by Terri Pray
Shannon blanched.
"Joseph?"
"My man, husband in the old terms I suppose. He's a decent type. Looks after me, and he doesn't take it too bad when I mess up on occasions. I don't think he's truly hurt me. Just a few taps with the paddle. Not that I want him displeased with me, so there's no problem.” Maggie set the tray down and sat down on the floor, smoothing out her dress before she sat down on the floor nearby. “Now eat up, just a bit of soup and bread. It should taste fairly good. Local produce and a bit of meat in it."
Shannon picked up the bowl and grabbed for the bread. A large cup of water had also been set on the tray, at least she'd have something to keep her going. The soup didn't taste that bad, a little strange considering the type of foods she had grown used to over the years.
It tasted—well—better somehow. Crisp, lacking some of the metallic tinge she had tasted before.
"There, see it's not all that bad is it. No nasty over processed stuff here. It's better for you in the long run and you'll get used to the taste."
Shannon put the bowl down and took a good long drink of water, trying to put her thoughts into order. “So you aren't going to help me break free of here?"
"Now, why would I do that?"
"Because I don't want to be here, I never did. He grabbed me off the street and raped me. You can't honestly believe I'd want to stay here do you?” Shannon stared at the older woman. “Women are supposed to be in charge, we're not supposed to be treated like property, beaten, raped, used, given no choices, told to beg and plead or face being killed. That's immoral. They're treating us like animals."
"And is what we have done to them any better? How many men are allowed to choose their own fate?” Maggie gave a slight smile. “My own family kept men enthralled to the point of slavery. No rights, no ownership of anything in their lives, right down to being able to have their names taken from them. So how can we expect men to just sit back and let us treat them like that without any attempt to even out the balance in life?"
"They spent centuries abusing us!"
"So that gives us the right to treat them the same way?” Maggie arched one delicate eyebrow. “I don't think it works that way. Besides, have you ever thought that by enforcing this way of life that the women who want to be submissive, or need to be, are forced into a life that ill suits them?"
"No woman in their right mind would ever want to be submissive to a man!"
"Is that right, well then I guess I'm not in my right mind am I?” Maggie pushed to her feet, shaking her head. “You're so very quick to judge without thinking, for a moment, that there are women out there who do not feel comfortable being in charge. I love my man, he looks after me, keeps me on track, I answer to him and I love his touch. I'd not give that up for all the known colonies."
"I..."
"Look into yourself, Shannon. Look deep and answer me this. Can you honestly say you have never, once, wanted a man to be in charge? You've never dreamed of being held against the bed, his hands grasping your wrists as you squirm under him, begging for his touch? Or dreamt of days long past when women were prey for hungry and powerful men?"
Her cheeks flushed. How many times had she programmed a forbidden entertainment in the holo suite?
Come on, Maggie couldn't possibly think that just because a woman might have the occasional erotic dream that it meant she wanted to be captured and enslaved?
"Fantasy isn't the same thing as finding yourself at the whim of every man out there? You know that!"
"If it's a one off, the now and then thing, then no. But there are women, a lot of women, who don't feel comfortable being in charge when it comes to sex, and our world, our way of life, has left it so that any woman who wants to submit in the bedroom is sick, mentally ill and needs to be re-educated. We have no choice but to be dominant unless we want to spend months, if not years, in a hospital whilst they try and cure us. Is that any better than when women were locked up for being hysterical? Or given cures that reduced them to zombie state?"
This wasn't the sort of question she'd been expecting from Maggie. The woman was brain washed, she had to be, yet she spoke of things that most tried to ignore. The fragments of history that were brushed under the carpet, and hushed up whenever anyone tried to ask about them, and she was right, any woman that tried to fight the new natural order...
There were hospitals, entire worlds set up for the mentally ill.
For women who couldn't accept the natural order, or who had problems fitting in, or they were sexually submissive, some had been sent there for speaking out against the ruling government. But they were sent to safe places, worlds where they could learn, train to be stronger, functioning members of society.
Once they had accepted the retraining, adapted to the world and the expectations of their leaders, they could go home and retake their position in society.
For men there was no such kindness.
They were killed or sold off into hard labor. No second chances. They vanished, or died. Either way the problem was solved, as far as society was concerned.
"You'll get used to this in time, besides you enjoyed it from what Aaron was telling us all. You didn't submit to him fully, but I think in time you will. So just what is the problem."
Her jaw clenched instantly stomach knotting, then rolling as Maggie's words sank in. “He told you about what happened?"
"Of course he did. Such things aren't kept secret here.” Maggie tugged a little at her hair, before she tucked it back behind her ears. “It's only right the men know what is going on so they don't then decide you are free game, open to anyone who can take you. As you've formed a basic bond with Aaron they'll leave you with him."
"Hold on, one of the men was here yesterday and he didn't seem happy about Aaron's plans. So why would I be free game, surely there are others who understand this is wrong?"
"Hm, well they don't go around killing or punishing those people who don't share their ideals. It's not the way of the council here. All men have the right to choose their own path. Works better that way. Of course occasionally it causes problems, but nothing that they can't work out eventually."
Was she nuts?
Men working things out without the firm hand of a woman to show them what to do?
"Don't they end up trying to kill each other?"
"Fights break out on occasions, but no more than I am sure do on ships. You lock people up for a time in a small space and eventually there will be a fight of some sort."
Shannon couldn't deny that. Even though women liked to pretend they could all get along there were more then enough fights and petty squabbles that occurred on the ship. Sometimes over a male, or a lover, sometimes over the silliest things. Not that they tended to be as...
No, they were just as violent at times.
"So who keeps them in line?” She tugged the blanket a little closer. What was she supposed to do now, just wait for Aaron to show up and pass the time by talking to Maggie when the woman was able to stop by the room? Was she to be locked in as well? She doubted Aaron would trust her to stay put.
He'd have every reason to doubt her trustworthiness. The last thing she wanted, or needed, was to stay in the room. She had a ship to return to and by now the alert would be out. She was missing and late for duty.
Missing crew members always drew attention especially on a friendly planet. Sooner or later they'd track her down, even if it took doing a planet wide bio scan. Not the sort of thing the military liked doing on a regular basis as it was time consuming and expensive. But in this case, once they realized there was no sign of her, they'd have no choice but to try it.
"You don't sound like you're from this world.” Maggie spoke softly.
"I'm not."
"So you weren't returning home after a mission?"
"No, just a stop over, I'm expected back at my ship..."
Maggie paled. “He grabbed someone who will be missed?"
"Yes, and quickly. You have to realize just how
dangerous that is for everyone here.” Dangerous and deadly. If they didn't let her go and the military was forced to use a bio scan to locate her than every man, woman and child here would be at risk. “You'll be sent for re-education, do you really want that?"
Maggie shook her head, pushing back to her feet as she began to pace. “You could—I mean when they come for us—you could warn us? Find a way to protect those here?"
"Why in hells name would I take that risk? I was snatched, Maggie. I don't want to be here! He took me, knocked me out, chained me in place then raped me."
"You can't rape the willing. And you were very willing as I understand it.” Maggie snapped back, then instantly turned scarlet. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way. You're right, you were brought here against your wishes, but I thought you had decided you wanted to be here. We all did. Women normally do when they finally realize the wonderful life they can enjoy here."
A wonderful life?
Was she out of her mind?
"I don't even have clothes to wear and he chained me to a ring!” Shannon barely kept control of her anger. “Didn't that give you a clue that I wasn't happy or willing to be here?"
"A lot of women are chained the first day or two, it takes time for them to settle down. It can be something of a shock to them, to you, I mean this is so very different from anything you've known. No men bowing down to you, tending your every whim. You're reminded of what it's like to be a woman and that does go against your training, well conditioning..."
Conditioning, training, Maggie made it sound as if the only way a woman would ever wish to live in the established order was through forced conditioning and it didn't work that way. She'd met many a woman who thrived on the idea of men being submissive to women.
It was just that she wasn't one of them.
She'd spent every spare moment she had enjoyed on the ship coming up with new entertainment programs, each one had revolved around a dominant male with her playing the submissive role. If she'd had any craving to be the dominant one then it would have shown through by now.
"Goddess, I just can't stay here."
Maggie shook her head and picked up the tray, settling the now empty dishes in place. “You don't have a choice, not truly. I know Aaron, he's a hard headed man if ever I've met one. He won't let you go, not easily. I'm sorry, but you're his prize."
"But it's dangerous to keep me here. The ship, the military, they will search for me, and if they find me here, a captive, then everyone here will be at risk. You know what they will do.” She'd seen it, first hand, once. An entire town taken into re-education, forced to attend the camps, the training worlds, men and boys vanishing, separated from their mothers and lovers. Until there was little more than a shadow left where the town had stood.
And that had been over a prank.
A woman held overnight against her wishes, but it had been clear they were going to let her go. They hadn't done her any harm, she'd not been raped, or stripped, or beaten, just teased.
This was a different situation, something that could result in the entire camp being wiped out.
And Aaron didn't care.
"All I can do is recommend that Aaron is removed from the camp, but you'd then go with him. He'd have to go off world though, it's the only way he would stand a chance of escaping with you."
"There's an easier answer. Release me, I return back to the ship, come up with a story as to what happened and they leave you all alone. It's the safest way."
Maggie gave a slight smile, tiny lines around the corners of her eyes hardened, her lips thinning out. “And we're just supposed to accept that, go on with our lives hoping you won't lead everyone down here and tell them just what happened. I'm sorry but if you were in my position you'd realize how foolish that sounds."
"But I..."
"No.” Maggie stalked towards the door. “I've lost too many friends because of women like you. Stay here, learn to obey Aaron and when he leaves the settlement you'd be wise to remember that your life depends on listening to him."
Her life?
Shannon blanched as she recalled his hand on the knife, the look in his eyes, the way he'd made it clear that there were two choices, obey him or die.
"Shannon, I know it's not going to be easy for you, but you have to find a way to survive and embrace the pleasure you find with him. You might just be able to find a way to live through whatever he has planned.” Maggie closed and locked the door behind her without giving Shannon a chance to respond.
A way to survive, to live through this, to find a way that she could make it back to the ship, and then what was she supposed to do?
Take her revenge?
Forget what had happened?
Push herself back into her training, her work, and embrace the natural order of things? Forget what it had felt like under his touch, his lips, fingers, the feel of his cock sliding into her body, the way she had arched up to him, screaming in delight.
She had to be able to forget all of that, escape and move on.
What other choice did she have?
Chapter Four
"Wake up, bitch.” Aaron growled as he slammed the door behind him, snapping her awake with the sudden noise. “We've got to move, to get out of here and it's your fault. The council want us gone because of how your people will react if they find you here.” He flung a bundle of clothing at her feet.
Shannon yawned, sitting up slowly. She tried to blink the sleep from her eyes even as her mind grabbed onto the pieces of information he tossed her way.
"What's going on?” She pulled the clothing closer, dropping the blanket as she began to tug them on. No underwear, that was going to make life interesting, but at least the pants, shirt and coat would cover her. And he'd provided socks and her own boots back. Just was well, trying to break in new boots or shows when they were traveling wasn't her idea of fun.
"The council realized what will happen when you don't report to your ship, that your people will start a search and then when they don't find you in the area of the town they'll spread out, eventually doing a bio search."
"You could prevent all this by just letting me go back to town.” She tugged on the pants before buttoning up the shirt. “There'd be no problems then. I'd be able to return to the ship, they'd call of the search and no one would be at risk."
Did she believe that?
Not entirely. She couldn't hide everything that happened but she could at least make sure the only one the crew took their revenge on was Aaron. Damn it would be good to see him stripped, flogged and collared as a ship slave. He'd know exactly what she had been through then.
All the horror and pain, the self doubt he had left her with.
Except no matter how she stared at him she couldn't imagine Aaron backing down and kneeling, or obeying. He'd snarl at them, defy them, let loose his anger and then to hell with the consequences.
"You'd turn me in without a single thought, and then have them come here, wiping out everyone you think slighted you. Shit, I know what your kind are like. They'll all be dead or enslaved before they have a chance to defend themselves. Only thing I can do is pull you out of here. Find somewhere they won't be able to trace you so easily.” Aaron muttered, nodding at her to hurry up.
Where they out of time?
"Where are we going then?” She pulled on her boots before she pushed to her feet.
"Off world, only place that's safe."
Her heart sank into the pit of her stomach. “Off world. You just expect me to go meekly with you so you can steal me off world?"
"If you want to live, yes.” His voice dropped into a cold, emotionless whisper. “If you think I will tolerate you fighting me, disobeying me, then you have no idea just how ruthless I can be. You will come with me, or I will leave your rotting corpse on the steps of your ship. Is that clearly understood?"
"Yes, sir.” She struggled to get her voice to work. “I understand."
He nodded sharply and pulled on a coat. “You'll c
arry the sack, and walk in front of me. Step out of line and you'll die."
"Understood, sir.” She tried to force herself into a calmer headspace.
"Come here.” He snapped, pointing to a spot in front of him.
Her heart skipped a beat as she moved in front of him, lowering her gaze. It took everything she had to obey him, to force her body into being where he wanted.
"I don't trust you. Armed or not I know you'll try something. But this will give me an upper hand.” There was something in his grasp. A band of metal. Cold, hard, and unyielding, the right size to lock about her throat. “A control band. Just a quick touch on my remote and you'll understand the meaning of real pain."
She wanted to move away. To avoid the band being locked about her throat, but where was she supposed to run to? He'd only come after her with a knife, or a gun, or worse. Then what? She'd be nothing more than a cold corpse with no way of breaking free of all of this.
Shannon closed her eyes, her skin crawling as she felt the cold touch of the metal band being locked about her slender neck. Once it was in place there was nothing she could do to remove it without either his help, or escaping back to a military base, only there would she be able to find someone who could disrupt the circuits long enough to remove the band.
"If you disobey me, or try to run, you'll be shocked. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir.” She struggled against the urge to touch the collar. What good would it do her? He might take it as her trying to pull it away from her neck, or worse, that she was disobeying him in some way.
Not a risk she was willing to take.
"There's a full pack on the other side of the door, pick it up and follow me."
He didn't have to walk behind her whilst they were still in the compound. There was no point. Every man, woman and child there wanted her gone if she had even a vague idea of what Maggie had told everyone. Not that she could blame them, she might have taken the same attitude if it had been her family at risk.
Aaron pushed the door open, glancing out before he led the way.
