Page 102 of Galactic Sentinels: Vol. 1
He’s absolutely right. I sit down and watch how he works.
For each face, he takes notes—species, estimated age, cross-checks with the interception team’s data, and the person’s own statements.
“I recognize her!” I say suddenly. “She was in the cage next to mine.”
“Perfect. She was on a ship leaving Vagantu. Everyone on board claimed they were there by accident.”
“Can you show me the others who were with her?”
“Yes—there were four total. One male, three females.”
“This one, like I said, was in the cell next to mine. So was this one. The other two—I’ve never seen them.”
“At least one of them must’ve purchased the other two. I’ll move these two to the victim file, and the others to the ‘needs investigation’ folder.”
We continue like that, Onorio sorting profiles based on my input.
Suddenly, I recognize one of the buyers from my own sale. A shiver of disgust runs down my spine.
“That one! He tried to trade me for a hundred pistoblasters. But tell me, Onorio… what happens to them?”
“There’ll be a full psychological and background evaluation. Then a trial. Sentencing depends on how dangerous they’re deemed to be.”
I think of the Penubian who wanted to add me to his collection. The Tourb who just wanted a breeding partner. The cold, calculating stare of Noviosk. Not all of them deserve the same punishment.
We keep going until I come across Prax’s profile.
“I know him!” I say immediately.
“A buyer?” Onorio asks.
“His name is Prax. He was with the Penubian who captured me—Bully. Prax tried everything to get me out, even offered his two-seater ship in exchange for my freedom. It didn’t work… but in the end, he saved my life.”
“All right, we’ll release him,” Onorio says. “He was intercepted leaving the zone in his ship. Alone.”
I know I’ve bent the truth a little. But I owe him that. And I truly believe there’s good in him.
An hour later, we’ve gone through all the profiles. I’ve identified more guards than I expected, and several captives like myself.
But I haven’t seen all the potential buyers—or some of the guards.
“Are you sure you intercepted everyone?” I ask.
“No, that would’ve taken too many resources. But you said the head of Vagantu is dead…”
“Yes, he is. We saw it happen. But he’s not who I was thinking of.”
“Then who?”
“Oh… just some people I crossed paths with,” I say vaguely.
I have no idea whatThe Unshakeablelooks like—the one Pherebos is after. And as far as I know, his mission is classified. I can’t talk about it with Onorio. Maybe the guy escaped. I haven’t seen Bully either—Prax’s former associate.
According to Pherebos, that guy’s high enough in the organization to have access to secret defense plans. Maybe he blended in with the Confederation’s intervention teams to justify his presence.
Will he connect the dots between Pherebos’s presence and the massive sting operation underway?
Is my beautiful Asgarnian in danger?
