Title: A Much Needed Vacation

Author/pseudonym: Hawk

Fandom: Andromeda

Pairing: Dylan/F(OC ); Beka/ Tyr; Dylan/ M ( OC ) implied

Rating: NC -17

Status: Complete

Disclaimers: The usual apply. I don't own 'em... I don't make any money off 'em... yada yada.

Summary: Dylan takes a vacation and all hell breaks loose.

Warnings: This story contains graphic scenes of torture, slavery, bondage, sex ... you name it, it's in here.

Dylan awoke with a splitting headache. He tried, unsuccessfully, to sit up. It was then he noticed the shackles.

"What the hell...?"

"Hey, Goldilocks. Welcome to hell."

Dylan turned his head a little, seeking the owner of the gravelly voice that greeted him to consciousness. He nearly passed out from the effort and the pain the slight movement caused. He lay back again with a groan. He used all the strength he possessed to ask, "Where am I?"

"Hell, Goldilocks. You are in Hell and it's here you're gonna die."

In the gloom, Dylan could barely make out a huddled figure in the far corner of the small, gloomy cell.

"This is just great..." Dylan muttered.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It was a glorious day. The sun was shining, the waves were breaking just right and Dylan was playing hooky from the Andromeda. He had taken off early in the Eureka Maru and left no forwarding address, so to speak. He wasn't running away exactly, it's just that the past few months had been hard... hell, they'd been brutal ... and he needed a little R & R, away from the Andromeda and the crew. A couple of slips and he was far enough away that the crew of the Andromeda would have a very hard time finding him. He was hoping they wouldn't bother trying, but if they did it would take them quite awhile to track him down.

He tried to rest on board the Andromeda, he really did. It seemed like every time he sat down on the Observation deck with a good book, Trance wandered in and wanted to chat about some new plant she was cultivating and then they would have to go see it and discuss its benefits to the hydroponics garden and to the ship. Or if he was in the gym working up a sweat and just trying to zone out a little, Tyr would saunter in and they would end up beating the hell out of each other on the basketball court. Then there was Harper. Harper was always getting into some kind of trouble and needing Dylan to help him fix it. And Beka? Well, let's just say Beka was really beginning to get on his nerves. If she didn't just admit she was hot for Tyr and do it soon he was going to explode at the both of them. The veiled comments and sexual tension were driving him crazy. And Rommie? Well, Rommie was another matter altogether. She was his ship's avatar and he felt he just didn't have the right to have feelings for her. Every time he looked at her he felt his growing need inside and she knew him better than anyone else. It would be so easy just to give in and let nature take its course.

Better to just get away for a few days and work all this out of his system. Where the hell was Rev when he really needed him?

Dylan felt he was at his breaking point. He had to be "the Captain", to do what was right. He had no "down time" and he simply needed some time alone so he left.

He had left a note on the bridge, right where Rommie or one of the crew was bound to find it. He'd blinded her internal sensors, overrode the Maru's launch codes and left. At least he knew they would be around when he decided to go back. The Maru was his insurance policy. Beka would never leave without her ship. She was in love with her ship. But then so was he to a point.

His note was short and to the point. It read:

Good Morning.

I need a break so I am doing what each and every one of you has been doing to me for the past year. I'm taking a vacation and not telling you where I'm going. I'll be back in a week or so. Don't wreck my ship while I'm gone.

Dylan

And just like that he'd left. Left the Andromeda, his last visage of civilization behind and gone off on his own to "get his head together". And here was definitely where he needed to be right now. Nobody to bother him. No crises to solve. No planet to save from invaders ... ahh...this was just what the doctor ordered.

Dylan watched the waves break on the beach for a few minutes then unlaced his boots, rolled up the pant legs of his khaki pants and started walking. The water felt great against his bare feet and the sun warmed his face. He breathed deeply. About an hour later he pushed the sleeves of his sweater up and began walking back the way he had come.

Dylan peeled off his sweater, leaving only his T-shirt covering his massive chest. Then he lay back on the blanket he had spread on the sand and closed his eyes. This was just what he needed.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

And now here he was in a cell, shackled, and he felt like he'd been stomped on by a planetary warfare bot.

"Great..."

Dylan took a deep breath.

// Shit! That hurts ... Okay, broken ribs, maybe cracked ... but where are the nano-bots? This is an "easy fix".//

He tried to sit. It was no use. The pain in his sides was keeping him from using his stomach muscles to sit up. He tried maneuvering his hands around to help himself and then realized his shackles were connected to a belt at his waist. He raised his head a little and nearly passed out from the effort. A fine sheen of sweat broke out on his forehead.

//Breathe, Dylan... breathe. //

Dylan finally got his head raised enough to look at the shackles binding his wrists. He fell back with a groan.

//Damn! What a fine mess you've gotten into today, Captain Hunt! //

Dylan smiled wryly.

//Think... //

A chain ran from the shackles on his wrists, through a ring on the belt at his waist and down to the shackles on his ankles. Another chain ran from the same belt up his chest. From the feel of it when he tried to move his head, he had on some kind of collar.

Dylan turned his head to look at his companion. "Hey, buddy! What is this place?"

The figure huddled in the corner. He barely raised his head to reply. "Hell. You are in hell," he whispered.

"Yeah. Whatever you say."

// Okay. He's more than a little messed up. //

"Um... Do you think you could help me sit up? I'm having a bit of trouble."

The huddled figure didn't move.

"I won't bite. I just need a little help here ... What do you say?"

The man looked around fearfully.

"I don't think there's anyone here but us. Can you please come here and help me?"

Dylan watched as the man looked around again and slowly got to his feet. He stood in his corner staring at Dylan. He was a huge man, and he was obviously insane. From the looks of the rags he was wearing he had been incarcerated in this hellhole a long time a VERY long time. He was shackled much the same way that Dylan was: collar, chain to belt at waist; wrist shackles, again chained to ankle shackles and connected through a ring on the belt at his waist.

// We are in a cell for God's sake and still they shackle us. This can not be good. //

"Hey. What's your name? If we're going to be stuck together here we should at least know what to call each other. I'm Dylan."

"We're not allowed to talk."

"Oh. And why is that?"

"Angel's watching."

"Angels? Angels are watching us?"

The man gave a short, harsh barking laugh.

// Okay messed up is a huge understatement! Man am I in trouble. //

Dylan sighed and shifted on the hard bench he was lying on. He tried once again to sit and as he fell back he felt strong hands grab him gently and help him up. He looked up and his world reeled. The man scuttled back to his corner again.

"Thanks, man. What do I call you?"

"Shh... Angel's watching."

The man cowered in his corner and covered his head.

Try as he would Dylan could not keep his eyes open and a groan escaped his parched lips as he slipped into unconsciousness once again.

*~*~*~*~*~*~

A few hours later Dylan was startled awake by the sound of a key opening the cell. He tensed and looked out from lowered lids. A very large, bi-pedal, lizard-like alien entered the cell. He was wearing a collar much like the one his companion wore (and, he assumed, like the one around his own neck). He wore only a slight breechcloth. His muscles rippled as he moved.

He stopped just inside the cell and looked around.

The large man cowered in the corner, hiding his head.

"You. Ssslave. Come."

The man looked up, the fear evident in his eyes. He stood slowly and approached the alien. Dylan tensed and started to rise.

The alien looked at him quickly. "Don't. You are in no ssshape to have the crap beat out of you. He isssn't worth it. You ressst. Your turn isss coming."

Dylan looked at his companion. He looked away quickly and moved toward the cell door. The alien followed him. He stopped outside the cell door and let the alien lock it behind them. The alien attached a leash to his collar then led him away. He looked back once and was jerked roughly for lagging behind. He did not look back again.

Dylan leaned his head back against the stone wall of his cell once again and waited.

// What is this place? //

*~*~*~*~*~*~

When Dylan awoke some time later it was dark. A feeble light entered his cell from the hallway. He couldn't see more than a few feet away.

"Hey... Are you there?" Dylan hadn't heard the cell door being opened to let his companion back in but he was hoping he had just slept through it.

"Is anyone here?"

There was no answer. Dylan got to his feet slowly. He winced at the coldness of the stone as his bare feet hit the floor. He was very unsteady, his head reeled and his sides throbbed. He hobbled as best as he could to the far corner, feeling his way there by leaning against the wall of the cell.

//Damn! I feel like I've been drugged ... and I must've pulled a muscle in my leg. //

There was no one there. His companion had not returned.

Dylan made his way back to his bench and gingerly sat once again. He leaned back and soon fell into a fitful sleep, fraught with dreams of running from an unseen enemy.

*~*~*~*~*~*

When next he awoke it was daytime once again. There was a tray of food on a stool by the bars of the cell. He gingerly got to his feet and hobbled over to the tray. The stool was securely attached to the bars of the cell.

// Not even a potential weapon. //

The tray held a bottle of water, some fruit and bread. He looked around then bent slightly and picked it up. He hobbled back to his bench and devoured the contents of the tray. The water felt like a slice of heaven as it sluiced its way down his parched throat.

Dylan passed the remainder of the day in a drug-induced haze. He dozed frequently only to be jolted awake by voices outside his cell, and once he thought he heard a man scream. Try as he might he could not stay awake and the fragmented information he was able to store in his consciousness only served to fuel his nightmares. If this was mental warfare, brainwashing, it was working. He was disoriented and unsure about what he was actually seeing and hearing, about what was real and what was dream.

// Andromeda! Where are you? Rommie ... //

*** (Note: From here on 3 stars denotes a dream sequence.)

"I'm here, Dylan."

Rommie came toward him, dropping her clothing along the way. She stepped into the shower and ran her hands up Dylan's dripping chest. He bent his head to claim her mouth with his own. Their bodies molded together as the water poured on them from above. He swept her up into his arms and stepped, dripping, from the shower. He carried her to his bed and gently laid her on the covers. She gazed up at him with her big brown eyes and he moved to cover her with his body. They kissed and Dylan felt his world start to tremble.

***

Dylan awoke, drenched in sweat and shaking from the force of his dream. He tried to focus on what was happening around him. His companion was back. The large lizard-like alien led him into the cell and over to his corner. He sank to the floor with a muffled groan.

// Sounds like he is in pain and that damn lizard is smiling! //

Dylan couldn't stay focused on what was going on and before the lizard had left his cell he had passed out once again.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dylan was alone in his cell again. // Did I just dream that the other man was here? And the lizard? //

He was beginning to doubt everything he saw and heard. Was there ever another person in his cell? Had he just been imagining everything?

The drug-induced fog he was kept in only served to make him more and more confused. He slept again.

***

He was on the Observation Deck, looking out the window at the Black Hole. Rommie walked up beside him and laid her hand on his arm. "Dylan, I'm sorry you had to leave Sarah behind. She loved you very much."

He turned to her. "Rommie, you can't understand. I loved her with all my heart."

Rommie had tears in her eyes. "But I do understand, Dylan. I love you with all my being. I am not just an invention of Harper's. I am a woman, with all the feelings, wants, needs of any woman."

Dylan looked at her as if seeing her for the first time. // By the Devine, she is beautiful but this is wrong! I can't be in love with Rommie. It is not allowed. //

Rommie ran her hand gently up the side of Dylan's face. "I feel you, Dylan. Protocol be damned. I love you. I love you, Dylan"

As Dylan reached out to touch her she faded away. "No! Rommie! Come back"

***

Dylan awoke with a start. Where were these dreams coming from? Sure, he had feelings for Rommie but he'd never had such vivid dreams before.

// I'm so thirsty! //

He looked up and saw a new tray by the bars of the cell. Drugged? Most probably.

// So thirsty ... I need the water... //

He walked over to the toilet in his cell. Dirty and no water reservoir inside the cell. It looked like he had no choice but to drink what was offered.

// Well, if they intend to keep me drugged I guess I can't fight that. I need water to survive and survive I must. I have to get back to the Andromeda somehow. I sure as hell won't die like a dog in this cage. //

Bread, fruit and water once a day. By the time the food arrived Dylan was hungry enough and thirsty enough that he had to eat what was left for him or starve to death. His second day in captivity passed much the same as his first, except that his companion never returned to the cell. He was alone.

He had a lot of time. Fuzzy, foggy time, but time none the less. He thought about everything. His life - before Haephestus and after. He remembered his time with Sarah - and how her loss had devastated him. The knowledge that she had been the founder of a planet of people, a mother, left him feeling hollow inside.

// I should be happy for Sarah, but all I can think of is that I should have fathered her children. We should have had that wonderful life we were planning. I could almost handle losing her until I met her descendants. It is so unfair! //

Dylan's face was damp with his tears. Tears he shed for the life that should have been. Tears he shed for the children that should have been his his and Sarah's. Tears for the 300 lost years.

And now Rommie was all he had left of his former life. Was that where these dreams of his were coming from?

Dylan dwelled on his memories of Rommie and how her new avatar had changed their relationship. Was it for the better? He could not say.

He thought of the crew of the Eureka Maru and how they had become like his family.

His thoughts seemed to wander with no rhyme or reason as to what came into his head next.

// I have never been this out of control before. My mind is wandering like someone is sifting through my memories. //

And he slept.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dylan was startled awake by a blood-curdling scream. He was on his feet before he was even fully awake. He took a step forward and fell. He had forgotten his shackles and they hobbled him. He landed heavily on the stone floor of the cell, striking his head. A sharp cry as he fell was his only sound.

The blood pooled under his head. He was injured and he was alone. Would anyone notice if he lived or died?

// Where are your angels now, my friend ? //

Blackness claimed him.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

***

"Dylan? Dylan, are you awake, my love?" Rommie kissed Dylan gently. He murmured in his sleep and rolled over. Rommie smiled gently and climbed out of bed. She bent and retrieved her clothes from where they were scattered. Holding her clothes to her chest, she bent and kissed Dylan once again. "Good-bye, my love," she whispered.

***

"Rommie! Don't leave me! I need you!" Dylan's dream startled him awake. He was lying on the bench in his cell. By pulling his feet up toward his chest he was then able to lift his hands to his head. He gingerly felt his head where it had struck the floor nothing!

// How can this be? Am I going crazy? Or have I just lost track of time? How long have I been here? //

He rolled to his side and slowly managed to sit up. He stood and hobbled to the door of his cell. All he could see was a hallway that seemed to go on forever.

"Who's out there? Where am I?" His echo was his only answer. He hung his head and slowly made his way back to the bench. He sat, leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes.

// What is dream and what is reality? Am I truly going insane? //

"Angel's watching."

Dylan jumped. His companion was back. "What?"

"Angel sees everything."

"Yeah, whatever."

The large man started laughing and faded away.

"No!" Dylan stood then slowly dropped to his knees. He looked around his small cell and realized he was utterly alone. He fell to the floor and curled on his side.

// None of this is real. This can't be real. I'm not crazy... I'm not. Rommie? Where are you? //

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"So? Where do we start?"

"Start? Beka, Dylan told us he would be back in a week. We owe him at least that much time."

"Rommie. I am not going to just sit here while he goes gallivanting all over the galaxy in my ship."

Rommie folded her arms. "It doesn't look like you have much choice. If he isn't back in a week then we can begin to look for him. Until then, we wait."

Beka gave Rommie a scathing glare and stormed off the Obs Deck.

Rommie turned at the sound of a muffled snicker. "Harper? You have a problem with this?"

"Me? Um ... no Rommie," Harper scuttled away leaving Rommie staring after him.

"I'll never understand them."

"Humans are different, Rommie. They are driven by their emotions. Dylan is a big boy. He can take care of himself." Tyr lounged on a bench on the Observation Deck, reading a novel.

"You seem unconcerned about Dylan, Tyr."

"Like I told the boy. Dylan can take care of himself. Besides, he has been gone a few hours at most. There is nothing to worry about yet."

Rommie looked out the windows of the Observation Deck and wondered just how right or wrong Tyr was.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

// Four days? Has it really been four days ... or five? God, I have no idea how long I have been here. If I know Andromeda she will have started looking for me by now. How long will it take her to find me? I didn't exactly leave a trail of breadcrumbs behind. I didn't think I wanted to be found. //

Dylan paced. Around and around his gloomy cell he hobbled, determined to stay awake and coherent.

// Walk, Dylan ... get those cobwebs out of your head. You have to be ready when they come for you. //

Finally he sat. He had been walking for hours around and around in circles. But at least he felt a little more awake and alert than he had since he had come to this place.

He looked up and his dinner was again by the bars of his cell.

// Come on ... why is it that I never see anyone leave it there? //

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dylan awoke to the sound of his cell door opening. He looked up through lowered lids, tensing his body, ready to strike out at whomever was opening the door. He was determined to try to make a break for it. He had to get out of here and off this crazy planet before he was so weak from inactivity he couldn't break free.

"Don't even think about it, hu-man. Your shacklesss are for your protection asss well asss mine."

Dylan tensed and lunged. The lizard caught him around the waist and lifted him in a bone-crushing hug. Dylan whipped his head back and connected with the head of the being holding him. The lizard pulled his head back but never released his grip on Dylan.

Dylan couldn't draw a breath.

// Okay, maybe this wasn't my best idea.//

He writhed in the lizard's grasp but could gain no footing to continue his fight. As his world began to go black he suddenly let his body go completely slack. His head lolled forward.

The lizard threw him over his shoulder. "He isss unconsssciousss. Ssshall I bring him to you?"

A sexless, disembodied voice came out of the air. "Argus. He is faking, but please bring him to me all the same."

The lizard dumped Dylan on the floor. "Get up hu-man. You're wanted."

Dylan groaned and got slowly to his feet. He stood with his head hanging, every breath seeming to take a tremendous effort. Then he lunged. The lizard was ready and caught him with a blow to the back of his head. Dylan dropped to the floor, unconscious.

The lizard threw Dylan over his shoulder and made his way out of the cell.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dylan groaned and slowly opened his eyes. His head throbbed and it was when he reached to rub the back of his neck that he noticed the predicament he was in.

// Oh, shit! This can't be good. //

Dylan was chained, spread-eagle to an x-frame. His collar was fastened to a crossbar on the upper part of the frame, lifting his chin and effectively making it impossible for him to look around at his surroundings. He was stretched to his limits. He couldn't move.

"Hello, Slave. Welcome to your new life." It was the disembodied voice from his cell.

"The name's Dylan."

Crack! The sound was followed very closely by a sharp, stinging pain across Dylan's back. It was then he realized he was now shirtless. Dylan cried out.

"You will learn to obey. Think of this as part of your training." The voice was obviously computer-generated and sexless.

Crack! "That's two."

"As if I'd lost count," Dylan ground out between clenched teeth.

Crack! "Three."

"Why the hell are you doing this?" Dylan was breathing heavily.

Crack! "Four."

Crack! "Five."

Dylan hung in his bonds, gasping for breath. His back felt like it was on fire. There was a pause in his torture. He slowly got his breathing under control and tried vainly to see his tormentor. He struggled against his bonds briefly then fell quiet once again.

Dylan drifted momentarily in his misery.

"You should obey Argus at all times, Slave."

"Who?"

"Argus will teach you to obey, Slave. Then he will bring you to me. Five more, Argus. That should do it for now."

"No!" Dylan struggled futilely against his bonds.

Crack! "Sssix."

Crack! "Ssseven."

Crack! "Eight."

Dylan could feel the blood begin to trickle down his ravaged back. He struggled to stay conscious.

Crack! "Nine."

Crack! "Ten."

Dylan could feel the blood seep into the waistband of his pants. His back felt like it was on fire. Soon he felt hands begin to loosen his bonds and he looked up to see the hands of a lizard.

//Argus ... //

Argus reshackled Dylan's wrists in front of him then bent down to unhook his ankles. He left Dylan's collar attached to the crossbar until he finished chaining Dylan again. Then he attached a leash to Dylan's collar and pulled him, stumbling, back to his cell.

Argus released Dylan's leash then spoke. "Ssshould I now treat hisss woundsss?"

"No, Argus. Let him be for now. It will help to remind him of his place and make him think about disobeying in the future."

Argus left the cell, locking it behind him.

Dylan slumped down on the bench, wincing from the pain in his abused back. He curled up on his side and soon fell into a fitful sleep.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

***

"Dylan?"

"Rommie! Is that you?"

"Dylan, I'm here my love."

Dylan watched Rommie saunter toward him. They were on the beach and the warm breeze played with her hair as she approached. He held his arms out and she melted into them. They came together in a fiery display of unbridled passion.

Suddenly, without warning, Rommie put her hands on Dylan's chest and pushed him away. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

"Rommie? What's wrong?"

She looked at him for a minute then shook her head. "Wrong? You can ask me what's wrong? Dylan! You don't really love me. You love your precious Sarah. I will never be more than a pale substitute to you. This is wrong. I have to go." Rommie turned and began walking away from him.

"Rommie!" Dylan tried to follow but was unable to move. He looked down. He was chained and Argus held his leash. Rommie was leaving him and he couldn't follow her. "Rommie! Help me!

Argus laughed. "There isss no help, Ssslave."

***

Dylan awoke with a start sometime later. His back felt like it was on fire. He sat with difficulty and looked around for something to drink. His now customary dinner was on the stool by the door to his cell. He got to his feet with a slight degree of difficulty and made his way over to the stool and his "dinner".

It hurt to move ... hell it even hurt to think about moving. Dylan had been left alone since his ordeal in the "training" room. It was as if his tormentors had forgotten of his very existence. If not for the food on the stool he would be sure of this. Someone was at least taking the time to see that he didn't starve to death. Beyond that he had no clue as to what was going on here.

Dylan shifted on the bench, trying to get comfortable. It was no use. His back was stiff and sore and he was unable to get any relief from the constant throbbing pain. He got to his feet and began pacing once again.

// If I could just stretch I think I'd feel a little better. I'm as sore from not moving as I am from the damn whipping! //

Dylan flexed the muscles in his back as he walked around and around his small cell. He could feel his back start to heal.

Suddenly he stopped.

// How long have I been here? Five days? Six? Damn it! I've lost track of time, which is probably exactly what my hosts want. Confuse your prey. Isn't that what your Nietzscheans teach, Tyr? Well, at least the Andromeda should be looking for me. I didn't make it that difficult to find me, I hope. I can do this. I can hang on for another day. It won't take them more than that to find me. //

Dylan walked for awhile then laid down on the bench to get some much-needed rest.

// I have a feeling I may need all my strength to get out of here. //

*~*~*~*~*~*~

*

"Dylan! Dylan, where are you?"

"I'm here, Rommie."

"Dylan? I can't find you."

"Rommie! I'm right here."

Rommie's voice faded with each passing minute.

"Rommie! Don't leave me! Rommie! I need you!"

"Dylan ..."

The sound had faded to nothingness. Dylan was really alone. The Andromeda was not coming.

***

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Argus returned awhile later. Dylan let him attach the leash to his collar and followed him out of his cell. //Let's get a look at this place. It will help me plan my escape. //

Dylan followed Argus down a series of corridors. // This place is a maze ... great. // Argus led Dylan to the same room in which he had awakened the last time he was out of his cell ... the room he had been whipped in. The crossbar stood as a reminder to Dylan, a very unpleasant reminder.

Argus halted halfway across the floor of the large room. He spoke. "Ssshall I put him on the crosss?"

"No Argus. I want him in the center of the room today. I have something to show our new slave, something very interesting." The voice seemed to come from the air, no from the very walls themselves.

Argus led Dylan to the center of the room and affixed the chain running between his ankle shackles to a ring set into the floor. He then went to a wall panel and pushed a button. Argus was looking up toward the ceiling. Dylan could hear a motor start up from somewhere above his head. He looked up to see a chain descending from the ceiling. Argus brought it down until it was level with Dylan's waist then let go of the button. The chain's descent stopped and Argus approached Dylan. He had in his hand what looked like a modified force lance. Dylan watched his approach, trying to decide how best to attack.

"Don't try anything, hu-man. Thisss ssstunner will render you unconssscious before you could move a mussscle."

Argus stood in front of Dylan with the end of the stunner pressed against Dylan's chest. He hooked his wrist shackles to the chain that was hanging in front of Dylan then unhooked the chain running between the two sets of shackles. He backed away quickly and returned to the panel on the wall. With a press of a button there the chain attached to Dylan's wrists rapidly rose into the air, pulling Dylan's arms with it. The motor stopped when Dylan was stretched to his limits.

Dylan grunted with the pressure of his body being stretched to its limits. He could feel the welts on his back break open once again and the blood begin to trickle down his back. After a couple of minutes his entire body felt like it was on fire from being stretched. He hung like that long enough to begin to wonder if they were just going to leave him there and then someone entered the room behind him. A blindfold was placed around Dylan's eyes, then this new person walked around him, admiring his physique. He felt this person run their hands over his bared torso. Dylan flinched at the touch but could not move away from the hands. The person chuckled at his obvious discomfort.

"I have something to share with you, Slave." Again the voice was masked.

"The name's Dylan." The blindfold was removed. Dylan could feel a presence behind him but the person remained out of his sight.

"Argus." Argus walked over to a panel set into the wall. He pushed a button and a large viewing screen opened up in one wall. The voice continued.

"After we brought you here we searched the area for your vessel. It didn't take us very long to find it. When I decided to make you a permanent resident of my collection I decided to make sure no one would come looking for you. Yes, I know who you are. I know who your friends are. You, however, are now mine. Watch and learn ..."

Argus pushed another button and the screen came to life. Dylan saw the Maru leave the planet surface and head into space.

"What did you do with my ship?" He pulled futilely against his bonds.

"Watch and understand, Slave."

Dylan watched as the Maru entered slipstream and eventually entered normal space near Shaharazad. Seconds later multiple explosions ripped through the Maru.

The tape skipped forward to a courier ship approaching the Andromeda, sending a hail to the larger ship. The Andromeda responded and a message was relayed to the ship.

The relayed message was from Shaharazad. It was two days old at the time of transmission. "Andromeda Ascendant. The Eureka Maru entered normal space near Shaharazad in distress. A ship was dispatched to assist, but before we could approach the Maru it was destroyed by multiple explosions. All aboard are lost."

The crew of the Andromeda Ascendant was stunned. They replied to the courier ship that they had understood the message. "Can there be a mistake?" Beka asked, visibly shaken by the news.

"There is no mistake, Andromeda. The Eureka Maru is gone."

"Thank you." The connection with the courier ship was broken.

Rommie was visibly distressed. Beka approached her quietly and touched her arm. There was no response. // I can't promise I will never die, Rommie, but I promise I will never leave you. . // Beka walked away and left Andromeda to her thoughts. // The Balance of Judgement had no Captain, the Pax lost her Captain. That's why space ships have Captains, Rommie. I am your heart I will never leave you. // Moments later an alarm was sounded on the Andromeda Ascendant. "AP Tank overload in 10 ... 9 ... 8 ... 7 ... 6 ... 5 ... "

"Rommie! No!"

The Andromeda Ascendant exploded in space and the screen before Dylan went blank.

Dylan struggled in his bonds. "No! What have you done? ... What have you done?" Dylan's sobs echoed in the large room. The person behind him smiled and walked away, leaving him facing the empty screen.

Dylan's ranting filled the chamber. He struggled futilely against his shackles. After awhile his voice began to crack and eventually he became so hoarse he could no longer scream out his frustrations. It was at that point that Argus returned. He rearranged Dylan's shackles and led him back to his cell. Dylan fell, exhausted, onto the bench and soon slept. His dreams were filled with images of the Andromeda exploding and Rommie's final whispered words; "I love you, Dylan."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Welcome back, Slave."

Dylan opened his eyes and pushed himself to a sitting position on the hard bench of his cell. He looked toward the door, searching out the owner of the voice that had prodded him awake.

A stunningly beautiful woman stood at the bars of his cell. She was slim, dressed all in black leather with long blond hair trailing down her back. She lounged against the bars, studying Dylan in obvious interest.

'Welcome back?" Dylan let the sarcasm drip from his question.

"From oblivion, Slave. Can't let you wallow in oblivion forever."

Dylan leaned back against the stone wall, grimacing from the pain in his back but reveling in the coolness of the stone against his wounds. He laid his head back against the stone and closed his eyes. He spoke with studied indifference. "And who the hell might you be?"

"The name's Angel."

Dylan snorted mockingly. "Really? Huh, you don't look the part."

"Be careful, Slave. Your attitude could be adjusted again. Argus takes pride in his work."

"I bet he does. Do you teach all your slaves to be such good little pets?"

"You'll soon find out, Slave."

"The name's Dylan."

"Not any more, it isn't."

Dylan opened his eyes and turned to the door of his cell. The woman was gone. He was alone once again. He had not heard her leave. // Real or imagined? // It was becoming so hard to separate the two.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dylan paced, determined to keep alert. As he paced he studied every stone of his cell. // There has to be a weakness here. // He paced off the distance around his cell, the distance from the back wall to the door. // I wonder if I could rush Argus and get out of here? But to where? //

Dylan's stomach rumbled and he realized that hours had passed. There had been no food delivery tonight. // Is it because I am awake and alert? Food has always been delivered when I am compromised in some way. Or are they trying to "break" me? // He snorted. // Of course they are...//

Exhaustion set in and Dylan curled up on the bench in his cell, cold and hungry and alone with his dreams.

***

"Dylan, you promised you would never leave me."

"Love never dies, Rommie. I will always be with you."

"Dylan? Where have you gone? I can't go on without you."

"Rommie! I'm here."

"Dylan? No, Dylan is dead. He left me alone. Initiating AP Tank overload Critical in 10... 9...8...7..."

"Rommie! No! Don't do this!" Dylan struggled to free himself from his chains. The Andromeda exploded in front of his eyes and he was alone.

***

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Angel's watching."

His companion was back again.

"Still with the angels friend?" Dylan lounged against the wall of the cell. Suddenly he sat upright. "Angel? Angel is watching?" He turned toward his companion only to find him gone once again. // Angel. Angel is real... Well, at least the boogey-man has a name. //

Dylan's day passed uneventful and solitary. No one came to check on him. No one came to feed him. Hell, at this point it would be great if someone just came to torment him. There wasn't a sound anywhere. // What if everyone is gone? I have to get out of this cell. //

Dylan was pacing once again when Argus finally came to get him. "Angel wantsss you."

"She does? Well then Angel can come and get me."

"You will come with me, Ssslave."

"The name's Dylan and no I won't come with you. Tell Angel she knows where to find me."

Dylan sat on the bench and leaned back against the wall, waiting for what would come next. // Two things can happen here. One, Argus will try to take me by force in which case I will fight him and try to get out of here or, two, Angel will come. If that happens she will be pissed and probably open the door at which time I can rush her and be gone. I see no downside here ... //

Dylan watched Argus closely. The lizard stood outside the door to the cell for a moment then turned and started walking down the hall.

Dylan smiled. // Leaving. Good. That means Angel will be coming. //

Argus stopped a few paces down the corridor and opened a wall panel. He reached in a pulled something out. He turned and approached the cell once again. Dylan stood in surprise as Argus raised a force lance and shot him. Dylan crumbled to the ground, unconscious.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dylan awoke some time later. He was back in the "training room" and was once again tethered to the cross. Angel stood before him.

"You will obey my every command, Slave."

"The name's Dylan."

"Not any more. You are to be known as Slave until I decide you have earned something better. You will respond to that term at all times. Do you understand?"

"My name is Dylan Hunt. I am a Commonwealth Captain, HE 509 5C2 1922.

Angel nodded her head once and Dylan felt the whip bite into his back. He gasped from the sudden unexpected pain this caused. The pain blossomed leaving him breathless.

"There is more where that came from, Slave. This toy that Argus is so fond of is built with a nerve stimulator. It will set your nerve endings on fire. You can end this now or Argus can increase the settings of his toy and we can continue. The choice is yours. Now, your name is Slave until I say otherwise, do you understand?"

"I am Dylan Hunt, Commonwealth Captain, HE 509 5C2 1922."

Angel nodded and once again the lash bit into Dylan's back. He screamed as the nerve endings in his back exploded in fire. "You are nothing here. You have no name until I give you a name."

Dylan was panting from the pain. "Dylan Hunt, Commonwealth Captain, HE 509 5C2 1922."

Angel stepped around behind Dylan and talked to Argus for a moment. She then stepped back around to where Dylan could see her. She reached out and ran her hand down his bare chest. He shivered from the contact but said nothing. "I have given instructions to Argus that he is to continue this training session until you come to the realization that you are no one here but my slave. You belong to me." She nodded and the whip descended once again.

Dylan clenched his jaw to keep from crying out. He took a deep breath and ground out, "I am Captain Dylan Hunt, HE 509 5C2 1922."

Angel just stared into his eyes as the whip descended once again. Dylan could feel the welts on his already ravaged back rip open. Blood trickled down his back. Dylan hissed in pain. Then the pain exploded once again into pure agony as the nerve inducers did their work. Every inch of his back seemed to be on fire. He writhed in his bonds.

"Captain Dylan Hunt, HE 509 5C2 1922."

Dylan finally passed out from the pain of the severe whipping he was receiving. Angel cradled his chin in her hands, lifting his head. She stared at him for a few minutes, seemingly debating something in her mind. She let his head loll against his chest once again and turned to Argus. The lizard-like being was breathing heavily from his exertion.

"Ssshall I take him back to his cccell, Missstresss?"

Angel looked at him for a moment. Finally she shook her head. "No, Argus. When you have your breath back give him a stimulant and continue your training."

"Missstresss?" Argus was clearly shocked by the command.

"Argus. This one is defying me. He is extremely strong-willed and to show any weakness or compassion to him at this stage of his training will render him completely invulnerable to me. Continue with his training as soon as you are able."

Argus straightened. "Yesss, Missstresss."

Argus took a few deep breaths, stretched the fatigue out of his muscles and then gave Dylan a hypo-spray stimulant.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dylan came to with a groan. He blinked his eyes and raised his head. Angel was standing in front of him with her hands on her hips.

"Ready to proceed, Slave?"

The lash descended on the ragged remains of Dylan's back and he clenched his teeth to keep from screaming aloud. As it was he could not contain the groan that escaped him. Angel merely smiled, waiting for his reaction to her question. Dylan stared at her.

"Are you ready to submit to me, Slave?"

"I am Dylan Hunt, Commonwealth Captain, HE 509 5C2 1922." His breath came in ragged gasps.

The whip descended as he finished speaking. He could no longer contain his cry of pain as the whip bit into his flesh once again. Argus had switched back to the bull whip. At least the nerve inductor was not being used. Dylan could withstand the bull whip.

"Submit, Slave."

"Never..." Dylan ground out the one word from between clenched teeth.

The whip connected with his ravaged back once again and he hung in his bonds as if he no longer had control of his extremities. He gasped for air. Sweat ran from his brow in rivulets.

Angel continued to study him. She could see his pain and his struggle to remain lucid and in control of himself. She smiled and lifted his chin. "All you have to do is submit, Slave."

"No!"

The whip bit into his flesh once again. He cried out.

"You are mine, Slave. Admit it."

Dylan raised his head and looked into her eyes. He was having trouble focusing. The pain in his arms and back was excruciating. He fought for every breath he took.

"Just say it. A simple 'Yes, Mistress' will stop this forever." Angel reached out and ran her hand down the side of his face.

Dylan shook his head, unable for the moment to voice his disagreement with her wishes. The lash fell once again, eliciting a groan of pain from the captive.

"Say it." Angel pointedly looked at Argus, then back to Dylan. "You can end this now."

Dylan could not even shake his head. He just looked at her, the pain evident in his eyes. She nodded to Argus once again and Dylan steeled himself for the next blow. What he wasn't prepared for was the nerve inducer The blow fell and Dylan's back was immediately on fire. He screamed as the pain blossomed. Argus had turned up the settings and the pain radiated outward from the blow, not subsiding as it went but growing in intensity, radiating up Dylan's arms and down his legs, leaving his writhing in pain and gasping for breath.

"Submit, Slave. You cannot survive if you do not surrender to my control." Angel looked into Dylan's pain-filled eyes. He was gasping with every breath he took. She could see that he was on the edge of the abyss. "Say it, Slave and all this will come to an end."

Dylan hung his head. "Yes, Mistress." The whispered response was the only thing to pass his lips before he succumbed to the darkness once again.

Angel smiled and walked out of the room. "Take him to his cell and treat those wounds, Argus."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The woman walked around the large steel table, studying the form upon it. She ran her finger up a bare arm and across a firm chest. She laid her hand flat on the chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of relaxed breathing. She looked the length of the bared body that was immobilized on the table before her.

She walked around the head of the table, examining the wires that ran from the large computer to the synaptic-enhancer her plaything was currently wearing.

"Isss he ready yet, Missstresss?"

"Almost, my pet. Almost."

"Will he remember thisss?"

"You mean, will he remember this room? Never. As far as he is concerned this room does not exist. His existence is his cell ... his shackles ... his submission ... to me."

The woman watched the computer screen for a moment before making a slight adjustment to the program running there.

The large lizard-like creature bowed his head. "Yesss, Missstresss."

The woman turned and watched the man on the table as the new program began. Soon his breathing rate increased and his hands clenched and unclenched. His muscles tensed

"Learn your lessons well, beautiful one."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"The ssslave is uncooperative, Missstressss." Argus paced in front of Dylan, holding onto a leash attached to the collar Dylan wore.

Angel stood with her hands on her hips. She looked at Dylan pointedly. He refused to look away. When she spoke it was with a deadly softness that sent shivers up his spine. "Argus, I believe our new slave needs further training. He is still obstinate and not fit for service here. Until further notice he belongs to you. Do with him what you will. I want him trained and obedient the next time he is brought before me."

Argus bowed to Angel. "Yesss, Missstresss." He yanked on the leash, pulling Dylan along behind him as he strode along unfamiliar corridors. Dylan had no choice but to follow.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Rommie... "

"The answer is still no Beka. Dylan asked for a week. He will get a week. Until that week is up we will remain here. If I had the slightest hint of trouble we would be searching for him. Give him this time."

Beka angrily stormed off the bridge. She eventually found herself in the gym working out her frustrations on the equipment there. Tyr found her there an hour later.

"Beka. I understand you and Rommie had ... words this morning."

"Is that what you call it?" Beka hit the heavy bag once again, hard.

Tyr smiled and leaned against the door frame watching Beka work out. She finally stopped and turned to look at him.

"What do you want, Tyr?"

"The answer to a question." He smiled at her again.

"So ask," she said, turning back to the heavy bag. She resumed her workout, fully aware of Tyr's gaze.

"Dylan has been gone less than a day, Beka."

Beka stopped hitting the bag and leaned against it, trying to catch her breath. "I thought you had a question, Tyr." Sarcasm dripped from every word.

He chuckled. "So. Why are you in such a hurry to track him down, Beka? Do you have feelings for our Captain that I should know about?"

"No. Now go."

"I'm still waiting for the answer to my question."

"I answered your damn question, Tyr. Now go."

"No. You answered one of my questions. The one about 'why' you are in such a hurry to go you haven't answered."

Beka turned to Tyr. "Call it woman's intuition. He's in trouble, Tyr. That's all I know."

"So. You do care for him."

Beka waved him away. "It's not like that, Tyr. I just have a weird feeling about this and I think we should go looking for him now."

Tyr crossed the distance between them in two steps. He swept Beka into his arms and kissed her. She pulled away slightly then melted into his arms. Her arms snaked around him, pulling him tight against her. Their passion flared.

"So. Where did that come from, Beka?" Tyr asked, releasing his hold on Beka.

Beka wiped the back of her hand across her bruised lips and glared at Tyr. "You tell me, lover boy."

Tyr chuckled, a low, seductive sound that sent shivers up Beka's spine. "I've been meaning to do that for awhile, Beka. There's more where that came from that is, if we have time to explore our feelings... If we have to rush off to save Dylan, however..."

Beka looked at Tyr with growing amazement. She took off her boxing gloves and dropped them on the floor. "Why, Tyr. Why in the world would we have to rush off to find Dylan?" she asked innocently as she moved toward the Neitzchean with cat-like grace. "I thought he was just on holiday for a few days."

Tyr laughed his approval and swept her into his arms once again.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dylan reluctantly followed Argus through unfamiliar corridors. Finally they reached a heavy door. Argus stopped only long enough to pull it open. Dylan watched the muscles in the lizard's back bunch and strain at the effort. As Argus was straining at the door, Dylan began to back away from the lizard. His leash fell to the ground and Dylan took the opportunity afforded him. He gathered the leash in his hands and ran. As he disappeared around the first corner he heard Argus bellow with rage.

Dylan kept running, taking corners at random, not caring about anything but putting as much distance between he and Argus as possible. He was weak and he knew he couldn't hope to outrun the lizard for long. He had to find a hiding place and hole up.

Dylan could hear Argus gaining on him and began to wonder if he would ever get away. He turned another corner and another and Argus kept going. He'd missed that last turn! Dylan stopped and leaned over, hands braced on his knees. He was gasping for air and fighting the dizziness that kept trying to overcome him. He was a free man at last!

Dylan chuckled and began to make his way cautiously down the corridor. He kept listening for any sounds of pursuit and when he didn't hear any he began to relax ever so slightly. He continued on his way, searching for a way out of this prison. Once he found his way outside they would never find him.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Argus entered the very next room he came to. Angel looked up from her monitor as he entered. She smiled. "I told you he would run."

Argus stood at her side, his arms folded behind his back. "Yesss Missstresss, you did."

"Now we watch and wait."

"Wait Missstresss? I do not underssstand."

"You will Argus. Watch this human and learn. He is arrogant. We will lead him to the outside and then spring our trap. He will be broken. He will be mine."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dylan continued on his way, unaware of being watched. He tried several doors only to find them either locked or so heavy they could not be moved. Refusing to let despair overtake him Dylan continued onward, searching for his escape. Twice he traveled down corridors to find they ended in unmovable doors or blank walls. His frustrations grew but he retraced his steps and continued on. His determination grew as did his anger. The third time he reached a dead-end he let his rage overtake him and he bellowed his frustrations to the air. He was answered with a far-away chuckle and he froze in place. //Damn fool, Dylan. Now you've given your position away.//

He wiped his sweat-soaked face on his shoulder and took a deep, shuddering breath. //Get ahold of yourself. You have to keep your head or you'll never get out of here. // He retraced his steps once again to the last corridor then cautiously peered around the corner. He didn't see anyone coming so he slipped around the corner and took another corridor. He moved cautiously and quietly, trying to hurry while making no noise to alert anyone of his passage. He moved in this manner until he heard slapping footsteps behind him. //Damn! Here he comes. // Dylan broke into a trot, trying to conserve his meager energy and still hold onto his freedom. The footsteps were growing louder as Dylan reached another intersecting corridor. He quickly turned down it without looking back for his pursuer. He broke into a full run, gasping for each breath that he took. The footsteps behind him grew louder. Dylan wrenched open the first door he came to and sprinted through it. He shut the door behind him and leaned against it for a moment to catch his breath. As Dylan moved away from the door he heard echoing footsteps approach. He quickly moved through the door at the opposite end of the room he was in. Dylan missed the low chuckle that sounded as the footsteps slowed before moving on down the hall.

Dylan ran until he could go no further then he crawled, pulling himself along the wall, desperate to escape the horror his life had become. // Where are you going, Dylan? There is no place to run. The Maru is gone the Andromeda destroyed. // Dylan stopped , momentarily overcome by the thought of being totally, terribly alone. There was no one to rescue him no one to take him away from this planet. // A slave? .. Forever? // Half-starving and hallucinating from the tortures he had already suffered, Dylan leaned against the wall and hung his head. Approaching footsteps brought Dylan to his senses and he pushed his way through the door in front of him.

Dylan stumbled in the bright sunlight. Shackled as he was he couldn't even lift his hands to shade his streaming eyes from the assault. After the gloom of the dungeon the bright light of day assaulted his senses and left him momentarily blinded. He floundered in the bright light of the planet's double suns.

Dylan heard the attack before he saw it. He instinctively turned toward the sound of footfalls and caught an arm across his throat, bringing him to his knees in the hot sand. He choked and gasped for breath as Argus sent him into oblivion with a blow to the back of his head.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dylan regained consciousness, the extreme heat and stifling blackness invading his oblivion. The air that wafted across his exposed flesh was blisteringly hot and Dylan could feel rivulets of sweat run down his body. He was still disoriented from the blow that sent him into oblivion and he only gradually became aware of his predicament one agonizing piece at a time. First the extreme heat then the sweat the inky blackness. He was blindfolded.

Excruciating pain in his wrists and shoulders told him he was suspended by his wrists. His feet barely brushed the blistering sand beneath him. Sand ... he was still outside. His legs were tied to the same poles that held his arms apart. He felt like he was on the cross again. If not for the heat and sand that told him he was outside he would swear he was back in Angel's training room.

An involuntary groan escaped his parched lips as he felt a pair of hands caress his sweat-soaked body. He was naked, exposed to the harsh elements. The hands were touching his body, wrapping some kind of cloth around his exposed loins. The hands moved with unhurried efficiency, smoothing the cloth and wrapping it snugly.

Dylan flinched at a sudden ripping sound. Then he felt the hands wrapping something around him again, molding it to his loins. Whatever this was it stuck tightly to his exposed skin at the edges of the cloth. He flinched from the touch but the hands continued with their task.

After a few minutes the hands were removed and Dylan was alone again, more alone in the inky blackness than he had ever felt before. He waited, determined to hold onto his dignity, to not lose control and beg to know if he was really alone or if someone, anyone was there.

After what seemed like an eternity had passed Dylan felt hands on his body once again. Soft, feminine hands. He shrank from the touch and heard a low mocking laugh. //Angel. //

"What's the matter, Slave?" She ran her hands over his sweat-soaked body eliciting a groan from her captive. She smiled and reached up behind Dylan's neck, pulling him to her for a brutal kiss. He fought her but had no leverage to pull away as her tongue forced its way into his mouth. She kissed him brutally until his body betrayed him and he began to respond to her. It was then that she pushed him savagely away. He hung in his bonds, panting from the heat ... from the kiss. It was difficult to distinguish between his body's reactions.

"You ran away from me, Slave." Angel's hands were on him again, tracing lazy patterns on his flesh. Dylan clenched his jaw, determined to give no response to her. Her hands moved slowly over him, possessively. She was showing him that he belonged to her. He was her property to do with as she wished. "Your defiance cannot go unpunished." He felt her turn away from him. "Argus, give him five."

Argus gaped at his Mistress. "Five?" he stammered. Dylan could hear the fear in his voice.

"Five, Argus," came the cool reply.

"Yesss Missstresss."

Dylan hear a low hum and had no time to tense before the first blow fell. He figured it would be the lash but was unprepared for the nerve inductor. The blow fell, deceptively gentle on his flesh. He felt a sting then the pain blossomed into a burning fire that ran the length of his nerves. The pain flared along nerve endings, searing the length of his arms and down his back to his legs. His entire body spasmed and then the second blow fell. He screamed as the pain flared once again, hurtling him toward oblivion.

A hypo-spray brought him back to consciousness. He barely had time to draw in a pain-wracked breath when the lash descended once again, this time on his front. He screamed at the touch, arching his back with involuntary muscle spasms. He never thought anything could be worse than the blows to his back until his front was ravaged by the lash.

Argus stopped with two lashes to Dylan's front. The debilitating effects of the lash left him sagging into the ropes immobilizing his limbs. He drew in a ragged breath but didn't have the strength to lift his head. He could feel the sweat running off his body, dripping off his feet onto the parched ground. He was gasping for each breath he drew into his lungs.

"Listen, Slave."

Dylan started at the sound of Angel's whisper.

"Can you hear them coming?"

Dylan listened, hearing nothing. Presently he thought he could hear the slightest of clicking sounds.

Angel giggled. "They're coming..." Angel bent and picked something up off the ground. It was a mesh sphere. She walked over to Dylan and placed it over his head. He thrashed, trying to throw it off. "Stop fighting me, Slave. This helmet may be the only thing that saves your life now." She taped the edges of the crude helmet to his neck and then backed away from her prisoner. "You wanted to experience all my planet has to offer. You are about to experience la petite morte ... the little death."

Dylan could hear the clicking getting closer. Suddenly something touched his foot. He jerked in response and felt a searing bite. The sting grew into pain which flared. Dylan's heel became numb. Now he felt something on his other foot and his leg.

"The little death, Slave. You will experience this. La petite morte are like the scorpions of Earth. They are attracted to the moisture from your body. They will crawl over you and suck the moisture from your skin. They will bite you, injecting their venom into you. You will feel the fire of their bites and the numbness of their creeping poisons. They will attack anything that is exposed. That is the sole reason for the loin cloth and the helmet. I don't want you choking on them when you scream."

The scorpions crawled over his flesh and then the feeding began. Dylan screamed until he could scream no more and darkness overcame him once again.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Angel adjusted the computer program once again as Argus watched. She monitored Dylan's response to the program and smiled. "He's mine..." she whispered. Argus turned to the man immobilized on the table and watched him for any signs of life. "He thinks he's paralyzed, Argus. He won't move again until the program progresses."

"How long doesss he think he hasss been here, Missstresss?"

"Three weeks, give or take. He has lost track of time since he had been drugged at first. He will ask and three weeks is what he will be told. He will awaken soon and, thanks to this vial of venom, will be out of commission and totally dependent on my generosity for another week. That will convince him that no one is looking for him even if he didn't believe my little video production of before."

"Do you think he did not believe hisss ship wasss dessstroyed?"

Angel looked at Argus. "He is very strong-willed Argus. He does not wish to believe that there is no hope of rescue. Being here a month will convince him otherwise. He will serve me well."

"Yesss Missstresss."

Angel looked up at her companion. "Argus. Don't worry so. We aren't even in the same planetary system where we found him. No one is going to find this one. He will be with us for a very long time."

"When will you awaken him, Missstresss?"

"He will be ready in a few hours."

"You can build the memoriesss of a month in lesss than one day?"

"Yes Argus ... all that and more. This slave will have lived through all the horrors of becoming a true slave and losing his identity all in less than a day. The memory of this time will seem more real to him than the rest of his miserable life. I am building his memories, complete with sight, sound and feelings."

Angel stood and began pacing. She stopped and looked at Argus. "I can even erase his past completely, Argus."

Argus was stunned. "What do you mean Missstresss?"

"I can build him a new life, Argus. I have finally figured it out. I can make him forget everything but serving me."

"Isss thisss what you are going to do to thisss hu-man?"

Angel looked at her prisoner lying immobilized on the table in front of her. She reached out and ran her hand across his chest. "I was going to erase his memories. When this began I thought it would be for the best ... but now I'm not so sure." Angel looked back toward Argus. "I want him to know he had a life before this place. I want him to live with the knowledge that I bested him."

"Yesss Missstresss."

"You don't approve of my plans, Argus?"

Argus backed away slightly. "It isss not my placcce to disssapprove of your plansss, Missstresss. Your decccisssions are final here."

"Just be sure you remember your place here Argus."

"Yesss Missstresss ... alwaysss."

*~*~*~*~*~*

"He is finally mine, Argus. Now leave us. He will awaken soon and I want him to see only me. He will know that he is wholly dependent on me while he is still incapacitated from the poisons."

"Yesss Missstresss." Argus backed out of the room and closed the door quietly.

Angel reached behind her and pulled out a hypo spray. She administered it to Dylan and waited. It didn't take long for the drugs to work and Dylan to begin to awaken. He stirred in her arms and his eyelids fluttered. She crooned to him as she wiped his fevered brow. He groaned and his eyes opened.

Dylan tensed as if to rise and Angel bent over his prone form. "Don't try to move, Slave. La petite morte did quite a job on you. The paralysis is only temporary but the more you try to move around the more pain you will experience."

Dylan merely looked at her. He couldn't speak and his panic showed in his blue eyes.

"It's okay, Slave. The venom of the scorpions has also paralyzed your vocal chords. It too will wear off in time. Just get some rest." She sponged his forehead once again and it was then that Dylan realized how hot he felt. His body shivered involuntarily and Angel smiled down at him. "You are quite feverish from the poison of the scorpions. This too shall pass."

Dylan wanted nothing more than to get up and leave Angel's presence. She sickened him. The hatred shone in his eyes as Angel gazed at him. She smiled sadly down at him. "You hate me, don't you? You will learn that I only have your best interests at heart. You now belong to me and you know what awaits you outside this place. You will learn to respect me, Slave and who knows ... you may even learn to enjoy my company."

Dylan closed his eyes in response. Angel chuckled softly. "We'll see, my pet. We'll see."

*~*~*~*~*~*

It was another whole day before Dylan began to get his voice back. It was just a whisper at first, a barely-there ghost of a sound that cost him dearly in precious energy to try to use. He was weak, he slept a lot and when he was awake Angel was by his side, tending to him. Sure, Argus brought her supplies but it was Angel who nursed Dylan's ravaged body back to health. He wondered about it until Angel noticed his confusion and explained everything to him.

"I want you to know just how completely you belong to me, Slave. I alone am allowed to touch you ... in any and every way I choose. I decide if you eat, if you sleep. You are my possession. I am merely taking care of my investment. I have put a lot of time and effort into your training, Slave. I want to be sure you recover from this and are fully able to serve in my compound."

Dylan looked at her with distrust in his eyes. He struggled to put his thoughts into words. It was still so draining for him to speak. "How?" He could barely squeak out a strained whisper. "How long?"

"How long?" Angel repeated his question as if she didn't understand what he was trying to ask when, in fact, she had been anticipating this very question. "How long, Slave? You mean how long have you been here with us?"

Dylan nodded weakly.

"Let's see." Angel pretended to think about her answer. "Three weeks ... almost four. In another two days it will have been four weeks since I brought you here ... a month. But it really doesn't matter, does it? Your ship was destroyed. There is no one to come here for you. You will spend the rest of your days here with me."

Dylan closed his eyes to shut her out. He still was unable to move and this was his only escape. He kept his eyes closed until he heard the door to the chamber open and then close quietly. He opened his eyes and blinked away the sudden moisture accumulated there. Presently he slept.

*~*~*~*~*~*

***

"Dylan?"

"Rommie?"

"Dylan! Where are you?"

"Rommie?" The voice was beginning to fade away. "Don't leave me here Rommie!"

As Rommie's voice faded away Dylan was left with the sound of Angel laughing.

***

Dylan slept and woke and always Angel was there. She meted out the scorpion venom and kept Dylan drugged enough to lose track of the days.

"How long have I been here?"

"A month ... almost five weeks. I told you that when you first woke after ..."

Dylan grimaced as he tried to shift his position in the bed. "You said almost four weeks."

Angel looked at him and bent to lay her hand on his brow. She shook her head. "Slave, that was a week ago."

Dylan shook his head, wincing from the pain the slight movement caused. "No." His voice was a whisper. "It was just yesterday."

Angel straightened up and stood looking down at Dylan with her hands on her hips. "Slave, you have been recuperating here in this bed for nearly a week. Believe me, I should know just how long I have been tending to your every need." She let her gaze wander up and down his body, which was covered by a thin coverlet and nothing else.

"I don't believe you."

"Believe what you will, Slave. It really doesn't matter. You are beginning to get some feeling and movement back. That takes at least a week of recovery time. I can get you the research to look at if it would ease your mind. Then again, you are my slave and my word is law. That should be enough for you."

Dylan looked at the ceiling. "A week another week of my life gone."

Angel laughed. "What's another week, Slave? You belong to me. A week ... a month ... time holds no meaning for you now." Angel turned to leave. "Sleep, Slave. I want you up and about quickly. My patience is wearing thin."

As the door closed behind her Dylan whispered. "The name is Dylan."

*~*~*~*~*~*

Angel got Dylan out of bed the next day and sat him in a chair. He felt weak, worn out. He was still experiencing some numbness in his arms and legs but Angel assured him he was making remarkable progress. Dylan was unclothed under his blanket. Angel had said it made her job easier when she was tending to him. Now he asked for clothing and Angel was refusing his request.

"A Slave does not presume to be modest in front of his Mistress. You are clothed or not as I see fit. Your wishes on this matter are irrelevant."

// At least she let me keep my blanket for today. But what about tomorrow? Rommie! Tell me it's a lie. Tell me you are out there somewhere looking for me ... //

*~*~*~*~*~*

"Rommie?" Trance waved her hands in front of the android's face.

"Huh?" Rommie blinked and looked around. "What is it, Trance?"

"You've been very distracted lately, Rommie."

"I don't know what you mean, Trance." Rommie pretended to be studying the monitor in front of her.

"It's only been three days, Rommie. You said you were sure he was all right. So I'm asking you, woman to woman ... What's wrong?"

Rommie turned to look at Trance. "How do you know I'm thinking about Dylan?"

"I just know."

Rommie looked skeptical then shrugged, a decidedly human gesture and Trance smiled. "Well, I'm not thinking of Dylan," Rommie lied unconvincingly. "I'm just working on the slip stream drive to see if I can get better efficiency from it."

"Oh." Trance turned to leave then looked back at Rommie. "Would you like Harper to help you with that? I hear he and Dylan were working on an upgrade for the slipstream before Dylan took his little vacation."

Rommie looked up from the monitor guiltily. "How do you do it, Trance?"

"Do what Rommie?"

"Don't give me that innocent routine, Trance. I'm not buying it."

Trance just smiled and waited.

Rommie glared at Trance. "You are so exasperating! Yes, I'm thinking about Dylan and about my promise to wait the seven days before we go and look for him." Rommie sighed. "Do you think he is okay Trance?"

Trance was a little worried about Dylan but there was nothing she could really put her finger on. Was he in any immediate danger? Not that was life threatening. Other than that Trance couldn't say. Dylan was ... fuzzy (for lack of a better word). "I think Dylan is on vacation. You said yourself that he needed a rest. All I know is that I get a sense of him being okay ... you know, not in any great mortal danger ... not sick. Where he is I just don't know. My 'gifts' don't work that way. It's more of a hunch that I get."

"What does your hunch tell you, Trance?" Rommie knew that Trance had revealed more to her in the last couple of minutes than she had ever revealed before and she didn't think Trance was telling her the whole truth.

"Like I said. He's not in any danger right now." Trance suddenly brightened. "You know, I bet he'll be back right on time. It would just be so like Dylan, wouldn't it?" Without waiting for a reply Trance turned and left the command deck. She leaned against the bulkhead outside the command deck and closed her eyes. She had lied to Rommie. // Please be okay, Dylan. // Trance just wasn't sure about Dylan being okay. Something was wrong ... she just wasn't sure if it was wrong enough to worry everyone on the Andromeda over.

On the command deck Rommie stared at the closed door. // What isn't Trance telling me? And why do I have this feeling that Dylan is definitely not all right? //

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

When Dylan awoke next he was surprised to see Argus waiting for him.

"Good morning, Ssslave. Angel wantsss me to get you up and dressssed today. We are to meet her in the main hall."

With Argus' help Dylan sat on the edge of the bed. He kept the blanket across his lap and looked up at Argus. "You said I could get dressed. Where are my clothes?"

Argus held up a loincloth just like the one he was wearing.

"Oh no. I want my clothes. I will not wear that thing."

Argus bent down so he was at eye level with Dylan. "Let me tell you sssomething, Ssslave. Angel is the Missstresss here. Ssshe will tell you what to wear. Ssshe will tell you if you are allowed to be clothed. If you refuse to wear thisss today, ssshe will have me deliver you to her unclothed." He dropped the loincloth on the bed next to Dylan. "Do you need help getting dressssed?"

"No, I think I can manage."

"Good." Argus stood at the door with his arms crossed over his chest.

Dylan looked at him, hopeful that he would leave him alone for a few minutes. It didn't look promising. "Um ... can I have a little privacy here?"

"No."

"Why not?" Dylan stood by the bed clutching the blanket to his naked form.

"I will not be embarrasssed by you again, Ssslave."

Dylan nodded. "Sorry about that Argus, but I had to try."

Argus merely stood by the door. Dylan turned around and began dressing. He fumbled with the material for a minute and finally Argus said. "It is built to wrap around your form. Put the front on firssst and tie it in back. Next pull the back up and tie the ssstrapsss in front of you. The flapsss hang down in front and back."

Dylan muttered a "thanks" and began dressing. // A loincloth for God's sake! How barbaric ... // He had no trouble telling the back from the front of the garment because of the design. It was designed to cover as little as possible. The covering was basically a thong in design, covering his loins and then tapering to a mere string, leaving his buttocks exposed to be covered only by the flap of the loin cloth. When Dylan had finished dressing he turned to Argus and noted that he was pointedly looking away from where Dylan was standing. He was surprisingly relieved to notice that fact.

"All set, Argus ... I think."

Argus looked at Dylan. "Come. The Missstresss awaitsss usss."

Dylan went to where Argus was standing by the door. He stopped a couple of feet away from him. "Why do you do it, Argus?"

"Do what, hu-man?"

"Why do you serve Angel?"

"I am a ssslave. I ssserve."

Dylan sighed. "That's not what I mean, Argus." Dylan searched for the right words to convey his meaning. "How did you come to be here, Argus? Were you ambushed as I was?"

"No."

"Then what?"

"Come." Argus motioned him forward and Dylan only hesitated a second before complying. // There are other battles to fight. I don't want to have Argus as an enemy here. Be patient, Dylan and the right time will present itself. //

Dylan stood before Argus. The lizard looked him over, nodded once then opened the door to the hallway. As Dylan made a move to leave the room Argus laid his hand on Dylan's chest, stopping him. He reached around the corner and pulled something into the room, closing the door again.

"Argus, please don't. It isn't necessary. I promise not to run again."

"Missstresss Angel's ordersss. Turn around, Ssslave."

Dylan seethed with barely concealed anger. He clenched his fists and stared at Argus for a minute before turning his back to him. He closed his eyes as the collar was fitted around his neck. // Breathe, Dylan. You can do this. //

"Don't move, hu-man. I am going to put your ssshackles on now."

"Argus..."

"No arguing, Ssslave. Thisss will be done or you will carried to the main hall unconsssciousss. I can tell you that Missstresss Angel would not be at all pleasssed and would probably order me to mete out your punissshment on the crosss."

Dylan did not fight Argus as he fastened the shackles around his left wrist then the right, although having his arms shackled behind him instead of in front made him more nervous for some reason. Argus then fastened a short chain from the shackles to Dylan's collar, pulling his arms up high behind his back. This arrangement forced his shoulders back and his chest out.

Argus walked around in front of Dylan. "Yesss, Missstresss Angel will be pleasssed. Keep your armsss high, Ssslave or you will choke yourssself."

// I think I could figure that one out on my own! // Dylan merely grunted and said nothing. Argus attached a leash to Dylan's collar, adding another layer of shame, and led him out of the room and down a series of corridors.

Dylan tried to keep track of where he was going but the corridors all looked the same to him. "How do you find your way around here, Argus?"

"I have been here a long time, Ssslave. You ssshould not worry about sssuch thingsss. You will have limited accesss for sssome time."

// Limited access ... sounds fun... //

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Argus led Dylan into a large room. There was no one else present. He led him to the center of the room to where a metal circle was inlaid into the granite floor. The circle was smoothly polished and had a small hole in the center.

"Ssstand on the cccircle, Ssslave."

Dylan moved forward to stand on the metal.

"Do not move."

Argus left Dylan standing where he was and went to a large table and picked up something. He turned back to Dylan and his stomach dropped.

"Argus..."

"Quiet Ssslave. You have no choicce."

Dylan closed his eyes and took some deep breaths to calm himself. He heard Argus kneel at his feet but refused to open his eyes. Argus screwed a bolt into the hole in the floor, then attached the object he had picked up from the table. It was an iron bar with shackles attached. He then positioned Dylan so he stood with his legs about eighteen inches apart. Dylan felt Argus' hands on his ankles as he shackled first his right leg then his left to the iron bar.

"You will wait here for Missstresss Angel."

// As if I had a choice. //

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Angel made Dylan wait. It was deliberate. Just how "broken" was this human? She watched him on a video monitor and wondered. "He's stoic. I'll give him that much." She worried a nail and waited, looking for a sign that he was still his own man "Have I really broken him? Of course I have!" Angel paced. "My program is infallible. He's mine." She watched the monitor again.

Dylan stood where Argus had left him. He never moved. He never flinched.

// Breathe. You can do this. It's a test, nothing more. // He concentrated on his breathing, keeping it slow and even, meditating as he stood in the center of the great hall. After a while his shoulders began to ache from the position they were being forced into. Presently he felt his arms begin to go numb. If he relaxed even a fraction, he could feel the pressure on this throat, cutting off his air. // She wants you to panic. You are "Slave" now ... remember this and you will get through it. //

Eventually Angel entered the hall. Dylan heard the door open behind him. As much as he wanted to he did not turn to see who had entered. He was "Slave" and he was told to stand on the circle. That was what he was doing. It was not his place to turn toward the new sound. He waited.

Angel walked up behind Dylan. She could see the strain in his muscles. She approached slowly, watching the slight tremors play across his back and shoulders. He was covered with a fine sheen of sweat. // He's beautiful ... and he's all mine. // Angel walked around in front of Dylan. He stared straight ahead. It was as if he didn't even see her. She laid her hand on his chest. His muscles flinched under her touch. //So, he does see me. // Angel smiled to herself and let her hand wander over the muscles of his chest and down across his abs. She walked back around behind him and trailed her hand around his waist and to his back. She couldn't resist and let her hand wander to his barely covered buttocks. She chuckled when she felt him tense under her hand.

"Mmmm ... nice. But then I knew it would be. After all you don't have anything that I haven't seen in the past few weeks, Slave."

Dylan could feel the flush work it's way up his chest to his face. He kept his breath even and stared straight ahead. He didn't make a sound as Angel finished assessing her property.

"Hold still, Slave." Angel was still behind him. He tensed, wondering what was to come. Angel reached up and unhooked the chain from his collar. Dylan was unable to hold back a groan when his arms were moved. Angel left his arms shackled behind him but he was able to flex the muscles of his shoulders to relieve some of the built up tension. He resisted the urge to rotate his neck to work out the kinks there. Dylan tensed once again when he felt Angel's hands on his neck. She kneaded the sore muscles of his neck, shoulders and back and Dylan had to fight not to melt into her gentle touch.

Angel smiled at Dylan's back as she felt him relax. She massaged his tension away then left him standing where he was and sat at the table. She rang a bell and Argus came in with a steaming tray. He set it on the table in front of Angel and withdrew from the hall once again. Angel watched her slaves for signs of blossoming friendship but saw none ... for which she was grateful. She did not want her slaves to develop feelings of friendship. They were property only and needed to know their place. She made a mental note to keep the two separated as much as possible.

Angel ate a leisurely lunch while Dylan was made to stand and watch. He was offered nothing. This too was a lesson designed to reinforce his new station as "Slave" in this place.

Angel barely glanced his way, for which Dylan was grateful. He studiously kept his face free from emotion and stared into nothingness, internally meditating. He was determined to learn his place in this life he was being forced to live.

Just because Dylan did not see Angel look at him does not mean that she wasn't aware of him. In fact, she was painfully aware of his every breath. He affected her like no other slave had ever done. // Maybe I should just sell this one. His very presence here makes me weak. // She mentally berated herself for the feelings she had for this human. Suddenly she smiled. It was a secret little smile. Dylan saw it and a shiver of apprehension ran down his spine.

// He's nothing but property my property. I can do with this one what I wish // She chuckled and Dylan's stomach dropped, leaving him weak kneed. He wondered what was in store for him today.

"Slave." Angel's voice pulled Dylan from his reverie.

"Yes Mistress." He kept his voice neutral.

"What are you thinking?"

Dylan hesitated. "I'm not sure what you mean, Mistress."

Angel ran her hands over his body possessively. "It's a very simple question, Slave. What are your thoughts?"

"I'm not really thinking about anything, Mistress. I was merely meditating."

Angel looked into Dylan's eyes. "Meditating ..."

"Yes Mistress."

She slapped his face, rocking his head back from the force. Dylan dropped his gaze and she lifted his chin, forcing him to look at her once again. "You are wondering what that was for. Consider it a warning. I want the truth from you always. You will no longer practice this meditation in my presence. You will immerse yourself in the present, in your situation here. You are Slave and you will be Slave here until I get sick of having you around. I would warn you, though. There are worse things than serving me, human."

Dylan's mind replayed all that had happened to him over the past five weeks. Yes, there were much worse things ...

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Rommie approached Beka on the Command Deck. "Captain Valentine?"

Beka looked up in surprise. "Andromeda?"

Rommie assumed a "parade rest" stance in front of Beka. "I need to talk to you, Captain."

"Ohh...kay" Beka looked at Tyr who was standing next to her and running his hand idly up her back. She slapped him playfully. "Stop that!"

He grinned at her and leaned on his elbow. Beka looked back at Andromeda. "What can I do for you, Rommie?"

"Beka, I ... I want to go after Dylan."

"Now?" She looked at Tyr, then back at Rommie. "I thought you said we had to wait the full seven days like he asked us to."

"I know what I said. I changed my mind. I think we should start looking now."

"Why the change of heart, Rommie?"

Rommie straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin defensively. "I believe Dylan may be in some sort of trouble."

"Why do you think that, Rommie?"

"I don't know. If I say that I feel it you would think me crazy. Maybe it's because Trance can't convince me that he isn't. You yourself wanted to go after him on the first day." Rommie rambled on.

Beka held up a hand. "Whoa, Rommie. I admit I have my reservations about Dylan being out there somewhere with my ship. Okay, say we go looking for him. What happens when he comes back here? It has been three days now. What if he comes back here after we've gone? What then? How do we explain our actions? He'll think we don't trust him."

Rommie stood firm. "Beka, I understand your position here. You don't want to look bad to Dylan. But what if he really needs us?"

Beka pondered for a minute. "I'll tell you what, Rommie. If Dylan isn't back here tomorrow I'll send Trance and Harper in a slip fighter to track him down. That way we will be here if he comes back."

"Thanks Beka."

"Rommie. Don't worry, we'll find him."

Rommie smiled.

Rommie turned and left the command deck. Beka stared after her for a minute then turned to Tyr. "Boy, has she got it bad."

"Whatever do you mean, Beka?" Tyr bent to nuzzle her neck.

"Rommie ... she has the hots for our Captain Hunt."

"Really?" Tyr seemed genuinely perplexed. "Why?"

"I imagine she finds him attractive, Tyr."

"But they can't reproduce ... it is a futile gesture at best."

Beka glared at the Nietzchean. "And what about us Tyr?"

"Us?"

"Yes, Tyr us."

"I believe we've covered that point in the past few days, Beka. You don't want children with the universe as screwed up as it is ... and me? I'm happy the way things are right now."

"Yes, Tyr. I bet you are." Beka bent forward and gave Tyr a kiss that sent his pulse racing.

"Are you off duty, Captain Valentine?"

"Why, Mr. Anasazi ... I believe I am."

"Then let's get the hell out of here, shall we?"

The two departed the command deck hand in hand, passing a bemused Trance on her way in to relieve them.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Angel sat at the table in the great hall and worked on her books. She had a very large fasthold to run and she spent a few hours each day doing mundane bookkeeping chores and checking stock and supplies. Dylan remained standing in the middle of the hall, tethered to the circle. She was very much aware of him but paid him no attention. This too was a lesson in being "Slave" in Angel's fasthold. Dylan had many such lessons to learn.

Angel was aware of Dylan's every breath, every movement. He was getting very tired. He had been through a lot in the past few days and he needed to rest. // I'll give him a few more minutes. He's holding up well, considering. //

Angel continued to work leaving Dylan in the middle of the large room. When he began to sway slightly on his feet she reached over and rang the bell on the table. Argus appeared almost immediately.

"Argus. Take the slave to my chambers."

Dylan was unable to hide his gasp of surprise. Angel never lifted her head from her books to look at Argus or Dylan.

"Yesss Missstresss."

Argus approached Dylan and attached his leash to his collar once again. He unhooked his ankle shackles and turned to take Dylan out of the hall.

"Slave. Get some rest. You'll need it." Dylan tensed at the sound of her voice and Angel chuckled.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Dylan stumbled after Argus not knowing or caring where they were heading. He was physically and mentally exhausted. Angel's training methods were working as planned. They walked down a myriad of corridors, each much the same as the first. Even if Dylan had the mental faculties needed to memorize his way there was almost no way to tell one from the next.

Presently they approached a closed door at the end of one of the corridors. Argus stopped in front of the door and Dylan stopped behind him. He turned to Dylan and seemed about to say something, but he didn't. He turned back to the door and opened it. He entered the chamber and pulled Dylan along behind him.

The chamber was plushly decorated. Argus led Dylan into the room. He stopped in the center of the room and turned to Dylan. "Turn around, Ssslave."

Dylan did as he was told. Truth was he was too damn tired to put up a fight right now. Argus undid the shackles around his wrists. Dylan rolled his shoulders and groaned with pleasure at the freedom of movement and the relief of tension.

"What now, Argus?" He stretched and yawned.

"You need to eat, Ssslave."

"Nah, I'm not really hungry"

"It isss not a requessst, Ssslave. Missstresss Angel wantsss you healthy. To become healthy again, you mussst eat. Do not make me forccce the food on you. Sssit. Eat."

Dylan thought about it for a minute then sat at the small table and picked up a piece of fruit. "Care to join me, Argus?"

"Eat, Ssslave. Thisss food isss for you. I will eat later." Argus stood by the table with his arms crossed. Dylan began to eat.

When he was finished he stood. "Happy?"

Argus looked confused and Dylan smiled. "Never mind, Argus."

"Now it is time for you to ressst, Ssslave."

"But ..."

"No argumentsss. Missstresss Angel sssaid you are to ressst now."

"There?" Dylan pointed to the large bed.

"Yesss."

Dylan hesitated. He definitely did not want to sleep in Angel's bed. "I'm to sleep here and not in my cell?"

"Thisss isss where I wasss told to bring you. You will sssleep here."

Dylan walked over to the bed and looked down at it. "Well it looks comfortable, at least." He was still uncomfortable with the whole idea but he was feeling sleepier by the minute. He looked at Argus. "Argus. Did you drug my food?" He sat heavily on the edge of the bed, no longer able to stay standing.

Argus continued to watch him. Dylan shook his head, trying to clear it. He had definitely been drugged. He tried to ask Argus why he had been drugged but he couldn't form the thought coherently so he gave up. When Argus was convinced he was beyond fighting him he approached Dylan, pulled the covers back and helped him to lie back on the bed. He lifted Dylan's legs and slid them under the covers. Dylan was fading fast but was aware of Argus first chaining his ankle to the bedpost and removing his loincloth before covering him up. Argus left the room, turning off the lights as Dylan's eyes closed and he succumbed to darkness.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Angel watched Dylan sleep. He disturbed her. // Am I getting soft because of this human? // She sighed and lay down beside him. //I have to get a little sleep. Convincing this slave that he has slept another day away will confuse him even more but these weird hours are wearing me out. It will be nice to be able to live a normal day again. // Her eyes closed and she slept.

Sometime later she found herself snuggled against the warmth of the slave sleeping next to her. She awoke and smiled. It was nice to wake up cuddled against his warmth. This could become a very pleasant habit.

// Mmm that felt great. A couple of hours of shut-eye was just what I needed. Now, to convince this slave that he has slept for longer than a day. // Angel sighed and sat up in bed. She watched the even rise and fall of Dylan's chest for a couple of minutes then got out of bed and dressed. She left the bed rumpled where she had slept so Dylan would be very much aware that she had shared his sleep.

When she was finished dressing she left the room and went to the main hall once again. Argus joined her almost immediately. He had been waiting for her arrival.

"Argus, give me five minutes and then go wake the Slave. Bring him to me."

"Yesss Missstresss." Argus bowed and left the hall.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Exactly five minutes later Argus entered Angel's chambers. He used a hypo-spray to wake Dylan. As Dylan was coming around Argus hid the hypo-spray under the bed and stood back. Dylan's eyes fluttered open.

// Where the hell ? Gods! Angel's chambers. // He turned his head and saw the rumpled bed next to him. He groaned. // So ... Angel slept here ... damn. At least she didn't wake me and want anything I'm not prepared to give her. //

Dylan ran his hands over his face. // Damn! I feel like I just fell asleep ... So tired. // He sighed audibly. It was then he noticed Argus standing by the bed and he jumped a little. As their eyes met Argus held out Dylan's loincloth. Dylan lifted the covers and peeked under. // Naked!? Who? Guess it doesn't matter who. // He reached out and took the garment from Argus and slipped it under the covers. It took a couple of minutes but he managed to get it on without getting out of bed to do it. Argus seemed amused but said nothing.

When he had finished getting dressed Dylan peeled back the covers and sat up. Argus stepped forward and undid the chain around Dylan's ankle. He stepped back to allow Dylan to stand. He then told Dylan to turn around and fastened shackles to his wrists again. Fastening the hated leash to his collar he led Dylan out of the chamber and along the corridor.

Dylan had no idea where they were going until they reached the main hall once again. Angel sat at the large table eating breakfast. Dylan could smell the coffee steaming in her cup and his mouth watered.

Argus pulled Dylan along behind him. He took Dylan over to the table and handed the leash to Angel. She took it with a little smile then wrapped the end around a hook set into the table and continued to eat. She never looked at Dylan. It was as if he didn't matter and it bothered him. He stood by the table and looked straight ahead, seeing nothing.

Not a word had been spoken since Dylan awoke. He knew what was expected of him and it seemed to come as second nature to just do what was expected. Was he really nothing more than "slave" now? The thought troubled his mind.

Angel saw Dylan's frown and knew he was thinking of his situation, debating his fate. She made a decision. She motioned to Argus who promptly left the room. He came back in a couple of minutes and handed her a small ornate box. She took it from him and dismissed him.

Dylan was startled out of his reverie by Angel's voice and s sharp tug on his leash. "Kneel, Slave."

Dylan hesitated just slightly then dropped silently to his knees beside Angel. She opened the box in front of her and lifted out several objects which she then set on the table in front of her. She closed the box and set it aside.

"You are getting more used to your place here, Slave." It was a statement, not a question and Dylan did not respond. Angel smiled. "I have some things for you. They will serve as reminders of your place in my house."

Dylan remained kneeling even though every fiber of his being was screaming at him to run. // Breathe, Slave. You can do this. What more can this Mistress do that would make you cringe like this? Show no fear. // Dylan took a deep, calming breath. He looked up at Angel. She held something in her hands.

It was a golden torque about two inches wide. She fitted it around his neck and it shut with an audible click. She removed his other collar and he rolled his head. This collar lay against his skin just above his collar bones. It was snug but not tight.

Angel fingered Dylan's new collar. His skin quivered under her caress. Angel stood and moved around behind Dylan. He longed to look around to see what she was doing but willed himself to keep still. He knew it was what was expected of "Slave".

"Stand, Slave." The voice came from directly behind him.

In one fluid motion Dylan stood, his back still to Angel, arms shackled behind him. He felt Angel's hands on his ankles and resisted the urge to look down. He felt more than heard the click of new shackles being fitted around his ankles. Next he felt hands on his wrists. His shackles were removed. His hands fell to his sides as they were freed. Angel next affixed new shackles to his wrists.

"You may look at your gifts, Slave."

Dylan lifted his hands. He now wore smooth, golden bands about three inches wide around each wrist. He looked further and saw identical bands around each ankle. They seemed almost Egyptian in nature. He looked up at Angel. He longed to attack, to run from this place but he was Slave now. He stayed where he was and said nothing.

Angel watched Dylan. She was aware of the emotions that played across his face. She saw his desire to flee and saw the resignation of his place in her world replace the longing to go. He was hers ... body and mind.

She held up a small bracelet. As Dylan watched she placed it around her own wrist. "Now we are truly united, Slave." She saw the confusion on Dylan's face and smiled. "Those bands around your wrists and ankles are inertial restraints. You move only at my discretion. The torque around your beautiful neck contains an effector that will can give an electric shock sufficient to render you unconscious. It also contains an explosive device that will detonate should you decide you would like to try to remove it. This band I just put on contains the control for your bands. The explosive device is triggered by any attempts to tamper with it."

Dylan dropped his gaze but said nothing. He did not move.

"Do you understand everything I have told you?"

"Yes Mistress."

He kept his voice level and respectful. Angel was impressed by his control. // I have just given this human quite a bit to think about. He has good control. He will make a fine addition to my household. Control is essential for a good slave. //

"Look at me, Slave."

Dylan looked at Angel. She held his gaze until he grew uncomfortable. He wanted nothing more than to look away but he knew that to do so would bring repercussions ... repercussions he did not want to face.

*~*~*~*~*~*

The day passed. It was uneventful. Dylan followed Angel around the compound as she tended to the day's business. He never saw the light of day but thought nothing of it until they entered an enclosed atrium. It was lit entirely with artificial light.

"Mistress?" Dylan kept his voice low and respectful.

"Yes, Slave?"

"What is this place?"

"I call it sanctuary."

"Sanctuary?"

"Yes, Slave. Sanctuary. It is peaceful here, lush ... beautiful ... safe. In case you didn't notice, the climate here is ... harsh."

Dylan flinched, remembering just how "harsh" the climate was. Angel saw his reaction and approved. // Good, Slave. Never forget. That awaits you should you ever get outside these walls. //

"In here I can forget just what my planet is like. I have made this place like a lush forest, so unlike what is really here."

"May I ask something, Mistress?"

"Go ahead."

"Why do you stay if you find this place so unappealing?"

"This planet is totally uninhabited except for my stronghold. I own the entire thing. It is remote and I can live as I wish. My law is the only law here."

Angel watched the emotions parade across Dylan's face before he got them under control once again. She was pleased at his reaction to her announcement. He now knew just how futile it was to think of ever getting away from this place. She was quite pleased with how the day had turned out.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Angel stayed quite awhile in the atrium. She walked among the lush flowers and plants. Dylan was told to walk behind her. He followed her around the atrium drinking in the sights and smells of the place. It was so peaceful there.

Eventually Angel took a seat on a bench by a pond. Dylan could hear the water run over the rocks as it was recycled over and over again to preserve its freshness. The sound was mesmerizing, soothing. He was lulled into a semi-meditative state.

Angel watched Dylan out of the corner of her eye. She could see him relaxing into his stance. She waited until he was fully comfortable then she looked up at him. He was oblivious to her and continued to stare into the distance. She cleared her throat twice. He looked down at her, his guilt written on his face.

"Yes Mistress?"

"Slave. You were not living in the moment, were you?"

Dylan looked confused.

"You were meditating again, weren't you Slave?"

"Yes Mistress."

// Well, at least he has the sense to look guilty about it. He must be taught a lesson, though. He must learn to live only in the moment to savor the pain and the pleasure.// Angel stood before him. She looked him over slowly and deliberately. Dylan blushed. Angel smiled then drew back her hand and slapped him across the face before he could even flinch. Surprise registered in his eyes.

"You must savor the moment, Slave. Live in the here and now or you will never learn to be content." Angel walked around Dylan. "Put your hands behind your neck, Slave. Lace your fingers together." Dylan did as instructed with only the slightest of hesitation. Angel noticed the delay, though and was not pleased. // He must be taught to respond immediately to every order. He still retains a small measure of self-governance. This must be eradicated. // "Very good. However, you did not follow my order immediately, Slave and for that you must be punished." Angel activated the inflictor in Dylan's collar. It gave him a brief but very potent jolt of pain. She could see him clench his jaw against the pain and a small groan escaped his lips. "That was a small sampling of what the collar is capable of, Slave. The next time I use this I will not be so gentle with you. Remember this moment, Slave for it will serve as a basis for the rest of your time here."

Dylan remained stoic in the face of Angel's anger. He stared straight ahead, unmoving. If this was to be a basis for what was to come then he had better get used to it.

Angel walked around Dylan, running her hands lightly over the bare flesh of his torso. She could feel the tremors ripple through his tense muscles. She smiled slightly and continued her exploration. She could tell he was not at all comfortable with her hands on his body but he was hers now. He would grow accustomed to this in time. "You belong to me now, Slave. I own this flesh that I am touching. You are here because I wish it. You serve here to please me." Angel took a small step back. "Come." She turned to leave the atrium and Dylan dropped his hands to his sides and fell into step behind her.

Angel looked back at him. "Leave your hands behind your neck, Slave. It pleases me."

Dylan put his hands behind his neck once again and Angel turned away from him and led the way out of the atrium. Dylan allowed himself a tiny grimace before dropping his emotionless face into place once again.

Angel walked just ahead of Dylan, trusting him to follow. He stayed a mere step or two behind her at all times. Her trust was paying off. Dylan was becoming a proper slave.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Angel took Dylan back to the main hall. She rang the bell on the table and Argus appeared. "Take this slave to the baths, Argus. I want him made presentable and then brought to my chambers once again."

"Yes Missstresss." Argus bowed to Angel. "Come, Ssslave. Follow me."

Dylan hesitated until he noticed Angel reach for the bracelet she wore. He followed Argus simply to avoid any more "lessons". He definitely didn't want to feel the inflictor again.

The baths were a series of opulent bathing chambers with sunken tubs and stimulating showers. Dylan knew there was something about this that didn't feel right but he was still being drugged and couldn't put his finger on what exactly the problem was.

"Ssstrip, Ssslave."

Dylan hesitated. Argus stepped forward and attached a leash to Dylan's collar and chains to his wristbands. He protested but Argus ignored him completely. Argus led him into one of the shower rooms and attached his leash to a hook set high on the wall. He attached the chains to his wristbands to separate rings set into opposite walls of the chamber. Dylan was tethered, unable to move. He cursed, then pleaded with Argus, but to no avail. Argus stripped off his own loincloth then approached and stripped Dylan of his. Dylan closed his eyes, refusing to acknowledge this latest indignity. Argus turned on pulsing jets of water and then proceeded to wash Dylan down as if he were merely one of the horses in the stables. When he finished he turned off the water and picked up some towels. One he wrapped around his own waist. Then he turned to Dylan.

"Think you can dry yourssself off, Ssslave?"

Dylan growled out his frustration. "Just unhook me, Argus. I think I can manage."

Argus smiled and undid the chains holding Dylan immobile. Then he handed him a towel. "Don't tessst me again, Ssslave. You will learn your placcce here."

Argus finished dressing as Dylan dried off. He then handed Dylan a clean loincloth and waited while Dylan clothed himself. "Follow me, Ssslave."

Dylan still hadn't learned his way around the compound. He was becoming more and more sure that this was deliberate. Angel wanted him to be dependent on her and Argus. As long as he was, he would be less trouble to them. He was also sure they were still drugging him. As soon as he could figure out how they were doing it he would eliminate that factor also.

Argus led Dylan to Angel's chambers once again. He stayed in the room while Dylan ate a light meal and until Angel returned. They had a conversation at the door and then Argus left them alone.

As the door closed behind Argus Angel turned to Dylan. "I am quite disappointed in you, Slave." Dylan's stomach fell at her words. "Argus tells me you were less than cooperative with him in the baths. You will learn to obey Argus at all times or your stay here will be quite painful, do I make myself clear?"

"Yes Mistress."

"Come, Slave. And put your hands behind your neck. I like knowing they are restrained."

Dylan did as Angel asked and could feel her activate the inertial restraints on his wrist shackles. He could not move his arms to lower them. He followed Angel out of the room and down the hall. // Where is she taking me now? // Dylan obviously had not expected to leave Angel's chamber again before daybreak.

Angel turned into a room with Dylan at her heels. He stopped and stared around in surprise and growing dread. He was in the "training room" and Argus was waiting by the cross.

"Mistress..." His voice was a mere whisper.

Angel interrupted him. "Slave, you have defied me again. Argus follows my orders. When he asks you to do something it is as if I am speaking to you. I will not tolerate my slaves disobeying me. You must learn this if you are to survive here." Angel turned away from him. "Argus, put this slave on the cross."

"No!" Dylan began to back away until he felt Angel activate the inertial restraints. He no longer had control over his limbs. "Damn it! You can't do this!"

"I own you, Slave. I alone control your every move. Argus, do it ... and gag him."

Dylan watched helplessly as Argus approached. All he had left was his voice until Argus silenced that. Argus then propelled Dylan to the cross where he removed his shackles. He handed them to Angel. He then put heavy iron shackles on Dylan's wrists and ankles, fitted him with a leather collar and attached him to the cross. Dylan struggled but Argus was far bigger and stronger than the human and his struggles got Dylan no where.

Once Dylan was tethered Argus stepped back to stand beside Angel. They conversed for a moment, low enough so Dylan could not make out their words. He struggled against the chains binding him and screamed out his frustrations into the gag. Neither effort was paid any attention to either Angel or Argus. When they finished speaking Angel stepped around in front of Dylan. She looked him in the eyes and smiled. She then raised her eyes to Argus and nodded once.

Nothing could prepare Dylan for the agony of the nerve inductor. When the lash fell he felt the sting first and then the pain blossomed. It was like no other pain Dylan had experienced up to now. The pain ran like fire along his nerve endings sending Dylan's fragile psyche ever closer to the great abyss. Every muscle in his body contracted as one. He drew in a ragged breath and the lash fell again. He screamed his pain into the gag. Angel stared into his eyes, waiting for the moment when he would truly be hers forever.

The lash fell again and again. The pain never lessened, it just grew with each stroke of the whip. Angel waited for that fateful moment when Dylan would be utterly crushed. She watched his eyes for the signs of defeat she was sure would come.

Dylan held on much longer than Angel ever thought possible. She had never known anyone to survive such a beating with the nerve inductor lash before. It was a wonder this man wasn't already dead. When he finally succumbed to darkness Angel still was not sure he had been broken. Only the light of day would tell. He would be unconscious at least until then.

Angel tilted Dylan's face up so she could get a good look at him. His unconscious face gave her no clues as to his true condition. "Argus, take him to the cell. He will sleep as a true prisoner tonight."

"Yesss Missstresss." He took Dylan down from the cross, slung him over his shoulders and took him to the dungeon. Once there he placed him on a pallet, checked his shackles and left him. He closed the cell door behind him, locking it securely. As he walked away he took one last look at the prisoner and shook his head sadly. This one would not last long

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Trance and Harper arrived at Shaharazad in the mid-afternoon. Their plan was to ask about provisions and a nice, quiet beach to relax on. They were looking for something remote and private. They knew Dylan had been craving solitude and the ocean was one of his favorite stops on any planet they visited. Shaharazad seemed like a good place to start. It was relatively close to their position, being just a short slip away, and it was a favorite restocking place for the crew of the Andromeda. They were taking a chance that Dylan had stopped there first, on his way to wherever he decided to go relax.

Trance and Harper walked around Shaharazad, looking in all the shops. They purchased a few small trinkets. Harper and Trance were posing as honeymooners. In the last shop they picked up some general provisions and asked for some suggestions for romantic secluded beaches. The man behind the counter looked them over and told them he had a couple of favorite places.

"It's amazing. Nobody asks me nothing and all of a sudden I am supposed to be a tour guide." He shook his head. "I should start charging for all this prime information."

Trance and Harper looked confused. "What do you mean?" Trance asked innocently.

"That's okay, my love. It sounds like maybe we're bothering this gentleman." Harper put his arm around Trance's waist. "Sorry, mister. We didn't mean to put you out any."

"Nah! That ain't it, boy. It's just that nobody seemed to care about my advice before and all of a sudden I been asked twice in the space of a week. Seems odd to me, it does."

"Well, I figure that you might know your way around. You know, you sell all this fancy outdoorsy stuff and I thought maybe you used it too." Harper smile at the man. "Maybe the other person you talked to figured the same thing."

"Maybe he did. Looked like he needed a vacation, too. Only thing different was he was going to be alone."

"Oh really? And where did you send him? If he was going alone then there is no chance we would want to bother him."

The man looked suspiciously at them. "Why do you want to know where I sent him?"

"Look. We are on our honeymoon here. We don't want company, if you know what I mean. If this is too much trouble maybe we should go and ask someone else. C'mon Trance."

"Wait!" The man rubbed the stubble on his chin. "I have a couple of favorite spots. My absolute favorite is ..." The man talked about three different places that he said were great secluded and romantic spots.

"So where did you send this other guy?" Harper tried to sound nonchalant. "You know, we wouldn't want to spoil his solitude."

"Don't worry about that. All the places I told you about are big enough that you would never run into another person ... unless you were looking for them." He smiled like he knew what they were up to and didn't care to be involved in it.

Trance and Harper thanked him for his information and left the shop. They didn't notice the man that followed them out. Once back at the slip fighter Trance and Harper stowed their purchases and prepared to take off.

"It's a good thing we modified this slip fighter, Trance. Otherwise it would be an even tighter fit than it is in here!"

Trance laughed. "Yeah, and it's a good thing we didn't buy any more camping gear or we would never have fit it in here."

"So what do we do now, Trance? Do we go back or go looking for Dylan?"

Trance pondered the question for a minute. "It's nothing I can put my finger on Harper ... but I think we need to look for Dylan. I think he could use some help."

"Do you think he's hurt?"

"I can't put my finger on the exact problem. I can't get a good feel for where he is ... or if he's okay and that worries me more than anything else."

"Then let's start looking. So where do you want to begin, oh all knowing Trance?"

"Don't do that Harper. I'm not all knowing." Trance looked upset.

"Sorry Trance. I thought a little levity was in order here."

"It's okay Harper. Let's just get to work." Trance pulled up an astrogational chart and pointed out the planets the store clerk had recommended to them. She then selected one. "Let's begin here."

"Is that where Dylan is?"

Trance looked at Harper and smiled. "Well, we won't know until we get there will we?"

He stuck his tongue out at her and she laughed. "Let's get moving."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dylan awoke to semi-darkness. It was difficult to tell if it was day or night. There was no light other than a feeble glow from the corridor. He was stiff and sore from the effects of the nerve inducer and from the beating itself. He couldn't be sure but it didn't feel like he had any open welts this time. He stretched as best as he could then sat on the pallet once again. He had no idea how long he had been there or how long it would be before someone came to get his out.

Dylan paced ... then sat ... then paced. He had far too much time to think and he was getting desperate. // What if Angel's vid-screen display was real? Is the Andromeda really gone? Am I really alone again? // Dylan's mind kept replaying the explosion of the Andromeda over and over again until he thought he would go crazy. He paced until he could move no more and collapsed in sheer exhaustion.

***

"Rommie!"

"Dylan!" Rommie ran to him across the sands. "I thought we would never see you again." She caught his hands in hers and looked up at him. "I thought I would never see you again. I am so glad I was wrong."

"Me too, Rommie me too."

Dylan gathered Rommie into his arms and held her as if she was his lifeline to sanity. He bent his head and kissed her willing lips. She melted into him and returned his kiss with passion. He cradled her close and inhaled the scent of her, rubbing the stubble on his chin against her silky hair.

"Rommie. Don't ever leave me."

He was met with silence. He pulled back and looked down to see Angel smile up at him. She held his leash in her hand. "Don't worry, Slave. You're going nowhere." She turned and pulled Dylan behind her, stumbling in his shackles.

***

"No!" Dylan awoke, trembling with the force of his dream. He huddled on his pallet, cold and alone. // Rommie. You have to be out there. Are you still looking for me after all this time? //

Angel watched Dylan on a monitor and wondered just what his dream was about. // What are you thinking, my pet? What specters haunt your dreams? //

She did not like the not knowing. Angel pondered her options. // Do I put him back on the synaptic enhancer? Erase his memories? Or do I just enforce his training here? He must belong to me, body and soul. I will accept no less. //

Dylan drifted back to sleep and Angel continued to watch, searching for the answers to her dilemma. As for Dylan, he dreamed of the lives he had lost.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dylan spent the next day in what he referred to as "solitary confinement". His food was drugged and it might have been a week for all he knew. Angel told him it was a mere three days when she finally had him brought before her. In actuality it was one full day and two nights.

Angel had Argus bring Dylan before her in the main hall. He was shackled to the center circle as he was the first time he saw this hall. The only difference was that his hands were shackled in front of him at his waist. Argus spread his legs and attached them once again to the iron bar. He approached Angel and said something to her and was then dismissed. He left the main hall, leaving Dylan and Angel alone.

Angel watched Dylan out of the corner of her eye as she worked on some paperwork at the table. Dylan swayed slightly from the effects of the drugs he was being fed. Angel did not acknowledge his presence for a full hour after he was brought into the hall. Dylan stood as still as he was able, contemplating what might happen to him next. His thoughts were not quite coherent because of the drugs in his system.

Suddenly Angel put aside her paperwork and stood. She approached Dylan slowly, letting her eyes roam over his figure. He watched her approach with something akin to fear. He knew he was not at all able to fend off a verbal or physical attack and the thought of him being vulnerable made him afraid. He steeled himself for a blow that never came.

Angel stood in front of Dylan and held his chin in her hand. "Three days, Slave."

// Three days!? // Dylan's mind reeled.

Angel continued. "Three days you have lain in the squalor in that cell. Are you ready to become a part of my household, Slave? I can't in all conscience waste any more of my precious time on you. Are you a part of this household or are you a liability to be dealt with in another manner? Think carefully, Slave. This is what awaits you outside these walls." Angel turned and went back to the table. She pressed a button there and the wall behind the table opened up, revealing a large window. In the courtyard beyond hung the remnants of a man. La petite morte crawled over what was left of his body, picking the bones clean. Dylan gagged and closed his eyes. A hard slap to his face made him open his eyes once again. He stared into Angel's eyes. "Look, Slave. That is what awaits you should you prove to be unable to adjust to your life here. That was your companion when you first arrived. He turned out to be more than a little disruptive to our way of life and was unable to fit in. I want to think you can do better. Am I right?"

Dylan swallowed hard. "Yes Mistress."

Angel smiled and closed the shutters over the windows once again. "Good." She turned as Argus came into the room. "Argus, take this slave to the baths and get him cleaned up. He will join me in the Sanctuary when he is presentable."

Argus bowed to Angel. "Yesss Missstresss."

The pair left the room, Dylan stumbling along behind Argus on his leash.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Argus led Dylan to a different bathing chamber this time. In the center of the room was a huge sunken tub. Argus left Dylan standing inside the door and attached his leash to a hook on the wall. Dylan suffered this indignity silently. He stood with his head down waiting for Argus to finish his preparations.

Argus went to the tub and turned on the water. As the tub was filling he got out some towels and soaps and put them by the tub. When the tub was full enough he turned the water off and turned to Dylan. Not a word had passed between the two slaves. Argus approached Dylan and unhooked his leash from the wall. He led Dylan over to the tub and removed his leg shackles. He then unhooked the belt at his waist to which his wrist shackles were attached.

"Ssslave, are you going to behave yourssself here today or do I need to keep your ssshackles on?"

"I will behave myself, Argus."

Argus removed Dylan's shackles. "Remove your loincloth, Sssslave and get in the tub. You are to wasssh yoursssself now."

Dylan looked at Argus. "Am I to be allowed any privacy?"

"No. Do as I sssay or I will wasssh you again."

Dylan let his loincloth fall to the floor and stepped into the tub. He couldn't hold back the sigh of pleasure that escaped his lips as he sat in the warm water. "Argus?"

"Yesss, Ssslave?"

"You forgot to take off this collar."

"I forgot nothing, Ssslave. Missstresss Angel sssaysss it isss not to be removed." He bent and fastened Dylan's leash to a ring set into the floor by the tub just behind where Dylan sat. It was loose enough to allow Dylan to relax in the tub but there was not enough slack in the leash to allow him to get out of the tub.

Dylan sighed and began to wash himself. He didn't ask Argus for privacy. He knew he wouldn't get any even if he asked. He relaxed against the side of the tub when he was finished washing. He lay his head back and let his eyes close for a minute.

***

"Dylan?"

"Rommie? Are you there?"

"Dylan!? Where are you? I can't find you Dylan!" Rommie's voice faded away to nothing.

"Rommie! Don't go!"

***

Dylan came awake with a jerk. Argus was still standing beside the tub. // I must have just dozed off. Argus would have woken me up if I had been sleeping long. I hope I didn't say anything ... // Dylan cleared his throat.

"Finissshed, Ssslave?"

"I guess so."

Argus looked at him sharply. "Then come. It is time to meet Angel." He unhooked Dylan's leash from the side of the tub, allowing him to get up and climb from the tub.

Dylan picked up a towel and Argus led him over near the doorway once again and hooked his leash to the ring set in the wall. Dylan dried himself off and Argus handed him a clean loincloth. He put it on. Argus then picked up the shackles and approached Dylan. Dylan held up his hands.

"Argus. You don't need those. I'll be a good boy."

"Missstresss Angel wantsss you ssshackled, Ssslave. Don't make thisss harder than it hasss to be."

Dylan stood still while Argus put his shackles on once again. He shackled his arms behind him this time and affixed the short chain to his collar, pulling his arms up high behind him. Dylan grunted at the uncomfortable position. Argus unhooked the leash from the wall and pulled Dylan behind him along the corridor.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dylan followed Argus down one corridor after another. Eventually they entered Angel's Sanctuary. Dylan breathed deep of the moist air. It soothed him even though he didn't notice the arid air much when outside this place. The moisture reminded him of ocean air. He loved ocean air.

Dylan let his thoughts wander. He remembered being on a beach ... By the devine! Was it only six weeks ago? It seemed like an eternity.

Angel watched the emotions play across her handsome slave's face. She knew he was remembering something. She could see when he realized the memory could not become fact ever again. She saw the realization float across his features. He went from vivid memory to faded memory in a matter of a few heartbeats. The brainwashing was working. She could see him slide into his slave role, dropping his former life into the memory archives of his past.

Angel stood and took Dylan's leash from Argus. "Thank you Argus. You may go now and have your dinner. I will summon you should I have need of your services again tonight."

Argus bowed to Angel. "Yesss Missstresss. I await your pleasssure."

Argus left the sanctuary, leaving Dylan and Angel alone. The silence stretched on. Dylan was beginning to feel uncomfortable. He could feel Angel's eyes on him but did not want to raise his head to see what she was doing. His thoughts were in a turmoil. He felt there was something here he was missing but couldn't put all the pieces together.

"Look at me, Slave."

Dylan reluctantly lifted his eyes. Angel smiled. She could see the effort it took for him to comply but what she smiled at was the speed at which he did so. There was no hesitation at all. She was winning! // This one will make a fine addition to my stable. I had my doubts, but he was more than worth the effort it took to tame him. //

"Very good. Now, you are here for my pleasure. Tonight we will begin with something simple. Each day will be different until you learn all the ways you may please me." Angel watched Dylan for any sign that he would not obey her. She saw none. "Follow me." She held Dylan's leash and walked into the garden. Dylan followed at the distance allowed by his leash. She did not have to pull him along, a fact that pleased her immensely.

Angel led Dylan to a rose arbor somewhere in the vast atrium. There was a plush chaise lounge set near the roses. Angel stopped Dylan about five paces from the chaise. "Wait here, Slave."

Dylan stayed where Angel left him while she went to the chaise and picked up something that lay there. She returned to Dylan and removed the collar he wore. She replaced it with a white padded collar about six inches wide. There was a raised lip in the front that rested under his chin. It made it impossible for him to lower his head at all. The collar was snug but not uncomfortably so. Dylan still found it demeaning.

"I like to look at your face, Slave. This will train you to always keep your head up." Angel then placed Dylan in her rose garden and clipped the chain that ran between his ankle shackles to an iron ring set in the ground. She positioned him, deliberately running her hands over his body. "There. Stay right there."

Angel turned from Dylan and went to the chaise. She sat down, looked at Dylan for a minute then picked up a book and began to read. Dylan stood where he had been placed, a mere ornament in the beautiful garden.

Angel watched Dylan out of the corner of her eye. She found him fascinating. She could tell he was still uncomfortable with his position here but she was not worried about him following her orders any longer. What was fascinating was her attraction to him. She had always treated her slaves like property, used them then discarded them. It was simple ... until now.

Dylan stood where he was placed. The new collar bothered him but he tried not to let it show. // On display! I can't believe it I am a freaking statue in her garden. This can't be the life I am destined to live. This is no life at all. //

Angel watched the emotions play across Dylan's face. She knew his thoughts. It wasn't difficult to understand what he must be thinking about. Being a statue for her viewing pleasure would be a tough chore for anyone. This slave, however, had dignity. He was having a hard time coming to grips with his position as a possession. This was his first lesson. It was an easier lesson than what was to come.

"Don't shift, Slave. You must stand absolutely still in my garden."

"Yes Mistress."

"It will be easier to accomplish if you brace your legs as far apart as your chains will allow."

"Yes Mistress." Dylan changed his stance slightly, bracing his legs apart. It took some of the strain off his back. He closed his eyes, savoring the relief he felt.

"Eyes open, Slave. Live in the moment. You should be aware of your surroundings at all times."

"Yes mistress."

Angel smiled and went back to reading her book.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Angel kept Dylan where he was for two hours. He could feel the strain in the muscles of his back, legs, arms ... hell, he hurt all over. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity Angel stood and stretched. She groaned with pleasure and Dylan could have screamed. // She keeps me chained up in a ball and she stretches! What I wouldn't give to be able to do just that //

Angel knew exactly what she was doing. She could almost hear Dylan's thoughts. She knew he was sore from being held immobile, that he ached for the release of his bonds. She would give him what he craved in her own time and on her own terms.

Angel unhooked Dylan from the ring set in the ground, attached the leash to his collar and led him out of the atrium. When she reached the main hall once again she called for Argus. He appeared within just a couple of minutes.

"Yesss Missstresss?"

"Argus, take this slave and give him a back rub. He has performed well for me today. When you are finished with him I want him brought to me in my chambers." Angel handed Argus Dylan's leash.

"Asss you wisssh, Missstresss."

"And one more thing ..."

"Yesss Missstresss?"

"There is to be no talking between the two of you except to give direction. I will be listening. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yesss Missstresss."

"And you, Slave?"

"Yes Mistress."

"If you disobey me I will have you gagged and beaten. Do not test my patience, Slave." She turned back to Argus. "The shackles stay. They are not to be removed except by me, and only when he has earned my trust."

Dylan followed Argus out of the hall.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Argus turned out to be a good masseuse. It was not too surprising since Angel demanded perfection from her slaves. Dylan groaned aloud when Argus removed his chains. His arms tingled all the way to his fingertips. He rolled his shoulders, easing the ache that had built up there.

"On the table, Slave. Face down."

Dylan lay on the massage table as instructed. Argus picked up a vial of heated oil and began to massage Dylan's back. He left no muscle untouched and Dylan lifted up in protest as his hands worked over his aching glutes. Argus pushed him back down on the table and continued his work. Argus had strong hands and Dylan's tension melted under his expert ministrations. Dylan had nearly fallen asleep when he was instructed to turn over. He complied with the request slowly. Argus could feel his trepidation and continued his work in as detached a manner as possible so as not to make the new slave feel too uncomfortable.

Argus massaged Dylan's front with the same competent detachment that he had done his back. When he was finished he instructed Dylan to get off the table. He reattached Dylan's chains to his shackles and led him down the maze of corridors to Angel's chamber.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

After a polite knock on the door to Angel's chamber, Argus led Dylan into the room. Angel had bathed and was clad only in a sheer negligée. She was lounging on her bed. She barely looked up when Dylan was escorted into her presence. Argus approached the bed with Dylan in tow and handed Dylan's leash to Angel. He then bowed and exited the room, leaving Dylan to face whatever was in store for him.

Angel continued to write in the bound leather book that was on her lap. She hooked Dylan's leash around one wrist and ignored him.

// I can't do this! Rommie! Get me out of here ... // Dylan took a deep breath to calm himself and stared ahead. He still wore the high collar and was unable to look down even had he wanted to. Dylan was very content not to be forced to watch Angel right now. Seeing her so scantily clad only served to add fuel to Dylan's trepidation. He was not looking forward to what seemed inevitable.

Dylan became more and more unsure of what would transpire in Angel's chamber and Angel continued to ignore him. This too was a ploy on her part. // Let the slave's imagination get the best of him for now. Only I decided what is to transpire between us. This slave will learn his place ... even if that place is in my bed. //

A soft knock on the door elicited the first response from Angel. "Come."

Argus entered the room bearing a tray. He set it on the small table, bowed and retreated once again. Angel stood and went to the table. Dylan had no choice but to follow.

"Stand still." Angel walked around behind Dylan and unfastened the chain running between his wrist shackles. His hands fell to his side. He did not move any further, not even to roll his already stiffening shoulders. Angel left his ankle shackles as they were but she did remove his collar.

"Sit, Slave." Angel indicated a chair to Dylan. He sat. She slid into the chair next to Dylan and laid a napkin in her lap. She then did the same for Dylan letting her hand linger in his scantily clad lap. His breath caught in his throat and he closed his eyes. When he next opened them she was smiling at him. She picked up a grape off the tray and held it up to Dylan's lips. "Open." He opened his mouth and she popped the grape in. He ate the grape slowly, wondering just what was happening. She smiled and picked up another grape. He opened his mouth when it touched his lips and she Angel smiled as she fed it to him.

"Your turn, Slave." Dylan looked at her, his confusion written on his face. "Feed me, Slave." Dylan reached out and picked up a grape. He held it out. "Feed it to me, Slave." Dylan placed the grape against Angel's lips. She took it from his fingers, drawing them into her mouth hungrily. He pulled his hand away quickly. "Again, Slave." Dylan fed Angel another grape. Again she licked his fingers clean, holding his hand in hers so he couldn't pull away so quickly.

Angel picked up a piece of kiwi and fed it to Dylan. She licked her fingers clean and smiled at Dylan. She then fed him another piece of fruit. Dylan chewed slowly, savoring the fresh sweet taste. // This place is such a contradiction. It is a harsh desert yet we have fresh fruit and abundant water. Suppliers! There must be trade here. If I could only get away ... //

Angel cleared her throat delicately. "Your turn, Slave. You have to pay attention here."

Dylan fed Angel a couple of pieces of pineapple. She poured wine and gave Dylan a drink, holding the cup for him. She did not drink. Pretty soon Dylan started to feel "distant". He looked at Angel. "You ..."

She held her fingers to his lips. "You are mine, Slave. Do not forget your place here." She stood up and affixed the shorter collar around Dylan's neck. "Come, Slave."

Dylan hesitated and Angel pulled his head back, lacing her fingers in his hair. "Do not question my orders, Slave. Get to your feet now or suffer the consequences on the cross."

Dylan stood awkwardly. He was definitely feeling the effects of the drugged wine. He reeled, swaying slightly. Angel walked over to the bed, pulling Dylan along behind her. She stopped beside the bed and turned to Dylan. She walked around Dylan and he tensed. He wasn't prepared for her to rip off his loincloth and he flinched. She ran her hands over his body, claiming him as her own.

"Sit, Slave."

Dylan shook his head slightly. He looked at Angel. He knew she would make good on her promise to have him punished so he sat. He hung his head and waited.

"Very good. Now swing your legs up onto the bed." Dylan did as he was told. Angel removed the chain between his ankle shackles and affixed a different chain to his left ankle shackle and to the bedpost. The chain was closed with a lock, the key hung on a chain around Angel's neck. "Lay back, Slave. You might as well get comfortable."

Dylan lay back against the pillows and Angel walked around the bed and crawled in beside him. She cuddled up against him, snuggling tight against his side. She pulled his arm around her shoulders and ran her fingers in lazy patterns on his exposed flesh. He lay as still as he could, wishing he were anyplace else but where he was. Angel played with him for a few long minutes, extending his misery. She said nothing but was clearly marking her territory. He waited for what was inevitably coming.

"Sleepy, my pet?" Angel could see the drugged look in Dylan's eyes and knew he was not far from oblivion. She continued to run her hands over his fevered flesh. He licked his lips and tried to form a coherent thought. It was no use. He slipped from the present into the warped dreamscape of his tortured psyche.

Angel dimmed the lights to almost nothing. She left just enough light to look at her new plaything should she so choose. She pulled a sheet up over them, snuggling into Dylan's warmth and lay her lead on his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat and feeling the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed.

They slept.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Harper! Trance!"

The pair came to a halt. They stared at the floor. Beka and Tyr stood staring at them, scowling.

"What in the hell is he doing here?" Beka pointed at the man cowering behind Trance.

"Well ..."

"Think carefully before you answer this, Trance. I want the truth."

"Well, Captain Valentine. This man was following us so we kidnapped him. He has information about Dylan."

Beka stared. "You kidnapped him. Just like that."

Harper grinned. "Well, not just like that! You shoulda seen the fight he put up. Man! I thought for a minute we were gonna lose him!"

Beka glared. "You took him by force."

"Yeah ... well ... um ..." Harper fidgeted.

"Trance? Explain yourself. Now!"

"Yes. Well, we scouted around at Shaharazad. It's a favorite restocking stop of Dylan's."

"Go on ..."

"Anyway, we got some information on a couple of nice secluded beaches and decided to check them out. This man followed us and tried to ambush us. He had something to do with Dylan's disappearance. So we ambushed him instead and ... here we are!"

Beka held up her hand. "Whoa Trance. How do you know Dylan has disappeared? And, more to the point ... How do you know this man had anything to do with it?"

"Um ... woman's intuition?"

"Yeah right. Spill Trance. Obs Deck ... now! Tyr, take our guest to V-deck."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Beka was pacing. "So your intuition and hunches led you to abduct this man and bring him here. Dylan will kill me!"

"Not if I'm right and Dylan is in trouble. Beka! I know he had some contact with Dylan. What that contact was I don't know. He was following us, and when I checked all I could find out is that he is shady. I heard rumors of him being a slave trader or an arms dealer ... maybe both."

"Nice ..." Beka thought for a minute. "Tyr?"

"Yes, Beka?" His voice was tinny over the com.

"Ask our guest a few polite questions. Trance tells me he is a possible slave trader. I want to know what he knows about Dylan. If he followed Trance and Harper from Shaharazad then maybe he followed Dylan too."

"With pleasure, Beka."

"Yeah well don't have too much fun Mr. Anasazi. We may need this man in one piece."

Tyr chuckled.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Angel's hands roamed over his body. His breath caught in his throat. It just wasn't right that she should affect him in this way. Her fingers twirled in his chest hair, tweaking his nipples and eliciting a groan. Angel smiled and bent her head to his chest, licking, sucking and biting until his nipples ached, sending a shot of heat straight to his groin. Her hand wandered over his body, tickling along his sides. Angel's hand rested on his hip as she pushed herself up and kissed him, teasing his mouth open with her tongue. He savored the taste of her.

His back arched as her hand wandered across his upper thigh. She ran a finger lightly up the sensitive skin on the inside of his thigh and he parted his legs slightly in response. She looked into his eyes, watching them cloud with passion. He gasped as her hand lightly stroked his manhood.

He was panting with barely suppressed passion when suddenly she removed her hand. He barely had time to catch his breath when she changed her position and took his erect member in her mouth. Dylan cried out as she licked and fondled ...

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Angel awoke before Dylan. She was still snuggled up beside him, her head on his chest. // I will definitely like waking up to this every morning. // She stretched, cat-like then reached into the drawer of the night stand beside the bed and pulled out a hypo-spray. // Just enough to keep him docile and addicted. // Angel chuckled softly and gave Dylan the drugs.

After administering the drugs to Dylan and hiding the hypo-spray Angel snuggled down beside him once again. She ran her hands lightly over his exposed flesh. Dylan sighed in his sleep and pulled her tighter in his embrace.

Suddenly he opened his eyes and blinked. Angel rubbed against him and he stiffened as he realized where he was. He loosened his hold on Angel but was unable to disentangle himself totally because she was lying on his arm.

"Were you dreaming about me, Slave?"

Dylan lay perfectly still as Angel ran her hands over his chest, dipping lower for just a feather light touch on his manhood. She smiled as she heard his hissed intake of breath at her touch. She kept up her ministrations, smiling up at Dylan at his body's involuntary response to her touch.

"Mistress, please ..."

"Do you like this, Slave?"

"Stop ..."

"Stop? But you are so ready for me. Your body obviously likes what I am doing. You just need to relax."

The drugs in Dylan's system were making it difficult for him to think. His thought processes were sluggish and Angel had every intention of taking full advantage of his drug-induced state.

Angel continued to explore Dylan's body. She ran her hands over him possessively. He flinched at her touch and she smiled. // Very good, Slave. You aren't trying to move away from me, are you? Soon you will crave my touch. // She brought his body to the brink of release then got out of bed, leaving Dylan aching for that unattained release. She dressed quickly then unfastened the chain around Dylan's ankle.

"Stand, Slave."

Dylan did as he was told, bringing his hands to cover his nakedness. Angel picked up the chains from the table and walked around behind Dylan. "Hands behind you, Slave." Dylan hesitated only a fraction of a second before complying with the order. Angel smiled at his response. She affixed the chain between his wrist shackles then walked around in front of him once again.

Dylan's face burned. His throbbing manhood bobbed, aching with desire. Angel ran her hands over Dylan's chest. She stepped back and looked him over smiling at his embarrassment. "Get used to me looking at you, Slave and touching you. You belong to me now." She attached his leash to his collar and opened the door.

"Mistress!" Dylan swallowed heavily, expecting to be punished for his forwardness.

"Yes Slave?"

"Am I to get dressed before we leave this room?"

"No, Slave. I like being able to look at you and you need to become more comfortable in your nakedness. You are clothed only at my discretion."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dylan stumbled down the corridor behind Angel. He was startled when they entered the atrium. He had expected to be punished for his outburst and he thought Angel was taking him to the training room. His trembled with relief when he realized he had not been taken there. He blindly followed Angel into the garden. He was even relieved when Angel tethered him to the ring in the ground once again.

"You are wondering why I didn't put you on the cross, aren't you Slave?" Angel walked around Dylan, running her hands lightly over his trembling flesh. "I don't relish punishing you in that manner, Slave. I have something new in mind for you. Something less brutal, but equally effective." She stopped behind Dylan and he flinched when she spoke directly in his ear. "Are you nervous? Are you wondering just what is in store for you? Well, you need wait no longer."

Angel reached around Dylan and placed a white leather padded blindfold around his eyes. He pulled back only to be stopped when he leaned into Angel. She fastened the blindfold tightly then lay her hands on his shoulders.

"Relax, Slave. This is your punishment for daring to speak back to me this morning. You will stand here until I decide to release you. This will help you to remember to live in the moment. You have no free will. You do as I instruct without hesitation. Think on this today as you stand here in enforced isolation. You may be observed or not and that too is the fate of a slave."

Dylan shivered in apprehension as the idea of his true vulnerability sank in. As the minutes passed he found it increasingly difficult to stay still. He listened, desperate for any indication as to whether he was alone or if anyone watched. He should be concerned about being naked and vulnerable but all he could think about was the darkness he was experiencing and how alone he felt in that darkness. // Where is Angel? ... Am I alone here? ... Will she leave me here and just forget about me? I need to be able to see! What will happen here today? // Dylan licked his dry lips, he panted softly in response to his growing anxiety about his situation. // Is Argus here? ... Am I alone? ... I can't stand the not knowing! Breathe ... Listen for sounds of movement ... Is anyone here? Angel would never leave me for too long ... She will protect her property. // Dylan was too caught up in the moment to be shocked by his thoughts. He was living Angel's idea of a perfect slave.

Angel watched Dylan. She could see him begin to panic and watched the emotions play across his face. She saw him try to get himself under control and she observed the exact moment when he began living as "slave". She was pleased.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dylan stood, bound and blindfolded, for what seemed like hours. During that time he experienced many different and painfully acute emotions. He had no idea of the time. He thought he heard sounds once or twice but was even unsure of that. When he was finally touched he gasped aloud. He felt hands roam over his fevered flesh. // Angel? Who? // Dylan was disoriented from his sensory deprivation and isolation.

Angel administered another hypo-spray. // Just enough to top him off. Keep him confused a little while longer. // Dylan groaned as the drugs hit his system. He was addicted to the slight high he got from the drugs and he was dependent on them to numb his existence.

Angel attached Dylan's leash to his collar and unhooked his shackles from the ground ring. She tugged on his leash and he stumbled forward a couple of steps. "Wait ... Angel?" He realized his mistake as soon as the words were out of his mouth. Angel stopped abruptly. "Mistress, I'm sorry." Dylan stood still, awaiting the worse.

Angel stared at Dylan with a smile on her face. "Well, Slave. I see your time here has not finalized your training for service. You still have a few lessons to learn. Here is one of them." She had been expecting this. He was disoriented and at a disadvantage and Angel was going to use this against him. She was prepared.

"Stand still." Dylan steeled himself for a blow that never came. Angel walked around behind him and reached around him. She placed a leather bit in his mouth and fastened it tightly. The gag muffled his protest and Angel smiled as she tugged on the leash once again.

"Come alone, Slave. Do not think about being unable to see. You will learn to trust my judgement in all things without question."

Dylan stumbled along behind Angel. At one point she spoke sharply to him. "Slave. Trust me. I will lead you nowhere near harm. You should be able to follow me with complete confidence. Do not drag your feet, looking for obstacles that are not there. Walk behind me as if there is no leash and you can see where it is you are going. When you reach that level of confidence in me you will be fully prepared to be set free from your fetters."

Angel did not speak to Dylan again. She led him around the keep, down corridors, across unfamiliar rooms. He felt many different variations in flooring on his bare feet and heard many household sounds. He could tell life went on in this place and felt comforted by the knowledge. Dylan even became comfortable in his nakedness. Angel's lessons were being well learned today.

Angel finally halted in the main hall. She rang the bell and Argus appeared with a lunch tray. He placed it on the table, bowed and left. "Thank you Argus."

Angel tugged on Dylan's leash, pulling him over to the table. "Kneel, Slave."

Dylan knelt, landing on a padded mat by Angel's chair. "Time for a new lesson, Slave." Dylan shivered in anticipation of what was to come. Angel reached out and touched the sides of his head. He stayed perfectly still. "Slave. I am going to fit you with ear plugs." Dylan pulled back from her touch. She tightened her hold on him just slightly and stroked the side of his face. "Slave. Listen to me. It is time for you to get used to living within your position here. Today you will come to know yourself better than you ever have before. I am merely removing the distractions that have kept you from this knowledge in the past. Relax and trust me. I will be right here beside you."

Dylan was breathing hard as Angel fitted the earplugs into his ear canals, effectively cutting him off from all outside stimulation, except that which she chose to give to him.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dylan was totally alone in the darkness. If he had thought it was bad before, this was infinitely worse. At least before he could hear the presence of others nearby even if he was unable to see them. Now it was as if he was lost in a black void, bereft of all sensory input. He could not feel his surrounding with his hands bound behind him, he could not see where he was or who was with him and now he could not even hear the presence of anyone else. He was more alone than he had ever been before.

Angel watched Dylan calm himself from the immediate panic he felt at being so totally isolated. She smiled at his discomfort and let him work it out on his own. // Today he will be totally dependent on me for every sensation he feels. He will learn that only my touch gives comfort ... and pain when he disobeys. His programming is nearly complete. He will be a fine slave. //

Angel let Dylan feel his isolation totally before she laid her hand gently against the side of his face. He stiffened at the touch but almost immediately calmed, pressing against her hand. She smiled at his response. This was going better than she had hoped. Angel picked up a piece of fruit from the tray and took a bite. She waved it under Dylan's nose and he sniffed the fragrance. He rubbed against her hand and she smiled. Angel set the fruit back on the tray and reached around Dylan and removed his gag. He licked his dry lips and she placed her finger against them, showing him that he should not say a word.

She then picked up the fruit again and placed it against his lips. He took a bite, chewing slowly and savoring the sweetness of the morsel. He licked his lips when he was finished and Angel presented another piece for him to sample. They ate their lunch in silence, a disconcerting experience for Dylan. He found he actually relished Angel's infrequent touches. They grounded him and showed him he was not totally alone in the inky blackness that was his world.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Lunch was over when Angel stopped feeding him. He felt the absence of her touch through is entire being. He leaned forward slightly, searching for her presence and encountered nothing but empty air before he had to right himself once again. He knelt in silence, awaiting his next command. The minutes dragged into what felt like hours and Dylan felt his knees ache from kneeling. After awhile he felt cloth brush against his exposed back and he flinched at the unexpected touch. Angel replaced the bit in his mouth and then her hands guide him to a standing position. A tug on his leash told him he was to follow her once again.

After a short walk Dylan felt the air change around him. He was in the moist, cool atrium once again. He felt comforted by the knowledge of where he was. Angel saw the lines of his face relax and smiled. The automatic misters were on in the gardens and Dylan could feel the light spray on his bare flesh. Angel tethered him and sat down to read a book. He stood as placed, a mere statue in the foliage.

He had no idea how long he stayed in that place. Time held no meaning for him. He was "slave", nothing more nothing less. He was devoid of any yearning to be anything other than what and where he was.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Beka stood with her hands on her hips. "Tyr, you have had two days. What have you learned from this man?"

Tyr lounged against the bulkhead. He smiled slightly at Beka but offered no explanations for his lack of progress with their guest.

"Tyr. Where is Dylan? What does this toad know of his disappearance?"

"He claims he does not know our Captain Hunt, Beka. I think he is lying but if you want him cooperative and in one piece I suggest tact and discretion in dealing with him. The minute he suspects his life hinges on us finding Dylan we will get no further information from him."

"Okay. What do you suggest?"

"I have convinced him I am in the market for a slave. He says he works on specific assignments. He does not trade in slaves but procures specific individuals according to what his potential buyer is interested in."

"Interesting. Can we bargain to get him to tell us if he sold Dylan in this manner?"

"Oh, I am pretty sure he did. He also was following Trance for the same purpose. His instructions from his buyer were to bring him someone exotic, beautiful and not at all human. He had other specifics also and he was lying in wait at Shaharazad because they have a large influx of travelers there daily. It cuts down his turn-around time and increases his profits. He doesn't have to purchase the slave to then sell. He merely steals them, drugs them and sells them before they awaken to their new fate."

"How disgustingly barbaric!"

"Yes, but he is shrewd. He has a thriving business and absolutely no overhead. It is ingenious really."

Beka stared at Tyr. "Tyr, we're talking about Dylan here."

"I know, Beka. I can dislike his results but admire his ingenuity, can't I?"

"Just get the information we need. Dylan is a day late and now I am really worried about him." Beka turned and began walking down the corridor and Tyr watched until she was out of sight. He then pushed himself away from the wall and entered the room where their guest awaited him.

"So, did you convince her that I'm telling the truth, Mr. Anasazi?"

"Of course I did. She bought the whole deal. Now, let's get down to business, shall we?"

The little man sat and Tyr followed suit. They were becoming quite comfortable with each other.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Andromeda?"

The hologram shimmered into being in front of her. "Yes Beka?"

"Monitor our guest's quarters on V-deck. I want to know what Tyr and he are discussing."

"You don't trust Tyr, Beka?"

"Do you?"

"Understood, Captain. Monitoring."

Beka chewed her lip. Something was not right here. Tyr should have had the information they needed long before now. Just what was the Nietzchean up to?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dylan was bathed then put to bed. He was left bound, gagged, blindfolded and deaf. Angel led him to a place, pushed down on his shoulders and he knelt. She guided him to lie down and then left him. It took some time for him to fall asleep but eventually he slept and dreamed. He dreamed of Rommie and the crew but in his dream he did not recognize them. They were strangers to him and he interacted with them briefly and then walked away, back to Angel. He lay his leash in her hands and knelt at her feet. The dream disturbed him but he was unable to determine why this was so. It was as if he had forgotten something vitally important but had no idea how to retrieve that information.

Angel watched her slave sleep. He was lying on a pallet on the floor of her chamber but to him he might be in a secluded cell in some dungeon. She had kept him thus isolated for two days now. The first night he had whimpered behind his gag and she knew he dreamed of his former life. She left him to his dream and he awoke to her touch. On this, his second night, he seemed more at ease and fell asleep almost immediately.

Dylan was totally dependent on her for every need, every want, every touch. She helped him bathe, eat, even relieve himself. There was nothing that he held private from her. Without her he would be insane by now from the lack of stimulation. As it were, he was totally cleansed of any memory of his former life. He was totally hers now.

// Sleep well, my slave. Tomorrow I will set you free from your sensory isolation and you will belong to me body and soul. // Angel stretched then lay down. // How I love to break in a new slave. //

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Angel slept well. When she awoke, Dylan was sitting up on the pallet. He simply waited for someone to come for him. His face held no fear, no worry, nothing but patience for whatever was to come. Angel stretched and smiled. Today was the day!

She got out of bed and dressed, watching Dylan for any reaction to her presence. There was none. He showed no response until she laid her hand on his shoulder. He rubbed the side of his face against her hand and she smiled. She guided him to his feet and led him out of her chamber and into the main hall. It was here that he would finally become hers.

"Argus, clean my chamber of any evidence of the slave's bondage. I do not want him to realize he slept in relative comfort for the past two nights."

"Yesss Missstresss." Argus left the hall to do Angel's bidding.

Angel tugged on Dylan's leash and he knelt at her side. He felt the hypo-spray at his neck and welcomed the high it gave him. He sighed behind his gag and floated in the drug-induced euphoria. She then removed his gag and fed him breakfast. He ate from her fingers as he had been trained to do. When he was finished with breakfast Angel placed her hands on his shoulders for a moment. He did not flinch at her touch. She removed his earplugs and whispered in his ear. "Good morning, Slave." Dylan's whole face lit up at the sound of her voice. He had been isolated from any sound for so long that her voice was like music to him. He rubbed his face against her hand. Angel in turn stroked his hair and murmured soothingly to him.

She next turned all the lights down low and sealed the shutters against any light from outside. "Slave, I am going to remove your blindfold now. Keep your eyes closed until I instruct you to open them. You have not seen any light for a few days now and I don't want you to suffer any damage."

Dylan held his breath. "Breathe, Slave." There was amusement in her voice and Dylan reddened slightly in embarrassment. She removed the blindfold and Dylan felt such relief as he had never known before. Next he felt little butterfly kisses on his eyelids and groaned behind his gag at the touch.

"Open your eyes now, Slave. I have turned the lights down."

Dylan opened his eyes to mere slits and they began to water. They were so unaccustomed to any light that the slightest glimmer sent stabs of pain into his brain. He flinched and closed his eyes once again.

"It's okay, Slave. Take your time. Try again."

Dylan opened his eyes again, a little more this time. Angel was standing directly in front of him and was his first sight in days. He stared at her as if he had never seen anyone as beautiful before. She smiled at him and lay her hand on his chest.

"You're doing great, Slave."

Dylan felt a rush of pride at her words. He had pleased her!

Angel removed Dylan's leash but left his high collar on. "Follow me, Slave." Dylan obeyed with no hesitation at all, pleasing Angel yet again.

Angel walked a little ahead of Dylan, feeling a sense of accomplishment at his immediate response to her orders. They wound up in the atrium and Dylan was stunned by the beauty on display there. He felt as if he were seeing everything for the first time. Angel watched as his eyes drank in the sights then reminded him to follow her into the garden. He blushed when she chastised him for stopping and felt like he had let her down. He followed closely until she told him to stop. She left him standing amidst the foliage and walked a little ways away. His eyes followed her every move as if he were afraid she would leave him alone there.

Angel wandered away from Dylan simply to see what effect it would have on him. She walked around him and he turned to follow her movements. She was amused but did not let it show. "Slave!"

Dylan stared at her. Obviously he had displeased her and he did not know how. He swallowed heavily, a feeling of dread rising like bile in his throat.

She approached him slowly, cat-like in her movements. He watched her come and began to breathe heavily as if he had been running. "Did I tell you to move, Slave?" She stopped in front of him and ran her finger down his heaving chest and over his chiseled abs. He moved his head slightly to indicate a negative answer to her question. "That's right, I didn't. And do you know what that means, Slave?" Dylan just stared, caught in her gaze like a frightened rabbit. "It means that you did not obey my order to stand still, doesn't it?" Dylan moved his head in the affirmative. "And what am I to do with a disobedient Slave?" She walked around him, running her hands over his heaving flesh. She could feel him tremble at her touch.

Angel called for Argus. He responded almost immediately. "Argus put the slave in solitary again until he learns his place here."

Argus approached Dylan with the blindfold and leash in his hands. Dylan's eyes pleaded with Angel for mercy. She watched the scene playing out before her. She needed to see if the new slave would run from Argus or if he would let himself be taken once again. Did he even realize he was not tethered? She doubted it. His conditioning was too complete. He was so attached to her right now that he could not even imagine letting her out of his sight. That's why he moved when she moved out of his line of vision. He must be taught obey every order, even putting that order above his own comfort.

Dylan looked to Angel again as Argus stepped in front of him. Then he did the unforgivable. He took one step back. He knew his mistake the moment it occurred and he saw the disappointment in Angel's eyes just before Argus placed the blindfold on him. It was a sight that would haunt him in the hours to come.

Angel saw the step but could barely believe her eyes. She had been so sure he was totally under her control and her disappointment manifested itself in rage. // Damn him! His will is so very strong, but I will break it or I will kill him trying. //

Argus attached Dylan's leash and tugged him forward. They stopped in front of Angel. She drew her hand back and slapped his face. "You disappoint me, Slave. I had such high hopes for you. Argus, earplugs." Dylan moved his head slightly in the negative. He began to panic.

// Don't lock me away from the world again! I don't think I can stand it. //

Dylan was shaking from head to toe. Argus held the leash tightly as Angel inserted the earplugs into Dylan's ear canals. He began to keen softly behind the gag. Angel lay her fingers across his lips reminding him to be quiet. The sounds stopped almost immediately. Dylan was on the verge of hyperventilating. Angel soothed him with her hands. When he was calmer she instructed Argus to take him to the training room.

When Argus and the slave were gone from the atrium, Angel wiped her face with trembling hands and took a deep, shaky breath. She let it out slowly. It was time to show her new slave why he must always obey her and accept whatever happened to him without question. She just wished it didn't feel like she was betraying his trust by doing so. She had never come up against a slave that had been this difficult to mold into what she demanded.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Beka, it has been two weeks."

"I know how long it has been, Harper, but thanks for the update."

"Very funny. So what are you doing about finding Dylan?"

"I am monitoring our guest closely on V-deck. Rommie is recording all that happens in that room. We will act on any and all information obtained."

"So how about trying to obtain some, huh? Are you going to do nothing but let Tyr and this weasel make plans to sell us all into slavery?"

Beka turned her back on Harper and he stormed off the Command Deck. She sighed. "No Harper. I'm going to try to talk Tyr into being sold into slavery. I just hope this plan works or we're all in trouble."

Beka ran her hands through her already mussed hair. "Trance?"

"Yes, Beka?" Trance's voice was tinny over the com.

"Report to Command."

"Yes Beka."

Beka stared at the vid-screen and waited for Trance to relieve her. She jumped when Trance bounced onto Command a little while later.

"Are you all right, Beka?" Trance sounded worried.

"Yeah, I'm fine Trance. I need you to hang out here for awhile. I have someone to see on V-deck."

"Beka, would you make a deal with the Devil?"

"Trance?"

"I'm just saying that you should be careful of your dealings with a dishonest man. You may be surprised where those dealings lead you."

Beka ignored Trance's warning and left the Command Deck. "Andromeda?"

"Yes, Beka?"

"Where is Tyr?"

"Tyr is in the gym. Shall I contact him for you?"

"No! I am going to talk to our guest. Please inform me if Tyr approaches V-deck."

"Yes Beka."

// Okay, Valentine. Let's get this over with. Dylan's life may depend on it. //

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Beka knocked on the door of the chamber where the slave trader was being held. She waited for him to invite her in.

"Oh, come in already!"

Beka entered unlocked the door in front of her and entered the room.

"Well, my jailer actually knocks to enter my prison! How quaint."

"I don't know what you mean."

"This is a cage. It is a gilded cage, but a cage none the less. Do you think I don't know this? I demand to know why I am being held here." The man stood before her, cocky in his demands.

"You demand? How about I demand?" Beka advanced a step toward the man. He stepped back.

"What do you mean?" His voice had gotten decidedly whiny.

Beka advanced another step. "I have been monitoring your conversations with my next in command. I propose another solution to the one you two have been working on."

"I don't know what you mean." He fairly squeaked with fright.

Beka pushed him into the nearest chair. He landed hard. "I know you had something to do with the disappearance of a friend of mine two weeks ago. I want to know where he is. And I want you to help me get him back."

The little man barked his laughter.

Beka leaned on the arms of the chair and looked into his eyes. "I'm not kidding, Mr. Ayers. I want Dylan back. You either help me get him back or I will have you killed ... slowly."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The training room was cool. The floor felt different than any other on Dylan's bare feet. He had no idea where he was until he felt the cross in front of him. Argus hooked his collar to the deep V where the beams crossed then began chaining his arms and legs to the cross. Angel entered the room just as he was finishing. She walked around in front of Dylan. She could see the slave was breathing heavily. // So he fears his punishment ... good. //

Angel cupped Dylan's cheek in her palm and he pressed his face against her hand. He begged softly into the gag and she smiled. "Argus, make it a three today."

"Yesss Missstresss." Argus turned the nerve inducer lash to the setting Angel requested. The lash began to hum slightly. The ends glowed with a soft white light.

Argus looked at Angel, waiting for her signal. "Argus, only strike on my command. Today we will keep the slave off balance. I don't want to set up any kind of rhythm so he won't be able to anticipate when the next blow will come. We will switch between your toy there and a bullwhip. We end only when I am satisfied he has learned his lesson. You may begin."

Argus swung the lash, connecting with the center of Dylan's naked back. Dylan flinched as the whip bit in, then began to writhe as the nerve inducer did its work, sending wave after wave of pain along his nerve endings. He moaned into the gag and writhed in his bonds. Angel stood in front of him. She ran her hand lightly along his jaw, caressing him softly. Her actions were in direct contradiction to what Argus was doing. Dylan was being given the ultimate pain and Angel was determined to give him the ultimate pleasure at the same time. // By the time we are finished here today he will not be able to tell what shape his pleasure takes. He will crave pain along with his release. He will then be ready for the games. //

"The Games" were a sadistic pleasure indulged in by various slave owners of the sector. Angel thought this slave might make a great addition to the sport. She would probably win a bundle using him. The only drawback was that by using him in this manner he would probably not live long. // I will first see if he can please me as my slave. If not, then I know I can make some money on him in the games. Either way, I win. //

Angel let the pain begin to fade before she signaled for Argus to strike again. Just as the lash fell she began to run her hand around to the back of Dylan's neck. As the pain blossomed once again she ran her fingers through his hair and leaned forward to lick the edge of one ear. Dylan's moans of pain crescendoed behind the gag and he shivered from the stimulation he was receiving from Angel.

This time Angel signaled to Argus almost immediately and the lash fell again before the pain had even finished blossoming. The waves of pain fed upon each other and reached a peak that nearly sent Dylan into oblivion. He screamed into the gag and arched against his bonds. Angel walked around behind his and leaned into his back. She ran her hands around him, tweaking his nipples and running her hands through the hair on his chest. She let her hands wander over his abs and curled her fingers in the hair covering his groin. Dylan moaned as Angel's hands brushed across his manhood, bringing it to attention.

Angel stepped to the side and signaled to Argus once again. She walked around in front of Dylan as the lash fell once again. He moved his head from side to side, perhaps seeking her? She stood back from him leaving him alone in his misery and signaled to Argus to immediately lay another blow on Dylan's writhing form. Dylan screamed into the gag as the pain blossomed and as Angel stroked his erect member to near release.

Angel told Argus to switch to the bullwhip and held up both hands, fingers splayed to signal ten lashes. "Keep 'em coming until you're done, Argus. Slow and steady."

Argus took a deep breath and rolled the stiffness out of his shoulders. "Yesss Missstresss."

As the first blow fell Angel knelt in front of Dylan and fondled his erect member. Just as the second blow fell she leaned forward and took him into her mouth. He screamed at the pain and gasped at the sensation of being buried in warm moistness. She brought him to climax as the last blow fell and he screamed his release.

Angel left Dylan hanging on the cross, blood running from the ribbons cut into his flesh by the bullwhip. She told Argus to leave him there until she gave the order for him to be released. Argus left the room and Angel sank to the floor in front of the cross, watching.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dylan was lost in his misery. He hated himself for giving in to his sexual arousal when he detested the being that was arousing those feelings in him. He hated and loved in the same breath and he thought he was losing his mind. He was very nearly correct.

In his solitude Dylan lost a small part of himself as he searched in vain for some human contact to tell him he was still alive. He was falling apart slowly. His humanity required some small knowledge that he was not alone and Angel was the sole person that had given that to him since before he could remember. He thought he might have had a life of some importance once upon a time but then again, he thought he might be delusional. This was the only life he could remember. He was a slave, nothing more.

Sometimes he had dreams. In these dreams he saw people people without faces. They were beckoning to him but when he reached out they faded away. They weren't real. Nothing was real but Angel and her training room. It was what he deserved for disappointing her. He couldn't blame her for punishing him. In fact, he probably deserved more than she gave him. She was merciful to him in letting him live after he failed her time and time again.

Dylan had no thought of whether he would be taken from the cross or if he would be punished again. He simply was where he was and he waited ... for release, for pain, for death.

Angel watched her slave. He didn't move, he didn't moan, and still she knew he was awake. Or rather, he didn't sleep. She watched the steady rise and fall of his chest. She watched the sweat trickle down his chest and legs. And she waited.

After an hour or more she stood and stretched. It was now or never. Either he would be hers or she would put him in the games to live or die. Angel stood in front of her slave. She stared, wondering if she had succeeded. // Why does this mean so much to you? He is just another slave. // She reached out a hand and touched his hair. He stiffened in surprise. She took her hand away immediately and he searched for it with his head. He had barely any range of motion because of the way that he was tethered, but he searched none the less.

Angel walked around behind the slave. She looked at the bloody welts on his back. Her hand moved almost of its own accord toward the welts and, when she realized what she was doing, she drew it back quickly. // Get a grip, Angel. He's property, nothing more. // She reached out and touched his neck. His skin quivered at the touch and she smiled. She slowly pulled the earplugs from his ears then licked around each rim. He moaned into the gag that still filled his mouth. She ran her finger up the side of his neck and along his strong jaw. He pressed into her hand as much as his tethers would allow.

She undid the buckle at the back of his head and removed the leather bit from his mouth. He licked his parched lips but made no sound. Angel walked back around in front of the slave and ran her finger over his lips and they parted slightly at her touch.

Angel rang a bell and the slave flinched at the unaccustomed sound. Argus appeared a moment later. "Water, Argus." He bowed and retreated only to reappear a couple of minutes later with a bottle of cold water and a glass. "Thank you Argus. You may leave us."

Argus left the room and Angel approached the slave on the cross once again. He listened for her footsteps and was reassured by the sounds of her returning. The only thoughts in his head were of her touch, not of the ache that was spreading from his stretched shoulders or of the pain radiating from his ravaged back, nor of the ache in his thighs from being stretched and held immobile for so long. He rolled the ached from his jaw just before Angel placed a cup against his lips. "Drink." He drank in long pulls. The icy water felt like a slice of heaven sluicing its way down his parched throat. He nearly whimpered when the cup was pulled away but held back at the last moment. He wanted to please his Mistress and he knew he should not make any sound.

Angel took the slave off the cross and he stood on wobbly legs. She stood next to him and caressed his trembling flesh. He made no effort to get away or to remove his blindfold. Angel smoothed his hair back from his face. One hand rested on his bare chest, feeling his heart beat. It was slow and steady. They stayed that way for quite a long time. She seemed loathe to remove her hand from that position.

After a few minutes she removed Dylan's blindfold. He blinked his eyes, the only sign that he noticed anything different in his condition. Angel stared into those eyes and thought she detected somewhat less spark then when he first came to her. For some reason the thought saddened her just a bit. // Pull yourself together, Angel. He's just a piece of property, nothing more. //

Finally Angel rang for Argus. He came almost immediately. "Take this slave to the baths and clean him up. Bring him to me when he is presentable once again."

"Yesss Missstresss."

Angel turned back to her new slave. "You are not allowed to speak unless I give you a specific order to do so. You will nod your head to signal your understanding of an order. Is this clear?"

Dylan opened his mouth then shut it quickly. He nodded his head once.

"Very good. Take him away Argus."

Argus took Dylan's leash and led him out of the training room. Dylan stumbled along on shaking legs. Argus led Dylan along the corridors to the bathing chambers. He tethered Dylan's leash to a ring set in the wall and proceeded to wash him in the huge shower like a small child. Dylan stood still, staring into space. He didn't move or offer any resistance what so ever. Argus shook his head sadly.

After he finished washing the human he dried him off, and led him back to where Angel awaited.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

" Look, lady. I don't know your Dylan Hunt. I already told Mr. Anasazi I don't know him."

"The name's Captain Valentine ... Mr. Ayers. Now, one more time. I know what you told Tyr. I just don't believe one word of it."

"Well, Mr Anasazi believes me."

"Yeah, well Tyr doesn't have as much reason to want to find Dylan as I do. And, if you know what's healthy for you, you will want me to find Dylan as much as I want me to find Dylan. Do you understand me?" Beka punctuated every word with a well placed poke to Mr. Ayer's chest, backing him up against the wall.

"Yeah, Captain Valentine. I understand you. But I still don't know your Dylan Hunt." Mr. Ayers, Jack, folded his arms across his chest and glared at Beka.

"That's not the answer I was looking for ... Jack." Beka turned and stormed out of Mr. Ayer's temporary quarters.

When she was gone Jack leaned against the bulkhead and closed his eyes. There was no way he was going to give any information to Beka Valentine. He was much too afraid of Tyr Anasazi to do something stupid like that.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Andromeda. We are going after Dylan."

"Yes Captain." The holographic avatar smiled as she faded out.

"Rommie, Trance? Report to the bridge ... on the double." Beka paced as she waited for the two of them to appear.

"What's up Beka?" Trance was unusually subdued.

"We're going after Dylan."

"Yes!"

"One thing first."

"What would that be?"

"I want my ship back. We need to go to the planet where he was before he was taken ... and that might just scare our little friend on V-deck into taking us to Dylan."

"Let's go then. Rommie, let's get slipping, shall we?"

Rommie and Beka laughed at Trance's enthusiasm. Beka took over the pilot's station on the command deck. "Brace for slip stream."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Angel was waiting for Dylan in the atrium. It was one of her favorite places in the keep and she spent a lot of time there. Argus led Dylan in on his leash and stopped in front of Angel. She looked up at them from where she was sitting and accepted the leash from Argus.

"Thank you Argus. You are dismissed." Argus bowed and left the atrium.

Angel looked up at Dylan. "Kneel, Slave." Dylan dropped to his knees in front of Angel. "Very good." She caressed the side of his face. "Hands behind your neck." Dylan complied immediately and Angel smiled. "Good boy. I like this. You look good on your knees, Slave."

Dylan bowed his head. Her words bothered him and he wasn't sure why. He should be happy that he had pleased his Mistress, but he felt uneasy, like this was not his life he was living but some gross parody. It scared him and he didn't want her to see that emotion in his eyes. He knew instinctively that he would be punished for it and he didn't want to endure the sensory deprivation or lash again.

"Look at me, Slave." Dylan steeled his face into a semblance of contentment and looked up at Angel. "That's better." Angel looked at Dylan and thought there was something different about him, then she smiled. What could possibly be different except that he was more hers now than ever.

Angel continued to study Dylan then she bent toward him and pulled him forward. She gave him a long, lingering kiss. When she teased his lips open with her tongue he began to panic. // Breathe Don't let her know this is making you ill. // He felt revolted by the kiss but didn't know why that was. After all, he was "slave", nothing more. // Why is there nothing more? Is there nothing beyond this place? Am I destined to be "slave" here forever? //

Angel stopped kissing Dylan and pulled back. She looked into his eyes. // What has happened to my slave? There is something different here. //

"Slave, you could use some work on that kiss."

Dylan dropped his eyes. He knew he was not supposed to speak.

"Slave. Look at me." He raised his eyes once again. "You exist for my pleasure. Start pleasing me or I will enter you in the games. You do not want to be a part of the games ... do I make myself clear?"

Dylan nodded slowly. Angel leaned close for another kiss. Dylan steeled himself and gave her a kiss she was not likely to forget for quite some time. When she broke the kiss they were both breathless. She smiled at him and cupped the side of his face. "That was much better, Slave. Much better." Dylan smiled at her, willing the smile to look genuine. It must have worked because Angel sighed contentedly and returned to her book.

Dylan settled into his role // A role? I'm just playing a role here? Then who is the real me? // Angel left him on his knees for more than two hours. He was stiff and sore and his muscles screamed in agony. He became "slave" once again, his mind taking over the role and fitting it like a glove to his fractured psyche.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The days passed ... and turned into weeks. The crew of the Andromeda finally tracked down the Maru. Beka had to laugh when she saw it. The scoundrel she took it from had had just about enough of trying to get into it and was more than willing to get rid of it. She even tricked him into letting her have it; "if she could get in and fly the damned thing away". She laughed as she took off and the alien cursed just as loud, screaming his frustration at the receding ship.

"Okay, we have the Maru. Now we go get Dylan."

"Just like that, huh Beka? Just like that." Harper snorted his disbelief at her "plan".

"And I suppose you have a better idea, Harper?"

"Uh ... no." Harper blushed and looked away. Then he stood up and started pacing. "Beka. It can't work. Don't you see? Tyr won't go for it, for one thing. And what if we can't find Dylan? What then? Huh?"

"Calm down Harper. It's all we have. It will work. I promise."

"Yeah yeah ... So who gets to tell Tyr?" Harper smirked at Beka. She stood and wiped her hands on her pants nervously.

"That's my job." She walked off the Command Deck in search of Tyr.

Beka found Tyr in the gym. She walked up behind him and slipped her arms around his waist. She lay her head against the broad expanse of his naked back and inhaled the pure masculine scent of him. Tyr growled his pleasure and put the weights down he was holding.

He turned and took Beka into his arms. She nuzzled against his chest and he stroked her hair. "You really shouldn't sneak up on me when I have lethal objects in my hands, my love."

Beka laughed and snuggled closer. "I didn't want to wait until you were finished." She pulled his head down to her for a long, intense kiss. He responded fiercely then swept her up into his arms and carried her off to his quarters.

They made passionate, intense and very satisfying love. In the aftermath of their ecstasy they lay in each other's arms. Beka traced lazy circles on Tyr's chest. "So when do you tell me what you are up to, Beka?" There was laughter in that deep, sexy voice and Beka punched him lightly.

"How do you do that?"

"Do what, Beka?"

"That!"

"It's a gift " Beka punched him. The silence stretched Beka didn't know how to say what had to be said.

"So. Tell me Beka. The suspense is killing me."

"Don't get mad. Okay?"

"Oh great. This has got to be something else if you have to start out telling me not ot get mad at you!"

"We are going after Dylan."

"Great. So?"

"I know about the plans you and Jack made. Rommie was monitoring "

"So? I befriended the little man to get him to trust me. Nothing more."

"Really? Well then, I guess I have nothing to fear ...You'll absolutely love my little plan."

Tyr swallowed heavily and stared at her. "Go on."

"I'm going to try to sell this person who bought Dylan a new slave. A slave who matches her profile."

"Profile?"

"Yeah. Um ... good looking ... strong ... muscular ... male. You know the type."

"No Beka, I don't know the type." Tyr was angry.

"I'm asking you to pose as a slave for me, Tyr."

"No Beka."

"Tyr. We need to get Dylan back. He belongs here ... He does not deserve to be a slave to some sadistic .."

"Whoa Beka. Are you going to get Dyaln for all of us ... or for you?"

"What are you asking, Tyr?"

"So ... you love him?"

"No!" She cradled Tyr's face in her hands and kissed him. "Tyr! I love you! Dylan is needed because ... he's Dylan. He's the Captain ..."

"Shhh ..." Tyr kissed Beka, softly, tenderly. "Beka, I just had to be sure that you were here with me ... for me. I like your idea, I guess. I sure haven't come up with anything else. I don't like the thought of posing as a slave, but we can work on the safety issue as we formulate the whole scenario."

Beka squealed with delight and lay on top of Tyr. "How can I ever thank you, Anasazi?"

He pulled her down and held her tightly. "Oh I can think of a few ways, Valentine."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Angel fastened the last shackle around Dylan's wrist. The sound of it clicking closed sent shivers up his spine. She saw the involuntary blink of his eyes and smiled. He was now chained spread-eagle on her large bed. She ran her hands over his body and felt the tremors in his muscles. He stared as she licked her lips. He watched her head dip toward his body and groaned as her tongue licked its way up over his abs to his chest. He gasped as she pulled one achingly erect nipple into her mouth and suckled gently. His breath caught in his throat as she gently tugged on that nipple with her teeth.

"Not a word, Slave. You know the rules."

Dylan knew the rules well. They were a part of his very existence now. He had been with Angel the better part of four months and his days and nights were filled with her rules. Rules for bathing, rules for eating, rules for walking, rules for sleeping. And when those rules were bent or broken he knew of the consequences also. His back wore the ravages of the war he fought on a daily basis. The war consisted of rules and those rules were revealed to him one blow at a time ... on the cross. Angel firmly believed in letting her slaves make mistakes, and then correcting them. Dylan learned about her rules only after he had inadvertently broken one of them. It may not have been 'fair' but then this was Angel's world and Angel made the rules. It seemed like she made them up as she went along, changing them to suit her whims.

Dylan lay still under her ministrations. She laved him up one side of his heaving chest and down the other. She licked and nipped her way along his jaw. She could feel the muscles of his jaw clench as he tried to stay perfectly still for her. She let her hands and lips roam over Dylan's fevered flesh until he was painfully aroused. Then she walked away from him. He nearly cried out at her departure but knew that would bring greater punishment than not being allowed the sexual release he so desperately craved.

He breathed slowly and deeply, striving to get his body under some semblance of control. Angel stayed away only a moment and when she returned she held a padded leather blindfold in her hands. Dylan's eyes went wide at the sight of it and she smiled at the fear she saw there.

"Don't worry, Slave. Think of this as just another twist on an old familiar game."

Dylan cringed inwardly at the jest. An "old familiar game" indeed! It seemed like Angel was always coming up with a "new twist" on her sadistic games. He was hooked on her ability to arouse him, though. Even though he hated himself for it, he found that he craved her kindness. She held him together through the endless punishments and gave him the only comfort he could remember. Without her kindness he would have tried to kill himself long ago.

Angel fastened the blindfold around his eyes and he turned his head back and forth trying to get a glimpse of something anything. He jumped when Angel bent close and whispered into his ear. "Lie still Slave. You know the rules."

Dylan tried his best to stay perfectly still. He knew the consequences of failing to do so. She made it so hard to be still and seemed to have so much fun humiliating him time after time for his failures. // Breathe. Stay calm. You can do this. //

Angel saw Dylan try to steel himself for what was to come and smiled. She picked up a glass of iced tea and took a long swallow. She'd let him stew for just a minute imagining the worst. This was going to be fun.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Angel let Dylan stew for about five minutes before she crept back toward the bed. She tried to be as quiet as she could so she could take him by surprise. She reached out and ran a finger down the length of his bobbing manhood. He clenched his jaw so he wouldn't cry out at the touch. His hips bucked slightly before he clenched his muscles to keep still in his bonds. He panted slightly at the effort and Angel smiled before she slipped something into her mouth. She then gave Dylan a hypo-spray of the drug she had him addicted to. It was something like the high you get from Flash and was as addictive, but it didn't impart the heightened reflexes of Flash. It worked more like Heroin of Old Earth imparting a hazy, lazy high and euphoria and always leaving the junkie begging for more.

Dylan stiffened at the rush of drugs through his system then relaxed slightly in his bonds as the euphoria hit him full force. He licked his suddenly dry lips. It was then that Angel dropped what was in her mouth into her open hand and bent forward and kissed him. She worked her tongue into his mouth and he almost pulled back before he caught himself.

Angel straightened up and popped the item into her mouth once again. After a couple of minutes she let it drop into her open hand once again and bent forward and took his erect member into her mouth. This time Dylan could not hold still. He bucked once before catching himself as Angel's mouth covered him. He held back the scream that was forming at the back of his drug-parched throat. He gasped at the sensation rocketing through his body. He was in control ... right up until Angel pressed that ice cube in her hand to the sensitive skin behind his scrotum and rolled his balls around in her hand. He screamed as he came forcefully in her mouth.

"I win, Slave." It was whispered, but Dylan heard it all the same and he cringed at the implications. He would be punished for his indiscretion. Angel left him bound where he was, blinded and rocketing skyward on the drugs in his system. She dropped the ice cube on his stomach where it melted as he awaited his fate.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dylan hit rock bottom as the lash fell on his ravaged back. He was tethered to the cross, receiving the punishment he so justly deserved for breaking one of Angel's rules. He begged, he pleaded not for mercy, he knew he deserved everything he was getting on the cross. He pleaded for more of the drug he was so dependent on. He could feel every muscle fiber in his body scream out as the drug ebbed from his system. He could feel his skin start to shrink, becoming too small to fit his muscular frame. In his fragile mind he knew his skin would start to split from the pressure of trying to cover his body. Was it ripping already? The lash fell again and the pain inducers did their work. Dylan screamed as the fire of the lash ran along his limbs. When he passed out from the pain Angel demanded he be given a stimulant to wake him.

She cradled his head as he wept and pleaded for her to end his agony. "Have you learned your lesson well today, Slave?"

"Yes Mistress. Please help me."

She soothed him with her touch and gave him what he so desperately needed another hypo-spray of the wonderful drug. He sighed, sagging into his bonds as the drug slammed its way through his system.

"Ten stripes, Argus ... then bring him to me."

"Yesss Missstresss." Argus put down the nerve inducer lash and picked up his bullwhip. He meted out the remainder of Dylan's punishment then took the Slave off the cross and led him, chained and on a leash, to where Angel awaited.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Why do you try my patience so, Slave?" Angel paced in front of her bound slave.

They were in the atrium. It had fast become Dylan's favorite place as it was Angel's. He craved the moist air. It reminded him of something ... a fleeting glimpse of a past he couldn't quite grasp. He knew instinctively he loved the moist air and had sought it out in his previous life. Had the word "beach" or "ocean" crossed his mind he wouldn't have believed in it. He had only known the dry heat of the desert planet and had forgotten anything else. But the trigger was there ... the moist air of the atrium almost brought past memories to the surface of his troubled mind ... almost.

Dylan jerked himself back to the present, to the woman pacing in front of him. He craved her acceptance. His mind needed her fleeting kindnesses as much as his body needed the drugs she meted out to him. He was addicted and Angel reveled in the power she wielded.

Angel stopped her pacing and stared at Dylan. "Why are you so obstinate?" She paced again. Dylan could see she was quickly losing her cool. He needed to do something to calm her or the consequences of her tantrum would be devastating for him.

Dylan was standing. His hands were shackled together and attached to his collar at the back of his neck. His legs were also shackled. They were braced about eighteen inches apart, the length of the chain running between them. As Angel paced he strove to catch her attention. He watched her every move his eyes followed her as she moved back and forth in front of him. He knew better than to speak until she wished him to. His ravaged back was testament to what would and did happen when one of Angel's rules was broken. He wasn't stupid enough to break one on purpose.

Dylan did not move in the face of Angel's rantings. He took all the verbal abuse she dished out and then, when she stopped in front of him he met her eyes and silently pleaded with her. She laid her hand on the side of his face and he rubbed against it. She smiled at his show of affection and only then did he allow himself an internal sigh of relief.

Angel saw Dylan relax and smiled. She ran her hands over his body, tweaking his nipples playfully and laving her tongue across his chest. Then she stepped back. She put her hands on her hips and looked at Dylan. "You know something, Slave? I think I have been giving you far too much attention. I believe it is your turn to show me some attention ..." She turned away. "Argus!"

The lizard appeared almost immediately. "Yesss Missstresss."

"Prepare the slave and bring him to me in my meditation chamber."

Argus tried to hide his surprise. Angel had never received a slave in her private meditation chamber before. "Asss you wisssh, Missstresss."

Angel turned and left the chamber. Dylan stared at Argus, wondering what was in store for him but knowing he could never voice the question and even if he did it would not be answered.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Argus gave Dylan a massage, rubbed him down with warm almond oil, and then fed him. He changed his shackles and collar. The new shackles and collar were made of leather like the previous ones. These were about two inches wide and made of soft, supple black leather much like kidskin. They were lined with a soft fleece and adorned with gold studs, buckles and rings. The chains he attached were also made of gold. They sparkled in the light.

Dylan stood perfectly still as Argus adorned his body for Angel's pleasure. He had no thought except a mild wondering of what was to come. "Come, Ssslave." Argus had shackled his arms behind his back, then bent his arms up behind him and attached the shackles to his collar. He had then shackled his ankles with a length of chain about eighteen inches long. Angel liked to see her slave brought to her bound in this manner.

Dylan followed Argus as he pulled on his leash. Argus led Dylan down the corridors and eventually stopped in front of a closed door. He turned to Dylan and pulled a hypo-spray out of the waistband of his breachclout. Dylan was confused. It hadn't been very long since Angel had given him his drugs. He wasn't even at the craving stage yet. She had never given him another dose until he needed it so bad he would have done almost anything for it. Who was he kidding? He would have done anything for it.

Argus administered the drug to Dylan. It was a very large dose and it rocked Dylan on his feet. He swayed and Argus caught him. He turned and, still holding Dylan, knocked on the door behind him.

"Enter."

Argus opened the door and entered Angel's meditation chamber. He was holding Dylan upright at his side.

"Well. He looks stoned."

"Yesss Missstresss. I gave him the dossse you requesssted."

"Very well, Argus." Angel walked around behind the pair and unhooked the chain that attached Dylan's wrist shackles to his collar. "Wouldn't want him choking himself, would we Argus?"

"No Missstresss. I did not think of that when I prepared him for your pleasssure."

"You would have no way to know what the extra drug would do to him or that I prepared a special combination of drugs for my slave. He should be quite complacent for some time." Angel laughed, a low dangerous sound that sent shivers up Argus' spine. Angel spoke to Dylan. "Kneel for me Slave."

Argus let Dylan drop to his knees in front of Angel. He swayed a little but stayed upright. Angel dismissed Argus and he let himself out of the room.

Dylan was having trouble focusing. He felt so disconnected from reality. He looked up at Angel and when she smiled at him he had a little trouble deciding if he should be happy or scared.

Angel could see the confusion on her slave's face and she was pleased. The drugs were working as she had wished. The slave would be very complacent and willing to do anything she commanded. He would literally be unable to resist her wishes.

Angel pulled a chair up close to Dylan. She sat down on the chair and ran her hands through Dylan's hair. "Silky ..." she purred. Dylan's eyes were heavy-lidded. She swung around on the chair so she was facing Dylan. The chair was so close to him she ended up straddling him with her legs. "Slave ..." Dylan looked up at her. "Look at me Slave" She ran her hands down her body. Dylan followed those hands with his eyes. "Watch me, Slave ..." She cupped her breasts and leaned forward. Dylan licked his lips. She continued her teasing. Her hands strayed lower, over her stomach and down her legs. She opened the clasps on her gown, starting at the bottom. Dylan watched, rapt as her flesh was revealed an inch at a time. His breathing grew shallow and ragged as he became more and more aroused by Angel's performance. "Do you like what you see, Slave?" Her voice was a mere whisper against his ears. He nodded slowly, not saying anything for fear of punishment. "That's good, Slave." She leaned forward and licked his ear, suckling gently on the lobe. He gasped at the sensation and she continued downward to his neck, leaving little love bites along its side.

Angel continued opening her gown. She slid forward on the chair so her bottom was at the very edge. She leaned back against the cushions of the chair and opened another clasp, revealing her uncovered womanhood. "Slave. Look at me. Watch my hands ..." Her voice was hypnotic and Dylan was unable to resist. The drugs were working just as she planned.

Angel ran her hands over her mound of soft curls. "I want you to touch me, Slave." Dylan tried to reach out and a look of confusion crossed his handsome face. "You can't use your hands, Slave. I want you to use your tongue. Lick me, Slave."

Dylan leaned forward as if pulled by a puppeteer's string and inhaled of Angel's scent. "Don't be shy, Slave." His tongue snaked out and raked along her curls. She opened herself for him and his tongue found its mark. She sighed with pleasure as she put one hand behind his head, pulling him closer and burying his face in her mound. "Make me come, Slave" Dylan licked tentatively at her flesh. "More Slave. Do me or I will do you ... on the cross." Angel sighed at the feel of the slave's tongue on her flesh. She moved her hand from behind his head to gently roll his nipples, causing him to groan against her pleasure center. She arched into his mouth and he suckled her. As his tongue entered her tight warm center, she trembled and pulled him tighter to her. She reached her crest in tight, ecstatic waves and she cried out softly.

Dylan's own need went unfulfilled. He serviced Angel again and again and she left him aching for his own release. Finally she pushed him over onto his back and straddled his hips. She lowered herself onto his erect member and clenched her muscles around him. He cried out at the sensation. She rode him slowly, bringing him to the brink of release and then backing off so he never attained his final satisfaction. When she finally allowed him to attain his release he shuddered his completion, arching upward into her. She leaned forward and kissed him. He was surprised at her tenderness. She raised herself off of him and stood up. She fastened her gown and looked down at him. He was already erect again.

Angel laughed and pulled Dylan to a sitting position. "Stand for me Slave." Dylan got to his feet in front of her. "I have a present for you." She turned and picked up an object from a small table in the corner of the room. She came back to him and ran her hand along his erect member. He gasped as tremors ran through his body at her touch. His senses had been heightened by the combination of drugs Argus had given him. Everything stood out; colors, smells, taste, touch. He swayed a little as she continued to stimulate him. Just as he thought he was going to come again, she pulled her hand away. He groaned softly. She smiled at his discomfort and then showed him what she held in her hand. His eyes widened in shock but he said nothing. She reached down and grasped his erect member, pulling his sac forward as well. With her other hand she attached a leather cock-ring snugly at the base of his shaft and behind his sac, bundling them together. She cinched it snugly and Dylan grimaced.

Angel stepped back, admiring her work. "Very nice, Slave. Now you will be ready for me when I want you to be ready and you will only be allowed release when I say you may attain it. You are mine, Slave. Do not forget it."

Angel sat in her chair once again and pulled Dylan into a kneeling position next to her. She spent the next hour in meditation while Dylan knelt next to her.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The next few days were a drug-induced blur. Angel seemed to like her slave complacent and ready for anything at any time. She continued to give him large doses of the new combination of drugs. He was either stoned or strung out all of the time. His mind floated on the high of the drugs then he crashed into oblivion. Angel could see that unless she was speaking to him directly his mind just wandered. She let him be, content in the knowledge that when she wanted him to he could focus on her needs and wants.

Dylan was kneeling next to Angel's chair when it happened. He suddenly had a vision of something ... no someone. It was a vision so real he thought he was losing his mind for good. He could see her, feel her. He gasped and Angel spun toward him.

"Slave! What was that?"

Dylan looked at her quickly and she saw it for a brief instant before the veil came down in his eyes. // Bloody Hell! He had a memory! I don't think he sees it for what it is reality. More than likely he thinks it is a delusion. Damn! I thought he was mine all mine. // "What are you thinking, Slave?"

"Nothing Mistress." Dylan lowered his eyes and it was then that she knew.

// This is not his first time! He has been hiding these memories from me! //

Angel slapped him across the face, rocking his head back. She stood and screamed out her rage.

"How long has this been going on Slave?"

Dylan didn't know how to answer the question. "Mistress? I don't understand."

"You were just thinking of something ... something so awful or so wonderful that it made you gasp out loud. I want to know what it was you were thinking about."

"I don't know, Mistress. It was just a picture in my head."

"A picture? Of what?"

Dylan swallowed heavily. He didn't want to tell Angel he was thinking of another woman. He knew that would be really bad. "Um ... just a picture ... of a place. I don't know where it came from, but it was beautiful. There were many trees and flowers."

"Just a place. This place? Was it this atrium? It has trees and flowers."

"No Mistress. It was ... a different place."

"You're sure of that?

"I think so Mistress."

"You think so? It must be here that you were thinking of, Slave. Am I not right?"

Dylan hung his head. "Yes Mistress." // Who is she? Who is this vision that intrudes upon my mind? //

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Tyr ..."

"The answer is no Beka!"

"Tyr. You agreed to this. It is the only way we will get into this fortress and rescue Dylan."

"Assuming he is really there." He turned and growled at the "slave trader" cowering behind him.

"Jack has assured me the 'Mistress' of this place was quite taken with her new slave. I doubt she has grown weary of him yet."

"So he says."

"Tyr. Let's try this again, shall we?" Beka held up a fresh pair of shackles. Tyr had just broken the previous pair. "Rommie and Harper only made a few sets of these, Tyr. Try to be more careful this time. We don't want them all broken before we actually get to the planet. I might just have to use real ones and then you'd be in real trouble!"

Tyr growled but let her shackle his wrists behind him once again. Jack looked him over. "He is too bold. He needs to be more subservient."

Tyr opened his mouth to protest and Beka cut him off. "You know, he might be right, Tyr." She turned to Jack. "How could we be more convincing?"

Tyr protested each suggestion the slave trader made until finally Beka said they were finished for the day. "Come. Let's get some rest. Tomorrow we will try to make contact with this Mistress. Hopefully we can complete our mission quickly."

Beka led Tyr to her chamber where she proceeded to convince him of the validity of Jack's suggestions.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The next day Beka supervised the writing of a communication to Mistress Angel. "You've got to be kidding. Her name is really 'Angel'?"

"Yes, but don't let it fool you. She is one tough lady. Be very careful." Jack looked genuinely worried but then Beka thought he always looked worried.

The communication was dispatched. A few hours later the Maru launched from the Andromeda Ascendant. They were bound for the same system that Angel called home. They settled into an orbit around one of the outer planets and waited. Every two hours they checked for any communications from Angel's planet. They waited a long time.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Angel was pacing. She had just received the communication from her contact, Jack. // A "new" slave? // She looked over to where Dylan was standing. She had put him on the circle in the main hall today. She had had Argus oil him and his skin glistened. // Do I really want a new slave when this one pleases me so much? Jack did say this one would be good for the games... // Angel left the communication laying on the table in front of her while she finished the day's business. It was still there a couple of hours later when she was finally done. She picked it up again and looked to Dylan. He was patiently waiting for her.

Angel walked over to where Dylan was tethered. He heard her approaching and leaned into her gentle caress. Even with the blindfold (or because of it) he had learned to sense her approach. Being cut off from most if not all stimuli as he had been all day only heightened his need for human contact ... and Angel was all the "contact" he had been allowed since his captivity began.

Angel was still thinking about the offer of a new slave. The dispatch troubled her. Why would Jack contact her on behalf of another dealer? Something just didn't smell right about this so-called deal. Should she ignore it or invite them in? The description of the new slave intrigued her ... a Neitzchean! How

exotic. There certainly weren't too many of them on the market. The more she thought about it the more she was sure she did want to take a look at this slave. He could be very profitable on the games circuit.

"Argus!"

"Yesss Missstresss?"

"Deliver this slave to my chambers. I will be there momentarily."

"Yesss Missstresss." Argus attached a leash to Dylan's collar and led him out of the main hall. When they reached Angel's chambers Argus attached Dylan's leash to a hook set high in the bedpost. He left him thus tethered to wait for Angel.

As Dylan waited for Angel he remembered the face he saw in his 'vision' and wondered who this woman was. He knew in his heart that if Angel ever found out she would kill him. The face haunted him. He should know this face ... yet he didn't. It frustrated him ... when he was sober enough to think. And when he was sober enough to think he ached for more drugs. Dylan sighed out loud in his frustration ...

... just as Angel walked through the door. "What was that, Slave? Did you say something?"

Dylan's stomach dropped. He could hear the anger in Angel's voice. He was in trouble.

"Bored, Slave?" She ran her hands over his body, eliciting a tremor that ran down his back. "Tired of waiting for me?"

Dylan was silent in the face of her fury. She pinched a nipple between her fingers and he nearly groaned. He concentrated on breathing slowly and steadily. She wanted a response ... it would at least give her an excuse to punish him, and she wanted desperately to punish him.

Angel stepped back and took a deep breath. // Why does this slave affect me this way? Why does he anger me so? And yet, I can't get enough of his gorgeous body. //

Angel called for Argus. "You do not deserve to be in my bed tonight, Slave. Argus, tether him at the end of my bed where I can watch him."

Angel had a large, four-post bed. Argus moved Dylan closer to the foot of the bed. He chained his ankles to the posts of the bed leaving him no slack in the chains. When his ankles were secured he chained his arms to the tops of the same posts. Next he changed Dylan's collar and put on the wider collar with the chin rest. Dylan was now unable to drop his head. He reached up to unfasten Dylan's blindfold and Angel stopped him.

"Leave it on, Argus. You may go now."

Argus bowed and left the room. Angel climbed on her bed. She lay back against her pillows and stared at Dylan. He fascinated her. She knew he was fast approaching his tolerance limit and would soon need his dose of drugs, but he didn't yet show his need. She watched him for awhile and then it appeared, a tiny tremor ... then he licked his lips ... he clenched his jaw ... and the sweat broke out on his forehead. He needed the drugs. How long could he hold out before he began begging for it? Angel waited.

After an hour Dylan was shaking so badly he would have fallen down if he wasn't chained upright. Angel continued to watch. Dylan clenched his teeth together so he wouldn't cry out at the pains shooting through his body. // She knows I need this and yet she torments me! // A groan escaped him, a tiny sound. It was what Angel was waiting for. She got up off the bed and walked around behind him. She ran her hands over his trembling flesh and he leaned into her caress to the limits of his tethers. She gave him a large dose of the drugs and he moaned out loud.

"You like that, don't you Slave?"

"Yes Mistress." He answered in a whisper and she smiled.

She caressed him once again then climbed back into bed. She lay back against the pillows and watched. She liked the view she had from her pillows.

Dylan stood at the foot of the bed and it hit him mid-thigh. There was no slack in his bonds so he was stretched taught. He held onto chains with a tight grip to take a little of the pressure off his already aching shoulders. Angel could see his muscles tremble. // He is going to wear himself out. He will have to relax soon or he will start to get cramps ... // Angel watched him for awhile longer. Eventually Dylan had to relax his hold and he relaxed into his bonds. Angel snuggled down to go to sleep. She turned her lamp down on low so she could watch her slave as she drifted off.

Dylan heard Angel move around in the bed. His shoulders were aching, his legs were beginning to cramp. By the Divine ... he hurt all over. // Breathe Slow and easy. You can get through this. Don't make Mistress Angel angry. The cross awaits ... //

Dylan eventually drifted off to sleep in spite of his aches and pains. The drugs had relieved a little of his discomfort but his bonds felt like they were pulling him apart. He put his discomfort aside and concentrated on nothingness a meditative technique he had learn as a High Guard officer. Even though he had no recollection of that time, his body remembered and used this knowledge to help him cope with his present situation. The training he had received to withstand torture from the enemies of the Commonwealth had been transmuted into something to keep him from falling completely into the pit Angel was trying to push him into. In spite of everything he had been put through in the past few months, he still retained a piece of Dylan Hunt ... a piece that was keeping him grounded and helping him to stay alive in the face of the atrocities being heaped upon him daily.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Angel awoke before Dylan. She watched him for a minute. Suddenly he began to moan softly. Angel sat up and stared at him. // He's dreaming! Is this where his visions are coming from? // Dylan moaned again, softly. Angel watched as he moved slightly in his bonds. He gasped softly and whispered something. // What is he dreaming of? ... or who? // Angel crept down the length of the bed so she could hear if Dylan said anything else. She wanted desperately to know what his dream was about. As she reached the end of the bed Dylan jerked suddenly and woke. She saw him straighten in his bonds and grimace in pain. Angel reached out and ran her hands up his torso. He gasped and pulled back in surprise. She laughed.

"Good morning, Slave. Did you sleep well?" She continued running her hands slowly over his body, reestablishing her dominance over him.

Dylan remained silent as she fondled him. Pretty soon she had him moaning softly with the sensations she was awakening in him. His breath came in ragged gasps as she pulled him into her mouth.

"No ..." It was a whispered moan but Angel heard it and chuckled in her throat, sending Dylan over the edge. He was rock hard but still encased in the cock-ring and unable to find release. Angel continued tormenting him until he was hanging from his bonds in agony.

"Please ..." This time Angel was pleased. She popped open the clasp on the ring and Dylan screamed his release. He hung, boneless from the bedposts. Angel got out of bed, leaving him as he was. She went to the baths, telling Argus to tend to the slave and make him presentable for her.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dylan was already in the main hall when Angel got there. Argus had shackled him with his arms bent up behind him and had oiled him so he gleamed in the morning light. His blindfold was on as it was when Angel had left him in her bedchamber.

Angel walked past him as if she didn't see him. He searched for her with his head, following the sounds of her footsteps. He ached for some sign that he was there ... that he was real. The isolation of the blindfold always sent him into a slight panic state. It was only physical contact that kept him from going insane. He needed the contact almost as much as he needed the drugs he was addicted to. Angel knew this and she tormented him on purpose. She was still upset about his dream. He hadn't said what it was about and it bothered her.

She stopped at the table, looking down at the communication from the slave trader. She picked it up and looked at Dylan. He was so damn beautiful ... but a Neitzchean ... a Neitzchean could make her a lot of money in the games. She made up her mind. She would send a reply to Jack ... and she would take a look at the Neitzchean.

Angel opened a wall panel near the table and accessed the communication array. She sent a message telling Jack she would meet with this new slaver. At the very least it would prove an interesting meeting ... and she would have another contact to provide her with new pets.

Angel ate breakfast then went to the atrium. She had Dylan kneel by her seat. She fed him pieces of fruit, making him eat from her hand. After he had eaten she began to read a book. Dylan was kept kneeling and Angel absentmindedly ran her hands through his hair now and again as if she were petting a pet of some kind. He craved the physical contact and leaned into her caresses. Thus the morning passed.

Around midday Angel called for Argus. When he appeared she told him they were to have guests. "Prepare the main hall to greet them. Check all the security measures. I cannot allow this trader to penetrate my fortress. The main hall is the only part of my home they will see. Make sure all is ready."

"Yesss Missstresss." Argus bowed and left the atrium.

Dylan was stunned. He could not remember anyone else visiting the fortress before. He was unsure of what his role was to be. Would he be put on parade, a showpiece for Angel? Would he be hidden away, left alone in his darkness? And why was Angel meeting with a slave trader? Was he to be replaced? He had a sudden vision of his former cellmate, hanging in the courtyard all but devoured by La Petite Morte. He shuddered at the sudden vision and bent over, retching uncontrollably.

Angel was shocked. // What has happened to my Slave? // "Argus! Come quickly!" She knelt by Dylan, running her hands over him. "Slave! Talk to me what is wrong?"

Dylan could only shake his head. He was shaking uncontrollably. Angel gave him a hypo-spray of drugs, sending him into oblivion. Then she had Argus carry him out of the atrium and back to her bedchamber where he placed him on her bed. He held him in a seated position while she removed the chains binding his wrists behind him. Argus laid him back on the bed then Angel dismissed him. She unfastened and removed his blindfold then chained one of his ankles to the bedpost and covered him up. He was moaning in his sleep.

Angel lay beside Dylan, cradling his head and smoothing his hair back from his fevered brow. Little by little he calmed. His breathing evened out and he fell into a deep, restful sleep. Angel continued to hold him. She suddenly realized she was beginning to care for this slave. Maybe she would keep him. She decided to cancel the visit from the other slave trader ... she didn't need or want another slave. She fell asleep holding Dylan close.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Angel awoke some time later. Dylan was moaning and thrashing again. He mumbled something in his sleep. Angel leaned forward, trying to hear. Suddenly he yelled. "No! Help me ..." He mumbled again.

// Was that a name? Has he remembered someone from his past? // Angel continued to watch him. He calmed once again and slept the sleep of the drugged.

Dylan awoke some time later. He was confused and disoriented. He had been dreaming but his dream was fading even as he strove to retain some piece of it. There had been ... someone ... he was sure of it. Someone who had tried to help him. Someone who, maybe loved him. He tried to remember a name ... or a face ... but it faded before he could pull it out of the darkness that was his past. He wept silently.

Dylan wiped his face as Angel walked into the room. She noted the anguished look on his face. "Are you feeling better, Slave?"

"Yes Mistress." Dylan pushed himself to a sitting position as he answered. "Thank you." He kept his eyes lowered.

"Look at me, Slave." Dylan lifted his eyes slowly. Angel looked into the face of despair and knew he had experienced something profound. "What is troubling you, Slave?"

"I do not know, Mistress." Dylan had answered truthfully. "I awoke feeling as if I had lost something important, but I can't remember what it is ... or was."

Angel knew then that he had dreamed of his past. The drugs were keeping him from retaining this knowledge but it was disquieting to know he had memories that were trying to surface. // He is stronger than I gave him credit for. Should I erase his memories completely with the synaptic enhancer? Or will that also erase the man I have come to care for? //

Angel unfastened the chain around Dylan's leg. "Are you well enough to get out of bed, Slave?"

Dylan swung his legs over the edge of the bed. "Yes Mistress." He got to his feet. Once he was steady he stood with his legs braced apart and laced his hands behind his neck as Angel liked him to do.

She smiled and approached him. "Very nice, Slave. Come."

Dylan said nothing but followed her out of the bedchamber and down the corridor. His freedom of movement was not lost on him. Did Angel really trust him or was this another test? He kept his hands where they were and steeled himself for the day ahead.

Angel led Dylan to the main hall. He stopped on the circle and she motioned for him to kneel next to her by the table. Angel cut up some fruit and fed Dylan a few pieces.

"Do you want more, Slave."

"No thank you, Mistress."

"Are you still not feeling well, Slave."

"I am just not hungry, Mistress."

"Very well, Slave. I expect you to tell me if you are unwell, do I make myself clear?"

"Yes Mistress."

"Come Slave."

Angel proceeded to carry out her tasks for the day and Dylan followed along. He did anything and everything he was requested. When he was not performing some task for Angel he held his hands laced at the back of his neck. He was the perfect slave and Angel was pleased with his progress.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dylan awoke drenched in sweat. He called out, a wordless cry in the darkness. The dream haunted his nights and he couldn't escape from its memory by day. // Help me ... someone ... anyone ... I am going insane! //

"Slave?" Angel pulled Dylan close and brushed the hair of his forehead with her fingers. She murmured to him, trying to calm him.

"Mistress?" Dylan clung to her. "Help me ..." He was already falling asleep.

Angel crooned to him and he immediately fell asleep. She watched him for a few minutes and when she was convinced he was going to stay asleep she settled down and cuddled him close.

All too soon it was morning. Angel and Dylan were both loathe to wake and slept in rather late. It was Argus that woke them with the news that a ship was in orbit.

Angel sat up in bed. "The slaver. Damn! I never cancelled that invitation." She got out of bed. "Argus, get the slave ready. We must be prepared for their arrival."

Dylan panicked. The second Argus unchained him he bolted. He ran down corridor after corridor with Argus in pursuit. // I can't be put on display What if she decides to sell me to this person? I can't do this! // Dylan had lost all control. He ran until he cornered himself in a short hallway with a bolted door at its end. He doubled back and ran right into Argus. He got in one good punch before Argus put him in a chokehold and darkness overtook him.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Angel walked around the cross. She caressed Dylan's sweat-soaked flesh. She lifted his chin and stared at him a moment. He was still unconscious. Angel turned and handed Argus the hypo-spray she was holding. "You owe him for that punch Argus." She ran a finger over the lizard's split lip. "Do with him what you will to exact your revenge. I want him alive ... and still able to service my needs when you are finished. When you are done I want you to give him ten at level five. Then you will finish with twenty stripes. Leave him on the cross when you are done. I want him conscious for all of his punishment. There are more hypo-spray guns behind the wall panel. He gets none of the drugs I have addicted him to until I say he gets them. Simply wake him and leave him be."

Argus bowed. "Yesss Missstresss." His eyes gleamed as he contemplated his revenge on the human.

Angel turned to go. "Argus. Gag him so he doesn't disturb our guests."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Beka led Tyr into the main hall of the keep. He was shackled at the ankles and hobbled along behind her, being careful not to break his chains. His arms were shackled behind him and his chest was bare. He had drawn the line at appearing naked in front of Angel. Beka had to be satisfied with tight leather pants, no boots or shoes and no shirt. His hair was unbound and his braids swung about his face as he looked around the keep. He had on a black leather collar to which a leash was hooked. Beka held the end of that leash and he found himself getting turned on by his circumstances. The one item he had lost his argument about was a bit-gag. Beka had insisted on it to keep him from spouting off at Angel and somehow he had lost that argument. He was not happy about it and growled slightly behind the gag.

"Not completely trained, is he?" Angel walked around Tyr, looking him over like a piece of meat. He blushed slightly at her remarks. "Nice to look at though. What are you asking for him?"

Beka named a ridiculously extravagant price and Angel paused. "Well. Is he worth it?"

"I think so or I wouldn't have asked for it."

"I want to see for myself just what he is worth."

"And how would you like to do that?"

Angel stopped in front of Tyr. "Like this." She reached out and unzipped his trousers. Tyr tensed and Beka laid her hand on his back, rubbing lightly to let him know he needed to put up with this. She continued to caress him out of Angel's sight as Angel pushed his pants down over his hips and held him in her hands.

Tyr made a strangled protest behind the gag and Beka grabbed him by the braids, pulling his head back. "No sound slave." She put her head close to his and whispered, "Hang on Tyr. You can do this." He growled in reply and she laughed. She turned to Angel. "So. Does he meet with your approval?"

"Oh, I approve. I'm just not prepared to pay such an outlandish price for a slave I wish to put in the games."

"Games?"

"Just a little fun we slave-holders like to partake in ... with the right slaves, of course."

"Of course. Well, if you don't want him I will look elsewhere. Thank you for your time."

"Wait! I never said I don't want him. Let's discuss this further, shall we?"

"Sure."

"May I?" Angel held out her hand for Tyr's leash. Beka handed it over and watched Angel lead him to a burnished metal circle set in the floor of the hall. She tethered him there by clipping the chain running between his ankle shackles to a ring set in the floor. She and Beka sat at the table and Angel poured wine for both of them. There was a computer screen set into the table. It was on when they sat and after a quick look at it Angel turned it off. She didn't want the trader to see how she disciplined her disobedient slaves. For some reason she didn't think this trader would approve. They raised their glasses in a toast and began their negotiations.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Trance entered the keep through a hidden side entrance. She had a droid from the Andromeda with her. She had told Rommie she was needed on the Andromeda in case they ran into trouble. Her real reason was that she had begun to see what they might find at the keep and she didn't want anyone else to see Dylan like that. Just how bad he would be she didn't know but it had been close to five months and she was sure he was not the same man that had gone off for a vacation so long ago.

She crept down the corridors, being careful not to trip any security measures. She was good at getting in and out of places undetected ... and this time she was sure Dylan's life might depend on her skills.

What Trance eventually found made her stop in the doorway and retch. She crept closer to the figure splayed out on the cross, nearly positive he would be dead. As she approached the cross she studied the form upon it. That it was Dylan she had no doubt. That he had been brutally beaten was obvious. What other damage had occurred would be more difficult to ascertain. Blood ran in rivulets down his ravaged back and legs. He had healed and partially healed welts as well as the fresh ones telling her that this was a common occurrence.

There was not a sound or any movement from the man stretched upon the cross. // Please let him be alive. I can heal him ... but can we survive without his strength? // Trance sighed audibly. At the sound, the figure on the cross shifted slightly. His head came up as if to let it droop was not allowed. He straightened almost imperceptibly.

Trance was astonished. She hurried around in front of him. "Dylan?" Her whisper was not acknowledged by the man on the cross. It was as if he not only didn't hear her but also didn't see her. His eyes were slightly glazed and stared directly ahead. That he made no sound was equally astonishing. // He must be in agony yet it is as if he doesn't feel anything. What has happened to you, Dylan? // Trance reached out a hand and touched Dylan lightly. He flinched as if burned and Trance quickly pulled her hand away. He was breathing rapidly as if terrified of something. Trance was puzzled by the entire scene presented.

// Angel? Where are you? // Dylan was beginning to panic. He was not sure that Angel was not in the room, standing somewhere behind him and waiting to see what his reaction to this new person would be. // Is this the slave trader? Why has Angel brought her here? Am I to be sold? Has Angel replaced me? //

Dylan moaned softly.

Trance perked up at the soft forlorn sound. She reached out to Dylan again and he froze. // Poor Dylan what have you been put through these past few months? /// and how have you survived it? // Trance spoke softly to Dylan as she tested his bonds. He neither acknowledged her presence nor tried to pull away from her. She motioned the droid over to her and spoke softly to it. "When I unfasten these chains he may not be able to stand. I want you to carry him as gently and carefully as you can. Get him back to the Maru quickly and unobserved." The droid nodded its acknowledgment of her orders.

Trance quickly unfastened the chains fastening Dylan's shackles to the cross. To undo the shackles themselves would take more time than she was willing to spend. Dylan's knees buckled as his feet hit the floor. He grasped the cross to steady himself, unwilling to fall and face the punishment that offered. Trance saw his efforts and knew instinctively he would not give in and let himself be carried out of the keep. She also knew that to let him walk was a greater folly. He could not travel quickly enough or quietly enough to escape unnoticed in his condition. She reached out and touched his forehead. A tiny golden spark flickered from her fingertip to his head and he slumped soundlessly into the waiting arms of the droid.

Trance looked at the unconscious man for a moment. "Sling him over your shoulder. Be very careful of that back. When you get back to the Maru put him on a bunk in back and cover him up. He will be unconscious for awhile. Get the Maru ready to leave. We may have to depart quickly."

The droid picked up Dylan and soundlessly left the chamber. Trance looked around. She found the vid screen behind a wall panel and played the disc that was there. She gasped at the sights on the screen. // Oh my ... Dylan must have thought we were never coming back. This witch played him! He thought we were destroyed ... // Tears rained down her face as she contemplated what Dylan had been put through during his captivity.

She wiped her face and turned to the door as Argus walked through it. He looked at her, startled, then looked at the cross. He rushed into the chamber and Trance stood her ground. "Well. Imagine finding one of your race here. You are a slave."

Argus bowed low, prostrating himself in front of Trance. "Yesss, Great One. It is my dessstiny."

"Very well. Stand and serve."

Argus got to his feet and stood in front of Trance. "How may I ssserve?"

"I need information."

"Missstresss?"

"Your people have served my people for generations. How did you come to be here? A slave to this human woman?"

Argus bowed his head. "I wasss ssshamed, Missstresss. I failed my Massster and he sssold me to Missstresss Angel. It wasss more than I dessserved."

"That may be but I need you to serve me right now."

"Yesss Missstresss."

"The slave being held here is mine."

Argus paled at the news. "I'm sssorry, Missstresss. I wasss unaware"

Trance held up her hand. "You had no knowledge of my involvement here. I have taken back what is mine. You must go to your Mistress and tell her the slave is missing. My friends are with her now. You must distract her so they can leave."

"Yesss Mistresss. Thank you for deeming me worthy to assssissst you."

"Go now... And Argus? Make sure she never deals in slaves again, or I will level this place."

Argus bowed and left the chamber. Trance took a deep breath and headed to the Maru.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Argus hurried down the corridor and burst into the main hall. Angel looked up in surprise. She and Beka stood at the same time. Beka's hand went to her holstered weapon instinctively.

"Missstresss! There hasss been sssome trouble in the training room."

Angel started forward. "What has happened?" Beka kept pace with Angel.

"The ssslave ..." He looked at Beka then back to Angel. "He issss missssing."

"Missing! How?" She looked at Beka and Tyr, mistrust written on her face. She reached for her weapon and Beka elbowed her in the face. At the same time Tyr broke free of his shackles. He pulled his pants over his hips as Angel fell to the floor, unconscious.

Tyr advanced on Argus and the lizard held up his hands in surrender. "You mussst hurry. The Great One hasss gone to your ssship with the hu-man ssslave. Go now."

Tyr and Beka looked at each other, the unasked question hanging between them. // Great one? //

"Can you handle her?"

"Yesss, Missstresss."

"Don't call me that ..."

Argus bowed and picked up Angel. He cradled her to his chest and headed out of the main hall. // How do I make sssure Angel doesss not deal in ssslavesss again? //

Beka and Tyr boarded the Maru at a dead run. The ship lifted off with the droid piloting. Beka had Tyr take over the controls and pilot them into slipstream. The ship entered the slipstream as Argus was passing Angel's lab. He looked in and saw the steel table and the synaptic enhancer. // Maybe the anssswer isss in here. If Angel never had ssslavesss, then ssshe will not try to get more. // Argus entered the room and laid Angel on the table. He hooked up the synaptic enhancer and sat in front of the computer terminal.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Beka headed to the back of the freighter to see Trance and Dylan. Trance met her at the door of the makeshift medical bay.

"How is he, Trance?"

"Not good, Beka. He has been through a lot in the past five months."

"Define not good." Beka tried to get into the medical bay and Trance blocked her progress.

"Beka, Dylan has been tortured ... beaten ... // Raped // ... I can't let you in here. He would not want anyone to see him like this. He is alive ... for now. Let me go to him. I think I can heal him, but we must get back to the Andromeda as soon as possible."

"Okay, Trance. You know best. I'll let Tyr know."

"Just get us home ... quickly, Beka." Trance turned and went back to Dylan, sealing the door behind her.

The End!!!