Sister Sister

[Joza Perl]

Joza smiled a little, at least glad that Nami seemed to be open to the idea of a safe house. Because of her methods and general rogue status, freed captives were occasionally suspicious of her and her motives. After all, as Nami had considered, she could simply be a rival slaver masquerading as some sort of justice warrior. The brief tender moment ended, and Joza stood slowly while smoothing out the wrinkles of her outfit. “Let’s get these to the others.” She handed Nami a stack of blankets, tilting her head in the direction of the cargo hold. At the mention of Hutts and what they tended to do with women, she gave Nami a grim albeit knowing smile.

“Trust me, I’m well acquainted with what Hutts like to do with girls.” She idly ran her hand along one of the medkits in her grasp. “Why do you think I do what I do?” Her voice was soft, herself appearing a bit disconnected in the moment but she shook it off quickly. “We’ll handle them on a case by case basis. We’ve got a decent clinic where we’re going, and they’ve seen some pretty gritty stuff. Either way, we’re just…here to help.” She shrugged once before moving down the corridor and towards the hold where the others were resting.

[member="Nami Perl"]

 

[Nami Perl]

[member="Joza Perl"]

Nami was looking at Joza for a moment when she was wanting to see what they would be able to do. She touched a med kit and if they were able to handle it then well that would be a good thing. "If they can handle the things then I would be glad to see it." She had her own medical things to handle and it wasn't just the hutts there were a whole lot of things and people that she had been passed around with look at Joza when she was opening the door. "Though I think I will need to be getting checked in some cases. The injections they were giving me made it easier then pills for what they liked. The Saeed masters seemed to like the idea of slaves who wouldn't get pregnant. A little hormones and some hair growth treatment to get the longer hair faster for some of them. A few might want to revert but some may want to continue."

 

[Joza Perl]

Joza nodded slowly as Nami spoke, but her brow creased at the mention of hormones and growth treatments. Sterile female slaves were likely a highly sought after commodity for obvious reasons. While she was acquainted with the horrors of slavery, this was a new avenue for her. Her studies in preventing pregnancy gave her a bit of insight as to how hormonal imbalances can cause certain effects, wanted or unwanted, on the body. “Nami, are you…?” She breathed, half-turning to look at the other Zeltron with wide eyes that soon narrowed in realization.

“Nami, what exactly did they do to you and the others?” Her voice had leveled and she looked a bit anxious. Bringing drugs into the mix, especially the sort that could alter body chemistry significantly would only make things more difficult. Her nurses and most of the clinical staff were not trained to handle this sort of thing, but already the gears were turning in the Rogue’s mind. She could probably get specialists from Vhysis over to help with the examinations and develop a proper course for treatment, whether they wanted the effects to be reversed or not.


[member="Nami Perl"]

 

[Nami Perl]

[member="Joza Perl"]

Nami felt it when Joza seemed to have soemthing coming in her mind and then she could feel it as the heat of her gaze fell on her looking over her and the others. Nami was nervous and unconsciously tried to make herself the smallest thing in the area as she spoke. "Well some of us were for a special market of people. They were a different type of owner I suppose." She said it while she was looking over at the different things they had going on. With a small look on her face of worry though as she was trying to think of how best to explain it or so all of the can get it out as she was looking at some of them. "I mean.. I am not certain.. but we were all higly valued. a slave that doesn't get pregnant means there is a lot you can do and let happen to them." There was more but she was uncertain how to bring up the information. "There should be some medical files for all of us, a few of the others were supposed to be getting more of their treatments. I don't know what you can do, some might get sick and I am not sure what they were giving all of them."

 

[Joza Perl]

“Well, I…” Her voice faded as she placed down the medical kits, handing a blanket to another young woman. Joza exhaled lowly, trying to make sense of this metaphorical bombshell. It seemed that she had quite a bit more to learn about the complexities of the slave trade than she had initially thought. “You’re right.” Nodding slowly, she turned back towards Nami and grabbed one of her hands, stroking the back with her thumb gently, an earnest look in her eye. “We’ll get you all the treatment you need. I have access to pharmaceuticals and clinicians than are specialized to treat the…abused.” She didn’t have a better word for it, admittedly. But she was determined to help this woman and her companions, while simultaneously learning more about Nami’s origins.

Standing, she smoothed out the wrinkles in her clothes. “Nami, can you distribute the rations and blankets? I need to go prepare for our arrival.” She gave the woman an encouraging smile before making her way towards the bridge. “Ivan, did you manage to procure the manifest?” The pilot tossed her a datastick. “This was all I found. Are we taking them directly to Igor’s?”

Joza nodded, catching the stick and pocketing it. “Yeah. Put a message through to Vhysis, though. I need contact with the clinical team that worked on the Zygote Zero trials.”

[member="Nami Perl"]

 

[Nami Perl]

[member="Joza Perl"]

Nami was still looking at Joza and she was so sure she would be able to help them. So certain, one would have to hope so as Nami nodded silently getting some of the medical kits and a small look was on her face. She wanted to do this, she wanted to help them, help all of them so that they would have a better time and life. Nami started passing out the medical kits as she was looking at some of the others girls and they were speaking. Nami went around to each of them and checking out which ones had things before she was listening. "Here you guys go." "Thank you Nami" their words were coming out and she crouched down getting a small look from a few.

"What is the plan then? Does she know about us?" The ones were speaking and Nami wasn't certain about how she was going to be able to sit there nd work. Wanting to see but Nami spoke with a small look on her face. "I told her some of it, that we were special slaves compared to the others. The inability to get pregnant as well as that we were mostly getting medical treatments from them and some might not want to continue them." She was looking and they frowned. "So that is a no then." Nami shook her head and it wasn't exactly something you just bring up in the middle of a conversation and blurted out to someone even if they seemed to be your older sister that was somehow rescuring you by pure accident.

"Not exactly something I can just bring up and tell her about, it is kind of personal." She got some nods and the one was there before standing up. "Yeah well they should know what we went through, you might all have accepted it and maybe even like it and that is fine but some of us want to go back to our normal sellves or lives or something. We need to get home, if it is still there. my wife and kids need me. Those pirates have had me for seven years. I can't let them think that I have abandoned them." The look Nami gave was one of understanding and kindness before she was standing up and holding them with the others and much like all fo the things they needed some comfort.

 

[Joza Perl]

What a whirlwind of emotions. Typically these slaver ring busts weren’t very big, the combatants consisting of Joza, Ivan, and whomever else the Zeltron managed to drag along. Her friend Solan Charr was highly anti-slavery and would occasionally join them, but lately he’d be difficult to reach. That, and the pair often left burning warehouses in their wake.

Right now, Joza wasn’t immediately worried about the consequences of their little venture. At least, not on the underworld end—she was familiar with covering her tracks, but if these slaves were valuable then she’d have to deal with some interference at one point or another. Right now, her priority went towards coordinating medical treatment and rehabilitating those who needed it. Beyond that, job placement or reuniting with their families would be priority. Joza paused in typing a message on her wrist mounted datapad to the Zygote clinical team. Not only would this strain her resources, but it would require time, a crucial factor in relocating slaves. A lump formed in her throat and she swallowed the thought of Igor’s being discovered and raided. She’d put a lot of energy into building a covert safe house with a property greasy spoon front. Taping out the rest of the message, she sent it to Vhysis headquarters. Maybe it was time to ask Firemane for assistance.

The stealth ship slipped into an underground hangar, bringing it beneath the surface of Nar Shaddaa’s Corellian sector. Underground storage, especially when it came to smuggling was nothing to bat an eye at on the smuggler’s moon. Instead of spice or other valuables, Joza was technically a human trafficker.

Approaching the cargo hold, she put on a smile for Nami and the others. She wasn’t sure if they were going to trust her and hell, she didn’t blame them. “Nami, we’re here. It’s not much, but there’s shelter, food, and basic medical care here. Once we get everyone inside, they can bathe, have something to eat, and get treated for any wounds they have. The…more lengthy procedures will come in time. It’s something we’ll have to discuss on a case by case basis.”

[member="Nami Perl"]

 

[Nami Perl]

[member="Joza Perl"]

Looking at Joza as she was going over and they were all seeing and feeling there were some small changes. She was talking with the rest of them and making sure that everything was taken care of. "You know the danger and saw it. We'll just have to get them to wane you off cause cold plains turkey can hurt you a lot more." She was looking at many more of the things that they were looking to set up. She wanted to make sure that everything with them was taken care of when Joza returned and she looked at her. A smile on her face as she clasped her hands in front of her. "Thank you Joza, we'll make use of it and try to ensure everyone is presentablle for your medics."

 

[Joza Perl]

An appreciative grin stretched across Joza’s face. Not for the slaves being made to look presentable—she didn’t particularly care about that, so long as they were comfortable—but for Nami’s concern and apparent leadership in what must be a very confusing and trying time for her. It was admirable. “Thank you, Nami. Don’t worry yourself over presentation, though—our primary concern is to get them checked out and treated. My medics have seen far worse.” It was the truth, given that they’d had to treat Joza and her allies on more than one occasion. In the back of her mind, the Zeltron had to wonder just how long she could continue doing something like this before it either broke her, or she was killed. At this point in time, she mostly targeted small-time slaver rings, not quite working up the cajones or resources to go after the big guys. Hopefully, some day, she would be able to tackle slavery in a more powerful way. But it was such an integral industry in the underworld that eradicating it would be nearly impossible. Even if it did go down for good, problems of displaced slaves and a crashing black market economy would be inevitable.

She tended to turn a blind eye to drugs and weaponry provided they did not intersect any of her plans or supply an opponent. Would Joza have cared this much about slavery if she had not experienced it for herself? She was certainly grey in some moral areas.

The debate was always present in her head, but she’d learned to tune it out and focus. “We’ll be heading through an underground passage. Make sure that everyone stays close—there are a lot of twists and turns, and going down the wrong path could trip some of the shockwire. It won’t kill, but it’s a nasty deterrent.” Working up a smile, she lowered the ramp and gestured for Nami and the others to follow her.

[member="Nami Perl"]

 

[Nami Perl]

[member="Joza Perl"]

Nami was looking at her and the feeling she had in the back of her mind said the womanw as thinking about something. it was important to her needs and Nami was wondering what it might be. She was uncertain about what it was that they were going to be doing. "I will tell them and we will stay close." Going through a passage would be easy to do. They just needed to stay together and hold onto each other or what ever they might have here to use. She was motioning for them to all come here with her. "We can get there where you need us just lead the way." Nami was offering a small amount of anticipation... It was hard to really work with it but she was uncertain until the woman was giving he a better place. Stepping forward. "You seem to be thinking about a lot of things, we'll do what we can to try and ease your burden Joza. you helped us, let us try and do our own part to try and to shoulder the burden for now at least until we figure out who and what we are going to be doing in the future.

 

[Joza Perl]

“Hm?” Nami’s words had taken Joza aback, as evidenced by the wide eyed look of complete surprise on her face. She was used to categorizing slaves as victims in times like these, before she got to meet them at an individual level. After all, there was work to be done. Never had one reached out to her on such a level, certainly not right after they’d just been through a whirlwind like that. A small, albeit anxious smile twitched her lips. “Thank you, Nami. I appreciate it. Right now, let’s just concentrate on getting everyone settled. We can talk in a bit.”

Cooperation would help. Some slaves were resistant to routine, either from their own personality or innate distrust. Still, they hadn’t even made it into the building yet. Gaze sweeping over the mass of slaves huddled together, Joza nodded once before turning back to the durasteel doors. A code punch and a handprint scan later, they were inside the underground network of tunnels. Joza would lead the little group along with careful steps, navigating through the path she’d constructed and gone over many times. Few knew of the proper route to get down here, but it was not impossible to discover. Difficult and with many deterrents, but not impossible.

At last, the group would make it towards another set of doors. Once those were activated, the Zeltron ushered them inside what appeared to be a dull and drab looking interior—but it was warm and dry. She lead them to the small area that served as a clinic, which in reality was nothing more than a few rooms stocked with basic medical equipment. Anticipating their arrival, several nurses had gathered. Addressing the group, Joza cleared her throat. “Before we do anything, you’ll all be given basic medical exams to establish a point of care. After that, you’re free to shower—a change of clothes will be provided for you—and eat. We’ll try to get you assigned to rooms as quickly as possible.”

The nurses moved in closer to the small group, most of them sporting pink skin and kind smiles. They were carrying clipboards, doing their best to converse with the slaves and take down their information. It was at this point where Joza turned towards Nami. “Would you like to go through processing first, or do you want to talk…?”

[member="Nami Perl"]

 

[Nami Perl]

[member="Joza Perl"]

Nami was looking at Joza and thinking about it they had a lot to do still when they were all going around. She was looking at the others when they were heading there to go and meet with Joza's people. on the surface they were using all of the time here, they were searching around the area wanting to see more of the things. She could see the building itself that was being presented. the tunnels and places for them to go. She looked at all fo the slaves wanting to wonder more things but some of the others were worried. Nami didn't know how to explain to them that she trusted Joza instantly. It was something you didn't really explain you just you know.... knew. THey were there and she spoke. "I'll get checked out first, show them that there is no issues."

Nami was looking at Joza while she went with some of the medical staff behind the doors of the to be treated and there were a few gasps of surprise as one of the nurses spoke to her. "WHen we were asked to come in there were some other thoughts." Nami looked at her. "Yeah it isn't exactly something you you can just bring up in normal conversation." The nurse was looking at her and sending the results up as Nami was checking out for the most part. A little more food and underweight in most places. Some of the hormones made her larger and more feminine looking, some others made her seem more shapely when the womans tepped out and breathed a small sigh looking to go and join Joza to talk.

"So do you want to tell her or should we just leave it in the report? And are the others like this?" Nami didn't want to embarrass them but she nodded her head. "Yes, they were very much looking to make more docile slaves that could be used without some of the risks as far as most know. Some will want to stop and try to get the effects reversed. A number of others might not. I don't, I feel like myself like this if that makes sense." The nurse was looking at her and seemed to understand it when she was looking at some of the things here. Nami was going to look for Joza and motioning for them before she had a better idea of herself. "Well that wasn't so bad."

 

[Joza Perl]

Despite the nurse’s initial shock, she smoothed over it with a trained professionalism. This sort of thing was not impossible, and given how sex was celebrated on her home planet of Zeltros, not entirely strange. Still, she scribbled down notes on her chart. Joza had called in the team that had worked on Zygote Zero for their expertise in hormone interaction, so they’d have to wait a day or so before starting reverse treatments for those who wanted it, and maintenance for those who decided to stay this way. Either way, this would be a learning experience for the clinical care team.

As she waited outside of the exam room, Joza couldn’t help but be proud of Nami. Despite everything she’d been through, she still took it upon herself to assure the other rescues as a leader of sorts. It was an admirable trait. When the younger Zeltron appeared, Joza smiled at her instantly. “How did it go?” She seemed a bit antsy, eyes trailing over to the other as they were individually ushered into examination rooms. They’d have the typical demographics taken along with weight, height, body mass and all that. They would be assessed for signs of abuse and malnourishment and treated accordingly. The issue of hormones would have to be addressed swiftly, and Joza could see a long night stretching out in front of her.

“Nami, if you’re comfortable with it, I’d like to run a bit of testing. Genetic testing, specifically to see if…or how we’re…possibly related.” She looked a bit uncertain. “If you’re not comfortable with that, I understand. So please don’t be afraid to decline—I won’t be upset and it won’t affect your own, or anyone else’s stay here.”

[member="Nami Perl"]

 

[Nami Perl]

[member="Joza Perl"]

Nami was looking at the others and she was glad to be done with it. Now that the initial well surprise was done and passed she was guessing the nurses who were professional and while surprise might be there weren't going to make a huge deal about it. Maybe chalk it up as something new to add to the list... maybe. She though got to turn and looking at Joza who wanted to run some genetic testing to see how they were related. "I am fine with that.' She was guessing they might need some blood and hair so that was easy to do. Wasn't like the twi of them had a lot else to compare and really show... no birthmarks as far as she knew that might not have been taken off with surgery or anything. She couldn't be certain. "It would be nice to know for sure before trying to figure out what I am going to do next."

 

[Joza Perl]

A look of relief crossed Joza’s face. “Good. Good, thank you, Nami.” Smiling at her potential family member, Joza pushed off from the wall she was leaning against and gestured towards the hallways behind her. “Let’s go into my office for a bit of privacy.” If Nami would follow her, she’d find that Joza lead the two of them to a small room with an old desk, and not much else. It wasn’t necessarily an office per se, but it was where Joza sat down to handle the paperwork when she was here. More often than not, she was out and about and tended to do administrative duties from her ship or her home on Lianna. Having her hang around Igor’s wouldn’t be a good idea, anyhow. Can’t start raising suspicion.

The drawer of the desk creaked as Joza opened it, jostling it around a bit as it became stuck. After a few moments of fighting with the desk, she produced a small machine—a prototype from Vhysis—which looked remarkably futuristic and out of place compared to the tiny office. “It’s pretty simple. This machine will tell us how close of a match we are. All you need is a little blood.” Rummaging around in the drawer, she retrieved a pair of single use lancets. Unwrapping one, she stuck herself in the finger, using two fingers on her other hand to squeeze a drop of blood out onto a transparent slide, which was then inserted into the machine.

“Would you like me to do it, or would you prefer to do it yourself?” Holding up the other lancet, she prompted Nami with a small, encouraging smile. “Fair warning, it hurts a bit.” There were a lot of nerve endings in the tips of fingers, and a small pin prick stung. There was a little grim humor to her warning, still.

[member="Nami Perl"]

 

[Nami Perl]

[member="Joza Perl"]

Nami was looking aroud at everything as she followed letting her mind race about where they might be or what they might be doing. There was a lot of guess work, there was a lot of filling in the blanks since they had been in underground tunnels. That gave her some things to do before she was entering the small room to look at Joza as she spoke about what would be needed. A little interesting in soe places but this was smaller then she had expected and a lot more simple. Seemed like Joza would be the billionare playgirl with a massive office overlooking the city and then secret tunnel bringing her down to do her night job of saving people in the city. Nami chuckled to herself as she stood there with a look on her face while offering her hand. "Alright then, lets do it." She was prepared for a little pin. That wasn't such a bad thing in many cases though. She was more and more curious in this case to see if they were and how closely. She had never had a real family... well family in terms of blood.

 

[Joza Perl]

“Alright.” Joza nodded in affirmation before taking one of Nami’s fingers in a gentle yet firm grasp. She squeezed the tip of her finger before using the lancet to puncture a tiny, shallow hole into her flesh. A drop of blood oozed out, which was then placed on a new slide and inserted into the machine next to Joza’s sample. A few taps on the entry pad were all it took for the little machine to light up, a gentle whirring preceding a handful of beeps. “This’ll take a bit. While the machine is doing its thing, maybe you’d like to get a change of clothes and some food with the others?”

Once the medical examination ended, the rescues would be directed to the showers and offered a clean pair of clothes. The clothing itself wasn’t much, but the facility funneled most of its resources into medical care. It helped that Heartbeat produced textiles, which cut down on costs there. The food, while not unhealthy, was general boring and didn’t inspire much. Labor costs were cut down by distributing tasks among the rescues—cooking, cleaning, etc.—it wasn’t the best way to go about things, but hiring any more outside help than necessary would be risky and expensive. Depending on their situation, those who resided here would receive a small stipend when they were ready to integrate back out into the galaxy.

[member="Nami Perl"]

 

[Nami Perl]

[member="Joza Perl"]

Hmm there was something there but then Nami was thinking of one thing... food.... food was important and good. She was uncertain of how she had forgotten about it. "Food sounds very good. I haven't eaten or thought about it until you mentioned it right now." she said it when she wanted to see a few other things that they would be able to help out. Nami wanted to be able to do her part for whatever Joza needed as repayment for rescuing them. somehting that they would be able to really work on and strengthen themselves... maybe get skills that would be translatable to new jobs instead of just service or other things. "Hopefully we can help out, in anyway possible to make sure you aren't being taken advantage of."

 

[Joza Perl]

Hopefully Nami and her friends would settle well into freed life—but the road to healing was often bumpy. “Taken advantage of?” She arched a brow, not quite sure what Nami meant but would give her room to elaborate. Begrudgingly, Joza was aware that being duped was always a possibility. Knowing this lead to a bit of paranoia on the Zeltron’s end of things, but she’d been managing alright thus far.

“C’mon, let’s go get something to eat. I’m sure we could both do with some food in us.” She gestured towards the door, exiting and leading Nami to the cafeteria. It wasn’t the prettiest looking place, but it was clean and dry and that was what mattered most. “What are you in the mood for? They’ve got, uh,” She squinted, looking at the menu plastered above the serving line. “Cream of Nuna soup, some kind of fish and…root vegetables, I think it is?”

None of that sounded particularly appetizing to Joza, but once she started eating, the appetite would kick in. On days like these, her body kicked into overdrive mode and pretty much ignored any signs of hunger until she was run-down and irritable. The nurses would occasionally chide her about this behavior, which she waved off with a tired smile. Very occasionally, she would snap at them, the apologize later once her mood had leveled out.

[member="Nami Perl"]

 

[Nami Perl]

[member="Joza Perl"]

She was looking at the food while they were walking and with a small grin on her face. Food sounded good, something they could all get until she wanted to eat something. "Hmmm well sounds simple enough." She stayed there for a moment though when she was thinking about it. Joza was offering some food that might be fairly standard. "'ll take the cream of nuna please." Nami said it when she worked on her hair adjusting and getting a small ribbon she could use to keep it off of her shoulders so she couldn't get any strands of the purple hair in the food or in the way. Eyes flicking back and forth when she wanted to just sit, eat and relax with a look at her outfit. "Any clothing might be helpful as well. These are a little old and ragged."