Zette arched her back and flexed her shoulders trying to work out the kinks of the long trip on a cheap ship from …what did the natives call it? Houme? Zette shrugged and continued down the boarding ramp. She paused at the end of the ramp before taking her first step on Rubi-Ka. Her life was a whirl of changes, but this was to be the biggest and, hopefully, the last. She intended to make her place on this world and to stay in it as long as she had life to live.
She lifted her foot from the ship’s ramp and put it down on Rubi-Ka. She paused again, wondering at how this step felt no different than thousands of other steps on hundreds of other planets. Zette smiled, shook her head and walked out into the world of Rubi-Ka, motioning the girl standing silently behind her to follow.
_______________________________________
Zette pondered as her eyes roamed over the exits from the Arrival Port. Red door for Clan.. Blue for Omni-Tek. Grey for Neutral. And the Jobe exit. The Jobe exit stood apart from the other 3. That in itself shouted exclusivism to Zette. She immediately dismissed it and the Neutral exit. To her, neutral meant, “can’t make a decision.” That left Clan or Omni-Tek.
She paced back and forth between the two doors. A Clanner had spouted a mélange of words at her which assembled themselves into a mush of conservatism and disdain for free enterprise. She had nothing against the Clan or any of their beliefs. She simply had more feelings in favor of free enterprise. “Omni-Tek,” she decided, speaking the word aloud as she made her way past the helpful people at the gate, ignoring their offer of advice. “The only good advice I ever got,” she thought, “was no advice.” She didn’t look back to see if Unole followed. She didn’t need to. Unole was well trained.
_______________________________________
Zette sat at her desk in her new apartment in Rome Blue carefully considering the composition of her ad.
“Wanted… Slaves,” she wrote, frowned and deleted the words. “Slaves wanted,” she started again. “Obedient, discreet and eager to serve generous Masters and Mistresses…” She read it, shook her head and started again, “Adult slaves wanted for discreet service to select confidential client list.” She read the display and nodded. Much better. “Apply to Zette for full details.”
She pressed the send button that would post her message over the net and turned to her “Terms and Conditions of Sale between Buyer and Slaves of Rubi-Ka (SoRK).” Nodding, she let her eyes scan the items one by one.
(1) The slave agrees to be sold on open market for an amount to be determined by Buyer and Seller, known as Slaves of Rubi-Ka, hereinafter referred to as SoRK. Buyer agrees to assume responsibility for slave’s training, care and upkeep upon delivery of property.
(2) Slave will be allowed to keep 25% of sale price agreed upon between SoRK and Buyer.
(3) Slave may refuse sale based on ethical or moral principle.
(4) Slave must agree to preserve confidentiality of clientele except when item (4) is in conflict with item (6).
(5) Slave agrees to remain with Buyer until such time as Buyer frees, returns or otherwise dismisses him/her. Voluntarily leaving Buyer's possession without Buyer’s agreement will result in fine not to exceed the sale commission and/or loss of good standing with SoRK and/or entry of slave’s name into public blacklist.
(6) Slave cannot be pressed to obey commands the slave knows to be illegal, immoral or both. Persistence by the Buyer to press the slave into unwilling obedience which the Buyer knows to be against the ethics of the slave will result in the slave being repossessed and the Buyer’s name being posted on a public blacklist.
(7) If, as a result of theft or other misadventure, the slave is removed from the Buyer’s possession, the buyer is within his rights to locate and reclaim said slave. The Buyer may enlist the aid of SoRK, but may not hold SoRK responsible for such loss of property.
Note: No refunds are available unless special circumstances arise which, upon agreement btween SoRK and Buyer that such circumstances exist, may result in the return of monies not to exceed 50% of original sale price.
Zette rested her chin on her fist and tapped a fingernail against the desktop as she thought. There was surely more, but she couldn’t think of them at the moment. She would add them as needed. All in all, though, she thought it a good contract and fair.
Originally Posted by dustynova
))
