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“Then it would depend on whose definition of sentience we apply,” Cilghal said. “By the standards of the Old Republic, they would be classified as a primitive species and protected by the same laws that protect children and the mentally disabled. By Imperial standards, they would be classified as advanced livestock and treated as chattel.”

“And under Alliance law?” Kenth asked.

“From Master Sebatyne’s description,” Cilghal replied, “I would consider them quasi-sentient. It wouldn’t be legal to enslave them, and any legal dealings would need approval by a government-appointed advocate.”

“What about their relationship with the Blauduns?” Kam asked from his hologram. “From Master Sebatyne’s reaction and Madhi Vaandt’s report, the two species hardly seem antagonistic.”

“They are not,” Saba said. “The Blaudunz own their Octusi, this is true. But they regard them as working petz and treat them well.”

“Are they imprisoned?” asked Kyle.

Saba shook her head. “They are escorted to their work every day, but that is only because they would spend the day wandering otherwise. When they are done working, they are free to do as they wish.”

“And they don’t try to escape?” Tionne asked, her voice projecting from her hologram.

“There is nowhere to escape to,” Saba explained. “Blaudu Sextus is a mining world, and its native plant life is either poison or not worth the eating. When the Octusi grow hungry, they must return to their masterz for food harvested from Blaudu Octus.”

“And they always return to the correct master?” Tionne clarified.

“Not alwayz,” Saba replied. “Sometimes, they go to someone else when they are hungry. It is not legal for a Blaudun to feed someone else’s property, so they are returned to their rightful ownerz. But if it happenz several times, it is assumed the Octusi wishes to change ownerz, and the Blaudunz come to an arrangement.”

“Well, that sounds like slavery,” Kyp said. “Kind of.”

“But they’re allowed freedoms most slaves are not,” Kenth pointed out. He directed his gaze back to Saba. “Tell us how the Octusi are taken from their home to Sextus. Perhaps that will clarify the situation.”

“It won’t,” Saba replied. “The Octusi ask to be taken.”

“Ask?” echoed Kyp. “As in, Would you please move me a couple of worlds down-system and let me be your slave?”

“Yesss,” Saba hissed. “Blaudu Octus has a steep axial tilt, so the Octusi must spend their lives migrating, following the seasonz in search of good grazing. It is a hard life of moving fast, and they rarely live more than twenty standard yearz—barely long enough to rear their offspring.”

“But they have a longer life span on Blaudu Sextus?” Kyle asked. “That’s why they want to serve the Blauduns?”

“In a way, yes,” Saba said. “When an Octusi becomes too slow to keep up, the band will often seek out a harvesting ship from Sextus and ask the Blaudunz to take their beloved one. It is better than dying alone in hard weather, and Octusi have been known to live eighty yearz in the care of the Blaudunz.”

“And the Octusi know this how?” Kyle asked. “Because the Blauduns tell them?”

Saba shook her head. “Because other Octusi tell them,” she said. “The Blaudunz bring slaves to help with the harvesting, and they are free to tell younger Octusi about life on Blaudu Sextus.”

“Nothing is ever simple,” Kyp observed. “It sounds like slavery, and it doesn’t.”

“Yes, there is a lot to consider.” Kyle spoke in a slow, thoughtful tone that suggested he had grown more interested in the abstract question than the real problem—and that was a big relief to Kenth. At the moment, he could not afford to get into a heated argument with his Masters about whether the Jedi Order should be doing more to support Freedom Flight’s drive to eliminate slavery from the galaxy. “What about discipline and neglect? Do the Blauduns abuse their slaves?”

“There are bad beingz in every species,” Saba replied. “But the Blaudunz have lawz against mistreating any creature, and