by Seven Steps
One creature looked familiar, with distinctly feminine features, except she was covered in fur from neck to ankles.
Another creature seemed to only consist of an eye and a dozen spindly legs that stretched out like eyelashes.
A third cage held two balls of light that flicked and flickered. When Nadira looked inside, the lights flew towards her, and shook as if trying to tell her a great truth.
Each cage was themed to something different. She recognized a forest, a desert, an ocean scene. Some of the creatures floated in zero gravity, bouncing along the edges of the cage. Some of the cages stood empty, with the word SOLD glowing in the corner.
“These creatures,” Nadira said. “How did you get them?”
“Fair and square,” Tronic replied. “Why? Do you want one?”
“For what?” Nadira asked.
“For a pet.” Tronic turned around. “Find any of them interesting? There’s one for every budget.”
“No, thank you.”
“You sell pets in the Hollow?” Eva asked. “I thought you just sold stolen slaves.”
Tronic smiled. “Only stolen slaves? Why Empress, slaves are only a portion of what we sell here.” He continued on down the hallway. “Here at the Hollow we specialize in exotic pets, slaves, weapons, drugs, interplanetary travel passes, tech, and anything else you can think of, twenty four hours a day to all four Habitats. We are everything the Square wishes they could be.”
“How are you not shut down?” Eva asked.
“Shut down? Our supreme ruler would never allow us to be shut down. After all, she takes a ten percent cut of every sale.”
“You mean Princess Niadad knows about this place?”
“Of course she knows.” Tronic turned around. “Who do you think built it?”
He turned back to the hallway.
The wall of pets ended, giving way to booths of strange merchandise. Clothes, books, bottles, and contraptions that Nadira had never seen before were on full display on either side of her. Behind the rows of booths, men stopped mid-sentence to look at them.
“What is all of this junk?” Eva asked, picking up a wooden box. She opened it. It played an off-key tune.
“This, Empress, is not junk. These are trinkets taken from every corner of the galaxy.” He stopped in front of a table, picked up a black, rimless cap. “For instance, do you know what this is?”
“No.”
“This is a blocker.”
“What does it do?”
“It keeps people from reading your thoughts.”
“People can’t read thoughts,” Eva smirked.
“Maybe not here. But, out there,” he pointed upwards, “They can tell your every secret, every fantasy.” He put down the cap, picked up a jar filled with yellow beans.
“These are fire seeds, straight from planet Zenith. Pop one of these things in your mouth, and no one can stop you.” He shrugged. “At least not for the first fifteen minutes.”
He looked at Nadira, opened the jar, handed her a bean.
“Here.”
She shook her hand to refuse.
“Are you sure? You may need it someday.”
“I think I’ll be alright.”
“Suit yourself,” he tossed the bean back in the jar and closed it tightly.
Nadira ran a hand along one of the tables. “Do you have any Earth books, by chance?”
“We have a whole selection of Earth books,” Tronic replied. “What are you looking for?”
“Everything.”
Tronic smiled at her, a small thing that made Nadira smile back.
“Hey Gray,” he shouted to the man behind the table. “Give this Empress here a collection of our finest Earth books. Put it on my tab.”
“Yes boss.” Gray, a pale, and humped back man scurried off to the back of the booth.
Nadira inclined her head. “Thank you. You didn’t have to do that.”
“No worries,” Tronic smiled. “You’ll pay me later.”
Nadira’s grin fell.
They continued to move through the tunnel. Ahead, it forked both left and right. They followed the tunnel on the left. It forked again, but here, at the juncture, there was a plain, metal door.
Tronic put his hand up to the door, and it popped open. He ushered them inside.
Windows looking out into the hallway ran down the length of two of the office walls. A wall comm was built into the far wall, behind a large black desk and matching chair.
He waved them to four chairs in front of the desk.
“On,” Tronic said. The walls lit brightly before becoming blank screens.
“Are you in charge here?” Eva asked.
“Me?” Tronic looked incredulous. “No, I’m just a star in a very big universe. If you want to talk to the person in charge, you talk to Princess Niadad, or one of her many higher ups.”
Tronic sat in the chair behind the desk.
“So, you are looking for Slave Market security footage from last night? Very well. Play Security Footage, Habitat Alpha, Slave Market, last twenty four hours.”
The walls came alive. Images from the slave market in full color and sound surrounded them.
“This looks like yesterday morning. Can you play the footage from last night?” Nadira asked.
Tronic nodded. “Forward.”
The footage quickened, and they watched women walk in and out of the market. Some men were being taken from their cages, while others were being marched into them.
“That’s me,” Eva whispered. She watched as she saw Lex for the first time. Her expression was haunted, as if she’d seen a ghost. A beautiful, tempting, red haired ghost. Her steps were light as she floated towards the glass, her breathing stopped as she raised her hand to him. His hand joined hers. Both of their eyes closed then. She hadn’t noticed she’d done that before.
Eva’s cheeks reddened, and she looked away.
Nadira raised an eyebrow at her friend. She had a twinkle in her eye now.
“Do we have something to discuss?” Nadira teased.
Eva scowled. She stole a glance in Lex’s direction.
His eyes were glued to the screen. Although he didn’t look back at her, the flare in his cheeks and the clear goose bumps on his neck told her his thoughts. That touch. It moved him too.
A strange thrill ran through Eva, and she cleared her throat to refocus herself.
Finally, the market cleared of visitors and the lights clicked off. All was quiet for a bit, before a large Enforcer in black arrived on screen.
“Here,” Nadira said. “Stop here.”
“Play,” Tronic commanded.
More Enforcers filed in until the space between the slave’s cages was nearly filled.
“Let’s make this quick,” the first Enforcer said. “Get all of the ones over twelve out of the cages, line them up. Execute the rest. We don’t need any witnesses.”
“Do you want us to wipe them?” Another Enforcer asked.
“If I wanted them wiped, I would have said wiped.”
That voice, Nadira thought. I know that voice.
The Enforcers went up and down the hallway, shooting the slaves who didn’t meet the age limit, and dragging out the ones who did.
Nadira put her hands to her mouth, her heart pumping hard.
Those poor children.
The floor of the market turned red with blood, and the Enforcers slipped and slid through it as they finished their task.
When all of the slaves were lined up in front of the cages, an Enforcer placed a white box in front of them.
“Ten seconds,” she said.
“Eva, does that voice sound familiar to you?” Nadira asked.
Eva nodded. “I can’t place it, but I’m sure that I’ve heard it before.”
The Enforcer placed a pair of glasses over her eyes.
“They’re wiping them,” Nadira whispered.
The light flashed, and the men’s faces dazed.
“Five seconds,”
the Enforcer said.
After the time was up, the Enforcer took off her glasses. “You will be separated into three groups. Some of you will follow me to High Council. Some of you will follow Officer Trecca or Bion to the homes that we will specify, understood?”
The men didn’t reply.
Some of the Enforcers walked out of the room, following the first Enforcer. The Enforcers who stayed spread fluid in front of each cage, then left. The last Enforcer to leave lit a match, threw it on the fluid, and ran out.
They watched the Slave Market burn before the feed fuzzed.
“Find what you wanted?” Tronic asked, his voice tight, his hands clasped in front of him.
Nadira nodded. “This proves that the Enforcers were behind the riot, and that Kiln was not there. We can free him now.”
The thought of Kiln back in her arms made her want to grab the feed, run straight to High Council, and throw it in Arees face.
Tronic nodded. “I suppose you’ll want a copy.”
“Yes, please.”
“It’ll be seventy five thousand vesuvians.”
Nadira choked. “Seventy five thousand vesuvians? That’s insane!”
Tronic held up his hands in defense. “I don’t set the prices or make the rules,” he said. “Any intel is priced at seventy five thousand vesuvians, minimum. I’m giving you the lowest price that I’m allowed.”
Nadira looked at Eva, then back at Tronic. “Fine,” she said. “Anything for Kiln.”
“And another thousand for the books,” Tronic added.
Nadira glared at him, took out a touch screen, and handed it to him. “Thanks to you, I won’t have anything left to pay the food tax.”
“I’m sure that you can ask your mother for it when you get back. Ambassador Marie, right?”
Nadira’s eyes widened. “You know who I am?”
“Since you walked in,” Tronic said, holding her touch screen up to one of the walls. “We know who everyone is who walks though these doors. We have eyes that stretch for miles.”
“I see that those miles include Alpha Residential.” Nadira said. “Do you also have an eye on its residents?”
“Some of them. The ones that Princess Niadad is interested in.”
“Do you have eyes on Arees?”
“We always have eyes on Arees. After all, she’s been trying to get in on our action for years, but the Princess is well equipped for anything that Arees can throw her way, especially now.”
“What does that mean, especially now?”
The screen flashed, and he handed her touch screen back to her.
“Don’t worry, Councilwoman. Your secret is safe with me.”
Nadira inclined her head, “Thank you.”
“Please keep that in mind, for the future.”
“Are you blackmailing me?” Nadira asked.
“Not in the least. I am just asking that you return the kindness that you experienced today in the event that the Princess needs it.”
Nadira’s eyes narrowed at him. “Are we done here?”
“Yes, Empress. Our payment has gone through, and a copy of the feed is on your touch screen.”
Nadira stood, Lex and Eva followed.
“I’m sure you can find your way out,” Tronic said, coming from behind his desk.
“I can lead them,” Lex replied.
Tronic held out his hand, shook Lex’s. “Until next time, my friend,” he said.
“Until next time.”
He looked at Eva, “Empress Eva,” he said.
“Tronic,” she replied, turning and leaving the room.
“Empress Nadira,” Tronic said. “Don’t forget to pick up your books on the way out.”
“How can I?” Nadira asked. “I’ll be eating them for the next month.”
Tronic laughed a little.
They filed out of the room, heading back down the tunnel.
“And Nadira,” Tronic called.
She turned.
“Don’t lose that feed.”
She nodded, and disappeared into the darkness.
Chapter 21
The ride back to Eva’s home was filled with questions, conjectures.
“Why would Enforcers wipe a bunch of slave’s memories and then force them from the Slave Market?” Eva asked.
“So they could start a riot,” Nadira said.
“But why? Why would Enforcers use slaves to start a riot, kill women, and trash and burn homes? What’s there to gain?”
“I don’t know,” Nadira said.
“Who did they kill?” Lex asked, maneuvering the hovercraft past the museum and above the streets of Habitat Alpha Residential.
“Have they released any names yet?” Nadira asked.
Eva pulled up her touch screen. “Yes, they were released while we were in the Hollow.” She read the names off the list. “I recognize some of these women, the Chief Medical Examiner, some councilwomen...”
“Yes, but what’s the connection?” Nadira asked. “Why kill these fifteen women?”
Eva tapped on her touch screen. “I’m in the Hall of Judgment’s server now.”
As Nadira pondered the names, Eva went through their public records.
When they got to the end of the list, Nadira ran her fingers through her hair, messing her bun.
“I don’t see a connection. The Medical Examiner, Councilwomen, women who worked for the Slave Market, a technician. Why kill these women? What links them together?”
“I don’t know,” Eva yawned. She wiped her eyes. “Maybe we should get some rest, Nadira, it’s late. We can pick it up tomorrow.”
“I can’t rest. Not with Kiln about to be executed.”
Lex maneuvered the hovercraft over the silver hanger behind Eva’s house. The roof of the hanger opened, and Lex landed the vehicle on a pad inside.
They climbed out, and walked into Eva’s house.
“I’ll make us some refreshments,” Lex said, moving towards the kitchen.
Nadira watched him go, then turned back to Eva.
“Turning Rogue on me, Eva?” Nadira asked.
Eva scowled. “No.”
“What about that touch in the slave market? It looks like you like him.”
“I was testing the strength of the glass.”
“That’s a lie, and a terrible one.”
Eva and Nadira walked to the sitting room. Eva laid on the sofa, while Nadira stood smiling down at her.
“What?” Eva asked.
“I know that look. I’ve had it on my face for eleven years.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Eva, there is nothing wrong with it.”
“Oh, but there is Nadira. First off, it’s illegal. Second, it’s illegal, and third, it’s illegal.”
“Just because society says that we can’t love them doesn’t make it wrong. Forget about society. What does your heart tell you?”
Eva sighed. “I don’t know.”
“Well, what do you feel when you’re around him?”
Eva bit her lip. “Warm. Calm. Safe. Confused. I don’t know. It’s irrational. I shouldn’t want him, but I do. I want him close, I want him to...”
Her voice trailed off, and she looked away.
“You want him to touch you?”
“It’s shameful, isn’t it?” Eva asked. “It’s indecent.”
“Eva, it’s natural. We were made this way. Before we came to this planet, before we set all these rules, we loved them, and they loved us.”
“And dominated us and beat us and raped us and tried to keep us from reaching our full potential.”
“Not all of them.”
“Yes, all of them. That’s why we left.”
“Eva, you have to think for yourself. You are not your mother.”
Eva froze. “What a thing to say!”
“Do you want to be your mother?”
Eva looked away.
“Give him a chance,” Nadira said. “Give yourself a c
hance. For all of the heartache, and secrecy and hiding, feeling something is worth it. It’s better to feel something and be shunned for it, then to not feel anything at all. Promise me you’ll give this a chance?”
“I can’t promise anything.”
“Then you’re dooming yourself to a very sad life. Is that what you want?”
Eva didn’t answer, only watched with hooded eyes as Nadira walked over to the comm.
“What are you doing?” Eva asked.
“Making some comms.”
“Nadira, it’s late!” Eva protested.
“I don’t care. Not all of the women were murdered. A few just had their homes vandalized. I want to talk to those women, see if they can shed some light on why they were spared.”
“Can’t this wait until-”
“Comm Empress Noibic, Habitat Alpha Residential.”
Eva frowned, and laid back on the sofa.
Lex reappeared, and brought her a blanket and a cup of bubbling Wexlian wine.
Nadira glanced back to see them looking at each other, locked in each other’s eyes. She smiled and turned back to the com.
The first few women did not answer. Nadira continued to move down the list.
“Comm Empress Lina, Habitat Alpha Residential.”
The word COMM flashed, before Empress Lina’s white hair appeared on the screen.
“Who is calling me at this hour?” Empress Lina’s cracked voice asked.
“Hello, Empress Lina. My name is Empress Nadira. I was comming to ask about the vandalism to your home.”
The screen blanked as the comm disconnected.
Nadira frowned.
“She disconnected me,” she whispered. Shaking her head, she commed Lina again. This time, Lina did not answer.
Nadira glared at the blank screen and pressed on. She wouldn’t be deterred. Kiln’s life depended on her not giving up.
“Comm Empress Alstar, Habitat Alpha Residential,” she said.
The comm picked up, Empress Alstar squinting in the screen. “Who is this?”
“Hello. My name is Empress Nadira. I just had a few questions about your home being vandalized in the riots.”
Empress Alstar’s eyes opened wide in fright, and the comm disconnected again.
“Why are they so afraid to talk?” Nadira wondered aloud. “They must know something.”
She jutted her chin, and kept trying.
The abrupt disconnects, or outright ignoring, continued.