First Reply The Bottom Line

[Kirie]

Castell Metallurgical Factory,
Castell

-

​

Kirie swung her feet over the edge of her cot, wearily blinking away sleep as her eyes adjusted to the gloom. It was not yet dawn. She stretched and yawned, wondering what might have woken her, and the chains around her wrists clinked as she did so, a grim reminder of her situation.

There was the sound of a heavy door opening outside the dormitory and the familiar thud of booted footsteps. Kirie stiffened, knowing what was coming. Seconds later the air was split with the sound of a clanging bell, and she saw shapes rising quickly from their beds around her. A uniformed figure entered the room and Kirie held her hands out in front of her as he silently unfastened her chains. Without a word, Kirie stood and joined the line of haggard faces filing out of the room and out onto the factory floor.

Taking her place at the assembly line, a narrow door opened and a man in an ill-fitting corporate uniform climbed to a weathered podium at the front of the large space. A familiar voice rang out, that of Karn, Shift Supervisor and cruel overseer.

"Attention staff!" He called out in his snivelling, whiny voice. "No doubt you wonder why you have been called to work so early. Well, there have been changes to your working program." He said with satisfaction. "To acquaint you with these changes I am proud to introduce Ms Rodan Pile, National Director Workforce Productivity and Compliance."

Karn applauded loudly, the sound echoing across the space. Around Kirie, workers shifted on their feet, their faces a mixture of worry, doubt and exhaustion. She kept her eyes fixed on the woman walking across the room to join Karn, dressed in a crisp white suit and fine studded belt.

"Good morning Castell Metallurgical Family. As you have heard, your scope of work is expanding as part of our enterprise expansion. Castell Metallurgical has landed a competitive starship contract, and it is your part as our frontline laborers to make our expansion a success. For that reason, an extra two working hours will be added to your day to ensure maximum delivery of our product."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, and for the first time, Kirie noticed security staff lingering at the edges of the factory floor, their hands resting on their weapons.

"Fret not" Rodan said condescendingly, "you will be fairly compensated, and as a thanks for your continued loyalty to our Family, you will receive a bonus of 19 company chits at the end of each shift where you reach quota, which I'm sure you all know will go along way in supporting your families, and paying off your debts."

Kirie's mouth drew a hard line and she looked at the ground, her ears roaring. She clenched her fist as the woman demurely stepped away from the podium and disappeared out of the door. The moment she was gone, a bell clanged loudly, and Karn's grating voice boomed across the space once more.

"Enough dilly-dallying!" He called. "Time to earn your chits!"

And with that, the work day had begun.

 

[Valery Noble]

Castell

​

Outfit: Operative Suit | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber (Concealed)
Tag: Kirie

"You must be Mrs. Clayora," one of the guards told Valery, who had approached the factory in her undercover suit, and with her lightsaber hidden. She had assumed a new identity for this mission, knowing it would be far easier to infiltrate and expose what was happening if she was simply let inside. Through some Alliance funds and her own bits of trickery, she had convinced the factory owners that she was a potential business partner.

A very rich business partner, so one they'd want to please.

"That's correct, so please step aside and allow me entry. I don't have all day," she told the man, who blinked and quickly stepped aside. His orders had been clear enough — escort the guest and make sure that she is not disappointed. So with Valery right behind him, he quickly entered the halls and was making his way to the offices.

But somewhere along the way, Valery stopped and looked down into the hall, where people were working until they dropped to keep this place 'productive'. It was sickening, but she couldn't show her true feelings.

"Could you bring your boss here? I'd like to inspect the workers."

 

[Kirie]

Castell Metallurgical Factory,
Castell
Valery Noble

-

​

For a moment, Kirie thought she could hear more voices outside the workshop, but they were drowned out by the roar of the smelters firing up and machines whirring to life. Heat flooded the room and Kirie's brow beaded with sweat. By memory, Kirie knelt down and attached the slender electronic shackle around her ankle, binding herself and all the other factory workers to their station.

It had to be today. Anger and dread hung heavy in the air, where before Kirie had sensed only tired hopelessness. If ever there was an opportunity to end the suffering at the factory, this was it. She leaned over, pretending to pick up a large and wicked-looking tool, and whispered harshly to the other three workers at her station.

"I've been saying this for weeks but surely you can't argue now. We have to get out of here. All of us."

One of the workers, a woman Kirie's age, shook her head.

"And go where?" She retorted bitterly.

"Surely anywhere is better than here!" Kirie said emphatically.

"You don't know how bad it can get." came the harsh reply.

Kirie bit her lip. She knew that she could help these people somehow. But how? The smell of burning metal seemed to stifle her brain, the thudding of machinery dulled her thought. Oh if only they could get out then she could think.

"Kirie is right." said another steady voice. "We either leave here today or we leave by the funeral pyre."

She nodded slowly. If they worked together, stood up as one, then they would all leave that day. She was sure of it.

"I have something that can break the chains. We just need to pass around a message to be ready, and then we need a distraction."

Two of her companions nodded reluctantly, and the other met her with stony silence, turning back to her work, shoulders tense, head down. Kirie set her jaw. They had to get this right. How long would it be before she got a chance like this?

"We can't leave anybody behind." Kirie said firmly. "Whatever happens, we all have to stick together."

 

[Valery Noble]

Castell

​

Outfit: Operative Suit | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber (Concealed)
Tag: Kirie

"Drop your work and gather up!" One of the guards shouted several times through the factory hall. His voice alone summoned workers instantly, as none wanted to be punished for arriving late. By the guard's side stood the shift supervisor but another, unfamiliar woman as well — Valery. Her fiery gaze shifted from one worker to another and showed little to no sympathy. Deep inside, however, hidden by the mask she needed to create for this infiltration attempt, she felt a burning pain in her chest.

As a Padawan, Valery had once been in chains and pushed around by slavers. While she had overcome much of that trauma, her hatred for what was happening here remained strong.

"We have a guest today," he continued, his eyes now shifting to Valery. "Mrs. Clayora might become our largest client if everything at our factory is to her liking." His look grew even sterner as he stared the workers in the eyes. "I only expect our best behavior, or the punishment will be severe."

Valery's lips twitched but she said nothing and began to walk down the line of workers. She looked each one in the eyes and struggled not to try and help them. She could feel their anger and desire to break free — so she knew that if she helped them now, they might just kill every guard.

She couldn't let that happen, even with what these people did.

As Valery soon passed in front of Kirie , she suddenly stopped and looked at her a moment longer, her head tilted curiously. She felt Kirie's presence in the Force and allowed her own to flourish, hoping to provide the woman with a sign of who she really was. A sign she'd hopefully understand.

"What's this one's story?"

 

[Kirie]

Castell Metallurgical Factory,
Castell
Valery Noble

-

​

Kirie lowered her tools and followed the rest of the workers to the front of the large workspace, her muscles burning, grateful for the break from the burning smelters and clashing machinery. Her eyes watched the newcomer keenly, her body full of tension, conscious that this could be her chance.

The woman seemed vaguely familiar, perhaps some tycoon she'd seen on her holonet feed. Kirie didn't recognise her name.

The woman began working her way down the line of workers, inspecting them as a buyer inspected livestock. Kirie shifted from foot to foot. Maybe she could trip her or leap in front of her in a show of defiance. Spit or curse or something that would show these people their lives were not commodities to be sold.

All too quickly the woman was in front of her. Kirie sucked in a deep breath, ready to spring, and then she felt something, a blossoming light, an intense and clear aura that drove away the dread and fog from the air. Suddenly it was clear who the woman was, her presence was unmistakable, and now Kirie could see beyond her disguise.

Valery Noble , Sword of the Jedi. Kirie's heart swelled in her chest. It seems she wasn't the only one with her eyes set on the factory. Surely now they could save these people from this place.

"What's this one's story?"

Kirie bowed stiffly, her limbs aching.

"Not much to tell madam." Kirie said evenly. "I got in a few weeks ago. Working to pay my debts." She appeared to sway on her feet, and then in a voice so low only Valery could hear it, she spoke again.

"They are ready to stand up. They just need a chance and a leader." Kirie cleared her throat loudly.

"Thank you ma'am." she said primly, stepping back into line.

​

​

 

[Valery Noble]

Castell

​

Outfit: Operative Suit | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber (Concealed)
Tag: Kirie

She understood.

Valery listened to what Kirie had to say and gently reached out with her mind to avoid having to take risks talking out loud. If Kirie were to permit it, she'd be able to hear a gentle and warm voice reaching out to her. <I'll be your chance but you must be their leader,> Valery told Kirie with determination.

<Their leader must come from within. Someone who has suffered alongside them.>

Ranks, titles, experience, or fame didn't matter in a place like this. The people here had gone through hell, and it was that shared suffering that would give them the strength to get out of it. All Valery could do was be a catalyst — a spark to ignite the fire that was waiting to burn down everything that had held them back for so long.

"What do you think, Mrs. Clayora?" The supervisor eventually asked as Kirie stepped back in line.

<Get ready.>

Valery turned to the man and offered a fake smile, "I think this has gone on for way too long."

"Excuse m-"

Before the supervisor could finish his sentence, the chains that kept the workers restrained all began to crack and shattered into tiny fragments to finally set them free. All that remained now was for Kirie to direct them forward, and for Valery to watch over them.

 

[Kirie]

Castell Metallurgical Factory,
Castell
Valery Noble

-

​

Kirie felt a pressure on her mind and allowed Valery to deliver her response. She nodded, almost imperceptibly, and tensed her jaw, ready to spring into action. Valery stepped back. Kirie felt the words wash over her.

"I think this has gone on for way too long."

And then their chains were shattered, wrists and ankles unbound. Startled silence followed the cacophony of the breaking chains. Dozens stood frozen, too stunned to move. Then, one of the workers, the old woman who had refused Kirie’s entreaties, dropped her hammer with a clatter.

Roars of anger erupted from the security at the edges of the room, several of them quickly fleeing the room and locking the heavy doors behind them. The workers cried out in horror and anger. Still more dropped their tools and abandoned their workstations. Shouting broke out across the room. The remaining security guards aimed their weapons-

“STOP!”

Kirie’s voice boomed unnaturally across the room. She raised her hands quickly and the security staffers were pulled off their feet, drifting lazily through the air above the crowd, their weapons discarded on the floor below.

Kirie made her way to the podium, where Karn, the supervisor, was watching her, his eyes bulging, mouth agape. She lowered her hands. The security officers were seemingly cowed. The crowd did not move, though Kirie saw several of their eyes dart to their terrified oppressors, now cowering on the floor. For now, though, it seemed the room was hers to command.

“My companion is right.” Kirie called out, her scratchy voice echoing around the space. “This all ends today. We will not be worked to the grave.” Kirie swallowed, the memory of the past several week’s suffering was weighing heavy on her, knowing that many, most of the people here had been toiling in this filthy workroom for years, technically free, but bound by contract and exploitation, never to escape. Anger burned through her, but she fought it down.

“Today we will come together and say ‘we will not work for this. We will not poison our lungs and wear our bones to dust for these people who reward our work with nothing but worthless chits and more debt.’ They will know that from now on their game is over.”

Kirie took off her thick gloves and heavy apron, throwing the ragged bundle to the ground. With satisfaction she saw others in the crowd do the same.

“Come with me. Out into the fresh air.” She implored. “Leave these pathetic people and this horrible factory.”

“And what of them!” Called a rough voice. A huge and ragged man stepped to the front, a black-clad security officer held limply in his enormous arms. Instantly Kirie felt the energy in the room shift, grow unwieldy. She heard Karm whimper behind her.

“They need to pay!”

She glanced worriedly at Valery. They needed to keep this under control, or surely many would be harmed, would die. They were so close, it couldn’t end in bloodshed now.

 

[Valery Noble]

Castell

​

Outfit: Operative Suit | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber (Concealed)
Tag: Kirie

The echo of hammers falling to the floor, the removal of clothing that represented their oppression — Valery watched it all happen after she had stepped aside. She needed Kirie to talk to them, to call them into action, and the woman was quick to respond. After carefully removing the guard's ability to harm these people again, she offered a speech that instantly resonated with everybody. Valery knew that if she had said those same words, it would have been different.

But even though she called for an escape without violence, not all workers wanted to let their oppressors get away with it so easily. A huge man stepped forward who dwarfed even Valery, and in his arms, he held one of the security guards. His emotions were strong and the anger only seemed to rise, as others seemed to support him.

Kirie looked worriedly towards Valery, and the Jedi Master finally stepped forward again.

"I understand your anger," Valery began, "I was once in chains myself, taken captive by slavers. But it doesn't stop if you hurt or kill these people. All it does is change who you are, and any chance we have to help others by questioning these people will be gone completely." Valery looked them in the eyes with a gentle frown.

"You are free now, so please, I urge you to choose a life without more bloodshed. You'll have my word that I'll bring these people to justice."

 

[Kirie]

Castell Metallurgical Factory,
Castell
Valery Noble

-

​

Kirie stood rigid as Valery tried to talk down the crowd and the man carrying the now helpless security guard.

"You are free now, so please, I urge you to choose a life without more bloodshed. You'll have my word that I'll bring these people to justice."

She felt the emotions shift in the crowd. Anger still rolled off the assembled workers like heat, but now it had lost its focus and she could feel a growing doubt amongst the assembled staff. Most of all, she felt the overwhelming desire to escape, to be free of this place. Kirie desperately wanted that too.

For one person though, it was clear Valery's words had not been enough. The burly man looked around slowly, and seeing that the crowd had lost its fire, his face screwed up with rage, aimed squarely at Valery. Nervous faces watched him from around the room. Kirie watched too, her heart sinking. The man's face scrunched up, his eyes pained, chest heaving.

"I will make them pay." He said, his voice low.

"Don't-" Kirie began, but then the man stood up and dropped the security guard to the floor. He landed with a sickening crunch and the man stepped over him without regard. His gaze was fixed on Valery, murder in his eyes. People grabbed at his shoulders to stop him but he paid them no mind. Behind him the security guard mewled piteously with pain.

"Valery!" Kirie called out desperately

The man lunged towards Valery and Kirie knew that if he could he would try to kill her. Valery would have to defend herself, and violence would break out.

In a flash Kirie knew what she had to do. She stepped forward, across the man's path as he swung a great punch at Valery. The heavy fist connected, but instead of hitting Valery, it struck Kirie instead, rattling the side of her head with such force that her vision blacked out, her senses entirely overwhelmed. Kirie felt herself hit the ground, and finally the pain hit her. She scrunched her eyes shut, hot tears rolling down her face.

Kirie dragged herself onto her knees and looked around. The man was looking down at her, dumbfounded. The crowd was silent behind him, aghast.

She struggled to her feet. Her cheek throbbed with pain and she knew a great bruise must be forming. Blood dribbled down her chin.

"Enough." Kirie murmured. "That's enough."

 

[Valery Noble]

Castell

​

Outfit: Operative Suit | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber (Concealed)
Tag: Kirie

Valery's exterior didn't show any change, but she had picked up on the emotional shifts that occurred within the crowd. Only one stood out to her, however, and something dark was swirling around the man. She could feel his desire not to just harm, but to kill her. The blinding rage had taken control to such an extent, that he was willing to kill the woman who had removed his chains from him.

Despite the people's attempts to stop him, he moved forward and Valery found herself in a dilemma. If she struck him down or defended herself, she feared that more would start to fight. If she didn't fight back, she could feel that he was willing to kill her, and as important as this mission was to her, she did not want to die. Ultimately, she couldn't get herself to draw a weapon, and decided to take the punch, the way she had before to snap a mind-controlled Padawan back to reality.

Kahlil Noble would have to forgive them, and she hoped the people would stop him from killing her.

But as the man threw his punch and Valery closed her eyes, she felt sudden movement from the side. Her eyes opened to see Kirie taking the punch for her, and while she was shocked to see the brutal impact it had, Valery understood why she did it. The man had now attacked one of his own in his blinding rage, and it frightened him.

His aggression faded.

"Do you see what I mean, now?" Valery asked, her tone harsh and her fiery eyes burning into his soul. She then crouched down to help Kirie up to her feet and offered the woman a shoulder for support. "I understand you're angry, but your rage is making you harm the people who have risked their own lives to help you." She didn't look at the man or the crowd with anger in her eyes, only disappointment.

"So please, leave. There has been enough blood, pain, and tears here. You're free."

 

[Kirie]

Castell Metallurgical Factory,
Castell
Valery Noble

-

​

Kirie reached a bloodied hand up and allowed Valery to help her up. She wrapped an arm around the Jedi and leant on her for support. Blood still trickled down her face and chin, but she did her best to ignore it, just as she did her best to put aside the throbbing in her jaw and the pounding of her head.

"Go now." Kirie whispered into Valery's ear. "Quickly. Help me walk and I will direct you."

They staggered out the hefty workshop doors. With relief, Kirie saw the crowd follow behind them without hesitation, leaving the security staff where they sat on the floor, watching in cowed silence. The broad man who had struck her followed as well, but he did not meet her eyes.

They entered the hall and turned into a wide room with a low ceiling that made Kirie shiver the moment she stepped into it. Ostensibly, it housed the chemical showers to be used in the event of an accident. In reality, it was where the supervisors had beat and punished the factory's disobedient workers. The air hung heavy with the suffering endured there, and the dark stains on the floor hinted at the extent of the abuse. Kirie closed her eyes at the sensation of passing through the space, allowing Valery to drag her along. When they had left the room she opened her eyes and tapped at a console beside her. A door hissed and opened slowly, and sunshine spilled into the room.

She staggered out, finally letting go of Valery as she stepped outside for the first time in months. Fresh air flicked at her hair and she drank it greedily. The yard by the factory was weedy and sparse, ringed by the tall imposing industrial lots that characterised this region of Castell. To Kirie, it was beautiful. The clear sky and the fluffy scudding clouds, the grasses poking through cracks in the pavement, all of it meant she was free of that dim and violent place.

The workers stood beside her. Nobody said a word, but all looked around them in the same wonder, the same relief to be outside. Kirie was acutely aware of the silence. Not just the lack of voices, but also the absence of the machinery, hissing steam, and the general thrum of the factory. All that was gone, leaving just a sort of windswept quiet.

Kirie swayed and gritted her teeth as she righted her balance. Out here, she already felt stronger, but there was no denying the blow had been substantial. It would take a few days rest to heal. Days she knew she would need after this.

“We did it. It’s over.”

She turned to Valery, now covered in almost as much blood and dirt as Kirie was, and embraced her tightly, whispering her thanks quietly.

“So what now?” she asked as they pulled apart. “The Alliance comes and cleans this up?” Now they were outside, there were other pressing questions to consider. The workers would need to be clothed and fed, given places to stay and work to support themselves. And what of the other factories and workhouses on Castell and beyond. There was still so much work to be done.

Kirie sighed and leaned a shoulder on Valery.

“At least we can be happy with what we’ve done here.”