Vorian Atreides arrives at the vast slave markets on Poritrin, discouraged by their scale but determined to find the Kepler captives. As Vorian moves through New Starda, Vorian reflects that slavery has survived the Jihad because it remains profitable and because anti-technology fervor has increased demand for human labor.

Vorian first tries direct inquiries, but a vendor dismisses enslaved people as nameless tools, and official channels offer no help. Changing tactics, Vorian poses as a buyer seeking workers suited to a hot, humid climate. After bribing a dragoon guard and several spaceport officials, Vorian gains access to landing records and identifies the three slaving ships that raided Kepler.

Using the information, Vorian adopts the role of a wealthy businessman from Pirido, buys formal clothes and a pampered lapdog, and hires four silent young men as an entourage. At the slavers’ holding area, Vorian confirms that the Kepler captives are there but cannot inspect them directly, so Vorian studies the security and prepares a safer plan than an armed rescue.

The next morning, Vorian attends the auction where the Kepler captives are displayed, gaunt but mostly alive. When another bidder asks to split the group and buy only healthy males, Vorian prevents families from being separated by bidding thirty thousand Solaris for the entire lot with immediate delivery. After winning, Vorian insists that the bonds be removed, cuts some prisoners free himself, and publicly condemns Poritrin’s hypocrisy for practicing slavery after humanity’s long struggle against the thinking machines.

Vorian arranges lodging and passage home for the freed Kepler people on a VenHold spacefolder, while Bonda verifies the list of survivors and identifies the two who died in transit. During the night, Vorian slips away; the three slaver ships later explode after leaving New Starda, presented as a freak accident but witnessed by Vorian with satisfaction.

At the spaceport, Vorian watches the rescued captives board for Kepler but tells Bonda and Tir that Vorian will not return with them yet. Believing Kepler needs broader protection, Vorian says he is going to Salusa Secundus to speak directly with Emperor Salvador.