Page 41 of Truthful Deceptions

“Repeat the contact name and place,” she demanded, as if I was a child who might forget.

“Pelrow of Pelshun on Outer Moon Station,” I said.

She gave a little grunt of satisfaction and patted me on the head again, this time with much less force. “Good.”

I guess our conversation was over because she turned and left without another word. I faced the only Marper in the office.

“Do you have anyone offering passage to Bright Star Station or any nearby station?” I asked. “Or anywhere in Massoc space?”

The Marper grunted, but it wasn’t a friendly sound like Pelrow’s. “What are you?” he asked.

“Human,” I said. “I can pay in advance and have a job, I simply need to get to it.”

Saying I had a job waiting made it more likely for me to get passage. It was rare, but occasionally individuals would buy passage to help pirates capture and steal a ship.

“Show me your wealth,” the Marper demanded. I felt uneasy, but I didn’t have a choice but to dig out my information square and show him. He grunted again and went to the only workstation in the room. After tapping at the display with heavy fingers, he looked back up.

“You said human?”

“Yes, human,” I said. “We’re a rare species, but we’re quiet, skilled, and don’t cause trouble.”

“I have the perfect ship for you,” he said, standing up and pulling on the same type of square, box-like pack that many of the Marpers wore.

“How much?” I asked.

“We’ll find out when we get to the ship,” he said, walking up to me. I thought he was going to lead me, but instead he grabbed me and placed me on his box like Pelrow had, except with a lot less gentleness.

This had to be how they carried their children.

He moved with the crowd, and soon we were in a busy bay full of ships. The moment he could, he broke into a jog to cover ground faster. Soon we were at the far end of the bay and standing next to the ramp of a ship.

When I saw an insect-like Vicpor come down the ramp, I got a bad feeling about this. Vicpors had a reputation of avarice to the point of enslaving and selling their own children.

Even if the price was good and they were going straight to Bright Star Station, I wasn’t riding on one of their ships. The risk wasn’t worth it.

“No,” I said loud enough that I knew the broker must’ve heard me. “I’ll wait for another ship. I won’t travel in this one.”

“That’s a human!” the Vicpor said, chittering with excitement.

“Yes,” the broker said. “I want price and a half for her, or I’ll sell her to the next merchant that comes here.”

God damn it! Meeting Pelrow had made me complacent. I should’ve known my luck wouldn’t last.

“I’m a free individual!” I screamed, trying to get down off the broker’s back. “I’m not his to sell.”

The Vicpor ignored me. “I’ll give you price and a quarter, but no more.”

“Done,” the broker said, grabbing me as I tried to jump off.

He held me with one beefy hand, his fingers almost able to circle my waist. He tugged my bag away from me, then slammed me down on the ground. The breath left me and pain radiated up my left foot. When he let go, I crumpled to the ground, pain making it hard to see straight.

“You broke her!” the Vicpor snarled. “I’ll only give you price now.”

“She’s fine,” the broker insisted and grabbed me under the arms and tried to stand me up. I cried out in agony and fell to my knees. When he reached for me again, I scrambled away. The Vicpor caught me by the hair to hold me still.

“Price or nothing,” the Vicpor insisted.

“Fine,” the Marper snarled and shoved his information square at the Vicpor. I heard the familiar chime of wealth being exchanged and then the Vicpor was picking me up.