Cyprian walked to the kiosk featuring a large map of the station. A scrolling series of symbols were running down one side of the screen. He assumed it was some foreign language, that he couldn’t read. If it wasn’t for his language implant, he wouldn’t be able to understand a word being said by all the unusual people, either.
“Place your device on the pad,” the automated voice from the kiosk repeated.
“Here.” Vintor passed Cyprian his comm.
They put the communicator on the kiosk pad.
“Configuring language,” the mechanical voice stated. “Would you like a map, a list of entertainment events, the auction catalog, or all three?”
“All three,” Vintor replied to the machine.
“Transferring. Thank you, and enjoy your stay on Distraho.”
The pleasant veneer of the architecture, staff, and even the machinery was grating, considering the transactions that went on at the auction house.
Vintor collected his handheld and scrolled through the new information on the device.
“It looks like it translated our language pretty well,” he stated, looking impressed.
The other smugglers downloaded the info, but Cyprian held off. He didn’t want some foreign machine to have unfettered access to his handheld. Just in case.
“Let’s get checked in,” Mave said as he led the way through the large arching portico.
“Look at this,” Adeoda showed his handheld to the other smugglers. “There’s a human female listed in the rare and exotic species sale.”
“How many colors does their hair come in?” Gio asked.
It has to be Riley. June said she had unusual hair.
Vintor passed his handheld to Cyprian with a sideways glance. On the screen was an image of Riley, the missing human. She had unusual hair, for sure. It was long and black, with violet tendrils mixed in. Cyprian had seen hair the color of straw, fire, and sable, but never this color. It wasn’t natural, but it was striking mixed with her raven locks.
Cyprian’s brow furrowed when he saw the female’s ears were pierced and on one side of her nose was a jewel that matched her hair. It looked painful.
Riley’s eyes were black, rimmed with coal, and framed with long lashes. They were a stark contrast to her pale complexion. They were also her most compelling feature, although in the picture she looked drugged or dazed.
Cyprian frowned at the thought, then scrolled through the other listings, to find Exo listed in the same category as Riley.
“I think the Toufik are up for sale in a few days,” Mave commented as he checked in at the desk.
“I’m going to need a bidding card,” Cyprian stated to the Verrater behind the counter.
“See something you like?” Mave asked. “There’s a lot to offer here.”
Cyprian shrugged nonchalantly as he collected his bidding number.
“You were looking at the human, weren’t you?” the smuggler chuckled.
“Am I that obvious?”
“I don’t blame you. I wanted to show that mouthy foreign breeder in the hangar, who her betters were. I doubt this human is going to go cheap.”
“Probably not, but I’m highly motivated. Did you know that little female actually hit me?” Cyprian replied through gritted teeth.
Cyprian let Mave think he was angry with June, and wanted to get some sort of twisted satisfaction by taking it out on Riley. But it was the derogatory comment and disgusting sentiment that had the general riled. He hated it when arrogant males referred to females as breeders.
“Good luck,” Mave said with a nod. “Where do you plan to keep her if you actually win?”
“My house is large and secluded,” Cyprian replied, even though he actually lived in Sargon near Kagan’s manor.
“I’ll need a number as well,” Mave said to the Verrater behind the counter.
“Are you planning on bidding on something in particular?” Cyprian asked.
“You never know,” Mave commented. “It looks like they’ll be previewing the exotic chattel soon. We can meet with our Jurou Biljana contact in the viewing gallery.”
Cyprian gave Mave a curt nod as they headed past the gallery of shops, toward their suite. He would have to keep an eye on what the smugglers bought or bid for. Nearly everything was available at Distraho, and many of those things were deadly.
The suite was nice, like the rest of the auction house. There was a central room with three bedrooms on both sides. Cyprian glanced into the first room, which had private door to the corridor. That would give him access, without being seen.
“I’ll take this one,” he announced without asking anyone else.
“I’ll sleep out here on the lounger,” Vintor said, kindly leaving the rest of the rooms to the other five smugglers.