Private Terra Incognita

[Ardinia Abzan]

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T E R R A I N C O G N I T A​

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Hosk Station followed a satellite orbit over Indobok, and was home to myriad criminal ventures during the heyday of the Galactic Empire. The Gulag Plague reformed the station's activities for a time, but as the Galaxy slowly ambled back toward Economic stability the black market boomed.​

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Despite its existence within the Confederacy of Independent Systems' borders, until very recently Hosk had seen no intervention from the Galactic Superpower. Antics such as Droid fights and gambling were commonplace, and in the murkier recesses of the station less desirable occurrences still proceeded as normal.​

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On the surface, however, the Slaves that were traded and who lived in the slums worked the markets and shops. Hidden in plain sight, most people would never have guessed at the grim truth.​

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Ardinia certainly had not, and that was how she came to operate the produce cart in the spacer district. No one could see chains on her, nor was she malnourished; yet the threat of a slave bolt surgically implanted somewhere in her body assured she would never flee.​

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In the months since her arrival, the girl came to know the names of various exotic fruits better than anything she had tasted on her homeworld. The pink and golden flesh that adorned the spherical treat she moved between her fingers transfixed her gaze. She wanted to know the taste for herself.​

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That was against the rules, however.​

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A single bite could cost her a day of meals, or worse. It all depended on the overseer's mood if he caught her. If she managed to sell one, she would be allowed to have dinner-​

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-if.​

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Ardinia was fast growing tired of the uncertainty that surrounded her meals. To date, she had only missed one or two; but the people seemed less and less interested in fruit by the day.​

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They seemed more interested in other things.​

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"Apple?" she offered with a bright smile.​

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"Get lost," the Spacer waved her off. ​

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"Apple?" she offered again, this time to a lithe woman who returned a smile.​

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"What's a pretty thing like you doing on Hosk Station?" the woman smirked. "Not exactly the friendliest place to be selling fruit." She leaned close and placed a hand on the wall behind Ardinia, their faces far too close for comfort.​

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The green haired girl blinked several times, lifted her hand, and pressed the apple to the other woman's chest. Her motion forced distance between them. "...apple?"​

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Alina Grayson Tyrias Aran ​

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[Alina Grayson]

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S E E K I N G​

TAG: Ardinia Abzan Tyrias Aran

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Hosk Station was different to say the least she had managed to secure passage off her home world of course that part was easy, but the list of destinations was to say the least very undesirable. She would disembark the small shuttle with only her own clothing as her sole possession, it was a simple blue and white ensemble with gold trim that seemed to almost match the color of her hair above that a simple long blue cloak with a hood pulled up. Maneuvering through the crowd of people that disembarked from the shuttle she quickly moved out into the main part of the starport to try and secure passage toward the core worlds. Her blue eyes scanned the crowd as she moved, beneath the hood long blonde hair framed a youthful appearance but anyone with a modicum of brains would be able to tell there was something underneath, you did not need to be a force user to sense that she radiated strength, and maybe more so confidence a fact some were about to become intimately familiar with.​

As she walked, she felt a gaze upon her, it had not taken long for her to draw the attention of the unsavory types. The gaze itself was not one of interest or curiosity it was malice she felt, one… no two were watching her gauging her and waiting for a moment she glanced to her right and smiled when she saw a small broken pipe pouring water onto the ground and she started towards it as she felt the pursuers closing in on her as she began to move away from the crowd, a gloved hand came up from under the cloak and wordlessly the cloak began to flutter from an unseen breeze when at last the men were upon her her eyes glowed almost white and particles of water whirled around the air around her it would cause the men to hesitate just long enough as she turned to face them.​

“Leave” it was not a request but a command which cause the two men to falter more so, one of them though decided to be brave, a costly mistake within a moment droplets of water coalesced and then solidified into what appeared to be an icicle with an extreme point, with a flick of her wrist it was launched with great speed into the mans shoulder, penetrating through flesh and tissue. “The next one will end your life. Leave.” the two men hearing her words turned and ran as if a rancor were chasing them, she let out a sigh as finally the air around her stilled no longer feeling the threat she felt a moment ago, luckily she was removed enough to where the commotion would not be noticed as much aside from the bleeding man running away with an icicle sticking out of his right shoulder anyways...​

 

[Tyrias Aran]

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M E E T I N G . N E W . P E O P L E​

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Some hiked forlorn paths. Some sunbathed on pristine beaches. Tyrias Aran hunted. It was a different skillset than that of commanding fleet resources. Adrenaline junky? She was not aware of any such dependency, nor did she seem to exhibit any sort of inability to control her baser impulses. It simply entertained her. Furthermore, this sport went to far greater benefit than lounging on a beach. The Confederacy was a large, unruly nation. Not half of the Outer Rim Alliance, or as ruthless as the Empire, but galactic society was undeniably chaotic.​

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Take, for example, a woman six paces at two-hundred and seventy three degrees (behind and to the left) from Tyrias' center. Moderately attractive. Well dressed. Not the sort to scream police-bait, but nevertheless prone to unscrupulous behavior. The woman had taken to 'trapping' a young woman without laying a finger on them. Was it an inability to accept overt social cues, or a desire to encourage financial payment to relent? Whether the utter failure on her part, it was not the least bit acceptable. Though it was not the worst Tyrias had witnessed that day.​

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The blue woman slipped into the crowd from the stall that had briefly drawn her eye. A bustling market where one could easily be lost. Filled with people whose eyes just so happened to stray from danger -- mindful of 'their own business.' In a word: useless.​

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As the Chiss out of uniform stepped up behind the physically intrusive woman, her arms swiftly wrapped about the woman's sides. Tyrias' right hand brought to bear a dagger whose tip pointed back toward the uncouth being's diaphragm. Her left hand wrapped about the right. With love, the Chiss's arms squeezed the body between them to ensure the tip of the blade was soudly fixed and only millimeters from exercising a slow and painful death.​

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"She offered you an apple," Tyrias whispered into the woman's left ear. "Take it." Refusal, complaint, or confusion would only earn a dangerous pressure being applied by a razor sharp tip against their abdomen. "Now, bite into it. Chew. Chew," the Chiss prompted as their new friend would no doubt find this as awakward as the humble stall attendant had. "Now swallow."​

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"Remember how sweet and succulent that was. Savor its memory." Tyrias pressed her body ever more tightly against the other woman's back as she leaned in. Her lips brushed against the woman's earlobe as she whispered privately, just between them, "And the knowledge that I'm watching you."​

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As swiftly as she'd come, Tyrias swept her hands away as she stepped back. "Now leave."​

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Tag: Ardinia Abzan | Alina Grayson​

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[Ardinia Abzan]

Timid, terrified.

She barely registered the violence that occurred before her eyes as her mind raced through what would happen if the woman complained. The masters didn't like it when customers were upset. They wouldn't be pleased if word got back to them Ardinia hadn't satisfied a potential buyer.

Perhaps more awful than that, the blue-skinned woman had used the threat of lethal force. Was she dangerous? Ardinia could handle herself in a conflict, but the masters didn't like it when she did. They didn't want her damaged.

She had devolved from a proud warrior of her clan into nothing more than property. They reminded her, constantly, with shocks and burns so minute she could never see them. Her psyche was still scarred from saving the children she could, but watching those she could not perish.

Her clan would never take her back. The chances were even further dissolved now that she had committed the cardinal sin. Children had died, and she had allowed it. Ardinia stared at the Chiss woman with the light gone from her eyes.

Freedom was a distant memory, now.

She managed a smile, painful, yet unfeeling. The young, part-Felacatian girl reached down, meekly pulled an apple from the cart, and offered it to Tyrias Aran in thanks.

"...apple?"

Alina Grayson

 

[Alina Grayson]

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O B J E C T I V E​

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Alina rounded the corner from the alley where they altercation had taken place and once again found herself on the main street. It was still quite busy and she no longer felt the threat from before, though most likely the two men would be back with larger numbers next time and she would have to be vigilant to not be caught unaware, lost in her own thoughts she wandered past a sidestreet her eyes glancing to one side for only a moment as she walked by then she paused walking back a few steps she saw a chiss pressing a blade against the back of some person and speaking directly into her ear.​

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She observed a moment seeing the fear on the woman's face as she turned to run, herself she looked at the young girl selling apples by the looks of things and she started toward the both of them no hostile intent behind her arrival but curiosity none the less, if the young girl was in danger she would see to her defense. When she was finally close enough she looked toward the young woman with... Ears? It was different but not the strangest thing she had seen since leaving home, she handed the young woman some credits more than double the worth of an apple and smiled sweetly "May I?" she kept a close watch on the Chiss out of the corner of her left eye, it was well practiced surely the chiss would know she was being appraised but all the same all the better to show where they both stood.​

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TAG: Tyrias Aran Ardinia Abzan​

 

[Tyrias Aran]

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M E E T I N G . N E W . P E O P L E​

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Tyrias looked back to the Felacatian girl after the other had gone. Her red eyes followed the woman's hands until they manifested one of the produce, which was then offered with the simplicity exhibited earlier. Being closer now, and without obstruction, the Chiss was able to fully examine Ardinia head to toe; but more importantly, the other woman's eyes and expression. Physicality hardly mattered, though she wondered how well fed the stall tending woman was at times. The eyes held far more than that, however.​

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Another soon surfaced and paid for more than two of the apples. Tyrias turned her head slightly to look over at Alina. How kind of her to offer. After all, the Chiss had felt obligated to do the same just a moment ago.​

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Seeing how this new arrival took no other action, however, the Chiss felt free to resume conversing with Adrinia. "I would love an apple." She reached out with one hand, palm up, held lower than the seller's own grasp so she could deposit the fruit however she wish. "Actually," a small smile touched her lips, "I was wondering how many apples you have to sell. They're so hard to come by, aren't they? Almost makes you wish you could broker a deal for a more reliable supply."​

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Apples in a place like this and a slave like Ardinia. Whoever these people were must have been sadists, or completely missed the mark on the market. Perhaps they didn't care what happened to their organic droid, but replacements wouldn't be cheap and these apples wouldn't cover the cost. Tyrias wondered if there was more to the stall. Perhaps she was simply giving them too much credit.​

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Tag: Ardinia Abzan | Alina Grayson​

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[Ardinia Abzan]

Her ears instinctively twitched when a newcomer drew closer, and the green haired woman's eyes flickered between Alina and Tyrias quickly. She was relieved instantly that the footsteps had not been one of the masters, but since she knew neither of these women, she could not fully relax.

Were they sent by the masters? Or were they off-worlders, or even something else? If that were so, then they were like her. Passers-by, and people who probably had no intention of remaining for long.

It would be better if she could convince them to get out before someone put proverbial shackles on them as well. She couldn't just admit to being here against her will, though.

"Y-yes!" She looked gleeful for a half-second as the credits dropped in her hand. They could eat tonight. She wouldn't have to worry about beatings, or worse. "This is a lot of money," she looked at the coins in her hand. "I couldn't possibly take this much," she said to Alina Grayson as she began to count out the difference to hand back to her. She paused as the Chiss spoke up.

Ardinia tilted her head quizzically. "I just sell what the owner brings in from planetside on a given day," she managed a soft smile that feigned complacency. "I'm not really much of a business-person, honestly."

If she were fully honest, she was what the Masters were trying to sell. But if she couldn't even make proper sales on apples...

Ardinia glanced away for a moment, toward where some children were playing in the street. Her expression turned wistful, and the girl's tail pulled tight around her waist. She fidgeted with the tip of it nervously.

"Some days, there aren't any apples."

Tyrias Aran

 

[Alina Grayson]

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M A K I N G - F R I E N D S​

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Alina simply smiled at the young woman and reached out with both hands and very gently folder her hand closed around the credit chits "Consider it a tip if it makes you feel better." she took the one apple and took a bite out of it. It was quite delicious she decided and well worth the price she paid in her own estimation. While she ate she kept watch on the situation she did not feel to worry too much about the chiss next to her at this point she seemed genuinely concerned about the young girls well being much as she herself was and from what she had seen so far of this place her concerns were warranted.​

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She glanced to Tyrias for a moment with a slight smile realizing quickly what she was doing, it all clicked in her head she looked back to the young woman and followed Tyria's lead "No apples? Well that is a shame, I actually come from a planet that was lots of different kinds of fruits and vegetables it is indeed a very wealthy planet. Perhaps somebody here would be interested in a trade deal?" she emphasized the wealthy part of that statement quite intentionally, tempting the fates or the foolishness of greedy individuals in truth it was the latter she was counting on.​

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TAG: Tyrias Aran | Ardinia Abzan​

 

[Tyrias Aran]

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M E E T I N G . N E W . P E O P L E​

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Tyrias did not glance over at Alina as she spoke. Was it not perfectly reasonable that a pair of enterprising traders might catch wind of a desperate stall in need of goods and seek to supply them in exchange for credits? "Perhaps," the Chiss agreed regarding Ardinia's lack of business acumen, "but you are a pleasant, friendly, and dutiful saleswoman. In fact, if it's not inappropriate for me to do so, we would even be interested in offering you a job on that planet. Would that be of interest?"​

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One way or the other, perhaps the two of them could coax the owners out into the open. Whether that was offering a trade negotiation, or in transplanting the young woman to better accommodations. This was not normally what Tyrias sought to do -- helping everyone in the galaxy was hardly an obtainable objective. Nevertheless, she'd had a bit of fun with that aggressive one earlier, and so Ardinia had the Chiss' support.​

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If the subtle or graceful method of approaching Ardinia's masters did not work, there were other ways to find them. The amount of time involved would scarcely be any longer; though the outcome would be considerably less pleasant for the shadowy figures.​

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Tag: Ardinia Abzan | Alina Grayson​

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