Beginnings of a Slave

[BZenwrath]

Nathan walked over to the slave, taking the goggles from her and quickly checking them over for any sort of tech that was out of the ordinary. As he handed her the goggles back he spoke under his breath, "I'm sorry, I don't like this anymore than you do." As she took the goggles back he noticed some slight cuts on her wrist from the chains. He felt for the girl, her sorry state wasn't the place for any woman. As much as he tried, he never seemed to be able to distance himself far enough from his work. Before anything was said, he loosened the woman's chains just enough so the pain would be more bearable. After he was done, he made his way back to his previous position against the wall.

 

[Alaisia]

As Elora felt the goggles back in her hands, she pulled them on again quickly. She looked up just in time to see the guard lean down and loosen her chains. This made her feel uncertain. Perhaps this man pitied her. As her silver eyes surveyed him closer as he took his position by the wall again, and as he looked at her again she smiled at him.

 

[BZenwrath]

Nathan caught the smile and promptly turned his gaze elsewhere. He was caught off guard by the situation, unsure of what to do. The air of the room was silent; filled with all sorts of self pity, sadness, remorse, and pain. It was practically filled with the very essence of what Nathan generally tried to avoid and yet here he was, tasked to guard slaves. And now despite his efforts to stay disengaged from the slaves, he was torn to pieces on the inside by the girls ability to continue to smile, even as a slave. It was something most in her position had forgotten to how to do without it coming out forced and contorted but yet this girl's was the real thing. He silently cursed under his breath for his inability to ignore her.

Finally, the ship shifted and whined under the stresses of movement. Their journey to the palace was now underway. Once he got word over comm, he'd be able to unchain them.

 

[Just Matt Now]

Borga paid little attention to the Balosar. It was evident that he was merely a concerned bystander who wanted to try and make a difference, no matter. They moved on...

"But i promise you i am not all show."

"Excellent Livia Goldenheart, I hope we can find something we both agree upon then. Though before we board my ship I will have to ask you to temporarily surrender your weapon. Please do not take it personally, this is a standard protocol to any, except the Grand Lorda himself of course. Haha" The Hutt mentioned, slithering out from his seclusion and on towards the stage.

Icarus had eased his tension, his focus now stood to the crowd, who slowly but surely started to exit the room. His place next to the Captain was where he was meant to be, and so he would. The slaves were guided away onto Borgas large yacht and taken into a special chamber where the guards would release them from their shackles. They would be safe, albeit temporarily trapped until they reached the palace. Whether or not Livia had given up her weapon would depend on where they would go next. Either onwards to his palace, or at yet another stalemate...though with this time, nothing for the Hutt to lose.

 

[Mcpop9]

"That depends on what your definition of Temporary is, Mr. Hutt." she said, twirling the saber hilt in her finger tips. "I may be a force wielder and would consider myself a weapon, but parting with my lightsaber is something i never take lightly. What is there to guarantee my safety and that i'll be untouched?" she asked and walked back, leaning against the stage's edge. "No offense meant, but i do realize your value in making a profit weighs heavily over many things other people take as values higher than that. And i realize the profit one can make off of selling a pre trained slave or gladiator." she explained to him, having her reasons. "I'm sorry, but you must understand my concerns."

 

[Just Matt Now]

"you have a good point, Ex-Jetii. And I understand your reasoning, though this is not an option." Borga reached down to one of his pockets that he had in his sweater. He always carried around some spending money incase he needed it, for instances like this.

"Would holding onto this make you feel better?"

Borga handed her over a single credit chit. Inspecting it further, Livia would see that the chit was worth 5 million credits. An amount no one would want to lose, and would definitely be more than enough for a single lightsaber. Although he did not plan on losing it, he fully expected to trade it back once their business was concluded.

 

[Mcpop9]

Upon inspection of the credit chit, she held her lightsaber out to the Hutt for him to take. "I respect your willingness to see eye to eye with someone and your ability to have rationality over most of the stories of greed I've heard about the cartel." She said and slid the chit into her pocket. "It shall be safely returned as I get my lightsaber, you have my word." Livia said and gave a small bow to him.

"But back to your proposition, what set of skill might you be interested in me for? I have Jedi training and my own moral compass based upon my own experiences. What might you ask of me?" She asked the Hutt as they began to walk together.

 

[Alaisia]

As the ship lifted from the ground, Elora could feel it. She stared around her, at the other slaves... the guards... There wasn't much else here. Just flat metal walls. She strained again at her chains, now trying to slip her hands through the loosened chains around her wrists. All she managed to do was scratch her wrist more. She growled softly to herself, seating herself against the wall, and waited as the ship continued on its course.

 

[Just Matt Now]

The Hutt wasnt as worried about his credits as much as he was worried about getting this girl to join the Cartel. To be honest, he had the Cartel as a whole in mind nowadays more than his own, personal endeavors. As they boarded the ship, the Hutt led Livia to the man deck, where he had another one of his thrones that he sat on. A servant, dressed well, came up to them both, offering them both drinks of wine. Borga took the glass, waving his hand for her to grab the other.

"Please..." He also pointed to a seat, one that he was sure the ex-Jedi would find most comfortable, cozy and warm.

"Before we talk business, why don't we just enjoy the scenery until we get to my palace on Nar Shaddaa. It won't take too long I assure you." Many would kill for this opportunity. To get in the good graces of the Hutt and enjoy the finer things in life. And it was clear that all the extravagance was not just a show. Livia would be able to tell with a mere sip of the expensive wine. The Hutt then motioned for an image of the slaves current chamber to be brought up in view. The monitor would show that the slaves shackles were no longer on them, and refreshments were brought to them by the same servants on board.

"Like I said, your slaves are better off with me. I suggest you enjoy all I have to offer while you can."

Icarus stood next to him, always close by. His loyalty was unshakeable and clear. The Kushari would die for the Hutt. As the ship soared out of the hangar and out into the Nal Hutta sky, their view would astonish any who gazed out of the enormous duraglass.

"It's more beautiful seeing from afar, wouldnt you agree?"

 

[BZenwrath]

Nathan was relived when he got the greenlight to release the slaves. He reached into a hardcase on his waist, pulling out a small remote. He spoke up, addressing the slaves, "We're now moving towards the palace. I'm releasing your shackles but if you try anything they're going back on, Understand?" He received an assortment of nods from the various species of people in the room. With little hesitation afterwards, Nathan flipped a release switch and the shackles released and fell to the floor in a loud clanking sound. He looked through the crowd of relief to find the girl with the goggles, nodding to her as she felt her scratched wrists.

He thought to himself for a moment, wondering if there would be an repercussion for tending to her cuts. Nathan decided that their safety also involved cleaning and covering any cuts that could become infected over time. He leaned off of the wall and walked over to the girl with goggles, taking out a medcase. He extended his other hand, asking her, "Let me see your wrists, the Hutt likes the girls to be pretty and well taken care of, not bruised and cut up."

As soon as he spoke, servants came in with refreshments for the slaves.

 

[Alaisia]

Elora nodded her thanks but stayed silent as she let the guard bandage her wrists. The medicine felt cool against her skin, but burned a little on the scratches. She didn't flinch though. She was used to pain. Her previous master, another (not so caring) Hutt, had seemed to enjoy teasing and torturing his slaves. But this new master of hers... She wasn't quite sure what to think.

As the guard finished with her wrists, she turned them and nodded as the bandages didn't hinder her movement. She watched as a servant came over offered her something to drink. "Water, please," she said, her voice cracking. She took the cup graciously and drained it halfway before sliding back down the wall to squat on the floor and survey the room again.

 

[Mcpop9]

Livia took the glass with a "Thank you." to the slave and listened as the hutt spoke to her. She still had serious doubts about many aspects of the cartel, but he was managing to make a good first impression on her. She sat in the seat as he gestured to it and found it someplace where she would deem worthy of meditation. "Yes, it is rather beautiful up here." she said and took a sip from the glass, enjoying the taste of the drink. "At times, it makes me wish i had my own craft, as all i've been doing is using simple mind tricks to hitch rides and get around the galaxy." she explained to the hutt.

With a look of renewed enthusiam, she turned to the hutt. "Might i ask who supervises your slaves? and if you've ever considered training them if you haven't already?" Livia asked Borga, her line of questions sincere. A bit of a blush landed upon her face as thoughts flew through her head. "And as much as it embarrasses me to possess such thoughts, a slave would never be expected as an assassin."

 

[Just Matt Now]

Borga listeed to the ex-slave. Her thoughts were sincere, and it was clear that she used her powers to influence others to do what she wanted. That was certainly Hutt-like. Though he found comfort in knowing that she would not be able to manipulate his mind with her tricks, his species being immune to such tricks. The Hutt shifted, getting a better view of the ex-Jedi and where she kept his credit chit.

"Training my slaves...? Haha have you not seen my gladiators, although I suppose you don't mean something as specific as gladiator bouts, as you have seen, they are well trained. As for who supervises my slaves, that would fall unto the duties of my majodormo, Wor Niedra. You will meet him once we get to my palace." Speaking in basic took more time that it would had the Hutt spoken in his native language. Though he did not care, she would wait for him to speak, and listen to every word carefully, as did all others.

"No, a slave would never be expected to be an assassin. That is what makes it so brilliant. Answer me this Jedi, would you be interested in a training position. Are you skilled in melee combat?"

He did not need trainers for his gladiators, although there were some of his slaves he would like to have skills in other areas than just dining and servitude. His gladiators were too brutish, they viewed normal slaves as weak and not worth their time. However, perhaps an ex-Jedi might be able to convey upon his slaves the skills of stealth and some basic melee combat techniques. The ship had entered the orbit of Nar Shaddaa, they would be upon the palace shortly.

 

[Alaisia]

As the ship went into orbit around the planet Elora would now call home, she felt a shift in the others. A faint relax, perhaps? It was so subtle she nearly missed it. She looked around the room yet again from where she was squatting against the wall and saw the other slaves still looking uneasy. Especially the two Cathar females.

Standing, Elora passed her now-empty cup back to the waiting servant. He took his pitcher and refilled her water. Thanking him again, Elora drained the glass again and then waved away the pitcher as he tried yet again to fill her cup. She handed her cup to him, thanking him one last time, and then went to lean back against the wall where she had been previously.

One thing that she had noticed was how the other slaves regarded her as she walked. The Cathar seemed afraid of her. Through her goggles, she glared at the feline-girls and wished that this ride would soon be over. She saw nothing good coming from being cooped up in a small room with other slaves. Plus, once she had a chance to sneak away she would, of course, try. But only when she thought she would not be followed...
So she waited, patiently, for the doors to the carrier to open...

Then as the ship landed and the doors opened, she was greeted by more guards. With her plans foiled, she would have to go with plan B. She would reason with the Hutt, perhaps winning her freedom to do a bit of his dirty work. She actually liked the sound of being a Bounty Hunter.

(OOC: ending the thread here. It's dead. Starting a new thread with Elora trying to gain her freedom from Borga)