His Human Captive

by Stella Rising

  “If I think of anything else, I’ll tell you,” I snap, despite my trembling. He’s so strong, his arms feel like iron bars.

  He grunts a laugh. “You’re lucky I care about you, pet. Not every Dominar is as patient as me. You think the keera stick hurts? I can show you the Yckjer clamps.”

  Did I know what Yckjer clamps were a second ago, before he mentioned them? Not sure. I do now, though, and I wish I didn’t.

  “Just tell me about the next stage of the testing.”

  Kest laughs, sitting down on my bed and pulling me up onto his knee. “The next stage, my terribly misbehaving human, is forging a meaningful master/slave bond.”

  Oh. Great.

  “What makes you think that’s still possible?” I ask. “What made you think it was ever possible?” Does he think I’m going to succumb to Stockholm syndrome?

  “Haley, I don’t need any nanites to see the way you react to being dominated, to having your ass spanked raw and your holes filled. The way you scream and shake is like nothing I have ever seen, and I’ve been to more worlds than you can count.”

  Before I can say anything, he turns me over, laying me across his lap. He tears my singlet apart, exposing my ass, and swats my cheeks a few times.

  Wriggling against his grasp gets me nowhere; neither does kicking my feet or yelling a stream of flowing invective. He keeps spanking me until I stop, which takes a while, because my instinct is to fight until I’m too exhausted to resist. By the end, my ass feels like an ember stoked by a steady breeze, and my throat is raw. Betraying me completely, my pussy throbs, wet and hungry.

  “You can forget it,” I protest unconvincingly. “I’ll never be your slave.”

  Kest sighs, caressing my punished cheeks. “You’re going to be somebody’s slave, Haley. You’d rather belong to Bakan?”

  The thought makes my skin crawl, I admit.

  “And that’s assuming the Council opts to grant our one and only human to a single Dominar. They might just make you available for use to whomever asks.”

  “You people do that?” I ask, shivering.

  “Not often, no. But sometimes, if no one can make a lasting claim on a particularly disobedient slave, special arrangements are made. It’s either that, or sending the slave to a prison planet.”

  He’s messing with me. He has to be. How could they be so cruel?

  “Is that what you want, pet?”

  “No,” I mumble.

  “Then you best behave,” Kest growls in my ear. “Now get up, and fix your clothes.”

  I slip off his lap and turn to look at my torn singlet. “Fix it? How?”

  By the time I’m finished asking, the cloth has already finished knitting itself together in front of my eyes. In seconds, there’s no evidence it was ever ripped.

  “You’ll get used to things like that,” says Kest. “You’ll see. Now, come along.”

  He leads me to the tram, which takes us to the docking bay. I feel surprisingly happy to see his ship, as plain as it is. We board, and in minutes he’s piloting the craft away from the station, toward the planet.

  Despite my lingering anger at Kest, I can’t help getting excited as we enter the world’s atmosphere. Since I’m not bound like the last time I was on his ship, I stand next to him at the cockpit, staring out the window. As beautiful as the planet looked from space, it’s even more gorgeous up close.

  “Welcome to Ohalessa, Haley.”

  We fly over a continent full of lush forests, the craft low enough that I can take in some of the plant and animal life, which is both alien and beautiful. Eventually the land transitions into a majestic, snow-capped mountain range. The ship even has to climb in altitude to not hit the peaks.

  Lost in the beauty, I don’t notice Kest flying us lower until we’re weaving through the high summits, moving so fast I think we’ll crash. Flinching violently, I nearly fall over myself. Kest laughs, but then apologizes.

  “That was mean. I won’t do it again, I promise.”

  I punch his shoulder as hard as I can; from his reaction, I think it hurt me more than him. “You’re an asshole,” I mutter.

  “I’ll make it up to you, pet. I promise.”

  Kest lands the ship on a flattened mountaintop. The sun is going down, tinting the sky peach, with scarlet streaks of cloud in the upper atmosphere. When we step outside, cool air hits me in a rush. I breathe in deeply, enjoying an exotic aroma that reminds me of sweet mesquite.

  Fuck me, this is an alien planet.

  “This world is safe for me?” I ask, though I’m already sure it is, or we wouldn’t be here.

  “Yes. There are some dangerous animals, but only in certain areas. There’s no microscopic organisms that will make you sick, if that’s what you mean.”

  “Good.” As annoyed as I am at my captor, the view off the side of the mountain is breathtaking.

  Kest takes my hand. “Come, pet. I owe you some explanation.”

  I let him lead me to a tall wooden bench that looks organically grown, rather than carved. A breeze kicks up, but my thin singlet keeps me surprisingly warm. When we sit, my feet don’t reach the ground; I’d never thought of myself as short before, but I am, compared to the Dominars.

  “What year were you born, Haley?” he asks.

  “Uhh, 1991. Why?”

  Kest grins, shaking his head. “You’re so young. You’ve seen so little. Haley, I’ve been to hundreds of worlds. I’ve watched societies rise and fall. I don’t expect you to understand life the way I do, but I hope you’ll believe that I mean well for you, and for humanity.”

  “Why?” I say. “If you’ve been to so many places and seen so much, what makes Earth so special?”

  He shrugs. “Every world is unique, Haley. Each one has something to offer my people—that’s why we… why we visit them.”

  Did he just pause? Was he going to say something else?

  “And I like Earth because it became my home for a long time. I arrived in 1925. It was a fun period to be exploring a young species; the music and fashion, art and culture. But then came the Great Depression and, later, World War II. That was when I filed my first report on humanity, which was scarily similar to the one I made days ago. To report back after only twenty years… it’s unheard of in my field. Yet, humanity seemed on the verge of annihilating itself. I had to act.”

  “What happened?” I ask.

  Sighing, Kest looks out into indigo tones of the darkening sky. “My recommendation in 1945 was the same then as it is now: an immediate invasion. Back then, it was dismissed. Humans were deemed far too primitive for an incursion. They hardly knew about electronics and computers, let alone aliens and space; the shock would have been too great. And, more importantly, they were too barbaric to warrant saving. Nuclear weapons? Genocide? There were times I agreed with the Council. They recommended I move on to another world, but I decided to stay, hoping Earth would recover. It did, vindicating my position, but also obviating the need for an invasion. So I kept waiting… Waiting, once more, until I couldn’t.”

  A tear rolls down my cheek, unbidden. I’m not sure why his story saddens me; it’s overwhelming, in a way. Back home, people are going about their lives, and have no idea that everything might be about to change if the Dominars invade. And a lot of that, somehow, depends on me. It’s too much responsibility. It’s not fair.

  “Haley, I took you to this particular spot because it’s one of my favorites in the entire galaxy. As it happens, it also reminds me of Earth. I lived there for almost one hundred years, and I fell in love with it. I’ll do what I have to in order to protect it, even if that means helping conquer it.”

  Kest pulls me onto his lap and hugs me close against his chest. We watch the sun sink beneath the peaks, night falling on Ohalessa.

  Chapter Eleven

  I must have fallen asleep in Kest’s arms, because when I wake, I’m back on board his ship. This time I feel properly rested, and hungry. Looking around, I don’t see him right away, but
the hatch is open. Stepping outside, I see we’re no longer on the mountain, but in the midst of a forest. No more than fifty feet away, a small stream cuts through the land; Kest stands in it, the water up to his thighs, and bathes.

  Struck by his beauty, water streaming down the ripples of his imposing physique, I stare for longer than I’ll ever admit. I could watch him wash all day, probably. Especially outside, surrounded by nature—after spending most my life in Manhattan, I’d forgotten how nice it can be to get out a bit. For all I know, there could be a city half a mile from here, but it certainly doesn’t feel that way. All I hear is splashing water, birdsong, and the breeze.

  He hasn’t seen me, I realize. Does he know I’m watching? Do his nanites tell him that sort of thing?

  If he’s not aware that I’m awake, could now be a chance to run? He’s not on the ship. If I could get it working…

  Quickly ducking back inside, I race to the cockpit and sit in the pilot’s seat. Of course, unlike a human vehicle, there’s no instrumentation console—just a single maneuvering stick. Everything else must be done with the nanites.

  Well, all right then.

  I think about the ship’s controls activating, hoping it will summon them to life. A hologram does appear, and I search a list of options for travel. Like back in my quarters, I search for Earth. After a moment, the planet appears before me.

  “Yes!”

  Go there! I command the ship. Take off! Fly!

  Nothing happens. The image of Earth fizzles out.

  Access denied. User not authorized.

  I sigh. So much for that idea.

  In truth, I’m not sure I even want to leave. Kest’s words from last night echo in my mind. He wants to protect Earth, but is invading it really what’s best?

  It’s a question I can’t answer right now, so I head back outside and make my way toward Kest.

  “Good morning,” he says as I approach. He turns to face me, giving me another great view of his gorgeous body. “Care to join me? The water’s not too cold.”

  The way he looks right now, I don’t possess the kind of mental fortitude to turn down the invitation. In seconds, I’ve stripped out of my singlet and am dipping in a toe, testing the temperature. Like he said, it’s not bad. Carefully, I work my way in, enjoying the feel of the current. By the time I reach Kest, I’m waist deep, causing him to laugh.

  “Come here, shorty,” he says, pulling me close. He leans over, dipping his cupped hands in the water; he pours it out into my hair. I groan, enjoying the feeling, then close my eyes and let him wash me. He uses only his hands, but they do just fine. He touches me everywhere, making sure not to miss a spot. I hold my hands up over my head, making it easy for him to spend a little extra time on my breasts. He doesn’t mind.

  “Ohalessa is a pretty name,” I say.

  Kest smiles. “We wanted it to be worthy of a planet this beautiful.”

  While he bathes me, he tells me more, explaining that Ohalessa is a paradise created to be a central vacation destination for his people. In terms of recreation, there’s little that can’t be found here. Though much of the land is pure, pristine wilderness, there are cities too.

  “Wait, you created this place?” I ask.

  “In a sense.” Finished washing me, he wades to the bank of the stream and beckons me to join him. “We terraformed it extensively, making sure that the geography gave representation to nearly every world in our society. We wanted visitors to the Dominus to be comfortable here, no matter where they’re from.”

  “That’s incredible,” I say, kicking my feet in the water. “How long did it take?”

  “More than a thousand years,” Kest replies.

  Good lord. And I thought the Second Avenue subway line took forever.

  “The hard part was having dozens of regions with vastly different ecosystems all coexisting in balance. Ohalessa may, in fact, be the galaxy’s single greatest feat of engineering.”

  Holy shit. If he’s just telling me this to impress me, it’s working.

  “Do you spend a lot of time here?” I ask, thinking about the mountaintop from last night.

  Kest sighs. “Not much. I try to come here between missions, but I don’t always get a chance. It’s okay, though. I like traveling.”

  I can only imagine—traversing an entire galaxy? Visiting entirely new worlds? It sounds unbelievably exciting.

  “It must be so beautiful,” I say, looking down at the reflection in the stream.

  “It is.” Kest takes my chin into his palm and turns my head to face him. “And yet, it’s rare that I see anything as beautiful as what I see right in front of me.”

  “Stop,” I giggle, blushing.

  He stares into my eyes, and I his. They burn with a desire so intense, my heart quickens at the thought of giving in and submitting. I’ve never felt so wanted in all my life. I’d give anything to know this is all real.

  “Kest, I—”

  “Wait,” he says, interrupting. He turns quickly, like an animal sensing a predator. His nostrils flare, and the silver of his skin darkens. Then we hear a soft crunch, as though of feet on grass. “Let’s go,” he says, grabbing my arm and pulling in the direction of his ship.

  He’d mentioned something about dangerous animals, but those can’t be here, can they?

  Actually, yes, I realize, seeing what got Kest’s attention.

  Standing in front of our ship is Bakan, dressed in a suit of bulky green armor. Large protrusions rise from his back, towering over the alien’s head; based on the way they point forward, I’m guessing they’re weapons.

  Kest immediately moves to stand in front of me, shielding me from the man’s view. “What are you doing here, Praetor?” he asks, though it comes out more like an accusation.

  “Agent Kest. Miss Feyn,” Bakan replies, voice dripping with faux diplomacy. “I came to offer my protection during your stay on Ohalessa.”

  “Is that so? Under whose directive?”

  “No one’s.”

  Kest’s eyes narrow; the fury of a full nuclear meltdown blazes behind his menacing glare. For a naked man facing down an armed opponent in combat armor, he shows no sign of fear.

  “Your assistance is not needed, Praetor,” he says, voice steady and calm. “You have our thanks, but at this point, we request privacy. I will take excellent care of Miss Feyn myself.”

  Bakan sneers. “We request privacy? Why not let the human speak for herself? She might want someone else around to make sure she’s safe with the alien who abducted her and took her from her home world.”

  Is he serious? Does Bakan think I’m that stupid? I might not be some kind of immortal alien god like them, but I’m not an idiot.

  “No thanks, Praetor,” I growl. “I trust Agent Kest’s protection will be adequate.”

  Kest grins for just a moment, then his face hardens back into an imposing mask. “There you have it, Bakan. Leave us in peace. If you’re so concerned for Miss Feyn, you may present your objections at the next Council meeting.”

  “I will,” Bakan mutters back. “Enjoy your time on Ohalessa, human,” he adds. “I hope you were well cleaned before landing. I’d hate for our perfect world to become infested with parasites.”

  My mouth opens to deliver a retort when I feel a strong signal from Kest: Don’t. Together, we watch as Bakan launches into the air, his suit rapidly deploying a covering for his face. Soon, I’ve lost track of him in the sky.

  “Is he gone?” I ask.

  “For now,” says Kest. “Back to the ship, Haley. We’re leaving.”

  Chapter Twelve

  We leave in such a hurry, we’re airborne before I finish putting on my singlet.

  “What’s that guy’s fucking problem?” I ask, trying to will the nanites to dry my hair.

  “He and I disagree on a few things,” Kest mutters. “Let’s leave it at that for now.”

  Now that I understand Kest’s language, I watch the ship’s holographic displays. Since we left, he
’s activated a cloaking device, deflector shields, and a series of weapons systems.

  “Should I be worried?”

  Kest grimaces. “He won’t risk breaking our laws, so he won’t hurt you, but he’s not to be trusted.”

  That doesn’t make sense. “Then why did we have to leave?”

  “Because his intentions are malicious. I don’t want him lingering.”

  That makes two of us. “Will the cloak keep him from finding us?”

  “For a while. We’re going to need some help. Hang on.”

  A series of menus appear and, after a minute, a hologram of Briette.

  “Hey, Kest. What’s going on?” she asks.

  “Bakan just paid us a visit,” he says, explaining the encounter. “Think you can run some interference? Keep him from tracking us until the Council meeting?”

  “Hmm. That might not be so easy,” says Briette. “He shouldn’t have been able to find you now. I can send out some decoys with your ship’s signature, but that won’t fool him for very long.”

  “Thanks, that’s fine. Keep an eye on him and ping me if you hear anything, okay?”

  She nods. “You got it.”

  “Thanks, Briette.”

  “Yeah, thanks,” I add.

  “You’re welcome. Stay safe,” she says before signing off.

  Kest pulls up a hologram of Ohalessa and spins it around. “Where would you like to go, pet?” he asks, his mood brightening.

  I laugh. “How should I know? I’ve never been here.”

  He brushes his hand over the hologram, giving the globe a little spin. “Any place look interesting?”

  “All of it, but…” After looking at the planet for hours in my room, there were a few continents that always caught my eye. “What about that purple area? That one, there,” I say, landing my finger on it.

  “Sure, that’ll work.”

  Without even slowing down, Kest turns at a sharp angle that probably would have torn a human aircraft in half; inside the ship, we don’t even feel it. Out the window, Ohalessa flies by so fast it’s just a multicolor blur. Reaching our destination only takes a few minutes.