There must be.
Then it hits me, a crazy scheme that I would not foist upon my worst enemy, but a scheme with a minimal chance of success nonetheless. Now I just have to sell it to Solair.
“I have a solution that will allow us to slay two rats with one blade stroke. We can rescue Fiona and turn an incredible profit at the same time.”
Solair’s mouth twitches, but he settles back in his command chair.
“I’m listening, Montier.”
“Right. So here’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to find out where this auction is taking place, crash the party, and rob the patrons and body merchants alike.”
Solair reacts as if he’s been slapped but then turns toward Grantian.
“Thoughts?”
Grantian shifts uncomfortably from foot to foot.
“Well…it’s true that slavers often have a plethora of resources, not to mention the wealthy bidders. And we could free the women from their clutches as well.”
“The plan gets my vote.” Varia turns her gaze on her fated mate, and Solair grimaces.
“Sometimes, I hate being in command.” He sighs and then nods. “Very well, Montier. It’s a long shot, but your scheme is just crazy enough to actually succeed.”
He turns toward Grantian once more.
“Grantian, see if you can find any likely locales in this sector for such an auction, and make the superluminal calculations. The Ancestral Queen is riding to the rescue after all.”
Now that I’ve gotten my way, I’m suddenly ashamed and humbled by my earlier outbursts.
“Thank you, Captain…” I drop my gaze to the floor. “I am sorry I threatened to assault you earlier.”
“No worries, Monty. You’re right. If Varia was in danger, I’d probably be just as determined to save her.”
Hang on, my love. We’re coming.
Chapter Seventeen
Fiona
After I sent my message, I logged off of Tarsk’s computer console and returned to the seat he’d left me in. I remained in place, trying to still my beating heart.
I know the transmission was received. I wish I could have made it a two-way communication, but that would have required spending more time attempting to hack into their central comms system. I wasn’t sure how long I’d be left by my lonesome, and it seemed more prudent to get the message off before I ran into trouble.
Now, it’s all I can do not to explode. Whatever they’re planning on, be it putting me up for auction or engaging in “enhanced” interrogation techniques, I wish they’d just get it over with. Waiting is killing me for sure.
After what seems like hours but is likely more akin to less than one, the doors slide open behind me. Playing my part to the hilt, I quickly spin about in my seat and look with fear upon Tarsk and a pair of burly Kraaj guards.
“Well, my little delicacy, are we feeling more talkative? Or is it time to put you on the block?”
Making sure to put a worried, clueless expression on my face, I reply.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I already told you everything, simply everything.”
He snickers and puts his arms akimbo as he gazes down at me with a half-smile on his silver-skinned face.
“Not bad. You really are a skillful liar. So be it.”
Tarsk gestures at his fellows, and they move forward to each grab one of my arms. I have no intention of not cooperating with them, but they take that choice away from me anyway.
I groan as they throw me on my belly over the desk, roughly pulling my arms behind me. Using a set of magnetic manacles, they secure my wrists together in a crossed position. Then one of them produces a black cloth made of a flexible and light material similar to spandex and forces it over my head, blindfolding me. I try not to panic, realizing I can still breathe through the porous fabric, even when they tighten it around my throat with a brace.
Then I’m roughly herded along ahead of them, out of the office and, I presume, to the top level. I only know I’m outside because of the gust of wind and the scent of fresh air that reaches my nostrils beneath the hood.
They load me onto some form of transport, probably a hover sled since it seems to have an open cabin design. Indeed, my belly bottoms out as they lift off of terra firma. One of them, as if I needed to be secured even more, snaps my ankles together with another manacle and then secures my crash webbing across my chest. He gropes me deliberately during the process,