“Sheknows B’Rugh?” Thracecould scarcely believe his ears. Trin certainly didn’t seem like the kind ofperson who was on speaking terms with the most notorious crime-lord in this orany other galaxy.

“Shebeat him in a card game once,” Sidna said. “He’s been after her to come and‘visit’ him on his home base ever since. But up until now she’s never beenstupid enough—or desperate enough—to go.”

“Whyin the Seven Hells would she go now?” Thrace demanded. “Especiallywithout anyone to watch her back?”

“Whydo you think? Because of you.” Sidnawaved the blaster at him accusingly.

“Becauseof me? What are you talking about?”

“Youmean she didn’t tell you?” Sidna raised an eyebrow at him disbelievingly.“Buying you nearly bankrupted her. I finally got the whole story out of her theother night—she spent fifty thousand credits on you to get you free of that slaverat the Flesh Bazaar.”

“Fiftythousand credits?” Thrace could scarcely believe it. Thesum was ten times what even the most accomplished and highly trained slave wasworth. He’d been bought at a high price the first time he was a slave but hisold Master could afford it—Trin couldn’t. “Why the fuck would she spend so muchon me?” he demanded.

“Ihave no idea.” Sidna gave him awithering look. “Especially since all she really wanted was a male to stand ather back and look pretty at the Yonnie Six state functions. And you plainlycan’t even be trusted to do that.” You worthless piece of scum, her toneimplied.

“Shetold me she didn’t buy me for sexual reasons, like the Yonnite mistresses buybody-slaves,” Thracesaid. “But I never knew she just wanted me for backup.” Backup he hadn’tprovided—and wasn’t providing now. Trin was alone in a den of thieves, rapists,murders and every other kind of criminal. And he wasn’t there to help. I could’ve been, he thought. If she’d trusted me enough to let me up,enough to take me with her. If I’d given her any reason to trust me.

“Shebought you to save your worthless life, Havoc,” Sidna snapped. “She told me theslaver who sold you was trying to kill you with the pain collar he’d put onyou. In my opinion, it’s a pity he didn’t succeed.” She shook her head. “Trinalways was too soft hearted—although I never knew her to let her feelings getin the way of good judgment before.”

“Ican’t fucking believe it…fifty thousand credits.” Thrace shook his head.

Sidnasneered at him. “You would’ve been overpriced at fifty credits-let alone fifty thousand.”

“Look,I can tell you don’t like me but I didn’t askto be captured and sold as a slave,” Thrace growled. “Any more than I asked to be bought and chained to a cotfor days on end.”

“Wellyou’re out of your chains now—much good may it do you. Come on.” Sidna waspoking him with the blaster again. “Get going. The sooner you’re off this shipthe better.”

“Whatthe fuck do you plan to do with me?” Thrace growled. “Blow me out theairlock into deep space?”

“Don’ttempt me.” The medic’s voice was grim. “But no—Trin would never forgive me if Idid that. For some reason she’s grown fond of you—even though you tried tostrangle her and you can’t keep a civil tongue in your head. Goddess aloneknows why but she actually likes you.So I can’t kill you.”

“Thenwhere am I going?” Thracedemanded.

“Intoone of the life pods. They’re fully stocked and they have enough fuel tonavigate deep space for a good long time. Providing you can push the autopilotbutton, you’ll be able to make your way someplace safe. And anyplace away from The Alacrity is good enough for me,”Sidna said tightly. “Now come on, let’s go.”

Sheherded him at blaster-point down the narrow curving corridor to one of the farends of the ship. Then she pointed to a small metal escape hatch.

“There.You can take that one. Just get in, press the big green button, and never comeback. That’s all I ask.”

“Fine.”Thraceopened the door and ducked his head to get inside.

Withoutanother word, Sidna sealed him in, cutting him off from the rest of the shipwith a final sounding chink of metalagainst metal.

Thrace lookedaround, assessing his surroundings. The pod was cramped for someone his sizebut it clearly had enough food and stores for several people so he should befine. The controls were simple too. He’d been piloting ships for almost as longas he’d been alive. One look at the miniature but fully functional naviconshowed a stable wormhole just a few parsecs away. He could take it back to thegalaxy he’d started from, get The Empressout of dry dock and go look for his best friend and first mate, Solar who hadalso been sold at the Flesh Bazaar.

Butthat would mean leaving Trin to the mercy of B’Rugh and the Demon’s Eye.

Lookingout of the viewscreen at the front of the little pod, he saw the huge silverspace station gleaming ominously in the light of the red dwarf star at thecenter of the system. Trin was in there somewhere…alone…unprotected. Oh, heknew she was probably armed—she was a savvy female and wouldn’t go into a placelike that without a blaster or two strapped to her belt. But what good was ablaster against such a hoard of dangerous, lecherous criminals? Against B’Rugh?Thrace’dhad some dealings with the crime lord in the past himself—none of thempleasant.

She bought you and chained you up! snarleda little voice in his brain. Chained youto a cot for days!

Because she didn’t trust me. Because Igave her no reason to trust me, Thraceanswered it. And she’s only there becauseof me. She bought me to save my stupid, fucking life. That damn slaver wouldhave killed me if she hadn’t stopped him.

Heremembered now…Sidna’s scathing words had brought the recollections of what hadhappened in the Flesh Bazaar back like a fever dream. The slaver demanding thathe get off the platform so Trin could examine him…his own silent refusal…thenthe horrible pain like a stinging electrical current running through his entirebody. He even remembered seeing her punch the scaly bastard in the jaw when hewouldn’t turn off the pain collar. Trin really had saved his life—he owed her for that, no matter what the lastfew days had been like.

Turningto the navicon, he set a course for the Demon’s Eye.

Hejust prayed he wasn’t too late.

Chapter Seven

Trinwalked carefully but confidently through the long metal halls of the spacestation. She kept her chin high and her hand near her blaster, which wasstrapped comfortingly to her hip. It didn’t do to show fear in a place likethis but she wasn’t above letting people know she was armed. That was justcommon sense.

She’dtaken her time circling the massive structure and picking the right place todock. Using one of the smaller, more distant docking zones would have been morediscrete and drawn less attention. However, it also would have meant traversinglong stretches of poorly lit corridors alone until she got to a main branch.

Onthe other hand, docking in a central zone, close to the heart of the station,meant attracting immediate attention from the inhabitants. It also, however,guaranteed a swift getaway if the deal went south.

Afteralmost an hour’s deliberation, Trin chose the central zone. She was one womanalone and she didn’t like to take her chances in the small, twisty corridorsthat ran through the peripheral branches of the station. Plus, she was hopingthat B’Rugh would be willing to do a quick, straightforward deal which wouldallow her to go straight back to her ship with no problems.

Please Goddessof Judgment, sheprayed as she walked, trying not to see the eyes gleaming in the dark offshootson either side of the main corridor. Please—I’vealways followed all your precepts and held your laws sacred and holy. Leteverything go easily and well!