Raven feared Daagiis, but not because he could physically harm her. It was how he made her feel inside that had her terrified.
Chapter 7
The door opened automatically for Raven as she and Daagiis stepped close to it. Raven took a step forward and then froze. She stood absolutely still as she watched others walk past the opening.
Most were people much like Vendeen with black eyes that upturned at the corners and metallic bronze skin. The majority of the rest were what Raven would characterize as humanoid as well; a head, two arms, two legs, walking upright. Their sizes and body types ranged widely from absolutely huge to no taller than knee high. She even saw some similar to the bulbous-headed aliens that everyone always claimed were abducting people from Earth and experimenting on them. What did they call those? Oh yeah, ‘grays’.
Then there were other … things. Creatures that crawled and slithered and flew. There weren’t many of those kinds, but just one such being would have been enough to make Raven stand gaping like a kid at her first circus.
“Holy fuck, Toto, I’m not on Earth anymore,” she heard her voice say.
Daagiis chuckled. “Get over your shock and let’s go,” he prodded, gently tugging on her arm.
Raven stumbled after him, joining the steady flow of pedestrian traffic. Her bare feet seemed to sink a little into the carpeted flooring, as if walking on a lightly cushioned surface. At least it wasn’t cold tile, like what had been in the room she’d recovered in.
Before stepping outside her hospital room, she’d had an inkling of an idea that she could make a break for freedom once she had the chance. However, looking at all the strange creatures around her, the full force of her situation hit her.
She wasn’t on her planet. Hell, she wasn’t even in her own dimension. Where would she possibly run to?
Daagiis made it to my Earth. That means I can too. It’s just a matter of waiting until I know how to do it.
Yet Daagiis had made it plain she belonged to Vendeen until then. That included the statement that Raven’s body was the judge’s to enjoy. The stab of arousal that greeted this thought made her angry.
Just stop it, would you? Damn, why the hell would I find such a thing exciting?
The situation was fucked up, all the way around.
Something small with batlike wings flew past, coming close enough that Raven felt the breeze of its passing. She cringed and wished they would get where they were going a lot faster. At least she hadn’t screamed. Yet.
She asked Daagiis, “How big is this ship of yours anyway?”
He glanced at her. “Trying to figure out a way off?”
Raven echoed her earlier thought with temper. “And go where?”
Daagiis smirked. “I’m glad to hear you’re thinking with plenty of common sense. To answer your question, it’s not a ship, technically speaking. It can fly through space, but it’s a space station. A lawgivers station to be precise. It’s the size of a smallish city.”
Raven turned over the idea of the craft’s size. A space city, zooming among the stars. She shook her head, overwhelmed by the idea, and concentrated on things she could hope to comprehend. “What do you mean, a lawgivers station?”
“Most of known space is claimed by my people or Vendeen’s, the Gilotheans. There are smaller territories out there run by other species, but we are the two main powers. While Paatuun is quite organized, Consolidated Collective Space, headed by Vendeen’s people, is made up largely of unconquered frontier.”
Rachel frowned. “Unconquered?” She had visions of the Roman Empire sacking small villages. “Do Vendeen’s people go around stealing planets as well as people?”
Daagiis chuckled. “No. The Collective is actually approached by sectors wishing to be part of their empire. However, it takes time and resources to put government in place.”
He grabbed her, forcing her to halt before a set of inset doors that opened. It was a blank, circular space inside, just big enough for perhaps a dozen people to stand within. Daagiis pushed her into it.
“Step aboard. The lift will take us to the living quarters section.”
“Oh, like an elevator.” Raven looked around but saw no numbered buttons denoting floors. She’d never seen such a featureless space.
Daagiis said, “Dwelling.” The door shut and the slightest whisper beneath her bare feet told Raven the lift moved. “The lift is tuned to residents’ voices. Your vocal patterns will be scanned and the places you have access to will be inputted, as well as the places you’re not allowed to go.”
I’m a prisoner, Raven thought, but that had been a pretty much forgone conclusion, hadn’t it? One thing at a time, Ranger Virtue. Gathering information comes first, so I know exactly what I’m in for.
She continued to question Daagiis. “So this Consolidated Collective is made up of like outposts and such?”
“There is a central hub of government located in the settled parts,” Daagiis said. “But where we are … probably the best way to describe it to you would be to liken it to your old time Wild West.”
Raven seized on the description, glad to finally have a solid idea of what this dimension was like. She’d gotten quite the education on the Old West, living in Arizona for several years. “I think I understand. Frontier towns, right? That’s what these outlying areas are like?”
Daagiis nodded. “Correct. Like many of America’s states and territories back in the 1800’s, you have judges and lawyers riding in a circuit. There are a few hundred of these lawgivers stations that travel frontier space. When we reach one of the planets on our route, we stop there. Civil and criminal trials are held, the guilty picked up for removal to penal colonies, and territorial sheriffs, deputies, and other law enforcement replaced as needed.”
The motion beneath Raven’s feet ceased. The doors opened in front of her and Daagiis ushered her into another corridor, one that was less congested. Only people like Vendeen, bronze-skinned, black-eyed, roamed here.
She fell into step next to Daagiis, trying not to blush as the males and a few females passing her looked her up and down with obvious interest. She was painfully aware of the clinginess of her outfit. Her nipples were blatant against the fabric of her top.
Trying to ignore the leers, Raven kept talking. “So Vendeen is a Supreme Judge on this station—”
“The Supreme Judge,” Daagiis corrected.
“Okay, the Supreme Judge. You’re his protector. That’s my job too. Have I got this right?”
“To a tee.” Daagiis stopped in front of another door and it opened for him.
Raven saw this was no empty lift this time. Her eyes immediately went to the large bed and Vendeen standing next to it, as if waiting for them. Her heart slammed hard and fast in her chest.
Apparently her expression betrayed the rush of fear, because Daagiis chuckled. He propelled her forward, pushing her until she stood only inches from Vendeen’s great bulk. The looming judge didn’t smile however. His expression was evaluating as he looked her over, again reminding her of how blatantly her body was shown off.
He didn’t leer however. He simply offered a small bow and said, “Welcome to your new home, Raven.”
With that terse greeting, Vendeen turned and moved to one of two high-backed armchairs, placed against the wall opposite the bed. He sat like a king, sinking from his great height to perch in the ornate seat. Once settled, Vendeen picked up a cut-glass goblet from the polished wood table between the chairs. He drank deeply of the reddish-gold liquid inside it. There was another goblet filled with the same drink.
Raven blinked at him. He’d removed the robe she’d first seen him in. It was impossible not to notice how his clothing, a black one-piece suit like Daagiis’, clung so lovingly to every muscled curve of his body. Defined within an inch of his life, Vendeen looked like something Michelangelo might have carved from marble. Her face heated as her nipples tightened and her sex throbbed.
Trying to distract herself from the gorgeous spec
imen of alternate-universe beefcake, Raven attended the concern that had arisen at his greeting. “My home? I was told we were going to your quarters.”
One corner of Vendeen’s mouth lifted. “My rooms and yours are the same. As is Daagiis’.”
“Hi, roomie.” Daagiis moved past her to sit in the other chair. He took up the second goblet and had an almost delicate sip.
The two men looked at Raven. She forced down rising panic and anger, determined to keep her wits about her. She was already forming an argument against the arrangement, but she needed a few seconds to settle her mind. She made a point of turning from her captors to look over the room.
The walls were all a deep eggplant purple. Overwhelming the space she stood in was the massive bed, covered in black, silky linens. The frame consisted of ornately carved wood painted a burnished gold. The design was of cavorting men and women, all engaged in lewd acts. Raven thought it should have been gaudy, a pornographic rendering of such baseness as to render the bed a piece of junk. But figures were too beautifully carved, the design flowing with such grace and artistry that she could only be awed.
She was so taken by the carvings on the head and footboard that at first she missed the metal rings attached to them. When she did notice them, her mouth went dry. Those rings were perfect for attaching ropes or chains to, to tie a person helplessly to the thick mattress. Given the artwork that made up the bed, Raven had no doubt that was exactly what they were intended for.
The corner of the room near the head of the bed was curtained off by more black fabric. Raven wondered what was hidden behind it. It was a large area to be partitioned off in such a way.
She turned her gaze to the other half of the room, a space that looked like a sitting and dining area. She frowned. Who put their bedroom section at the front of the living space instead of at the back? It was strange, but perhaps alternate quarters happened in alternate dimensions.
A wave of unreality washed over Raven. She grimly fought off the accompanying dizziness and looked over the other half of the apartment.
There was a round table with four chairs placed around it. It was more of the ponderous, carved furniture like the bed, but without the wild lustful scenes. Instead, astounding animals and beings decorated the pieces. The couch was plush however, looking like the perfect place to sink in and read a book. The armchairs flanking it also were made more for comfort than looks.
Raven drew a deep breath. It was time to pose her argument, fruitless as it no doubt would be. She was a prisoner, plain and simple. However if Vendeen was a judge, at least he should hear her case against the situation.
She turned back to him to discover he and Daagiis were still silently regarding her. Their attitudes were of patient expectancy. Raven didn’t know if they thought she would tearfully beg for her freedom, make a run for it, or try to fight her way out. It was clear that they waited for her to do something.
Ignoring the fact her clothing would show her assets to way too much advantage, Raven nevertheless drew her shoulders back and stood straight, a pose of respect while keeping an aura of authority. She addressed Vendeen.
“I protest the circumstances I was brought here under. I was misled by this man – or whatever Daagiis is – into handing over my freedom in exchange for my life. Since you are a judge, I expect you to allow me to open an inquiry into the matter. You will recuse yourself as the determining official in this case, handing it over to someone who can be objective about the matter.”
Raven half expected him to laugh at her. No, she totally expected him to laugh at her. Instead, Vendeen set his goblet on the table and crossed one knee over the other. He folded his hands over his thick, muscled thigh that was shown to just as good advantage as Raven’s.
He gave her a very serious, considering look. “I see. May I hear your concerns regarding this case?”
Well, at least she would be able to bitch about the issue, if nothing else. “Daagiis presented himself to me as a fellow … Earthling. In my dimension, just to be clear on that point. I had no idea I was being vetted for a position of slavery.”
Vendeen held up a hand, cutting her off. “Let’s cut to the chase, Raven, as any objective judge on this station would. We don’t do a lot of nitpicky details here; we simply look at the crux of the matter. To that end, did Daagiis ask you if you would like to pursue justice on this space station?”
Oh shit. Major problem. Raven barely kept herself from clenching her fists. “Yes, but I thought it was a joke! He knew I didn’t take it seriously.”
“That may be. Still, what might have been and what is are very specific things.” Vendeen regarded her with those fathomless black eyes and spoke with cold command. “You will speak the truth and nothing but the truth. If you knew then what you know now, including the fact you would be indentured to me, would you have still agreed to come here to save your life?”
Raven’s mouth popped open before she could think the question over. “Yes.”
Horror slammed in her gut. She gasped. “Hey, wait a minute. How did you make me say that?”
His voice conversational again, Vendeen said, “The collar you wear is connected directly into your brain computer matrix. It is programmed to allow Daagiis and myself to command you, and I have ordered you to tell the truth. You have no choice but to do so.”
She spluttered, “But … but the truth isn’t always black and white.”
He arched an eyebrow. “For my purposes and in this situation, it is. Now answer my next question truthfully: had you known this situation in advance, would you have accepted your circumstances as they are to capture and bring to justice this man Joshua Wills, known to us as Taambaa, who escaped his due punishment on Alt-Earth?”
“Yes.” This time Raven did clench her fists. He’d done it to her again. “Damn it, this isn’t fair!”
Daagiis’ tone was light. “No one guaranteed it would be.”
“But I would have bargained, not agreeing to the sex part—”
“Then I would have rejected you as my protector and you would have no license to hunt Taambaa,” Vendeen interrupted. He picked up his goblet once more. “Based on your testimony that you would have accepted your position as my servant and protector had you known all the facts, I reject your appeal to present your objections to another judge. You don’t have a case. So, my servant, kneel at my feet and we will discuss the situation.”
Raven stared at him. She nearly fell to her knees from shock rather than to obey his dictate. “Kneel? You have got to be kidding.”
The slow smile spreading over Vendeen’s face had no warmth at all. “I assure you, I am not. If there is one chair in the room, I sit in it and you and Daagiis kneel at my feet. If there are two chairs in the room, Daagiis and I sit and you kneel at my feet. If there is a third chair, then you may sit.”
Raven glanced at the parlor/dining area. There were chairs over there…
“You will not rearrange my living space to suit your needs. As my servant, your place is at my feet or anywhere else I choose to put you.” Vendeen regarded her, his expression as cold as ice. “If I have to command you through your collar to kneel, there will be repercussions. This is your last warning.”
Raven’s nails dug into her palms, and she glared in fury at Vendeen. She slowly sank to one knee, then the other. She made sure she was out of his immediate reach however.
He rolled his eyes over to look at Daagiis. “What a temper.”
“You never have liked the tame ones though.”
“True.” Vendeen turned his attention back to Raven. He pointed at the floor right next to his feet. “Kneel here and lower your eyes. Hands clasped behind your back. Now.”
Barely maintaining her composure, Raven moved across the space to where he indicated, walking on her knees. She was not going to crawl for this imperious son of a bitch. She stared at his feet and put her hands behind her back, lacing her fingers together.
What a prick.
Apparently satisf
ied at last, Vendeen said, “Wills, or Taambaa, is part of something much larger and more profane than you know.”
Raven had nothing to say to that. She was actually concerned if she spoke she’d be ordered to shut up and regard his word as profound truth.
The silence stretched out. At last, she released a long breath. “Fine. I’m listening.”
Vendeen sounded amused as he continued. “As with most nefarious entities, one man is behind a great deal of horrors we experience in this dimension.”
Raven pursed her lips. “You mentioned someone called Hanos before.”
“Excellent recall, considering the stress you were under when we spoke earlier. On the surface, the Hanos Corporation operates legitimately in the Consolidated Collective’s space. Construction contracts. Mining concerns. Manufacturing and banking. A myriad of businesses. A large portion of it is concerned with the Collective’s financial enterprises, so much so that if the Corporation failed, the result would cripple our economic structure. In short, the Corporation is untouchable.”
Raven considered what he was saying carefully before speaking. “I see. So the evil it does must be overlooked.”
She sensed Vendeen stiffening and dared to peek up at his face. He wasn’t looking at her. Instead, his gaze was aimed forward, as if seeing something that made him absolutely livid with fury. His eyes turned in her direction, and she quickly looked back down at his feet.
Raven had just decided she did not want Vendeen to ever look at her with that much hatred. His expression said that whoever his loathing was aimed at, he could kill that person without thinking twice and in very nasty ways.
When he spoke again, his voice was as smooth as if he’d never had an angry moment in his life. “As a whole, the Corporation must not fall. But the man in charge of it … he is another matter.”
Daagiis spoke up. “Drek Hanos, owner and CEO of the Corporation, is directly responsible for a large number of ills throughout the frontier. Drug trade, arms deals to disaffected factions, sentient being trafficking … of which your Earth has been his main source of inventory. Taambaa is but one of hundreds of agents Hanos sends in to collect men, women, and children for slavery.”
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