Page 46 of Fresh Flesh

Mlarx

The humans usedto call this place Seattle. It was once a pinnacle of their achievements as both a society and on a technological level.

Now we’ve taken it over. Much of the original structures were damaged during the initial invasion, but that was the humans’ fault for trying to resist us in the first place. We’ve rebuilt, refurbished, or repurposed the buildings that remained into our own city.

Now it’s called New Renesis, after a city on our homeworld. The Gren flag flies proudly in front of every structure, and the city teems with my people.

I dive into the streets as soon as I arrive, late at night. I park my zoomer onto a charging platform and receive a chit from the engineer attending the station. I might not get the same zoomer back, but that doesn't concern me.

I got here first, so it’s up to me to try to find out as much as I can about Maisie. They told us the ship that took her would be putting in here to offload cargo and take on more, as well as supplies.

The logical first place to look would be the docks. I head down there, but find that it’s after hours and the dockmaster has gone for the day.

I’m not about to be deterred by this minor setback. I start asking around about the dockmaster, a man named Rint. I find out that he favors a watering hole several blocks inland, near the ruins of what the humans laughably called the ‘space needle.’ It was neither a needle, nor was it in outer space, so I don’t get the name at all.

I step into the darkened interior of the tavern. Mostly it’s a rough crowd, Grens of lower caste than myself, Lurg, and Joras. These are the laborers of the Grengoran Empire, the menial taskers who do the jobs that are much less exciting than soldering or bounty hunting.

As on Overseer, and a Gren from the southlands, I’m very much the outsider here. A lot of dark looks are sent my way. I ignore them and make for the bar. The tavern master wants to make money more than he wants to be unfriendly. I tip him extra for my mug of sour tasting, watery libations.

“You can keep the change, and then some.”

I slide another credit chip across the counter.

“If you can point out Rint to me.”

The chip disappears in a flash.

“He’s the one at the corner table, drinking alone.”

I thank him and go to the corner table. Rint looks up at my approach, and sneers.

“Get lost. I drink alone.”

“I just need to ask a few questions, and then I’ll leave you alone.”

I note what he’s drinking and order him another one, since his glass is mostly empty. He looks more annoyed than grateful. Still, he takes the mug and drains about half of it in one go, slamming it back down onto the table more roughly than he needs to.

“What do you want to know?”

“There was a ship, the Genola Tay, that was supposed to be docking here. Do you know it?”

“Yeah, I know it,” he says, finishing his beer. I wait for him to elaborate but he does not.

“I need to know if it’s docked yet.”

He stares at his empty glass. I growl under my breath but I still order him another one. It loosens his tongue a bit.

“I know that ship. Just offloaded a bunch of cargo this morning, then took some more on. Breeders, mostly. Young and healthy humans of both sexes.”

I swallow hard, and ask him if he saw a woman fitting Maisie’s description.

“Yes, I do recall that one. There was a lot of consternation about her. The farm master who initially bought her refused upon seeing the sores on her ankles. Sent her back, got a refund.”

“So she’s still on the Genola Tay?” I ask.

“If they haven’t eaten her yet, sure. Possibly they want to breed her too, I don’t know.”

“Is the Tay still docked?”

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