Cosmic Bliss Read Free

unknown to Shunyuan but established by the slavers.
    Shunyuan knew his future. He was to be an arena fighter. He
was given double rations and exercised each day. They never freed him from the
wrist chains. They didn’t dare. All he wanted was to use his chains to strangle
the Trogo guards who held the keys to his freedom.
    “Shunyuan,” Gira called.
    He turned to his former team member. He wanted to turn away
from her small, firm breasts and taut thighs. It felt wrong to see her
uncovered. She was a fighter. In the cells they were all just bodies. He
focused on her face and the fall of her black hair. He wouldn’t shame her by
turning away in embarrassment.
    “Are you well, Gira?”
    Even through the distance and the dim lighting he could see
her grimace.
    “What does it matter? We’ll never escape. What is there to
keep our strength for? You’ve seen them. They drag the women away and when they
bring them back they are…”
    Broken. Shunyuan allowed his eyes to stray to the
corner of the women’s cell where the Trogo’s latest victim huddled. His fists
clenched.
    “They haven’t come for you, Gira.”
    “I’m listed as an arena fighter. They don’t do more than
absentmindedly fondle me. What happens when we leave here? What happens if the
others come for us? You know as well as I do they have no idea what is behind
the illusion the aliens are projecting of this place. If they come here they
will just be captured as well.”
    “We have to keep alert, Gira. There will be an opportunity
for us to escape and warn them. There has to be.”
    She looked away. “I wonder how Arthur is.”
    Arthur had been sold the first day.
    The door at the end of the hall opened. Shunyuan shifted
back into a darker corner of the cell. The Orpuwanou entered flanked by two
Trogo guards and an overly muscled green man. Private sale. Instead of
coming to the auction block some aliens came and purchased slaves in private.
    “I have several male slaves here large enough for the
arena,” the Orpuwanou said.
    The green man answered, yet Shunyuan was unable to
understand him. The Orpuwanou had a special watch that allowed humans to
understand the aliens’ instructions.
    “You, warrior, step forward.” The Orpuwanou pointed directly
at Shunyuan’s shaded corner.
    Shunyuan’s jaw firmed. He pulled tightly against the wrist
chains and felt the bite of the metal against his back. He wouldn’t resist. The
Orpuwanou had a controller, which sent shockwaves through the chains and
directly into the wearer’s body. The pain was excruciating, liquefying the
muscles for minutes masquerading as eternity. He’d lost the contents of his
stomach more than once trying to protect the weaker in their company. He
shuffled forward slowly.
    The green man grunted then began pointing at other men and
women as the Orpuwanou typed on his electronic pad. Gira wasn’t chosen. He
glanced at her briefly as he was led from the cell. Her eyes were trained on
him. She clutched the cell bars. For the first time since he’d met the woman
seven months before, her eyes were glassy with tears.
    He mouthed the words, “Stay strong.” Then he was roughly
pulled away.
    * * * * *
    The all-female crew aboard the Dovian Heart was more
excited than they had been in months.
    “The Gastronian vessel is almost in range, Acia.”
    Captain Acia smiled. “Good, maybe this time we can pay for
another spacecraft with the empire’s generosity.”
    She felt buoyant as all but Ora laughed. Ora was still
closest in temperament to the peace-loving people of their world. They were
Dovian females doing everything contrary to what many felt was the nature of
Dovians, male and female alike. Time and circumstances had changed her. She
didn’t know whether it was for good or ill.
    She piloted a spacecraft instead of safeguarding the land.
She kicked ass. There wasn’t a passive or timid cell in her body. She’d killed
the gentle part of herself long ago.
    Berisa pulled the