Chapter Text
I let Zero dock the jump-ship into Red Seven, after using a gravity tether to keep my main ship orbiting the satellite. I’ve let him essentially take over piloting the ship in the last few days, and he’s proven himself more than capable. He seems to like piloting the jump-ship that we use to bridge the space between where our ship is held in a gravity tether and where the hanger is waiting for us. Zero is calming, finally, and I can see the steadiness in his features and the way he flawlessly maneuvers the ship into the hanger. He doesn’t even show a tremor of nervousness as he follows me out of the hatch and into the docking bay. I hope – I can only hope – that he’s finally starting to feel confident in me, in my abilities and my commitment to keeping him.
This isn’t my first trip to Red Seven, but I’ve never been to this section. The iconic name comes from the fact that Red Seven is an individual satellite with a poly-synthetic red exterior. The Seven stands for the seven arms that branch out from the satellite base. While the satellite base contains housing for the staff and the general population of the satellite, each of the arms holds different aspects of the casino. Three of the arms are dedicated to different gambling establishments, ranging from cheaper and more family-friendly to a high-end section with nude waitresses. Two arms focus strictly on entertainment, with shopping establishments and a variety of shows.
One arm is dedicated to legal prostitution, a trade that is strictly monitored by the Department for any coercive activities. I spent a bit of time there, posing with the men and women who work as actual prostitutes while I tried to get information about a weapons smuggler. I hadn’t seen anything that led me to believe that any of the prostitutes were there against their will.
Unsurprisingly, we’re told to dock in the seventh arm, which I’ve never been in. I was told that it was dedicated to maintenance and storage. Obviously, I should have investigated more closely.
The docking bay that we’ve been guided to is a private port, just large enough for a single ship. It’s far more exclusive than entering through the main gates, and Zero and I won’t have to deal with the onslaught of noise and people that come through the main entrance. Until we had neared Red Seven and had been messaged to inform us of our docking coordinates, I wasn’t even sure they would know who I was. I’d been more concerned that I wouldn’t be able to find an access point to the Leash network here, that I’d fail in finding an asset simply because I couldn’t find the person that I needed to ask about them. The fact that the trainer on Red Seven had known who I was, even from my ship alone, is just as surprising and twice as concerning. Either they keep an open record of owners between Leash operations, or my owner’s key let them know my identity and proximity. I can’t say which is more likely.
When we exit my ship, we find ourselves in a small, private docking bay. As I’d requested earlier, there’s a packet of clothing waiting by the door, and Zero changes with no concerns about modesty, fully naked in our private docking bay. Again, I wish I’d made the trip to purchase clothes actually happen, but between research into The Leash and my work trying to get Zero accustomed to his new lifestyle, time just slipped away. Zero never complained or even seemed particularly aware that his near-constant nudity was at all abnormal, so it hadn’t seemed like much of an issue. What had seemed like a bit of a problem was the idea of taking Zero into a public place while trying to conceal his status as an illegal slave. Even his way of talking would probably be a red flag that something is amiss.
Zero dresses, and it’s not ideal. I ordered dress pants and a white button-down by giving an on-site store Zero’s measurement, but it’s an inexact science. The button-down is too tight along the shoulder and billows at his narrow waist. The pants are still just a smidge too long, and the cut of them isn’t what I would have chosen for Zero had I seen it on him first. There’s a set of socks and shoes as well, and assembled together the whole thing looks like a picture that’s hanging on a tilt by the slightest, most maddening degree. It’s not awful, but it’s certainly more askew than I’m comfortable with.
I sigh and let my frustration go. There’s nothing to be done about it now. I’m thankful that I only ordered the one set of clothes instead of multiples. Ideally, I’ll be able to take Zero myself to get a wardrobe while we’re here. Or at least a few sets of clothes. I can’t imagine the stores here will satisfy my exacting tastes, but they’ll have to do for the moment.
Zero, fully dressed, falls into step behind me. His clothes have a two-fold purpose, both to keep him from standing out and to conceal the flat, six-inch blade that I hand to him and he tucks unobtrusively into his shoe. After my last interaction with an Owner, I make sure to have both of us armed. Zero has a knife made of a nearly-undetectable substance, and I’ve got a small pulse-gun hidden under my vest.
I’m dressed in a casual suit with a matching navy blue vest and pants, along with a long-sleeved white button-down and black leather shoes. Where Zero’s outfit is fairly standard, mine is designed to show style, taste, and budget. I need these people to take one look at me and understand that I’m not playing around.
Overall, we probably look more like a businessman and his assistant than a pair of gamblers, but neither of us would stand out amongst the slot machine and gambling tables that I remembered from my last visit to Red Seven. I take a last look at him, straighten the collar of his top, and turn to our exit. There’s a keypad next to the door, and I hold my owner’s key up to it on the off chance that it might function as a literal key as well as a metaphorical one. As I’d hoped, the door makes a click as it unlocks for me.
“Is it always that easy?” I ask Zero. He looks passive, standing calmly behind me, but I can see the tension in his shoulders. He might not be nervous, but he’s also not as unaffected as I had assumed. I know that Zero doesn’t like being in new situations, where things could turn violent at any moment. I see his hand settle at his hip, where I’ve let him hide a blade in the lining of his pants.
“I wouldn’t know,” he responds. “My last owner was only concerned about his business. He rarely socialized with other owners, and he never took me to any of their locations. Other than a couple pleasure assets that he kept for the status they gave him, I don’t think he had any interactions with the Leash.”
“It’s odd, isn’t it? That he only had one combat asset?”
Zero gives me a grin that’s just a bit feral.
“He only needed one.”
“Ah,” I respond with a smile. Now that I’ve seen Zero fight, I don’t doubt that. I may have taken Zero’s combat skills lightly before because of his stature and his health, but seeing him fight Petir’s assets gave me an entirely different view on him.
I turn my attention back to the door. I’m stalling, and I know it. What will I find on the other side of this gateway? Will it be a dungeon-style prison, the walls lined with helpless, bloody victims? Or will it be filled with men in metal cages, half-starved and frightened? Will I be able to ignore their pain to fulfill my mission? I’m not sure. If I try to rescue this group, I’ll be essentially executing Zero and myself, while leaving the slaves in other locations to their fate. But I don’t know if I have the resolve to ignore that kind of pain.
Zero steps up behind me, close enough that I can feel the fabric of his shirt against mine.
“We should go,” he says quietly. He’s right. Staying here is only going to attract suspicion. I take a breath, firm my resolve, and step through the door.
I’m startled, but not in the way I had imagined. Where I had expected something dark and macabre, the area I see is bright and tasteful. The floor appears to be white marble, the walls in pale whites and tans. The room is large, with a high ceiling and artificial sunlight that gives the impression that we’re outside rather than in. The décor seems to have Grecian inspiration, and there are several large pillars and two oversized fountains. Lush plants spill from their containers in various locations around the room, most of them dotted with brightly colored flowers.
There’s a man there to meet us, and I can tell from his bearing that he’s an owner, not an asset. He’s tall and lean, with black hair and green eyes. His clothes are gray, a long-sleeve buttoned top that comes down to his hip and matching gray slacks. It’s not business dress, but it looks stylish – a mix of modern taste and classical traditions. It melds with the look of this area, as though the person who designed this place also designed this man’s wardrobe to match.
His eyes come to my face as we enter, and flick only for a moment at Zero before returning to me. Those eyes are bright with intelligence. His face has almost a fox-like narrowness. He reaches a hand out for mine, and his grip is firm as we shake. He smiles, and it seems open and relaxed, but I can’t shake the image of him as a predator. Perhaps I’m bias from my interactions with Petir.
“You must be Ezekiel Price,” he says. “Welcome to The Oasis. I’m Reynard Chanson. If you’ll follow me, we can speak more privately. Please instruct your asset to follow.”
If I hadn’t been sure that he’s the trainer before, then I’m convinced now. I nod to Zero, who wouldn’t be pleased to be left behind anyway, and follow Reynard away from the docking bay. As we walk through, I can tell that this area functions as a lobby. It’s meant to be impressive, but it serves no purpose other than allowing people to easily pass through into one of the many branching corridors. As we walk, a man in a business suit passes us and I have to stop myself from glancing at him. It wouldn’t be a good idea to appear too interested in the other owners at this point.
I can’t help but turn my head and stare, however, when we pass a woman in the halls. I do a double-take, but she’s already passed us in the opposite direction. She’s dressed in expensive clothes, her hair done in a stylish up-do, and her heels are from an expensive brand. That’s all I can see before she opens a door and disappears. Is she an owner? Could my intel be wrong about the ban on female assets? Or… There’s the slight possibility she isn’t a woman at all, but it’s not likely. I’ve had enough experience with disguises and cross-gender that I can usually tell one from the other.
I pull my attention back, but I’m too late. Reynard is watching me with a knowing look in his eyes. He saw me staring, and at least thinks he knows why. But his eyes only pause on me for a moment, and then he’s looking ahead again.
Reynard leads us to a conference room. It’s in similar style to the lobby, but much smaller and with dark blue rugs on the floor. There’s a small mahogany table with two simple but tasteful chairs, and Reynard takes a seat in one and gestures for me to take the other. As I sit, Zero kneels seamlessly beside my chair. His attire makes it a bit difficult for him to assume the traditional pose for a pleasure asset. The shirt pulls taunt across his chest as he clasps his hands behind his back and the pants bunch as he kneels, but the fabric allows the movement. He leans back and puts his clasped hands behind him, touching the floor between his feet. It’s an uncomfortable position, but I know that Zero will hold it for as long as I ask.
Reynard watches Zero’s display of submission without comment or expression. It takes Zero only a moment to settle, but Reynard watches him the whole time, his eyes sharp and calculating. Finally, his attention turns back to me and he smiles.
“This is normally what I do with new owners who come to me for their first meeting,” he explains, and his voice is low and soothing. He probably intends it to be that way. “I thought perhaps we should meet like this since it seems like you might need some tips.” His hand comes to his cheek, and he stares at me like I’m a particularly pleasant puzzle. “I’m sure you’re aware that there are four dealers in the Leash right now. You didn’t come to me for your orientation, and from the way you acted with the woman in the hall I can assume that you didn’t have Scarlett. So by deduction I have to assume that you had Finn.”
Well, at least that’s all he gathered from the way I stared at the woman in the hall. And having the information that women can be owners – can apparently be dealers as well – is helpful if not terribly enlightening. I still don’t know – does this mean there are female assets as well? But I suppose I can’t ask that so brazenly. Instead, I smile and say, “I’m sorry, that’s not correct.”
His eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “So Petir trained you?” He throws his head back and laughs. “No wonder you haven’t got half an idea what you’re doing! Who the hell thought Petir could handle an orientation? He probably tried to sell you something ten minutes in!”
“Right before he ordered his assets to assault mine,” I confirm. Reynard rolls his eyes, but it doesn’t seem like he doubts my story. More like he can’t believe Petir’s behavior.
“No wonder your boy is carrying a knife,” Reynard says with a smile. Damn. They must have a more sophisticated detection system than I’d been expecting. Perhaps in the lobby? I didn’t even see it when we went through.
“You can understand my concern, considering that I was attacked on my own ship. I’m a lot more vulnerable here, in your territory. I thought I should be cautious.”
Reynard mulls this over for a moment, his head cocked to the side and his eyes taking in my features. I get the feeling that I’m being assessed, and his curious scrutiny only adds to his already foxlike features. Finally, his gaze shifts past me, falling on Zero’s prone form beside my chair.
“So tell me,” he says, his voice smooth and inquisitive, “why it is that you’ve brought an armed combat asset into my home and put him in the pose of a pleasure asset?”
“You already know why he’s armed,” I explain, “and if you’ve detected his blade, then you’re aware of the pulse gun under my shirt.” Reynard nods and I’m not surprised. If the synthetic material of Zero’s blade showed up on their scans, then I had no hope of hiding the palm-sized pulse gun that’s in a concealed pocket. It isn’t a lethal weapon, but it can stun well enough to buy us some time if we get into trouble. If I’m able to keep it, now that it’s been discovered.
“As for Zero being a combat asset,” I continue, “that’s something I was hoping you could help me with. Petir told me that I could change his designation for a significant fee, but we parted on… shall we say… less than friendly terms? There wasn’t time to discuss the transaction further.”
“It’s not too large of a fee,” Reynard says with a shrug. “It’s honestly fairly common for assets to change designations at least once, although the change is almost always between similar types. Combat assets and covert assets have a lot of overlap in their skillsets, you see, so it’s not uncommon for them to switch back and forth. The same is true of pleasure slaves and domestic ones. It’s extremely rare to be changed from a combat to a pleasure designation, but it’s not unheard of or impossible. Can I assume that Petir was interested in buying your slave? That, perhaps, he was trying to convince you to sell at a lower price?”
“That would be an accurate assumption,” I respond. “Petir wasn’t very happy when I said that I wouldn’t sell to him, and that I had no interest in the two assets he tried to sell me.”
“You’re lucky you were so careful. Petir is a swindler. I’m not sure how he ever got established as a seller in this business. If his behavior is as deplorable as you’ve said, it’s likely that he won’t continue for much longer.”
“The Leash will kick him out?” I wonder.
“Oh no,” Reynard says with a sly smile. “He’ll simply disappear one day. You know how these things are.” I nod my head, because I’m probably more aware than even Reynard is of how easily a person can disappear into the dark underbelly of our society. “Might cause a bit of a power struggle with his underlings, I suppose. Someone will need to take over The Cage.”
“The Cage?” I wonder, and he gets an amused expression.
“Oh yes, Petir doesn’t like that name. I’d forgotten. Each of the seller’s domains have a sort of nick-name. The Oasis here at Red Seven, dealing primarily in pleasure assets. Petir runs The Cage at Bloodsports Arena and exclusively sells combat assets. There are two other sellers dealing in covert and domestic assets – Scarlett’s Nest and Finn’s Hearth. The Leash organization sells most of the scholarly assets, since they’re more expensive and difficult to train. Speaking of selling assets, did Petir ever mention collaring your asset?”
“No, he didn’t. What would I need a collar for? He’s already obedient.”
“It’s not for the slave, actually, it’s for your benefit. It lets other owners know if your asset is on the market, privately owned, or entering the competition.”
“How so?”
“Assets with green collars are for sale. You can feel free to speak with them or touch them, as long as there’s no sexual conduct. Assets with black collars are privately owned and not for sale. They should not be touched by another owner and spoken to only when necessary to perform their duties. Assets with red collars have been entered in this year’s Competition, and should be treated as a costly, valuable investment. Assets with a purple collar belong to the Leash. You probably won’t run in to many of those, but they can generally be treated the same as black-collared assets.”
“Can I purchase a set of collars while I’m here?” I ask. It would be a nice protection for Zero, so that other owners would not accost him. Reynard smiles, obviously pleased.
“Of course. You might want to get as many as you’ll need, in case you make a purchase from another owner. How many should I give you?”
“Well, I suppose I should get a full set of six. Can I get all three colors?” I hope to imply that I’m willing to buy and sell both, when in fact I’m hoping not to have to sell at all. And, of course, I’ll need the red ones for when I enter my team into the Competition.
“Planning to take on the full amount of assets, are we?” Reynard asks, his eyes narrowing with interest. Damn. I hadn’t meant to reveal that much. “You’re not planning on entering the full five in the competition, are you?”
“Mm,” I say noncommittally, “I haven’t really decided. I’d like to have a range of talents in my assets, but I’m not sure about entering them in the competition. I mean, Zero here would make a strong combat asset, or so I’ve heard,” I say, and then glance at Reynard, as if deferring to his experience. He nods slightly, in a similarly noncommittal way. “But then I’ve also heard that the pre-game competitions are a bit risky. I’d hate to have him too damaged to be of use to me.” Zero is still kneeling beside my chair, and reach out to stroke my hand down the side of Zero’s face, letting my fingers rest at his neck. I can feel slight tremors running through his body. The position is not a pleasant one to hold, but Zero doesn’t let his discomfort show.
“He doesn’t have to stay in that position,” Reynard tells me, his eyes once again skimming over Zero with curiosity. “It’s mostly to show respect, or to present the asset for scrutiny. If you give him the command to relax, he can simply kneel without bending.”
I nod gratefully and tell Zero, “Go ahead and relax. You did well.”
Zero relaxes into a standard kneel, and I see him roll his shoulders just a bit as he brings his arms to the front. Reynard says, “He responds very well to you. I’d like to see how you handle him more intimately.”
“Another time, perhaps? Zero has just recently come off of suppressants. I’m still training him sexually.”
Reynard’s face shows open surprise, and he takes another glance at Zero. “You took him off of his suppressants?”
“Well, that implies more of a decision than I actually made,” I say with a chuckle, trying to keep the conversation light. “More like, I wasn’t aware he was on them, and then I didn’t know where to get more?” Of course, I wouldn’t have put Zero back on suppressants even if I had known, but I don’t want to reveal that to Reynard at this point.
“I’ll assume Petir didn’t offer you any,” Reynard says, and actually rubs his temples in annoyance. “I can offer you a steady supply, but by this point they’re probably fully out of his system. Putting him back on will cause side-effects, and they’ll be less effective now that he’s built up a tolerance.”
“I think he’s fine without them. As a pleasure asset, I’d prefer that he can get an erection so that I have the option to play with him there as well.”
Reynard nods, although I can’t tell if it’s actually agreement or simply an acknowledgement of my decision.
“I should ask you, since you seem interested in pleasure assets, if you prefer women for lovers?” he asks, which is a question I was hoping he’d pose. I need to know if they have captive women held somewhere else, but Reynard continues before I can answer. “Of course, we can’t actually get you a female asset.” He gives me an enigmatic smile again. “But we can provide you with something close. You’ll never know the difference.”
And that… poses a stomach-churning set of options that I don’t really want to think about. Safe to say, I’m confident that there’s no trafficking of women in this business. The reason, though, is still a bit of a mystery. Do they not want to deal with unwanted pregnancies? That seems like a bit of a stretch, since contraception is nearly foolproof now and they certainly have the ability to stop an unwanted birth through legal or illegal means. Plus, there’s the fact that females can be owners, just not assets. Perhaps male assets are simply easier to traffic? I’d like to know, but I can’t show too much interest in the inner workings of The Leash. Not in front of someone as perceptive as Reynard.
“No, thank you,” I tell him, “I’m fine with either gender.”
“Most people don’t mind the male slaves.” And that’s not surprising, considering most people in this era are fully bi-sexual, with only a rare few fully homosexual or heterosexual individuals. “If you’re interested in something more short-term, I can recommend our ladies on the other side of the complex, who would be more than happy to satisfy you.” That would be the legal prostitution that happens in another wing of the complex.
“I’m more interested in purchasing another asset.”
He smiles again. Apparently, that was the correct answer.
“We have a range of males here for you to choose from. It’s mostly pleasure assets, although I do have a couple that are trained as domestics as well. You’ll see my assets with green collars, and we’ve tagged them all with numbers for your convenience. Now, you can sample the product before purchasing,” he tells me, and I can tell that he’s talking about sex, “but you’ll have to pay a fee if you don’t end up purchasing that asset. My assets are available for single-night services, as well, or for multi-night rentals if you’re having an event and would like several assets for entertainment.”
So the assets are for sale, but are also available for prostitution. I have to assume that’s a business decision, to keep the investment profitable even before it’s sold.
“I’m definitely looking for an asset to purchase. I’ve only got one at the moment, and I’d really like a complimentary pair.”
“We’ve got all colors and shapes. I’m sure you can find something that looks nice next to your zero. Perhaps another oriental? Or another clone?”
There’s a quiet knock at the door, and then it opens and a brown-haired asset peeks his head in. Reynard gestures, and the boy enters clutching a small box. When the boy enters, I can see that he’s young, early 20’s at most. He’s wearing a green ring around his neck, with a number tag dangling from it like a dog license. His clothes are white, but they’re similar to Reynard’s – long sleeve top in what looks like cotton fabric, white slacks, and white slippers. The boy approaches us, but when his eyes settle on Zero he hesitates and takes a visible step backwards, before recovering. I can see him watching Zero from the corner of his eye as he approaches us. When he gets close to Reynard, he kneels and sets the box on the floor before putting his hands behind him and arching his back.
“You may relax and present Master Price with his items,” Reynard says. I’m surprised when the boy turns to me and opens the lid of the box. Inside are the collars I’d asked for – six green, six black, and five red. I take out a black one and run my fingers over it. The metal is smooth and lightweight, with just a hint of shine to it. There’s a barely-noticeable clasp at the back, which I open easily. When closed, the metal is rigid, but once opened it bends enough to be placed around an asset’s neck.
I cast a quizzical glance at Reynard. I only told him about needing the collars moments ago, and he hasn’t left the room or used a communication device since them. So how…?
Reynard gives me an open grin, then flicks his eyes to the corner of the room. There’s a camera lens there, and it’s not obvious but it isn’t actually hidden either. I didn’t so much miss it as I hadn’t been looking for it. Places like this almost always have surveillance, so I’d ignored it as part of the general décor. I hadn’t anticipated that it would be used to satisfy my whims almost instantly.
Reynard laughs openly at my look of dawning comprehension, then says, “I’ll add the fee for the collars to the bill, and have my asset place them on your ship. I’ll assume you’d like to keep that one out?”
“Yes,” I respond, and lean over quickly to fasten it around Zero’s neck. There’s enough room to fit my fingertips between the collar and Zero’s neck, and I hear the locking mechanism fasten with a click. I find the clasp with my fingers and open it quickly, just to double check that I can, before refastening it. The circlet is thin, and Zero could easily hide the collar under his clothing if he wanted. Zero makes no move to adjust it, and I have to admit that it doesn’t look terribly out of place. If I didn’t know what it signified, I probably wouldn’t think twice about it.
“Well,” Reynard says as he rises to his feet, “I think I’ve taken up enough of your time. If you’ll head back through those doors, my asset will lead you to the Oasis pool. We usually showcase our assets poolside, where you can mingle with them and see if any interest you. If you see any assets here wearing a green collar, feel free to approach them. You can speak with them and touch them, however, as I’ve said,” he gives me a sly grin, “there is a fee to sample. We have private rooms that any of my assets will be happy to direct you to for a more private conversation.” He pauses for a moment, and his eyes give me an appraising look. There’s a hunger in his eyes that I’m used to, but I hadn’t expected it to appear here. I’ve spent half my life trying to attract sexual attention. I suppose it’s easier to turn on than turn off.
Before I can decide how to react, the look is gone and he’s all business again. “If you feel like entering the pool, we have complimentary swimsuits or you can go nude. Please do not approach assets with any other color collar than green. If you have any consumption restrictions on your asset, please let my asset know so that we can avoid offering anything to him. Your asset will need to wear a collar at all times. Any purchases you make will be billed to your account as gambling losses. I enjoyed meeting with you, and I will see you again before you depart. Please, enjoy yourself.”
And then he leaves, his feet padding away without making a sound. The he moves is graceful and swift, and it reminds me again of a slinking predator. One moment he’s in front of me, and the next moment he’s disappearing out the door.
“Sir?” says the asset on the floor, still holding my box of collars as he gets to his feet. He smiles demurely before bowing his head. “Would you like to follow me, Owner Zeke?”
“Of course,” I respond, and smile warmly as he flicks his eyes to my face. “Come, Zero,” I call as I move after the boy. Zero rises and follows wordlessly, his face in the same blank mask he’s worn since we arrived. I don’t like this closed-off aspect of him, but I suppose it’s better that he be apathetic than upset.
The boy – whose collar is tagged as 74 – leads us back into the lobby area, then down a different hall. It seems like this complex is set up as a series of halls all reaching out in a circular pattern from this area. I hedge a guess that this main area and the central halls are ornately decorated for the owners who frequent here, but that the assets have a series of side-halls that connect these areas without bringing them into contact with the clientele. There’s no evidence of this, only the fact that I haven’t seen any assets in this area other than Zero and the boy leading us.
It doesn’t escape me that the asset leading us keeps taking glances over his shoulder. At first I thought he was merely checking on me, but after the third time he does it I notice that he’s not looking at me, he’s looking at Zero. It becomes obvious, then, how the man is specifically keeping me in between Zero and him. Like Zero might attack at any moment, and keeping me closer to Zero might give the asset a moment to get away. It seems ludicrous, because I’m aware of how calm and even-tempered Zero usually is. However, I suppose I should have expected this kind of reaction based on the reputation of the zeros.
The asset leads us to a door marked with the Roman numeral for two, and pauses to open the door and then bow to me. I hesitate a moment, uncertain of what I should do, before I precede him into the room. Zero trails behind me, and gives a knowing smirk when the asset steps away from him in fear. The expression is gone in the next second, but I catch it from the corner of my eye. I can’t say if I’m relieved or worried that Zero is amused by this treatment. I suppose it’s better than him being upset about it.
“Please, let us know if there’s anything we can do for your comfort,” he says, then backs out of the doorway and leaves.