Broken Pieces-Chp70

[They shopped ard for the grocery for a while wen suddenly they hear a commotion n the public gathered ard at the end of the market square]

Sylvia: Woah, wats up with that?

Wander: Perhaps a good sale?

Peepers: (is also curious)

Sylvia: Let's go chk it out

[The trio joined the crowd n soon saw that it was no ordinary sale]

Bid Master: Alrighty then, who wants to bid for this slave, straight frm the Planet Betelgeuse [gestured at a tall lanky alien cuffed in chains]

Sylvia: [grimaced as the bidding started] A slave trade auction? Haven't seen these type of sales in years. Ryder used to buy some to do grunt work for his ship bk then

Wander: (frowns)...Let's go, don't want the kids seeing this...

Peepers: (is about to leave with them...but stopped when he noticed one of the slaves...he began heading over instead to get a closer look)

Sylvia: Sure... [sees Peepers heading the opposite direction] Oi! Where u going, u eyeball?

[Behind the bid master n the slave that was being auctioned, were a huge group forced to wait in line for their turn to be bid. Amongst them was a man all too familiar: Platinum white hair, tan skin, tall and built, wearing nothing but a sack for clothing, but has the familiar wing headpiece, just partially broken n rusted]

Peepers: (pushes through crowd, seeing this man up closer now...something in him made him feel sorry for this person...)

Bid Master: SOLD to the gentleman over there for 250 space credits! [hands the Betelgeuse alien to the buyer] Next!!

[The man was brought up to the stage, looking like he was drugged n couldn't resist, his eyes a little blank]

Bid Master: N here we hv a scorned hero, banished frm the Planet Drake n found wandering in the desert planet of Ipkiss. A bit of a chatterbox, but given enough drugs, he'll be a docile boy for ya. Who wants to bid?

Sylvia: Stay here, Wander. I'll get him [elbowed her way thru the crowd to catch up with Peepers] There u are. Wat are u... [hears the description of the bid master n looked up to see the slave] Wat the... Brad?? Brad Starlight??

Peepers: :O... (raises up hand) $40,000!

[The crowd gasped]

Sylvia: Wat the... R u insane?? Wat the hell are u doing--

??: $45,000 [it was a man dressed in dark clothing, n frm the looks of it, he looks like an underground pimp]

Peepers: (glares, climbs up on stage) $55,000!

Pimp: [climbs up on stage as well] $60,000

Sylvia: Peeps, get dwn here! U don't hv that kind of money--

Peepers: (gets out gun) $90,000! Take it or leave it!

Wander: :O (keeping the kids from seeing this)

Bid Master: S-SOLD to the tiny eyeball here for 90,000 space credits! [passes him Brad] He's all urs, buddy

Pimp: [was fuming, but couldn't do anything with Peepers pointing a gun at him]

Brad: [was still out of it, not even knowing wats going on]

Peepers: (pats his face) You'll be okay...

Sylvia: Wat the hell are u doing, Peeps?? U don't hv that kind of money lying ard!

Cashier: [approaches Peepers for payment] That'll be $90,000, pls

Peepers:...aw, shoot... o.o

Sylvia: [rolled her eyes] Ur on ur own, buddy

Cashier: [raised a brow] U talk big for someone who doesn't hv the money. I'm afraid he'll hv to go to the second best bidder [prepares to take Brad's chains]

Wander: (takes off his hat, going forward) Excuse me, sir? I believe I can help him pay for that. (digs in, taking out the ammount of money Peepers needed)

Cashier: [takes the cash n counts them] Hmm, all here. Lucky u. Btw just a reminder, ur slave is wearing an obedience collar that will give him a shock whenever he disobeys u. Its auto-detect magic, so u don't hv to do anything.

Sylvia: But wat if he frees him, or gives him to someone else?

Cashier: The magic bonds him n the master the moment this transaction is made, so if he switches hands, the magic automatically bonds him to his new master. Freeing him won't work. The only way he can be truly free is if u croak, kick the bucket, whatever u call it, n then the collar will come off by itself. Enjoy ur slave, sir [walks off with the money]

Peepers: (gulps...but still tries to make Brad feel at ease)

Brad: [still clueless, the drugs still in his system]

Sylvia: Man, Brad, how did u end up being in a slave trade? [waved her hand across his face to see if he responds, which he didn't even blink]

Peepers: I don't really know... but it's best not to leave him with someone else... (helps Brad to walk slowly with him)

Wander:... (turns to Sylvia) Do you...know this man?

Sylvia: He's Brad Starlight, self-proclaimed hero of Planet Drake. We crossed paths together before wen Hater was trying to get this Sword of Synergy for his world conquering. Brad claims he needed it for his quest to save his fiancé, but I wouldn't be surprised if that got him banished frm his planet, since he seemed pretty delusional

Wander: :( The poor man...

Peepers: (Still helping Brad along slowly) Easy does it...

Brad: [still pretty out of it, but slowly following behind Peepers]

Sylvia: Ugh, the boss is not gonna be happy wen he finds out abt this. We didn't actually part in good terms. He n Hater fought for the sword n ended up destroying it. Smashed that dumb thing into a million pieces [shook her head]

Wander: (follows after Peepers with Sylvia) The least we can do is prevent him from harming Brad...Especially in that state.

Sylvia: True. If anyone can talk him dwn, its u, buddy. So, that money. Its part of Ryder's stash, isn't it?

Wander: (pauses)...In a way, it is.

Sylvia: In a way? How so?

Wander: (explains about how Ryder had gotten it)

Sylvia: Ah, I see. Well, at least its off ur hands, n its for a good cause [looked at Brad who moved like a zombie with all the drugs in his system] Man, he's fraggin' lit. How much exactly did they give him?

Wander: Not a healthy ammount...

Sylvia: We better get him to the ship quickly n maybe ask the medics to detox him

Wander: (nod) We should.