It’s still being sold. Being traded – like livestock.
The seven-feet-tall Aurelians at least look like the Greek Gods of yore, even if they also have as little mercy as those cruel deities did. The entire universe knows all about the Aurelians – or are under the boot of their ‘Empire’ already.
But these three Aurelians? They’ll be the first of their kind to land on Planet Reena since we declared Independence a decade ago.
Their boots on the pavement will make our world tremble. I’ve never seen an Aurelian in real life before, but I can already tell that the larger-than-life aliens will seem even bigger in the imposing, marble-hued flesh.
I take a deep breath and reluctantly pull the dress over my head. Instantly, I’m ruined. I sit down and shift uncomfortably in the chair, disturbed by the intensity with which the fabric teases and torments every inch of skin it touches. The torment on my nipples is especially intense, and I honestly don’t know how much I can take of it.
Thankfully, the beautician reaches to my neck and presses something on the fabric. The torturously arousing sensation diminishes slightly – enough for me to function.
“T-Thank you,” I gasp gratefully.
I can see the beautician’s face in the mirror, and I see there was no kindness in her action.
“I can’t have you shifting and squirming in the seat while I apply your makeup,” she says sternly. “Rest assured – the dress will be returned to full intensity before you reach the auction stage.”
I swallow – my mouth feeling dry as I imagine that fate.
Even at the lower setting, the dress makes me squirm in reluctant, uncomfortable arousal – but all the pleasure dresses in the world couldn’t make me feel anything pleasurable if I was to be bought by one of the three Bullfrogs who prompted Peter to organize this impromptu slave auction.
They must be important business leads indeed to warrant such a welcome – and for Peter to be willing to sacrifice his own hand-selected retinue to appease them.
I shudder, and then try to sit still as the beautician goes to work.
In silence, I stare at my reflection in the mirror as she changes me.
And it is that – a change. I’d always known that Peter found me pretty – that was the reason he took me into his personal service in the first place, instead of selling me away to some off-world brothel… or worse.
But I’d never before thought of myself as beautiful – and whoever this beautician is, she’s talented. No, perhaps a magician. I barely recognize myself when she’s done applying the makeup to my face.
In fact, I wish she’d done a worse job.
I look too good – good enough to buy.
Maybe I’ll have a chance to smear the makeup before I’m on stage – make myself look ugly… Deformed. Anything to make me less appealing.
I know it sounds vain, but this is a matter of life and death. Beauty is a commodity in a slave auction. I have to do everything I can to make myself, and my best friend Danielle, less beautiful – and without Peter or his goons realizing it.
Tonight, my future will be sealed one way or another, as a result or my success or failure.
Either, I’ll be returned to the service of a man so cold and heartless that he’d sell me into slavery without a thought…
Or, I’ll be the property of disgusting, warty Bullfrog…
No, wait. There’s a third possibility – and it’s no better. Not really.
I might leave the auction stage owned by three specimens of the most dominant, powerful species in the universe.
5
Conan
We descend down into the hanger and the truth of Evander’s words echo in my mind.
Queen Jasmine’s new policies have torn our great Empire apart. More and more planets are turning their backs on the protection we Aurelians once offered them. Reena is just one of many worlds that declared their independence from Aurelian rule – and the Empire forsake them immediately afterward.
No protection. No governance. My people washed our hands of them.
And in our absence, opportunists scurried from the darkness like cockroaches. Take this world, for example. In the absence of Aurelian rule, slavery has prospered here.
It’s just another example of how humanity is not fit to rule itself. Aurelians have to be the strong arm of the universe – one that reins the other impudent species in. Without Aurelian rule, moral anarchy spreads. The standards of right and wrong become forgotten.
Slavery – once one of the most forbidden, unforgivable practices that carried with it the death sentence for all found guilty of participating – has returned to Reena, and other planets like it.
Aurelians need to stamp it out. Again.
And yet, I don’t wish to enslave the people of this planet, no more than I’d tolerate them practicing slavery of their own.
No, I want to own this planet, not its people, and lead them to a better future.
I peer through the sights of the Reaver’s Orb-Beam. I want to put my fingers on the trigger but it would be useless if I did. We diverted all power away from the weapons, as per the instructions from our buyer. Once we make the deal, we’ll be rid of the Reaver – and any chance the Empire have to track us. More than that, we’ll have enough capital to start up a new life on this planet.
Evander touches us down in the nearly-empty hanger. There are a few small attack ships nearby, but nothing that could stand against an Aurelian Reaver. We could burn through everything if we wanted – with just a few short blasts from my Orb-Beam.
But not for long. Not after we make this deal. Then it’s theirs. We’re putting Aurelian technology into the hands of slavers.
I hope Evander’s plan works – or we’ll
