Page 21 of Stealing Jia

“How about stealing that ship?”

“It’s a slave ship and heavily guarded,” Loki responded.

“Oh.” Several bullet shaped Rodan marauders set next to a cluster of plasticrete bunkers, repair hangers and warehouses. “What are the Rodan doing here?”

Loki studied them warily.“Difficult to say. Probably buying slaves to eat or weapons.”

My stomach roiled.

The unceasing rumble of arriving and departing ships showed Threll did a brisk business in illegal items. You’d think with the Askole battle cruiser hanging around, they’d stay away, but nope, not happening.

The intense heat was suffocating. To my surprise the cape seemed to reflect the sun. I surveyed the area carefully. Everything seemed black, bleak, bent or broken. Some people scurried about like frightened animals while others strode confidently. Of course, they were the ones armed to the teeth.

The black market on the other hand, was a bustling labyrinth of stalls selling everything from weapons to food to exotic creatures and half-starved slaves. The jabber of a dozen languages filled the air as the vendors hawked their wares.

I shuddered as a Rodan dragged off two crying women. “Can’t we help them?”

“We interfere and we join them. Then who would search for Adam?”Ivan’s face was tight with anger.

“I’m going to find a way to destroy this place.”

Loki laughed.“Many have tried and failed.”

“I won’t.”I looked around.“Where are we going?”

“To get a Datol and some information,”Ivan stated.

“Datol?”

Loki’s hand dropped to his weapon as a fat, hairy humanoid with horns looked us over. “Our version of beer.”He ushered me into a plasticrete building.

I blinked as my eyes adjusted to the dimly lit shithole. Filthy tables were packed with an assortment of intoxicated aliens. The furry bartender was enclosed in a huge iron cage filled with bottles of booze. To get a drink, a customer slipped a credit chip through the grill.

A nude female painted up like an Earth clown and wearing a purple wig did a weird hippity-hop table dance that made her four breasts bounce wildly. The patrons hooted and pounded the table.

Ivan booted a drunk off a table and sat down. I took the chair next to him. A cold finger of alarm skittered down my back as the hairy goat guy entered the bar. His gaze fixed on us. “I think we have a problem.”

“Yagga’s are always a problem. He probably knows you are a female,” Loki snarled.

“Should I be concerned?”

Ivan placed his laser pistol on the table and stroked it. “Yaggas are addicted to sex and their three penises secret a substance that causes fatal convulsions in most females. Since few last more than two days, they must constantly replace the ones they kill.”

Merda! “Have they ever thought of getting a blow-up doll or a robot?”

“The female’s screams and convulsions add to their pleasure,”Loki said.

“Those degenerate bastards need to die.”

Ivan nodded.“I agree.”

The Yagga took the table next to us and tapped on his comm-link. Was he calling for reinforcements, scanning me or both?“Is he desperate enough to take you two on?”

“No. Yagga’s are cowards and poor fighters.”Loki replied.

Ivan added,“They let others do their fighting.”

“Aren’t you a tiny bit worried that he’s called for his thugs?”

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