they are not practical for this kind of mission. Thus, the need for our somewhat shabby but immensely functional Kilgari civilian shuttle.
“Vectoring toward the Tartus central marketplace now.” I flip a few switches as we drop from cruising speed to a more modest pace. “It will not be long.”
“Good because the environmental controls in this thing are busted.” Lamira hugs herself and shivers. “I’m not wearing near enough for this.”
I frown and move to doff my coat so I may drape it over her shoulders. But Lamira raises her trick manacled hands and shakes her head.
“No way. You need to start getting into character because quite frankly you’re a terrible actor. Masters don’t consider their slaves’ comfort.”
I arch an eyebrow at her. “Terrible actor, am I?”
“Don’t be all mopey about it. Acting is essentially lying, and there’s no harm in being a bad liar, Grantian.”
“Hmph. I think I’m still offended.”
Lamira chuckles and moves her hand to her lap. “Here’s something to take your mind off of it.”
She pulls the flimsy triangle of cloth away from her crotch and spreads her legs. My eyes widen at the unimpeded view of her body, one I’ve come to know well and yet never tire of gazing upon.
“Try not to crash the shuttle.” She flips the cloth back into place flamboyantly. I return my attention to our landing vector, grinning ear to ear.
I set us down at a private lot, which charges a steep three hundred credits to let us park. It’s better to pay for one of these secure lots than to just leave our vehicle anywhere. There’s a slightly decreased chance it will be stolen in a guarded lot.
“Are you ready?” I hold my hand out and assist Lamira to her feet.
“As ready as I’ll ever be. Now remember, I’m just a slave girl, so don’t act all gooey in public.”
“I’ll do my best.”
The side panel of the shuttle slides open, and then I give a firm but nonviolent tug on Lamira’s leash. She stumbles forward, her eyes widening and a slight grin on her lips.
I try to walk casually, relaxing my normally strict posture as Lamira instructed. As we enter the crowded marketplace, a veritable canyon of shoddily built structures and open stalls, I’m a bit put off by how many male gazes are drawn to Lamira’s exposed body.
It’s all I can do not to punch them in the jaw for daring to look at her like a piece of meat.
Lamira gasps and stares at a stall that openly sells intoxicating powder made of Odex death root.
“I can’t believe that it’s so, so…”
“Blatant?” I chuckle and grip her leash a bit more tightly. “In a no man’s land like Tartus, anything and everything is for sale.”
“But—that stuff ruins people’s lives.”
“Yes, it does. But it takes a very long time to do so, thus guaranteeing clientele for at least a decade or so.”
“That’s cold blooded.”
I nod in assent. “That’s the Tartus markets.”
Lamira grows silent as I lead her past a noisy, bustling auction block. She stares at the semi-clothed women up on the block, a couple human but most made up of Alliance races. Without thinking about it, she starts walking a bit closer to my side.
“Those poor women.”
“I know. I wish we could do more to help them, but we must pick battles we can win. For now.” I silently make a vow that if at all possible I will return to the Tartus markets one day and make it a very bad day to be a slaver.
“Where are we going?”
“To a cantina.”
“Like the three we passed along the way? Why didn’t you stop in one of them?”
“They didn’t have the right… feel.” I clutch at the air with my hand. “It’s difficult to put into words, but I’ll know the right place when I see it.”
I lift my gaze, and it narrows on a large tent across the avenue, the entrance flap guarded by an Odex with a nasty skin condition, which has caused half his hair to fall out. “That’s the one.”
Lamira and I head toward the tent. When we’re a few steps from the entrance, the Odex bows his head and holds the flap open for us.
“All who enter must buy at least two drinks.”
“A two-drink minimum is most acceptable.”
I swipe my corroded, faux account credstick on his reader, giving him a little tip. He beams a gap-toothed smile and gestures for us to enter. No point in using actual credits to pay a bunch of criminal scum,