far as she was concerned. Either way, it was just scribbling to the Trianii. Kala had promised to teach her how to read, what the symbols meant, but the slave camp was not a place for learning, for betterment.

It was a place for survival.

[member="Kala Maedrin"]

 

[Arage Bao]

Dirt hugged her slight little form.

Where [member="Kuraii"] was big and intimidating Kala was anything but that. Her arms were thin sticks, branches of a sickly tree contorting in strange ways. The white of her eyes were red, almost resembling the shade of the skin under the dried mud, from the days staying up and not being able to get any rest. But her mind... her mind refused to give up.

"I finished my work early." Maedrin responded quietly and defensively, but there was an edge to the tone. It spoke of mischief and just a hint of smugness at a plan gone right once again.

The formula to a plan was simple in her experience.

Twelve percent concept, thirty-eight percent luck, fifty percent boldness. Maybe it was thirty-eight percent luck, fifty percent concept and twelve percent boldness... but either way, those numbers always stayed statistically the same. You needed to be bold, needed to have luck on your side and you needed some measure of concept guiding your path ahead.

But tricking the overseer to let her get out of work early was just a step in a long, long plan.

Finally the Devaronian looked up and away from the flimsy to study her lion friend. Concerned frown played between little brows, Kuraii was working too hard, always too hard in an attempt to pull away attention from her. It wasn't right... but just a short look at her body told the tale - she wasn't in any shape or form competent enough to start digging trenches or anything else.

If it weren't for her, she would probably be laying in that same trench with a cut throat already.

"Do you need some of my ointment?" Sometimes Kala braved the sandy dusts of Korriban late at night. To pluck certain roots. They had discovered early on that Bala Root mixed with Dasha seed - names they had come up with - were good at removing the swelling.

 

[Ao Xian]

Kuraii crouched on her hindquarters next to Kala, her great shaggy head at level with hers. Long furred tail curled out for balance and she nodded at the question.

The Trianii knew the look in [member="Kala Maedrin"] 's eyes. It was the most life she saw in her these days. Those moments when a plan solidified in her mind. Sometimes it was a plan to sneak extra food. Sometimes to get Kuraii an easier duty for an afternoon (though that was rare indeed). Sometimes it was new and interesting ways to keep the overseer off of Kala's back. Most of the time though, it was part of something that Kuraii couldn't help with. At least, not yet. But that spark in her friend's eyes, gave her hope every time. She might have given up without that spark- or simply lashed out instead of stoically accepting the next beating. She was clever in her own way, but not like Kala. And knowing the girl was working on that problem meant that she could devote her energy to keeping her safe as far as was possible.

If Kala could figure out a way to get them out of there?

She would bide her time. She wouldn't murder every last one of them who mistook themselves for predators.

"Someone new showed up after you left," she rumbled as the girl got out the ointment. The great cat stayed very still, the taut muscles of her back twitching as Kala's fingers spread the salve over the long strip of raw flesh across her back. Occasionally, the tip of her tail flicked back and forth.

"Different than the overseer," she grunted. "Not a monkey," she added. Not human. "Blind. But...."

Normally, Kuraii didn't like the way the overseers looked at Kala. But now her disquiet was in how this one had looked at her.

"But not unseeing."

She couldn't find a better way to describe it than that.

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Kuraii"]

Silently little Kala worked at Kuraii's wounds without making a direct response.

Instead she simply listened, rubbed the ointment in with steady, circular motions to spread it out and thought deeply. A new player within the game, but one who was above the overseer by the way that her friend was describing him. One did not simply come and look at the slaves for no reason - either a buyer, whose money enthralled the overseers or a... Sith? Perhaps?

Blind, but not unseeing, this made her think Sith indeed.

"Sith?" She asked carefully. The word was dangerous, very dangerous. It could mean death, salvation or endless agony, depending on who heard it and how Kala could swing this in their favor.

Why would a Sith observe the slaves?

There seemed only one logical reason for this.

What was always used to quiet any discontent amidst the ranks of the slaves? Other than the whips and chains, of course. Other than the food rationing and the damp hovels they lived in?

The whisper that perhaps... one day... a Sith would choose them.

"There. Feeling better?"

 

[Ao Xian]

"I think so."

It was a response to both questions.

Kuraii stood up slowly, the tips of her ears brushing the ceiling. They flicked back and forth in annoyance, finally laying down back against her head in irritated discomfort. She rotated one shoulder, then the other, feeling the pull of the muscles. There was still an ache, but that was the new normal. The line of fire from the lash of the whip had faded to a dull sting, well within tolerable limits. She gave [member="Kala Maedrin"] a slow nod, indicating that at least the second question could be answered with a yes.

The two moved around the hovel carefully. There wasn't much room, and Kuraii took up more than her share, but she was surprisingly delicate in her movements for such a large creature, and they knew each other well enough to function in such close quarters without disruption.

There was no meal to prepare, but there were rations to set out. Brackish water, gathered in the pre-dawn, to ladle out.

Once the food was on the table, Kuraii crouched again as Kala took the chair. There was no point in arguing it. They only had one, and the Trianii would probably break it.

"He seemed friendly," she finally grunted, returning to the previous topic as though they hadn't ever left it. "Could not hear it all. But he and the overseer laughed a lot. Not that kind of laugh. Actual laughter. Overseer pointed a couple of us out. Mentioned you."

Kuraii didn't know if she hoped he'd be back tomorrow or not. Sith was loaded with promise, but little enough of it good. Golden eyes cast over to Kala. But if it meant a reprieve for Kala from the back breaking labor? The rough hands and stinging whips? She could tolerate much for that.

 

[Arage Bao]

A frown settled itself squarely between her eyebrows.

That frown came up more and more these days, too many frowns for a girl like her, but what was there to do? Always another worry or another issue rising up. A smiling Sith, that was something new, something dangerous certainly. The Devaronian was unsure if this was a good thing, she did not have a lot of experience with Sith after all.

Sith were all death and torture and pain and agony.

But a smiling Sith? What could that mean?

"It could be an opportunity." She finally responded as they settled down at the table. The food was lacking immensely, but it was a silent agreement between the two that [member="Kuraii"] would receive the greater share of the rations. It had taken her a while to argue in favor for it and even had to stop eating entirely for a while, until her friend saw the wisdom in it.

She was the one carrying the physical burden... she would need all the strength she could muster.

The fact that it was already stemming her growth and making her light in the head? That was something that had to be taken in strides at this point. Little Kala was keenly aware that it was her fire that kept Kuraii going at the worst times, so for her she would continue on as long as she could.

"I will need to take a look at him myself, to see if he is something we can use."

The pride of youth made her speak that way. Like they were not pawns themselves in a greater design neither of them could quite see.

 

[Ao Xian]

Kuraii had, no pun intended, the lion's share of the rations between them. However, at one point when Kala's attention was elsewhere, she poked an extra slice of whatever the grey-not-meat-thing was into the girl's share. She understood the reasoning, and had grudgingly agreed. But sometimes it became obvious that the calorie deficit was taking it's toll.

The Trianii ate because she had to- this.... whatever this was..... wasn't *food*. It wasn't even food's food (she could handle an occasional vegetable here and there, after all). This was.... she didn't even like to think about it. But she ate, the motion a mechanical necessity, and tried her best to not think about meat.

"I think we should be careful," she cautioned before pulling the plate up to her face. Rough tongue licked the remainder of the sticky crumbs from it carefully.

"Have you heard the story about the Frog and the Scorpion?"

Kuraii couldn't read- but she devoured stories, and remembered every one. For her they were more than children's tales, and she found ways to apply them to every situation. An opportunity to compare. This story was easier than most to see how it applied to what [member="Kala Maedrin"] had just said.

"A frog and a scorpion met by the side of a swollen river," she purred, settling back into a more relaxed pose, a balanced crouch that looked effortless. "The scorpion said 'my dear friend frog. I cannot get across this river or I will drown in the high waters. But if you will carry me on your back, I would be forever in your debt.' The frog looked distrustful. 'But you are a scorpion,' said he. 'How do I know you will not sting me?' The scorpion bowed low. 'I give you my word, friend frog. And if that is not enough, what good would it do me to sting you? If I do that, then we would both drown.' The frog considered, and saw the logic in that. He agreed. So the scorpion climbed on the frog's back and they set out across the swollen river."

Kuraii's tail lashed more strongly behind her, golden eyes glittering in the growing twilight.

"Halfway across the river, the scorpion struck. The frog cried out, aghast 'But you promised!' As they both sunk into the water, the scorpion replied, 'Ah yes. But you knew what I was before we set out across the river.'"

 

[Arage Bao]

In contrast Kala ate carefully and methodically.

Usually she would have paid attention at the same time - trying to figure out what she was eating, the ingredients involved and wondering how it was made, but with this type of food... it was probably better left a mystery. Every once in a while the girl would chew and her teeth would come across something... squishy. It was not a taste that she enjoyed by any stretch of the imagination. In the meantime she listened to [member="Kuraii"] with interest.

Before all of this the tiger had been a treasure trove of stories.

Back then they hadn't been this... close, but the Devaronian begged her for more tales every night. These days Maedrin didn't ask anymore, but sometimes her friend revealed a little gem regardless.

"I cannot fight my nature... and neither can you." Kala answered after a moment of thought. This was, what she assumed, was the lesson behind that little tale.

A worthy one, to be sure.

"Laugh or not, he is Sith. I will not trust him. Don't worry, okay?" The Devaronian finished her food and sighed softly. The churning in her belly was still furious and agony, but slightly less so. The food had not been pleasant. But it seemed to have helped her just a little bit in the short run.

A moment of silence passed as they sat there.

Behind them, outside, the sun was already setting.

"Can you tell another story before bedtime?" She sounded so young in that moment. Just a flicker of hope touching her tone.

 

[Ao Xian]

"That and 'do not trust karking sith,'" Kuraii responded with a growl and a lashing of her tail. "And I always worry."

At least she did about Kala.

"But I trust you," she continued, leaning over to push her forehead against the girl's for a moment.

"Come on. Have I told you the story of the 'Inch High Jedi'? No?"

It took no effort to scoop up the girl in great furred arms. Even as tired as she was, [member="Kala Maedrin"] was like a tuft of fur on a warm breeze. Lumbering over to the girl's cot, Kuraii settled her, curling around and offering warmth and comfort. And a story.

*****

The next morning dawned grey. Like it always did. Kuraii and Kala fell into the trickle of slaves headed toward the fields they would be digging across that day. She kept an eye out, standing a full head above the next tallest person, tawny gaze always moving, always searching.

"There," she rumbled softly, pointing through two people to the crest of the hill. The corpulent overseer stood there, piggish eyes scanning as thoroughly as the Trianii's were. Beside him, the bandage over his eyes almost unnaturally white, was a stout, older Miraluka, chatting amicably.

 

[Arage Bao]

It seemed that [member="Kuraii"] had not been exaggerating in the slightest.

Not that she often did that, but still... part of Kala had been skeptical about the laughing Sith. It seemed to be true though, especially considering... Miraluka? How interesting. Sadly, she had never met one of them in her travels, but some of the articles on the HoloNet had described them briefly. Apparently they were all blind and they were all force sensitive. Which made it even more likely that this was indeed a Sith.

What else would a force sensitive be doing here in dark robes?

"I see him." She calmly responded without putting too much attention towards the two figures in the distance. "Don't stare."

The chide was gentle, but firm. The last thing they needed was to put too much attention on them before they were ready. Right now was not the time to have the focus of two Sith on them.

That would come later.

In the distance the slaves were slowing down as one by one they were giving the tools for the day. Pickaxes, shovels and all manners of different equipment for digging. It would probably be hell again - her hands were still raw from the previous day, even when she had been able to get out earlier.

Today... she somehow doubted that trick of hers would work.

 

[Ao Xian]

"I do not," Kuraii rumbled, ears flicking in irritation, "stare."

What she called watching someone, unblinking, for minutes at a time, was anyone's guess.

They trudged past the pair on the hill with the rest of the slaves. Kuraii did her best to make herself less noticeable, shoulders hunched and ears flattered against her head. Despite her usual skills as a hunter, she could not hide in plain sight however- after all, a seven foot cat was rather noteworthy. Casually, she stepped to the side, shielding the smaller girl from scrutiny as they passed.

Despite that, she could feel sightless eyes following them. The hair along her back rose ever so slightly, and she let out a low growl that only [member="Kala Maedrin"] could hear.

*****

The day progressed much as it usually did. Kuraii did her best to keep attention off of Kala, doing both of their work any time they were unobserved. The shovel she wielded felt like a toy in her hands, and she had to be careful to not break it. Or at least, she had at the beginning. The daily labor did not strengthen her- not when there wasn't enough food, enough protein to go around. Not when she breathed dust day in and day out. Not when the sun never managed to warm her fur.

The wan light reached it's zenith when the slaves were called to their first meal of the day.

"DEVARONIAN! TRIANII!"

The great cat froze as the sound of the overseer rang out over the plain.

 

[Arage Bao]

She felt useless in such situations.

Her arms like little sticks, legs much the same. What use did a keen mind have in the dusty fields of rock, mud and dirt? Not much, as far as she could see. Yet, Kala tried anyway - every time [member="Kuraii"] had a difficult time digging out a rock, small little hands managed to dig it out anyway. Thin fingers managing to get between the seams and pulling it out. It hurt her, at the call of the first lunch her fingers were already bleeding and raw.

But stubbornness kept her going.

Kala wouldn't let her do all the work.

Her back stretched and burned and ached, but eventually she could move again. In contrast to Kuraii, she seemed serenely calm when their names were called out. One glance was exchanged between the two of them, just a shade of a frown passing past her expression, before she nodded and set out for the lonely hill.

"Stay calm." Kala warned gently, but internally she was worrying. This was far too soon and her plans hadn't been even adjusted yet for the presence of this Miraluka.

 

[Ao Xian]

They were a good pair. They complimented each other's strengths and shored up the other's weaknesses. Who knew, when she had agreed to be this girl's guide, that this strange friendship would grow? At another time, in another place, Kuraii might have chuckled to herself.

But as the two trudged toward the crest, the Trianii was anything but amused.

The twitching of her tail- the way her ears laid back- betrayed the great cat's unease as they approached the overseer and the Miraluka. The larger man (in every way) stood back, motioning them to move up closer to the blind Sith. Sith, surely yes.

The blind man beckoned to [member="Kala Maedrin"].

"Come closer, girl."

Kuraii let out a low growl. But before she could move more than a step between Kala and the Miraluka, the sharp crack of the overseer's whip filled the air. It sliced into her shoulder, and she snarled at him- too many threats to keep her temper in check-

The sound of the Miraluka's voice cracking out as sharply as the whip did stunned her where the strike had failed.

"KARAKOF! ENOUGH! Leave us."

​Kuraii watched in fascination as the overseer promptly bowed and retreated before turning her eyes back to the blind man.

"I will not hurt her, Trianii. Nor will I allow him to hurt you further. Now. Come here girl."

 

[Arage Bao]

The girl did not move a muscle when the whip lashed through the air and dashed across [member="Kuraii"]'s shoulder.

But an eye twitched ever so slightly in fury.

It is suicide to act now... wait... patience... the cut-throat silence of an edge resting to slice.

Once again Kala did not react when the blind man called off his overseer and promised he wasn't going to hurt either of them. Why not, was the first thought in her mind? What was there to gain for this one? The path of Sith was the path of pain, through pain they made themselves stronger.

Or so she read.

"It's okay." She said over her shoulder to her big friend. The last thing Kala wanted was for her to do more to earn her pain, there wasn't a point to resist here.

It would all end the same way anyway.

They were powerless.

"Hello."

The Devaronian stepped up gently and waited then in front of the Miraluka. But she took the moment to observe him, to notice the man behind the Sith. Frayed edges of a robe, stained dark with dirt and mud, yet his hands were polished and neat to perfection. They were currently curled into each other in a position of patience.

Laughing lines on his face... so the laugh was not artificial.

 

[Ao Xian]

It was, most certainly, not okay. Not okay at all.

She gave a small nod, ears flicking in assent. But those golden eyes glittered on the Miraluka, the muscles in her thighs and shoulders coiled tightly. The only movement from the Trianii was the flick flick flick of the tip of her tail.

The man bent his knees, getting down to face level with [member="Kala Maedrin"]. Slowly he reached out, his large hand cupping her face. Fingers traced over her features, and he nodded to himself once before speaking.

His voice was deep, a touch raspy, and surprisingly gentle.

Kuraii didn't trust that last part.

He utterly ignored the great cat, focused instead on the girl.

"How old are you, child?" He asked quietly. "And what is your name?"

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Kuraii"]

The assumption was made that this was more a move of power than necessity.

She wasn't entirely too sure how Miraluka's force-sight worked, but considering the large man had little issue maneuvering around in dirt and mud and rocky terrain, somehow Kala doubted that this had been necessary. But the fingers were soft and clean and they smelled... like perfume? Which was a touch strange, but the Devaronian was aware that some Sith had eccentricities attached to them. If this one liked to bathe himself in perfume? Well, it was better than bathing himself in the bloody entrails of those that were vanquished.

Somewhat.

The bulky Sith repeated his question again, which made Kala blush just a little bit. Sometimes it happened - she would get so deep in her own thoughts that the entire world faded away into the background. But he had not sounded very impatient... amused? That was strange.

"I am..." She did a short headcount, in truth Maedrin did not have much opportunity to count the years here. "...six-teen years old?"

That seemed about right.

"My name is Kala, why are you so nice?"

Her last answer flowed immediately into a counter-question, almost as if it was part of the same answer. For her, it seemed quite logical that if he was asking questions, that she was owed a few as well. After all, knowledge did not come for free and it was quite important to have a fair flow information from one way to the other. It helped that by springing a few questions on him, she would better see if this was all acted.

Or if he was more genuine than that.

 

[Ao Xian]

He rocked back on his heels slightly, the briefest of pauses and then he laughed.

It wasn't cruel, it was a genuine bark of unexpected laughter.

"Oh Kala," he said, still chuckling. "I can assure you of one very, very important thing."

Though he was smiling and his tone was perfectly conversational, Kuraii felt a chill go through her.

"I am not a nice man. But sometimes it is better to be over looked and under estimated than it is to be feared. And nice is so very often equated with mild and stupid."

Why.... was he telling them that? Kuraii narrowed her eyes. It was like a magician explaining how a magic trick worked after performing it. He could have said a half dozen things to put them at ease if that was his goal. She didn't understand.

"Your pet? What do you call it?"

Kuraii snarled.

[member="Kala Maedrin"]

 

[Arage Bao]

Perhaps to keep them off balance.

Nobody expected the truth when they were preparing themselves to pick through layers of lies. So, when the truth was sprung on them, they had no method to deal with it... this only made Kala more cautious. It was as she had expected, the smiling Sith was more dangerous than the snarling one. At least with the snarling one you knew what to expect, could plan for it, could make a plot that worked, but with this one?
Who knew what his plans were.

"Your pet? What do you call it?"

[member="Kuraii"] snarled and anger flashed in Kala's eyes, before she realized the ploy. It was too late already - the emotional state could have been listened to from the Force itself. But that did not mean that Kala could not salvage the situation and let this Sith know that she knew his ploy.

"Kuraii. It prefers to be referred to as she though, her bite is nasty if you get it wrong." A smile without warmth followed. "Trust me."

It wasn't perfect and Kala wasn't happy with her response.

But this was as good as it could get with her fingers bleeding and raw, the sun heating up her brain and making her all hazy. Hopefully the Miraluka would be impressed with her insight or maybe he would decide they were too much of an issue and kill them.

Either way, they would hopefully get out of the sun.

 

[Ao Xian]

Kuraii was not as brilliant as [member="Kala Maedrin"] was, but she was clever enough to catch the verbal sparring, the trading of ploys. Her eyes narrowed slightly, lips still curled back after that snarl, but she didn't say anything. Just as she had protected Kala, this was Kala trying to protect her. From what? Neither of them knew yet.

Chains looked up, meeting the Trianii's eyes for the first time. Was there a hint of amusement? If so it was gone in a heartbeat.

"I will try to remember that," he said solemnly. There was no doubt in either of their minds that if he 'slipped', however, it would be entirely deliberate.

"You are hungry." It wasn't a question. "I have a lunch prepared that you would be welcome to share in. I have something I would like to discuss with you first, however."

It was Kuraii's stomach's turn to growl, and it did so. Embarrassingly loudly.

"Answer a question for me, honestly, and we can sit and eat."

Suddenly, the expression on his face grew hard. It took all of Kuraii's self control to not snatch Kala up.

"What have you been planning child? Think carefully before you answer. If you lie, I will return you to the trenches without a backward glance. Tell me the truth, however, and there may be a future for you."

 

[Arage Bao]

Now that was a question.

A question that Kala had not been expecting by any stretch of her imagination. It took all her force of will not to look back at [member="Kuraii"] for support, but she managed it.

Barely.

Even her friend never got the full scope of her plan - she liked to keep it close to her chest, make sure that every card was as shadowed as possible, just for the situation that an element needed change. But this wasn't the same situation, was it? The Miraluka had already figured out a part of it, otherwise he wouldn't have brought it up. It annoyed her how good he was at this.

So much better than she was.

It was infuriating and fascinating in equal measures.

The truth was though, that she couldn't lie. There was no point in it - the plan had been to catch his attention and hope that he would be interested enough to get them out of here. Apparently they already had his attention.

But this did little to ease her mind.

"The overseer." Maedrin frowned as she started talking. "He has been steadily whittling away any aliens with force potential." Maybe the human had something kind of grudge against aliens and hated that the new Empire rising in the Sith Worlds was so... publicly supportive of aliens.

But regardless of the reason for his xenophobia, it was taking away potential recruits from the Sith Order.

"I was going to bait him into doing it during your visit, so you would take note."

From there the natural assumption of rewards would have taken them away from the slave pits into something more... agreeable.

Or so was the hope.