The Stars Between -- (VLD)

[22] You can call me 7445

7445 groaned quietly, opening her eyes to the dim light radiating from the ugly lighting fixture that hung from the ceiling.

She frowned up at the light, shielding her eyes with her arm and sighing quietly. She normally didn't wake this early; not until the lights were off to allow natural light to stream in.

Dim voices sounded from around the corner, and 7445 stiffened.

She hastened to jump up from the floor, dragging whoever was closest with her. There were a few muffled shrieks as people were woken from slumber but they quickly heard the voices and formed their line, in their usual order.

This was the way it had always been, for as long as 7445 could remember.

She quickly jabbed the alien (who had some strange horn protruding from the centre of his forehead) next to her in the back, silently telling him to stand straighter. She was rather fond of 8564, or "Koadda" as he preferred to be called.

7445 didn't really get the fuss behind names. After all, she'd never had one.

She had always been 7445.

Three figures rounded the corner – two buyers, and the head handler, a man known to them only as "Boss". He was chattering away to the buyers as they approached the line, dressed in a sleazy suit.

7445 was pretty sure the suit had been made by the small meek boy with eight arms, currently cowering at the end of the line.

She tried to keep herself from snickering as Boss continued to speak. It would not do to get herself in trouble again. Not after last time.

"You will see that we have a large selection for your choosing," Boss spoke, gesturing behind him to the line of slaves he knew would be there. It was routine after all, and if they got it wrong they were punished severely.

"Yes, but quantity is not always a good indicator of quality." The man said, his imposing figure seemingly growing in the gloom. 7445 thought the man to be quite wise, if a little pompous, and was curious at the bioluminescence he was giving out faintly.

There was a small scuffle behind 7445, distracting her from the events unfolding in front of her. She opened her senses, reaching out to feel who it was. All the slaves were lined up with her, meaning it was none of them. So that meant... 7445 grinned, before she wiped the expression off her face to remain neutral in the presence of the buyers.

7445 had been wondering when the little street rat would show up again.

The street rat as 7445 knew her, having no idea of her name, had an uncanny knack for getting into all the places she wasn't supposed to be. One of those places being the underground slave business' base of operations.

The street rat also had an uncanny knack for hiding. Which came in handy for moments like these.

Turning her attention away from the girl, she focused instead on the family in front of her. Hanging back just a tiny amount was a woman, dressed a floor-length gown and heavy cloak.

She had a look on her face that indicated she would rather be anywhere but here, in the filthy hole the Boss liked to call the quarters. If her wrinkled nose was any hint as to her opinion, she didn't seem to approve of the business either. Her markings glowed brighter than that of the man, yet she had less, many of which being covered up by her cloak.

There was the man who had spoken to Boss, and was still fixed in a long debate with him over prices and quality. He was also wearing long robes, though they covered up less of him than what 7445 assumed was his wife.

A tiny sound, and 7445 found her eyes trained to a lump underneath the woman's cloak. Two eyes alight with fear stared back, the woman's skirts held tightly in her fists.