Page 35 of My Alien Sunshine

In between the stalls, there are small “plazas”, each dominated by a raised platform in the center. People gather around them, shouting and waving their hands. My fists clench when I realize what is being sold here. Slaves. Sentient beings of all shapes and sizes are being stripped and prodded, then auctioned off like cattle.

Ellen whimpers at the sudden onslaught of noise and maybe also from my grip getting tighter. Forcing my arms to relax, I repeat, “Don’t look,” under my breath, fervently praying that she obeys. She doesn’t need to see this shit. Hell, I don’t need to see this shit.

A snake-like creature slithers in our direction, making our guards stop. He straightens up to his full height, his forked tongue slipping past his lips. A Kashi, I assume, but not a full-blooded one. They require heat to function properly and this auction house from hell is rather chilly.

“Massster Drayth!” the snake exclaims, the corners of his mouth pulling back in what I can only assume is supposed to be a smile. “Welcome to the Arcade! We’re ssso happy to have you back. The merchandissse you sssent earlier is on disssplay at ssstall 17, but I sssee you’ve brought more?” His vertically slitted eyes skim over Ellen and me, judging, appraising, calculating. Just his looking makes me feel violated.

“Just the male,” Drayth clarifies. “I already have a buyer for the female.”

The snake blinks, first with his left eye, then with his right eye. It’s incredibly unnerving. “What a shame. Younglingsss alwaysss fetch a good price.”

“And a good profit for you, High Broker,” Drayth adds, laughing. “Don’t worry, I think the male will be enough. Are any of the gladiator auctions open?”

“Yesss, yesss,” High Broker hisses. “But, perhapsss…” His eyes slide over my body again, focusing on my crotch. “Why is he dresssed?” he scowls, his nostrils flaring. “I might have a buyer who will pay a generousss sssum for a healthy, ssstrong male, but I need to sssee if he’s well enough endowed for her.”

Drayth glares at me. “Take your clothes off, slave.”

A bite back a sharp retort, aware of the weight of Ellen’s body in my arms. Gently, I set her down. “Keep your eyes closed, my big brave girl,” I remind her.

“I’m brave,” she murmurs back, even as tears escape her tightly closed eyes.

“Yes, you are.”

I shuck off my shirt, tossing it on the floor behind me. A few of the meandering buyers stop nearby, attracted by the show. Feeling their eyes on me, I wish I could pluck them out, eyeball after eyeball.

My squad mates will be here soon—wherever here is—but I need to stall for time.

It’s clear that we’re still in space, so the Arcade is either a ship or a station. Based on the size of this open area we’re in, I’d say a station, but something tells me it’s a ship. A station would be vulnerable to attacks if its position was revealed. A ship, on the other hand, can jump to a different location whenever necessary. Always on the move, never staying in one place for too long.

My throat works hard as I look around at the vast amount of open space around us. There’s only one class of ship that can house a room of this size. A battleship. And if we’re on a battleship, we’re in huge fucking trouble. It doesn’t matter what kind of battleship the Arcade is. Whether it’s the standard UGC model, the sleeker, but deadlier Ataxian model, or any of the countless others, it’s going to be heavily armed and shielded.

Pain tears me from my current thoughts. Emanating from the collar around my neck, it echoes throughout my body, knocking me to my knees. I suck in a sharp breath through my gritted teeth, waiting for it to subside. When it finally does, my head slumps, I’m panting as I try to resupply my muscles with oxygen.

A hand grabs my hair, forcing me to look up, straight into Drayth’s smiling face. “I gave you an order, slave,” he emphasizes. “Follow it! My apologies,” he says, turning to the High Broker. “I’ve only recently acquired him. He isn’t trained yet.”

“Not an isssue,” the snake replies, the tip of his tail twitching reflexively. “Thisss particular cussstomer lovesss breaking them in. The wilder the better.”

Drayth’s grin widens. “He should be perfect, then.” He glances at me, his smirk souring a little when he sees I still haven’t removed my pants. “Strip,” he orders. “Or else.”

“Or else what? You’re going to bore me to death with another one of your ridiculous monologues?” I snort. “I’m trembling in fear. Not. Is that how you best an enemy? Torturing them with a magical remote? Are you afraid to get your hands dirty? I bet you haven’t earned any of those golden rings you so proudly display. Ordering someone’s death doesn’t earn you a trophy for killing them, you know?”

It’s almost too easy to get under his skin. His fists clench and his lips roll back to reveal sharp teeth in a vicious snarl. I’m hitting a sensitive spot. Just as he raises the controller again, I snort out a laugh. “Oh, you’re not even going to punish me with your own hands? What a disappointment you are.”

To my surprise, several bystanders echo my laughter. Most of them sneer at Drayth with disdain, making him even angrier. If I could get him to jump me, then perhaps—

Ellen whimpers. One of the onlookers is touching her hair, trying to get her to open her eyes. I lunge, tackling him down to the ground and planting my fist into his larynx before my collar is activated again. Even as my whole body spasms in mindless waves of pain, I consider his wheezing gasps for air as a success.

“Sssilence!” hisses the High Broker. “The youngling isss sssold already.” He nods at his guards who drag the now unconscious slaver away. I hope he dies. He probably won’t, but a male can wish.

“Thisss isss taking too long,” the High Broker complains as the crowd around us disperses. “I have work to do. Presssent him.” Someone unceremoniously strips me, tearing the fabric of my pants to shreds when it catches around my ankle. I’m dragged over and unceremoniously dumped in front of the damned snake. I wish I could at least spit at him, but my muscles are yet to cease spasming randomly and aren’t responding to my commands.

His eyes rake over my body once again, pausing at my cock for longer than I’m comfortable with. I hold my breath as he brings a shock stick near my crotch. I can take pain from the collar, but this? Fuck, that would hurt. Fortunately, he only uses the stick to poke my very limp cock. I’ve never been less aroused and it shows.

“Hmm,” he hums, giving my cock another poke as if it will magically make me hard. “For your sssake, I hope it getsss bigger, ssslave,” he says, smirking. “My cussstomer hasss an appetite for male organsss. Thisss won’t sssatissfy her.”

I swallow roughly, hoping that the “appetite” is of a sexual nature and not appetite as in eating. Nobody’s eating my fucking cock! Except maybe Nala. If she wants it, she can have it roasted or stewed or whatever. But I’d much rather have it in her mouth while it’s still attached to my body.

“Take them both to the transssfer cellsss,” the High Broker orders. “I’ll transssfer the creditsss to your account once the trade is finalisssed, Massster Drayth. If the buyer refusssesss, I’ll put him into an arena auction.”

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