Chapter 3 - Free.

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Currently updating twice a day on patreeeon.

My apologies for disappearing, but my father had died and it took me some time to recover. But here I am, back to daily updates.

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[Sion Wells. POV.]

[Quest: Meet Buyer at the Dune Sea]

The next morning, I woke up to an urgent notification from the system..

[System Notification: Stat Points available for Distribution: 5]

Huh. I hadn't even realized I leveled up.

A wry smile crossed my face. If only leveling up could make me less nervous about the impending exchange. I had no way of knowing how this would end. Nevertheless, every point counted in this game of survival. I hastily redirected three points into Intelligence and two into Agility.

While investing points in the Force was quite tempting, I doubted a couple of points would make me an adept user of the Force, so in the meantime it would be best to stick to what I knew.

[System Confirmation: +3 Intelligence +2 Agility]

I felt a subtle shift in my senses, thoughts coming faster, movements becoming more fluid. That should help me negotiate and escape any potential trouble.

"This leveling thing is quite neat," I muttered, surprised at how… natural it felt to increase my stats. Throughout the day, I kept to myself, avoiding Gardulla's and her many eyes as much as possible. Wouldn't want them catching wind of my plans now, would we?

As sunfall approached, I donned my rough cloak, tucking the datapad safely within its folds before heading out towards the Dune Sea.

I would either earn my freedom, or die trying.

The journey was long and arduous; Tattoine's arid landscape truly lived up to its reputation, and like Anakin, I had to say, fuck sand. The sand beneath my boots shifted constantly, turning each step into a battle against sinking too far down.

Finally arriving at the rendezvous point, I eyed the vast swathes of sand dunes stretching out beyond what the eye could catch under the dusk light. A figure stood there in a dark cloak, face obscured by a hood.

"Are you... the buyer?" I asked, voice hoarse from the dry air.

The figure nodded, "Let's see the goods."

[System Notification: Quest Final Stage Initiated - Show Data to Buyer]

With a nod, I carefully took out the datapad and handed it over. The figure took it and began to scrutinize the data. As they took their time, I felt every second stabbing at my patience, a sense of foreboding lingering in the air.

Finally, they looked up and I saw a glint of satisfaction in their hidden eyes. "It's good."

And with that, my heart soared with relief and exhilaration. Freedom was within reach. "About my payment…"

"Ah, yes," They replied, producing a small pouch from their cloak. I took it, weighing the bag in my hand. It felt satisfyingly heavy. No doubt it held the promised credits. But more importantly, a tiny device was dropped into my hand as well. "What is this?"

"Your contact told me you wanted to escape Gardulla's control," The figure explained, their voice barely carrying over the wind. "That's your key to freedom, it's the least I can do for someone who gave me a way to disrupt the Hutt's business."

[Exp Gained: 500]

[Level Up!]

[Stat Points available for Distribution: 5!]

[New Quest: Gather Cut for Squibb!]

Smiling, I pressed a button on the side of the device and felt a slight tingle around my neck as the slave collar deactivated and fell away. Relief washed over me like a wave crashing against a rocky shoreline. Just like that, I was no longer property.

Just like that, that slug didn't own me.

"Now," They said, putting the datapad away into their cloak. "You're free to go."

I nodded, resisting the urge to sprint off into the night. Instead, I turned and began to walk away, taking slow and deliberate steps. I couldn't afford any suspicion now.

As I made my way back, I could hardly believe what had just transpired. Everything had been… way too easy... But then again, who was I to question good fortune? Not pausing to celebrate just yet, I had one more thing to settle before considering myself free.

When I finally got back to Mos Eisley, Squibb was waiting for me at our usual spot in the cantina.

"You're late," he grumbled over his drink.

"Got caught up," I replied nonchalantly, tossing him a smaller pouch filled with his share of the credits. He caught it deftly, surprise flickering in his eyes as he realized what it signified.

"I'll be damned..." he muttered under his breath before throwing me a rare grin. "You did it. I honestly thought the guy was going to kill you, or that a sand worm would kill you on the way there, but you actually did it."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, but yes," I replied quietly, smiling back at him for what might've been the first time ever. "Yes, I did."

[System Notification: Achievement Unlocked - Free Man]

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Taking my leave, I moved to a small hotel nearby the cantina. Pulling the pouch from my pocket, I dumped the credits onto the table. The little metallic disks clinked against each other, a sweet music to my jaded ears. My freedom and a new life came in the form of these shiny, round objects.

I had 4900 credits. It wasn't much, but it was more than enough to escape this hellhole.

'Shop' I mentally commanded, opening the shop within my system.

Goods of all sorts swam before my eyes: spaceship parts, droids, weapons, medical kits. Based on the prices alone, I couldn't buy any ships to escape, not that I knew how to fly those, so even if I had the money to buy one, it would do me no good, so I moved onto armaments.

If I could leave right now, I had to have a way to protect myself. A blaster pistol would do nicely. While there were certainly cheaper options, I couldn't go cheap right now, not with my life on the line.

[Common Blaster Pistol: 500 credits]

I purchased the weapon, feeling the weight materialize in my hand. I inspected it. It looked just like the blasters I had seen in the movies, but more… real, it was hard to explain.

[System Notification: Achievement Unlocked - Armed and Dangerous]

'System, what stat affects aim the most?' I asked, mentally

The system responded instantly, its ethereal voice echoing in the confines of my mind. [Agility and Intelligence.]

Narrowing my eyes, I opened my stats. With 5 stat points to spare, I could do a fair boost. Four points went into agility and one into intelligence, which I assume was needed for my aim for perception checks, if my DnD experience was anything to go by.

[Agility 16 (+4)

Intelligence 15 (+1)]

I felt an odd sensation: a slight rush of adrenaline, a sharpening of senses. Suddenly, the world seemed a bit brighter, sharper around the edges. So I would feel this every time I increased my stats, can't say I hate the feeling.

I took a deep breath and raised the blaster, pointing it at a tin can sitting on the window sill. Without missing a beat, I squeezed the trigger. A bolt of blue energy shot out, hitting the can with pinpoint accuracy. It exploded with a loud 'ping', startling an alien walking outside my window.

[System Notification: Achievement Unlocked - Sharpshooter]

"Kriff!" the startled alien yelped from below, shaking his fist in my direction before scurrying off.

I lowered the blaster, letting out a sigh of relief. The weapon worked and so did my aim. The system didn't lie. Granted the tin can wasn't a moving target, but before today I hadn't shot a weapon before, and yet, the entire process felt natural.

Turning back to the holographic display of the shop, I scrolled down further. If I was going to survive on my own, I would need more than a blaster. I'd need supplies, tools. Meaning I would have to tap into my already limited money supply.

But like I said before, with my survival on the line, I couldn't afford to be cheap, so I started my shopping spree.

[Basic Survival Kit: 2,000 credits]

[Multipurpose Pocket Tool: 500 credits]

[Portable Shelter: 1,000 credits]

[Rechargeable Energy Cells (for blaster): 1,000 credits each]

With one swift mental command, the items materialized on the table before me. They were just as real as the blaster. I couldn't help but wonder how the fuck the system was making things out of thin air, but then again… I really didn't care, it is like they say, don't fix that which is not broken.

[System Notification: Achievement Unlocked - Gear Up]

39,500 credits left. I sat back, rubbing my temples. "I might need a mask and some clothes to hide my appearance from Gardulla and her people."

The shop screen flickered before my eyes once more as I scanned the options.

[Common Rugged Desert Cloak: 1,000 credits]

[Basic Disguise Kit: 2,000 credits]

[Commoner's clothes bundle: 500 credits]

In a mere thought, I purchased the items. The cloak was heavy and worn, offering both protection from the harsh desert sandstorms and a perfect cover for my identity. The disguise kit held an array of dyes and prosthetics to alter my look while the clothes were plain and unassuming, just like one of the many laborers that populated this miserable planet.

[System Notification: Achievement Unlocked - Incognito]

With a heavy sigh, I looked at my remaining balance. 36,000 credits. I had burned through my funds quickly, but all for a good cause. I hoped.

I figured I could use some of the remaining cash to secure a transport off this dump and into the more law-abiding corners of the galaxy where Hutt influence was minimal. To do that though, I needed contacts, information. And there's only one place you go when you need such things: a bar.

'Stats' I commanded.

[-Status-

Name: Sion Wells.

LV: 3

EXP: 22%

Class: N/A

Health: 100%

Strength: 25

Agility: 20

Intelligence: 16

Charisma: 7

Force: 3

Credits: 3600.]

Not bad, I was finally seeing some progress.