‘My eyes shot open as a heavy wave of coughing began to shake my entire body.’

‘I struggled to pull myself up from the cold floor. The sudden movement spreading a wave of nausea all over my body.’

‘Resulting in a few minutes of forceful dry retching, as I collapsed back onto my knees.’

‘In the middle of this pitiful display, I sensed a hesitating hand reassuringly patting my back.’

‘After I managed to stop my stomach contracting on itself, as I was unable to vomit out anything more than a few spoonfuls of stomach acid.’

‘My breathing slowly started to stabilize.’

‘I laid on my side taking in deep breaths, my training kicking in, helping me to force down the panic and confusion that was threatening to engulf me.’

‘I was desperately trying to figure out what was happening with me.’

‘As I focused my attention on the details. I immediately realized that my throat felt incredibly dry, painfully so. What was even worse was the fact that I could barely see.’

‘I was not blind, but my sight was swimming all over the place and everything looked blurred and mashed together. It forced me to close my eyes as the sense of nausea was quickly returning, along with the wave of raw panic which I temporarily managed to fight off.’

‘A dreadful feeling began to settle in the bottom of my stomach. How much time was I unconscious? Where am I? What is wrong with my eyes? Those and similar questions came to haunt me, clawing into me, spreading the sense of icy terror.’

“Are you better now?” — ‘The voice of a boy spoke up next to me.’

‘I shook in fright, from the appearance of the sudden voice.’

‘Only now remembering that someone had attempted to comfort me in the middle of my coughing fit previously.’

‘I looked up at the stranger hovering over me, realizing with relief that my vision was starting to clear.’

‘I focused on the mysterious person. I could vaguely make out that he was a mirialan boy, about the same age as me, but the more stupefying fact was the collar around his neck.’

‘Than a dire realization hit me. I also felt something cold around my neck, just as around my wrists and ankles.’

‘I immediately proceeded to check my wrists.’

‘I found four beautifully designed bracelets closed around my wrists and ankles. The accessories were tightly attached to my limbs, but they were evidently more than simple accessories, as I could feel a sense of energy vibrating inside them when I focused my mind.’

‘My eyes snapped open with a disgusted expression contorting my features. These were electronic pulse shackles, usually used to punish and control slaves... Only these particular ones were made with rarely seen intricacy.’

‘My mouth opened and closed a few times voicelessly as I made more and more depressing deductions.’

‘In the end I asked the boy with a tight voice.’

“Am I a slave now?” — ‘The question that left my dry lips sounded lifeless and tired, as I already known the answer.’

‘The boy looked at me with a pitiful expression, my gaze once again focusing on his own shackles.’

‘After a few silent moments, he eventually answered.’

“I am sorry, but your intuition is correct. You have been frozen in carbonite for an unknown amount of time, and you would likely still be frozen if by mere luck your last owner hadn’t decided to offer you as a gift to the Zygerrian Queen in exchange for her favor and long-lasting blessings. You need to know that you are currently on the planet of Zygerria, which is allied with the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Are you following?”

‘I was still confused, but that at least explained a lot of things.’

‘Like why my eyes were sensitive, it was just an after-effect of long time hibernation. Just as the dryness I felt in my throat along with the general weakness.’

‘My head hurt too, but I could still follow his words. My hearing was mostly fine. Therefore, I nodded while also saying.’

“I understand.”

“Good. You have to also know that you were given to her Majesty, Queen of the New Zygerrian Slave Empire, enslaver of races, and rightful ruler of Zygerria and all Zygerrians. Her majesty’s name is Miraj Scintel, but you, as one of her property, are only allowed to call her mistress until she states otherwise. Understood?”

‘I clenched my teeth but nodded, realizing the disadvantaged position I was currently in. Alas, that couldn’t hide my steadily growing frustration.’

“If you are asked a question, you should answer properly with your voice.”

‘I grumbled silently as I squeezed out the words.’ — “I understand.”

“You were given to her Majesty as a slave with rare qualities. Answer me truthfully for the following questions. But I warn you, that I will know, if you lie, because of the lie detectors placed into your shackles and collar.”

‘I wanted to spit back some sort of hurtful remark hearing that ridiculous statement, but was apparently not allowed to come up with anything as the questions immediately started.’

“First question. Are you truly trained in the ways of the force?”

‘I thought about denying it, but I didn’t want to get shocked into unconsciousness again. It was a bit too much for the last two times in quick succession. And, I was a shitty lier at best, so I decided to spare myself from the unnecessary suffering.’

“I am.”

“Good, prove it. Raise one of the tables in the room, but don’t try anything funny. Even if you manage to kill me, you won’t achieve anything.”

“Remember, I am also a slave, just a bit higher in status at the moment, but nothing they cannot replace easily.”

“Try to understand that I am not your enemy. I will even do you a service and warn you about your shackles. They may not hinder your movements much, but they can subdue you or even kill you if the mistress deems it necessary. But if you continue to act as obedient as you are now, I can foresee a brilliant future in front of you as a slave inside this very palace.”

‘I rolled my eyes. Biting back my bubbling remark.’

‘Oh grate, I should be cheering for it then? I mean, after living in the slums of Ryloth for half my life, and the other half in an abandoned tomb, this indeed isn’t that bad.’

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

‘… I just realized how pitiful that actually sounded.’

‘I intended it to sound sarcastic, but it was actually spot on… fuck my life!’

‘I groaned as I thought desperately.’

‘What does it say of my life if being taken as a luxury slave actually amounts to a positive change?’

‘Okay, jokes aside, I have no idea how I appeared on a completely different planet suddenly. I need more information, like the most crucial one. How long was I frozen, and what’s happening in the galaxy? Am I still wanted? Who was the one who carbonated my body and where was I until now? I seem to remember some blurry memory of a conversation back in the Ebon Hawk...’

“What are you waiting for?” — ‘Sounded the impatient voice of the boy. Immediately reminding me that I was supposed to do something right now.’

“Oh, sorry, I am still a bit confused...”

‘The boy snorted in annoyance.’

‘I reached out with the force and raised up one of the shockingly heavy tables, just as he previously demanded.’

‘I was taking in quick breaths while straining my battered body in this current state. Fat balls of sweat were quickly dribbling down my face.’

‘I was surprised to see his genuine excitement at the sight of the floating table. Reminding me of the fact that indeed, he was just another slave and a teenager of that.’

“Fascinating.” — ‘The boy spoke in excitement.’ — “The queen will be overjoyed by the news. You can place it down, and do so carefully. That table is worth as much as five regular slaves.”

‘I grimaced hearing the alarming information, while trying to put it back down gently without panicking.’

‘Fucking kid, should have told me previously. I almost dropped the damn thing. I cursed under my breath.’

‘After my previous fright that the mirialan boy didn’t even notice. I was presently resting on my knees slumped over, supporting my weight with my shaking arms and gulping down as much air as I could.’

‘I half mindedly listened to the mirialan boy who was currently acting as my supervisor. He was pretty good at it, if I try to be completely honest. Constantly putting me on edge without allowing any leeway to think or gather my thoughts.’

“Tell me your name.” — ‘Here he goes again…’

“I am… I am called Nizzal G-...”

“That’s enough. We don’t care about your last name. Still, it seems that you are indeed the fallen apprentice of the legendary Obi-Wan Kenobi. The face scan also points to this. Regarding last names, common slaves do not have the privilege of using two names. But if you manage to impress her majesty, then she may consider gifting you a new name and perhaps freedom.”

“Can I have a few questions of my own?”

“Not now. There is no time. I have to tell you a few basics before I lead you to her Majesty. She wants to inspect her new property. It is one of her favorite afternoon activities. First, you have to rehydrate yourself and you may also eat a little. Then you will change into more sufficient clothes to represent your new position.”

‘That was the moment when I realized that I was basically sitting in my undies... My mind was still slow, but as I began to slowly realize that this was not just a dirty joke, a thirst for revenge began to rise in me.’

‘The problem was that I didn’t remember who I was supposed to unleash my vengeance. Not yet at least, but at the moment I will have some time to think. I will certainly remember.’

“Now, time to move.” — ‘Stated the boy.’

‘He grabbed me by my arms and pulled me up to my currently shaking legs... He seemed to be annoyed by the fact that I could not walk on my own right now.’

‘What the heck? Try to be carbonated for, who knows how long, then I will see if you managed to stand up and run around, fool.’

“Sit down there and drink some water. Your level of hygiene seems to be acceptable, which is a relief, since you wouldn’t have time for a bath, anyway.”

‘I began to drink the water that was offered to me, as the guy began to look over me as if I was a rare animal. It was annoying, but at that moment, as the waves of hunger and thirst began to engulf me, I didn’t really have the spare energy to give a shit about it.’

“Good, good. From what I have seen, a young girl like you was a worthy gift to the Zygerian Queen. This mysterious Lord R. must be a man of refined taste. It is a shame that he could not appear in person. He must be quite an eccentric. He even sent a bunch of protocol droids as escorts.”

‘Hearing the loud thoughts of this strange boy was an unwelcomed background noise. But it didn’t ruin my appetite. I was also surprised that the offered quantity and quality of the food was very good. It was actually better than what I used to eat on my ship while traveling through space.’

‘Alas, when said boy, whose name I didn’t even know yet, mentioned a certain Lord R., I accidentally choked on my food.’

“COUGH, COUGH!” — ‘I was hitting my chest with my fist while spluttering pieces of food everywhere, trying to clear my air tube.’

‘The boy next to me started to panic.’

“Wh-what are you doing? Eat slower, you imbecile! You are a property of her majesty. You can’t damage yourself so foolishly, especially not while under my care. I forbid you to die now. I will be punished too, you selfish girl. Do you want to take me down with you? I will never forgive you if you dare!”

‘He spouted a flood of hurtful words at me while also offering a large glass of water for my shaky hands, which I accepted and managed to flush down the majority of the stuck food in my throat.’

‘Once again I found myself on my knees breathing heavily as tears of frustration began to form in the edges of my eyes.’

‘If I ever manage to leave this fucking place, I will search for a technique that could even hurt force spirits, and I will unleash it on him. Revan, you will suffer for this humiliation! I was certain that it was him. There could be no other person who would be referring to himself, as Lord R.’

“Cough... cough... boy, repeat what you just said...”

“I will also get punished if you die on me, you stupid!”

“Not that, you idiot! The other one, did you say there were protocol droids sent with me?”

“Idiot, me? Preposterous, you should never call names to any of your immediate superiors. But I will look past this, taking into consideration how new this situation must feel to you.”

‘I rolled my eyes at the fake generosity.’

“Thank you, thank you, just get to the point, finally!”

“Hmph, yes, there were six very strange, if I might add, protocol droids sent with you. They were all speaking in a strange manner, too. Like saying “statement” and “offer” or “order” before every sentence...”

“Are these droids still here?”

“Now that you mention it, they are, probably? I haven’t seen any of them since they arrived? I can check on this later, but why do you care?”

“Oh, I see. You want to go back, listen, you can’t go back to your last master. Forget about that. Now you are the personal property of the Zygerrian Queen. But, you have stretched the time enough already. Change into these clothes and also change your undergarments into ones you can find in that wardrobe over there. I will leave you to it now. If you need any help, ring the bell over there and a maid will come in to help you. I will be back in a bit, and we will go to the room of her Majesty.”

“Now, hurry up.”

‘The boy pushed the new clothes into my arms and left with haste.’

‘What the hell, this guy speaks more than Ahsoka at her worst, like twice as much... and what are these clothes?’

‘I looked at the incredible soft and light garments, and blushed a little.’

‘I got very proper, likely Zygerrian-styled, handmaiden clothes. Which meant it was hiding most of my body from sight, and probably it was a venture to hell and back to pull on this dress on my own.’

‘But I will die before I actually ask for a maid to help me get dressed. Well, first I am going to change my undies... Luckily it is a very standard pair of white undergarments. Nothing new to figure out there.’

‘About ten minutes later, I finally managed to get dressed properly. It was a strange feeling, but I didn’t really have time to ponder on it. As the mirialan boy walked into the room.’

“Took you long enough. I was just about to send for the maid.”

‘He looked me over with a scrutinizing gander.’

“Sigh, you have a long way to go. But there is no more time. We can’t make her Majesty wait. Follow me.”

‘We began to walk, but before we left the door, I also got a pair of simple black shoes to go with the stockings I was currently wearing.’

‘I legitimately felt like I was in a costume ball. The mirialan guy was yet to stop speaking since he came back for me.’

“... you are not supposed to speak until you are spoken to, or asked a question. You have to bow your head lightly if a Lord or Lady is in the room with you until they say otherwise.”

“You should only call your owner master or mistress. Everyone else you had to call, my lady or my lord. Also, you should not use force abilities, only if you are ordered to do so, or there is a threat to your mistress, but such a thing wouldn’t happen. I think that this is everything for now. Go on inside.”

‘I looked up, and there was a large, beautifully decorated wooden door in front of me.’

‘I blinked. Why do I feel like I just missed half of what he said... and why am I going in alone? Fuck, it’s better to get it done as fast as possible. I walked into the personal chambers of the queen. Then I walked over to the middle of the room and looked around, hesitatingly. There were many beautifully designed items placed around the room. It was truly a room for a queen.’

‘From the balcony, a confident and reprimanding female voice sounded.’