Darterra Saga: Book 2 Marooned, Chapter 5

I apologize once again for the delay but thing that you will find this worth the wait.

The Darterra Sagas

Marooned

Chapter 5

It All Started with a Big Bang 

Lasigna Ranch

Fortier Territory Western Darterra

The ground shook for a moment followed by a thunderous boom. The only one that was not affected or startled by this was Rafe. Who stood unconcerned as if he had expected it.

          “What was that!” Tyrell exclaimed looking in the direction of the explosion. Then looking to the three slaves who were taken just as much but surprise and given their state of helplessness to do anything but stay where they were at resulted in several deep breaths as they tried to calm themselves.

          “That,” glancing back over his shoulder, Rafe said mater of factly, “Was my ship and anyone who was inside or close by when the self-destruct was activated.” He smiled as he unclipped the leash from Pip’s collar then turned her about to unfasten the muzzle and slash the rope on her wrists. “After your little visit. I knew that it would be only a matter of time before someone else found it and decided to snoop around inside. And from what I have seen of this place so far, there were things that I personally and I am sure you as well do not want wondering off.” Lightly smacking Pip on her ass to send her back towards her owner.

          “We haven’t agreed on terms.” Tyrell grinned watching the girl being sent back to him. Then eyeing the clothes that this man was wearing. He had seen them or something like them only in books or pictures. “But as far as the contents of your ship I would have to agree.”

          “Call this a gesture of good faith.” McNally shrugged. “That and I only want what is mine and nothing else.”

          “I could simply kill you and keep them all.” He smiled menacingly.

          “You could try.” Rafe shrugged once more unconcerned. “It’s been tried before.” There was a tense silence that had followed that. One that cause both Terra and Nina to pull at their bonds and Piper to cast worried looks back and forth between the two men as she backed away. Then Blackburn grinned and let out a booming laugh that broke the tension.

          “By God I like you!” He exclaimed pointing to Rafe. “Come let’s have a drink and talk.” Looking to Piper, “Free Red so she can help you. Put Blondie back in the stall. Then the two of you grab a jug from the cellar and come serve us.”

          “Yes, Master!” she exclaimed happily, moving to obey the instruction.

 Near the Crash Site of the Starship Yakali Kole

Western Territories, Darterra

 

         

         

          Kala lifted her head and took in a long deep breath to test the air. The air was heavy with the scent of many humans. Her feline sense of smell was highly refined. She could even tell the difference between other human females and her pet that was leashed beside her. It had amused her that even though she stood nearly a full head taller, was much stronger, faster, and more agile than her human pet. Yet the things that made them female were the same. The irony of the universe and nature always amazed her. Like her mission now. She was to travel deep into the human lands to search for a starship on the chance that it would belong to the Lost Ones.

          The odds were better that her mute pet would suddenly start talking after not having said a word since she was found abandoned and left for dead at an attack sight. The Lost Ones were a race of powerful beings that had visited Darterra centuries before the Magellans showed up. It was likely she would only discover that the craft had carried more humans, probably from the Cristo sect. They were the most vile and dishonorable of the humans according to the Elders. It was said that the Cristo’s were the humans that turned on them first. The Garbeh had welcomed all of these new people to their world. Sharing their friendship and knowledge only to be treated in return as beasts.

          When the Cristos had tried to enslave the Gerbeh, the people had revolted and fought back. They took everything that they could in their escape to the Lorast Mountains, including several humans as slaves. Twice the Cristos had sent armies into the Lorast range to hunt them. Those forces had been surrounded and defeated both times, the ones not killed in the fights had either fled back to where they came. Or have been added to the herd of human slaves. It was now the law of the people that any human that entered the lands of the Gerbeh were to be enslaved or slain immediately.

          There was the roar of an explosion and the ground shook under their feet. Kala straightened her body as she listened and checked the air once more.

          “Maco, I think that could have only came from the ship we seek.” Kala told her slave pet. The girl only nodded her agreement. If she were cleaned up, Kala was certain that by human standards the raven-haired slave would be very attractive. She had noted the looks of some of the male slaves looking at her several times. Amongst her people Kala was very pretty with her soft yellow pelt with the black spots. The humans she had been told said that those that had her coloring were called Cheetahs on the world they came from. But now was not the time to think of such things. The air had been fouled by the dirt and debris from the explosion and she was not able to detect if any other than the two of them were in the immediate area.

          “I should turn back,” she said to herself more than anyone else. “ But if the Lost Ones were on that ship then they may need our help even more so now. Come, girl” tugging on the leash knotted to the collar of the pet urging her to follow.

 

 

Lasigna Ranch

Fortier Territory Western Darterra

 

 

          An hour had passed, and Tyrell and Rafe sat at a tabled inside the ranch house. Piper knelt beside Tyrell and at the other end of the table knelt Terra beside Rafe. Neither of the slaves wore a stich of clothing other that their slave collars. Both girls were listening to the conversation between their master’s but reluctant to interfere or jump into the conversation as this was still a tense situation. Piper had remained silent for the most part because that was how she was conditioned for the most part. Her family only had a couple slaves to help out and were treated for the most part like family. But she had witnessed when at friends or functions that the slaves there were to be seen and not heard. They were expected to be alert and attentive but to stay in the shadows and only speak when spoken to. Terra had been watching and taking her cues from Piper for the most part. Biting her tongue and not speaking had been hard for her. It was not part of her nature, but she trusted her master, Rafe and knew that he would not simply give Nina and the others up so easily.

          “So, you are a Master Gunner in the Union Fleets’s Marines. And Red there,” referring to Terra as he leaned in and refilled both of their glasses with some form of whiskey.

          “Yep, and she was a very talented agent up until she walked into the wrong place and wrong time and taken by slavers.” Rafe took his refilled glass and lifted it in salute then took a sip. It burned but for homemade hooch it was not bad. “Nina, the blonde, was an undercover agent who’s cover was blown. And the girl in the barn Marla was foolish enough to try sneaking into a slaver’s operation trying to rescue Terra.”

          “What about the other girl in the stall with, Marla you called her?” Ty taking a sip and leaning back in his chair. He has suspected that this Rafe was a Union Marine by the clothing that he had worn. Old Lasigna has several books in the house when they had found him weak and near death a couple years ago. Piper had fussed and nursed him back to health that time. But a year later his body finally gave out and he passed on. But they had told of the Union of Starfaring Worlds. Some of the officers and crew of the ill-fated SS Magellan had once served in the Union Fleet.

          “Let’s just say when I learned where the slavers had taken Terra here. I called in a few favors from some highly placed individuals. The high command while not wanting to lose an agent of her quality and knowledge. Was reluctant to take such bold and aggressive steps as I put in motion. They were highly pissed off at me in fact for doing what they should have done. It was only when they had to back me or look like the chairwarmers they were that I not only got some backing and support, but orders to acquire Terra and Marla but to buy four more slaves for an under operation to be run by Nina. That is where Naomi came into the picture as one of the four slaves I bought. The other three being the exotics as you call them.” Taking another sip. “From what our data banks and her papers say, she was a Union medic at one time. The information is not clear and I have had the time to talk with her to find out if she was sneaking medical supplied to the local and got caught by slavers or was selling supplies on the black market and was betrayed and sold to slavers.”

          “Sounds like you have a legal claim to all the slaves. Except for the fact that all but Red there are still locked in my chains and stable.” Tyrell leaned back and looked across the table at Rafe. “So how do you figure to get them back? I doubt that you have any gold to buy them back. And you just blew up your ship and everything you have or had except that slave and the clothes on your back.”

          “For starters, I still am not sure where the hell that I am.” McNally nodded in agreement at the lack of means available to him. “But the best place for all of them, including Terra here, is in the chains of a slave. If they were freed of the collar and chains of a slave, they might draw unwanted attention to themselves. So, wearing chains and working this ranch is the best place for them.”

          “Bless your military thinking mind, Lad!” Laughing hard at the practical answer and solution for the moment that McNally had just laid out before him. He needed more slaves and now he had a total of 8 counting Piper and Red. The three chained in the tack room would still be a problem. But if they were kept out of sight staying in the barn and stables during the day. Legally, his claim on the other six slaves was weak except for the fact that McNally did not know how precarious his position was on this world. “You’re on Darterra.” He noted the reaction from both the slave at McNally’s feet and himself at that news.

          “Fleet navigation charts and records say that Darterra is at the edge of the explored galaxy and is an unhabitable rock.” Mac responded with a raised eyebrow.

          “Yet you are here and that hardly looks like an uninhabitable rock outside that door.” Ty smiled.

          “Master,” Terra spoke up, “Those surveys were done by the Cristo Corporation over 100 years ago. If this is Darterra, then how could they have been so wrong.?”

          “One hundred and forty-eight years most likely,” Tyrell offered. That he offered such an exact number didn’t go unnoticed by Rafe.

          “According to Fleet records and intelligence,” Terra went on further. “This sector is mostly uninhabitable, has not strategically value, and home to a few warlords and pirates.”

          “Simple, someone lied.” Rafe answered, which drew a smile and nod from Tyrell.

          “Are you saying that Union Command and the intelligence knew of this place the whole time and was keeping it a secret.” A bewildered Terra looked at him, then added after a stern look from her younger but more experienced sister in bondage, Piper. “Master.”

          “No. I don’t think it is anyone in the Fleet that knew about this.” Putting the puzzle together as he talked it out. “While Union ships have explored and charted several sectors and regions of known space. They haven’t covered all of it. Their navigations charts and intelligence information is compiled from not only their data, but data received from other worlds in the Union as well as,” Rafe paused as the next piece fell into place, “from civilian sources.” Tyrell nodding and smiled again. He knew something. “Something tells me that while you may not know it all, Blackburn. You know something that brings it all together.”

          “SS Magellan,” Was all he said.

          “What?” Terra puzzled, then adding after another stern look from Piper, “Master.” That was also noted by both Tyrell and Rafe.

          “The SS Magellan, if it is the same one that I am thinking of disappeared with all hands and a couple hundred colonist, what 200 years ago.” Rafe offered.

          “Two hundred and fifty actually,” Tyrell corrected. Then to Piper, “Check on the slaves in the tack room. Then put the other three in leg shackles and put them to work. We’ve got to get cooking fires going and water carried because we have more mouths to feed.”

          “Red, come with me.” Piper looked to Terra as she rose to her feet.

          “Red, will be staying with her Master while I talk to him.” Tyrell held up one hand motioning for Terra to remain where she was. This did not please Piper in the least. But her Master had spoken so she turned and left for the stables.

          “What does that have to do with any of what is going on.” Terra pressed.

          “I think I might know.” Rafe answered, nodding as the pieces seemed to fall into place. Seeing Tyrell across the table giving him a go-ahead gesture with his hand. “SS Magellan was a colony ship that launched 250 years ago. Contact was lost after they reported attempting to jump into the slip stream during an attack by marauders. Nothing was heard from them again.”

          “And they ended up here?” she asked.

          “It would seem that way. More importantly, the SS Magellan was flagged as a Union ship, but it was financed and owned by the Cristo Corporation.”

          “They seem to be everywhere.” She groaned.

          “That they are, girl” laughed Tyrell. “And wherever you find them. Expect to find nothing good.”

          “We’ve had some dealings with the Cristo Corporation.” Rafe explained.

          “I got that impression by the seven beauties in Corporation designed and issued slave collars.” Tyrell laughed again picking up a glass and having a drink.

          “Which brings up an interesting question. How did you get those collars off the slaves?” Rafe asked picking up his own glass holding it out to Terra to refill it. At first she was taken aback, then picked up the bottle and refilled his glass first then rising and refilling Tyrell’s. “Those collars have only been around the last 10-15 years. How did you just happen to not only know what they were but have a master key to open them on a planet that has been cut off for over 200 years?”

          “But we haven’t been cut off.” Taking a drink then sitting the glass back on the table. Pausing to admire the curves of Terra exposed body. “While it predates me by a few years. Most of what I know came from stories that old man Lasigna, his father was a young midshipman on the Magellan. And from what has been passed down from those with no love for the Corporation.

          “Their long-range communication was seriously damaged during the fight with marauders. As were their navigation computers. When they exited the slipstream, they had no fix on where they were. Darterra was the closest habitable planet in range, so they attempted to land here. But the Magella was too badly damaged and once she sat down that was it for her. She was broken up and used for building materials and anything else that could be salvaged and used. Captain Sullivan did his best to try and maintain control. But the Cristo people were not willing to let that stand and undermined him at every turn. All attempts at reestablishing contact with the home worlds of the Union failed. One morning Captain Sullivan was found dead and pronounced that he died in his sleep.

          “Cristo started taking over. It was decreed that Earth and the Union had abandoned and forgotten us. That the Cristo Corporation would help save us. But within 15 years of sitting down we were on the road to destruction. The indigenous people of this world were a feline race called the Garbeh. Corporate headquarters in New London had saw them as ignorant pawns to be used for what they knew or slave labor. But they revolted and vanished into those mountains to the West called the Lorast Mountains. They also took over 100 of our people as prisoners and slaves with them.” He paused to take a drink. “The Corporation sent four armed parties into those mountains over the years and only a handful of survivors returned to tell their stories. Over time supplies were exhausted and equipment simply wore out. We regreased technologically, and the Corporation’s answer was that we could not afford to maintain a penal system so all the convicted were declared as slaves to work in whatever capacity they were needed. Most saw the logic and need until people were being arrested and enslaved for the most minor infractions or trumped-up charges.”

          “All very interesting, but it still doesn’t explain how you got your hands on a master collar key.” Rafe interrupted.

          “Patience, boy. Patience. I’m getting to that.” Laughed Blackburn. “Even with slave labor with worn out tools and broken equipment and the knowledge of how to fix or replace them. Our days were numbered. Then things started turning around for the better. The people were told that some old long-lost manuals and books were found that help the Corporation. Only the top-level officials knew that was not the case. I did some ‘research’ of my own in a district headquarters for Cristo. I learned that it was not long-lost books that helped. But they had been in contact with the home worlds. Not only that but that Corporation ships had been landing and suppling their Darterra counterparts with everything that they needed to retain control.”

          “And that is where you happened to find a collar key?” Nodded Rafe following the line of the conversation as Terra looked in disbelief.

          “Only the most prized slaves of the top-level officers and executives of Cristo’s regional and district headquarters wear the collar like your slaves did. One of the perks of position and rank, is that you get the best of everything.” Snorted Tyrell.

          “And you took the key so that you might liberate one of the Corporations slaves for yourself?” Rafe had to admit that it was not a bad idea. Nothing would sting the pride of a egocentric power-hungry executive like looking one of their prize toys. He glanced out the open door at the slave Piper who was encouraging Marla and Naomi about the chores she gave them with a slender switch. She was young and beautiful enough to have been a prized slave. Motioning to the door, “Piper?”

          “No, not her. But if I had not found her when I did. She might have eventually found herself in the chains of a Cristo Executive pleasure den.” Tyrell paused to take a long deep breath. “No, a few years while I was away. Not that it would have mattered if I had been home. But my wife and daughter had caught the eye and attention of a visiting rising star in the Corporation. When his attempts at charm and flattery failed. He sent his men to taken them back in slave chains. I know that, if they live, and I pray that they do, they are slaves in one of those dens. I took the key so when I find out where they are I can go bring them home.”

          Both Rafe and Terra looked at Tyrell but didn’t say a word allowing him to think of those he loved and who were taken from him. Rafe had now doubt that taking back his wife and daughter was only part of it. The other part was finding the man that ordered it and making him die long and slow. Rafe was also reasonably sure that Tyrell also knew and understand that even if he found them, years of being a pleasure slave might have scared them to the point that they might now be able to readjust to the life they once knew. That they might have to remain slaves even with him. He had seen it before. Glancing at Terra, if he had not acted as quickly as he had and got her back. That might have been the case with her as well once she had ‘broken’ collar and her new way of life.

          “But that brings up another point,” Tyrell said returning to the moment. “With what you have told me about yourself and Red there. As well as the others. It may only be a matter of time before someone puts two and two together and realizes that the thorn in their side on Darterra is the same one that thought themselves rid of elsewhere. Cristo has poisoned the minds of many that the Union is not their friend. My best advice to you is to get rid of those Union clothes you’re wearing. Even without insignia, sooner or later, someone is going to recognize then for what they are.”

          Rafe nodding in agreement with the sound reasoning and logic of what Tyrell had just said. He wanted to stay off radar as long as he possibly could. It was still too soon to tell, but he was reasonably sure that he had found an ally in Tyrell, if not a friend in time. It was clear that had he wished. They would all be in the hands of the Cristo Corp.

          “I would take it a step further,” Tyrell went on, “I would rename the slave Red there. Terra is not a common name for anyone let alone a slave on Darterra. I would suggest that she and the others remain slaves. And that you rename her and maybe blondie as they are the ones that are likely to be known the best to the Corporation system. You might think of a new name for yourself as well.”

 

 

         

Cristo Corporate Headquarters

New London, Darterra

 

          Barin Ritter looked out the window of his office at the busy streets below. Something was going on in the Western District. He detested the Western District, the only good thing that he knew came from there were the delicious slaves Cass and Ela that he had brought back with him a few years ago when on a fact-finding trip. They were delightful slaves that once they accepted what they were and only were, had been a delight to own. They had been mother and daughter, which made them very popular when he was entertaining associates and superiors.

          Now there were reports of previously undocumented crashed starship in that area. It might be nothing. But then there was an alert to watch for and intercept a ship that could be entering this region of space. His pirate fleet had been mobilized and been sent out to intercept the ship. Yet, here was a report from the captain of the airship Sullivan, named after that fool who had crashed his ship on this back water hell hole. To complicate matters, the third nephew of the Directors wife had been assigned to accompany a patrol out to investigate. The patrol had not been heard from having missed the last two check ins, With his luck the ass kissing  little boot licker when and got himself killed and now he would have to explain how that happened to the home office on Earth.

Chapter 5 status update

 

    Just a quick note to let everyone know that Chapter 5 will probably not be posted until the first part of next week. I have had several pressing matters to deal with this week. Plus there are some new characters and elements that I am introducing that are not coming together like I would like them to so it is taking a little longer for everything to fall into place.

But believe me it will be worth the wait. 

Darterra Sagas: Book 2 Marooned, Chapter 4

The Darterra Sagas

Marooned

Chapter 4

The Enemy of My Enemy….

 

Crash Site of the Starship Yakali Kole

Western Territories, Darterra

 

                   Rafe looked around the dimly lit interior of the cargo bay. Magdella and the others were gone. And as far as he could tell neither Terra nor Nina had returned to the ship. Had that air ship returned? He didn’t think so, he would have seen something that big in the sky. Unless they were closer to civilization than he thought they were the chances of someone coming out to investigate were slim as well. There was always the distinct possibility that he had misjudged or been fooled by the slave from Thetanu. But he didn’t see the Latorian or the Psitauian working together to take control of the human slaves including his two-armed scouts. And those two should have been back long before now. They had far less area to cover that he did. Something didn’t add up, how seven women had vanished. Inside the hull of the ship there had been too much foot traffic to distinguish footprints.

          In the area immediately around the wreck it was the same inside. Tracks on top of track and nearly impossible to tell one from another. Fanning out in a wider circle of the ship, he found what he was looking for, boot tracks. The boot tracks of a large man to be exact, and not his. Squatting down to study the patterns in the tracks, Rafe was slowly able to piece some things together. Neither Terra nor Nina had returned from their scouting patrol. But a lone man had came from the direction they should have.

          Rising up slightly but not standing upright fully, he slowly started in a circle pattern around the ship once more.

          “There!” he said to himself aloud pointing to the ground, then continued with his interpretation. “The man came in from over there from the direction the girls should have come. He was alone. He departed leaving the ship headed in that direction to the South-Southwest.” Scanning the ground more then nodding to himself. “Several sets of smaller tracks, female, barefoot, moving in a single file. More than likely in a throat coffle. He was herding them like a sheep dog, close enough to keep them moving but far enough out to scout the way.”

          Rafe stood and looked out in the direction that the tracks had gone. Whoever had taken the slaves was good. The girl, Magdella, had done as he had told her and not put up a fight. The question was who had taken them and were. More importantly, did he have the other two as well. He’d bet a month’s pay that they were with the others, if not already then they soon would be.

          There was something else that was bothering him. So, he returned to the ship for another look around this time more detailed search and check. It didn’t take long to find what he had overlooked before. Tossed into a pile in one corner, covered with debris, there were seven slave collars. Whoever took the slaves from here, had taken Nina and Terra first, removed their collars and brought them back here. Why? Next question would be how did he remove the collars, when the key was in his pocket.

          There was something about the collars that the intruder didn’t want to take them with him. Why would he not want the collars to remain on the girls? He would want to replace the collars, but why here and why bring the other two back here? Then it hit him as he muttered under his breath. Moving to the armory he found nothing missing. Infirmary, nothing was missing. All the supplies that had the girls gather were still there.

          Whoever was behind this didn’t want anything to do with modern or advanced technology. They knew enough to recognize it when they saw it. And had a means to remove the collars without cutting or damaging them. Very interesting. Rafe would have many questions when he located this man and his girls. Then another thought crossed his mind. This location had been compromised once. It might be again. And if this person was smart enough to not want. What a minute, of course. The collars had a tracking locator ability built into them. So, by removing and leaving them here, the girls could not be tracked by their collar. But was this man not wanting him to find them or for someone else to track them.

          Just to be on the safe side, Rafe set several booby traps about the ship. All were motion activated, and when triggered, they would begin the self-destruct protocols to destroy the ship. There were too many things that would not be good if they fell into the wrong hands. And the man he was hunting knew enough to leave them alone.

 

 

Stables of the Lasigna Ranch

Fortier Territory Western Darterra

 

                The outer door to the stables opened and Terra and Nina strained to see out of their stall who had entered. They could faintly hear the sound of soft bare feet walking down the row of stalls towards theirs. In a few seconds a young woman stepped into view. She looked to be in her late teens more likely her early twenties. She had light brown hair and dark eyes, she was very beautiful. She was also wearing a slave collar like them. Unlike them she was more dressed than they were as while she just had a loin cloth to cover her pelvic region, she had a skimpy bikini type halter top to wear. In each hand she carried a bucket with something in it.

          “Well hello sleepy heads.” She grinned at them both, “And welcome to your new home for the time being.” When she sat down the pales they noticed that one was filled with water, and the other held some sort of mush.

          “Where are we and why are we chained up like this? Who are you and where are our clothes.” Nina fired off. She knew the answers already of course, all but one of the questions that being where they were.

          “Well, aren’t you full of yourself, Blondie.” The girl smiled at her with a knowing smile well beyond her years. “Just so we understand one another and there are no misunderstandings. I am a slave because a blonde-haired tight ass snooty bitch just like you didn’t like me because I was smarter that she was. So, I am going to make this simple. I am Piper or as our Master calls me sometimes, Pip. Yes, I am a slave. And if the collar, chains and being half naked wasn’t enough of a clue so are you and Red here.” Nina looked like she was about to explode, and Terra was doing her best not to start laughing. Without another word, girl Piper walked over to a high shelf and took down two bowls and two rough looking cups. She filled one cup with water from one of the pales she had brought in, offering it to Terra. “Am I going to have problems with you too, Red?”

          “No, Piper, none at all,” Terra smiled and accepted the cup and was grateful for something to drink. There was a time and place. They were chains slaves in a stable. Angering the one person who might be able to help them or at least tell them more about this world they were trapped on was not the right move. Terra extended the cup back with her chained wrists. “I would like some more if I may, please.”

          “It seems that, you have the right attitude, Red.” Piper smiled and refilled the cup while Nina watched still thirsty. Then turning to Nina. “What about you, Blondie?”

          Nina stiffened in her chains, and it was plain to see that she wanted to say something so badly. “May I please have something to drink, Piper?”

          “That is more like it.” Piper smiled and filled the second cup handing it to Nina. Then with a spoon dipped two big scoops of the mush into the bowls and handing one to each of them. “I won’t lie to you it tastes as bad as it looks. But Master said that he is not wasting good supplies on Cristo spies, slaves or not.”

          “Cristo spies!” Terra almost choked. “You think we are with them?’

          “You were wearing their slave collar. At least that is what Master said. I have never seen anything like them before.” Pip nodded.

          “We were wearing slave collars designed by the Cristo Corporation, but we are not with them. In fact, they are the reason we are here. They were trying to kill all of us and our Master.” Explained Terra.

          “That will be up for Master to decide. But till he does, you both are now property of the Lasigna Ranch and owned by my Master, Tyrell Blackburn.” Terra started to object but Pip raised her hand to stop her. “You were captured in what we called the Badlands. And at the time you had Cristo slave collars one, both of you.” Terra nodded, Nina was still sulking at this young slave speaking to her like that. “When we searched and stripped you both. Both of you had the mark of a slave branded into your left butt cheek.” Both of them unconsciously reached back with one hand and felt the mark on their left flanks at that being pointed out to them. “And now your old collars are gone, and you wear the collars of your new owner.” Pip smiles at both. “And who do you belong to now?” Ensuring that her point was made.

          “I am the slave of Tyrell Blackburn and the Lasigna Ranch,” Terra answered.

          “I belong to Tyrell Blackburn and this ranch.” Nina responded after a hard look from Pip who had glanced at a switch that hung on the entrance to the stall out of their reach but not her’s.

          From outside they heard a booming and gruff male voice calling for Pip who left them to go open the door to the stables and look out.

          “Master’s back.” She informed them. Then opening the door for him, she stepped out of the way.

 

          Terra and Nina heard the sound of several sets of bare feet entering the stables. Straining against their chains to the limits of their reach as they were each chained to a separate wall by an ankle and to each other by a common neck chain fasted to their collars. Their mouths dropped open as they watch a coffle of neck roped slaves entering the stables, led by Magdella, then Druilla, Olaca, Naomi, and Marla at the end. All had been silenced with leather muzzles and their hands bound behind their backs with rope.

          The look of shock and surprise was on the faces and in the eyes of both groups was evident. The sight of Terra and Nina half naked and chained as slaves in a stall of the stables already, caused most of the newly arrived slaves to make muffled noises coming from their well-muzzled mouths. Both the girls in the stall exchanged looks. If the other five slaves had been taken from the wreckage, what happened to Rafe? Not that the other five girls could have done much to help from back where they had been left. But now all seven were back in one place and in chains once more. Only this time with a new owner.

          Marla and Naomi were removed form the neck rope and placed in a stall further down the line from Terra and Nina’s stall. There they were knelt on the straw. Then secured in the same manner as the two ill fated scouts, chained by the ankle to the stall wall, collars connected by a common chain, and their wrists freed from behind their backs only to be shackled before them. Pip gave each of them a cup of water and bowl of mush as their master removed the muzzles.

          “I do not wish to hear much from you slaves unless I ask you something.” The man told all of them. “If you make a bunch of noise calling to one another. Then all of you will be muzzled and lose the use of your hands to eat and care for yourself.” He didn’t feel the need to expand on the matter, nor did he have to. They all understood.

          “What stall do you wish the other three slaves, Master?” Pip asked pointing to the Madella, Druilla, and Olaca still standing in the middle of the passage between the stalls.

          “Those three, we will need to keep out of sight. We’ll chain them to the walls of the tack and storage room. After they are chained and given food and water, lock the door so none can look in.”

          “Yes, Master,” she nodded as she went to Magdella and led her to the door, opening it and herding Magdella and the others inside where they were removed from the neck rope then led to one of the walls of the room. Each was knelt by a different wall were they were chained by the neck. None of their neck chains could reach the other two. Once they were secured in place, all fed and watered, she exited the room and locked the door.

          “Pip, I am going to talk with our first two newly acquired slaves and see what I can learn from them. While I am doing that, I want you to go out and erase the tracks of this last bunch of slaves coming here. I don’t want to lead those Cristo bastards back here.’

          “Yes Master,” she nodded and started off as he turns to go collect one of the slaves.

 

Forest Path East of the Lasigna Ranch

Fortier Territory Western Darterra

 

          Piper was lost in thought as she made her way down the path towards the meadow where the strange ship had crashed. She was amazed and puzzled at how much her Master seemed to know about these strangers. She had never seen collars such as these slaves had been wearing. They were lighter that the ones that she and they now wore. The ones they had worn were much more advanced that her’s as well. Master had said they were powered by the body heat of the wearers’ body. That it was also possible for the girl to monitored, tracked, and even punished from a distance.

          She was not sure that she liked the idea of someone watching her so closely. It was bad enough being a slave sometimes without someone monitoring your every move. She hated to admit it, but she didn’t mind being a slave. Her life was much simpler now. Before she had to worry about pleasing and making so many people happy. No matter what she did it was never enough. Now she only had to worry about pleasing and making one person happy, her Master. And even from the very beginning, he had treated her with nothing but kindness and compassion. Which had been completely opposite of those that had tricked her.

          Even though he had found her in a slave trap, naked and wearing a leather animal collar locked on her neck. While he had crossed and bound her ankles and wrists after releasing her from the trap. Piper now understood that was not to keep her prisoner as much as it was to keep her from running off and getting into more trouble while he disabled and destroyed the trap. Once the trap was no longer a threat to her or anyone else. He had picked her up in his massive arms and carried her back to the Ranch house. Master Lasigna was still living then. At the ranch she had not been chained or caged but placed on bedding on the floor near the fireplace, where she was nursed back to health.

          When she recovered, Piper had made a crude dress out of an old blanket. She cooked and cleaned for them and more. There was so much to be done, and the ranch slaves had either been stolen, sold, or ran off. She suspected the kindness and gentleness she was shown was because she reminded him a little of his own missing daughter that was a slave somewhere. It was only after she had fully recovered and it was offered to escort her back to her family, that she had refused to go and pleaded to be allowed to stay with them. Even if that meant she had to become a slave which she did without hesitation, stripping herself and offering herself in submission.

          Deciding that she was far enough out from the ranch. She took up a small branch and started to erase the tracks of the coffle of slaves. There were enough bends and forks in the trail that it would be nearly impossible to find the way to the ranch. She softly hummed to herself as she went about her task still lost in thought. Piper was so intent on erasing the tracks that she didn’t notice the man who had stepped onto the trail behind her. He watched her as he leaned against a tree letting her get closer to him. It wasn’t until a loop of rope dropped down over her head and then quickly tighten pinning her arms to her side that she was aware that she was not alone and cried out.

          “If you are going to wonder around out here in the wilds, girl.” The man said as he pulled her closer to him with the rope in his hand. “You really should be more aware of your surroundings.

 The man was not as old as her master but had the same hardness in his face and eyes as her master did. He was wearing a black wide brimmed hat and his clothing looked like they had been part of a uniform of some sort she was not familiar with.

          “Yes, Master, you startled me.” She responded. She needed to buy time and play dumb till she could get away and warn her Master that the owner of the new slaves was near. “I was just out checking my snares to see if I had caught anything for dinner.”

          “And do you always check your snares by brushing the ground with the leaves of a broken branch?” He laughed.

          “No, Master.” She shook her head. She had been caught in a lie already. Granted the checking snares had been a weak lie at best and might only fool someone that rarely left the comforts of civilization and had never had to forage for their next meal. Her gut instincts were that this man had spent more time away from the civilization than he had enjoying them. There was something about him that disturbed her though. She was his captive, and she knew that he would not tolerate noncompliance with his wishes. But she wasn’t scared of him, in many ways he reminded of the gentle giant that owned her.

          “I have lost some very fragile items, a couple of them very important to me. And you were attempting to brush away the tracks of which some of those items were taken.” As he was saying this, he tightened the rope and secured it where her arms were trapped. Then turned her about and pulled her wrists behind her back and lashed them together tightly with some sort of cord or rope, she could not tell or see what it was. She gasped as his hands were on her and touching her as she was searching for anything she might be hiding. His hands had missed nothing, yet she had not felt like she had been groped or that there was anything more to it than just a search. No crude comments or innuendos had been made while it was done. “I have the notion that you might know where my lost items are. Don’t you, girl.” He had said after spinning her around to face him as he looked into her eyes.

          “I…” she started to answer then stopped. This man was no fool and if she attempted to treat him as one would only make things worse. He was being firm but gentle with her. There was no mistaking that she was under his control and that he would learn what he needed to know the easy way or the hard way, either way it was up to her. Then she remembered that her Master was doing the exact same thing back home with Blondie and Red. Karma was a bitch. Then with a heavy sign, “Yes, Master. I know where your missing slaves are.”

          “I knew as much,” He smiled. “So, you know where all nine of my slaves are then.”

Her eyes grew wide at the mention of nine slaves. Master and her had only collected a total of 7 girls.

“Master, we only found and collected 7 slaves. I swear!” He smiled at her. Damn him! He had baited and tricked her into confirming how many they had.

“Who is we?” Rafe pressed.

“My Master and myself, He used me to help him catch the first two. Then later he showed up with five more, three of them, were unlike anything that I had ever seen before.” She responded, nodding her head.

“I doubt that you have.” Rafe laughed, then looking the girl over. She was young, he would guess in her early 20’s. Nicely figured and pretty. She did not wear the mark of a slave on her left flank, but she did have a steel collar locked about her neck proclaiming her the property of the Lasigna Ranch, which with her few clothing made it pretty obvious that she was a slave. That she had referred to him and the holder of the collar’s key as Master was also a dead giveaway. “None of us are from around here. So what are you called?”

“My name is Piper, Master. By my Master usually just calls me Pip.” She answered with a smile as she thought of her Master.

“Well, Pip. I have you now. And your master has my girls. I think you need to take me to him so we can talk.” The man smiled as he took a leather leash out and snapped it to her collar. “But I don’t want you letting him know we are coming before I am ready. So you will be wearing this too.” Taking out a muzzle and inserting it into her mouth then binding it in place. From her eyes he could tell that she didn’t like that. But hey, she was a slave and what she liked didn’t really matter. Picking up his rifle, they started back down the trail the way she had come. The tracks there, not having been wiped out yet were easy to follow.

 

          Lasigna Ranch

Fortier Territory Western Darterra

 

 

Tyrell had finished with the redhaired slave. She was very intelligent and seemed very forthcoming with the answers to his questions. She had only felt the initial fall of the lash on her back to let her know the price for withholding or seeming to withhold or lie to him. And as bizarre as her story sounded, he pretty much believed that she was once an intelligence agent for the Union Fleet, that she had been in the wrong place at the right time and found herself a slave. If the ingenious stunts pulled off by the man she claimed to be her master and owner were only half true. This Rafe McNally is someone that he would like to meet and talk with. But there was much that remained to be seen. Now the slave was kneeling on the porch of the house bound and muzzled. There had been little chance that slaves in the stables had heard her answers, but he wanted her chained out here so that he could see her reactions to the answers to the blonde while it was her turn at the whipping post.

It only took a couple of moment to retrieve the blonde slave from her stall in the slave stables. Like the red head she was nicely curved and very nice to look at or upon. Pip might like the idea of more slaves to help with all the work and chores. But he doubted that she would be thrilled to sleep in the stables while the red haired one or this blonde served his needs some nights. Then there were the two olive skinned beauties in the stables as well. The three exotics he was still not sure what to do with other then leaving them locked away hidden. He rarely had visitors, but with the crash having been spotted. It would only be a matter of time before patrols were sent out to investigate it. The four new human slaves he could make something up to cover how he gained four new slaves since his last taxes were collected. He might even have to give one of them up for taxes if there were Corporation agents in the patrol. If it came to that then maybe one of the ones in the stalls. The redhead was prime slave flesh, and this blonde showed promise of delight with the right motivation.

“Now, girl tell me who you are and how you came to be here.” Tyrell demanded of Nina

“I am Lt. Nina Ritter of the Union Naval service. You need to let me, and my friends go immediately!” Then she screamed as the leather of the whip kissed her back.

“Who are you?”

“Lt. Nina Rit..” the leather bit her once more and she screamed again.

“Who are you?”

“A slave only a slave, Master.” Tears rolling down her cheeks as her pride crumbled. Terra’s face was tear stained as well. Then she looked out at the distance. Tyrell noted her reaction and looked in the same direction. Terra did the same and mumbled “Master” into the gag as they watched Rafe walking towards them with Piper on a leash. She was bound and gagged as well.

“I take it that you must be McNally,” laughed Tyrell. “It seems that you have something that belongs to me.”

“I am and I could say the same about you.” Nodding to the collared and stripped Terra and Nina. “And yes I am McNally. And I have come here to talk and trade.”

“What can you have to trade?” Blackburn boomed.

“How about I give you back this slave I caught out there alone. And you can return the slaves that belong to me that you are holding.” Rafe smiles back with an expression that betrayed nothing.

“Seven slaves, some exotics, for one slave. That hardly seems fair now does it.” Tyrell countered.

“It is what it is.” Rafe shrugged. “I want my slaves back.”

“And I want mine, but not at seven for one.” He laughed as Piper stomped her foot and mumbled something into her gag.

“Well, maybe we come up with something.” Rafe rubbed his chin. “How about we compromise. You get Piper back, and I will get Terra back. The rest can work the ranch till we can work something out.”

“I see why you want that one.” He laughed hard. “But I can work with that.”

 

Crash Site of the Starship Yakali Kole

Western Territories, Darterra

   

 

Inside the wreckage of the Yakali Kole, two enlisted troopers of the Home Guard of the Cristo Corporation looked over the shattered controls of the bridge. Each time one of them attempted to access the computer, the panel sizzled while popping and cracking. One of the troopers jumped back shaking his hand that had been burned by a hot wire. Cursing under his breath.

“Private Hanson!” came a sharp reprimand from behind them. “That is not proper language for a professional soldier to be using.”

“My apologies, Lt Crenshaw. It will not happen again.” Hanson responded then thought to himself that Crenshaw was a tight assed stuff shirt that couldn’t put his boots on the right feet if his steward didn’t set them up for him.

“What have you discovered.” Crenshaw demanded.

“Nothing yet, Lt Crenshaw.” Answered Hanson.

“Lieutenant, I may have something,” called Private Smyth.

“That’s more like it! What have you got, Smyth?” Crenshaw pleased with the news.

“I am not exactly sure, Lieutenant. The volume was turned off on the panel and I am not familiar with this design. But the Computer is saying something.”

“Then turn it up, Man! Turn it up!” ordered the Officer impatiently. Symth rotated the dial to increase the volume.

“15…14..13..12..” came a mechanical female voice.

“What is the meaning of this!” Crenshaw demanded.

“8…7…6…5..”

“Oh, bloody hell!” groaned Hanson figuring it out a fraction of a second before the others.

 

 

Darterra Sagas: Book 2 Marooned: Chapter 3

The Darterra Sagas

Marooned

Chapter 3

Uncharted Territories and Some Things Never Change

 

Crash Site of the Starship Yakali Kole

Western Territories, Darterra

 

          “I think that they are gone now, Master.” Nina called back over her shoulder to Rafe who was standing beside Terra.

          “Terra, Nina, get the others lined up I want to talk to them all. I need to go take care of a couple things.” Leaving the two women to look to one another wondering what he had up his sleeve this time. But doing as he instructed they gathers the other five slaves and placed them in line on their knees for when Master returned. Marla was still not pleased that she was included with the others. The girl Naomi seemed more accepting of her status. The Thetanuian was remarkably calm and at peace with that she was now. It was almost eerie. The Psiteuian was accepting of being a slave simply because she had been a slave all of her life. She did take great joy and pleasure that her former owner and Mistress was now a slave like her. Which brought them to the Latorian girl who was only kept in line by the threat of punishment.

          In a few moments, Rafe returned carrying some clothing and some weapons which he laid at the side of the room. He walked over to the kneeling slaves looking them over closely. They were all very beautiful and the prospect that all of them including Terra and Nina was not at all displeasing to him. But that air ship had upset the balance that he was trying to maintain. Seven slaves where easier to keep an eye on and in check then seven head strong free women. And the two that he had known the best, had settled into their roles as slave remarkably well. But somehow he didn’t think they would mind at all with the changes he had in mind for them.

          “All of you are slaves. I paid for all of you and now own all of you.” He said as he walked about the group of kneeling slaves, Nodding to Terra and Nina to join the others to test their reaction. He got the response he expected, as they stripped out of the skimpy clothing he had allowed them as they knelt with the other slaves. He really liked the thought of owning the two of them. If there was only another way. “I have appointed Terra and Nina as the high slaves in this group. All of you will continue to obey them as if everything that they say comes from me.

          “Now this is the situation in which we find ourselves in. We are on a distant world that as far as I can tell is called Darterra. There is little or no information in the ship’s computers on this world.” When he said the name of the planet he saw a flicker of recognition in the eyes of the Thetanuian girl. He had to wonder what she knew, but this was not the time. Right now, he needed to scout the area and find a place for all of them to set up a base camp before that ship returned or someone sent by their people. “Ideally, I would leave Terra or Nina to watch over the rest of you while one of them joined me in a reconnaissance of the area. But I need both of them.” Pointing to the both of them, “There are clothing and weapons for you both over there. There is also a key to remove the collars you wear. Get dressed and gear up.”

          “Yes, Master.” They both said as they looked to one another then stood up and went to the clothing and weapons.

          “Why am I not going with them.” Demanded Marla. An act that earned her hard looks from all but the red skinned slave girl who had wondered the same but smart enough not to say it.

          “Master,” the Thetanuian slave hissed at her before anyone else could speak. “He is our Master, and we are his slaves and shall do as he wishes us to do.” This was first time that she had really spoken more than simple acknowledgement of commands given to her.

          “And that is why you will remain in chains,” Rafe informed the bold young former officer. “Against my better judgement I was about to have you take charge of the others in Nina and Terra’s absence. But now that is out of the question. So instead of getting everything we need gathered up and ready to be moved while we are scouting. I am going to have to confine all of you till we get back and hope that ship or its people don’t return in the meantime.”

          “Master, if I may speak?” came the sultry voice of the pale skinned slave.

          “Yes, you may,” He turned to regard her, noting for the first time how intoxicating her beauty was. Perhaps that is why they were so rarely seen outside of their realm. “What are you called?”

          “My name is Magdella if that pleases you, Master.” She smiled and paused. “I hesitate to use the phrase, my people. As I am the result of an unauthorized and considered failed experiment.” She now had the attention of every one of them regardless if she wanted it or not. “As it was unsanctioned by the Royal family, and I was not accepted either my people or yours. To cover some of the cost of the project, I was sold as a slave. So, I have no illusions about what I am. And am I may only be half Thetanuian, but my people are an honorable people, and I will be the best slave that I can be to you.”

          Rafe had heard stories of this girl’s people all his life from friends and crewmates of his father to his own after he had enlisted. All the stories were basically the same. Thetanuians were a very intelligent and honorable culture, however they considered themselves superior to other species in the known galaxy and had very little contact with the other races and cultures. Magdella certainly lived up to the descriptions of their women that he had heard. Given their attitude of superiority towards others and that she was not a pure blood. He was not surprised that she was seen as being inferior by them, that destroying her would be seen as a waste, so disposing of her in a slave market would be logical to them. By the same token, why she saw nothing wrong with being sold into slavery and only a slave to serve and please those she belonged to. Her sense of honor and obedience would make her the perfect choice for the high slave now that he needed Terra and Nina as scouts.

          “Master,” the green skinned Pistau slave spoke up, “I am much the same as Magdella. In fact, she had I have spoken in the pens of the slave house you purchased us all from. I have been a slave from birth and owned most of my life by this red bitch next to me. I was taken from my parents to be a living doll for the spoiled she-suka.” Terra and Nina were not sure what a suka was in their region of space. But was confident that it was not a pleasant creature to look upon or be around.  “I accept that I am a slave as well, I will serve with loyalty and obedience to whoever I am owned by that is not of filthy Latorian. That this one is going to be a slave serving beside me only makes my bondage sweeter.” She smiles.

          “Ungrateful slave,” hissed the Latorian slave. “You were treated well. I should have sold you when Father wanted me too!”

          “Now you to are a slave, Olaca.” Beamed and gloated the Psitau slave. “The collar and brand suits you. And yes I addressed you by name instead of Mistress and it felt wonderful.”

          “You will pay that, Druilla!” starting to rise only to fall back to the ground in pain as her collar shocked her, the girl Druilla squirmed and rolled on the ground in pain as well.

          “That will be enough form both of you.” McNally said in a low firm voice. Turning his attention to the Thetanuian slave, moving over and removing her restraints. “Magdella, you are in charge while we are away. You may take a slave tunic for yourself and clothe the other slaves as well. But they are to remain in wrists and ankle shackles for the time being. If you are discovered then you are to comply and obey simply saying that you are all slaves and the Masters went out scouting.”

          “Yes, Master.” She nodded and smiled

          “Magdella, salvage everything that you think we can use. The more basic the better. I don’t want them tracking us by energy signatures.”

          “Yes Master I will make it so.” She smiled and nodded.

          Rafe turned to find Terra and Nina standing behind him fully dressed, both wore black boots and dark pant, Terra had a green sleeveless halter under her jacket and Nina a matching red halter under hers. Both had pistol belts slung about their slim waists. The major difference in the two was that Nina had removed her slave collar, while Terra still wore hers.

          “It seems that you forgot something, girl.” He grinned and pointed to the slave collar.

          “Umm,” Terra smiled and bit her lower lip. “No, I didn’t Master. I started to use the code key that you left with the clothes to remove it.” She started to explain then stopped. “But I was not getting out of that place without being a slave. You risked much to come for me and have done so many times. So, I owe you what is called a life debt and will remain your slave for as long as you wish me.”

          “Terra, I am flattered, but.” She lifted a hand to cut him off.

          “Rafe, I owe you my life and trust you completely. Trust me, I have now doubt about where I belong and to whom.” Smiling warmly to him.

          “Damnit!” Nina swore from beside her. “I was all set to be done with this slave stuff. Then you have to go and make a logical point like you did about trusting and owing him, and how I am better off his then where I was heading to.” Nina handed the code key back to Rafe then locked her collar back on her neck as well. Smiling, “Guess you are stuck with both of us, Master.”

          “It might be safer for both of you wearing those.” Rafe reluctantly admitted. “If it looks like you are going to get captured, if you can strip and loose the clothing and weapons and let them think you are slaves that wondered off. It may or may not give you an opportunity to escape later on.” They both nodded in a doubtful agreement.  “Terra, I want you to scout to the Southeast of the ship. Nina, I want you to scout the Southwest. And I’ll cover everything North of us. Any questions?”

          “Nope, Boss Man” Nina grinned as she turned to head out.

          “Rafe, I meant what I said about belonging to you.” Terra said softly.

          “I know you did, and it means a lot to me that you not only feel that way but have that level of trust in me.” Smiles and pulls her closer to him winking as he takes a kiss from her ruby lips then turns her about and slaps her on the bottom. “Now get out there and scout your area slave girl.” Terra yelped and softly laughed as she did just as she was told. Turning he saw that Magdella had already placed the other four girls in chains and put them to work. She had been looking over and witnessed what had taken place between him and the other two. He nodded to her as he picked up a rifle and exited the hatch.

          “Be safe, Master,” Magdella said softly as she watched him leave.

                                                                                      ‘

Southwest of the Crash Site of the Starship Yakali Kole

Western Territories, Darterra

 

          “Master, look some are leaving.” Pip announced as she pointed to the distant figures of two women leaving the crash sight and splitting up one moving towards them and the other to the Southeast.

          “Yes, I see them, girl. I think it is time for us to meet our new neighbors.”  Tyrell laughed. “Do you think that you can hind a dart in that outfit of yours without sticking yourself?”

          “That might be tricky, Master.” She smirked. “You prefer me barely covered as it is. And if a girl must be pricked she’d rather it be by her Master and not a needle.” Giving him a mischievous grin.

          “And you used to be such a quiet and shy little thing.” He laughed.

          “Well, you made me this way, Master.” Winking. “I take it that you wish to take one of them prisoner.” Pip said as a statement of fact. “Which one do you want to take?”

          “Both of the females. Once I know more about them, then they can help you with the chores around the ranch.” He grins and sent her on her way with a slap on her barely covered flank.

 

500 meters South of the Crash Site

          The trek had been uneventful so far. The ground was mostly grassland but there was a tree line that bordered the meadow. Nina had stayed alert for anything that looked out of the ordinary. But then for this world what was out of the ordinary? Out of the corner of her eye she caught movement near the trees, instinctively, she dropped down into a low crouch and brought the rifle up to her shoulder. Only to see a creature that she swore was a deer leaping back into the brush at the edge of the meadow. A deer here? This was millions of light years from Earth. Her mind must be playing tricks on her.

          But then there was that air ship they had seen. From where they had hidden out of sight they had not seen the crew. But the ship had been low enough to the ground that they heard and understood what the crew were saying as they passed over. It was Standard. The common language of the Union. Each culture still maintained their own spoken and written languages, but for communications many learned Standard instead of relying on translation devices to communicate. Nina was about to rise and move on when she saw her.

          Maybe two hundred meters from her there had been a woman. A young woman that was barely clothed and very toned and tanned from the looks of her. The woman had darted out of the trees, saw her, then turned and darted back in. Given that she was barefoot, the minimal amount of clothing, and the metal collar on the woman’s neck, Nina had no problem deducing that she was a slave. Perhaps a runaway.

          “Wait!” Nina called out leaping up to chase after the woman. The only thought on her mind was catching this woman. But there were two reasons for that, first that she was the first contact and source of information on whatever planet that they were on. But more importantly, she does not warn others of their presence before they were ready. “Stop, I won’t hurt you, I just want to talk to you!”

          The woman was agile and quick but not so much that Nina ever lost track or sight of her. Something about that caused Nina’s gut instincts to go off but she couldn't put her finger on it just yet.  Finally the woman stopped and leaned against a forked tree, trying to catch her breath bent over.

          “Please, don’t run. I won’t hurt you. I promise. I just want to talk.” Nina panted as she fought to catch her own breath after the unexpected run. Then sensing something behind her she turned to bring up her rifle seeing a large, bearded man moving towards her.

          “Your not going to hurt a fly, sweetie.” The woman said from behind her as there was a sharp sting in her shoulder on the left side near the neck. She spun about to look at the woman with something in her hand smiling at her. Then back to the man trying to keep them both covered. But she felt dizzy and lightheaded. The man was taking the rifle from her hands as the woman pushed her over with no effort sending her tumbling to the ground. “I knew it would work, Master. But she had some sort of armor protecting her neck I had to stick her twice.”

          “Interesting,” squats down next to the unconscious blonde, Tyrell rolls her to her back, “Not armor, but it seems our guest is wearing a slave collar.”

          “But slaves are not dressed like that!” Pip looked down at the woman at their feet. “I have never seen a slave collar like that before.”

          “I have,” Tyrell said with a heavy sigh. “That is a Cristo slave collar. The inscription reads that she is property of the ship Yakali Kole. Which means she is more that she seemed at first and also more dangerous. Strip her quickly and get her retrained.”

          “Yes, Master,” Pip knew that there was more to the story, but now was not the time and he would tell her when it was time for her to know. Now it was the time to do as he said. Removing the woman’s jacket first them her halter and boots. Soon Nina lay naked on the ground on her belly with her wrists locked behind her back in steel shackles. It was only then that Pip noticed for the first time that the brand of a slave burned into the woman’s left buttock.

          “Yes, Pip, her body bares the mark of a slave as well as the collar. There is more to this then either of us know right now. Muzzle her and dress her in your clothes. Then put on hers,” pausing for an instant, “I want her friend to think you are her when we take her as well. And smile your work load just got lighter my pretty slave” He laughed as the girl giggled putting on the clothing of a free person for the first time in a long time.

 

          Terra glanced at her time piece. Her patrol had not turned up anything of value to them. She has come across a couple of game trails and a dirt road that showed signs of having been used recently. She has not seen a single person or signs other than the road of any civilization anywhere near them. Her thoughts returned to the strange air ship that had flown over. It was a definite sign of intelligent life, while not as advanced as the ship that brought them here. It was still unlike anything that she had ever seen.

          Rather that heading directly back to the ship, she decided to try and find Nina. They could compare notes on what they had found or not found on their way back. She also was curious to learn what if anything Rafe had discovered in his reconnaissance to the North. This whole thing had felt surreal to her, like she was Alice and just feel down a rabbit hole into Wonderland. She had always cared deeply for Rafe, they had been together intimately several times before this both as part of their cover and between missions. She had even played slave girl for him a couple times. It had been fun, but Terra never thought that she would have willingly committed herself to him as his slave like she had.

          She paused and shook it off, she had to get back into the moment and focused. She was already well into the area that Nina had covered. But she has yet to see any signs of her. Had she missed her or had Nina completed her area sooner and returned to the ship. The question was should she continue to look for Nina or return the ship herself. She was sure that the girl Magdella would have everything well in hand back at the ship. Terra was not sure if it was just a natural aura of trust that the girl gave off. But she had liked her from the start. Magdella’s pale complexion and long pointed ears reminded Terra of creatures she had read about in classic fantasy fiction from the past. A species called elves. Then there were the ones called Vulcans in another space based fictional series she had once read. More than once, she had thought the Founders of the Union had read those stories at one time or another. Some of the similarities were close in theory. But the Union had the Cristo Corporation which caused some of its efforts and operations to not be as for the greater good as they could or should have been.

  

          Terra froze stepping and crouching behind a tree. She had heard a sound that she would have sworn sounded like a horse nearby. Was her mind playing tricks on her or was there a horse or something like a horse on this world. Slowly she stood up and drawing her pistol she crept towards the sound. She hadn’t gone more than when she was at the edge of a clearing in the brush and trees. There before her sure enough was a horse, just like the ones she had rode most of her life growing up. Then the bells started going off in her head. It was a horse, and it was saddled for a rider.

          Then she noticed something on the ground nearby. It looked like a body. As she moved slowly closer she saw that the clothing was Nina’s. Had Nina found people and borrowed a horse from them? Had she been thrown from the saddle and hurt?

          “Nina!” Terra called to her in a low voice as she slowly moved towards the prone figure lying face down, the hat obscuring the head and face. “Nina, are you ok?” No response, she moved closer, “Nina, answer me are you alright?”

          “I am fairly sure that Nina is not going to answer you, pretty one.” Said a male voice from behind her which caused Terra to spin about to face the voice. Behind her was a large man with dark hair and unkept beard. He held a rifle pointed at her chest.

          “Nina is a little tied up at the moment, Red.” Came a soft female voice in her ear as she felt the cold steel of a pistol pressed behind her other ear. “Just like you soon will be.” The voice said with enjoyment.

          “Drop your weapon and stand real slowly.” The man instructed her in a low commanding tone of voice. Terra did as she was told, placing her pistol on the ground then standing up with her hands raised. “I am Tyrell Blackburn and behind you is my slave, Piper. As I see that you are wearing one of those fancy Cristo slave collars as well, you can just address me as Master and consider her over you for the time being. Understood.” He smiled.

          “Yes, Master,” she answered, not moving as hands reached around her and unbuckled her pistol belt lifting it away from her. Terra watched a young woman wearing a plain steel plate collar on her neck and wearing the clothing of her friend stepped around her and over to the horse. The girl, Piper, hung the belt with pistol now in it’s holster about the saddle horn then added the one that she had worn there hanging from the other side of the horn. She then reached into the saddle bag and pulled out a small wad of clothing, which she tossed to Terra.

          “Strip down completely, then put those on for the time being.” The girl told her. Terra was not happy but there was no fighting this for now, they had Nina, and she needed to find her. And like it or not the best way to do that was to obey everything they said. Dropping the wad of cloth on the ground, Terra removed her hat and jacket dropping them to the ground. They were quickly followed by her boots, halter, and pants as well. There were no under garments available for her or Nina when they dressed so they had gone commando as the saying went. Squatting down, she retrieved the wad of brown cloth and unrolled it to look at it. It was a simple brown cloth skirt, a very short skirt at that. It had a draw string design that tied in the front to the left side. It didn’t take much imagination to figure out that was so if a Owner wished that was right-handed, they could pull the tie and the skirt would drop about her or anyone wearing one of these ankles. Bending forward she stepped into the garment and pulled it up about her thighs. She tied it tight as long on her hips as she could get away with as the bottom hem of the garment barely cover her more intimate region.

          “Now on your knees and place your hands behind your back, like a good girl.” That man instructed her when she was dressed in the skimpy rag they had given her to wear. The girl had gathered the clothing that Terra had worn and took them to the pack horse. As Terra knelt down the girl returned wearing the same short skirt that she wore, but the girl had been allowed to wear a thin small bikini top that was made of the same material and struggled to hold and conceal Piper’s ample breastworks. “Bracelet her,” he told the girl nodding to Terra. Soon steel cuffs were locked about her wrists further increasing her helplessness in her new situation.

          Now it was the man that went to the horse, taking something out and moving to where she knelt. Take a knee, he placed a finger under Terra’s chin and lifted her head to read her collar.

          “Slave of Rafe McNally,” He read. Then he made a humph sound. “One slave is owned by the ship, and the other is privately owned. Interesting. Maybe both are owned by the same man, or I should say were owned.” From the pocket of his shirt, he pulled something out. Terra knew what it was soon as she saw it. It was a code key for slave collars.  The code key was placed against her collar and the lock released and the two ends parted. She was in so much shock that she had not recovered before her collar was removed and a simple metal plate collar replaced it pronouncing her property of another now. Before she could ask something sharp like a needle was jabbed into her left thigh and she quickly felt dizzy and the world started to go dark for her, In a moment Terra lay on the ground in a drugged slumber a half-naked, collared and restrained slave.

          “What was that, Master?” Pip asked without thinking.

          “A very special key for special collars like the one she and the other wore. I had to get them removed from them quickly. They are very advanced and when locked on a slave or anyone for that matter. The wearers’ body heat activates sensors and powers the collar. As long as it was active, she could be monitored and tracked from great distances. Now, none will be able to find them without knowing the ways of a woodsman.” He explained.

          “So does that mean that we are going to keep them, Master?” she asked aloud. Why else put them in Property of Lasigna Ranch collars.

          “Maybe,” he shrugged his shoulders. “If they were company agents then I would have kept them drugged and snuck them in town and sold them. But now it will depend on what I learn from them and who their former owner was.”

          “Yes, Master.” She nodded.

                    “Now, I want you,” bending down and picking the drugged Terra up and slinging her over his shoulder with her head to the rear, “return to the ranch and chain her in the stables with her friend. I have some scouting to do myself and will return shortly.” Moving to the horse and transferring the drugged slave over the back of the horse.

          “Yes, Master,” taking the reins of the horse and started her walk back to the ranch with the new slave as she had been told. She could not help up wonder what Master was up to.

 

Stables of the Lasigna Ranch

Fortier Territory Western Darterra

 

          Terra moaned and lifted her hands to her aching temples, as she did she felt the weight of steel cuffs and chains locked about her wrist confining her hands before her body. The weight of the collar locked on her neck felt different as well. It felt heavier that usual. Sitting up she felt straw on her naked flesh.

          “What the hell happened?” she muttered. Rubbing her temples.

          “Welcome back sleepy head.” Said a familiar voice. “The lingering effects will wear off quickly. And it looks like you walked into the same trap that I did.”

          “The hell I did, well not the same trap. I thought I was helping you.” Terra replied as she lifted herself up to kneel. It was then she noted that her wrists were not the only thing chained. A chain ran from the collar on her neck to the collar locked on the neck of Nina. They were in the stall of a sables of some sort. And on top of the wrists shackles and being connected together by the neck. Each had a cuff locked about one ankle, from which ran yet another chain which led to a stout iron ring mounted to a plate bolted to that girl’s side of the stall.

          “They changed your collar somehow.” Nina noted.

          “Not just mine, he changed yours too.” Nina nodded that she suspected as much touching her slave collar. She also was wearing only the same brown skimpy skirt that Terra wore. “The man had a code key. How and were he got it I don’t know but I am fairly certain that he didn’t take it off Rafe.”