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Tobis’ question about the others not wanting to come stops me in my place. How could they not want to get away from all of this? To be able to think of a future and maybe one day a family.
“Tobis, of course, they will want to come. But unless we get back to the house, we will never know.” I say, trying to hide my fear of losing my family. My head's still spinning from everything that has happened in less than one rotation of the sun. I could never have imagined that the honey-haired beauty from the show would turn my whole world upside down.
“We don’t know that. Sawyr has some secret past. Jax is such a clown that he takes nothing seriously and Roberd. . . Well, you know them.”
Akiyra sits down next to Tobis. “I know this is a lot to take in, Tobis. It is for me too. But we won’t know what they will want to do if we don’t give them the option.”
Tobis looks up, pushing his shoulders back, “Well, let's find out, one way or the other, shall we?”
“Yes, let’s!” I lead the way to the stairs, stopping when I realize that this really is Akiyra’s show, not mine. “Maybe you should lead, Akiyra?”
Smiling she walks by me. “I think we will need to take a coach. It just will make more sense with five of us and your things.”
“About that. Um, we don’t have many things. Spending money isn’t something you have much of on Xistrosie if you are paying a debt.” I don’t look at her as I speak, not wanting to see the pity in her eyes.
“Then it won’t take us long to get everything and get back to the ship, will it?” She smiles as if what I had said is normal for people around the universe. As we step out the door, she calls, “Tiri, please order extra supplies for the next hop.”
A peppy smile on her face doesn’t hide the bit of worry that has her forehead wrinkling, “Ready?”
“I guess so!” I’m not really sure where to go from here. I look over my shoulder at Tobis, hoping that he will help me get out of this. But he is clearly lost in thought. An awkward silence sits between us as we make our way to the coach rentals. Unlike a hoverboard, the process of getting a coach is a little more involved. Akiyra must show proof that she has passed the various tests and that she is insured for the vehicle.
Finally, we are able to climb into the coach. The coaches work much like a hoverboard, except that they are larger, with seats that we can sit on and a small trunk in the back to store items in. Akiyra takes the front seat, sitting at the control panel. Once we are all seated, she pushes the controls causing the coach to hover a few feet off the ground. Another push of the controls and we are heading into the city.
“We probably should have addressed this, but will we have any issues with . . . what was his name? Uzi?” Akiyra asks and I have to stifle a laugh.
“Umbri. I don’t think so, but no one has ever left his service without his permission,” I respond. “Tobis, do you think we will have any problems?”
I turn to look back at Tobis, but he is looking out at the landscape, lost in thought. “Hey, Tobis!” I yell.
He jumps and looks at me, “What?”
“Akiyra was wondering if we would have any issues with Umbri.”
“Oh, I doubt it. He might try to get Relly or Bard to stop us. But once you show the sale, there is nothing they can do. Polzenians are very honorable, and even though he is as much a slave as us, he will stick to the code of his people.” Tobis responds.
“How does that work? If he is as much of a slave as you, then how can he refuse to do something that goes against his beliefs?” Akiyra questions. “And his size is so much larger than most of the races. Couldn’t he just fight for his freedom?”
I shake my head at her words, “No. We can’t fight. Any of us. When you are taken to the labor markets, a chip is implanted into your neck. We don’t know how they work exactly, but if you try to harm your owner, it sends an electrical current through your body that will have you writhing on the floor.”
Akiyra glances over at me, her jaw slack in shock. “That is barbaric.”
“But effective,” Tobis replies. “There is a point in each of our lives that we are asked to do something that forces us to lash out at our owners, to try to stand up for ourselves. Once you are shocked, you try to avoid that happening again.” His voice lowers almost to a whisper, “Many will do anything to avoid it.”
“So that is how Xistrosie keeps its population under control?” Akiyra slows the coach down as we enter the crowded streets of the city.
“Turn left up here,” I instruct her, “Yes. Now we should talk about other things. You never know who is listening.”