Private light at the end of the day

[Zavra Shae]

She's spent another hard day on the stand, working for this Rodian who couldn't care less about her. Under Tatooine's blazing sun, working conditions are really tough, and the slightest effort consumes a good deal of water. At Mos Espa, in a slave store, the boss's pressure isn't contained when you don't move fast enough. Especially as she's already considered a bad slave, given that her former master came to sell her a few days ago. She's considered defective, you know what they say when the boss isn't happy. Waste is treated more harshly.

Food and water rations are also much rarer, so why bother feeding a slave who's on her last legs? Starving, weakened, the work required is so hard, breaks are of course limited, that's the life of a slave.

Especially as the boss is constantly at her back, wanting to make sure that everything is done properly, and if she tries to escape, she'll get the juice. They got wind of the escape attempts, because the former master threw out the whole file on her.

She has to carry heavy loads, under the amused gaze of passers-by who aren't overly concerned about her fate. Not to mention the fact that she could be sold at any time to an unscrupulous owner even worse than the old one. Betrayal is never far away, and it's with this state of mind that she continues to work hard all day to fill the quotas demanded by the boss in order to earn her survival ration.

Her belongings are in a small padlocked locker, and she's not allowed to touch them without express authorization, otherwise she'll get another hit of choks electrical. If only this situation could change, in her wildest dreams she longs for a better life far from here and the furnace that is Tatooine. She'll be auctioned off in the next few hours.

Jonyna Si

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Zavra Shae

Returning to Tatooine for work like this only made her feel like the old days. As much as she tried to put it behind her, her past kept haunting her like a ghost.

As her ship landed, she prepped herself for the worst. Slavers weren't exactly easy problems to deal with diplomatically, but she had an ace up her sleeve.

Credits.

Slavery was, naturally, outlawed in the GA, and Jonyna certainly had no intention of going against that. But she also knew that in the outer rim, laws like that held no power. Only money, and she had plenty of that.

Her eyes scanned the city as she entered Mos Espa, her hand kept on the hilt of her main saber as she did. She knew folks like this would be quick to draw a blaster or something worse, but she also knew better to be the first to draw her blade. She spotted her target, the slave shop she had been told of during her reports. Taking in a sharp breath, she approached. A rodian...

Jonyna considered her options, walking up and starting with something neutral. <Ey, what's your prices?> She asked in huttese. The woman knew better than to assume he spoke his native tongue out here.

 

[Zavra Shae]

The Rodian looks at the woman arriving at his stand, a cathar with a strange head and a large orange tail. He can't help but suppress a small smile, glad that his stand is attracting new customers. The woman asks him the price of a new slave.

He fetches what appears to be a catalog offering different breeds and categories of slaves. He hands the book to the Cathar woman. And answers her in Huttese.

"It all depends on what you're looking for, our slaves cost between 10,000 and 35,000 for the most expensive and sought-after."

In the catalog handed to her by the Rodian, she could see a fairly substantial list of names.

Name	Species	Skill/Job	Price (Credits)	Notes
Dren'kar	Twi'lek	Dancer/Entertainer	12,000
Gorvax	Gamorrean	Bodyguard/Protector	15,500
Sirra Venn	Human (Corellian)	Mechanic/Droid Repair	20,000
Churl'a	Wookiee	Heavy Lifting/Brute Strength	34,000
Varnix	Rodian	Espionage/Infiltration	18,000
Lyss'ten	Togruta	Healer/Medical Specialist	28,000
Klyrn Droth	Zabrak	Weapons Engineer	22,000
Trixal	Nautolan	Aquatic Performer/Underwater Explorer	14,500
Brakk'ri	Trandoshan	Bounty Hunter	35,000
Veena Lorr	Mirialan	Expert Navigator	30,000
Zavra Shaelynn	Human	Mechanic (Repairing ships and devices)	8,500 (reduced)	Chronic escape artist, hard to manage but resourceful for stealth tasks.

"Take your time, if you'd like to see the merchandise, we can escort you into the back room. At the moment, they're working on the stand, but you've come at just the right time, as some of the items will be sold at an auction in a few hours, so if you'd like to reserve a product, let us know."

While she waits to make her choice, a droid offers her a refreshing drink on a tray. Slaves are not treated as well as customers. According to the salesman's philosophy, the customer is king. The cathar has all the cards in her hand to choose from the available slaves, and if she has credits to spend, this merchant will be delighted.

The sun is slowly beginning to sink over the horizon, giving a pretty orange hue. There are plenty of customers on the street at this time of day, as it's neither too hot nor too cold. People are starting to leave their homes.

The street they're in comes alive with droids passing by, kids playing in the streets, people having a shot at the local cantina after work, and the sounds of star racers can be heard in the distance.

Jonyna Si

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Zavra Shae

Jonyna took in a breath as she looked through the catalog. She had only been sent out to investigate force sensitives being taken into slavery, but...

"I'll take them. All of them." She said curtly, idly looking through the catalog. "I've got the credits. Don't try and swindle me." She growled. "If you play nice, I'll give you enough to retire quietly. Try and hassle me, and I'll take this whole establishment down myself."

That was a threat, but she wouldn't mince her words. She had enough proof to strongarm the owner if she wanted, but she really didn't want to. She'd dealt with his type before. They only spoke two languages. Money, and Violence. "Show me your stock, and I'll assess them myself."

With the bank account she had, she had full intention of freeing every single one of them, and giving each of them a dream job to get started on a new life.

She just needed the chance to talk to them.

 

[Zavra Shae]

The boss's jaw drops when the customer says she wants to buy everything.

"All of it!? Do you realize you'll be getting a total of 237,500 credits!?"

The auction is going to have to be postponed, so as he listens to the cathar speak he looks at her from head to toe intently, as if judging her. It's not often an individual is capable of making such an offer. He sighs, nodding.

"After all, you're the one paying, follow me, the merchandise is in the back."

The rodien then leads the woman into the back of the store, where the famous catalog people can be seen working on the stand to prepare for the auction that was to take place, chairs are meticulously stored between each aisle to form a semicircle, the dais is being carefully cleaned from top to bottom so that everything is clean.

The few people working here all have one thing in common: they wear electronic bracelets on their wrists, capable of provoking a strong burst of juice as a punishment. A dark-haired woman catches the cathar's eye, as she's the one who's sensitive to force. She is trying to lift a crate that is far too heavy for her.

The boss then returns to his office to prepare the transfer while she assesses the merchandise herself, making all the necessary preparations to ensure that everything goes smoothly. And he'd better not. Cathars are known to be a force of nature, so if she claims to be able to destroy the whole building, it's best not to provoke her.

Zavra is not at all pleased when the boss shows up in a bad mood, because she knows that when it's like that, punishment can come very quickly. This is the opportunity she's been waiting for. She's alone with the employees of the slave auction.

Jonyna Si

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Zavra Shae

Jonyna made a mental list in her head.

The twi'lek she could get a nice job at Club Retro. Easy recommendation, and she had decent pull at that place. It would be an adjustment, but she would make sure it would happen. The cathar approached the twi'lek with a soft smile, and a kind face, offering a small snack to her from her coat as she looked over the woman's body. Mostly checking for wounds, or anything that might mark her as a former slave.

The human, the gamorian, and the zabrak could all be hired outright to Si Tech. She needed plenty of manpower back at her own company, and had no interest in handing out talent to other employers who might abuse them. Once more, she inspected them with a kind smile, a soft hand, and a few fresh fruit. She knew better than to show them pity, but she also knew she needed to show them empathy. The Sentinal of Harmony, Jedi Master of the New Jedi Order Council, was smart enough to show a brave heart.

The Trandoshian was a sentimental point, but she also knew bounty hunters weren't a good look for her. Best to just let him free.

The wookie...

She would discuss with him later. Either give him a free ride home, or a job in construction. His choice. Same with the Nautalian...

That just left the girl...

"Hey..." Jonyna said softly as she knelt down to the girl. "I'm here to let you free. I'll be taking you back to Coruscant once we get out of here."

 

[Zavra Shae]

The cathar is watching us all, seemingly handing out rations and provisions - is she doing an act of charity? She's collapsed against her crate, out of breath, half lying down and sitting on the floor.

She tells him she plans to take him to Coruscant. That this is also the end of her ordeal, because now she's free to do what she wanted. Free? Was this a bad joke? Was she free at the moment?

She looked at the cathar with astonished and wary eyes, what she proposed to do was nothing more nor less than her dream from long ago. She dreams of visiting worlds far from here, but as long as she has her chains, she can always hope to travel nothing will do. She's also dying of hunger and thirst. The little ration she's received in the last few days is about to get the better of her.

"What's interesting about Coruscant? And... Who are you ? Its a joke ? Or a bad dream ? Am I going to wake up? "

the woman asked from the floor, and more importantly, how do you get there? She doesn't have a ship and she's stuck on this stand. The electronic bracelet is also an ordeal, preventing her from moving as she pleases.

The boss comes back with a form and hands it to Jonyna. All he asks for is her signature to validate the transaction, which will enable him to buy the entire contents of the stand.

"I need your signature, Miss, to complete the sale of all these slaves. If you'll just finalize the procedure."

He then heads for the lockers, they hand out personal belongings to everyone with a glum look on their faces. The woman picks up her ID card without understanding what's going on. She looks at it from every angle, her slave status about to be abolished.

The woman looks up at the sky, catching her breath and the little strength she has left. Tears slowly well up in her eyes, she's exhausted, tired, that electric bracelet hurts horribly too. It's not luxury. She's a sight for sore eyes.

Jonyna Si

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Zavra Shae

"Coruscant is where I live. I'll be taking you there to start a new life, away from this. Away from being a slave." Jonyna explained simply, looking to the girl as she offered a peach, something to give the girl any form of enemy.

This was what she wanted to dismantle. She couldn't do it by letting these kinds of people get away with this, but she couldn't enact mindless violence.

Jonyna turned, frowning at the slave owner. She let out a sigh, signing the paperwork with a signature that she used for more...unofficial business. It was her name, sure, but it wasn't the name she used back in the GA.

Nynagralpa.

 

[Zavra Shae]

"Perfect, they're all yours."

The Rodian hands the Cathar a strange remote control. It's the electric shock trigger for the bracelets on the various slaves. All she has to do is select the corresponding number and trigger a shock if she wishes. The opening button also has a small symbol with an open padlock to unlock the bracelet and remove it.

With the peach outstretched, Zavra can't help but eat it quickly, and it soon disappears. The fruit was quickly devoured, leaving nothing. She hasn't eaten anything so tasty in a long time. That sweetness, that freshness, that soft fruity taste in the mouth. Nothing could make her happier.

She slips her identity card into her jacket pocket; it's the only personal possession she has of her identity papers. So she's ready to set off for new horizons.

She understands that the woman is her new master, and that she'll have to obey, hoping she won't be punished too much. The concept of freedom is still a little vague for her.

She just hopes to get away from here as soon as possible. After eating her fruit, she straightens up and bows politely to her new owner as a sign of respect, then straightens up again as she awaits orders.

"I'll follow you wherever you tell me to go."

Zavra replies, with a neutral look on her face, she's been taught to hide her emotions, a slave isn't allowed to show them. On pain of electric shock.

Jonyna Si

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Zavra Shae

Jonyna watched the girl speak, knowing that feeling of pain. That want to not be abused once more.

The cathar knew the next few days would have to be handled delicately. She would normally contact someone like Valery Noble , but she knew better than to bug Val when she was pregnant. The jedi master would have to handle this on her own.

Jonyna smiled to the girl, "Just follow me back to the ship for now. You, and everyone else. We're gonna get off this planet."

Jonyna led the group, slowly, out of the town. While she hadn't planned on coming back with 11 new passengers, she was glad she had brought The Tenacity instead of the Reaper.

The Consular Class ship sat just out of town, the ramp lowering as she got close. As soon as they were inside, Jonyna clicked the button to let them free of their shockcollars.

"There. I've a free ride to Alliance space, and jobs waiting for those who want to stay, or you can go free. I'll take all of you wherever you so please."

 

[Zavra Shae]

The group moves slowly like a strange convoy through the streets of Mos Espa. As night falls, the temperatures also begin to drop. At the edge of the city, an unusual ship is parked between the sand dunes. The ramp lowers, and the dream is now within reach. It seems far more attainable today than it did just a day ago.

As the group enters the ship, the Cathar presses a button on the remote, and the electronic bracelets fall to the ground with a metallic clatter, freeing those who were bound by them. Are they truly free? It seems so. The Cathar keeps her promise. For once, they have encountered a good person.

Zavra looks at the bracelet on the ground with mixed feelings. It's the first time in a long while that she can see her wrist free of its chains. She instinctively rubs her wrist, where the tight grip of the bracelet had caused so much pain.

She looks at the Cathar, unsure of what she's supposed to do or how to behave. Almost her entire life, she's been conditioned to be a good slave, leaving her with little autonomy for now.

"What am I supposed to do now?"

That's the big question! A new life, full of freedom, begins a new chapter of her story. She hasn't fully realized it yet, but she is now the master of her own destiny. She doesn't yet know that she possesses the Force within her an untapped power waiting to be trained and developed. A new path lies ahead, and it will be a long one. Not knowing what else to do, she leans against the wall of the ship, exhausted from the events of the day. The clothes she's wearing do little to shield her from the cold creeping in.

The entire group shares a similar sense of being lost, each of them aspiring to different futures. The Cathar's gesture will not be forgotten, and one thing is certain: Zara and the others owe her a great deal.

Jonyna Si

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Zavra Shae

"Once we get to Coruscant, anything you want." Jonyna smiled, leading them to the large Salon pod that would act as their bedding for the trip. What had originally been a pleasure room to house senators, now acted as a place for passengers to sleep. A ring of couches had been laid out, and the bar ripped out in favor of small bunks. "But I have jobs ready for a all of you, ready to pay you well enough to buy yourself a new home, and a new life. Or, if you would prefer, a free ticket to wherever you so please. Whether it be your homeworld, or any place in GA space you so desire to go."

She looked to Zavra specifically, smiling. "Or I could take you to somewhere you could learn to help others. The galaxy is always in need of people to help, yeah?"

 

[Zavra Shae]

Zavra paused, hesitant, as Jonyna's words echoed in her mind. Everything still felt so unreal. She was no longer a slave. Those words seemed heavy with promises and unknowns.

She timidly raised her eyes to Jonyna, searching for sincerity in her gaze, even though it already seemed so evident.

"You… you'd really do that for me?" she asked softly, her voice still trembling with uncertainty. "Help me find a place… where I could truly learn to do good?"

She lowered her gaze, nervously fidgeting with a strand of her hair, the weight of years spent in chains still heavy on her shoulders.

"I don't know if I deserve a new life, but… if I could help others… maybe I could fix some of what's been broken." She looked up again, a spark of determination rising amidst the fear. "If you think I can do it, then… then I want to try."

A small, timid smile lit up her tired face. "Thank you for giving me a chance. How i can help other people too ? I want make someting good about my life, i want follow you on coruscant"

Jonyna Si

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Zavra Shae

"The easiest way would be to follow me back to the temple." She offered a soft smile, and a handshake. "Jedi Master Jonyna Si, at your service. Sentinel of Harmony, and Jedi Councilwoman. A pleasure to meet all of you."

To her, it was that simple. It had been that simple since she was a child. Become a jedi, a hero to her people, and help the galaxy become a better place.

 

[Zavra Shae]

Zavra stared at Jonyna's outstretched hand for a long moment, hesitation clearly visible in her gaze. A Jedi… a Jedi Master, no less. Her entire life as a slave had been filled with tales of the Jedi—legends of saviors, but also whispers of betrayal. Yet Jonyna's smile seemed sincere, and her words free of judgment.

Finally, she reached out, gently shaking the Jedi's hand with a mix of caution and a hope she wasn't ready to admit.

"Zavra Shae," she murmured, her voice rough but steady. "I don't know if I can become a hero… but I want to try. If you think it's possible."

She still looks puzzled at the electronic bracelet lying on the ground, she still can't believe it, she is free.

"I want follow you to the coruscant temple. Please!"

Jonyna Si