The Runaways

More Bitter than Sweet

*20 BBY, Ryloth*

Detta had done it. Well, not quite. 

"Let's go down and arrange payments." The Queen held out a hand. Detta grabbed it, visibly shaking. Did we have enough credits? A pit formed in my stomach.

***

As we walked to the area where the slaves were being held, the Queen turned to Detta.

"I need payment upfront. That's how Zygerrian's do business."

"Of course." We rounded a corner, only to come upon a metal cage with a hexagon pattern. The cage held Detta's mother and sister, both of which quivered in fear. Detta stopped abruptly, her fists clenched.

"15,000 credits ma'am." A masked Zygerrian guard told Detta. She motioned for me to hand her the case. I did. She grabbed it and opened it. Using quick math, I counted only around 7,000 credits. I choked. The guard took the case from Detta.

"I count only 7,250 credits, your highness." The guard broke the heavy silence. Detta's mother whimpered in pain. The Queen gave a look to Detta.

"You can only buy one."

"One?"

"Yes. Pick." The Queen opened the cage. "Be thankful I even let you buy one. You lied about how many credits you had." The Queen's voice had gone sour.

"I need both."

"You get one." The guard snorted.

"I need a moment alone to inspect." The guard glared at Detta.. "And pick." He let her into the cage. The Queen and the guard stepped out of hearing range, and my brothers and I got closer. The Queen picked up a comlink call, and the guard was called elsewhere. What luck!

"Mother, Lecti!" Detta sobbed. They all stood motionless, awestruck. Her mother was the first to speak.

"Detta? How are you here?!" Her voice was weak and tired. She looked horrible. Lecti finally reacted, throwing herself onto Detta.

"It was a long process, but 100% worth it."

"You're here to rescue us?"

"Y-yes, but I could only scrounge up enough credits to buy one of you!" Detta's voice wavered. I stepped into the cage to help.

"Pick Mother." Lecti said immediately. "She won't survive much more of this. I can manage. I can escape later!"

"Pick Lecti! She's young and would have a much better life." Detta looked between them, tears streaming down her cheeks. The guard came waltzing back in.

"You get the orange one." He pointed to Lecti. The guard forcefully grabbed her mother and ripped her away from Detta.

"Where are you taking her?" She followed the guard.

"The slaughterhouse." The guard sneered.

"No!" Detta's mother cried and thrashed. The guard grabbed his whip. Fear slithered down my spine. I was frozen. He began whipping.

"No!" Detta screamed, throwing herself in front of the whip. Yellow shocks of electricity tore down her body. She writhed in pain, screaming violently. I couldn't take this. I launched myself at the guard, forcing him into a headlock. He was unconscious in what felt like a matter of seconds, his whip on the ground.

"Detta." I lifted her body off of her mother's.

"Is she ok?" Blood leaked from her nose and mouth. I looked. Her mother, old, and frail, and bleeding, was no longer breathing.