Star Wars: A Stygian Bargain (Quantum Tangle x Lala)

[Quantum Tangle]

Star Wars: The Stygian Bargain

55 BBY | Cha Raaba System
Planet: Ylesia | The Spice Rack Cantina
Mid-Day
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It was common practice for slaves to trade hands in Hutt Space. Ylesia was one of the foremost Spice Processing worlds in the outer-rims, so when Spice Trade funneled through Kessel to Nar Shaddaa many warm slave bodies made the travel. Once transporters made the drop offs it is was simpler to just sell off the slave labor and purchase a new crew that it was to feed and bed them. Those sold off it would then not be uncommon to travel dozens of planets in a years span before settling on single owner or ending up working the Processing Factories on Ylesia where most slaves ended. It was not an enviable existence by any stretch.

The lucky ones were bought by prosperous shop owners in the region the most desireable were bought by the Cantinas to entertain guests. For those with credits their bodies and minds could be cultivated to satiate other desires than simple sight. It was a rough existence but the Outer Rims Territories rarely saw equity among the lower classes.

A pity genuinely, Ebbyn Shaa, thought to himself. For while he might praise constructive cruelty the baseless crushing of sentient will seemed fruitless and disappointing. An individual no matter their capability or status had uses beyond mindless physical labor. A mind and body could be cultivated for so much more, a philosophy he’d earned during his years in a Republic Medical Academy. Indeed the Umbaran was a servant of the Galactic Republic (not that any individual would know this far out). But the value of life had always been a subject that obsessed in his inner most thoughts. Shaa had judged the worth of millions and what determined their benefit to exist at all.

Cold and calculating yes, but the pale man felt it a most pertinent balance to overly sympathetic thought. Wasn’t that the most empathetic approach? To not let emotion and impulse cloud one’s good intentions. And he was a good man, a better man.

A tall figure he practically towered over most as he entered the Cantina wearing a flowing black Umbaran Shadowcloak, and a synthetic uniform comprised of black leathers dressed in white and blue materials. The sides of his head and his face held no hair, but the lengthy strip that he possessed were shaped into tight white braids, with metal jeweled clasps binding them together and allowing the braided tail to hang over his cloaked shoulder. His ghostly gaze practically undressed the room full of merchants and low-lifes.

Shaa held his gloved hand tucked formally in front of him as if a noble or diplomat. His dress and presence spoke of a wealth he may or may not have had, but it was further evidence to his beliefs the individuals reacted upon first seeing him. Despite their judgement whether dismissive, excited, suspicion, or annoyance they made their distance subconsciously away. They could instinctually realize presence of power when it approached. Yet that to the Umbaran was a clever illusion he’d cast through combination of dress and body language.

His surroundings was filled with murk of smoke and the scent of strong liquors and floral aromas coming in from the jungle scape outside. Yet above all else there was a pungent stain of spice in the air. Whether it be from the nearby factories, or those few independent contractors that chose to work those areas, and filtered through the air. The Umbaran’s nostrils almost flared in annoyance at the scent but he kept his composure as his vision settled upon a lightly pigmented Rutian Twi’lek slave girl that had been making her rounds about the floor. What a rarity her kind were this far out. Even the Twi’lek slave trade knew better than to send their stock to Ylesia, when they could sell them to the more profitable pleasure dens elsewhere. That only meant she’d had an unfortunate luck with handlers and owners.

Standing now at the dingy bar flanked by filth and grime laden men, obviously they were the afterhours of a mining shift nearby, the Umbaran pleasantly genuflected with hands spreading open and out. With a thin lipped smile the piqued Doctor Shaa spoke, “I was told to speak to a Treban Brudd about the acquisition of slaves.” Looking down at the man behind the counter he did not break contact as he lightly added in his sharp foreign accent, “It is of certain importance that I make this purchase soon.”