Seventh Ring
Part 1: Sold
New Earth, 418 A.C. (After Contact)
<<< PREV | FIRST | NEXT >>>

"We'll start the bidding off at 100 credits!"

Ari shifted uncomfortably in her seat as the auction began. The fan she'd crafted out of the event's flier was starting to crumple between her fingers and become less and less useful the faster she moved her arm. The heat of the sun above them was unbearable, despite how early in the afternoon the auction was scheduled. It didn't help that the tight leather corset that hugged her middle was making it harder for her to breathe and shed the heat her body was emitting. A long, cream-colored dress kept her legs hot while a wide, flowery bonnet helped shield her pale face. She unlocked her ankles and shifted her weight in the hard wooden chair near the auction's stage.

"Stop fidgeting, will you?" hissed the man beside her.

She obeyed and recrossed her legs without meeting his gaze. She didn't move again until the auctioneer shouted "sold!"

The object that was up for sale shuffled towards the opposite side of the stage. Thick, heavy chains dragged between its legs and crowded its large, clawed feet. The item that had been sold was an alien, and an old one at that. It was obvious that the weight of the chains that bound its hands to its long, thin neck were slowing it down considerably. A swift, sharp prod from a shock stick held by an auction volunteer helped motivate it to exit the stage a bit faster.

On the opposite end of the stage at the foot of a short wooden staircase stood a large line of aliens, all shackled, all visibly exhausted, all horribly filthy, and all for sale. They varied in race and size, though Ari knew which ones her husband, William, was currently looking to purchase. He seemed to favor those that appeared more human-like in ancestry, as it quelled his desire to own actual human slaves (an act that was strictly outlawed, much to his disappointment). His collection of aliens had grown considerably since his return from a mission into space. Ari often wondered if that particular mission had triggered this new interest of his, but William never spoke to her about such things. It was obvious to her that her marriage to him was another legal method of controlling the life of another being.

The sound of a shock stick signaled to her that another alien was being forced onto the stage. This one was limping and seemed to be fighting off an illness. Mucus filled its nostrils and clouded its once brilliant green eyes. Members of the audience began to mutter to one another.

"What makes them think that Scrub is worth selling? They'll be lucky to get the thing home before it dies,” whispered William to a portly man sitting on his other side. The man nodded with a disapproving grunt as he fanned his fat, sweating face with the same sort of fan Ari had constructed.

The alien's misery was quite visible, though it only seemed to be noticed by Ari, who couldn't seem to take her eyes off of him.

“What shall we start the bidding at for this Kazekian male? How about 50 credits?” shouted the announcer from behind his podium. The men in the front row scoffed.

“50 credits? It would cost much more than that just to get it healthy again!” said one of them.

“Get this one off the stage and back in its hole. Since when do you sell sickly stock, McGreavy?” asked another.

The auctioneer begged for silence as the audience came to life with talks of how the quality of the aliens that were being auctioned off at this particular site were becoming worse and worse. Ari remained silent and uninterested in their whispering. Instead, she watched as the Kazekian male fought to remain upright.

“Ladies and gentleman, please! Our latest shipment arrived only this morning after a raid on one of Sova's moons last week. This lot is sure to be a rare find, as they all came from a mining moon, so they'd make great laborers for those that need help in the fields this summer. “ Henry McGreavy glanced from the swaying alien on the stage beside him to the shifty-eyed members of the audience below. He used the back of his hand to wipe the sweat from his brow.

“Let's get on with it, then,” barked the portly man beside William. The audience seemed more interested when the price was lowered to only 10 credits for the sickly Kazekian. A less wealthy farmer standing behind the rows of seats near the back decided to take the risk. William knew the alien's new owner and smirked coldly when their eyes met. The farmer paid little attention to him as he approached the cashier to pay for his property.

“Leave it to Harold Smalls to invest money in something useless,” said William loudly to anyone who was listening. Ari watched as the auction volunteer with the shock stick approached the sickly Kazekian with a gleam in his eye. Even though it stood four or five heads taller than him, the thick, unbreakable chains that held him hostage gave the volunteer courage. It cried out as it felt the prongs of the shock stick enter its back and pass flesh-burning electricity through its body. His feet could carry him no further. Pain and exhaustion brought the alien to its knees. The volunteer grabbed the chains that bound its wrists and yanked mercilessly on them in an attempt to get it to stand back up. Ari's heart dropped at the sight.

“Get up, you! Get a move on!” said the volunteer through gritted teeth. He pulled hard on the chains, causing the Kazekian to fall forward onto its stomach. “I said, get UP!”

Ari looked away when she saw him lift the shock stick high in the air. She could hear the charge building in its tip, yet it did not cry out as it had done before. Instead, she heard a loud thud, and glanced up to see that the volunteer was now flat on his back. The shock stick slowly rolled away and out of his reach.

Hovering over the fallen form of the sickly alien was another Kazekian. This one, however, appeared to be in much better health and was much younger. His hands were still bound, but Ari guessed that didn't mean he couldn't use the strength of his arms to attack.

“Did you see that? That alien clocked Charlie right on the chin!” said the portly man. He nudged William as he spoke, his tone one of both shock and disgust. William said nothing.

The younger Kazekian crouched protectively over the one that laid on the stage. His short muzzle pulled back into a fierce snarl as two more volunteers appeared, each of which carried shock sticks and additional restraints. Ari could not take her eyes away from him, even when they jumped on top of him and shocked him repeatedly. They eventually got him under control and off of the stage. He never fought back.

“Mad house, that's what this place has become. Can't even keep their stock under control.” William's continued silence made the portly man uncomfortable.

“Something on your mind, Will? Y've been awfully quiet.”

“Did you see his arm?” said William after several seconds of continued silence and thought.

“No, can't say I did.”

Before he could be asked any additional questions, William rose from his seat.

“Ari, we're leaving,” he said quickly.

She stood and followed him as he headed straight towards Henry McGreavy, who was helping up the volunteer that had been knocked down.

“McGreavy, a word,” William said from the side of the stage.

Ari watched as Henry literally dropped what he was doing and instructed the two other volunteers to help the first after they returned from moving the attacker back into line. Whatever William was saying, he seemed to have a familiar sort of smirk on his face. Ari waited quietly near the cashier's booth.

“Afternoon, Ms. Ari,” said Harold Smalls from behind her.

“Oh, hello Mr. Smalls, congratulations on the win,” she said apathetically.

“Ah, thank you. I know your husband wouldn't approve, but I need all the help I can get this summer, sickly or not,” he replied with a weak smile. Ari did not return it and refused to speak of business or ill of her husband. “Well, I'd best collect my purchase.”

Ari gave a curt nod without speaking. Her gaze had shifted lazily towards William and Henry again. They shared a firm handshake, and she could see that William was tucking his pocketbook back into his jacket pocket, which told her that her husband had surely purchased something. What it was, however, came as a complete shock to her. Henry McGreavy looked relieved.

“That Kazekian's going to make me a fortune,” he said as he swiftly approached her side.

“What Kazekian?” she asked before she was able to hold her tongue. William seemed to be in too good of a mood to scorn her for speaking, though.

“The one they just dragged off stage and beat. He's ours.”

“But William,” she was pressing her luck now. “He's too violent and wild.”

“Of course he is. He'll be my star fighter in no time.”

Suddenly, the purchase made all too much sense to Ari. But, like seeing the older, sickly Kazekian on the stage for all to see being brought to its knees, she could feel her heart and stomach drop at the very thought of what was in store for the one that had no doubt saved its life.

---

Story, Characters, and Artwork © Quaylak