by M. D. Cooper
“Keep moving up.”
Juasa did as instructed, wondering how long it would take for Malorie’s requests to turn sexual. As she slowly worked her way up Malorie’s legs and then to her back, the woman’s moans continued, but she didn’t ask for anything further. After twenty minutes, she turned her head to look at Juasa.
“Now this is worth the price of admission. You’ve got amazing hands. Must be strong from turning all those wrenches.”
“Uhh, thanks,” Juasa replied.
“Why don’t you go down—”
Shit, Juasa thought. Here we go.
“—to the kitchen and get yourself something to eat. Come back up here in an hour.”
“What?” Juasa asked, surprised at this turn of events.
“Food. I assume you eat, you appear organic,” Malorie said with a smirk. “Go. Don’t show your face back here for an hour.”
“Yes, of course,” Juasa rose and began walking to the door.
“Ju!” Malorie called out.
“Yes?” Juasa said as she turned.
“Don’t forget the tray.”
Juasa hurried back and grabbed the tray before leaving the room. Korin was waiting for her and followed her back to the kitchen.
While they were in the lift, he picked a few berries out of one of the bowls. “She never even finishes half her food.”
Juasa looked at the remains of the breakfast on the tray. “Well, it’s enough food for five people—” She stopped and looked over Korin’s massively muscled body. “Or one of you, I suppose.”
Korin snorted and touched his chest. “Would take too much regular food to feed all this. We take supplements that keeps us rolling.”
“Did they do this to you?” Juasa asked, as the lift’s doors opened and they walked out.
“Yeah,” Korin said, grabbing one of the tarts off the tray. “It was either this or the fields. They picked the biggest of us and beefed us up. Pay’s good, and we have a lot more freedom than the rest. If we do well, we can get transferred up to the raiders and see the stars.”
“The raiders?” Juasa asked.
“The ships,” Korin said, gesturing at the ceiling. “That’s what we call them, at least. Raiders.”
“So you’re from Persia?” Juasa asked.
“Yup, born and raised. My family is from one of the cities—such as the planet has. My mother screwed up some business dealings—which is a nice way of saying that she borrowed money and gambled it away—and that got us snatched up by the debtor sheriffs, and we ended up working in Malorie’s fields.”
Juasa couldn’t help but notice that Korin described the fields as belonging to Malorie.
Back in the kitchen, she set the platter back on the counter where she’d retrieved it, and picked at the food while she chatted with Korin.
The man who had first spoken to her approached, a scowl on his face. “Hey, put it over there, you’re blocking the prep station.”
“Hey, Barry, why don’t you fuck off,” Korin said. “Juasa and I are finishing this. We’ll move the platter when we’re damn well ready.”
Barry opened his mouth to reply, but Korin turned to face him, taking a half step toward the much smaller man.
“OK, OK, no need to get so pissy about it,” Barry muttered and turned away.
“I shouldn’t be so rough on him, but he gets on my nerves,” Korin admitted. “Guy has one little corner of the kitchen under his control, and he treats it like he’s launching ships into space.”
Juasa chuckled. Even in situations like this, people still behaved just like always—carving out their own little corners of control.
She wondered if that would happen to her after awhile. No. Katrina will get us out. They’d be long gone before she accepted her role as slave girl.
“Oh, shit,” Korin said and wiped his mouth. “The lady changed her mind. We’re to meet her in the courtyard now.”
He turned to leave the kitchen and shouted over his shoulder. “There you go, Barry, you can move the tray now.”
“Me! That’s her job.”
“You want me to see how far I can shove it up your ass?” Korin hollered back.
“Uh…I got it.”
“Where are we going?” Juasa asked as she caught up to Korin.
The big man looked down at her, his eyes filled with compassion. “The fields.”
A BEATING AND A PROMISE
STELLAR DATE: 01.01.8512 (Adjusted Gregorian)
LOCATION: Revenence Castle
REGION: Persia, Midditerra System
By noon, Katrina had completed almost half her increased quota—not that it had kept Liam and one of the other overseers from whipping her twice more. They seemed offended that all their hard work shredding her back had been undone.
The lunch truck pulled up, and the other field workers rose from their current plants and walked to the vehicle. Katrina knew she wasn’t allowed to approach ‘til the other workers had been served, and kept working at her task.
When the last of the workers had left the truck and were walking to the row of trees at the edge of the field to eat in the shade, Katrina rose and walked toward the road.
When she reached the truck, a plastic cup of water and a few ends of bread awaited her. The woman who stood at the counter inside the vehicle watched with sorrowful eyes as Katrina grabbed the food before turning back to her place in the field.
She crouched by her next sithri plant and bit into one of the pieces of bread. A delicious flavor hit her tongue, and Katrina looked up to see the woman in the food truck give her a sad smile. A few pieces of meat and cheese had been tucked into the bread, and they were the most glorious things Katrina had ever tasted.
She checked her surroundings, ensuring that none of the overseers were looking her way, before she let a small smile touch her lips and nodded.
The woman in the truck didn’t break eye contact with Katrina until the vehicle drove away, and the service window passed out of view.
Her stomach was completely empty, so Katrina ate slowly, careful not to make herself sick as she moved from plant to plant. She had just finished her water when she saw a car pull up at the end of the field.
She wasn’t surprised to see Anna step out, rod in hand, but when Malorie and Juasa emerged, Katrina shook her head in dismay. It seemed that the games were far from over.
Juasa was wearing a simple white dress, and her hair was brushed. Other than the sadness etched into her face, she looked radiant in the afternoon light.
Malorie and Juasa stayed by the car, while Anna walked over, slapping the rod she held against the palm of her other hand.
“Working hard, bitch?” Anna asked with a sneer. “I brought an audience today. I didn’t want Juasa to miss seeing you get what you have coming.”
“You’re all heart,” Katrina told her again as she rose and turned away from Anna. “Well, get on with it. You’re such a wuss that it takes a good ten for you to break my skin.”
“You know, I was going to go easy on you,” Anna said in a whispered hiss.
“Shit, Anna, relax. I’m just playing along,” Katrina muttered under her breath.
“Yeah, well Malorie has been up my ass all day, so I’m gonna take my frustrations out on yours.”
Katrina held her breath until the first blow fell. When the rod struck, it didn’t disappoint. Anna delivered six stinging blows, and then there was a pause.
“I’m sorry,” a voice said from behind Katrina, and she turned her head to see Juasa holding the rod, a look of utter despair on her face.
Katrina nodded slowly. “It’s OK.”
The first blow Juasa delivered was weak, and Katrina heard a ringing slap followed by Anna’s voice. “Harder, bitch! If you don’t hit this fucker like you mean it, then I get Liam to give her double.”
As Anna uttered those words, something broke within Katrina. A rage she had kept in check since coming out of the Streamer and finding herself alone in an unwelcoming future bo
iled to the surface.
Katrina decided that no matter what deal she struck with Anna, no matter what promises were made, the moment the collar was off, the woman would die. No circumstance would save her. Anna was a dead woman walking.
While she made that solemn vow to herself, Juasa increased the force of her next blow. Yet Anna still shouted, “Harder!”
Juasa hit Katrina harder still on the third strike, and this time Anna seemed satisfied. Six blows later, Katrina could hear soft sobbing mixed with Juasa’s breathing, and her heart crumbled.
If I hadn’t met Juasa in that bar….
“I guess that will have to do,” Anna said.
Katrina turned to see Anna leading Juasa away. Her lover’s shoulders were stooped, and the bloody rod still hung from her right hand.
Juasa looked over her shoulder, and their eyes met, a thousand words passing across the look.
I forgive you. I forgave you before you even did it. Katrina prayed Juasa felt the same.
Then she remembered their antics the night before. ‘Never stop.’ Juasa had already given her answer.
Anna pushed Juasa back into the car, and Katrina thought that they would leave, but Malorie gestured for Katrina to approach.
Katrina picked up her vials—the other workers would steal her sithri pollen in a heartbeat, if she left them behind—and picked her way across the field to where Malorie waited, Liam looming nearby.
“Productive day?” Malorie asked. “I wouldn’t want to see you missing your quota. That would probably go badly for you and your—well, now my —little girl toy.”
“It would go better without all the interruptions,” Katrina replied.
Malorie laughed. “Ah, but your anger and pain will make the product that much better. You know, Jace likes to think that his piracy and flitting about in his ships makes us our money. He brings in his share, to be sure—but these fields, these are where we really build our wealth. The products we make from this pollen are the best in known space—the fact that it’s harvested through the blood, sweat, and tears of people like you and these…others out here only adds to the premium.”
Katrina had suspected that there was some sort of value attached to the human labor. Or it was just masochism. She suspected it was some of each.
“It’s psychotropic, right?” Katrina asked.
“Yes, of a sort. We use it to enhance sims we sell. It makes everything feel totally real, and it builds an addiction in the user. The feelings from the sim stay with them for days, but when they fade, the crash is hard. We have distribution in ten systems now.”
Katrina shrugged. “You’re profitable drug dealers and pirates. Humanity thanks you for fucking us all up even more.”
“I like to think of it as easing people down the road they were already on,” Malorie said with a grim chuckle.
“Is that all you wanted to talk about?” Katrina asked. “Because Liam here wants to beat me if I don’t meet my quota, and we’re burning daylight.”
“Liam…would you do that to poor Verisa, here?”
“Gleefully,” Liam grunted.
Malorie laughed and turned back to Katrina. “Well, I suppose I should let you know that Jace has gone to see if you’re telling the truth about your ship. My techs are also working on that data they pulled from you. If it’s no good, you’ll be back on the table. If Jace comes back and says there’s no ship, you’ll be back on the table again. You may not make it off that time.”
Katrina drew a deep breath and leaned in close to Malorie. “I have to ask. Do you really like Jace? Isn’t he…beneath you?”
Malorie gave Katrina a sharp look. “What are you playing at?”
“Not playing at anything,” Katrina replied. “You just got me thinking. You really run the show—I imagine you find buyers for whatever Jace steals, as well. He’s really just a big, scary figurehead for the Blackadder. Am I right?”
Malorie shrugged. “Maybe, maybe not….” She looked up at Liam. “Take a walk.”
The man stared impassively at Malorie for a moment, then nodded and moved away.
“I’ll take that as a ‘yes’,” Katrina replied. “Here’s the thing. I’m not against making a good deal; especially one that gets me back on my ship and out of here.”
“That’s a tall order,” Malorie said with raised eyebrows. “What makes you think you can get that kind of consideration?”
“The nanotech I have is light years beyond anything in this century. I have schematics, blueprints for weapons better than any I’ve seen in this century. You’d be a queen.”
Malorie leaned against the car and shook her head. “I’m getting the feeling that Tom and Ainsley aren’t going to find jack shit when they crack that encryption.”
Katrina shrugged. “I think my most recent shopping list is in there somewhere.”
“You played them.”
Katrina nodded. “You’ll not get into my head that easily.”
Malorie blew out an angry breath. “I’m halfway tempted to put you back on the table right now.”
Katrina cracked a smile. “Saves me a beating from Liam. Look, if you want to be the wife of Jace of the Blackadder, that’s great. If you want to run a business a thousand times more profitable—and legitimate—you let me know.”
Katrina walked away from Malorie, not looking back. A moment later, she heard the car door shut and the vehicle pull away from the field.
Several of the workers were whispering as Katrina walked back to her place, but she ignored them. Things were coming together. She’d play Malorie and Anna and use them against one another when the time was right.
So long as I can get enough damn pollen to avoid another beating from Liam.
A TRIP TO FARSA
STELLAR DATE: 01.19.8512 (Adjusted Gregorian)
LOCATION: Revenence Castle
REGION: Persia, Midditerra System
Juasa’s hands still trembled after the beating she’d been forced to inflict on Katrina.
Eighteen days had passed since that first beating; today marked the seventh time Malorie and Anna had taken her to the fields to deliver Katrina’s punishment.
It was wearing her down; she was beginning to see Katrina as a broken slave woman—which wasn’t far from the truth. Katrina had been on death’s door twice in the intervening weeks. Both times, it had taken a long session on the medtable to patch her together again.
Over half of Katrina’s organic skin was gone now, replaced by synthetic patches. What remained was more wound than flesh. Every time Juasa went out there, she was making it worse. The act was wearing her down as much as it was Katrina—just in a different way.
Beside her in the front seat of the car, Korin placed a hand on her forearm and patted it gently. Juasa looked up and met his eyes, glad for the kindness she saw.
“I wonder what they’re going on about?” Anna said from the backseat. “Every time, Malorie has to have her private little chat with the sound dampeners on in the car so we can’t hear.”
Juasa considered replying, but kept her mouth shut. If she spoke to Anna right now, it would go badly. Probably for her.
“What do you think they’re talking about, Juasa?” Anna pressed.
“Don’t worry ‘bout it,” Korin said, half turning in his seat to look at Anna.
“I wasn’t talking to you, ape man,” Anna shot back.
“How is it that you’ve become even more of a raging bitch than you were before?” Juasa asked. “Haven’t you gotten what you wanted?”
“What I want?” Anna asked. “No! So long as Verisa keeps her secrets, and her ship is out in the black, I don’t get anything close to what I want.”
“I guess that’s what you get for being a betraying bitch,” Juasa said while slowly clenching and relaxing her fists.
The car door opened, and Malorie dropped into the seat next to Anna.
“Korin, take us back up.” Malorie’s words were clipped, and she exuded an aura of ‘fuck off’.
The short ride back to the castle was made in silence. When they pulled up at the main entrance, Malorie had her door open before the car even came to a stop.
“Ju, come with me,” she called out as she exited the car.
“What would you like me to do?” Anna asked, leaning low to look out the door at Malorie.
“I don’t know, Anna, go do your impression of a light bulb somewhere where people give a fuck. Oh, and leave Verisa alone until I say otherwise. She can’t take too many more beatings without a full regen, and that’ll take days.”
Juasa gave a soft laugh as the glow from Anna’s outfit diminished. She exited the car and followed the lady of the castle up the stairs, the sound of Korin’s steady footsteps coming from behind.
A moment later, she’d caught up to Malorie, but stayed a pace back, not wanting to be directly in the woman’s line of fire.
“I guess I’ll have to find you something nice to wear,” Malorie said as they stepped onto the lift.
“Nice?” Juasa asked.
“Yeah, it’s the opposite of crap, like what you’re wearing now. Plus you got blood on your dress, again.”
Juasa had noticed that, but had been trying not to dwell on it.
“Are we going somewhere?” Juasa asked as the lift began to rise.
“Yeah,” Malorie replied. “I got a call from Lara while we were in the car. She wants to meet us up on Farsa Station tonight.”
“Us?” Juasa asked.
Malorie spun on Juasa as the doors opened. “Fuck, woman, can you cut it out with the one-word questions? Yes, ‘us’. I wouldn’t fucking be talking about getting you dressed properly if that wasn’t the case.”
Juasa clamped her mouth shut and nodded silently.
“Good,” Malorie said with a curt nod. “Maybe you can be trained. That’s how I want your mouth to stay ‘til I say otherwise.”
This is how it went with Malorie. She was nice, almost kind, for a day, and then she lashed out. Juasa found herself doing things to make Malorie happy, and it made her sick.