The highest bidder
Posted on 27 Oct 2019 @ 12:47am by Civilian J'Tan & Commander Amelia Fox & Lieutenant Commander Aidan Datari & Lieutenant Commander True Keading & Lieutenant JG Rosaline Belikov
Mission:
Mission 2 - The Agora crossroads
Location: The arena, The Angora Crossroads
Timeline: MD2 1100
1891 words - 3.8 OF Standard Post Measure
ON:
"SOLD! For 35 Bars of Latinum."
The current slave up for sale was led from the spotlight in the centre of the arena and handed over to their new ower. In the gallery above the centre area, prospective buyers sat around looking down on the proceedings. Among them was J'Tan and Amelia who was now dressed in a more toned down jacket and trousers. They were sat at a table.
Amelia was looking around at all the faces She could tell she was very far from the Federation right now.
"Right then people!" The announcer came over the loudspeaker we have something very special for the next lot.
Amelia watched as Aidan was led into the spotlight from a side tunnel.
The Trill looked unhappy as he was led up to the stage. His eyes darted across the crowd, taking in all the possible exits.
The announcer went on "Bidding will start at fifty bars of latinum for this fine specimen.
Someone immediately cried out "100 Bars!"
Another called out "500 Bars!"
The bidding went on at a furious pace until it finally reached 1000 bars from a rather sleazy looking alien who was rubbing his hands together as he eyed Aidan up and down.
Amelia called out "1500 bars!"
The alien looked at her with silent rage but did not bid again. The anouncer went on "If there are no more bids? That's 1500 bars going once......... Twice........."
"Three-thousand bars," a black clad and hooded figure called out in a clear but obviously mechanically altered voice, while gesturing a green skinned beauty ahead to make the payments. He wanted this specimen, and he was willing to go far to get him.
The area fell silent as they all looked where the bid came from. No one else spoke up now and Amelia noted the tension level in the gallery rose several notches, as well the level of fear and dread in the other bidders.
Amelia blanched and whispered to J'Tan "I take it that's the Don..." before she added don't have that much... Unless you can help...?"
"Are you crazy? You don't go up against one of the Dons. I have my business and livelihood here. And I like it thank you. You're just going to skip off back to your ship after this," J'Tan said simply. "I'm not getting under that Dons radar."
Amelia glared at him for a moment. "Fine. But don't think for a moment that this is over."
"SOLD," the announcer yelled. The alien was frogmarched in the direction of the Don and his green alien. "Moving on to some more unique aliens we have in stock. A female we almost as interesting features. Pointed ears."
Aidan gritted his teeth as he was grabbed by the green skinned beauty and pulled up towards the hooded figure. He considered digging his heels in, turning back towards where he'd come from, but he didn't. There was something about the girl that compelled him to follow.
Amelia stood "Come on let's get......" Her voice trailed off as the next slave was brought up to the podium "Oh no....."
Rose was brought up and placed into the spotlight. Amelia sat back down again and looked at J'Tan. "Get comfortable, we're not going anywhere just yet."
J'Tan leaned in and whispered in Amelia's ear. "Don't tell me that more of your guys managed to get themselves stuck here."
The pointed eared alien was wrenched from next to the blond one and walked onto the stage. "Again let's start the bidding at 100 bars."
The bidding was slower for Rose. Apparently a human / Romulan hybrid was not a sought after as a Trill. Still, the bidding was quite intense and the price climbed higher and higher till it reached 1000 bars.
Amelia shifted uncomfortably then called out "1100 Bars!"
The auctioneer glanced in her direction before adding "Anyone else?"
Another voice called out "1150!"
Amelia immediately called back "1200!"
The other voice fell silent but there were mutterings going around the room. Amelia felt her heart sink as she thought she was about to lose another crew member when the auctioneer called out "Going...... Going........ Gone! Sold for 1200 bars."
Amelia relaxed back into her chair and took a long drink as Rose was led up to where they were sitting.
Amelia handed over what latinum was needed and took Rose by the hand, a look of concern crossing her features. "Are you alright?" She asked quickly and quietly. "What happened to True?"
“I’m fine XO, as is the Councillor. She’s more than a little scared but she’s strong” Rose answered, looking up at the auctioneer, “please tell me we get to wreck this place?”
"Just steady on for now." Amelia placed a reassuring and slightly restring hand on her shoulder. "If True was grabbed at the same time, it stands to reason we're going to have to buy here as well. I'm afraid I didn't have enough latinum to buy Aidan and he's been taken by one of the so-called Dons but don't worry, we're going to get him back."
the alien who had escorted Rose up to their table threw a small device to Amelia, almost as an afterthought. "Oh, and you'll need this. If she gets out of line, giver her a shock with this."
Amelia looked at the device and something about it triggered an alarm bell at the back of her mind. Had she seen this somewhere before? Before she had time to think about it, a voice came over the tannoy.
"Another humanoid alien," the auctioneer stated as a blond was dragged out. "Not as unique as the prior two bids but," he grinned. "Spirited I am informed. Let's start the bidding at again 100 bars."
True had so far been able to break away from her captors but she was not about to give up. She gave the crowd a complete scowl, not remotely reminiscent of the fear she felt inside. Showing weakness did not seem like a good idea to her.
Amelia placed the control device in her pocket and waited to see how the bidding stared on True. Once again it was firstly slow but the price crept up. 500 bars, 550, 600....
Amelia called out "700 Bars"
Another voice "750"
Amelia swore under her breath."Damn. 800 bars!"
To her dismay, another called out "900!"
Her face fell. She has used all her latinum. She couldn't lose another officer. She took a deep breath and turned to J'Tan. "I need your help. Please!"
“What’s this worth for me?” Demanded the alien.
The auctioneer called out "900 going once....."
Amelia locked eyes with him. "I'll do anything." She leaned in a bit closer and gave him a look that was both innocent, yet knowing. She whispered in a breathy voice "Anything....."
A Ferengi named Puk, who ran the local gambling ring was apparently listening from the next table.
He slapped J'Tan on the back. "Your female is practically giving it away." He said with a laugh. You wouldn't know what to do with her J'Tan. Why don't you let me break her in for you....."
He reached out for her but was stopped cold by a look of fire from Amelia and a tone that was low and deadly. "Touch me and that hand will never touch anything again Ferengi!"
He leered at her but moved no closer, undressing her with his eyes. "Hmmmmmm the ears are a bit small but she has spirit. I'll Give you 5 bars of latinum for an hour....."
Repulsed. Amelia grabbed one of the Ferengi's ears and squeezed hard in a very particular spot. With a cry of pain, Puk dropped to the floor like a sack of potatoes.... Unconscious.
The auctioneer called out again "Going twice...."
Amelia turned her attention back to J'Tan and placed her hand suggestively on his arm. "I'm running out of time....."
“950,” J’Tan yelled after what seemed an eternity.
“Any advance on 950”
Nobody spoke further.
“950 going once,”
“You owe me,” J’Tan whispered.
“Going twice,”
“Twice over,” he added for good measure.
Amelia looked at him, incredulous. “Twice? How do you work that out?”
“Sold,”
“For saving you from space weevil parasites,” J’Tan said simply getting up and grabbing Amelia's stash of Latium with his own, then walking to pay the auctioneer. He was handed the pain device which he pocketed and Then pushed the blond alien forward.
“Be cool,” he told her indicating into the crowd where she could see Amelia and Rose sat at a table.
Rose has moved to stand over the Ferengi menacingly. She didn’t say anything, just kept a close eye on him.
As J’Tan returned with True, Amelia rose and embraced her. “It’s good to see you. It looks like our undercover mission didn’t quite go to plan.” She motioned for Rose to come closer. “This is J’Tan.” She indicated the man who handed True’s control device to Amelia. “He’s the one who sent the message. Apparently he has information that is important for our survival. Has anyone seen Haulval?”
"He suddenly wandered off, we were following him when we were captured. I don't know where he ended up." True replied, relieved that a certain part of her ordeal seemed to be over.
Amelia rolled her eyes. "Great. Just great. The Captain is going to crucify me. When we get back to the shuttle we can use the sensors to try and locate him."
She turned to J’Tan. “We need to debrief and plan how we’re going to get Aidan back. That means we need to contact the Andromeda. Can we use the computer in your office?”
The alien nodded. "Just as long as neither of you has eaten the space weevil. And i'm not too happy about you sending any transmission that could be traced back to me."
Amelia reassured him. “Don’t worry. I can scramble the transmission so it will appear like background noise to anyone else. And I'm the only one who was lucky enough to try the local cuisine."
Aidan had watched in horror as both Rose and True had been led up to the auction block. He had straggled to see who they would end up with and felt relieved when he finally spotted the XO. It gave him pause, however... Why had they been saved, and why had he been allowed to be sold?
Shaking his head, he turned away from the spectacle, following the silent hooded figure and the equally silent Orion girl. Why neither spoke to him was beyond him but the way the Orion acted, he knew he was expected to remain silent. Fearful of any further manhandling, the Trill just bowed his head and said nothing.
Amelia looked over to Aidan as he was led away by the don’t. She spoke to no one in particular....... “We’re coming for you.”
OFF:
J'Tan
Owner of the blackhole bar
Agora crossroads npc Jonathan Reynolds
●● Lieutenant Aidan Datari
Chief Science Officer
USS Andromeda
Don & Iola
Trade Master & Servant
npc Aidan
●● Lieutenant True Keading
Chief Counselor
USS Andromeda
●● Lieutenant Amelia Fox
Executive Officer
USS Andromeda
○● Lieutenant JG Rosaline Belikov
Chief Security / Tactical Officer
USS Andromeda
