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“That’s not your concern.” The Gente leader glanced at him. “Interesting. The Humans have the Apexians working for them? That’s something we weren’t aware of.”

“Bad luck for you,” Rexx said.

“Perhaps. But there’s always someone who wants hired muscle. We’ll sell you to a slave auction when we get the chance. You can make us some money.”

“No one’s being sold to anyone,” Daisy said. “The Apexians are our partners. We work together.”

The Gente leader sniffed the air, a lecherous look entering his eyes. “In more ways than one. Not that I care what you pay your bodyguard to do to you. But the number of guards I lost during our fight was significant. I need to recoup my losses. Someone will be interested in an Apexian slave. Whether they want to work him to death or fuck him to death is of no interest to me.”

Daisy squeezed Rexx’s arm. Rage radiated off him in hot waves. “What happens now?” she asked the Gente leader.

“It’s time to learn if the experiment is working.”

A cold dread twisted around her spine. “What did you put in me?”

A sneer crossed the Gente leader’s face. “It’s an interesting technology. It’s still in the experimental stages, but our employer wishes to harness the use of Humans.”

Daisy swallowed. “Use them how?”

“Your numbers are great. At the last count, there were billions of you. It’s rare to meet an alien race that breeds so successfully. Given your huge numbers, you’re perfect for our employer’s expansion plans. They need lots of willing workers.”

“Why do they need so many people? What will they do with them?” she asked.

“They’ll help them when they colonize new planets. They need... let’s call them pioneers.”

“Pioneers.” Rexx snorted a derisive sounding laugh. “You’re looking to create a Human slave army.”

The Gente leader shook his head. “I’m not. And slavery is illegal. We follow the appropriate treaties to make sure no one is enslaved. Everyone should be treated fairly. We aren’t monsters.”

“Which is why you’d never sell Rexx to a slave auction,” Daisy said.

The Gente leader raised his hand. “You’ve got me there. There are a few dubious activities that go on in the dark corners of space. There’s always someone willing to ignore the laws to make a quick profit. But it wouldn’t happen if there wasn’t a market for it. There’ll always be a need for slaves. We simply fill that need.”

Rexx bared his teeth, and his hands clenched.

Daisy squeezed his arm even harder, knowing how close he was to exploding with rage. “You can’t use this tech to enslave the Human population. You won’t get away with it.”

“The Humans won’t all be enslaved. Maybe only thirty percent. My client is only interested in those who are healthy. The rest will be left behind. That leaves plenty of Humans unaffected.”

“You’ve been using Daisy as your damn experiment to see if this tech works.” Rexx took a step closer. “It failed. She’s no one’s slave.”

“Only because it’s yet to take full effect.” The Gente leader raised his weapon at Rexx. “Back away, unless you want me to shoot her.”

“Stay with me,” Daisy said quietly. She held Rexx close until he stopped growling.

“Good. Keep your Apexian under control. It’s time to go. You must be prepared for our client.”

“We’re going nowhere,” Rexx said.

Daisy glanced up at him, her stomach a riot of nerves. “I’ll come with you on one condition.”

“You want to bargain with me?” The Gente leader smirked. “You’re not in a position to make deals.”

“I’ll come with you. I won’t protest. I’ll let you do whatever experiments you need to do, but I want you to let Rexx go. He’s not a part of this.”

“Daisy, no. I’m not leaving without you,” Rexx said.

“Neither of you are leaving. You’re both our... Guests. You behave yourselves, and you’ll live. Probably.”