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.”