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Post by Solhi Hanan on Feb 9, 2015 18:16:53 GMT -8
As he reached out for her Solhi flinched, jumping out of his grasp. She didn't want to be touched, not if she had a choice. The idea of being touched overwhelmed her. Instead she wrapped her arms around her middle and hugged herself tightly. Her back was pressed against the wall. Logically she knew that the man wasn't going to hurt her but every instinct she had gained from her years of abuse told her otherwise. Her body reacted on that instinct and her mind remained entrapped in it, trapped by the anxiety and fear she'd felt so long. Now a new kind of anxiety plagued her. Being free was something she hadn't thought of in years and with it came new anxiety.
"Hey? What's wrong?"
Solhi slowly looked up at him, not sure what to say exactly. Somehow he seemed to understand her. With a great deal of effort she attempted to overcome her desire to hide away in the deepest darkest hole and spoke to him.
"I...I just don't know what to do," she said quietly. "My family's dead and..." Her voice caught and she couldn't continue. She had no job, no way of surviving. Somehow the idea of being free was starting to look more frightening than life as a slave.
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Zett Rem
Outlaw 
Sassy Mandalorian
Posts: 47 
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Post by Zett Rem on Feb 10, 2015 19:20:32 GMT -8
When the girl jumped away from him, his hands instantly shot backwards and up as if he was apologizing to her for even trying to touch her. It had only been in an attempt to comfort her, but if she was going to be hostile about it, it was likely best if he didn't bother to try something like that again. "Sorry!" He said quickly to her as he held his ground, slowly lowering his hands again after a moment with a small sigh.
After a second she was able to muster up enough will power to actually answer his question instead of stand there shivering, and spoke, informing him of the grim truth he hadn't been aware of. Zett sighed lightly, his features growing soft as he looked to her, feeling sorry about not having a home or family. She was starting to sound more and more like she shared his situation all the more fully. He remembered the day his family had died... at the hands of that blasted Hutt. If she was suffering the same he could imagine her pain... he sympathized entirely. Her voice had caught in her throat, and he didn't even need her to continue to understand what she meant.
"Sorry..." He repeated, this time it being much more sympathetic. "Hey, don't worry about it then. If ya don't have a place to go... you can stick around with me. If ya think you can trust me that is." He shrugged a bit, looking to her with an honest expression on his face, his soft brown eyes looking to her with a sigh. "You can figure out what to do with yourself that way. No rush or anything, just adjust to freedom at your own pace." He explained, trying to help her see what he meant.
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Post by Solhi Hanan on Feb 11, 2015 17:24:35 GMT -8
"Sorry..."
Something about the way he said it made her ease up. He sounded...sad, like he understood what she had been through. Maybe he did know. Solhi averted her eyes slightly and let that idea rest in her mind. Maybe there were other people out in the galaxy who knew vaguely what it was like to be hurt that deeply. Sharing in that hurt made Solhi less tense with him. Though, she still did not want to be touched. "Hey, don't worry about it then. If ya don't have a place to go... you can stick around with me. If ya think you can trust me that is." At this Solhi's eyes went back to his, cautiously holding his gaze. Did she trust him? No, her gut still jolted at the idea. No, she did not trust him and wondered if she ever could. Yet, he was kind, the first kind person she'd seen in over two years and she wanted to cling to that kindness and suck it for all that it was worth.
"You can figure out what to do with yourself that way. No rush or anything, just adjust to freedom at your own pace."
At first she didn't answer him, too shocked to think of anything to say to such an offer. He didn't seem to want to take advantage of her, at least not at the moment. And staying with him was the best option that she currently had. One she fully intended to take. Because she knew full well that even if he were to take her back to her home planet the community would never accept her. The boy she had been would wouldn't want the damaged shell of a girl he had once loved. And to return to that house would only confront Solhi with the memory of that night forever. Perhaps freedom with the Mandalorian stranger was the new start Solhi needed.
"Y-yes...please," she nodded. "I..I'd like to stay with you. Thank you. I-I'm sorry but I don't think I ever learned your name. If I'm going to stay with you I probably should know who you are."
With that she released her vice like grip on her body. She needed to at least try and trust him, try and be a good companion to him. He had saved her, after all, and she owed him at least that.
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Zett Rem
Outlaw
Sassy Mandalorian
Posts: 47
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Post by Zett Rem on Feb 11, 2015 17:45:01 GMT -8
His offer seemed to hang in the air forever as she woman in front of him was trying to decide if it was even possible for her to trust him. Honestly he wouldn't really blame her if she didn't. He had given her no reason to mistrust him, but at the same time she knew very little about him, and besides that he knew what it was like not to trust people. When he had lost his family all he had cared to do was kill Hebba... something he had yet to do. He never thought to trust the man who had taken him in until later on.
When she did eventually answer she seemed to be speaking logically more then emotionally, probably a good place to start if he had to say so himself. She admitted she would like to stay with him, and then a moment later was speaking again to ask him his name. "Oh... sorry. Zett Rem. I didn't get your name either." He commented, giving her a warm and friendly smile more then anything else as he looked down to her, not offering his hand in greeting like he might with anyone else. It was clear she still wasn't comfortable with something like that.
After the small greeting and introduction though, he inched around her cautiously to unlock the door she had closed on them, smiling a little about it before he was stepping out, showing she didn't have to stay in that room to answer his question.
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Post by Solhi Hanan on Feb 14, 2015 17:20:02 GMT -8
"Oh... sorry. Zett Rem. I didn't get your name either."
Shortly after answering her question, the door to the room unlocked and hissed open. She scrambled to her feet and teetered at the opening of the room. The feeling of being able to leave the locked room made Solhi feel less liked a caged animal. Still,s he rested at the thresh hold. If she was going to stay with Zett then she probably should say something. Her name at least. She looked down at her feet then up at him.
"My name is Solhi Hanan," she answered. "Nice to meet you, Zett." From behind her, Solhi could feel the gaze of a few Twi'lek who must have been watching the drama unfold. She wondered what their conversation might have sounded like to someone who didn't speak Basic. Her cheeks turned red with embarrassment.
"Ummm, how long until we get to Ryloth?" she asked quietly. "If it is going to be a while I would like to rest." Solhi didn't want to directly ask where she would be staying. Her nerve still wasn't up to that. Clearly he didn't want her in his room. The idea of having her own room was strange as she hadn't had one in her life. She had always either shared a room with Minsol or with other slaves. She imagined it would be lonely but anything was better than standing there awkwardly in front of the other slaves.
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Zett Rem
Outlaw
Sassy Mandalorian
Posts: 47
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Post by Zett Rem on Feb 15, 2015 16:22:21 GMT -8
He could tell she was pretty eager to get out of the confined space as soon as he opened it, so he didn't try and beat her out of the room, just letting her move freely. She stopped though and turned back to him with embarrassment on her face as she eventually looked back up to him to reply with her name. He looked to her, smiling lightly but not to her embarrassment, but because he had her name now. "Nice to meet you Solhi." He commented before he was inching past her through the door that she stood at.
Zett stopped though at her question, thinking about the route in his head and how long it would take. Before he had anything solid figured though she was adding that she would like to get some rest, to which Zett only nodded a bit and looked back down to her. "Uh, yeah go ahead. It'll take some time to get there, so you have plenty of time to rest." He explained with a nod before he was looking down the other rooms on the ship she could sleep in. "Pick a bunk... you'll have to share with some of the salves for a while though... i really don't have the room for all of them." He admitted flatly as he looked around, seeing the small crowd that had spilled out of the cargo hold.
"I better stay on the cockpit a while though." He explained, making sure she knew where to find him if she needed him.
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Post by Solhi Hanan on Feb 16, 2015 13:52:23 GMT -8
Solhi understood that she would have to share a bunk with the other slaves, something that honestly put her at some ease. She also appreciated that he made sure to tell her what he was doing and where he would be. Somehow knowing that made her feel better. When it came to picking a bunk she decided to choose the one closest to the kitchenette. Inside the room there were two beds stacked on one top of the other. Solhi climbed up onto the top bunk and curled into a ball. It felt good to just lay there on her side and hug her knees to her chest. For hours she laid like this, trying to find sleep. When she did dose off she would jolt awake as a sudden wave of fear washed over her. Eventually she gave up sleep and sat up. As it got later the other slaves trickled in, doubleing up to a single bed. Solhi tried to lie in bed again, hoping the presence of another person would relax her enough to sleep but it only made it worse. The feeling of another being beside her only made the terror worse.
Eventually she slinked out to the main cabin area and took a seat by the kitchenette. How long had it been since she had eaten last? She made sure no one was looking when she took the food and ate it like a fugitive stealing calories to which she did not feel entitled. As ashamed as it made her feel to be acting this way she couldn't help it. Her instincts controlled her and in the darkness she relied on these instincts to hold herself together. That night she did not sleep at all, for fear that the night terror would swarm her once again. She didn't trust Zett but of everyone on the ship his intentions were the only ones she was even slightly sure of. He wouldn't hurt her, not if she behaved.
When they reached Ryloth Solhi was a mess. She hadn't slept more than a few minutes the entire time and often hid away in her bunk. However, once they touched down she came out to see the other slaves off. They all seemed so happy, excited to return to their family and clans. They all seemed to have an idea of what life might be like for them after Zett dropped them off. Solhi would be left alone with him and she wasn't sure what it was that they might do together. She lingered behind him as the ramp was let down for the women. She watched him carefully and stayed close to him as he moved around.
"Is that it?" she asked finally. "We just drop them off? Wh-where will we go after?"
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Zett Rem
Outlaw
Sassy Mandalorian
Posts: 47
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Post by Zett Rem on Feb 16, 2015 16:06:41 GMT -8
Once Zett was again sure of his coordinates and all of the checks that he needed to make, he was returning to his bunk, leaving the autopilot and his astromech to the controls of the ship as they continued to fly through hyperspace. He made it to his room again, putting his bits of armor away before he went to sleep, though only lightly. He was sure no one on the ship would try and steal it or anything else really, but he was just used to keeping on his toes around numbers of people.
Besides, his droids would warn him if something was going down, though he doubted the Twi'lek's had the technological savyness to be able to do anything to his computers.
By Morning he was arriving over Ryloth, setting up the landing sequence somewhere outside a small village that had been recently ransacked, the same village that most of the Twi'lek's in his hold had come from in the first place, and now where they would be returning. He helped the injured off the ship, and received many... many thanks. At least he thought they were thanking him anyway. It's what it looked like, but really he didn't speak very much of the native Twi'lek language. Once they were all off the ship he was climbing back up the ramp and looking around, Solhi not having moved from his side hardly at all the entire time since he had woken up.
He raised the ramp again, moving around the ship to double check on everything, all of it seeming to be in order aside from the mess that had been made by all of the Twi'Lek's... either partying at their freedom and coming home or just trying to get things to help them not starve or to help deal with their injured. He sighed ever so lightly at the mess that had been made, picking up things here and there before he was hearing Solhi's question, shrugging a little. "Why not?" He asked at the question about dropping them off, it sounding almost like he expected something in return. At her next question though he turned with a small shrug. "Go somewhere near by, fuel up... look for the next job." He admitted, describing the way he generally lived his life.
"Anywhere near here you want to suggest?" He asked, before he continued about cleaning up a little.
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Post by Solhi Hanan on Feb 16, 2015 18:22:00 GMT -8
Solhi had no where to suggest. The only planet she knew well was her home world. All the other places she had been were random rooms at her Master's side. The galaxy was a big place that she knew nothing about. She shook her head at him.
"I don't really know," she answered. "But I'm sure you'll take me someplace interesting." Solhi might have smiled but couldn't bring herself to do so. Maybe in time she'd be able to trust him as she had once trusted people...
2 Years Later
Two years after picking up Solhi along with several other slaves, Zett had not quite been able to shake her off. At first Solhi had been fairly reserved and quiet. But something about how cheerful and funny Zett always seemed to be made the young woman open up to him. Zett alone was the only person in the galaxy that she trusted. They had begun working together once Solhi built up the courage enough to ask and show a general interest in the ship. Since that time she had helped him on various jobs.
This one didn't appear to be any different from their other jobs. They had arrived on Nal Hutta without any incident, and the the job thus far had gone over smoothly. While Zett had dealt with the cargo Solhi had gone out to acquire the few things that they would need for the trip. Namely some food seeing as how Zett was a bottomless pit. Thinking about how much the man ate made her grumble to herself in annoyance. She heaved the bag of supplies onto a better position in her arms. Maybe if Zett was the one carrying all the supplies maybe he wouldn't eat so much. She felt the need for a lecture wash over her. The young woman continued to mutter to herself, practicing for Zett, using the bag as a proxy for Zett's ear.
Her muttering only stopped when she returned to the ship where Zett was finishing up their business. From the looks of it the cargo had been loaded onto the ship and they would be taking off soon. Solhi walked straight onto the ship and began to put their supplies away. Soon Zett returned to the ship as well and Solhi shot him an exasperated look.
"Next time you get to go shopping," she grumbled at him. It wasn't much of a lecture but somehow the annoyance she ahd been feeling slipped away once all the food was put away. Slowly she slinked up towards the cockpit and took the chair of the copilot. "Went well? No one shot at you this time..." she teased him.
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Zett Rem
Outlaw
Sassy Mandalorian
Posts: 47
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Post by Zett Rem on Feb 16, 2015 19:18:48 GMT -8
It took time, but the two of them actually managed to make a good team. At first there was the trust building stage, made up of Zett always trying to surprise her it seemed with the fact he was actually a good person. It always seemed like he impressed her by doing the right thing, and eventually she did grasp the idea that perhaps not everyone in the Galaxy was evil. Despite that truth though, there were some people out there she still refused to trust who didn't deserve it... at least in Zett's opinion; and he seemed to be the only person that she trusted overall. He didn't mind her company or help though, and she made a good addition to his team (that was otherwise made up of just his droids.) It didn't take much even at the beginning to get her to come on missions with him, even the dangerous ones. She didn't like being alone it seemed, perhaps being scared that something like before would happen again, and so even in the beginning it was hard for her to leave Zett's side. Now though, she still came on jobs with him, but at the same time she had built up enough confidence that she had been able to go out and take care of small jobs on her own as well. Now for example; Solhi was off gathering supplies for the ship while Zett secured the Cargo for the mission where they would take the shipment to Utapau. Zett had everything bolted down in the cargo hold now, double checking the shipment roster when Solhi entered and made her comment, Zett smirking a little as he watched her put the bag down. "Nice to see you too." He commented back over his shoulder with a shake of his head before he was exiting the cargo hold and double checking on a couple of small repairs he had worked on before heading back to the cockpit, Solhi having made it ahead of him and into the copilot seat before he arrived in there. He began priming the ship for take off, looking over to her as she asked her next question, Zett arching his brow a bit at her as she did. "No, no gun shots." He commented with a shake of his head back at her teasing comment. "Don't jinx it though, we're not off the ground yet." He commented with a small shrug. Cal Firestar |
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Cal Firestar
Outlaw
Zett, life is like a cookie. Either you eat it, or spike it and give it to your Mandalorian friend.
Posts: 24
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Post by Cal Firestar on Mar 5, 2015 10:24:29 GMT -8
Nal Hutta was a gross, smelly, crime-ridden planet.
Cal loved it.
It was a like a breath of (really stinky and polluted) fresh air from the dusty, miserable planet of Korriban. Like most 16 year old boys, Cal didn't mind the squelching and bubbling sound under his boots whenever he walked. He dark hair had grown out, curling around his ears in a messy sort of way. He'd ditched the stolen Imperial Trooper uniform for some a plain tunic and pants. It felt nice to be just a face in the crowd. Amongst the crime bosses and pirates and all other scum of the galaxy, Cal felt secure. They were certainly better than Sith. His lightsaber was hidden under his tunic, and he was treated like another homeless kid wandering around. The street gangs had stopped trying to mess with him; they preferred to pray on the weak, and something about a six foot, broad shouldered guy who can shoot lightning at you or make a homemade smoke screen just wasn't worth the effort. So Cal was left in peace, doing whatever odd job someone was willing to give him to get money and scraps of food. Despite the rather poor living, he was happy.
He was free of the Sith, after all, which was no small feat. Despite being in Hutt Space, he had a bad feeling he wasn't completely free of his former people. He had no doubt they would be looking for him--the Empire was not fond of letting Force Sensitives head off on their own. Either they became Sith, or they died. Since Cal wanted to be neither, he had fled when he had the opportunity. He didn't know how to hide his Force Sensitivity, which scared him; he didn't want to get caught by another Force Sensitive. Because of this, he was being careful to stay on the move.
Which was why he was currently getting on someone's ship. Some Mandalorian and his girlfriend, from what he'd seen. They were the only ones on the ship, which would make it easy for him to stay out of site. He was good at hiding, even with his big size. It took a simple Force Manipulation of the lock to slip on board and make himself comfortable in the cargo hold.
Oooh, food. It looked like they had just restocked with supplies. They wouldn't notice a little bit missing...
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Post by Solhi Hanan on Mar 13, 2015 16:18:13 GMT -8
Solhi leaned back in the copilot's seat and stared out the window. She could hear Zett moving around beside her as he prepared the ship for take off. Out of the corner of her eye she watched him though, seeing how he reacted to her comment about being shot at. It wasn't an unfair assumption to have, the two of them had come across a few sticky situations. But of course Zett dealt with them in stride, spinning it into some kind of witty comeback. Solhi would never admit it, but it was one of her favorite things about him. He always knew how to look at things in an amusing way. It was often annoying as well.
"Jinx it?" she snapped with a raised eyebrow. "I never jinx it-- you're the one who usually causes people to shoot at us." It was true, since Zett often dealt directly with the customer he often was the cause of any conflict that they had. However, if left alone Solhi was sure to step on more than a few toes. Still, her face remained rather serious, even if she didn't mean it. She got comfortable as they lifted up off of the planet and into the vastness of space. It wasn't until they were into hyperspace that Solhi opted to change the subject.
"So, what's the plan? Got another job or are we going to impose on Kyle until we eat through all our money?" her eyebrow arched at him again. Kyle was a friend of Zett's, a man that Solhi often butted heads with. As much as she disliked seeing him, taking up his space and resources brought Solhi some joy. Speaking of resources...the young woman's stomach grumbled. She hadn't eaten all day and she hungered. Standing up and stretching, she made her way towards the back of the ship where she had taken the food. "Want anything?"
Solhi froze in her spot. Sitting on the floor, hands in her grocery bag was a young teenage boy. Her eyes got wide as she stared at the boy in front of her, stuffing his face with her food. How had he gotten in there? What was he doing there? Her mouth hung open as she stared at him. Before the boy could do much of anything she let out a scream and stumbled back.
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Zett Rem
Outlaw
Sassy Mandalorian
Posts: 47
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Post by Zett Rem on Mar 13, 2015 17:26:57 GMT -8
He glanced over to her, arching his brow a bit at her comment, rolling his eyes a little as he shook his head a bit and looked back out the view-port. "That's not fair... you make me do all the talking of course something unflattering is gonna slip through these lips. You shoulda learned that by now." He shrugged, smirking a little bit as he continued to prep the ship for take off, and eventually got her off the ground and heading out of orbit.
Once they made it into hyperspace Solhi spoke again, this time changing the subject about where they would be going next. He arched his brow a bit when he heard her mention Kyle by name, slightly surprised she had been the one who had done it and not himself. That must have been a first sense she hated the guy and didn't like mentioning him at all for fear it would remind Zett he had the friend out there. He looked to her, the shock and surprise still on his face a little before she was standing up and asking if he was hungry and he could hear her stomach growling a little. He looked to her and chuckled a bit. "Ohhh that's why you mentioned Him... you're already Hangry." Zett commented, though the smug look on his face faded after a second. "Did i really just say Hangry?" He asked himself, shaking his head a little bit as he looked away and to the control console again.
She wandered off at that, and Zett remained at the console for a while as he tried to figure a few things out... deciding he would grab something for himself to eat after a while and leave the flying to T6. That was the plan until he heard Solhi scream from in the cargo hold it seemed. He turned and shot up, leaving T6 with the controls as he jogged back quickly to find her, seeing her stumbling out of the hold and a little boy with his hands inside a bag of food. "HEY, we need that!" Zett called as he looked to the boy, wondering if he was hostile... or maybe he was rabid? Carefully Zett was moving for his pistol at his side.
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Cal Firestar
Outlaw
Zett, life is like a cookie. Either you eat it, or spike it and give it to your Mandalorian friend.
Posts: 24
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Post by Cal Firestar on Mar 19, 2015 9:51:25 GMT -8
The food was so good. It was better than the food served on Korriban, and certainly better than the slop Cal had lived on for the last few weeks. He hadn't realized how hungry he was. So focused was he on eating, that he didn't notice the young woman step into the cargo hold until he heard her gasp of surprise. Immediately, the Sith runaway glanced up to meet her gaze.
And froze.
There was a moment of silence, both of them staring at each other in shock. Then it shattered when the woman screamed and moved back toward the exit. Cal swallowed the food that he had been in the middle of chewing and leaped to hid feet, putting his hands out helplessly. Knowing the woman's Mandalorian friend would be along any second, Cal turned and fled. He didn't make it far before the Mando rushed up, effectively blocking Cal's exit to freedom. Of course, there wasn't actually anywhere he could escape to. They were in space. He really should have thought this through better.
"HEY, we need that!" The man yelled at Cal, gesturing to the food stores the teenager had helped himself to.
Cal grinned sheepishly. "Well--I did to," he said stubbornly. "I didn't have breakfast. Or lunch." His eyes fell to the blaster at the Mando's hip, and his hand slowly moving toward it. Immediately, he sprang into action, and a purple light sprang out of his lightsaber. "Please don't," he said. He wouldn't hurt them if he didn't have to, but he was certainly going to do whatever it took to survive. "I--look--I guess I'm not the best stowaway," Cal admitted. How long had he been hiding there? Ten, fifteen minutes? That was embarrassing.
"I needed to get off Hutta. You wouldn't turn away someone in need, would you?" his bright eyes widened, giving him a rather innocent look. "If you promise to put the blaster away, I'll put my lightsaber away too."
Oh Kriff, they probably knew he was a Sith now. Why had he drawn the lightsaber? He should have gotten a blaster. Would they take him back to Korriban? He wouldn't let them. He'd kill them if he had to.
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Post by Solhi Hanan on Mar 23, 2015 16:20:28 GMT -8
As soon as Solhi screamed Zett appeared at her side. He was better equipped mentally to deal with the boy. He was able to shout something at least somewhat sensible at him. They did need the food, and she had just gotten it too. Slowly, she started to regain some kind of composure. Still standing behind Zett, using his as a human shield, she glared at the boy. Having been a slave before she knew how appealing it was to steal food but being on the other end of the situation didn't feel that good. If he had just asked she would have helped him out but this boy was a dirty thief.
"HEY, we need that!"
"Well--I did to! I didn't have breakfast. Or lunch."
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Zett's hand inching closer to his blaster. Having spent two years on the ship with Zett, Solhi knew he wouldn't hurt a kid for no reason. At worst he'd probably stun him and lock him in a closet...but the kid didn't know that. Things quickly devolved from there the moment the boy brought out his lightsaber.
Solhi's eyes locked on the weapon, eyes wide with terror. All the memories of her time as a slave under the Dark Jedi rushed back. He hadn't used his blade often but when he did it had always brought death and pain. Phantom pain crept along her arms and back as the scenes played before her eyes once again. In her mind she wasn't safe with Zett anymore, she was back in the lab with him. Her breathing quickened and it felt like someone was wrapping two fists around her lungs, and no matter how much air she tried to suck in she couldn't quite get enough. It was loud and labored breathing, a panic attack that had been frequent when she had first started her time with Zett. It returned full force, making her body shake. Solhi pressed herself against the wall and then curled into herself on the floor, gripping the legs of her pants for support. The memories played over and over again like footage stuck on repeat. No matter how hard she closed her eyes it wouldn't stop.
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