Sister Sister

[Joza Perl]

At least Nami seemed to like the food. As they say down to eat, Joza idly combed her red mane over one shoulder, eyes moving over to Nami as she began to eat.

“Of course. The clothes we have aren’t the trendiest, but they’re clean and gently used. We’ll find you something that suits you.” She gave Nami a smile. Inwardly, she wanted to simply give Nami something of her own—or something from Heartbeat. Something cute. But she couldn’t risk favoritism, at least not right now. Silly, you’re already acting as if you’re sisters or something. The thought anchored her back to reality where she still had a job to do. And if Nami did turn out to be related to her, there’d only be more questions and more work. But the thought made her happy, given that Joza didn’t have much family to begin with.

Hands folded politely on top of the table as she addressed the other Zeltron. “Nami, where would you like to go after your time here?”

[member="Nami Perl"]

 

[Nami Perl]

[member="Joza Perl"]

Ahhh her mind was a blank slate in that regard.. really where hadn't she been in orbit of or on the way to... There was something to be said about being on a ship you got to go to exotic places but that was about it. Really she was just there and had been but never really got to hear where she was or where they were going. "I do not, know. I haven't really been around the galaxy to see things outside of a ship or building on a different planet. The warehouses are not that special and all look the same on different worlds." She would have to think about it, maybe get a large map she could use to see it all and have a better idea of what there was out there int he galaxy. "I do want to help in any way I can though, need to learn some sort of skill or other job."

 

[Joza Perl]

“Hm,” Joza tapped at the edge of the table, shifting into her own headspace for a few moments after Nami spoke. She wasn’t surprised that the girl didn’t have any exact plans on what to do. Life after slavery could be difficult, especially if you had few marketable skills or grew up in it. For many slaves, life in chains was all that they knew. Carving out their own place in the galaxy a as free being was more challenging than it seemed.

In that sense, Joza counted herself lucky. She had a safe place to go and friends to protect her after she’d managed to escape.

“Well, I’m sure that we can come up with something for you. As much as I’d like to provide a home for you and the others, this just isn’t one. It’s a temporary solution, at best.” She smiled softly, a bit bitterly. Igor’s was nothing luxurious, half a cut above bare bones. But the food wasn’t terrible, the beds were warm and the clothes were dry. It was a start.

“Once you finish up, we can get you some new clothes. The blood test results should be about finished by then.”

That was something that made her a little nervous—well, a lot nervous. Aside from the genetic matching, there was also the matter of the midichlorian count.

[member="Nami Perl"]

 

[Nami Perl]

[member="Joza Perl"]

Hmm food to finish and have a full meal for yourself. That was something she was liking the idea and while the initial idea was to savor it she ate a little faster but not like she was shoveling it. Letting herself enjoy the food that was amazing compared to some of the foods they had been given. The stuff to make sure they looked healthy but had no flavor or tasted bitter and more like cough medicine. Either way her mind was racing when she finished eating the food finally and looked at Joza with a bow of her head. She was ready to go and the idea of clothing or anything really new was a welcomed on. Standing as she started to absent mindedly clean up the plates and everything for the food.

 

[Joza Perl]

As Nami started clearing the table away, Joza rose and gave her a hand in gathering the bowls and silverware.

“I take it you liked the food?” There was a joking note to her voice, but overall she seemed glad. Nami was a bit underweight, not dangerously so, but the sort that could be remedied after a few months of steady meals. She wanted to offer her seconds, but had to remind herself that it could encouraging gorging—maybe in an hour or two they’d come back for another meal. Right now, there were matters to attend to.

“We can drop the plates off here,” Joza motioned for Nami to follow her to a small dishwashing area where a handful of chatty human females were scrubbing the dishware. She placed what she had on the counter, largely ignored by the staff as they went about their business. The Zeltron didn’t particularly mind, nor was she in the mood to reprimand anyone. Besides, they had more energy than when they’d first arrived.

Leading Nami out of the cafeteria, the entered another wing of the safe house and into what appeared to be a laundry room. Against one wall were an industrial washer and dryer, and at another there were several large bins filled with clothing items. “That one is for kids, this one is for women and then other has men’s clothing.” She pointed to each of the three bins as she spoke. “Sizing goes from left to right. Smaller ones are on the left, larger to the right. They’re not the most…fashionable clothes, but they’re clean and gently used.” She offered Nami a tired smile. “Go ahead and pick out what you’d like. There’s a changing area in the back.”

[member="Nami Perl"]

 

[Nami Perl]

[member="Joza Perl"]

Nami looked at Joza and she realized what she had been doing with a nod of her head. The food had been really good, the idea of more had never even crossed her mind but there was a look when she smiled. "Thank you.": She was looking around and getting an idea of what they were all doing, to see the world and area around them. To see the bigger and more pretty thing for herself when she wanted to work on it and stood there looking at the clothing as she nodded. It wasn't fancy but it was clothing... they could always use more clothing or whole clothing.. warmer clothing. The slave outfits din't really keep you warm when you were laying in them and despite a heater it could still get cold if you weren't paying attention. "Thank you for this, it will go a long way and I know some of them will be happy to help you in any way possible."

 

[Joza Perl]

“Of course.” A slow smiled tugged at Joza’s lips. “You can change if you’d like, then we can head back to my office. The results of the blood test should be ready by now.”

The walk back was done in relative silence. Joza had lapsed into thought, her anxiety well controlled beneath years of practice. To a skilled empath or Force user it would be more apparent, but looking entirely calm and collected wasn’t high on her list of priorities right now. Not when there was a potential new family member at stake!

If what she thought was happening was happening, then it would explain a lot of things, pulling different pieces of the puzzle together to fit better.

Back at what passed for an office, Joza pulled the feed out of the machine, thumb brushing over the paper as her eyes scanned along the numbers and readings for results. Her eyes widened a notch, lips parted in mild disbelief as her heart skipped a beat.

[member="Nami Perl"]

 

[Nami Perl]

[member="Joza Perl"]

Nami looked at her while she was thinking about it, changing her outfit into something better that she would be able to work on many more opportunities with the others. She saw Joza heading off to go back to her office while she was standing there getting some of the clothing for herself so she could set it all up. Getting dressed there in a new outfit that looked a little more modest and less torn then what she had before. Then checking her hair here when she adjusted the tank top she could wear. Some pants and a set of boots before taking it out for the others to get their hands on. Offering them the clothing and a changing area so they could get dressed and go out to get all of their own clothing. Some food and all of the medical treatment that would be coming for all of them. She was starting to get ready and go to head for meeting with Joza. She offered a small smile on her face. "Ah Joza, we have everything done." She was curious to see what the results were now that they should be done with a small look on her face.

 

[Joza Perl]

Joza looked up from the paper suddenly, giving Nami a nervous smile.

“Good, good.”

She motioned for the other woman to step into the room, closing the door behind her once she did so.

“Results are in,” She muttered, sounding a bit more tired than usual.

“Looks like we share the same maternal set of DNA.” Her eyes flickered up to Nami’s. “So that makes us…half sisters…in the least.”

Even though it was among her suspicions, just hearing it be confirmed was as much of a shock, “That would explain the father.” As far as she knew, Yula didn’t have any other children by Zef.

She looked over to Nami expectantly, wondering how she’d take the information.

[member="Nami Perl"]

 

[Nami Perl]

[member="Joza Perl"]

Nami looked at her and then as Joza was reading the results for them. There was a look on her face when she heard them. It was something hard to explain, on the one hand yes she was hearing it but she dind't know these people she wasn't connected to them, she dind't have a grounding to where hearing they only shared the same mother meant... something. THey were sisters, half sisters so that was cool in her mind, meant they could do a whole lot for each other now and maybe just maybe have a couch to sleep on instead of just another room. Or she could learns omething and have someone able to teach her more. "I have no idea who my father is though, is there anything else in there? Hopefully no one got me sick... but being here in a medical area would be best."

 

[Joza Perl]

“No, nothing about a father, unfortunately. This test only tells us how closely, if anything, we are related.”

She squinted at the paper, scrutinizing it for a few more moments before sitting down. The fact that she had a sister all this time after growing up as an only child was just…surreal. For a moment, she looked over at Nami, trying to determine if she had her mother’s facial feature or not. Joza had taken after Yula in looks, but inherited some of her stronger personality traits from Zef. Then, she wasn’t too sure of where the rest of her personality came from.

Regardless…

“If you think you might know who he is, we can try and track him down. There’s also the possibility of contacting mom—“ Mom. What would she have to say about this? “If you want to, of course. I won’t force you to meet our mother if you don’t want to. And if you’re sick, we’ll get your treated. Even if they can’t handle it here, I’ve got contact on some larger medical stations.”

A pause before she bit her lip. “Nami, there’s something else we need to discuss. Do you know what the Force is? Or anything about Jedi?”

[member="Nami Perl"]

 

[Nami Perl]

[member="Joza Perl"]

Nami was listenign and she was unsure really if being able to meet her mother would she even... No most likely she wouldn't have an idea. Most likely a new daughter.... when she gave away a... yeah that would be something many others were not certain about. She didn't know what to really think about the situation. She knew it might be jarring in some ways, some wouldn't care but you had to account for surprise and a little shock. Joa bringing up the jedi though brought to her mind legends more of fighters for justice and freedom who tried to move across the galaxy but it was a large place and they were without being the lords and rulers who had vast armies to enforce it unable to get all of the criminals gone. "THey are legends who rescue people when they can and dislike slavers."

 

[Joza Perl]

Legends. That was a way to put it. The Jedi were well known, but not always well liked. There were groups, large groups who downright hated them and worked to keep Jedi influence from spreading. At the other end were the Sith, who had their own interests in the galaxy. Best not to go into detail now, given that everyone had a biased view and Joza did not escape that.

“This is true. Many Jedi work to help benefit civilians, and that includes fighting against slavers.” A pause, and she placed a finger on the paper with the test readout. “This machine also tested for your midichlorian count. Midichlorians are tiny microorganisms that live inside of every living thing. The higher your midichlorian count, the more sensitive to the Force you are.” She paused again, unsure of how to broach the subject.

“You have a high midichlorian count, Nami. High enough to certainly be trained in the ways of the Force, as a Jedi, if you wish.” She looked at her earnestly, her sister. Force sensitivity, for what it was worth, could be as damning as it was a gift. If Nami decided to become a Jedi, she would inherently be in danger.

“It won’t be easy, but it’s an option that is open to pursue. I’ve connections that can help get you started.”

[member="Nami Perl"]

 

[Nami Perl]

[member="Joza Perl"]

Hmm she was hearing that and it made it a more interesting prospect. She couldn't be certain if the jedi was for her but there was a chance that she would be able to do things with the jedi. They were a place to go and if she did she might have a chance to go off and help against other slavers. Wanting to improve her outlook on life and her plans for a number of other things. She might be able to become a legend others spoke about a friend to the slaves who broke their bonds and... she was getting ahead of herself as Joa was speaking about the things in her blood that meant she would and could be a jedi or trained if she wanted to be. "If I can do it and it is a place that needs the help. I would be more happy to help with it and learn all that I can."

 

[Joza Perl]

Nami seemed to gravitate towards the prospect of being a Jedi, something that made Joza’s gut twist for good and bad reasons. Already she was proud of her sister who’d stepped up to help the other slaves despite being one herself. But the life of a Jedi—or any trained Force user, for that matter—was not easy. You put a target on your back.

“Alright. I can get you in with the Order of the Silver Jedi—they trained me, and I know that they can train you. They’re more isolationists than the Galactic Alliance, but they do good work on the worlds they protect in helping the local populations.”

She flipped through a stack of papers on her desk.

“Stay here for a week or so to recover. That, and…I’ll be needing your help with the others. They trust you, and look up to you.” A fond smile tilted her lips. “After that, I can bring you to Voss and help you get situated. It’s a beautiful planet.” Another pause.

“But…just be wary. The life of a Jedi is not for everyone, and it’s a dangerous path to walk.” Her eyes reflected a stark concern for her blood.

[member="Nami Perl"]

 

[Nami Perl]

[member="Joza Perl"]

She looked at her and she was prepared for it with a look on her face, she was preparing it there so she had a place to be at least for a week. This was a real chance to recover and a better opportunity that they would present her. "Alright, I'll try not to disappoint then." she had never been punished for being disappointing so it wasn't something she would be risking here where it was important. She could help with the others and make sure there were no complications for all of them as well. She didn't know about all fo the drugs but risking a chance for them to get sick was a danger if the slavers were crafty. Use it as a way to get the merchandise back and not refund for lack of care. "So where should we start now? I have a week to learn something other then just cooking, cleaning and dancing."