Between two cities [Great]

[Dawnika Snow]

It was late night, not that any of the slave could tell. Sera was awoken by the sound of clattering steel: Her ankle restraint. One of the bandits had unchained her, but she knew it wasn't time for her cleaning shift.

“What’s going on?” She asked in a hushed tone, crawling up to her knees. The man was large with muscle and had a pretty thick beard, though Sera swore she’d never seen him before, at least down here.

“There’s an emergency clean up you'll have to take care of, follow me.” His deep voice shook Sera’s bones. She climbed up weakly to her feet and followed behind the man. Something made the hairs on her neck stand up. All this was sort of ominous and she was starting to worry.

The man led her down the familiar ill lit tunnels and into a secluded area, though she was familiar with it. There were a few storage closet here with cleaning supplies in them.(Basically just some mops, brooms and other simple products) Sera was obviously confused, but before she could say anything the man grabbed her by the wrist, forcefully I might add, and threw her into one of the closets. He followed in behind her, locking the door as he closed it.

“Uh..” She wasn't an idiot, she knew what was going on. “Scar doesn't allow you to violate the prisoners, are you new to the gang here, or are you just stupid?” She asked.

“You talk too much, girl. I don't care what Scar thinks because he won't find out.” Chills ran down Sera’s spine. Coruscant was rampant with crime in the lower tiers, where she was from, but never had she been assaulted for her body. Numerous times for cash, but no more than that. Her joints locked up and a cold sweat rushed across her palms.

The bandit closed in on her. The first thing that popped into her mind was to grab a broom and usher out some self-defense. That unfortunately proved ineffective. He grabbed the broom as she swung and pushed her to the floor forcefully.

“W-Wait! Stop! You can't do this! I'm only 17 years old!” She panicked but he seemed not to care as he rushed the situation. As she struggled to escape his grasp, she noticed the shelf next to them, filled with metal buckets and brushes used to scrub floors and walls. Not hesitating whatsoever, she awkwardly kicked the wooden leg, snapping the worn wood off and toppling the heavy mess on top of them both. Sera was crushed but cushioned by the bandits body as the metal buckets and wooden shelf bludgeoned his cranium, effectively knocking him out. With a sigh of relief, she crawled out of the mess checking to see if he was alive or if he was bleeding. He was fine other than being knocked unconscious so the young woman tiptoed over the mess and left the closet room.

She made her way back down the hall silently and scared. If anyone caught her roaming around freely it would not end good for her and possibly the other slaves. Luckily, it was mostly uneventful. That is until she was just about back to her chained restraint. Two of the bandits were walking in the opposite direction, talking amongst themselves. Sera needed to go that way but obviously she needed to hide. To her advantage, a cart of fresh food was nearby next to a wall, she took cover and took up a fetal position with her hands covering her head. Footsteps made her heart skip a beat as the closed in.

“Dammit I'm tired. Can't wait to go to sleep. I don't know why Scar makes use do these late night guard shifts, no one knows where we are and it's not like it’s easy to find.”

“I’d rather be careful enough that we're on the alert if someone where to find us.” Boots tromped by the cart, making the helpless little girl shrink in her skin.

“What good will it do if I'm too tired to fight?”

“You're such an idiot, just keep walking.”

Once they were out of earshot, Sera loosened up and breathed heavily. It was only until now she had realized she was holding her breath out of fear. After releasing herself from her horror-induced petrification, she hurriedly returned to her safe spot in the slave’s quarters, chaining herself back in. Malon had awakened from the metal noises next to her.

“Sera?”

“Don't ask.” She said before slumping over and holding back an overwhelming urge to cry. She wanted a revolution, but this rather short experience made her realize something: If she couldn't handle sneaking around, how was she going to fit on the battlefield? She’d never used a weapon before and surely didn't have the time and temperament to do so now. It made her wonder if she was going to die when Cooper finally came through. Maybe Malon would protect her. She could only hope.