by Olivia Black
“Good day, everyone.” A human greeted them, wearing a similar blue jumpsuit as the groomer in the treatment room. Sebastian also noticed that the human had some ink. A black tattoo peeked out from under the collar of the uniform. “Please come over to the chairs and take a seat.”
Flanked by Aaron and Georgie, Sebastian strode across the room to the sitting area. His eyes jumped around, accessing the other men in attendance. Sebastian took a seat in the back row. The group seemed smaller than it had been when they left Earth, and there weren’t any women. How had he not noticed that before? His only excuse was the cryosleep and then the surprise treatment. Sebastian made a mental note to ask Georgie. The man seemed to know what was going on, and it was all because of the damn manual.
“My name is Mark Ja’Dar, and I want to welcome you to Glecerus. I know what you’re all feeling and thinking because, not too long ago, I was sitting in one of those chairs. I’m now mated to a Glecerian councilman named, Kern Ja’Dar.” He smiled, and Sebastian got the distinct feeling he was trying to put them at ease.
“The manual you were given when you volunteered provided all the information you need to know about Glecerus. There are a lot of rules, customs, and expectations that are different from what you’re used to. I’m here to help you get settled and to prepare you for your new lives.”
Sebastian frowned. He’s here to prepare us for our new lives. That didn’t sound good.
“As I’m sure most of you have noticed, there are cameras placed around the dormitory.” Mark pointed to the ceiling above them, and everyone looked up. “These cameras give all the unmated males on Glecerus a chance to see you. You should know that they will be on at all times, and the feed is streaming live. The cameras are only in the common areas so you don’t have to worry about giving anyone a show when you go to the bathroom or take a shower, unless you’re into that.” He winked, and a few of the guys laughed. “If you’re an exhibitionist and you like an audience, there are marked stalls you can use.”
“The number on the back of your shirt serves two purposes. One, it gives admirers the chance to send you gifts. And two, it coincides with your documents and will be used for bidding purposes during the auction.”
There was a squeal of excitement, but Sebastian wasn’t sure who it had come from.
“You will be staying in this dormitory for a week. During that time, the unmated males will be watching the live-stream video feed and bidding on you. The bidding is open and will remain open until the week comes to an end. When the auction closes, you’ll find out who your mate is. If your documents aren’t purchased, you can stay in the singles dormitory here on Glecerus or you can travel to one of the planets that we have an open trade agreement with.”
Sebastian’s eyes widened. He was speechless. Auction? Bidding? What the hell had he gotten himself into? Weren’t they supposed to be mates, because it almost sounded as though they were going to become slaves?
“Does anyone have any questions so far?” Mark asked. He paused, scanning the audience before him.
“When are the tours?” Georgie asked.
Mark grinned. “Tomorrow, after first meal, I’ll take you down to the market place. You’ll be able to explore and buy a few things. And just so you know, agorot will be given to everyone.”
“Where are the bathrooms?”
“The bathrooms and showers are right through that door,” Mark pointed to a door-sized piece of translucent glass. “Just press your hand against the wall, and the door will slide open.”
“Is there an exercise room?”
“Yes.” He nodded. He turned slightly and pointed to another door-sized piece of translucent glass.
“What about food?”
“Meals will be delivered and served buffet style. In fact…” He glanced down at the timepiece on his wrist. “They should be here any moment.”
The door hissed open, and Sebastian turned his head. He watched as a Glecerian walked into the dormitory, pulling a long table covered in food. His stomach growled and gargled, and his mouth watered. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d eaten.
“After you eat, take the rest of the day to rest and relax. It’s been a long journey, and your body needs some time to adjust. Also, if you haven’t done so, you should meet the other men and make some friends. Trust me, when you’re far away from home, it’s nice to have someone who knows where you come from. Well, I’ll see you all tomorrow. Enjoy your meal.”
Everyone rose from their seats and headed toward the food table. It seemed that the rest of the men had the same idea Sebastian did. Eat first. Talk later. Sebastian grabbed a plate and got in line. The food emitted a pleasant aroma, a mixture of spices, enticing him to gorge.
Sebastian inspected the food. Some of the dishes he recognized, but others were foreign to him. He decided to live on the edge and try a few new things, especially since he was no longer on Earth and would need to get used to his new home. Sebastian loaded up his plate. When he was done, he followed everyone toward a dining room area behind yet another translucent glass doorway.
Large, rectangular tables were set up, enough to seat ten men each. He placed his plate beside Aaron’s and took a seat. He looked down the table at the other men, but none of them seemed to be in a chatty mood. They were all too focused on eating to bother with a conversation. Sebastian picked up his fork and moved his food around.
“Georgie, tell me about the auction.”
“Yeah, what the hell is up with that?” Aaron quickly added. “The unmated males are buying us. I thought we were supposed to be their mates, not their slaves.”
Georgie rolled his eyes heavenward. “You should’ve read the manual.”
“You didn’t read the manual?” the man sitting beside Georgie asked with a shocked expression on his face.
The entire table stopped eating and stared at Sebastian as if waiting to hear his response.
“No, I didn’t read it,” he confessed.
“I have an excuse,” Aaron piped up. “I can’t read.”
Sebastian elbowed him in the side. “Traitor,” he mumbled.
“I looked through it, but I didn’t read it either,” a man at the opposite end of the table said.
“I read some it of it,” a petite Asian man sitting on the other side of Aaron admitted. “But the manual was almost a thousand pages. I didn’t have the time. I had to work.”
“Well, don’t worry,” Sebastian told them all. “Our friend Georgie read the entire manual. In fact, he memorized it. He can answer all your questions.”
All eyes turned toward Georgie, waiting to hear what he had to say.
“They’re not buying us, and we’re not slaves.” Georgie sighed. “The auction is important to Glecerus. The agorot that is earned from the auction covers the cost of transporting us from Earth. It also pays for the singles dormitory so that the men that end up there are well taken care of. The agorot we’re getting tomorrow for the market place comes from the auction as well. If anything, the auction benefits us more than the unmated males that are bidding.”
“It’s a good thing that we have you here with us, Georgie. I’d be lost without you, man.”
“Yeah,” Aaron agreed. “Me, too.”
Georgie smiled, pleased with the praise. “It’s no problem.”
“Did you really memorize the entire manual?” another young man asked, clearly impressed.
“Yeah,” Georgie said with a shrug, as if it were no big deal.
There was a brief moment of silence before a flurry of questions was thrown Georgie’s way, putting him in the spotlight. He practically glowed while chatting animatedly with the other men. It was like watching a flower bloom. Smiling, Sebastian could only shake his head. He focused on the meal in front of him and ate, listening to the conversation flow around him.
“I’m tired.” Aaron sighed. “I’m gonna try to figure out which bed is mine and get some sleep.”
Sebastian nodded. “I’ll find you later.
”
“Okay.” Aaron stood up and walked back toward the sleeping quarters.
After his meal, Sebastian excused himself from the table. He walked around the dormitory and found Aaron curled up on one of the twin-sized beds, sound asleep.
Since he wasn’t quite ready to go to sleep, Sebastian decided to check out the workout room. He was hoping that the equipment would be self-explanatory and not a bunch of high-tech alien machines. Sebastian’s muscles were sore, and he was still feeling out of sorts since waking up from the cryosleep. He was hoping that a run would do the trick and stretch him out a bit.
Sebastian slapped his palm against the wall, and the door slid open. He walked into the exercise room. There were already quite a few guys working out. It seemed they all had the same idea. Luckily, the equipment was familiar. Heading for a row of treadmills, Sebastian stepped onto the platform. He pressed a couple of buttons, and the machine started. He kept his pace slow at first until his muscles were warmed up. Once he felt confident that he could handle more, Sebastian started jogging.
When a thin line of sweat dripped down his face, Sebastian grabbed the hem of his shirt and yanked it off. He wiped the moisture off and tossed the material to the ground. Sebastian stared ahead, zoning out. He focused on his breathing and his form, ignoring the other men working out around him.
“Sebastian Cain.”
He turned his head and looked to the side. Seeing Grant Byers, a childhood friend from Earth, brought up memories from the past. His mind automatically conjured up an image of Jason. He hadn’t seen his older brother in ten years. The man had volunteered as soon as he turned eighteen, leaving Sebastian at home with their folks. He’d been only fifteen at the time.
Where was his brother? Was he watching the live-stream video feed? Did he know that Sebastian was on Glecerus?
“I can’t believe you’re here.” Grant said, stepping up onto the treadmill beside Sebastian. “I didn’t know you liked men.”
“You never asked.” Sebastian looked forward. He didn’t want to have a conversation with Grant. He wanted to work out, take a shower, and get some sleep.
“I just figured you were straight.”
“Nope.”
“I knew Jason was gay, but I never imagined his baby brother would be as well. Even when I saw you in line at the Justice Building, I thought for sure you would end up on one of the other planets.”
“Other planets?”
“Yeah, heterosexual males and females are taken to another planet to find their mates. Glecerus has a strict men-only policy.”
“Oh.” Well, that answered his question about the other humans from the starship.
“You look good, man.” He could feel Grant’s eyes on him, inspecting him. And although he was used to getting a fair amount of attention, this made him feel uncomfortable.
“Thanks,” Sebastian muttered.
“You’re not allowed to flirt with him.” Georgie said, interrupting the conversation.
“I wasn’t flirting,” Grant said defensively.
“He’s not flirting with me, Georgie. We’re just talking. Grant used to be my neighbor.”
“Until Jason volunteered to be taken to Glecerus and your family moved away.”
“He volunteered so that he could save our family.”
Tension sparked between them, but Georgie didn’t seem to notice.
“I was just telling you because it’s against the rules,” Georgie reasoned. “Intimate contact isn’t allowed between humans. And if you get caught, they punish you.”
“What kind of punishment?” Grant asked.
“It varies.” Georgie glanced up at the cameras before leaning in closely and whispering, “Sometimes they do sexual things to you in public.”
Sebastian brought the treadmill to a stop, unable to believe what he was hearing. “Are you serious?”
Georgie nodded. “Glecerus is a hedonistic planet. Sex is natural. It’s accepted and put on display for others to enjoy. You’ll see what I’m talking about when we go on our field trip tomorrow.”
“What happens at the market place?”
“You’ll have to see it to believe it.” He grinned. “But don’t worry. It’s all consensual. The unmated males are the only ones that participate. Unless it’s a mated couple, then that’s okay because mated males here on Glecerus are loyal and totally committed to their mates.”
“Sebastian Cain.”
Sebastian jerked his head up and saw Mark Ja’Dar walking toward them. He panicked for a moment, wondering if Mark was here to drag him away for a public punishment.
“Yes,” he said hesitantly.
“Can you come with me for a moment?”
“Sure.”
Sebastian stepped off the treadmill. He picked his shirt up off the ground and held it in his fist. He followed Mark out of the exercise room to a corner away from the other men.
“Your older brother is Jason Cain.”
Sebastian nodded. “Yes.”
“In light of this new information, your auction has been closed.”
“What? Why?”
“Your brother is royalty, which means that you are as well.”
Sebastian’s mouth opened, but no words emerged. He simply stood there, staring at Mark.
“And royalty can’t be bought. You must be won.”
“I don’t understand,” Sebastian shook his head, dazed by this new piece of information. “How did Jason become royalty?”
“His mate is the High King’s youngest son.”
“The High King?”
“Auden Q’Tal is the High King. He rules over the whole planet of Glecerus. There are eight lesser kings, and each one is in charge of their own regions within the planet. Then, there is a council. It’s made up of Glecerian citizens who were selected by their peers for their character, morals, and leadership skills. Since your brother is mated to prince, Jett Q’Tal, you are now considered royalty.”
“Does Jason know I’m here?”
“Yes, he knows you’re here, and he knows why you volunteered.” Mark paused for a moment before adding. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
“When can I see him?”
“You may see him when you’re wearing your mate’s mark.”
He didn’t know what a mate’s mark was, nor did he care. The only thing that mattered was Jason.
“Why do I have to wait?”
“I’m sorry, those are the rules.”
Sebastian wanted to argue. He wanted to demand to see his brother, but he knew that making a scene wouldn’t change his current situation. He would just have to wait, but at least his brother knew he was here. That was all that mattered.
“Okay, so what now?”
“You can stay in the dormitory for the next week. But at the end of the week, instead of an auction, there will be a competition. The winner will be your mate.”
“What kind of a competition?”
Mark shook his head. “I don’t know. The High King will decide.”
Chapter Five
After the bomb that Mark dropped, Sebastian took a shower, got dressed in a pair of clean pajamas, and went to bed. He didn’t share the news with any of the other men, and, thankfully, nobody asked about his conversation with Mark. In fact, Sebastian didn’t plan on telling anyone. As far as the other men were concerned, he was still part of the auction.
True to his word, Mark arrived after first meal to take them all to the market place.
Mark spoke to them as he led the group away from the dormitory. “As we walk toward the market, I want you all to remember that we are underneath the planet’s surface. Glecerus is a different world. It’s nothing like Earth. I need you all to keep an open mind. Remember, there are eyes and ears everywhere. The live-stream cameras are following us. So don’t say or do anything that might reflect badly upon yourself.”
Like a well-trained tour guide, Mark supplied them all with a wealth of information, most of which Sebastian barely heard.
“There are eight regions in Glecerus – Nviia’ Ladur, Gistia’ Burimm, Iesl Kuldor, Stisl Guruhm, Sinl’y Garom, Dia’ly Furuhm, and D’hun Buldor. The region you are in right now, Nviia’ Ladur, can be compared to a metropolitan city. It’s highly populated and very busy. The dormitory is located above a small section within the greater region. This particular section is popular because there are a lot of amazing eateries, specialty shops, and entertainment venues. The market place has a lot to offer since off-worlders are welcome to sell and trade their wares here.”
“Are we going to see the other regions?” Georgie asked.
“Unfortunately, there isn’t enough time to tour all of Glecerus. If your mate is from a different region, you’ll be transported there by boat so that’s something to look forward to.”
Sebastian heard a few surprised gasps as the front of the group turned a corner, walking out from beneath the corridor. Grabbing hold of Aaron’s arm, Sebastian hurried his pace, wanting to see what they were all seeing.
“Oh, wow,” Aaron whispered in awe.
Sebastian dropped Aaron’s arm and walked right up to the edge of the cavern floor.
He leaned against a handrail and looked down. Walkways ran the length of the open, multilayered cavern with bridges connecting at various points, leading to other walkways and tunnels as far as the eye could see. Some of the walkways appeared to be moving on their own, much like the conveyer belt from the starship, transporting people at a quicker pace. And the people. There were so many people scurrying around below.
“It’s amazing isn’t it?” Mark said from beside Sebastian. “This is only a small glimpse of what Glecerus has to offer.”
“I’ve never seen anything like this before.” He didn’t have the proper words to describe what he was seeing.
“There’s a lot more to see.” Mark turned on his heel and once again spoke to the group. “I’ve got some money for all of you. Here, the people refer to it as agorot. There are denominations on each bill. If you get confused, or if you need help, the merchants will help. Everyone down there knows you’re new.”
Mark pulled a thick stack of cash from his pocket. He counted the agorot and handed each of them several bills.