Chapter 14 Noviosk
For the past three cycles, since I took control of Vagantu, everything has gone exactly as planned. I've become the undisputed leader of the Coalition's Eastern Quadrant. My reputation spread quickly after my initial strike.
Restructuring the slave market was swift, and Banny’s suggestions turned out to be even more effective than I’d anticipated. Business has boomed like never before.
And yet… I’m starting to feel that itch again. Boredom. Nothing compares to the rush of conquest—of seizing new worlds, of watching entire civilizations tremble before the might of the Srebats and surrender. But lately, nothing stirs my hunger. A slow rot of apathy has begun to creep in.
Have the Stars forgotten me?
Then came the rumor. An Asgarnian, a species completely unknown to us, had joined the ranks of the Coalition just over two cycles ago.
No known origin. No record in the database.
Just whispers of a small-time smuggler peddling junk without any real ambition.
But where others saw a nobody, I saw a door.
Where there’s an unknown species, there’s an undiscovered planet.
I felt a sharp thrill after our holo-conference. Pherebos. That’s the name he gave me.
No one enters Vagantu without an invitation or an escort I trust absolutely. The two fools who tacked Pherebos onto the guest list for tomorrow’s elite auction aren’t exactly known for their intelligence. So I demanded a face-to-face hologram session to evaluate him myself.
He convinced me. Not only of his sincerity—but of his potential value.
I’ve invited him to Vagantu. And during our in-person meeting, I fully intend to extract the location of his homeworld. A virgin planet to conquer? That’s the kind of opportunity that makes my blood sing.
“Lord Noviosk, we have a situation,” Banny cuts into my thoughts, his voice brisk. “A cargo just landed. Your particular talents are needed.”
Whenever there's a doubt about anyone setting foot on Vagantu, it’s protocol for me to assess the situation myself. No exceptions.
“I’m coming,” I say, rising from my desk and heading straight toward the landing zone.
There, I find two Penubians—regulars here. They fly a small craft and usually bring in modest hauls.
“Lord Noviosk!” the first one greets, bowing low. “We’re here for tomorrow’s grand auction. We’ve brought three Humans captured on the independent planet of Gekkaria, near the edge of the Eastern Quadrant. As always, we’ve been extremely cautious—”
“What’s the problem?” I cut him off.
“Well… technically, only one of the Humans was taken from the surface. The other two were intercepted just as they were leaving the atmosphere. We have their small ship too.”
“Then it sounds like you did your job well. That craft alone will fetch more than the three of them combined.” I frown. “So why was I summoned?”
The second Penubian steps forward.
“We believe one of the males we captured is a member of the Confederation.”
I stiffen.
The Confederation. The only force in the galaxy that poses any real threat to us.
A few smugglers have been stupid enough to target them—kidnapping a high-ranking agent and demanding ransom.
I’m not that reckless. I know the strength of my organization, but I also know exactly how dangerous they are.
Their tech is generations ahead of ours.
I’ve even managed to bribe a few of their agents—those who found my generosity. .. persuasive.
Still, this could be serious.
“Bring me the prisoner. I’ll judge for myself.”
“And his sister?”
“His sister?”
“Yes. He was traveling with a female Human, related by blood. We captured them both.”
“I only care about him,” I snap.
Moments later, they return with a tall Human flanked by the two Penubians. He’s resisting, but not violently. He freezes the second he sees me.
Understandable. I’m taller than most Humans—even the largest of them—and there’s a certain aura I know I project.
“Who are you?” I ask bluntly, skipping any pretense of politeness.
“You speak English,” he notes, coolly.
“It’s the only Human language we bother with here. Now, answer the question.”
“I’m the guy you and your band of thieves should’ve left the hell alone,” he says with a cocky half-smile.
I let the silence settle, watching him. There’s an echo in his words—a bluff. His posture is all show. He knows he’s outmatched.
“When exactly did you disable his ship?” I ask the Penubians.
“Right after they left Gekkaria’s lower atmosphere. That planet’s pretty lame. Nothing worth looting… just food.”
“Perfect. That means their ship had no other coordinates logged. The pulse you hit them with likely fried their comms too. Even if he’s from the Confederation, they don’t know where he is.”
I turn back to the Human, baring my teeth in a smile. He’s not smiling anymore.
“What makes you think I’m with the Confederation?” he asks.
“Because you threatened us. Which means you still think someone’s coming for you. But you and I both know—you’re well and truly trapped.”
His icy blue eyes darken. He knows I’m right.
“I’m guessing you’re the Coalition boss around here,” he says. “Let’s make a deal. You let my sister go, and I stay quiet. No one needs to know where this place is.”
“Why would I do that?”
“She’s no threat. Let her go. I’ll keep your secret.”
I glance at the Penubian beside me, who answers my unspoken question.
“Beautiful female. She’s a bit roughed up from the capture, so she won’t be fit for tomorrow’s auction. But we’ll have buyers lining up for her at the next one. Same eyes as this guy.”
The Human’s entire body tenses. He lunges, but the Penubians hold him fast.
“Listen,” he says, his voice tight. “You’re right. I’m with the Confederation. Let my sister go, and I’ll forget this place exists.”
“Do you even know where you are?” I ask, amused.
“Somewhere within thirty hours of Gekkaria. Based on the ship’s speed and course, there can’t be more than ten viable planetary systems in range.”
He’s good. Too good. He’s traveled. He’ll find us again.
And I believe him when he says he’ll stay silent… if we let her go.
But I don’t trust easily. Especially not my enemies.
“You say you’ll stay quiet,” I sneer. “But who exactly would you tell, if I keep her and dispose of you? Your buyers? They already know where Vagantu is.”
“You think I’ll sit in a cell forever?” he snaps. “I’ll escape the first chance I get.”
“Truth,” I say softly.
“What?”
I sigh. Time to explain.
“I’m a Srebat. I can tell truth from lies. You’re telling the truth. You’ll escape—and bring the Confederation right back here.”
He flinches. He understands. The only way to protect Vagantu… is to silence him forever.
“Please,” he whispers. “Let her go.”
I grimace. I hate seeing strong men beg. It strips them of the dignity they should die with.
“I’m sorry. You and your sister belong to the Penubians who captured you. Vagantu just takes a cut from the sale. I can’t override that. What I can do is demand they deal with the security threat you represent.”
His eyes, still blazing blue, soften in defeat. He regrets traveling with her. Regrets putting her in danger. But it’s too late.
In one smooth motion, he drops to his knees. Then falls forward, lifeless.
“We didn’t know he was with the Confederation, Lord Noviosk,” one of the Penubians says, wiping blood from his blade on his arm.
“Be more careful next time. Offload the remaining two to the sorting zone. And dump him in the sea.”
What a waste of time. What a waste of a life.
I return to my office and sink into the comfort of my chair. Through the window, I gaze out at the sea of Vagantu. It looks calm. Serene. But it kills. Just like I do.
I'm in pain. Everywhere.
My whole body feels like a single, giant wound, and my skull is pounding like it’s trying to implode.
— Easy now, says a calm, unfamiliar voice. You’ll reopen your wounds if you keep squirming like that.
— Where am I? Who the hell are you? What happened?
— Whoa, so many questions at once! I’m Samantha, a Human, as you can probably tell. But you can call me Sam. I found you on Vagantu. After the Confederation busted up the slave auction, they offered to drop the freed prisoners off wherever they wanted. Do you remember Vagantu?
Do I remember? Of course I do.
I remember being outplayed by that damn Asgarnian, pretending to buy a slave, then busting him out. I remember taking off in an aeropod the second I was alerted to their escape.
Then came the Krakelodon attack over the waves—its jaws crushing down on the pod until the pressure cracked everything open.
The feeling of being crushed... drowned...
Then—nothing. Blackness.
But after that? No idea. My memory goes blank.
Do I remember Vagantu, my shattered empire? I nod slowly, more out of reflex than anything else. Let her talk. I need answers.
— I just asked the Confederation to let me retrieve my ship. It was still docked at that filthy slave base. Once I got it back, I returned to Vagantu and started scanning the area, hoping to find my brother, Logan. No luck.
— Your brother?
— We were traveling together. I haven’t seen him since the day we were captured and brought to Vagantu.
After the raid, the Confederation released all the prisoners.
They patched me up and gave me back my ship, so I went looking for him.
Found nothing. But I did find you, lying on a half-submerged rock.
Covered in disgusting leech-like things.
Sorry—I had to shave off all your fur to get rid of them.
I cleaned your wounds as best I could and splinted your leg fractures.
Also patched up that nasty blow to your head.
I’m sorry the Confederation had already left.
Otherwise, I would’ve taken you straight to one of their regeneration pods.
You’ll just have to heal the old-fashioned way.
Truths. Every word of it.
— I’ll be fine. Thanks… Sam.
— And you? What’s your name?