There's more than one way to be enslaved
The chelik'ta was larger than most they've ever had. It was definitely the largest of their new safe houses. Even now, the abandoned subway system was filled with the low sound of chatter. A smattering of Basic and Amatakka bouncing around the room. It brought a smile to Anakin's gaunt face.
Anakin was sequestered up on the third and smallest floor of the once grand station. The glass flooring had long since shattered, replaced now with haphazard duraplast and steel sheets. Though he argued against it, Anakin and his plethora of medical equipment was arrayed on the old concrete flooring of the main walkway. Even so he had makeshift rails leading to the edge of the platform, places where he could sit and tend the small garden of hanging tangleroots and rockbuds that grew there. Sometimes he was accompanied by others, young children enraptured by stories of red birds and freedom, old men simply there to revel in the feel of dirt beneath their hands and life, green and healthy, growing in their palms. It wasn't common to find things like vines and ferns in the twilight zone. The floods and the temperature made sure of that. It was only the safety of the chelik'ta that allowed them to grow.
Several months ago, earthquakes in the industrial district had caved in the subway tracks around the station. Now it was an island all to itself. With the main entrance long since built over the only way in was through a rusted over service door. It was perfect, secret but far from the mind of searching corpos. The rest of the subway was full of homeless and small time gangs, far from the best place for a safehouse.
The sound of singing pulled Anakin from his thoughts. He glanced up from his little garden to spy dancing bellow. This was one place where they could dance and sing and not fear others hearing so it was common for music to resound in the space.
"Come! Join us Anak'ipa!" Called a middling weequay.
He smiled at the nickname, "You don't want me singing, I might break someone's eardrums."
"Then come down and listen, maybe play something for us. Bentu returned with a new drum, perhaps you can play that."
"Very well, if you all insist." His words were met with resounding cheers as the singing picked back up. Anakin leveraged himself off the ground, making his way to the jury rigged elevator. The machine shook and shuddered as it made the short journey down, but it held just like it always did.
The first thing he noticed upon stepping out was the smell. Grease and cooking meat wafted against his nose, mixed with rich spices and the sweet scent of tangleroot juice. "What's the occasion?" They normally ate well here, but this was veritable feast compared to most days.
"You!" The little boy smiled up at him, scarred face wide with joy. He leaned in close, whispering low enough for Anakin to strain to hear beneath the music. "I'm not supposed to say, but Amu and Ena wanted to celebrate your healing."
That- that was not what he expected. It's true he had come a long way. He'd been cleared for more intensive physical therapy today. He could finally walk on his own, if only for short bursts. The child smiled up at him. He smiled back, all sharpened teeth and gaunt features. He was.... happy, truly happy in a way he hadn't felt in a long while. The only thing that could make this better was-
Xan! She was meant to come around today, no doubt with another makeshift droid body. He couldn't wait to introduce her to the celebrations, show her how Amavikkan really partied.
Xan Deesa
Anakin was sequestered up on the third and smallest floor of the once grand station. The glass flooring had long since shattered, replaced now with haphazard duraplast and steel sheets. Though he argued against it, Anakin and his plethora of medical equipment was arrayed on the old concrete flooring of the main walkway. Even so he had makeshift rails leading to the edge of the platform, places where he could sit and tend the small garden of hanging tangleroots and rockbuds that grew there. Sometimes he was accompanied by others, young children enraptured by stories of red birds and freedom, old men simply there to revel in the feel of dirt beneath their hands and life, green and healthy, growing in their palms. It wasn't common to find things like vines and ferns in the twilight zone. The floods and the temperature made sure of that. It was only the safety of the chelik'ta that allowed them to grow.
Several months ago, earthquakes in the industrial district had caved in the subway tracks around the station. Now it was an island all to itself. With the main entrance long since built over the only way in was through a rusted over service door. It was perfect, secret but far from the mind of searching corpos. The rest of the subway was full of homeless and small time gangs, far from the best place for a safehouse.
The sound of singing pulled Anakin from his thoughts. He glanced up from his little garden to spy dancing bellow. This was one place where they could dance and sing and not fear others hearing so it was common for music to resound in the space.
"Come! Join us Anak'ipa!" Called a middling weequay.
He smiled at the nickname, "You don't want me singing, I might break someone's eardrums."
"Then come down and listen, maybe play something for us. Bentu returned with a new drum, perhaps you can play that."
"Very well, if you all insist." His words were met with resounding cheers as the singing picked back up. Anakin leveraged himself off the ground, making his way to the jury rigged elevator. The machine shook and shuddered as it made the short journey down, but it held just like it always did.
The first thing he noticed upon stepping out was the smell. Grease and cooking meat wafted against his nose, mixed with rich spices and the sweet scent of tangleroot juice. "What's the occasion?" They normally ate well here, but this was veritable feast compared to most days.
"You!" The little boy smiled up at him, scarred face wide with joy. He leaned in close, whispering low enough for Anakin to strain to hear beneath the music. "I'm not supposed to say, but Amu and Ena wanted to celebrate your healing."
That- that was not what he expected. It's true he had come a long way. He'd been cleared for more intensive physical therapy today. He could finally walk on his own, if only for short bursts. The child smiled up at him. He smiled back, all sharpened teeth and gaunt features. He was.... happy, truly happy in a way he hadn't felt in a long while. The only thing that could make this better was-
Xan! She was meant to come around today, no doubt with another makeshift droid body. He couldn't wait to introduce her to the celebrations, show her how Amavikkan really partied.
Xan Deesa
