Veronica's Personal Log: Master's thoughts on slavery
17 Nov 2016Jubei Himura
Hi there people who might stumble on this very personal journal... or log. Is it a log? Well, this entry.
Today, Master Jubei (henceforth to be called Shisho ) and I blasted off from Shajn to start our journey to Takjiri. It was great that he invited me on this trip, but I think it's going to be a test of some-sort. I mean why else bring a cute girl like me to Pegasi?
Ugh and the clothes he made me buy... I mean they're nice, but they're plain! Apparently if you dress too nice in Pegasi you become a target, and I get that... but why so plain?!
Oh and not but ten minutes into our trip he pulls out his datapad and plugs it into the ship's intercom. Let me tell you something, he put some damn nice speakers in here... but what does he put through those speakers? Some ancient music from the early twenty-first century! Where the hell did he find this stuff? I mean I get it, we all like what we like, but it's not even one of the classic artists from that time period like Kanye West or Rihanna!
It's all some ancient genre called "Metal" that's all heavy and crunchy with some singing and some... growling or shouting or something. Although, I have to admit that Five Finger Death Punch fits him, with all his martial arts-ing bad guys in the face.
Anyway, so I decided to ask him about his thoughts on various subjects. We work together and he trains me, but he has never given his opinion to me. Shisho always asks me what I think and says that 'it is wise to come to your own conclusions'. I think it's time to find out what he really thinks.
"Shisho," I started, while we were between songs. "What do you think of the whole 'Imperial slave' thing? ...and please don't give some dismissive remark about 'form your own thoughts'. I have my own thoughts on the subject, but I want to know what you think."
Shisho Jubei laughed and moved the throttle into the blue. Turning in his chair, he looked at me with a smile. "Okay, okay. Well quick answer is that I'm for it, but it's more complicated than that.
"I was an Imperial slave myself, once upon a time."
"I never knew that." I said, a little taken aback by his reply.
"Yeah, I became a slave at the age of eleven." Shisho said gently. "However, I chose to become an Imperial slave. I owed society a debt from being a thief in my youth. I chose to pay back my debt and regain my honour, as it should be.
"Master Sejiro Hattori was the one who bought my contract. He brought me back to his planet where Hattori clan live and train. The whole village was comprised of twenty percent military personnel and eighty percent Imperial slaves. We were treated very well, like we weren't slaves at all - as it should be.
"You see, the whole point of Imperial slavery is to keep people away from the hell of poverty. Poverty drives people to do very terrible things to themselves and others. Terrible things just to survive in most cases. If you're an Imperial slave, you should have your basic needs taken care of: food, shelter, and clothing."
"But Shisho," I interrupted, hoping to challenge him. "That's not always the case. Some Imperial slaves are treated like actual slaves and are worked to death, mistreated, and even used as playthings."
Shisho's hands tightened on the flight controls and his voice came out in a low tone, "I know. The ISA needs to do more for the people who are abused and taken advantage of. Believe me darlin', I've seen the horrors that come out of places like that, and I pray that you never witness such misery.
"I can't stand the scum out there who treat people as lesser beings. I hate it. The people who become Imperial slaves are trying to repay their debt and regain their honour, and all they get is shit on by these stuck-up, rich, credit-suckin' cunts. That's why I take the jobs that the ISA post for the Chapterhouse. You know how I like to give a little payback for the people."
"Does that mean you also run transport for the ISA?" I asked directly. "Do you traffic Imperial slaves?"
"Yes, I move Imperial slaves around the Empire from time to time." he answered.
"That's still trafficking."
"Look, I don't 'traffic' anyone. Every Imperial slave that boards my ship has an interview with me, and every one of them tells me why they signed themselves into indentured servitude. If they feel that they have been forcefully pushed into their contract, or if they're scared to death, then I buy out the contract and set them free. Sometimes, if they feel totally lost and alone, I'll bring them to Master Hattori's village. There, they'll be offered a one month contract to get settled in and to see if they're happy there. If they chose to leave, Master Hattori gives them fifty thousand credits and sends them to a destination of their choosing."
“When did you pay off your debt?” I asked, being very curious. This is was first time Shisho opened up about thoughts and his past.
“My debt was payed off by the time I entered secondary school.” he smiled, seemingly lost in his memories. “Apparently my conscience didn’t allow me to be a good thief.”
I thought about Shisho being a thief and I had to admit, I really can’t picture him being very good at it. For all his showboating and generally gruff attitude, Shisho can’t help but be a nice guy. No matter how much he refuses to admit it.
“What about non-imperial slavery?” I asked cautiously, as I already knew the answer.
Again, Shisho’s hand tightened on the controls. “I hate real, forced slavery. No one has the right to oppress and subjugate someone else. People who advocate true slavery need to be shown the error of their ways. Violently if necessary. In fact, people like that usually hold power and won’t listen, so elimination of slavers is the usual outcome.”
“I agree!” I said as cute and as gleefully as I could. I wanted to lighten the mood. “Death to slavers!”
Shisho just laughed and aligned the Cobra toward the next system and with a flick of a switch the frameshift drive started to charge. I always liked the jump to witchspace, the muffled boom followed by the stars blurring into lines that fade to an array nebula flying by. Traveling faster-than-light is rather pretty.
Wow, that was a lot more intense and deep than I thought it would be! There’s still so much I want to ask Shisho, but that will have to be for another log… entry... or whatever these things are.
Bye!