The most sought-after beings in the Galactic Alliance are those describes as "creators"
Creators of all sorts are in High demand all over. From those that create worlds with only the written word, "private and amateur" educators, that use the video sharing and promoting to spread their knowledge, to the engineers and scientists that look at a problem and imagine new and different solutions to solve them (gravity drive anyone?!?)
With Zillions of Citizens, there is always demand for content, and therefore, creators! -- Adam in Darwin
Communication makes it easier for there to be something for everyone. This is both a blessing and a curse. Once thought has been applied, that much is obvious. The CRC offices have a full time job ensuring that minors and those of Diminished Responsibility status are not exploited.
Therefore, every new ELF[1] species merely expands the offices, if not the regulatory force. Every new colony or planet stretches their resources further. Gaining a seal of approval from the CRC is therefore vital for any content creator out there. Every purveyor of imagination and the fruits thereof has something they can sell. Selling it with the CRC seal of approval is even more profitable.
Imagination makes Time. The ability to take three bullshit ideas and turn them into a congruent whole is treasured. Writers, artists, tinkerers and fabricators of all flavours are an important part of the economy, because there is nothing the citizens of the Alliance love more than watching things become.
It's a little slower with writers, since none of them appreciate people looking over their shoulders whilst they write, but seeing things take shape is one of the most satisfying processes to witness. Once the thing has taken form, it is art that can be shared amongst many. Lease had heard of Creators worth the capitalisation having to become a corporation because of the sheer volume of their income.
Artists are paid a portion of the time taken to appreciate their work. Seconds. Minutes. Hours. Some works are loved for lifetimes. Lease was hoping that this was true. She was hoping that creativity would get her the HELL away from the Glorious Empire of Man.
Her full name, when it wasn't 'babe' or 'honey' or 'sweetie', was Lease Try Buy. Nobody had bought her, and there was talk of selling her off by the pound. She wasn't pretty. She wasn't shapely. She was... typical meat. Barely worth the expense of keeping alive. The Galactic Inspectors never saw her. The Man was very careful about keeping her in places where Outsiders would not see.
Her only hope was the Man she happened to be with at the time. Playing at giving him what he wanted, and then asking for a little treat. They were often amused by that. If she could create, and seen to be creating, she might become an Asset. Being an Asset was everything.
So when she went, in the custom clothes as ordered by the Man, Lease did everything he wanted, and asked for art supplies so she could make a portrait. Always play to the ego. She worked on the art naked, so that the expensive clothing wouldn't get dirty, and spent her anxiety on making an ugly Man beautiful. On the art board, he was not a greasy Man with spots and weird hair patches, but a noble and fit gentleman surrounded by wealth and refinement.
He liked the art. He loved that she worked naked. He rented her for a month. Then another month. Then a year. The Man couldn't help himself. He showed her off. He allowed the larger universe to see Lease creating art for him. Live.
The CRC whisked her away in less than a week. They gave her freedom, let her choose her clothes. Let her choose her name. Helped her gain health and condition and develop her own sense of style and comfort.
She named herself Lyse Bluesky. She kept making art, and could choose the company she kept. She could choose where she lived, and who lived there with her. She could choose what to do and with whom. She was happy.
[1] ELF - Engineered Life Form.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / uatp1]
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