Starcrossed Symphony

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The Market was a large courtyard filled with cloth enclosures that resembled large tents. Each had a strange flowing lettering floating above the entrance. I didn't recognize any of it. Just squiggly lines and dots, and a strange recurring character that resembled a bunny.



No seriously.



I followed Treco into a Peach colored tent. I was astonished when the tent wasn't the actual 'Market' but just inside there was a staircase leading underground. At first look there appeared to be a film covering it, but Treco stepped down through it as if it weren't there. I hesitated for a second and thought to run, but then I remembered Ashna's warning. Treco hated to run. And I didn't want to experience his bad side.



So I took a deep breath and stepped down. At first it made this soft buzzing noise as I descended the staircase. A I stepped lower and lower the buzzing increase and I started to feel slightly sick to my stomach. I slipped on the fifth step down and barely caught myself on a sixth. That's when the sensation hit full force. It felt like my entire world turned over, for a moment I thought I was in water, tumbling head over heels trying to find the surface. Then I felt Treco warm hand grasp mine and tug me lower.



"You must move quickly, otherwise the teleportation can be uncomfortable" he spoke softly then released my hand.



Teleportation? I looked back up the steps but where before there had been the inside of the tent, just above my head a square black surface lay where the ceiling should be. I reached my hand up and my fingers disappeared into it and the buzzing started again. I quickly pulled my fingers back through and shook my head to rid myself of the buzzing noise.



Treco reached the bottom of the stairs and was staring up at me waiting to join him.



When I reached the bottom of the steps he held out his hand. I took it gingerly and was shocked when he snapped a thin blue glowing bracelet around my wrist that had the same flowing characters that had hovered over the tent. I tugged at it curiously but it didn't budge. It almost felt like it was stuck to my skin.



"That is your slave bracelet. With your odd coloring another Trader would try to claim you are his. This will deter any from attempting to" Treco stepped towards the wall and once again it melted away to show an open door.



And beyond that an enclosure similar to the one we walked into to get here. The walls were made of fabric, a deep red color, and there was another staircase.But this time it led up. I could see light at the top of it, and there was a strange scent in the air. As we ascended the stairs I felt the slight breeze that shifted the fabric blow against my face, and the smell grew stronger. We walked higher into the enclosure and I was surprised to see several more young women, dressed exactly like me, sitting around looking rather despondent.



"Chipper aren't they?" I muttered to myself.



Treco turned to me and gave me an odd look before smiling and showing those sharp teeth "You are a strange one. I do not know if that is a good thing, or not"



He gestured me to a seat next to a rather attractive redhead I'm sure I'd of had lurid thoughts about if we were still on Earth. Wait...screw Earth. She was hot. Long slim legs, slightly rounded hips, curves in all the right places and not top heavy, or terribly small. She had fine features, with a button nose, perfect cheekbones, and blue eyes. Her hair was about mid-back, and wavy.



After a minute I realized I was staring when she cocked her head at me, then looked to Treco than back to me. I quickly sat down beside her before I embarrassed myself further.



Treco took his leave through a fold in the fabric not far from us.



"Aren't they afraid we'll try to run?" I asked myself out loud.



"No. It's better in here than out there" the redhead sniped.



By her tone alone I knew she was a bit of a bitch.



"Oh" I rolled my eyes as I turned away from her "Good to know"



"So where'd they take you from?" a soft voice asked to my left. I turned to find a girl not much younger than me. We were similar in coloring though my skin held a more golden hue and hers was closer to pink.



"Park bench" I scratched my head slightly in embarrassment "You?"



"Corn field" she sighed "My little brother told me there was a crop circle. I didn't believe him. When I went to check all I remember is stepping inside, then waking up with Ashna"



"Little fool, everyone knows crop circles are fake" red nagged at the other girl.



"Oh sod off" the short brunette, with a rather British accent, next to the younger woman shot daggers at Red with her eyes "Just because these aliens don't care that your rich, doesn't give you the right to harass the common person"



"Well here we aren't even common people. We're slaves. And I'll treat you any way that I'd like too" Red flipped her hair over her shoulder.



Both brunettes sighed heavily and rolled their eyes.



"Common occurrence?" I speculated.



"You have no idea" the Brit answered "Rina seems to have a permanent stick up her ass because she's not universally better than everyone"



"Ah!" I pointed to Red "Rina's a bitch"



Both other women chuckled while Rina gave me a look that could curdle fresh milk.



"That's about right" the Brit said through her glee "My name is Clara, Clara Cursons. This is Kelly" she motioned to the younger brunette" She sounded off several other names to the women in the room. Most waved, a few barely looked up at the mention of their names. The sadness in them was palpable.



"Where are you from?" Kelly asked after the rather stilted introductions.



"Dallas. You?" I started to lean back before I remembered my seat had no back. Was barely more than an overturned box really.



"Bum-fuck" Rina muttered a moment before Kelly answered "Kansas"



"How long have you been here?"



Rina scoffed "Who cares, when can we leave?"



Clara opened her mouth, to give what I can only imagine to be a scathing remark, just as Treco re-entered the tent with another alien on his heels.

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It was after Treco and his 'buyer', the alien that had accompanied him into the tend, had left again that I realized why it was better in the tent. The women they captured were paraded out onto a huge stage to be sold like livestock , many times daily. And the alien had come to claim his prize.



A girl Kelly muttered to me named 'Gena'. She hadn't looked up when introduced and now I understood why. Her new owner stood taller than Treco who towered above me and her at 6 plus feet in height, and if these aliens muscles where anything like ours, he was built.



When Treco jerked Gena from her cowering position on her seat, the other man had simply hefted her on his shoulder, and walked out with a smile. I knew then, that this would be the worse experience of my life.



We all jumped when a shrill whistled sounded throughout our enclosure, it was then followed by many anguished sounds.



"What's going on?" I asked searching faces that had suddenly become pinched and even more unhappy.



"That's our cue. We're due out on stage" Clara spoke softly as everyone slowly rose to their feet. Treco who still stood at the opening motioned us forward and after a moment of hesitation, Rina stepped towards him, followed then by myself and Clara gently pushed me forward.



As we left the tent the odd smell grew stronger, it wasn't exactly pleasant, but I'd smelled worse. We continued through a Pink curtained breezeway which led up to plain metal stairs. Treco ascended them and looked back when Rina paused at the bottom, obviously not wanting to join him at his vantage point. The look on his face was obviously not a happy one and Rina actually flinched when she noticed it was directed at her. As he stepped down towards us, she seemed to think better of it and stepped up. I followed when Clara once again pressed against my back.



The stage itself was quite plain, just a long bare platform with strange rotating machines I can only guess to be cameras since our images where being projected on large screens above the huge crowd of aliens gathered. We were lined up by height, which placed me between Kelly and Clara, who both held tightly to my hand. I had never been so frightened in my life. The tension, the feeling of being helpless, being lost to everything I once knew was starting to make me shake. My knee's grew weak and almost gave out as a sudden surge of noise washed over me.



A squat fat male alien had just sauntered importantly on stage. He strut around a metal stick raised above his head as he called out to his audience in a multitude of tongues. I only understood a word to two of it, but I'm sure by the reaction of the crowed, that something I wouldn't like was about to happen.



And I was right.

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One by one we were pushed forward by Treco as the smaller alien pointed at us and said a few words.



There were a variation of sounds given by the audience as I'm sure he explained our attributes as he pointed at them with his stick. I had the unfortunate pleasure of finding out first hand that it was word than just an accesory. I moved to cover my breasts, which were barely held back by the small swatch of cloth Ashna had dressed me in. He tapped me with it and it gave me enough of a buzz to lose my train of thought, and drop my arms. There was a roar on sound when I nearly tugged the covering off. He then twirled the stick in a circle and taking no chances I did a slow turn before I was waved back in line. After about an hour we were marched back to our tent.



When we arrived back at the tent 2 new males stood waiting for us. One stared at us hungrily, his eyes jumping from one of us to another, never looking above our shoulders. The other barely looked old enough by earth standards to drive. I wondered if he was the hungry ones son, getting his first slave.



Treco spoke to them both, to soft for us to hear but when the younger aliens eyes fell on me as he spoke softly back, then to Kelly as he pointed at her and tapped his closed fist to his shoulder, I knew my day was about to get worse.



Treco nodded as he pulled me to my feet and motioned for Kelly to join me.



Kelly held my hand tightly, glancing sadly back at Clara and the others as Treco accepted a handshake from the younger alien.



He turned to us and smiled at me, those pointed teeth making me wonder if that was a good thing. "This is Kajiff. You will go with him. Cause no trouble, and you shall have no worries. You are lucky that you have someone going with you" Treco tried to assure us when he realized Kelly had softly started to cry.



I wanted to cry to.



Kajiff nodded in our direction and started out of the tent. Treco pressed his hand to my back and I started forward, Kelly holding on to my arm for dear life. As we passed outside the tent, there was a sharp pain in my wrist. As I looked down the color of the bracelet had changed, as had the lettering. It was still the same flowing script but some of the characters were new. I looked to Kelly and saw her staring down at her arm in confusion.



"That is the name of your new master" Kajiff said quietly.



I looked up at him. He had a solemn face, and stood sharply straight. He wore a jumpsuit, somewhere between gray and blue colored, a thin sash of gold draped loosely across his body.



"Your name?" Kelly asked as Kajiff turned and resumed walking.



"No. The name of my employer" he spoke softly again "I am merely delivering you"



The feeling of fear and dread grew worse when we both realized that he could be employed by the other alien in the tent.



"You are quite lucky in that regard. Yesud is not a kind Master. If my employer had not been owed a favor by Ashna and Treco, you may have gone into service for him" Kajiff turned a corner in the breezeway, leading us away from the direction we'd taken to the stage.



"Yesud?" I asked.



"The other man who stood with me. He wanted you quite badly" he nodded to me "He tried to purchase you from me before you arrived"



"Thanks" I held Kelly's arm tighter "I think"



Kajiff merely nodded and stepped up to a black tent. It stood far taller than the rest, and had small triangular flags flying above it. Strangely they'd pause mid flap and restart again as if the wind would freeze and catch them in motion.



When they finally fluttered still, no longer is a position that came with movement Kajiff stepped through, hauling us in quickly behind him.



The buzzing noise came back, along with a sensation akin to seasickness. When I opened my eyes I was amazed at what I saw.



Aliens looking very much unlike Treco and Kajiff walked with purpose in every conceivable direction. Some didn't even have legs, but moved around in what seemed like mid air, and others slithered on tentacles or tails that resembled a snakes. There were clear windows looking out into the blackness of space, as ships docked and took off at regular intervals. Some were obviously being loaded and unloaded.



Kajiff paused inside for one moment, then turned to us "Stay close, this is a busy Sky Harbor and you do no wish to be lost here" he said as he tapped our bracelets and then tapped the top of his sash. The garment flashed green before turning back to gold. "Just incase" he smiled.



His teeth were sharp, but not nearly as sharp as Treco's. He actually had visable canines and the two largest in the front almost looked flat like they had been filed down almost human.



He started forward and we followed him. We passed several ships, many aliens, and what I can only assume was some type of restaurant from the smell of it. Which made me realize I hadn't been fed since being taken from Earth.



Kelly and I tried to keep up with Kajiff's quick steps but a large birdlike group of aliens came between us and him and we lost sight of him temporarily. Suddenly there was a tug at my wrist and my arm shot forward. The group parted as Kelly and I were dragged forward and came face to face once again with Kajiff.



"You are unhurt?" He asked, giving the birds what must be gallactically known as the 'evil eye'.



"F-f-fine" Kelly studdered staying close to me.



I merely nodded and he started forward again. I made sure to be almost stepping on his heels, no long interested in what went on around us.

___________________________________________



The ship was amazing! When we reached it even Kelly's eyes lit up in surprised. To me, it was luxurious. There were seats very unlike the overturned barrels that Treco's tent provided. They were more like large pillows shaped like a chaise or a reclining chair. Only 3 times more comfortable. I found one that would allow Kelly and I to share as Kajiff muttered something about checking in and left us alone.



"This isn't what I thought it would be" Kelly said looking around the neatly decorated room. There were no pictures on the walls, though there were several windows. There were many soft surfaces and a few low tables scattered across the area, all beige in color, and softer than anything I've even felt.



"Me neither" I muttered bouncing slightly on the seat.



Kelly leaned away from me and looked around, obviously slightly less cowed than she'd been on the long walk here "Do you think it will always be like this?" she asked taking my hand again. She began to lightly play with my fingers, or scratch at my palm.



It was a bit distracting but I managed "God I hope so" as I stared at our linked hands. Kelly was sending out some strong signals and after having my entire world ripped away from me, let's just say I wasn't up for being horny.



Kelly opened her mouth to say something else when sudden the opening where Kajiff has disappeared revealed a young female alien bearing a golden tray. She wore the same uniform as Kajiff, only her sash wasn't gold, but a sparkling blue color.



"I bring your refreshment" she spoke haltingly as if she didn't use the language much.



"Thank you" I stood and accepted the tray placing on a nearby table. Kelly immediately moved to it, picking a few things that resembled fruit off, and sniffing them before tasting.



"I am Nebev" she continued as she backed slowly from the room "I shall return for tray later" she said disappearing as Kajiff had.



I turned back to find that Kelly had figured the food was edible. She was busy dipping something leafy and green into a red sauce before placing it in her mouth.



I joined her at the table. After she pointed out the things she'd tried I decided to go the safe way and eat what she had. After a while we were full, and sat back on the sound chair.



"Do you like women or men?" Kelly asked out of the blue.



"Women actually. You?" I turned my head to look at her, too full to move my body after gorging myself on alien cuisine.



"Women. Never told anyone. Never been with one really. Just a few kisses. You don't think that's why we were chosen do you?" Kelly scrunched up her nose. She was a cute little thing.



"Nah. No way. How could they tell?" I shrugged.



How indeed.

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