Chapter 97: Book 2: Chapter 2

We left my quarters and headed up the double stairway to the upper deck. As we got to the top of the stairwell, raised voices echoed down the corridor from my reception cabin.

“…fuck you, you pint-sized bitch,” hollered a female voice I didn’t recognise.

There was a muffled response which I took to be Anastasia ripping into the angry woman in the cabin. With her diminutive new size, her voice didn’t carry as far as it used to, but obviously far enough for her target to hear.

“How fucking dare you! You might only be six inches tall but you’re the one dressed like a clap-ridden slut,” the angry voice snapped in retort.

“Mind your language, Celeste! There are children present,” a second, older female voice scolded. Probably Janet, Sarah’s stepmother.

“Celeste, please calm down. The captain will be here soon to answer your questions,” Jackson requested in a slight wheedling tone.

The lad must still have been hand-wringing a little because he used the collars to command the women earlier. He’d get over it soon enough. It would likely become a common daily occurrence.

“Fine,” Celeste answered, but there was a continued petulant muttering under her breath that I couldn’t quite make out.

As we approached the door, we could hear the stamping of her feet as Celeste stomped away from the confrontation.

“Ana, could you not provoke our guests,” Jackson pleaded.

Anastasia’s tinkling laughter followed his forlorn imploring. We could hear her now, as we were closer. “They aren’t guests, Jackson. They’re slaves. And you know as well as I do the captain isn’t changing that.”

“Fine, but you don’t need to suggest Torin is going to use them as prostitutes,” he retorted.

“Why not? They’re fucking cheerleaders. What other use are we going to have for them?”

I had seemingly arrived a few minutes later than what would have been ideal.

Shana and I swept into the room without announcing ourselves and every eye in the room focused on us.

The large oval oak table in the centre was covered in board games that we’d brought aboard to distract the youngsters while we were on mission. Anastasia was sitting on top of several boxes that had been stacked at the end closest to the entrance. Jackson was standing beside her, a concerned expression on his face.

Janet was at the other end of the room, sitting on a padded bench in one of the alcoves at the far end. She had Sarah in her lap and was hugging the preteen to her tightly, despite the death grip, the young girl was fast asleep.

Janet’s admonition of Celeste’s colourful language had been unneeded. The rest of the youngsters were, like Sarah, napping on the other benched alcoves.

It didn’t surprise me that they slept through Celeste’s tirade, they had to be exhausted after the ordeal they had endured and hearing that the monsters responsible were dead likely allowed them to relax enough that their fatigue overpowered any desire to remain awake.

The other three collared young women we had taken from the Capronid’s camp were over by the viewing ports at the edge of the room. Two of them were sitting on the red padded seating there and one, a willowy blonde girl, had been pacing angrily.

A quick analysis confirmed the pacer was Celeste.

Celeste Anderson (Human)

Civilian (Z) 1

Character Aptitude: Moderate

Loot Value: Nil

Threat: None.

XP Value: 60

Current Affiliation: Shattered Storm. (Property)

Fertile Receptivity: 0/80

The other two girls were Britney Wilson and Amber Diggins. Their details were much the same as Celeste’s. All three were level one civilians with moderate character aptitude.

“Cheerleaders?” I said and quirked an eyebrow Rock-style.

“What of it?” Celeste snorted and rested her hands on her hips adopting a belligerent stance.

“We won state,” Britney said at the same time.

“The retreat was part of the prize for seniors,” Amber added.

I put my hand up to forestall any further explanations. “It doesn’t really matter why you were on the island.” I pulled out one of the chairs on our side of the table and guided Shana to sit down and then pulled out one for myself. “Ladies, take a seat,” I finished by motioning with my hand to the opposite side of the table.

They stayed in place staring at me for a few seconds. “That wasn’t a suggestion,” I spoke, enforcing my words with the correct inflection and a splash of will.

Using the collars in such a manner was similar to how I used a soulbond. Although the primary difference was that only I could affect my bonded, whereas those with collars could be commanded by any free entity to some extent. Whether they had to obey depended on the Framework checks and what directives they were already under from their owners.

As I currently owned them and was present, the imposition of my will was nigh on undeniable, even if you didn’t count the gulf between our relevant stats used in the calculations. What that gulf would ensure was compliance with the intent of my will. Following the rules as intended and not the rules as written, or spoken in this case.

The three of them hustled over to where I indicated. Anastasia, with a smug expression, shimmied off the board game boxes and strutted across the table toward me. I picked her up and placed her on my shoulder.

I glanced over at Janet. She hugged Sarah tighter to her when I did, and I decided to leave her where she was. She would hear what I had to say to the others from over there just as easily.

The three cheerleaders settled into the highbacked chairs opposite us, Celeste appeared to be somewhat nervous and suitably chastened from seconds before. The extent of the power I held over them had been made physically apparent.

I sat there for a full minute while they fidgeted in their seats uncomfortably, my gaze slowly moved from one to another. We had given the girls plain white T-shirts and jeans to wear. We’d purloined the simple outfits from one of the surviving clothing shops on Main Street.

Britney sat on the left, she was the shortest of the three, with long red hair and freckles dusting her cheeks. Amber settled in on the right. She was a young African American woman with an undercut bob hairstyle that was a little unkempt given the circumstances. There was a hint of challenge in her stare that the others lacked, it didn’t take a genius to figure out why.

Finally, there was Celeste, who took up position in the middle. She was the tallest of the three but didn’t quite match Shana’s statuesque physique. Her blonde hair was tucked behind her ears and her fingernails, a little ragged after her ordeal, tapped impatiently, or perhaps nervously, on the varnished oak surface.

Celeste was undeniably pretty, they all were, current events notwithstanding. And from the little I’d observed of the blonde woman she was likely the queen bee of both her school and social group.

Therefore, used to getting her way.

But her attractiveness and popularity hadn’t resulted in her being stupid or overconfident. She’d been willing to unleash a bitchfest upon Ana but had the common sense not to try and do the same with me, despite not being ordered to be silent.

At least, not straight away.

Amber was the one to break the silence. “When are you going to take these collars off?”

“Did Jackson not explain?” I asked in return.

The question was rhetorical as we all knew that he had.

Celeste replied for the group. “He did, but surely he misunderstood you. We’re grateful that you saved us from those monsters, very grateful. We don’t want to give the impression that we’ve taken what you’ve done for granted. But you can’t possibly intend to keep us enslaved. It’s illegal…it’s immoral. We know our rights; you can’t do this to us. The authorities will not stand for it.”

While Celeste’s tone had begun mollifying and deferent, it had grown increasingly strident and heated as she reached the crescendo of her speech.

“Damn straight,” Amber added zealously.

Britney looked pensive. My guess was she had mentally skipped to the end of the conversation and knew where this was going. But it seemed I would have to educate her two compatriots.

I counted off on my fingers as I responded. “In order, he didn’t misunderstand me. You’re welcome. Yes, I do intend to keep you enslaved. No, it’s not illegal according to the Framework. You’re probably right. The only rights you have in my territory are those I grant. Yes, I can and am doing this to you. And finally, on my ship, I am the only authority that matters.”

Celeste stared at me dumbstruck and befuddled at my unexpected response.

“What the fuck?” Amber cried angrily and turned to glare at the wall.

I relaxed in my chair and left them to stew for a moment.

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“What was I probably right about?” Celeste inquired with a slightly confused expression.

“That it is immoral,” Britney answered for me in a small voice. “The rest no longer applies. The world has changed. We live in the Darkwyrlds now and he can do what he likes. Nobody is coming to save us.”

“You are correct, Britney,” I told her.

“I don’t believe it,” Celeste declared on the verge of panic. “Somebody will come. The government, the national guard, somebody.”

I grinned confidently at that. “The governor is on the other side of Michigan. I know because we dropped him off there yesterday after he gave me these islands and everything on them, which includes you by the way. He was very happy to do so.

“Nobody is coming. The rest of the world is just as overrun, and they are embroiled in the same desperate struggle to save themselves. Versions of what happened to you over the last two weeks are happening everywhere.”

Shana spoke then. “You may not realise it now, but you are quite fortunate. The settlement captain Torin has founded here is one of the safest in the world. The thought of slavery may leave a sour taste in your mouth, it does for us too, but it will keep you alive.”

“That’s easy for you to say, bitch,” Amber snapped. “You’re not the one in a collar.”

Celeste was similarly simmering with barely suppressed rage, ready to erupt, and Britney had tears welling in her eyes. I slammed my fist on the table and this shocked the girls into silence, their attention back on me.

“You will address me and my crew with the appropriate respect,” I growled, my will once again roiling over them and into their collars.

Amber shook her head slightly as she regained her vim and muttered. “I’ll be fucking dead before I call anyone master.”

She had cleverly evaded my direct command which she would be forced to follow. Her statement wasn’t an address to me or any of the crew allowing her a little leeway in her use of language. Orders as intended wasn’t entirely foolproof either.

I huffed a small laugh at her continued defiance and relaxed my posture. “Amber, you will call me whatever I tell you to call me,” I started seriously and then shifted to a more genial tone. “As it happens, I find master to be a bit too Igorish for my tastes. Captain, Sir, or My Lord will suffice. I shan’t make that a command, but if you abuse the freedoms I grant, you will regret it. You get one chance to behave and retain a little independence. I won’t hesitate to remove my generosity. Am I understood?”

“Yes, sir,” came a chorus of voices.

My high dominance stat helped to punctuate the point.

Britney’s eyes flicked from side to side, and she licked her lips nervously before speaking. “Was the fairy-woman telling the truth, sir? Will you use us as whores for your men?”

Celeste and Amber stiffened at her question; their gaze rapt upon me awaiting my response.

“I’m not a fairy,” Anastasia squeaked angrily from my shoulder. “I will be back to regular size in a day or two…I hope,” the last part she said under her breath, so only I caught it.

“I think Ana phrased that poorly,” I said diplomatically. “As Jackson explained, you can sign a twenty-year indenture contract in exchange for having the collars removed. You will be expected to work, there are no free rides in the Shattered Storm. There are various job roles that need filling and for the most part, I’m willing to let the indentured pick which role they wish to occupy if they have the appropriate experience, skills, or class for the position.

“This is part of the independence for those who have behaved appropriately that I spoke of. Abuse my largesse and the freedom of choice will be removed.

“Most roles will be jobs of some kind, labouring, crafting, or providing needed services. Not too different from what people did before the apocalypse. In exchange, they will get bed, board, and protection. When the twenty years is up you will be free citizens. The choice will be yours as to whether you stay or leave my territory.

“There will also be the opportunity to apply your skills to more specialised roles, there will be a militia and…comfort work will be available. People will want to have sex, that much hasn’t changed.

“There will be two general roles available in this arena, escorts and concubinage. The escort role will be similar to escort services that operated before this shitshow enveloped us. The escort spends the day or night with an individual and then moves on to the next person the following day.

“Concubines, on the other hand, would be dedicated to a single individual or group of people exclusively. The biggest difference between the two is that escorts will be able to easily transition to a different role if they wish, whereas there is an expectation that concubines are committed for prolonged periods, maybe for the entirety of their contract.

“Any exceptions to that will be at the discretion of the authorities, which is us. I won’t force anyone to work in a specialised role, but you will have to pick something or have something picked for you, like trash collector or toilet cleaner. As I said, there are no free rides.”

The three girls gulped at my explanation.

“Honestly, I doubt there will be a shortage of volunteers to be escorts and concubines when people understand the benefits,” Shana quipped.

If what I said surprised them, Shana’s words left them gobsmacked.

“You can’t be serious,” Celeste gasped. “Who would choose to be so shameful when given a choice.”

Shana just smiled sweetly at the outraged girl.

I knew what she was hinting at.

If things worked out as expected then gold and platinum would flow into the coffers of the Shattered Storm, specifically to those who were part of the pirate crew. They would then be likely to spend their coin treating and spoiling those they lay with.

Especially their concubines. It would be made clear to those who held the concubine contracts that they had responsibilities too. Providing appropriately for those in their care.

For people who didn’t want to risk their lives directly and had no other saleable skills, it would be a path to wealth, comfort, and safety.

Admittedly the escort and concubine system I was trying to enact was still a bit of a work in progress in my head. There were still a few kinks I needed to iron out. But I wanted something in place to allow people the opportunity for sexual release that they would need without the proliferation of seedy unregulated brothels.

Or worse, people doing whatever they wanted to whomever they wanted.

To avoid that, I needed control, and control meant having something official in place. Without doubt, once the Shattered Storm grew in size, the kind of brothels I wanted to avoid would pop up anyway. History had made that clear as day. But with an alternative in place I could shut those kinds of places down or execute abusers without pissing off and alienating the majority of the horny populace.

The lawless nature of my faction was a contradiction in terms. The Shattered Storm would have many rules and I expected them to be obeyed.

“Any gifts or rewards given to any contracted indentured will be theirs to keep. It will be part of the contract,” Shana explained. “Who do you think will be getting the choicest gifts in that arrangement? Furthermore, the indentured militia will be allowed to keep a proportion of the drops from any mob kills they make or be compensated fair value for items the settlement requires.”

Amber and Celeste were too hopped up on pulse-racing emotion to see it, but I think we could rely on Britney whispering the realities to them after we departed for Ionia. Those that planned ahead could find themselves set for life when their contracts expired and were free to do as they pleased as free citizens.

I had deliberately made the specialist roles more attractive in that manner to encourage participation.

Britney put her hand up, wordlessly asking permission to speak. I nodded my assent to her.

“Uh…what if…what if we don’t accept the indenture contract?” she asked in a nervy small voice.

I smiled and pointed out the porthole to the right-hand side of the bay. “You see that multi-storey structure over there, sticking out like a sore thumb?”

The three girls craned their necks around until they could see what I was pointing at. They shifted back to face me and nodded their heads.

“That would be my Framework granted slave market where I can dispose of any chattel that I have no need for. Mine was a quest reward, but settlements elsewhere are already purchasing smaller versions of their own. My indenture contracts will include a ‘no sell on without approval’ clause. The collared won’t have that benefit.”

I left my response hanging in the air and let them infer the worst as to what kind of people might buy them should I choose to put them up for sale.

There was no need to let on that I wouldn’t sell them just because they refused to take a contract and therefore the no sell clause was a deceptive benefit. We would need every able body for the foreseeable future, and I had no intention of sending people who could report about the location and extent of my operations to the kind of people who would build their own slave market.

There were a few moral considerations behind that decision mixed in there as well, but their relevance lagged far behind the practical. This wasn’t the world I would have chosen but it’s the one I lived in, and I wouldn’t hamstring myself out of misplaced concerns for old-world principles.

“You have a couple of weeks to think it over. One command I shall give is that you are not to level up until I give you permission. I presume that you all refused to participate during integration and that you have a do-over available,” I said.

Three heads nodded in unison.

“Good,” I continued. “Anyway, my crew and I have a raid to complete and need to make sail. The four of you and the youngsters will remain behind. There is a hotel across from the quay where you can bed down. While we are gone, I want you to rummage through the remaining housing inside the shields, gathering up food spoiled or otherwise and other useful supplies.”

<Oh, that’s the kind of thing we can set as a quest from the podium> Quixbix informed me.

Can you set that up? I thought at him.

<No problem.>

“There will be a quest for this task waiting for you at the podium. I expect it to be completed by the time we return. Jackson, show them where the podium is for the quest and then show them where they can deposit what they find into the black-market inventory.”

“Yes, captain,” the green-clad sorcerer responded.

“Okay, everybody, get your asses in gear we cast off imminently.”

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