This isn’t a small operation, he growled.
“I heard we were close,” Adeoda commented to Mave, ignoring Cyprian, as he entered the control room.
Of all the smugglers, Adeoda was causing him the most trouble. The warrior had his tail in a knot over Cyprian’s involvement in a particularly brutal battle during the war. Cyprian looked forward to telling Adeoda his distrust was warranted, as he gutted the traitor.
All in good time.
“Yes. We’re approaching the asteroid now,” Mave replied.
“The Jurou Biljana auction is on an asteroid?” Adeoda asked, looking impressed.
“It’s not run by the reptiles. It’s supposedly owned by a race called the Topus. They’re a strange tentacled people, from what I understand.”
Cyprian noted the information, wondering if the Topus were allied with the Jurou Biljana, or just opportunists.
The asteroid loomed larger in the viewscreen. The massive hunk of rock had a vaulted structure at its center, with dozens of tunnels branching out, worming their way over and through the rock. It was larger than any fortress Cyprian had ever seen, rivaling a small city. Countless ships were anchored on, or hovering near the asteroid, with more arriving by the minute.
Cyprian glanced at Vintor, who nodded subtly. Vintor didn’t need to be told to look for the missing Miran Sona vessel among the mass of ships.
“Looks like a popular place,” Adeoda commented.
“We need to dock wherever we can, then check-in. My Jurou Biljana contact, Jyk, said there are quarters waiting for us,” Mave informed everyone.
“It’ll be good to get off this ship,” Cyprian replied.
Vintor was an exceptional pilot, but even he had a hard time threading between the other vessels, to anchor the cruiser in one of the remaining spaces.
“Nice maneuvering,” Adeoda slapped Vintor on the back, as they exited the control room.
Cyprian grabbed his palladium credits and stashed them in his bag, along with several other items. He made sure he had two disrupters along with a bevy of knives strapped to his chest. The general didn’t know what he was walking into and wanted to be prepared. When Cyprian exited his quarters, he noted he wasn’t the only one armed to the teeth.
“This is the first time I’ve been off Cadi,” Gio said excitedly.
“Keep your wits and it won’t be the last,” Mave informed the young smuggler.
Cyprian shared the muted excitement that was coursing through the entire group, as the airlock tunnel snaked toward their cruiser. It latched onto the hull, and they exited the ship.
The first and last time he went off-world, was the mass Toufik rescue. Retrieving the hairy people from their dying planet, had been an exhilarating get in, get out, while avoiding killer storms, operation. This covert mission was proving to be just as thrilling.
And I thought life was going to be dull after the war.
Cyprian was surprised by the sight that greeted him, when they emerged from the other end of the tunnel. The massive auction house looked more like a luxury resort than the seedy flesh market he expected.
“Wow,” Pacen commented as he gaped at the grand vestibule.
“Greetings. Is this your first-time visiting Distraho?”
Cyprian looked at the hostess that greeted them. The unusual female had gray fur, pointed ears atop her head, a narrow whiskered snout, and hairless tail. The humanoid Verrater was one of many species that he’d never seen before, as he panned the vaulted plaza.
The personable hostess wasn’t just a chipper employee. She was armed with a plasma weapon, like the disrupter he carried. Cyprian noted similarly garbed and equipped personnel positioned near all the visible exits.
Subtle, his brow arched.
The station security was made up mostly of the gray furry creatures, and a bald species with bulging eyes and broad mouths. The slimy spotted beasts reminded Cyprian of a creature that hopped around the ponds on Cadi.
Cyprian’s eyes roamed the ornate walls, and noted decorative tiles positioned at regular intervals. He was certain they held surveillance equipment.
The auction house is well protected.
“Yes, this is our first time here. We have merchandise that should already be registered. We need to check-in and meet our Jurou Biljana companions,” Mave replied.
“Very good. The primary registration desk for all suites is located through the portico. If you wish to bid on anything during the auction, you will also want to register for a card, when you check-in to your suite. There are map consoles located everywhere.” The glorified hostess pointed to a kiosk nearby. “You can also download the auction catalog there. I hope you have a pleasurable and profitable stay at Distraho.” The female nodded pleasantly then turned to greet another arriving group.
Cyprian walked to the kiosk featuring a large map of the station. A scrolling series of symbols were running down one side of the screen. He assumed it was some foreign language, that he couldn’t read. If it wasn’t for his language implant, he wouldn’t be able to understand a word being said by all the unusual people, either.
“Place your device on the pad,” the automated voice from the kiosk repeated.
“Here.” Vintor passed Cyprian his comm.
They put the communicator on the kiosk pad.
“Configuring language,” the mechanical voice stated. “Would you like a map, a list of entertainment events, the auction catalog, or all three?”
“All three,” Vintor replied to the machine.
“Transferring. Thank you, and enjoy your stay on Distraho.”
The pleasant veneer of the architecture, staff, and even the machinery was grating, considering the transactions that went on at the auction house.
Vintor collected his handheld and scrolled through the new information on the device.
“It looks like it translated our language pretty well,” he stated, looking impressed.
The other smugglers downloaded the info, but Cyprian held off. He didn’t want some foreign machine to have unfettered access to his handheld. Just in case.
“Let’s get checked in,” Mave said as he led the way through the large arching portico.
“Look at this,” Adeoda showed his handheld to the other smugglers. “There’s a human female listed in the rare and exotic species sale.”
“How many colors does their hair come in?” Gio asked.
It has to be Riley. June said she had unusual hair.
Vintor passed his handheld to Cyprian with a sideways glance. On the screen was an image of Riley, the missing human. She had unusual hair, for sure. It was long and black, with violet tendrils mixed in. Cyprian had seen hair the color of straw, fire, and sable, but never this color. It wasn’t natural, but it was striking mixed with her raven locks.
Cyprian’s brow furrowed when he saw the female’s ears were pierced and on one side of her nose was a jewel that matched her hair. It looked painful.
Riley’s eyes were black, rimmed with coal, and framed with long lashes. They were a stark contrast to her pale complexion. They were also her most compelling feature, although in the picture she looked drugged or dazed.
Cyprian frowned at the thought, then scrolled through the other listings, to find Exo listed in the same category as Riley.
“I think the Toufik are up for sale in a few days,” Mave commented as he checked in at the desk.
“I’m going to need a bidding card,” Cyprian stated to the Verrater behind the counter.
“See something you like?” Mave asked. “There’s a lot to offer here.”
Cyprian shrugged nonchalantly as he collected his bidding number.
“You were looking at the human, weren’t you?” the smuggler chuckled.
“Am I that obvious?”
“I don’t blame you. I wanted to show that mouthy foreign breeder in the hangar, who her betters were. I doubt this human is going to go cheap.”
“Probably not, but I’m highly motivated. Did
you know that little female actually hit me?” Cyprian replied through gritted teeth.
Cyprian let Mave think he was angry with June, and wanted to get some sort of twisted satisfaction by taking it out on Riley. But it was the derogatory comment and disgusting sentiment that had the general riled. He hated it when arrogant males referred to females as breeders.
“Good luck,” Mave said with a nod. “Where do you plan to keep her if you actually win?”
“My house is large and secluded,” Cyprian replied, even though he actually lived in Sargon near Kagan’s manor.
“I’ll need a number as well,” Mave said to the Verrater behind the counter.
“Are you planning on bidding on something in particular?” Cyprian asked.
“You never know,” Mave commented. “It looks like they’ll be previewing the exotic chattel soon. We can meet with our Jurou Biljana contact in the viewing gallery.”
Cyprian gave Mave a curt nod as they headed past the gallery of shops, toward their suite. He would have to keep an eye on what the smugglers bought or bid for. Nearly everything was available at Distraho, and many of those things were deadly.
The suite was nice, like the rest of the auction house. There was a central room with three bedrooms on both sides. Cyprian glanced into the first room, which had private door to the corridor. That would give him access, without being seen.
“I’ll take this one,” he announced without asking anyone else.
“I’ll sleep out here on the lounger,” Vintor said, kindly leaving the rest of the rooms to the other five smugglers.
It wasn’t an entirely altruistic offer. With Vintor in the main room, he’d be able monitor the movements of the rogue band.
“Maybe I should’ve taken this room,” Vintor commented as he followed Cyprian into the bedroom.
“Did you find the Miran Sona ship?” Cyprian asked, once they were out of hearing range.
“No. There were too many vessels to scan them all. But it should be here, since Riley and Exo are going up for auction.”
“Keep looking,” Cyprian replied. “I don’t like that it’s not listed as one of the auction items.”
As long as the Jurou Biljana had the vessel, they posed a risk to the human colony. Even the human home-world was in danger. If the reptiles refueled the Miran Sona vessel, they’d be able to reach the vulnerable planet.
“Agreed. It’s not a good sign. I’ll keep on it. So, are you seriously going to bid on Riley?” Vintor asked.
“If something better doesn’t present itself. I think I brought enough palladium.”
“What about the others?”
“As much as I hate adding credits to the bastard’s coffers, we might have to find a way to purchase everyone. I wasn’t expecting an operation like this. Did you see the security?”
“I agree. There’s no way we can go up against all these guards. By the way, I was able to send coordinates to our back-up, before we landed. Ashtoret and his crew are in the quadrant over,” Vintor reported.
“Good.”
“If you two are settled in, let’s go see what this place has to offer.” Mave walked through the door uninvited.
Cyprian cocked his brow at the male, till Mave shrugged, turned, and left again. Cyprian hated having the smugglers so close. All it took was them overhearing the wrong thing, and their cover was blown.
“Let’s go,” Cyprian growled and followed Vintor out.
Cyprian observed everything with a keen eye, as they traversed the broad hall lined with merchants. He had a day before bidding on the exotic chattel began, then another few days before the Toufik were up for sale. That didn’t leave them a lot of time to formulate a better rescue plan, considering what they were up against. It barely left time to arrange for the Toufik’s purchase.
“This looks like the place.” Mave glanced from the map on his handheld to the gallery.
The viewing gallery looked more like a restaurant than an auction arena. It was the picture of excess, from the view of the stars overhead, to the ornately costumed servers, carrying platters of food and drink. There were numerous tables, and three stages dispersed through the large room. Cyprian had a feeling the fine decor was lost on the rough looking clientele.
Mave wound his way through the crowd, approaching a group of Jurou Biljana at one of the banquettes.
“Jyk?” Mave asked.
One of the reptiles nodded.
“I am Mave.”
“I assumed. How do you like Distraho?” the scaly bastard asked.
“Impressive.”
Cyprian and the others sat. He listened with one ear to Mave’s conversation, as he looked at the wretched creatures being displayed on the three stages. In one ring were a pair of cowering horned creatures with beige fur, and spotted backs. On a large holo-screen overhead, the details and images of the chattel were announced for the patrons. The other two rings featured groups of incredibly small blue people. The pathetic beings trembled in fear as they were herded off the platform and through a nearby door.
Cyprian was struck by a disturbing reminder. The Toufik always stood tall when they were auctioned off on Cadi. The proud hairy people were so desperate for a better life, that they bravely gave up their freedom. And Cadi, willingly took it. It was his people’s greatest shame.
Even a year later, Cyprian was shocked by what kind of warriors the hairy Toufik turned out to be. He hadn’t witnessed them fight before that final battle. Cadi foolishly believed they were as benign as the pathetic blue chattel on the stage. He would never understand why the Toufik aided the Vidya Cadi in that battle, winning the war. Kagan hadn’t promised them their freedom, though he gave it to them in the end. The lesson Cyprian learned that day about true spirit, made it impossible to take anyone for granted. Every creature held a wealth of potential, that shouldn’t be squandered or subverted.
This was why he was on this mission. It wasn’t just because he’d been given orders by his Daimio, or even to make reparations to the Toufik. This was the right thing to do. His only regret was that he couldn’t assist all the poor creatures being paraded on stage.
Cyprian shook off his thoughts, as yet another group of slaves were escorted out the door, at the rear of the gallery.
“Let me see that map,” Cyprian requested of Vintor.
Cyprian examined the layout of the auction house. The area on the other side of the door was shaded, lacking detail. He noted the corridors and rooms were accessible only by personnel, when they held up a hand to the door.
That’s where I’ll find the captives. But there’s no way I’m going to easily gain access, Cyprian groused in frustration.
Cyprian was surprised when Exo came through the door next. He watched as the lanky, pale male was led toward a platform. Exo shook violently as he was goaded in front of the crowd, by the Verrater guard. It didn’t help that the crowd grew noisy seeing the unusual Miran Sona. His large black eyes blinked in the bright lights, as his head swung back and forth in panic.
Exo was a tall, delicate creature, but Cyprian had never witnessed the male act this way. Granted this was a traumatizing situation, however the male had always maintained his composure. Exo kept his head when he first met the fearsome Cadi. More than once, Cyprian admired the male’s bravery for crossing the cosmos with only a few of his kind, in an effort to save the human race.
Cyprian was suddenly worried the Miran Sona was being tortured. There were countless ways to bend someone to your will, without leaving a visible mark. Cyprian knew of at least a dozen.
“Don’t push me, Ratso,” an irate female voice, shouted over the din.
Cyprian spun to see the human, as she was led to the nearby stage. He was surprised when Riley rotated her arm, then rapidly tugged free of her Verrater escort. But rather than running off, Riley stomped up the steps of the platform, without further goading. The guard followed, making sure she didn’t backtrack.
His eyes were riveted to the diminutive female. Riley bo
ldly walked around the perimeter of the stage, rather than cowering in the center, like so many of the other chattel. Her long, black and purple, hair, made her look wild. She tossed the long tresses aside, as she straightened her back, and held her head high. Her full, blood red lips were pursed in agitation as she stared down the patrons closest to the stage, before moving on, only to repeat the challenging posture.
The static image hadn’t done Riley justice. It didn’t begin to convey how spirited she was. What struck Cyprian the most, were the colorful markings decorating her shoulders and arms. Riley was covered in almost as much warrior’s ink as he was. It extended down her back, but was obscured by her dress.
“Look at her. Are we certain it’s a female? Has anyone ever seen a human male?” Gio asked.
Cyprian understood where the young male was coming from. He hadn’t seen a human male. Few on Cadi had seen a human at all, besides what was shown by the commentators who broadcast to the public. It was only because he worked so closely with Daimio Kagan that he’d met Giselle, Providence, and most recently June. Many times, he’d wondered about human males, if the females were so aggressive.
But Riley was most certainly female, despite her ink and demeanor. That much Cyprian knew to be true. Her breasts weren’t obscenely large, like some of her kind, but they were still substantial compared to Cadi females. Riley’s waist was narrow, then flared out at her hips, giving way to a lush ass. It was one feature Cyprian had to admit he liked about the human females. Their full rears, made a male think about mounting.
Riley made it around to their table and paused. Her dark eyes narrowed on the Jurou Biljana, then widened when she saw the Cadi warriors. Her gaze met his, and Cyprian was frozen. Riley’s mouth parted in surprise, then snapped closed again, as she adopted a resolute scowl. Her nostrils flared as she huffed in disgust, before moving on. Cyprian didn’t like the derision, but he couldn’t blame her.
The way Riley paced the stage, like a caged beast, reminded Cyprian of the feral manx cub, he captured and trained as a battle mount. Zilo was headstrong. Cyprian was the only one who could get close to the spirited, striped beast, let alone ride.
Cyprian glanced up at the display screen as it started playing details about Riley.
Warrior's Pain (Cadi Warriors Book 4) Page 4