Futurity

WARNING!!!!!!!!! WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!!Rape and Non-Con sexual situations ahead.

"Danger, Will Robinson, Danger!!!!!"

This is a SPECIAL WARNING for Dylan Hunt fans! Pay attention people! This is NOT a drill!

Dylan does not fare well in this chapter and the next. If you are a Dylan fan we STRONGLY...repeat...STRONGLY suggest you pass up this chapter and the next one. There are bad things that are going to happen to Dyllie and we would not want to let you wander into this unaware.

All Dylan fans are encouraged to move to the nearest exit at once. Lursa & Be'Tor


Futurity: Part Five

Harper looks at his image in the mirror hanging in the outer room. He touches the fading bruise on his cheek. His nanobots have been at work. His cheek is no longer so sore. The bright blue black has faded into light purple. His appearance should be back to normal by tonight. Tonight…he plans to experience something new. He touches the ornate gold frame affectionately, remembering how exciting it had been to watch Tyr watching him. He wants to try it himself; to watch Tyr take him in the mirror; to see as well as feel the hard flex of muscles as Tyr thrusts into him.

He turns from the mirror and walks over to the couch. An icy cold can of Sparky is sitting on the table next a selection of miniature pastries. Harper glances over at Janus. The guard’s nanobots have plainly been at work as well; Janus’ dark skin is marred by only a few fading bruises and cuts. “What’s this?”

Janus looks at Hector then back at Harper. “We know that you spoke to the Archduke for us.”

Harper shrugs. He picks up the Sparky. “You kept Elssbett away from me.”

“Yes, but we did not keep her from striking you the first time.” Janus replies. “The Archduke was not pleased about that.”

Hector nods. “He told us that we will pay with our lives if it happens again.”

“Well, we’ll just have to make sure she doesn’t get close enough to do anything.” Harper pops open the Sparky and drops down on the couch. He isn’t real thrilled about Elssbett hitting him either but the guards had protected him from worse injuries. Besides he is kinda used to Hector and Janus. No sense in trying to break in a new pair who might be more difficult to manage.

“We will guard you with our lives, Harper.” Hector vows solemnly.

“I don’t think it will come to that.” Harper sips his Sparky. He glances over at his guards, “So, guys, tell me, what does Elssbett want?”

“What do you mean?” Hector asks. His eyes widen with interest.

Harper waves his Sparky. “What does she want? What does she think will make her life perfect? What does she want more than anything?”

Janus exchanges an intrigued look with Hector. “She wants to be mated and reproduce; to spread her genes. We all do.”

“So she wants to get knocked up. Fine.” Harper nibbles on a chocolate filled pastry. “Who does she want more than anyone else?”

“That’s easy. She wants Archduke Charlemagne Bolivar.” Janus eases closer. His eyes are bright with curiosity as he watches Harper.

“Oh yeah, that’s the one she’s always bugging Tyr about, right?” Harper savors the pastry as he considers. It would do Elssbett a world of good to get taken down a few pegs. Naaaaw…who is he kidding…this is just for fun and a little payback.

“That is correct, Harper.” Hector smiles. “If she is mated to the head of Jaguar pride she will be a very powerful woman.”

“Well, we can’t have that, can we?” Harper lifts the Sparky to his lips. Icy cold and perfect. Just the way he likes it.

Hector and Janus look at each other in a puzzled way. “There’s nothing we can do about it.”

Harper grins. His blue eyes sparkle with malice. “What if there was?”

“What do you mean?” Janus frowns warily at Harper.

Harper taps his fingers on the sides of the Sparky can. “What if there was a way to fix it so that Elssbett didn’t get the man of her dreams? What if she had to settle on someone else?”

Janus sniggers. “Oh…ho! You mean like Guderian.”

“Who’s he?” Harper asks, instantly intrigued. He picks up a second pastry and takes a bite.

“Guderian is from a smaller pride…the Orca. He’s been sniffing around Elssbett for months and she refuses to consider him.” Hector adds.

Hmmm. That sounds like a possibility. Harper licks the last of the icing from his fingers. “Why doesn’t she like him? What’s his problem?”

“There are several as far as Elssbett is concerned.” Janus ticks each off on his fingers. “First, the Orca are not a ‘major’ pride. Second, Guderian and the Orca live on an asteroid, not a planet.”

“You know what; she just needs to get over that.” Harper smiles dreamily at the vision of Elssbett stomping around on a bleak asteroid.

Janus waves a hand. “Wait. The main reason Elssbett doesn’t like Guderian is because he wants her as his thirteenth wife…not his first.”

Harper laughs softly. Oh, yes. He has found the perfect place for Elssbett. Plans are already unfolding in his mind. He touches the fading bruise. Oh, yeah. This is gonna be good. “You know what? I think ole Guderian is perfect for Elssbett.”

“What are you planning, Harper?” Hector asks warily.

Harper waves a hand dismissively. “Don’t worry guys. You don’t need to know in case it goes bad. I don’t want Tyr hurting either of you.”

Janus leans forward over the back of one of the chairs. He grins. “What if we want to help?”

“Well, then, that’s an entirely different slant on the situation.” Harper leans forward and begins to outline the plan he has in mind.

&&&

“Dylan! You’re back!” Harper smiles at Dylan as he follows Tyr to the head of the table. “How are you feeling?”

Dylan glares at Harper but does not answer. Ha! Like That Slut cares. Harper is probably planning to cause more trouble for him even now. Everything that has happened to him is That Slut Harper’s fault. Everything was fine until this new Harper appeared.

“I see you have your human back, Rhade.” Tyr pauses next to his Captain. “I trust he’s completely renewed.”

“Yes, sir.” Rhade glances coolly at Dylan. “He’s completely healed.”

“Very good.” Tyr moves to his chair and sits. Harper drops down on his cushion and leans against Tyr’s leg.

Dylan winces and shifts on his thick white silk cushion. He is still aching and sore but that awful Gaius insisted on sending him back AND telling Gaheris that he is fine. Dylan had returned reluctantly, expecting gifts and apologies but Gaheris hadn’t said that he was sorry – not once! – nor had there been a single gift. That had never happened before. Then Gaheris tells him about this little dinner with the Archduke and That Slut Harper.

Dylan had been excited. It was the first time he had a chance to make himself beautiful after the nanobots had healed the swelling and bruising. He had taken great pains to get all pretty for it and then Gaheris had made him…oh, it was sooo disgusting. It was awful…having to lick and kiss and suck and swallow over and over again. He had thought that he was going to be sick before he had done his duty but Gaheris had shown no appreciation. Dylan sniffs…his hair was all messed up and he had to fix it again. His mouth is sore and it’s all That Slut Harper’s fault. He knows that it is because Gaheris kept moaning that damned Harper’s name over and over again.

Harper leans over and whispers urgently. “What’s wrong Dylan?”

“Like you care what happens to me.” Dylan shoots a sullen look at Harper. Had to be the center of attention. Just look at him sitting over there in nothing but that little pale gray loincloth outfit. Dylan glances up at Gaheris. His eyes widen…Gaheris is discreetly eyeing the slut. What is it about that Harper?

Dylan presses his lips together in a thin line. They should all be looking at him instead. Of course, he isn’t wearing his signature pale blue tonight. But the raspberry satin tunic over clingy white satin pants should have gotten everyone’s admiration. He had spent hours looking for a satin hair ribbon that exactly matched his tunic…still, like his trainers always said…one has to put effort into beauty.

Dylan poses stiffly on his cushion beside Gaheris. His posture is erect and perfect. His trainers had strongly emphasized the importance of presentation. Harper couldn’t match him in that. Just look at him over there. Harper isn’t paying a bit of attention to him. Instead of holding an elegant pose, Harper is all curled up as close as he can get to the Archduke, nuzzling the black leather covering the Archduke’s thigh.

Oh! What is Harper doing? Is he? No, surely not…he can’t be…he wouldn’t. He is! THAT SLUT! Harper is fondling the Archduke’s ass. Really. So inappropriate.
Well! Dylan draws himself up haughtily. He looks down his nose. You wouldn’t catch him acting so…so lewdly. He is a proper, respectable companion from a reputable house. He has had years of training on the proper behavior of a companion.

“Harper!” Dylan hisses under his breath. “Harper, stop that this instant before you get the punishment you deserve.”

Harper glances back over his shoulder. The blue eyes are bright and amused. “What is your malfunction, Dylan?”

Dylan tosses his head. Any moment now, Harper will be in big trouble for doing that in public. Any moment now, the Archduke will punish that floozy. Any moment…Oh, he’s smiling at Harper and offering Harper a red grape. Harper is nibbling the Archduke’s fingertips instead of the grape. Just look at him! He’s closing his mouth over the tips of the Archduke’s fingers. Surely he’s not going to…how vulgar! Harper is sucking the Archduke’s fingers. Dylan glances up at Tyr. The Archduke likes it! A Lot!! Dylan can tell by the lidded eyes and slow sensual curve of the Archduke’s lips. Dylan glances up at Rhade. Oh dear. Gaheris has an odd look on his face. Surely Gaheris doesn’t expect him to…Oh no!…the last thing Gaheris needs is more ideas from That Slut.

Dylan’s eyes widen indignantly. Now, Harper is brushing a kiss over the black gauntlet, directly over where the leather protects the bases of the bone blades. The Archduke’s boneblades are fluttering. Ewwww! That’s the last thing Gaheris needs to see. Oh! Harper is kissing the bone blade itself. Unbelievable! How common! Harper belongs down in the Stable with the rest of the common sluts instead of associating with respectable kludges from established houses like himself.

“Here you go, Sweet one.” Rhade offers him a grape and Dylan leans over, neatly taking the grape without touching Gaheris’ hand. He looks smugly at Harper as he chews. Now, see. That’s the proper way to accept a treat. Hmmm. Gaheris is looking from him to Harper with an odd expression on his face.

Dylan looks over at Gaius and his kludge, Thomas. He sniffs. Thomas is just as bad as Harper. You could take the boy out of the Stable but you couldn’t take the Stable out of the boy. It’s rather sad, really. No matter how much Dylan tried to elevate some of them and lead by example they just never seemed to get it. Just look at that vulgar Thomas leaning with his head on Gaius’ thigh as he slowly strokes Gaius’ calf. Really, Thomas looks quite gaudy with all that dark red hair spilling over his emerald-colored leather vest. Well at least the pants matched the vest…that was something. One couldn’t expect a Stable kludge to have any taste.

“Are you enjoying the wine, Captain?” Tyr asks as he strokes Harper’s blonde spikes.

“Yes. It’s quite good.” Rhade looks around. “Is your sister not joining us this evening?”

Tyr smiles thinly. He strokes the fading bruise on Harper’s cheek. “No. Elssbett was not invited to this gathering.”

“Ahhh. I see.” Rhade leans back in his chair, sipping his wine. He looks enviously at Harper. Harper is a handsome little fellow and most…affectionate. It must be nice to have an enthusiastic kludge waiting eagerly for one to return.

Thomas seems engaging as well and very attentive to Gaius. Rhade remembers Gaius mentioning that his kludge had an identical twin. What was its name? Kirk…Kevin?? No, Kyle. Yes…Kyle. Rhade stares at Thomas for a moment. Kyle might be well worth trying out. Rhade glances at Dylan with distaste. A dead kludge would be more responsive in bed than Dylan. It didn’t bother him before but, after seeing how much pleasure the Archduke found with Harper, he wants more. He wants a kludge with passion and enthusiasm as well as good looks.

Rhade takes another sip of wine. Yes, he will make an appointment to see Kyle at the first opportunity. If the little kludge pleases him then he will find a good home for Dylan and take Kyle as his companion. Dylan would be happier somewhere else with someone who was more interested in company than sex. He is tired of trying to get a response out of Dylan. The past year had proven to him that was no use trying to get anything resembling passion out of Dylan.

Rhade sighs, until he finds a new kludge, he will just take what he has paid for. No more gifts or bribes. No more flattery. No more of the endless attempts to coax Dylan into some kind of response. Let him lie there and stare at the wall and whine.

&&&&

“Gaheris? Gaheris, you hurt me.” Dylan whines petulantly.

“If you continue to whine, you can sleep on the floor.” Rhade snaps. He rolls over, turning his back.

Dylan’s eyes widen in shock as he huddles on a corner of the bed. He can’t believe that Gaheris insisted on having his ass tonight. And more than once, despite all his complaints. Dylan sniffs loudly but there is no response. It’s all That Slut Harper’s fault. All of it. Gaheris used to be nice to him—pet him and talk to him and buy him gifts. Now Gaheris doesn’t seem to care. Harper’s sick, wanton behavior has given Gaheris impossible expectations.

If he could just get rid of Harper and his bad influence then things would be back to the way that they should be. After dinner, he’d overheard his Gaheris making an appointment with the Stables…with that slut Kyle. Oh, he is never going to be able to hold his head up around the other companions once they find out that his Gaheris stooped to that.

Even up here, he has heard talk about Kyle. Why, Kyle is every bit as sick as Harper. He heard that Kyle actually likes to do all kinds of disgusting things. Come to think of it…Kyle looks a little like Harper. Short. Pale skin. Muscular. But Kyle has long red hair and Gaheris likes long hair. What if Kyle’s hair is longer than his? His hair only came down to his shoulder blades but Thomas’ hair is waist length. What if Kyle’s hair is as long or longer?

Dylan stares at the wall with burning eyes. Harper must leave. It’s up to him as a respectable kludge to stop these sick sluts from taking over and spreading. Decent standards must be restored for the sake of proper kludges everywhere.


&&&&


Kyle sits quietly, looking around the mess. It’s nice to have an excuse to get out of the Stables; to get a break from the seemingly endless parade of horny Nietzscheans. He’s lucky that his twin brother caught the senior healer’s eye or he would never get out of that place unless one of the crew treated him to lunch or dinner or wanted him in their quarters for an entire night. He’s grateful that Thomas got out of there. Now, if he can just get out permanently.

He has a good chance at it. He can’t wait for Thomas to come back with their food so that he can share his news. He smiles, gloating over the knowledge that he has an appointment with the famous Captain Rhade. Getting an appointment with Rhade is quite the coup. The manager said that Rhade specifically asked for him. Kyle smiles, gloating. Rhade hadn’t been to the Stables since he got that dead fish of a companion…Dylan. What if there’s trouble there? What if the Captain has grown tired of his high maintenance ‘companion’?

Kyle chuckles. He means to put everything that he has into making Rhade one happy Nietzschean. Inside information would help. Perhaps Thomas might have heard some gossip about what Rhade likes. He had actually seen Rhade once and had been envious. Rhade is so hot. It won’t take any acting on his part to be eager to touch the Captain. He bets that Rhade looks as glorious out of uniform as in it.

“Thomas! Imagine meeting you here.”

Kyle looks up to see Dylan beaming at him. He raises an eyebrow. It isn’t like Dylan to acknowledge his brother, much less speak to him. If Dylan is attempting to create trouble for Thomas, he will personally see to it that the cold fish gets screwed over but good. The only good thing about being in the Stables is the amount of useful people that he knows and all the gossip that he picks up.

Still, he isn’t surprised that Dylan doesn’t know who he is. Wouldn’t old fish lips be shocked to know that he is talking to a Stable…What did the ever-so-superior Dylan like to call them?…oh, yes, Stable sluts. It’s true that he and Thomas are almost identical but Thomas has shorter hair and thinner lips. Thomas’s eyes are a lighter shade of green. Gaius has no trouble telling them apart. Most people have no trouble telling them apart. But everyone knows that Dylan is a dim bulb. “Dylan. What brings you down here? I thought you had most of your meals in the Captain’s quarters.”

“I wanted to come mingle with some of the other kludges. It makes them feel good knowing that I don’t mind talking to some of them. Besides, it’s important that they have the opportunity to see the proper way to do things. I do try to lead by example and most of them appreciate it, I’m sure. Look, they’re all staring hoping to be the one that I will single out to speak to.” Dylan smiles.

Kyle bites his lip to keep from grinning. Actually the others are probably laying bets on how long it will take Dylan to realize that he is sitting at the same table with a dreaded Stable slut. “I’m sure they are.”

Dylan shifts in his chair and then winces. “Gaheris was so awful last night. I’m still sore.”

Hmmm. Thank the Divine. He’s going to hear about the Captain from his own kludge. How perfect is that? Kyle fixes a sympathetic look on his face and croons in a syrupy tone. “You, poor thing. What did he do?”

“He made me…he,” Dylan looks around and lowers his voice, “took my ass…over and over. I hate it when he does that and I’m not fully healed from last time.”

“That’s terrible. How could he do that to you?” Kyle turns wide innocent eyes on Dylan. So Rhade likes that. Good. So does he. Kyle shivers at the thought of the darkly menacing Captain thrusting into him. He can hardly wait. What else did the Captain like?

Dylan pouts as he adjusts the blue bow holding his hair back. “I don’t understand why he likes to have me…”

Kyle leans forward, trying to keep the eagerness out of his voice, “Yes?”

“He made me touch his bone blades.” Dylan shuts his eyes in horror.

“No!” Kyle gasps in mock shock. Like that is a state secret. He hadn’t met a Nietzschean yet who didn’t crave bone blade play. Is there any form of it that Rhade particularly likes? “Not…the bone blades.”

“Yes, can you believe it?” Dylan nods. “He made me kiss and lick…and…and…he insisted…that I…that I…oh, I can hardly bear to say it.”

Kyle urges, “You can tell me. We’re friends, remember?”

“He insisted that I bite the bases,” Dylan whispers across the table.

“No!” Kyle hides a grin. Yep. Rhade is gonna be one very, very happy Nietzschean after their appointment.

“It’s all that slut Harper’s fault.” Dylan tosses his hair. “He’s corrupting the Archduke. Then the others will want what he likes. We have to unite and do something about Harper or it won’t be safe for any of us. No telling what perversity Harper will have them demanding next.”

Kyle stares. Harper? Harper always seemed pleasant enough. Not the brightest kludge around but he had always been kind to Thomas and to the others. No one in the Stable had any grievance with Harper. Dylan…well now Dylan is another story. There are quite a few who would like have Dylan helpless and at their mercy. Dylan always posing and acting superior because he came from a house. Always prosing on about being proper and respectable. “Harper? A slut?”

“I know it’s hard to believe. He used to be very respectable but he’s changed. He’s different now. He’s sick.” Dylan frowns.

“You don’t mean it?” Kyle asks faintly. This blockhead is proposing to do something to the Archduke’s kludge? There won’t be enough left of Dylan to put in a ring box if the idiot succeeds.

Dylan nods firmly. “Yes. We have to do something about him…for his own good.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Kyle asks. Maybe he can find out what Dylan is planning so he can warn Harper.

“No. Not yet. I’ve got an idea. If it works we won’t be bothered with his kind again.”


&&&&

The smack of flesh on flesh is loud in the small space. Discarded lube bottles litter the floor. “Yes…yes…ummmmm…Oh, please. Please, Captain.” Kyle tosses his head, sending dark red hair cascading over his shoulders. He spreads his knees wider and tilts his hips back. “More.”

Rhade presses deeper into the pale body trembling eagerly beneath him. He grasps the rounded, muscular cheeks spreading them open so he can watch the glide of his wide cock into the kludge’s pale body. He can feel his cock swelling thicker and hotter as he watches. Is this what it is like for the Archduke with Harper or Gaius with Thomas? No wonder both men seemed so smugly satisfied with their kludges. “You want more?”

“Yes, Captain.” Kyle moans. He looks over his wide shoulder with glazed green eyes. “Please…harder…harder.”

“You may call me Gaheris, yes?” Rhade groans as he caresses Kyle’s ass possessively.

Kyle presses back and gasps, “Yes…Gaheris.”

“Now, give me another bottle of lube. I want to hear the slick sounds of my cock sliding inside you.” Rhade takes the lube bottle. He pulls almost all the way out and pours lube over his shaft. He grasps the kludge’s flanks and plunges hard into the young man. He can’t last much longer. This is so good. So exquisite. So delicious.

“Ohhhh, so good. Please…please…please.” Kyle whimpers with need.

Rhade growls with pleasure as he tightens his grip on the human’s muscular hips and thrusts even harder. Amazing. When he scheduled this session, he never expected it to last so long or be so satisfying. Kyle is a delight. No whining. No complaining. No wincing away from his bone blades. No lying there like a corpse and staring at the wall. Such an enthusiastic and responsive kludge is wasted down here in the Stables.

“Come with me, sweet boy. Come with me…come with me.” Rhade gasps as he slides a hand around Kyle’s narrow waist, gathering up the human’s cock. He strokes the hard, thick length. So reassuring after the limp evidence of Dylan’s lack of interest. Clear proof that Kyle wants him and finds pleasure in what they do together. Rhade moans and thrusts deep one last time, shuddering with the intensity of it. He kisses the elegant line of the human’s back, stroking the hard cock until Kyle cries out his name and collapses beneath him on the bed.

Rhade gently eases his softening cock out and lies back, gathering Kyle into his arms. He smiles as the small human cuddles close, stroking and kissing his chest. Dylan always ended up huddled on the farthest corner away from him instead of pressed close. He reluctantly eases the human back. “I should go.”

“No! Not yet. Can’t you stay a little longer?” Kyle’s mouth closes hotly over one tight nipple and then the other. He nuzzles Rhade’s damp chest.

“I can stay for a few more minutes.” Rhade brushes the long, red hair back and kisses Kyle’s forehead. He feels wonderful. Relaxed and sated.

“Will you ask for me again…please?” Kyle looks up him, dazed green eyes pleading. His hand slides down the hard muscles of the Nietzschean’s forearm.

“You enjoyed our time together?” Rhade searches the green eyes.

“Oh, yes! Very much.” Kyle strokes his fingertips over the skin at the base of Rhade’s boneblades.

Rhade shudders. His bone blades flutter in response to the teasing caress. “You are very pleasing to me.”

Kyle leans up and brushes a pleading kiss against Rhade’s lips. “Gaheris, please, take me one more time before you go.”

Rhade smoothes back the long, dark red hair. How could he resist a kludge so beautiful and sensual? Kyle had already been wasted for too long on Betas and the lower ranks. He will have Kyle for his and his alone. Kyle is exactly what he has been looking for. “I won’t be coming back to the Stable, Kyle.”

Kyle’s green eyes widen in distress. He presses close, sliding his thigh over Rhade’s. “Please. Please come back just once more.”

Rhade caresses the pale cheek, secretly pleased at the kludge’s dismay. “Listen to me. I need a companion, Kyle. I want you. Are you willing to become my companion?”

“Yes. Oh, yes!” Kyle’s face lights up. He pulls Rhade down for long, through kiss.

Rhade sits up and presses the button over the bed to summon the Stable manager. He looks down at the delighted kludge curled around him. Kyle presses a soft kiss over the sensitive skin of his wrist. Rhade smiles down at him.

There is a discreet tap then a large man with short, curly hair walks in. He glances sharply around. “Captain? Is there a problem?”

“No. This kludge has been very pleasurable.” Rhade runs his fingers through silken strands of dark red hair. Kyle had the most beautiful hair and it is so long. He can hardly wait to get off duty and return to Kyle for more. “I am requisitioning him to be my companion. Cancel any appointments for Kyle and have him taken to my quarters.”

The manager frowns and hesitates. “Sir, that will leave a shortage down here until we can acquire a replacement. We don’t have any extras at the moment.”

Rhade bends to kiss Kyle. “I won’t leave Kyle here another day. You will have him delivered to my quarters immediately. As to your shortage…I intended to sell or trade Dylan back to his house. Why don’t I just transfer him to you? Have your men pick him up and take him and his things down here. That will make up the numbers, will it not?”

&&&&


Dylan looks around and tiptoes into Odin’s quarters. Thomas said that the device was in there and promised that Odin would be down at the Stables with one of those sluts. Just like his Gaheris is. Gaheris has been gone for hours and hours. What could he possibly be doing down there that would take that long?

Perhaps it is just as well. Let Gaheris see that those sluts are in no way comparable to a properly trained companion. It will give him time to find that time folding device and get rid of Harper. Once Harper is gone, everything will be back to normal. Gaheris will thank him for this one day.

Dylan sidles into the bedroom. Unbelievable! That Odin is such a pig. Just look at this place. Stuff everywhere. Flexis scattered about like snow. Leathers piled in untidy heaps. Sheets and covers tossed recklessly over the bed. Equipment and bits and pieces of things everywhere. What a mess. Gaheris should see this. It would give Gaheris a new appreciation of how hard he worked to keep their quarters all clean and tidy. Of course, more often than not, Gaheris came in, tossing his leathers here and there and then…there were all those icky, dirty things that Gaheris expected him to do. He had tolerated it well enough until That Slut Harper came along, giving Gaheris ideas.

There. Dylan spots a thing made of clear tubes. One tube is filled with a mysterious looking blue liquid. It’s bigger than he thought it would be. He’ll have to hide it under something. He yanks a white sheet off the bed and wraps it around the device. Now, all he will have to do is take it to the Archduke’s quarters and give it to Harper. The little slut will jump at the chance to go back to whatever perverted universe he came from. Then everything will be back to normal.

&&&&


Harper looks up as he hears voices outside the door. It’s too early for Tyr yet. Who could be interrupting his little project? He quickly drops the silver, bejeweled gauntlets into a velvet box and slides it under the couch. He shoves his box of tools and gear after it. He lounges on the couch, pretending to read a flexi. Harper relaxes a little as Hector walks in with Dylan behind him. Hector is carrying something wrapped in white. “Dylan, what’s up?”

“Hello, ah, Harper.” Dylan gives him a tight smile before frowning at Hector. Dylan points at the table. “Put it there and don’t drop it. It’s for Harper.”

Harper sits up. He eyes the mysterious lump curiously. Is that a bed sheet around it? “What is it?”

Dylan waits until Hector leaves and then pulls off the white sheet. His pale eyes glitter feverishly as he stares at Harper. “Come look, Harper. I know that you want to go home. I’ve found a way.”

“You got your hands on the tesseract machine? How?” Harper looks warily at the contraption. It looks almost exactly like the one he used to remove the larvae. The one that led to Hohne’s death.

“Never mind how I got it.” Dylan snaps. He neatly folds the sheet and sets it aside. “Here’s your way out of here.”

Home? He can go home? Harper drops the flexi and slowly walks toward the table. This must be what they used to bring him here. He can leave this horrible place and go back where he belongs. Why does he feel uneasy at the idea? He should be ecstatic.

“Well?” Dylan demands sharply. He tosses his hair back with an impatient gesture. “Doesn’t it work?”

Harper eyes the machine. Everything seemed to be there. “It looks like it will.”

“Then use it. Go home. You don’t have much time. I have to get it back.” Dylan scowls as he watches Harper circling the machine.

“I don’t know.” Harper pauses by the controls but doesn’t touch them. Why isn’t he feeling happier? He can go back to his own universe….to…to what? To a universe about to be invaded by Magog? No, thanks. He has no desire to get up close and personal with them again. To Rommie? She probably already has a new engineer by now. Dylan has probably selected one of those prim and proper neo-Commonwealth types. Dylan will probably be a lot happier with someone who salutes and doesn’t talk back. To Beka? She’s so wrapped up in Dylan and his new Commonwealth that she probably barely knows that he’s gone. To Trance? Miss Gold and Sparkly probably knows perfectly well where he is but is offering faux portentous commentary on his disappearance. His beautiful, sweet purple Trance is gone forever. To the other Tyr? Harper bites his lip, imagining living on the same ship with the other Tyr…the one that barely acknowledges Harper’s existence…the one only interested in revenge and some old stinky bones of a long dead relative.

“What?” Dylan sputters indignantly. “What do you mean ‘you don’t know’?”

“I can’t.” Harper turns his back. His gaze falls on the ornate mirror. The last time that he used that machine, people died. Hell, a whole planet almost died. He doesn’t want anything to happen to Tyr or Hector and Janus. “I can’t go back.”

“No, you can’t be serious.” Dylan hisses in frustration.

Harper turns to face Dylan. “I’m very serious. I’m not going back.”

“Noooooooo…” Dylan whines high and petulant. He slaps Harper’s bruised cheek. “No, no, no, no, no. You’re leaving.”

Harper’s eyes widen in shock as he raises a hand to his stinging cheek. He can hardly believe that Missy Dylan just bitch slapped him. Has Dylan gone completely crazy? “Did you just slap me? You didn’t just slap me. Don’t make me kick your ass, Dylan.”

When Dylan raises his hand again, Harper sidesteps and punches Dylan hard in the stomach. Dylan doubles over gasping for breath, his pale eyes wide with amazement. Harper hooks his ankle around Dylan’s and dumps him on the floor.

“You hit me.” Dylan gasps looking up at Harper through a veil of mussed hair. His velvet bow dangles precariously from a few strands of hair. “You messed up my hair.”

“Yeah, that’s what happens when you start a fight, Dylan.” Harper stands over him, his fists clenched. “Someone usually gets their ass kicked.”

“Why can’t you just go back where you came from, you slut?” Dylan huffs. He shoves his hair back and the bow falls to the floor.

“Slut?” Harper raises his eyebrow. “What is wrong with you, Dylan? Are you out of your mind?”

“Everything is all your fault, you ungrateful slut.” Dylan whines. He struggles up to his knees as Harper steps back. “I tried to show you how to be a proper companion to the Archduke. I tried to show you how to dress and behave, but oh, no. You had to behave like a common Stable whore. You had to enjoy it and beg for it and make yourself look good at my expense.”

“What the hell are you talking about, Dylan?” Harper frowns in confusion. “Nothing that happens between Tyr and me has anything to do with you.”

“Doesn’t it? Doesn’t it?!” Dylan screams in outrage. “You strut around flashing your scrawny little ass in front of my Gaheris. You confuse him.”

“I confused Rhade. How did I do that?” Harper stares down at Dylan in amazement.

“You know perfectly well what you did. You made him want something he never wanted before. You made him want you.” Dylan glares at Harper.

“Whoa…whoa…wait a minute…back up a second.” Harper holds his hands up and backs away. “I never flaunted myself for your captain, Dylan. You know that.”

“Don’t think that lies are going to help you now, Slut Boy!” Dylan gets to his feet and lunges for the tesseract machine. “I’m sending you back so everything will be the way it was before you came.”

“Dylan, don’t touch that machine!” Harper shoves Dylan away. No way is he letting this crazy fool turn the tesseract machine on. It almost destroyed Sinti. “It could cause bigger problems than you imagine.”

“You can’t tell me what to do.” Dylan huffs. He glares at Harper. “I’m not stupid you know. I know what an ‘on’ button does.”

Harper stands between Dylan and the tesseract machine. His eyes widen as Dylan grabs one of the wall scones and yanks it free. Dylan lunges at him, screaming. Harper automatically throws up an arm and tries to dodge but the bronze scones slams into his head, driving him to his knees. He can feel the warm, thick ooze of blood down his face. Harper flings himself to one side as Dylan swings at him again. He scrambles awkwardly to his feet and finds balance enough to kick Dylan in the stomach but not as hard as he would have liked to.

“Oh! You kicked me! How dare you, you slut!” Dylan drops the sconce and wraps his arms around his stomach.

Harper sways. He can feel the slow, hot slide of blood down his face and throat. “Are you crazy!”

Harper kicks the sconce away as Dylan grabs for it. “Hector! Janus! Get in here!”

“No. You are leaving.” Dylan grabs Harper’s arm and yanks him toward the machine. He reaches for the power switch.

No! Harper slams his fist into Dylan’s face. Dylan squeals and steps back, clutching his bleeding nose. Hector and Janus come charging across the room. Hector grabs Dylan and puts him in a painful joint lock.

“Harper, are you alright?” Janus hovers over Harper, eyeing the blood on the human’s face. He turns a menacing glare on Dylan. “What did this one do to you?”

Harper pulls off his stained silk shirt and rubs the blood off his forehead and cheek. He wads the shirt up and presses it gingerly against the cut on his head. “He was trying to either kill me or send me home or both.”

“You’re injured. I’m calling Gaius. The Archduke will be furious with us. This is the second time we’ve failed you.” Janus strides away to contact the healer.

“I’ll talk to Tyr. Don’t worry guys.” Harper assures them. He winces as he presses the shirt to his head. “I’m not going to let him hurt either of you.”

Harper starts as the door chimes. The normally soft chime seems to echo loudly in his aching skull. He watches curiously as Janus answers the door. He can hear the indistinct murmur of voices then a wide grin spreads across Janus’ face as the guard looks Dylan up and down. Janus steps back, allowing two burly Nietzscheans inside. Harper looks from the strangers to the smirking Janus. “Damn, this place is like Kalahari Drift Port Authority. Who are these guys?”

“We’ve been sent to collect this kludge.” The burly blond points at Dylan.

“Oh no!” Dylan gasps. His swollen nose drips blood on his white tunic. His pale eyes are wide and appalled. “He wouldn’t. He didn’t! Tell me, he didn’t!”

Harper looks from Janus to Hector. They are both smirking now. “What is he talking about?”

“These are Stable Guards.” Hector tightens his grip making Dylan squeak. “It appears that Captain Rhade has given his companion to the Stable.”

“That’s a bad thing, right?” Harper glares at Dylan.

Janus grins evilly as he eyes Dylan. “Yes. Few companions are ever demoted to the Stable. Most are returned to the houses where they were trained. Captain Rhade must be very displeased with his kludge.”

“I must speak with Gaheris.” Dylan demands. He glares at them all. “This is a mistake. I am the captain’s kludge. You will not treat me this way. When Gaheris finds out you’ll be killed.”

One of the guards grabs Dylan’s arm and takes him from Hector. “Our orders are directly from the Captain. Let’s get this done quietly, shall we?”

Tyr strides in, still damp with sweat from his exercise, just at the Stable Guards are leaving with Dylan in tow. His gaze moves quickly around the room. He raises an eyebrow at the tesseract machine sitting on his table. His nostrils flare at the scent of blood. He stalks across the room. “What happened?”

Hector and Janus began quickly offering explanations.

Tyr gently tilts Harper’s head. He takes the silk shirt and softly blots the blood away. He inspects the small gash. Tyr growls and turns cold eyes on the two guards. “You two have failed Harper for the last time.”

Harper looks up into Tyr’s concerned dark face and suddenly he feels dazzled as if he unexpectedly stepped from shadow to bright sunlight. He could have hidden the machine until he could study it and learn how these Neits had brought him over here without incident. He could figure it out but…if he leaves, he will never have Tyr again. He will never experience that passion again and…he can’t do it. Harper kisses the strong, dark hand tenderly stroking his face. It crept up on him so slowly that he didn’t even know himself. He loves Tyr. This Tyr.

“Tyr, no…they were not in the room when Dylan attacked me.” Harper runs a soothing hand over Tyr’s forearm. The bone blades stir and flutter at his touch but do not ease back from their erect position. “Don’t punish them. They had no idea what Dylan was planning.”

“I won’t have you hurt again because of their negligence.” Tyr glares balefully at Hector and Janus. “I should send them to the Stables as well.”

“Please don’t.” Harper presses close and kisses each dark nipple in turn. His hands slide over the anger tense muscles of Tyr’s back. “They didn’t mean to let Dylan hurt me. They came in just as he was trying to send me back.”

“What? What was the kludge doing?” Tyr glances at the tesseract machine. His fingertips brush delicately over the bruise forming around the gash.

“He was trying to send my back to my universe. He said…he said a lot of things.”

Tyr bends down and nuzzles Harper’s throat. He kisses the dataport lingeringly, making the human tremble against him. His hands spread possessively over Harper. He must know why Harper chose to stay. “You had you chance to go home and did not. Why?”

Tyr growls and presses urgently closer as Harper grabs a handful of braids and pulls him into a long, breath-stealing kiss. Tyr’s amber eyes are wide and his breathing ragged when the kiss ends.

“Does that answer your question?” Harper nips at the full lips. His hands tangle in the wealth of braids.

“No.” Tyr stares down into mysterious blue eyes. “Tell me why you didn’t go home.”

“Because…” Harper nuzzles the strong lines of Tyr’s throat, “because I…I…”

“Yes, Harper?”

Harper’s murmurs, “…love you.”

Tyr laughs. His arms tighten around the human. “I suppose I can forgive the lapses of these betas if you are sure.”

“I’m sure.”

Tyr glares at Janus and Hector. “This is your last warning. Harper is more important to me than anything…than anyone else on this ship. You will not allow this again. Understood?”

“Yes Sir.” Janus and Hector reply in unison.

“Now, get out of my sight. I will spend time with my…lover.”

Janus and Hector glance at each other in surprise and hurry out of the quarters.

Harper blinks. This is the first time that Tyr ever publicly called him a lover instead of a companion. “What did you call me…what did you just say?”

“Never mind what I said. Come. I’ve got something to show you.” Tyr leads Harper into the bedroom, invoking privacy control as he does so.


&&&

The guards drag Dylan into the main bunk area of the Stable and drop him there. His shiny blue bag, stuffed with his belongings is tossed to the floor. The guards walk out and engage the force field keeping the doorway to the Stable secure. Dylan hurries after them. He bounces off the force field with a squeak. “Wait! You can’t leave me down here!”

Dylan calls out a few more times but when the guards continue to ignore him, he walks back to the center of the room. He touches his swollen nose and winces. He plops down on the bottom bunk and glares at all the sluts staring at him.

“Well, well, well…look what we have here. Fresh Meat!” A large human walks over. His heavy muscles slide easily under rich, blue-black skin that gleams like satin under the lights. His head is shaved bare. A gold hoop glitters in one ear. A neat beard frames full lips. He runs a hand through Dylan’s long hair.

“Get your filthy hands off me, you slut!” Dylan snaps and bats at the big hand. “Don’t you touch me. I’m Captain Rhade’s kludge!”

“Afraid not, Sugar Plum.” A willowy blonde man peers down from the top bunk at Dylan before glancing at the big man standing next to him. “It seems the captain has selected himself another kludge. Isn’t that right, Damien? Now you belong to whoever will have you.”

Damien chuckles. “You are right about that Silas. So, you see, Sugar Plum you’re now one of us.”

Dylan hugs himself. He looks down his swollen nose at the gathering sluts. “I’ll never be one of you. I’m better than all of you. I was trained in an established house. I am not a whore like all of you. I am a companion.”

“Correction there, Sugar Plum, you WERE a companion. NOW, you’re just a working kludge like the rest of us.” Silas drops down from the bunk. He kicks Dylan’s blue satin bag. “Nice looking piece of luggage you got there.”

Dylan lunges for the bag but several humans grab and hold him as Silas opens the bag. “Leave my things alone! Don’t touch my things!”

“Whoa…hold on there a minute…what’s your name?” Damien looms over Dylan.

A woman with curly, black hair, framing her pale face, glances at Damien. Her grip tightens on Dylan. “His name is Dylan. He’s a real piece of work. Always made it hard on the ones of us who made it top side.”

Damien nods. “Ah yes. This is the one always lording his status over the rest of us?”

“Yeah…that’s him.” A lean, dark man scowls.

A tall, blonde woman glares. “I say we kill him right now.”

There is an eager murmur of assent to the idea. Dylan looks around. His pale eyes are wide with horror.

Damien makes a show of considering then shakes his head. “No…no death is too good for this one. This one we’ll have to punish.” Catcalls and whistles erupt in the Stable. “So…Dylan…these are no longer your things…they’re our things. Share and share alike in the Stable.”

“You can’t do that. You can’t take my things. Those are valuable.” Dylan whines. He pulls uselessly against the humans holding him.

“Well, thanks so much for telling us that. Now we can charge a higher price for each item.” Damien smiles.

“Punish him. Punish him. Punish him.” The chant echoes enthusiastically around the Stable.

“You wouldn’t dare hurt me. You’ll be killed.” Dylan hisses. He tosses his hair.

“You really don’t know much about the Stable, do you, Sugar Plum? Stable rules are our own. We decide law down here.” Silas pitches the shiny blue bag on Damien’s bunk.

Damien holds up his hands to quiet the new round of catcalls and whistles. “First order of business in the punishment of this unworthy and ungrateful human is the division of his assets. Strip him.”

“No!” Dylan wails as eager hands rip off his stained satin tunic and throw it to Damien. “You can’t!”

“Oh, but we can…strip him,” Damien orders. He stands, arms folded over his chest, watching as the satin pants, velvet slippers and support thong are tugged off and tossed at his feet.

“Stop. Don’t do this to me.” Dylan squeals.

Silas grabs Dylan by the hair. He looks hopefully at Damien. “Let’s get rid of this dishwater mane of his, too, Damien.”

Damien nods. “Very well, whack it off.”

“Not my hair! Not my beautiful hair!” Dylan wails as they shove him to his knees and raggedly cut his hair. Long, brown strands fall to the floor. “Gaheris loves my long hair.”

“Well, you won’t have to worry so much with grooming will you, Sugar Plum?” Silas taunts.

“Punish him…punish him…punish him.” The growing crowd chants.

“Bring him to the showers.” Damien orders. “Roberto, bring the implements of punishment.”

TBC
Roberto hurries away. “Right away, Damien.”

“Implements of punishment?” Dylan sobs. “What are those?”

Silas smiles. “Well, Sugar Plum, you always acted like you had a stick stuck up your ass. We’re going to show you want that really feels like.”

“OH NOOOOOOO!” Dylan wails as the crowd drags him toward the showers.

TBC