Chapter 11 – Kerra
“What kind of planet is this again?” I was certain I didn’t hear Tok correctly.
We spent the last half hour disguising the pod with various plant life and tree branches.
He must have been worried that we were followed or tracked but he didn’t say so aloud.
I was ready for answers now that I was no longer afraid of dying.
He seemed reluctant to confide much information which only made me want to know more.
“Slavers, public auctions,” he repeated with disgust as I shifted from foot to foot.
“Slavers?” I gulped loudly. “As in human trafficking?”
“All lifeforms are trafficked, sold, bought, and abused on this planet. There is no government. Altos is undeclared in the system and as such the Galactic Conclave does not recognize its existence. Because of that, there’s no protection for those taken to the outer rim of the galaxy.
Heed my warning, hoy’nva. Do not move from my side. Ever,” he emphasized.
I slid my hand around his arm and nodded. “Not a problem.”
Motok’s eyes glowed with a greenish tinge as we walked from the small vessel and I stayed tucked against his side.
He dwarfed my modest height by over a foot and in the shadow of his presence I felt safe and secure.
Despite the looming threat of Zhorn and Tylon slavers, I relaxed next to the big warrior and his bulky frame.
It wasn’t long before he engaged some sort of beacon.
“We’re meeting up with my brothers and Valtus. The other crew will rendezvous with us once we have secured passage aboard a ship.”
Orion, Rexnor, and Valtus arrived swiftly and we began walking in the dark night of the foreign planet. I couldn’t detect a moon and wondered how the green and yellow lights flickered along the horizon. They weren’t suns either.
“There’s no moon here,” Rexnor offered when he noticed how often I kept looking at the sky. “By day, there are three suns. By night, only the gases that cause the strange lights and colors. It provides enough light to see your way around.”
Smiling, I thanked him. “Interesting.”
Several hours into our trip, I sagged against Motok’s side as my feet stumbled.
He lifted me without complaint, and I snuggled against his warmth.
The night here was chilly. My head rested against his neck as he continued to walk without any indication of fatigue.
I was lulled to sleep by the rhythmic movements almost instantly.
“Kerra.”
My awareness was slow to return. “Hmmm?”
“We’re approaching a settlement. I need you awake and fully alert.”
He nuzzled his nose to mine, and I laughed as it tickled. “I’m awake.”
A mile outside the town we stopped as the men discussed our plan.
“We need a ship, Commander. This planet will become nearly impossible to leave the longer we stay. There are too many spies and species that would enjoy finding Braxthar warriors so near the –”
Valtus was about to continue but shut his mouth when both Rexnor and Motok gave him a threatening look.
“The terrain has been exhausting so far and Kerra will suffer from the daytime temperatures. Those suns can bake a human in only hours.” Rexnor winked in my direction. “There must be something we can find and arrange tonight.”
“Agreed,” Orion added. “Our best hope it to secure passage while it is still dark. The morning brings too many risks.”
“We are limited on credits,” Valtus pointed out.
“And we deal with it when the problem presents itself. Right now, our first priority is finding a vessel willing to take us to Vindar.”
“Why don’t you ask for another ship?” My innocent question made them all smirk. I wanted to slap each of their handsome faces when I noted their expressions.
“Comms are down. Most of the legal frequencies won’t work here and those that do are monitored. If we hail a vessel, we expose ourselves long before we have a chance to leave. We’d never make it. Every slaver and Seeker in the vicinity would descend upon us in mere minutes.”
“I see,” I whispered, deflated.
“It was a smart question,” Motok praised as he tilted my chin up. “I would expect you to ask.”
Our eyes locked and remained that way for several seconds until the spell was broken as he turned to his brothers.
“We leave Valtus and Kerra here and walk into town. There’s a row of pohls down the main road. It’s a smuggler’s haven and a slaver’s delight.”
Pohls? “What’s that?”
Motok grinned. “They serve what you call alcohol.”
“And lots of pretty females,” Valtus added, none too pleased with the arrangement.
“Oh, like a bar or pub. I get it,” I acknowledged, “and no way in hell are you leaving me behind with Mr. Grumpy Pants.”
Rexnor laughed as Orion shook his head. Valtus seemed slightly offended.
“You’ll stay here,” Motok reiterated, going all caveman including the growl.
Hands on my hips, I sauntered forward and then shoved a finger in his chest. “No. Way.”
“Kerra,” he began.
“No. Fuck. Off.”
Motok snarled and picked me up, walking off into the trees before he set me down. “It’s far too dangerous and risky. What if the slavers find you? What if you’re snatched from my side?”
“What if a giant shark swims up and eats me? Or I’m struck by alien lightning?” Yeah, I was being sarcastic on purpose. “I’m going and you can’t stop me.”
“This isn’t a negotiation.”
“You’re right, so let’s stop wasting time.”
Scowling, he must have known I wasn’t backing down. Motok’s hand gripped mine firmly as we joined the others. “Give me an extra cloak.”
Rexnor pulled something from his pack and slapped the material into his brother’s hand with a wicked grin. Motok ignored him as he wrapped the dark cloth around my shoulders and raised the hood. I was dwarfed by the fabric but totally in disguise.
“She’s completely covered and entirely too exposed.
Many will wonder why such a small being is protected this way.
I think it will cause more trouble than we are equipped to handle.
” Valtus was probably right, even if he slightly whined when he said it.
Kind of funny considering he was such a serious, disciplined warrior.
“Maybe I should take it off.”
Motok grabbed my hands before I could remove the cloak. A loud rumbling roar filled his chest. “No. It stays.”
No one argued further.
Valtus and I waited outside each bar as the guys entered and bought alcohol in search of any available ships. We made it to the last one without success. I shifted anxiously from foot to foot next to Valtus who was fast losing his patience.
“Stop squirming so much.”
I flipped him off with my middle finger and delighted in his confused frown. Study that, grumpy.
The building next to us was loud and I had grown bored.
Valtus didn’t notice when I gradually moved farther away and tiptoed to the windows.
Rising up high enough to peek above the window’s ledge, I gasped when I saw dozens of alien women chained together and paraded across a main stage.
They were nude. Different body sizes and figures but all with breasts – some multiples – and the obvious curves.
From this distance, it was hard to tell what was being said but one was unlatched from the others and shoved to the front as some kind of bidding war ensued.
Long minutes dragged by until there was an obvious winner.
He slapped payment to the slimy looking alien in charge and picked up his prize, fondling and shoving his fingers into the poor woman’s crotch in front of everyone.
Disgusted, I felt like I was going to hurl the contents of my stomach on the ground.
How could such a horrible thing happen?
A hand clamped down on my mouth and I fought against the strong arm that wrapped around my middle.
“Shhh, Kerra. Don’t draw attention to us.”
I let Motok pull me into the shadows as I sagged against his chest. Tears filled my eyes and overflowed. “Those women,” I whispered, “it’s awful.”
“Yes,” he agreed, rubbing my back in soothing circles. “It is the fate of all females who are captured by slavers. A deplorable practice indeed.”
“Why doesn’t anyone stop them?”
“Because no one wants to stop earning the credits,” Valtus answered, his voice low and menacing. “I know from experience.”
Turning away from Motok, my eyes widened. “Valtus, no,” I wailed and lunged forward to hug his stiff torso. “I’m so sorry.”
His hand lowered to my back for a brief moment. “It is the past. Come. I think I found us passage.”
Valtus found a ship? I never even saw him leave.
The bar we entered was reminiscent of the cantina scene from Star Wars, A New Hope complete with an alien band playing flute-like instruments, a barkeeper with entirely too much dark hair on his body, and drinks glowing with various colors.
I saw every type of alien creature I could imagine and then others I would never hope to meet.
The atmosphere was warm and hazy from the smoke that rose into the air and I was reminded of marijuana.
The smell was similar except I couldn’t tell if all the aliens were high, drunk, or just having a good time.
Maybe it was all of the above. Bodies were gathered around the bar and overflowed the tables while others sat and played at holographic games or cards.
Everyone was armed, their weapons proudly on display.
“Isn’t this a little too much like Star Wars and Han Solo? All we need is Greedo.”
Apparently, my reference went right over the Braxthar warrior’s heads. No one understood. Not even Rexnor. Something needed to be done about their ignorance.
“Never mind,” I mumbled at their looks of confusion. Maybe I’d host a movie night and make them sit through the entire series from start to finish. The thought amused me more than a little.
“He’s over there,” Valtus pointed out and we settled down at the table as the negotiation began.