from him.
Then again, it could be both.
We stay on the outskirts of a large marketplace full of merchants and their wares. Just like in the medieval times on Earth, there are numerous wooden tables sprawled about with brick-and-mortar buildings as a background. The clothing of the inhabitants leaves much to be desired, and now I understand why Korix had me wear the tattered robe over my cargo pants and shirt. He couldn’t find me any boots that would fit, but my slip-ons help me blend in, since they are poor quality.
“The technology isn’t that advanced here,” I whisper. “For some reason I assumed all aliens had access to such things, and that’s obviously not the case.”
He leads me down a short alleyway, and then we duck under an extended metal awning before he answers. “Technology is like currency; some have more than others.”
All this is new to me. Walking freely out in public and having a conversation with someone are not things I’ve been able to do for several years, and it’s nice. I know Korix has brought me to this place for a purpose, but being under his watchful eye is not the same thing as laboring from dawn until dusk. I’m about to ask him another question when he speaks, prompting me to stay silent.
“We are almost at our destination, and I don’t want you to say anything to the healer.”
I school my features to refrain from giving him a look of annoyance. I’m not sure what that is supposed to mean, but I’m going to assume it’s for my benefit. And I really want these microscopic trackers out of me. “Okay.”
He drops my hand and turns to face me. “I’m only saying this to protect you. This process is illegal, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t hand us over to the G.C. if they thought they could profit from it.”
“They’d really do that?”
“Absolutely.”
I nod, letting him know I understand the severity of the situation. Korix broke the law when he stole me from a black market, and now he’s doing it again to have this procedure done for me. He’s a criminal, and I’m in his world now, so I better follow his lead.
“Well, if anyone’s going to own me, I’d prefer it not be the G.C.,” I say. “It is evil incarnate.”
I’m not positive, but I swear I caught Korix flinching. He shouldn’t care one way or the other, so what was that about? Probably just my imagination going wild after a sleep-deprived night. After he left me in the bed, I lay there stunned. Everything that happened was because I wanted it, so why am I upset at how it ended?
We resume walking and soon come to a small decrepit hovel that is stucco and dome-shaped, unlike the rectangular buildings located near the center of the city.
He raps the wooden door and says, “Respect the G.C.”
I wrinkle my nose in disgust but remain silent. Worst password phrase ever. Respect the G.C.? Pfft. More like revile.
A female voice flits through the air, reaching us through the door. “Enter.”
Korix strides in like he owns the place, and my admiration for him grows. I guess if I’m going to do something illegal, then there’s no one better to have at my side.
A strong medicinal smell has my nostrils flaring as I take in the numerous lit candles lining the high shelves and run my gaze over the sparsely furnished living room. An algae-colored alien sits with her arms folded in a worn-out leather chair, but she gets to her feet and dips her head in greeting.
“I understand time is of the essence, so we needn’t bother with pleasantries. For the sake of this visit, you may call me Yuri.” She lifts a hand and beckons us over. “This way.”
“Thank you,” Korix says.
We follow the female to a back room that looks to be a workshop where medicines or various concoctions are made. Several bunches of varied dried herbs hang from the ceiling with strings securely fastened to their stems. On the workbench are a mortar and pestle, a couple beakers filled with liquid, and cutting shears. All in all, it appears normal until Yuri reaches under the table and there’s a clicking sound, followed by a hidden door sliding open to reveal a set of stairs.
She descends them without looking back at us, and Korix starts forward with me on him like a shadow. The stairwell isn’t too deep, and once we reach the bottom of the stone