The Emancipation Act

[Samka Derith]

Loovria​

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World of chains​

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​

The galaxy was a varied place teeming with countless civilisations. Even among the same species, multiple cultures and societies developed. Despite this variety, certain values were accepted among the vast majority of the galactic peoples. Some things were simply 'morally wrong'. Murder, thievery and cannibalism to name just a few were treated with near universal appal. But naturally with the galaxy being as diverse as it was, there were cultural outliers. Slavery stood as one of the great divisive issues of the galactic order. Once driven to the fringes of criminal societies and backwaters, the rising tide of the Dark Side had made the practice not uncommon. Yet some worlds clung to it far longer than most others. For some worlds it was not just a method of control, of labour or economics. For some it was culture itself.

One of these worlds was Loovria.

It was a hot day so Samka Derith was grateful to be in the shade. The harsh sun would do terrible things to a girl with sensitive complexion such as herself. She was less grateful for the large crowds around them. These were the sorts of areas that she enjoyed blending in with a little less. Vast excitable crowds full of aliens wearing shabby clothes and reeking of strange smells. The Ren had come dressed for the occasion, wearing some baggy grey top and bottoms. Her hair was slightly dishevelled and a smudge of dust lay on her cheek but she made sure that she still looked conventionally pretty and cute. Like a wide-eyed, naive street urchin.

Sitting by her side was the pink haired little Sith she'd agreed to take under her wing. Just last week the two had enjoyed a delightful time together of cake, attempted murder and playful games. The child's deceitful, sickly sweet behaviour had been so endearing to one who appreciated the game. It was partly for that reason she'd elected to have a little treat before they begun their first mission together.

They sat at the front row of one of Loovria's many gladiatorial arenas. Here was where slaves were pitted against each other for blood sports. The one Sam had booked tickets to was a 'last man standing free for all'. A Wookiee, Trandoshan, Anx, Gamorrean, Talz, Barabel and a Whiphid were all locked in combat. Sam hoped that Funami would enjoy the spectacle but wouldn't let the excitement overwhelm her and get in the way of their task. Today may end up an accidental early test of her restraint among everything else.

The crowd suddenly roared as the Anx went down. The Gamorrean which had felled the other alien grabbed the Anx's head then with a show of incredible brute force, yanked it from the alien's body. As the porcine creature proudly squealed and displayed the grizzly sight to the crowd, people cheered and jeered. A few were angry or upset, the fighter they had placed money on eliminated, but most were thrilled to thin out the competition.

"Oh dear," Sam shook her head. "His reflexes leave much to be desired." The Ren spared a glance down at her holopad. Here she'd noted the outline of their objectives. Making sure the crowd were excited enough that they couldn't be overheard, Samka leaned in to speak in the ear of her small companion. "So Funami, remember our goals. Bespin special forces are striking across the planet as we speak. We're not here to end slavery across this entire world but to disrupt one operation, that originally backed by our friend, Mr Dreysion. He made a tidy sum selling to the arenas here. We secure their transport ships, steal their wealth, liberate as many of their slaves as we can and end the lives of their leaders. Oh and this is all so I can see what you can do and work on your strengths and weaknesses later." Sam beamed brightly at the little Sith.

"We'll stay until the end of this match and then be off!" Samka nudged the shoulder of her little companion in encouragement and turned back to watch the event just in time to see the Trandoshan impaled at the end of the Wookiee's sword to the delight of most of the crowd.

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]​

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

Slavery was bad. Unforgivable. Outright horrible! So all good, decent people with high moral standards said when questioned! All governments with a bit of conscience in them had outlawed slavery, guaranteeing freedom to all sentient beings no matter their race. In reality though, nobody really cared until the slippery and very profitable business threatened to make someone important look bad. It hardly impacted the everyday life of the average citizen, and thus most governments lacked the incentive to actively take a stand against slavery. A small bribe here and there had a way of making officials forget and long-term memory problems could be achieved via a steady income of credits. Cloud City was no different, rotten to the core, though one particular Mr. Dreysion had gotten too greedy and careless. To prevent a public outrage, it had been decided another illegal operation would be shut down today. The poor, miserable slaves would enjoy their freedom at last.

And Funami Teriyaki, Sith acolyte and student of Vaulkhar, could not care less. Watching a bunch of slaves tear one another to pieces was entertaining. Given the loud cheers booming from all directions, she wasn’t the only one who thought so. As if to further show her utter disregard for sentient life, the child sucked on a lollipop while blood splashed left and right. A glance to her side revealed Sam’s unusually messy form and Funami spared a moment to scrutinize the unusual sight. Unlike the small girl, Sam obviously cared about fitting in. Not that there was much to be desired; Sam had blended in with the unwashed rabble sitting about. Merely letting her cold, dark gaze trail over them filled her with disgust.

Eager to show off, she had brought the elegant Atrisian parasol she had told Sam so much about. Propped against the Sithling’s shoulder, it proudly declared a rich person was in town. Aside from the top made of red silk and paper painted with a traditional Atrisian design, its shaft proudly boasted it had been crafted from the expensive and highly sought-out greel wood. The pink-haired Sithling herself had arrived clad in her finest dress, a combination of white and blue silk that made her look like an oversized doll. A blood-red cape hung over her shoulders and covered most of her outrageous apparel, letting only her pink-haired head and two socked legs peek out. Squeaky clean and having the fragrance of strawberries about her, Funami stuck out like a sore thumb.

At this point, it became painfully clear she was doing it on purpose.

Her focus snapped toward the show upon hearing the cruel snap of bone. A wild smile crossed her lips and it almost appeared she ignored everything her new friend had said. A subtle, attentive nod, a brief flick of her eyes toward Sam, and Funami dispelled any such notion, even if her eyes remained glued to the display of violence. The Trandoshan died with agony written over its alien features, kissing the dirt like the lowest form of life.

It was all very sad and tragic to see for sure, but the small-statured girl couldn’t bring herself to act shocked. Never overflowing with compassion, the grin to grace her expression showed upon every display of blood and death. She particularly liked the beheading. Especially the beheading. Witnessing such a show of raw, brute, almost primal savagery made life worth living. Glancing down at her small, soft hands, she felt a pang of regret. Although capable of great things, terrible things, this would forever remain a delight she was not meant to experience. Letting out a dreary sigh, she turned her sight back to the ring, cocking her head.

The Wookiee had sunk its sword into the piggy-like alien and proceeded to rip the Barabel’s arm off, using the appendage to pommel the Whiphid in the face. Nasty! Eyes wide, Funami bit her lip and chuckled while the crowd roared, cheering and shouting, whipped into a bloodthirsty frenzy. As if strengthened by the encouragement, the furry winner did not cease when its last opponent dropped down. The Barabel’s arm kept smashing the Whippid’s head over and over until life abandoned the defeated alien. Raising the Barabel's arm high above its head, the Wookiee turned to the audience and let out a chilling growl that declared victory.

Curling the corners of her lips further, Funami's smile turned cruel. Looking at the winner, she willed the furry giant to die. Her idle thought had proven stronger than the champion's pair of muscular arms. Physical strength was pointless when one wielded the ultimate power in the universe. Life was no fair. And then the Wookiee keeled over, exactly as her sadistic little mind desired. Its corpse twitched once, then went forever still.

Disappointed silence descended upon the arena as the chatter and cheering ceased completely. Shock, disappointment, and surprise stared from everyone’s eyes, fixed upon the dead bodies. Displaying absolutely nothing of the sort, the short girl gazed at the brunette next to her. Although posing innocent, the girl's gleaming eyes spelled murder. A hand gently poked Sam in the side, demanding attention. She wanted to get out before the cursing and whining crowd started for the exit.

“Let’s go!” She chirped happily into her friend’s ear and led the way outside in graceful, if childish steps while still wearing that simpering grin. A jolly, melodic tune upon her lips, Funami carried herself like a queen; a display of innocence only Sam knew to be a fat lie.

[member="Samka Derith"]​

 

[Samka Derith]

"Curious," Sam raised a brow as the champion collapsed without injury, much to the bewilderment of the crowd. It took but a moment to find the source. The Dark Side's influence lingered on the Wookiee's twitching corpse and the trail she could sense led directly to the little Sith beside her. The little Sith who offered her an inquisitive glance laced with a hidden murderous gleam in those purple eyes.

Before the crowds really had a chance to respond to the unexpected development, the child was off. She joyfully cut a swift path onward heading for a premature exit. "Ah ah ah," Sam reached forwards to pinch the girl's shoulder. "We get in from here," she motioned sideways with her head and led the way through the ever more agitated crowd.

While Sam could weave in and out of the crowds with barely a second glance, Funami was drawing some odd glances here and there. Even here on Loovria, the gladiator pits were not regarded as child friendly entertainment by most. Her elaborate dress only served as a further draw to attention. Samka made certain to keep the girl extra close. Partly because she was an obvious target for a mugging and partly because her scent was by far the most appealing smell in the air and masked the other far less pleasant odours around. Thankfully though, it seemed the majority of the crowd were distracted arguing about the game's result. A few high betters were getting very angry indeed and an explosive atmosphere was beginning to set in.

"Excuse me," Sam threw an apologetic smile as she pushed past an Ithorian squabbling with a Toydarian and made down a corridor where the crowds noticeably thinned. "You know, it's a shame the champion died like that," Sam turned her head partially to Funami while keeping a firm pace forwards. "If someone were planning something to the benefit of slaves, such as him, he might have been of aid. We already saw he was strong." The Ren gave a small, knowing raise of her brows. It wasn't a full scorning by any means but a gentle reminder of potential resource management. Such behaviour was, in her opinion, the most glowing weakness of the Sith. So keen were they to waste lives for little reason when those lives could be better spent in other, far more useful ways.

Turning a corner, the Dark Side pair were faced with a large metal blast-door which looked very different to the shabby, mostly wooden arena and stands. A single bodyguard stood by it, glancing up with a very unhappy look on his three eyed face. He was a Gran in a surprisingly sharp suit and brandishing a pistol. For a species made up of gentle herbivores, they seemed to be involved in the seedier side of the galaxy remarkably often. "<<What are you doing here?>>" The alien asked in his native tongue.

"I'll handle this," Sam said quickly. They were still within earshot of the crowds and she suspected the little Sith's first reaction would be to murder the guard. There would be a time for that later but for now, keeping alertness of the enemy low was imperative to achieve all their objectives. "Let us through and give us your keycard." The Ren spoke slowly, clearly and stared the Gran in the face. She'd reached out with the Force and pressured the alien's weak mind. He groaned with discomfort and began to twitch. Unlike a Jedi Mind trick which subtly influenced the target, those steeped in the Dark Side required domination and submission. With a grimace, the Gran held his head then turned to the console. "That's it," Sam said softly and reassuringly. "It'll stop when you obey." The blast doors hissed open and Sam immediately marched forth, snatching the keycard held out by the groaning alien as she moved past.

"Here we are!" Samka announced triumphantly with a little twirl on her heels. "Oh and he won't remember a thing," the brunette nodded with a giggle back towards the doors which sealed once more. They were still in a corridor but the walls and ceiling were much more metallic and cleaner on the eyes. "One of the few places I've seen where the employee only area is more appealing than the customer facilities. Now look at this!" She tapped on a convenient building plan and guide on the wall. Clearly intended for guests or new employees who wandered in. "Hanger, slave chamber and... executive offices." Sam flashed a bright smile down at her pink haired companion. "So, where would you like to visit first? It's all up to you from here on out, I'll only step in as needed!"

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]​

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

“Uh?” The Sithling cocked an eyebrow and turned after Sam as the brunette went a different way. “Oh!” Briskly hurrying after her new sister, the child stayed as close as possible, little feet scuttling behind the elder Dark side user. The weird glances thrown her way did not matter to Funami, but she did not want to get lost. As silly as the idea seemed, her short stature meant losing sight of Sam presented an actual possibility and being surrounded by questionable individuals did not appeal to her. Even though her telekinesis would most likely handle anything these miserable fools had up their sleeve, the young Sith had zero intention of starting a pointless fight. That, and Sam had this impressive ability to have crowds make way for her without needing to push people aside.

Eventually walking beside Sam and so-so keeping up with her pace, the girl threw a sideways glance at the woman. “Such a shame, indeed! If only someone were planning something to the benefit of slaves.” The pink-haired acolyte sneered at Sam’s suggestion and made no further comment. Albeit fully aware of what Sam wished to convey, the child had her own plan and the Wookiee champion played no role in it. Wincing and pushing herself closer to Sam after her sleeve brushed against an alien that looked like an oversized dog and smelled the same, little Funami grumbled an inaudible insult and raised her parasol higher, setting it straight to avoid it taking damage. Eager to escape the clutching mass of bodies, she was all too glad when they finally entered the spacious hallway. Only one guard and one door denied them progress.

Her face lit up, watchful eyes paying attention to the brunette’s way of handling the guard. Mind probing and all that telepathic business was never her thing. Seeing it done sent shivers down her spine and brought back unpleasant memories, forcing the Sith to conceal a grimace. Nervously tapping her foot and glancing about, the girl patiently waited until Sam broke the guard’s mind and the two Dark side addicts freely sauntered past the freshly opened door. As it closed again, the girl’s ears perked up and she listened to the ensuing silence. Little shoes quietly tapped against the floor, interrupted by no other noise than Sam’s movement. The filtered air almost smelled fresh, definitely an improvement over the stench outside.

“If you say so,” Funami commented upon Sam’s assurance of the guard’s memory loss. Never big on mind tricks and other powers of mind manipulation, the child would have killed the guard to ensure his silence. The two liked to do certain things differently despite the uncountable qualities shared between them. Strolling closer to the plan, she leaned in and inspected it closely, memorizing the structure’s layout. Of course, being a little scheming manipulator, the girl had made her choice long ago. Slowly, she turned to Sam with that mischievous glitter twinkling beneath her violet eyes.

“It’s obvious, isn’t it?” the small, adorable child cast a devious smile that gave away her intent before she spelled it out. “I’ll have a chat with the leaders and persuade them to work for me. Off most of them to make it clear I am serious.”

A small frown pulled at her eyebrows as she looked straight into the brunette’s eyes. “Don’t give me that look! Come on, I need to build a power base!” She insisted and pouted, crossing her arms over her chest like a sulking child. “While Bespin special forces put up a good show that leaves everyone happy, we seize this opportunity to grab a big, fat slice of the slaving business. You said it yourself, this world won’t be free of slavery. Isn’t it better to make use of this resource?”

Placing a fist on her hip and adopting a daring grin, she posed akimbo.

“So, before I decide where to go – what do you think?”

[member="Samka Derith"]​

 

[Samka Derith]

Sam's smile faded, her happy display drifting away and something far more sinister settled in its place. Dark energy swelled around her and colour and warmth seemed to fade from the corridor around them. She wasn't upset or angry at Funami, but she was taken off guard at the girl's very different plan. One she must have been thinking of for some time and hadn't bothered to share until they were deeply involved.

"This wasn't the mission I assigned you," Sam merely cocked her head at first and regarded the girl curiously, her expression unreadable.

Funami continued, a fair point made about resources. It was she, after all, who had lectured the girl on the matter just a few minutes previously. But it was a gamble she had to strongly consider first. She watched the little Sith as she coldly weighed the options in her head. Funami was looking as adorable as ever while she proposed acquiring a control of a slavering operation forcing combatants to fight one another to death. Typical.

"I'm not sure how this would increase your power base," She said slowly. "This particular network is being cut to shreds, our role here was but a small piece in the overall operation. In addition to that, this is but a den for blood-sport. Not labour. Money could be the only incentive here and it's a resource you do not lack."

She reached out, still stoic in tone and expression, as she placed a single pointer finger beneath the child's chin. Sam gently but firmly pressed upwards, tilting the girl's head as though inspecting her close. "Such a devious mind packed behind that sweet face," she murmured softly. "A real Sith's ambition at play."

She withdrew her touch and the ghost of a smile settled on the Ren's face. "This is an awful gamble but you've peaked my curiosity. If you think it worthwhile, so be it. I am here to access you in all your abilities and your innovativeness is no exception. If it turns out to better serve other interests of mine that this entire network should be wiped out, however, I will not hesitate to return and dismantle what remains."

"Now!" Brightness returned to the woman and with it, the entire environment around them. She gestured to her side with an open palm and polite smile. "Do lead the way, Funami."

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]​

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

Giving an innocent shrug and averting her gaze toward the ceiling while mischief flashed in her large eyes, the girl feigned ignorance. She wasn’t sure how Sam would take her little deviation from the original plan and thus fell into silence, not saying a word until the woman’s inspection. The words flattered her for sure, boosting the little child’s confidence while making her very aware failure meant death for everyone involved in the operation. For that reason, she felt no worry at all; many would die either way and everyone’s death counted as completing the original objective. Funami liked money though. Money existed so one could buy anything the galaxy had to offer. Even with a billionaire papa, she wanted more and more credits to buy anything and bribe anyone her little black heart desired.

“We all have to start somewhere,” the girl rumbled and shook her head. “And it’s good to start small and grow! But, um, sure! If my plan fails or you ever need to, feel free to kill everyone!” She added enthusiastically and winked at her sister in the Dark side. The Sith's little feet started padding toward the corridor that promised to connect with the executive offices. Twirling the parasol in her hand and propping it against a shoulder again, she hummed a happy song in a playful skip through the grey, monotone corridors. Rounding a corner revealed another door and a duo of guards. Both Weequays, clad in combat vests and wielding very nice, high-powered guns. Their attention simultaneously snapped to the approaching girls.

“Hey, this is a restricted are--” One guard started toward the girl and was promptly cut off by invisible hands choking the air from his lungs and clenching his windpipe. The other alien suffered the same punishment for standing in the new boss’ way. Dropping the blasters as their hands went to their necks to pry off the crushing hold, both fell to their knees, gasping for air and choking. Pleading eyes full of terror, they turned to Funami in hopes the little girl would somehow save them, but she did not spare as much as a glance to acknowledge their deathly throes.

“I know,” the small child uttered with a voice full of sadistic glee and swept past the collapsing bodies.

Unable to withstand her mental pressure, the door snapped open and led the girl up a set of stairs. Another reinforced metal door to pry open, another unprepared pair of guards to strangle and she stood in the executive office. A nice enough place with control consoles here and there and holographic projectors turning the walls into a picturesque scene of a cascading waterfall. A whiff revealed the smell of an air freshener, making the office of place of calm. Four humans sat huddled around a small metal desk, sipping at their drinks and bathing in the bright blue light of a hologram. With their attention focused solely upon the image that showed a mess of words and numbers, they did not even notice the door open.

“I’m telling you! This is no malfunction! We are under attack. We need to relocate our--”

Funami sauntered in like an actor entering a scene. Four pairs of human eyes looked her way, four humans stared at the little girl in disbelief.

“Hi! I’m Funami Teriyaki and you’re my new employees. Nice to meet you!” She beamed a grin wide enough to sell the little girl’s charm, though her intentions were nowhere near as pure as her looks.

Her fingers flicked up and down in a deliberately carefree, childish fashion. A rush of dark power collectively lifted the gathered slavers in the air and proceeded to slam their fragile forms against the desk. All tumbled down the polished floor like a set of discarded toys. They tried to get up but realized they were already in the air again, held aloft by the Force. Funami hurled them into the wall, smashing the holoprojector and with it the fake waterfall. A loud thud and several sickening cracks of bone resonated through the room. Then they were floating again, legs kicking for purchase in empty air. Eyes full of fear, the four stared at the small child who laughed at their misery. A hand or two tried to go for the desk where alarm buttons had been discreetly installed. Any such attempt was met with failure, unable to reach far enough.

“Pity, what a pity! No guards when you need them!” The Sithling cackled.

[member="Samka Derith"]​

 

[Samka Derith]

Having secured the girl's agreement, Sam took her backseat role and strolled at an almost leisurely pace behind her student. Skipping, humming, twirling a parasol in one hand. Samka shook her head with a small smile. Age difference aside, it was almost a mirror image.

It didn't take long for them to find enemies. Good, this is what they were here for. Funami's response to the pair of Weequay guards was swift and efficient. A small nod of approval came from the Ren. The choke obstructing their windpipe would prevent them from crying for help or otherwise alerting others. It seemed Funami had a firm understanding of the principle which made sense. Choking was a similar practice to telekinetics which Sam already knew was the girl's strength. She made no attempt to hide the bodies. Samka, trained extensively as an agent for longer paced and higher stakes infiltration had to remind herself this situation didn't call for it. Funami was going directly to the heart of the beast to quickly deal with the leaders and they could likely handle this group of slavers on their highest alert regardless.

Sidestepping over the fallen bodies, the Ren didn't spare them so much as a glance. Any shred of empathy she may have did not extend to the lowlifes of the galaxy. They ranked among the bottom of the galaxy's denizens in her respect, far below Jedi. A large telekinetic attack and the door beyond was slammed open. She paused for a moment, inspecting the damage. Not enough to tear the thing from its hinges but most unarmoured lifeforms would be incapacitated by a blow that strong. Hearing the little Sith's pattering feet ascending the staircase turned her attention back to the girl. Then immediately averted her eyes with a sigh. A more age appropriate length of dress may be one more thing she'd have to teach her student. She made a mental note alongside everything else to lecture her on later.

The pattern repeated again at the top of the staircase. More choked guards, more blown up doors and they were there. Four humans were the ringleaders of this branch and they were in a panic. The Ren waited outside the door for a moment. She didn't need to distract for the time being, Funami would take the lead and her senses were more than adequate to understand what happened. She felt the build up of Dark power, of fear among the slavers. Repeated slamming and pain followed by the child's demented cackling. Funami seemed to have the situation under control so Samka elected to stroll in behind her.

"Oh don't look at me," Samka batted her eyes noticing some of their panicked gazes settled on her. "I wanted to just kill you and be done with it, this was her idea." She gave her smaller companion a light squeeze on the shoulder in acknowledgement.

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]​

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

“That’s right! My sister here wants to kill every single one of you.” Funami nodded in acknowledgment of Sam’s words without ever taking her eyes off the slavers. Although clearly defeated, defiance stared from their eyes still. That just wouldn’t do. Completely letting go of them, she amusedly watched as two sluggishly scrambled to their feet and stumbled toward the table while another reached for his personal blaster instead. Only the last slaver had enough sense to stay down and watch, his back pressed against the wall. The duo who wished to call security crashed into the wall again while the one with the gun trained the barrel of his small, concealable blaster at the girl.

“I’ll sooner die before I let some shitty brat steal my work!”

And so he did.

Her hands clenched around her foe's throat—but not really, only in her mind, strangling him with her thoughts while she remained standing in place, practically motionless. A snap of her little fingers, a sickening crack, and the foolish hero had kept his pride at the cost of his life. None of the remaining trio dared to reach for the gun in the dead man's hand. They never had a chance to make a move. Her strong telekinesis seized their throats and brought them to the brink of unconsciousness before releasing the crushing grip and letting their weakened bodies limply hit the ground. Just as their mouths hungrily gasped for oxygen, the girl flicked a finger once more and squeezed their throats again without offering them the reprieve they so craved.

“Serve me!” Funami chirped in her childish, immature voice, almost giggling.

With nothing to cushion their fall, they struck the floor again, gagging and choking. She clenched her fingers further with power that would crush them to the ground, and her telekinetic grip would tighten still, squeezing, crushing. Obedience or death. She would accept no other answer.

“Serve me!”

Out came the voice of not a child, but a young woman, the same Sam had heard on Cloud City during the most regrettable incident. The mask disguising her true nature fell off; every fake smile and puppy-eyed stare just a deliberately constructed tool of manipulation. There was nothing cute or adorable about Funami now, being the very image of child-like cruelty and absolute lack of compassion. A Sith through and through.

The unyielding grip loosened, if only to allow a reply.

“I will! I will serve you, I’ll do anything if you--” One of the bosses managed to croak between gasps for air and Funami’s hand clenched into a ball of anger, twisting and mangling the man’s body in ways never thought possible. His dying screams terrorized those who remained and shattered their hope of escaping intact. A sneer crossed the Sith’s lips as she watched them sob and cry without an ounce of empathy in her eyes.

Stubborn and prideful, slavers never really understood the concept of slave and master when on the receiving end. They had much to learn the hard way if they wished to make this relationship work. Funami’s powerful hold on them was reinstated, more unrelenting that before, so overwhelming it felt as if their ribs were collapsing. The torture did not end there, for stubborn dogs needed punishment to learn how to behave and pain was a great teacher. Even farm animals, if shocked enough times after touching the fence, learned to void all thoughts of escape.

With a completely emotionless expression, Funami lifted one finger and tapped it in the air, as if pushing a needle into a pincushion. That was a signal for the Dark swelling within to pin the two to the ground with such intensity it threatened to break their fragile, soiled bodies.

“Serve me.” The young Sith apprentice hissed venomously, eyes gleaming with angry flames flickering within.

“Please! Let us serve you, Miss Teriyaki!” When finally freed of her mental grip, the two knelt rather than stood, begging for permission to serve her with hands clasped together. Now that she knew the two meant every word, the child graced them with a gentle smile to appreciate their kind offer. Relishing her victory, Funami breathed in the scented air and writhed and wallowed in the dark side’s embrace. Everything had gone just as she had foreseen and it was utterly intoxicating. Lifting a hand one last time, relishing the horror the two felt, she brought a comlink to her lips rather than deliver more pain.

“You can come in, boys!” The Sithling chirped to someone on the other end and turned to Sam, grinning like a child who expected praise after a good performance.

Six thugs clad in sharp suits and posing tough entered through the broken door. Funami’s Korriban Rippers presented those weak acolytes who lacked the strength to advance on their own, and thus flocked about more ambitious and promising students. The girl did not hesitate to make use of them, for they owed her their lives and she had promised them great things in exchange for their loyalty. A nod in greeting and the acolyte turned toward the slavers.

“Say hello to my bodyguards,” the girl smiled kindly and gestured toward them with a hand. “They are here to ensure your loyalty and guard my interests with your lives. Allowing you to live makes me directly responsible for your subsequent behavior. So, what I'm offering is not generosity, but an opportunity to start again!”

The girl simpered.

“With your blood and sweat, you will rebuild this operation and expand far and wide. I expect you to work tirelessly and make our business more profitable than ever before. In the end, you will come out ahead!”

[member="Samka Derith"]​

 

[Samka Derith]

Sister? Funami had truly taken to those words. Every so often, some of the Ren had taken to calling one another 'brother' or 'sister'. It reinforced bonds and solidified the idea that their organisation was their true family now. The place they belonged. Samka had rejected such words outright and rolled her eyes at any who addressed her as such. She found the reasoning flawed. She didn't need titles construing an artificial sense of family to people who were little more than acquaintances to want to keep them alive.

But she didn't get that same feeling when the little Sith said it.

Still there were more important things to focus on than dynamics of relationships. As expected, telekinetics formed Funami's strategy. Choking, suspending, slamming... interestingly enough, Sam noticed she didn't have to extend her arms or hands much nor did she seem to require intensive concentration. Her skill in this area was enough that the Ren was starting to question if she had much to pass on. Although she could certainly provide plenty of avenues for experience.

The disappearance of the childish act then caught Sam's attention. Funami had been like this before back on Cloud City but she'd maintained control of her composure far better this time. The image of cruelty before her made a far more threatening sight than the incident she'd previously witnessed. Far more grown up. Sam thought back on everything she'd seen about the girl today. This really was no mere child with a lust for bloodshed. There was an intelligent mind in there, matured beyond her body. Violence had a way of doing that.

It hadn't taken long before submission was achieved. Two dead. Two bowed. Funami's 'companions' had entered to finish the rest. Sam had sensed them earlier and briefly wondered if it was a ploy by the young Sith to betray her but elected to trust that the girl was wiser.

Before they left, Sam stepped forwards to address the slavers and cleared her throat. "Ahem. I would strongly recommend re-branding as well. Some powerful people would really rather you were dead. Myself included." She gave a quick bow of her head then draped her arm around Funami's little shoulders to lead her pink haired 'sister' from the room and further down the corridors.

With a quick check of her senses, the Ren confirmed they were out of ear shot. "Sooo," she turned to the Sith and bent her knees slightly to be closer to Funami's level, a gentle smile resting on her pretty face. "Before I say anything, how do you think you did?" She knew Funami craved her praise, she'd caught those violet eyes looking at her for attention but first she'd wait and hear what her budding student had to say. Self-reflection was a key skill as well.

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]​

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

Leaving her gang and new employees to their work, the child twirled the beautifully crafted parasol between her delicate fingers and spun about, jovially skipping out of the office with Sam’s arm around her small shoulders. Little shoes tapped down the stairs in perfect sync with Sam’s footsteps as the small one took extra care to properly mimic the elder girl’s mannerism. Albeit very similar in that aspect even before meeting one another, Funami wanted some of the elegant refinement Sam displayed. That and the little girl desired to convey the message of being sisters. It doubled their grace and elegance while also erasing any suspicion of danger from people’s minds.

As the filtered air lost its pleasant scent and turned completely neutral to the nose, the duo’s synchronized saunter stopped and with it the rhythmical click of heels. The blank, lifeless expressions of the dead guards wordlessly stared at their killers, unable to ruin the moment. Turning to face Sam and toying with the parasol’s wooden shaft, the girl gave a nod and lifted up her chin. An impish light flashed through her violet gaze for the briefest of moments as she pursed her lips.

“I did perfect, I’m amazing,” The girl stated and her overly serious tone gave away the words were meant in jest. “Obviously. I was born that way. Awesome.”

Funami boastfully puffed her chest out, feigning pride, but dropped the act the moment it overstayed its welcome. While most definitely pleased about the result, she wasn’t one to let one little success get into her head too much. Arrogance and short-sightedness had ended too many Sith to be A pleasant, warm smile curled the corners of her mouth and Funami turned into that adorable, sweet little child who wished nothing more than to please her big sister. Despite snuffing out several lives today without batting an eyelid, the girl had an aura of innocence about her when she smiled. With the guards Funami had killed earlier laying nearby, the smiles and sweetness of the two young women made for a strange, surreal scene.

“Though not quite according to the original plan, I’d say all went pretty well,” she spoke softly with a delicate lift of her perfectly manicured eyebrows. “I don’t know if this little venture turns profitable, but I do know the two will do their best to make it happen. Fear is a powerful motivator.”

A slight turn of her head and she averted her gaze, remembering the purest face of terror mirrored in their eyes. A cock of her head and she shifted to face her teacher.

“They won’t dare to disappoint me.” Her words came out laced with venom, an unspoken promise of things to come should they ever fail their new duty. And with that threat, a bright, kind smile graced her features, her gaze glued to something on Sam’s face.

“Fufu, look at you,” the girl giggled, a mock frown pulling at her brow, and her free hand produced a pristine handkerchief. Much like Sam had done on Cloud City, Funami’s fingers gently wiped away at the filthy smudge on the elder woman’s cheek, restoring Sam’s outer purity to a degree. “There!”

[member="Samka Derith"]​

 

[Samka Derith]

"Obviously you are," Samka smirked back at her companion in jest as she praised herself so highly. So sweet did she look that it was impossible to resist reaching out to gently ruffle the girl's pink hair. It made the pleasing scent of strawberry stronger for a moment.

The rest she listened to in silence, weighing up the little Sith's words. She didn't reflect on her abilities but rather her results and how profitable it may be. The Ren nodded, still waiting for Funami to finish before she spoke up with her own input. She hadn't expected the handkerchief to come out.

Funami lightly dabbed at Sam's cheek. She wiped away the little smudge Sam had left on her cheek, the one made to have her blend in more with the unwashed masses outside. Disguised brown eyes flickered between the delicate fingers wiping her cheek and the mock frown on the childish features ahead of her. It took a moment but Sam broke out into a soft chuckle. She leaned into the younger girl's touch, allowing her to clean it.

"All better?" She asked, closing her eyes with a simper once the girl was finished. "Well, I wouldn't count on their loyalty so soon," she continued, somehow looking as bright and friendly as before. "Coerced loyalty is no true loyalty. They may run, they may be biding their time to fight back. People can be ridiculously silly sometimes, Funami. Even a display like today's can be forgotten as time passes and they begin to imagine how things could have been different."

She hummed a quick happy tune to signify a change of topic then reached out to place a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Funami, I'd like to test something else while we're here. Close your eyes and focus only on the Force. Don't call upon the Dark specifically. Just the basic feeling of the Force itself. What do you feel? How many lifeforms are around us? How many are sentient? Focus."

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]​

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

One glance at the soiled handkerchief and Funami no longer felt like keeping it. A gracious motion of her hand discarded the delicate piece of cloth without care. Before the smudged white fabric even hit the floor, the pink-haired child already attentively listened to Sam’s assessment of the mission. Loyalty out of fear truly held little value, for the initial shock would eventually wear off, yet the girl still believed the two she had allowed to live would not dare to cross her. Not this early, anyway. Her bodyguards, too, served as a deterrent to any foolishness and treacherous thoughts. That, and they had been tasked to learn how to run the operation on their own. Once the bosses had nothing new to show, they would die. Despite her sugary sweet smiles, Funami was an efficient little Sith when it mattered.

Any tool to outlive its usefulness had to be disposed of.

Sam’s next request completely ruined the mood. The air suddenly felt colder, yet beads of sweat formed on the Sithling’s forehead and her grin froze. Reaching out via the Force and feeling the world about was something every acolyte knew how to do. Or so they claimed. Funami, too, assured knowledge of the ability. She had never told anyone, afraid of telling one of her teachers. Lacking a skill so rudimentary among Force users was a massive weakness. Sith did not tolerate weakness in their ranks.

Funami did not want to be disposed of.

A serious expression erased the girl’s smile, followed by a slow, thoughtful nod. Sam’s hand on her shoulder no longer held that encouraging warmth, rather turning into the executioner’s axe poised to strike. Still, the girl’s violet eyes shut closed as instructed and she drew several deep breaths for show.

“I feel, um,” she muttered and frantically thought of something remotely believable to say. “I feel very light. As if floating in water. I can count eight sentient lifeforms back inside the office. Then there’s you. And me. And then we have, uh…”

An embarrassed frown crossed her brow. Violet eyes fluttering open, she averted her gaze to the dead bodies before mustering enough courage to look at Sam. This was it. She was going to lose her sister. And her teacher. Her life, perhaps?

“Okay!” She started, looking like the embodiment of misery. “I don’t feel any difference! There is nothing when I close my eyes! I have no idea how to do this, how it’s supposed to work!”

As soon as she revealed the truth, voice shaking, tears started to well up in her eyes.

[member="Samka Derith"]​

 

[Samka Derith]

For a girl with so much ability to hide what she was and how she felt, Funami could be remarkably easy to read at times. The disappearance of her glee and ego was more telling than anything else. Her words lacked substance. There was no emotion behind them, no individuality and nothing unique to their environment. It came as no surprise then that the Sith faltered. Those large violet eyes fluttered open and averted their gaze as sadness and embarrassment took hold of the little girl.

This was the way, wasn't it? They always had to look strong. Funami's voice had become shrill, tears began to drop down those childish cheeks.

"Oh hush now, little one," Samka said softly. Her smooth voice a practised and perfected recipe of reassurance. Bending down slightly, she wrapped an arm around Funami's tiny waist while the hand which had been placed on the girl's shoulder moved upwards to pass through the immaculately groomed pink set of hair to gently massage the back of the younger girl's head. Sam pulled the little Sith close against her into a tight and possessive hug. She really was a small, soft, fragile thing. Even Samka may have trouble remembering her as the Sith who just brutally murdered the two slavers.

"We all have our strengths and weaknesses," she whispered in Funami's ear. "My task is to help you overcome those weaknesses as best as we can. It's good for me to know the truth of your weaknesses so we can destroy them. Listen," Sam shut her eyes and reached out with the Force, focusing on what she could feel. First and foremost was Funami, the girl's presence beside her made an unusual concoction of darkness and innocence. She closed in on it, gently nudging the girl's mind in encouragement to follow her. She didn't breach it, she invited it to lock onto her presence and observe. She would latch on as a guest and feel a portion of what Sam did. From there she mapped out the area around them. The cold steel walls, floors and ceilings were the first things. The Force could still detect the inanimate and reveal their secrets. The bodies nearby, slain by the little Sith so casually. The essence of their lives had returned to the Force properly, beyond the void they were unreachable. But the flesh was still warm, life barely extinguished. Beyond that was the room they had just left. The emotions of fear, confusion, sorrow and traces of rage emitted from the slavers Funami had intimidated. It almost eclipsed all other feeling in the room but the Ren could push past it, seven lifeforms were in the room. One of the Sith's friends had moved to stand at the doorway outside. Samka relaxed her focus slightly, moving away from the specifics and towards building a more general picture. Emotions ran wild. Fear and sadness from the slaves in the distance, anger and joy from the crowds they'd passed through earlier. A thousand voices merged into a sea of different temperatures. Before it could get too overwhelming, she let go and returned to the corridor where she was still holding her companion close.

"Did you feel that?" Sam cooed in the child's ear. "That's something we'll work on together."

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]​

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

Sith frowned upon compassion. There was no place for it in their ideology where the strong devoured the weak and used one another to advance their individual agendas. It was a creed of pure selfishness. Those simple animals who desired to shape the galaxy into a better place to live were nothing more than idealistic, deluded fools upon whose backs others built their empires. The little Sith, too, sneered at any who engaged in actual relationships and saw social interactions as something more than a tool to manipulate everyone around. While perfectly capable of feigning affection, Funami’s fondness of those close to her had never been anything more than pretense. Throughout her life, the small Sithling had disposed of many so-called friends and allies time and time again and never looked back. Friendship and love existed solely to be exploited and she had never hesitated to do just that.

Now, with her own weakness laid out bare, Funami fully expected to receive a dose of her own cut-throat medicine. The sound of her breath grew heavy and her eyes narrowed slightly upon the sight of Sam reaching toward her. This very image was the exact same the man she had tortured on Cloud City experienced. A loud gulp elicited from her throat and the girl mentally steeled herself for the worst. Another gulp and she felt the woman's touch upon her. Rather than receive the anticipated dose of Force lightning, the pink-haired Sith found herself pulled into a hug. Confusion contorted her features, expecting a cruel trick. Not knowing whether to be alarmed or reassured, her form stood still, frozen.

Alas, as seconds passed by, no punishment had rained on her poor little head.

With her breath slowing down and her heart no longer thudding loud, the Sithling affectionately wrapped a little arm around Sam’s waist. It made no sense and the Sith’s calculating mind could not quite comprehend it, but there it was. Nobody had been this kind to her before. Even papa’s gifts and words of kindness served to inspire obedience and loyalty. Fully giving in, Funami let a few stray tears roll down her cheeks as she pressed her body against Sam’s and basked in the feeling someone truly, selflessly cared for her. Eyes closed and unwilling to open in fear the unique moment would end, she embraced the blind darkness of her mind and cleared her thoughts.

Sam’s nudge in her head did not go unanswered. Like a beacon of light shining in the night, it beckoned Funami’s underdeveloped sense to follow. Akin to a blind man feeling the world around by touch, the girl mentally stumbled at first, afraid of this new way of seeing the galaxy. With Sam’s mind being the guide, she resisted the urge to flee back into the dark abyss of her consciousness and instead joined the soothing, warm presence in exploring the newly discovered mind’s eye that had opened for the first time. An out-of-body experience some would call it, as the two minds ventured out and felt their surroundings. Overwhelmed by the countless sensations and noises that spoke directly into her head, Funami was so taken back by it all the sudden end came as a shock. Her violet eyes snapped open, gazing up into Sam’s face.

“Wow!” The pink-haired child whooped excitedly. “That was awesome! I have no idea how we did it, but…”

The prized parasol thudded down and Funami wrapped both arms around the woman she called sister.

“Thank you!” Her voice brimming with gratitude squealed and the embrace on Sam's waist tightened. “Thank you, sis.”

[member="Samka Derith"]​

 

[Samka Derith]

Somehow, she didn't detect any deceit in Funami's actions. Not in the way she returned the hug nor in the way she happily squealed. It felt real, oddly genuine from someone who so rarely was.

She chuckled lightly in response and let the moment hang for a while, squeezing the petite form in return. "Yes, yes, I'll take good care of you." There it was. 'Sister' again. She was starting to think it no coincidence just how closely Funami had dressed to her Cloud City outfit. While she latched onto the little Sith quite quickly, it was hard to say they were like family just yet. She'd never had family. The very concept of acquiring one was difficult to wrap her head around. But she was content to let Funami think what she wanted. She did care for the girl and having her care back was an improvement over the attempted murder that came on Cloud City to say the least.

"I think," Sam finally began to detach her grip on the child and pulled her body away a little but she let her hold linger just a tad longer. "This is a mission success. A great deal shorter than I anticipated thanks to your... change in the mission parameters. But I do believe I've assessed you appropriately. A very solid strength in your kinetics and an area we can improve on. I'll learn other details about you as we go." Sam smiled brightly. "In the meantime, I think you've earned a splendid reward for all your hard work. I'll let you chose, what would you like to do, my dear? My treat to you."

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]​

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

An expression that spelled innocence lifted her eyebrows as Funami pretended she had nothing to do with the mission’s premature success. She, too, felt pleased about the ordeal and hoped it to pay off in the future. If unforeseen circumstances brought her to the world again, it would be for the last time. For now she none too willingly let go of the brunette and replied to her smile with a cock of her head to the side. A warm, pleasant sensation spilled over her body as if relieved of a great burden. Funami felt grateful for what Sam had done. That was what big sisters were for.

Her stomach grumbled.

A hand reached up to her mouth, seizing the little stick that had been within ever since the arena match. The delicious candy had long since melted on her tongue, not even a sign of the aftertaste left. Still, the bare stick had been allowed to rest in Funami’s mouth, poking through between her lips for the sole purpose of making the girl look cuter. Seizing its end between two fingers, Funami pulled it out and held the tiny stick out in front of her like a holy relic. A toothy grin graced her expression, spelling mischief was afoot.

“Look, young Padawan! As we can see, the Force tells us we should grab something to eat. Being the good Jedi that we are, we are compelled to obey the will of the Force!” Funami told her recently redeemed Jedi apprentice. “The Light side will go extinct without a snack! That must not happen! Who will battle the Dark Lord’s evil if not us?”

Little fingers let go of the stick and discarded it in much the same unceremonious manner as the handkerchief before. A flick of her other hand and the parasol jumped from the ground straight into the young Sith’s open palm. A brief inspection for any damage revealed it completely fine. Propping it against her shoulder, she made a sharp turn to her right and rambled through the hallway. A jolly tune hummed in her singsong voice and a playful skip of feet here and there accompanied her journey to the outside. Occasionally stealing a glance at Sam, the little child wore a genuinely happy expression that spelled pure, innocent joy.

The crowd had long since dispersed since the duo’s escapade within the compound. Although the lingering stench of unwashed bodies remained, there were other scents that did not offend the girl’s nose a much. Being a particularly wise Jedi master, the pink-haired agent of the Light side let her nose guide her straight to a food stall operated by a pink-skinned humanoid with blue hair. Violet eyes hungrily looking at the presented dishes, the Sithling pointed at blue milk pancakes.

“There! The Light’s salvation! The Force wills it!” She stated with the usual dramatic flair.

[member="Samka Derith"]​

 

[Samka Derith]

"I see," Samka observed Funami's behaviour with a smile and soon fell into her role, bowing her head towards her 'master' in respect. "Then we had best heed the Force's will."

Funami was heading towards the exit before she knew it, as jolly as ever. How many sides to Funami had she seen today? Sam cast a glance back before she followed her companion, the Ren's gaze falling upon the discarded handkerchief and lolly pop stick. It didn't matter here, this place would be cleaned up anyway. But she hoped that her student didn't litter regularly. Litter was a pet peeve of hers, one that ruined the beauty the nature. She'd keep an eye out and scold the girl if she did it anywhere more meaningful.

It didn't take long at all for the young 'Jedi' to track down a food stall close to the arena. Perhaps anything related to food was another talent of hers, the girl ate an awful lot for such a small creature.

"Not so loud," Sam gave Funami a quick jab with her elbow, "the locals here don't much care for 'Forcies', be they Jedi or Sith. Jedi will take their slaves for their freedom, Sith will take their slaves for resources and enslave them too for that matter. To the uneducated, we're all either one or the other."

Taking the lead, Sam walked up to the woman in the stall and gave a small nod of her head in acknowledgement. The woman returned it. Was she a Zeltron? Sam wasn't certain. "I'll take two of those," she said, making an effort to mask the refinement of an Imperial accent.

After exchanging cash, Sam returned to her pink haired pupil with a blue... thing in each hand. "I have absolutely no idea what these things are," Sam said as she passed one to the girl. "But, um, eat up I suppose." She cast a sceptical look around, Funami's elegant appearance was still getting strange looks, the girl really did stick out on this planet of lowlifes.

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]​

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

“Uh, okay!” The pink-haired child muttered under her breath, cheeks flushing red in embarrassment. With the Force being an essential part of her that had been there throughout her entire life, the young Sith tended to forget the same did not go for others. Plus she never really cared what commoners thought of her abilities. Did predators concern themselves with what their food thought of them? Absolutely not. Funami saw Sam’s point though and dropped the Jedi act before it attracted unwanted attention. She didn’t want to ruin the wonderful success by being too careless.

Grabby fingers eagerly snatched at the pancake, holding its wrapping gently to avoid messy results. Sam’s lack of knowledge regarding the food quirked an eyebrow. “Really?” Funami exclaimed in genuine surprise, eyes spelling disbelief. “You have never tasted a blue milk pancake before? What have you been doing with your life?!”

Pearl white teeth hungrily bit into the blue softness, ripping off a sizable bite. The taste was adequate considering the world’s economy and general state, albeit nothing special. Without a doubt, she had tasted vastly better pancakes in her life, but this one would receive a pass because the girl’s stomach demanded it. Telekinesis had always been a guaranteed way to induce hunger for the girl. Swallowing the big bite after giving it a few chews, she turned to Sam.

“My pancakes are the best in the galaxy,” the Sithling’s proud boast announced to Sam. “I like them tall and fluffy. I so have to make a few for you one day!”

From now on she nibbled at the food rather than wolfing it down without care. An inconspicuous glance about to make sure nobody spied on the two and Funami leaned closer to Sam, much like a needy child who desperately wanted her sister’s attention.

“Since we finished early, how about we train a bit? You’re my master, after all, fufufu~” She whispered and finished with a soft giggle.

[member="Samka Derith"]​

 

[Samka Derith]

Samka frowned at the younger girl. Playfully, of course. "What I've been doing with my life is changing the course of the galaxy!" She declared triumphantly. "I'm afraid that has ranked far above my to-do list than eating blue milk pancakes, Funami!"

Taking one tentative bite of the soft pancake, Sam slowly chewed as she contemplated the flavour. It wasn't bad, melt a little in the mouth but perhaps a little dry. It was good enough to sate her appetite for now anyway. A glance at Funami and Sam could see the little girl already scoffing it down. She wanted to tell the Sith to slow down lest she get hiccups but it was rude to talk with one's mouth full. By the time she'd swallowed her food, Funami was enthusiastically chattering about her baking talent.

"I'd love to. Music and baking. That makes two things I must observe you do. I trust you'll prove exceedingly competent at both," she smirked to the tiny girl in challenge. The next matter was training.

"Finish your food but not too fast," Sam nodded, noting with approval that Funami had slowed the pace of her eating to a safer level. "Once you're done we can head back to the ship."

The Ren chuckled as she looked at her student. She hadn't done anything in particular but the girl just looked sweet as she always did. It was impossible to resist reaching out and ruffling that pink hair again. She'd be put through her paces, that was her task after all, but she was more looking forwards merely to spending more relaxed time with the girl. Finishing her pancake, the Ren made certain to delicately wipe her mouth and fingers with the provided napkins then turned to do the same to Funami, silently clearing any lingering crumbs from the younger girl's lips. After depositing the napkins in the rubbish bins nearby (and giving Funami a small look as she did it, hoping the girl would notice her attentiveness to a clean environment) she took the girl's smaller hand in her own once more and set off back to the ship for training. The girl's senses would probably be what they worked on most for now, they didn't need much in the way of preparation, space or equipment for that and she was in a good enough mood from before to work on it.

Throwing another smile at her companion, Sam took off with a skip in her step, challenging the girl to keep pace.

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]​