No one moves. At this point, walking out would be an admission of weakness—or guilt. I stay seated, calm and composed. I’m in this to the end. And judging by the silence, so is everyone else.
“Let’s start again,”Manly says, resetting the room.
The next buyer steps confidently into the center of the room.
“Gentlemen, I’m Pottak, a Penubian. This Human is exceptional—she’d be the perfect addition to my collection. I’m offering one hundred pistoblasters. Nine!”he adds with a flourish.
“Truth,”Noviosk confirms, his voice flat but satisfied.“Fifty for me, fifty for the sellers.”
“Bid validated,”Manly announces, as the amount appears on the summary screen hovering above the dais.
Then it’s the third buyer’s turn—a small, wiry being with tubular, retractable ears.
“Noviosk, gentlemen,”he says with a polite nod.“I’m Torre, and this is Tourb. Females from my world are rare, and we’re biologically compatible with Humans. I’m offering a one-seater spacecraft. Not brand new, but in excellent condition.”
“Truth,”Noviosk comments, though his tone is less impressed.“I’m not interested in a single-seater. The sellers will pay me half its value and keep the vessel if the bid wins.”
Then, something unexpected happens.
Prax—the Sadjim who helped bring Ileana in—steps forward.
“Noviosk,”he says calmly.“I’d like to participate in the sale as a buyer.”
The room shifts. Even Noviosk raises an eyebrow.
“Prax… well, what a surprise,”the Srebat says, voice dripping with sarcasm.“You’ve got guts.”
“I know what you said,”Prax replies.“But I’m taking my chances.”
I narrow my eyes. Sohe’sbidding now? One of the two men who brought her in? He must’ve spoken to Noviosk before the auction, just like I did. Maybe Noviosk already had a shortlist of acceptable buyers. Maybe this is all part of the game—to drive up the price.
And Bully, the Penubian beside him, looks furious.
“You can’t do that!”Bully snaps.
“There’s nothing stopping it,”Manly says smoothly.“In that case, let’s hear from the Sadjim. What do you offer?”
Prax steps into the center of the room, calm and composed.
“I’m Prax, from Sadjim. I offer my two-seater vessel. Bought it five years ago. Fast. Well-maintained.”
Manly glances at Noviosk, who looks… tired. Maybe annoyed. Maybe calculating.
The game just changed.
“Truth,”Noviosk confirms, his voice cool and cutting.“But as far as I know, you don’t have another ship. How do you plan to get out of here? A smuggler without a ship is worthless.”
“And how do you plan to paymyshare?”Bully adds, his tone icy.
“I’ll cover the trip back to Sadjim for both me and Ileana,”Prax replies, standing firm.“I’ve still got family there. And as for Bully—he’s forgetting the ship is mine. He’s been using it for free. We split profits evenly, but I could’ve demanded more.”
“I won’t forget this,”Bully hisses, his voice low and dangerous.
Whether Prax wins or not, he’s just made himself a mortal enemy.
With a flick of his hand, Noviosk signals Manly to continue.
“Very well. Bid accepted. Two-seater vessel from Sadjim. Next.”
