Bound, gagged, and presented on their knees, over a dozen slaves had been presented before him. Each had unique nipple piercings. Strange silver studs with tiny bulbs containing sparkling purple fluids. He got the impression the piercings were somehow injecting whatever substance was in those tiny bulbs. 

      “Which would you like?” The slave master sat at her desk, she was fiddling with a pen while observing his reaction. “Don’t tell me none of these specimens attract you.”

      “Why are you doing this? It’s monstrous.” Reward couldn’t help but notice one of the women had a tail, and her ears were growing narrow and furry. Her blonde hair was starting to grow thicker to resemble fur as well. 

      “I merely like to expand the human genome, you’d be surprised what people are willing to pay for.” Esta rested her cheek in the palm of her hand. 

      The ship was eerily quiet, and always had an ominous atmosphere. When he closed his eyes, Reward could swear that he heard a voice singing from somewhere. But every time he tried to ascertain the source, it escaped him. The only thing that seemed ideal was sleep. Each night he found himself enjoying the most relaxing dreams he could ever remember. 

      It was as if the ship was trying to please him? Perish the though.

      “Am I to be one of your slaves?” He asked. He had been invited to Esta’s private quarters, and even offered food and drink, yet he couldn’t help but feel like another test subject in her eyes.

      “Nah,” She smiled. “I’ve reviewed your file, you’re an ace pilot. I was hoping to offer you a job. I could always use someone as skilled as yourself.”

      It made sense that a ship this size would need a dependable crew. Not everyone was her plaything. Reward had seen a number of acolytes walking the halls, and monitoring his prison. The idea of serving someone as deplorable as this slave master, however, made him sick to his stomach. “And if I refuse?” He asked.

      Esta sighed before responding. Some of the women lined up across from him seemed disappointed. A few even looked heartbroken. “You’ll refuse my offer to repair your fighter? I could make it stronger, faster, and perform better than ever before. Last I saw it was in pretty bad shape, easily outside your purview to repair.”

      He found it difficult to look her in the eye. Instead Reward looked down at the plate of food. Salad, sliced tomatoes, and an assortment of meat that looked like synthetic chicken. It smelled rather good. “Again, what would happen if I refuse?” Despite his growing appetite, he felt it suspicious to eat anything. 

      Esta leaned back. She began tapping the pen against the solid metal desk. There was a cruel sarcasm in her eyes, as if she enjoyed his reluctance. “You’re lucky, with all the new stock I have of potential projects, I don’t really need another one such as you. You don’t want to work for me? Fine. We’ve reached Sinmore by the way, and soon there will be some rather annoying company.” She stood up from her chair, the slip of her robe parted down the middle. “Good luck landing that mess of a fighter to the surface.”

      “Let the colonists go, if you have any humanity left, please let them go.” Reward couldn’t imagine what she would do with so many colonists. Looking at the sex slaves arrayed before him, he didn’t need to guess.

      With a wave of her hand, she dismissed his plea. “And what could you possibly offer for their release?”

      “Well for one, your own freedom?” Reward stood his ground. “These colonists are some pirate runoff, or refugees. They have families that will know there missing. Many come from the freehold, and you can bet someone will come looking for you.” 

      The idea that the freehold would actually send a small fleet to make Esta answer for her crimes was reaching, but the possibility was there. Thousands would seek answers. All it took was one passenger having a relative in the military, and there would be a demand for answers. Slavers like Esta always had a shelf life, they profited until they took one slave too many, and were then hunted down. 

      How man slaves had she taken, Reward wondered. How many more will she get a way with?

      Esta curled her fingers into a fist. “Now you’re just annoying me. Time for you to leave, before I change my mind.”

      Reward gulped, but took her seriously. He doubted she would let him be free for long. With a stomped foot, he marched out of the room. 

      You’ll pay for this, I promise. He thought silently to himself.