“But how are people disposable?” Helen asks, all innocence. “I don’t understand.”
Unfortunately, I do. I know of brutal gladiators that are given prizes, or just something to keep them distracted for a while. I know there are those that buy slaves to satisfy baser urges that are against every law in every system. I put a hand on her leg. “You don’t want to know, love.”
Helen’s lip trembles, and she looks upset. “So how do we find these guys and save the humans?”
“You,” Zakoar says, looking specifically at Helen, “Don’t do anything. If you”—and he points at me—“are smart, you’ll put her back on your ship and not let her off again. Keep her guarded. This place isn’t good for someone like her. If you’re going to hunt slavers, take Zebah with you.”
I glance over at the female mesakkah. She’s been quiet all this time, but I can tell by the gleam in her eyes that she’s absorbing everything that’s said. I’m not sure that I trust her presence, but I’ll work around that.
But Helen protests. “I can’t stay behind. I’m his bodyguard. Matty needs me.”
“You might be able to guard him against one or two,” Zakoar states. “But if anyone down in the Belly realizes what you are, it’ll set off a riot. And no one’s safe in a riot. You can’t protect anyone if you’re torn limb from limb.”
I stroke my chin, thinking about everything. I know from my experiences with Zoey that a lot of people think that humans look alike. Many of them share similar coloring, and it could be easy to mistake one dark-haired female for another. But Zakoar is mated to a human. He would know as much as anyone if there are duplicates. I glance over at him. “Have you seen these slaves for yourself? The ones with the same faces?”
He shakes his head. “I have no business in the Belly. Those sorts keep to their ways of earning credits and I keep to mine.”
“And what can you tell me about a casino satellite?” I ask.
At that, Zakoar’s expression shutters. He pushes back in his chair, his expression grim. “Just that you don’t want to go around asking about it. It’s invitation only. I’m told only lords and the like go there, and anyone else is swiftly eliminated. I’ve seen several bounty hunters disappear in the last few months asking about such things. Do yourself a favor and don’t bring it up.”
Kinda sounds like that’s where we need to go. But we can start small. “The Belly, huh? How do I get there?”
“How else?” Zakoar gives me a gruesome smile. “You bribe your way in.”
CHAPTER 57
HELEN
I make sure Mathiras knows my displeasure as we return to the Little Sister. “I don’t like this,” I whine. “How am I supposed to protect you if I’m stuck here on the ship?”
“You don’t,” he tells me, guiding me back up the ramp we just left not too long ago. “But at least you’ll be safe.”
Yes, but I don’t want to be safe. I want to be his bodyguard. I want to destroy bad guys and protect Mathiras. Instead, he’s decided he’s going to the seediest part of the station with only Zebah and this makes me unhappy. Really unhappy. “But I’m perfect, remember? You should let me guard you perfectly.”
Behind us, Zebah snorts with amusement.
Mathiras says nothing, simply leads me onto the Sister once more and then shuts the door firmly behind us. Adiron pops into the doorway of the bridge down the hall, watching. Zebah discreetly leans against a nearby wall and pretends to check her blaster, though I know it works just fine. She checked it this morning.
“Helen,” Mathiras says in a gentle voice. “This is not about you being unskilled.”
“Good, because I’m not!”
“This is about a dangerous situation. You can handle yourself amongst anyone that attacks us. I know this. But what if someone slaps a stun-cuff on you? Or injects you with something to knock you out? You can’t be everywhere at once, and if we take you down there, an ooli female is going to draw attention. People will suspect something, and if they find out you’re qura’aki, we’re going to be trailed from one end of the galaxy to the next. It’ll ruin our mission.” He lifts my hand to his mouth and kisses my knuckles. “I would love to have you with me, but think about all those women we won’t be able to save if we go about this wrong.”
I frown. I hate that he makes it sound so reasonable. I want to go with him…but I also want to free the women being trapped and cloned. “This isn’t fair.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” Mathiras gives me an apologetic look. “I’ll have to make it up to you. Think of what you’d like to do for our next date—”