Hostage
By Morticia
Part 4
The next morning,
Chakotay had only the haziest recollection of the remainder of the evening.
Unable to leave the dinning hall without causing suspicion, he had been
forced to watch an unbearable progression of drunken savagery as the
B’rech’k crew demonstrated their complete domination of their personal
K’tech.
He had no doubt
that it had been a ‘demonstration’, yet another lesson for him that the
K’tech were infinitely disposable. Fortunately, other than allowing Tate’s
constant nuzzling at his groin, he had not been expected to join in. So he had
sat and watched in growing disgust. He had been unable to avoid the constant
refilling of his goblet and he had then become grateful for Tate’s attentions,
even as that part of him that remained detached and in control noted that his
physical dependence on the K’tech was exactly what Ikton was trying to
achieve.
By the time Tate
had helped him back to his quarters on unsteady legs, he had probably been more
than receptive to Wi and Skan’s welcome, he realised, although he honestly
couldn’t remember how he had ended up naked in bed with two of his K’tech.
He was laid now in the luxurious bed, with the two K’tech nestled either side
of his body and was watching Tate prepare the table with breakfast items.
His head ached too
much to move it yet, and he fervently prayed that he wouldn’t be expected to
drink to excess again too soon. He
was physically intolerant of alcohol at the best of times; he certainly didn’t
need the added worry of having to watch his every word while he was drunk.
From the quantity
of food that was being lain out, and almost certain that the K’tech would not
expect to eat with him, he realised that he must be expecting visitors.
“Tate?” he
called out, and then flinched as his own words hurt his ears.
Tate scurried over,
sank gracefully to his knees beside the bed and looked up at him from under his
long golden lashes. Chakotay
noticed that the K’tech’nar were still adorning the boy’s body and he
resolved to ask about that later. At the moment, though, he couldn’t think for
the pounding in his head and the ache in his body.
He assumed the latter was due to his unprecedented sexual activity of the
previous day. He liked to keep his body as fit as possible, but life as a First
Officer of a Star ship rarely left him enough time to exercise. Yesterday’s
activities had consequently left him physically shattered.
“Do you have
anything for a hangover?” he asked Tate quietly. The K’tech regarded him in confusion, his pretty face
scrunched up with confusion and the fear-shadow that accompanied it. Failing to
understand a master was full of stress for a K’tech, it led to punishment and
worse.
Chakotay sighed at
the boy’s fear “A painkiller” he explained softly, and saw Tate’s face
light up in relief. The boy scampered off, presumably to fetch one and Chakotay
relaxed his aching head back on the soft pillow and looked at Wi and Skan.
Wi was still motionless at his left, his face relaxed in the innocence of
sleep. Skan, on the other hand, had woken at his words and was watching him with
a strange mix of fear and sly satisfaction.
Well, that answered
the question of why his groin ached so much, Chakotay realised and reached down
to stroke the boy’s hair in apology. Skan arched into his hand like a cat,
rubbing his silken hair ecstatically under Chakotay’s fingers and practically
purring with bliss.
Remembering that
the three K’tech had been previously consigned to the B’rech’k larder he
understood their desperate need for his approval and it sickened him that he had
to play this game. When Skan’s fingers crept towards his groin, he stiffened
with guilt and pushed the boy away.
“Go run me a
bath!” He said firmly and Skan’s momentary terror at the rejection was
replaced by a look of pleasure at being able to serve. He rolled quickly off the
bed and trotted to the sunken bath, passing Tate who was returning with a
nervous smile and a goblet.
Hoping the cure
wasn’t ‘hair of the dog’ Chakotay took a deep drink. The liquid was
refreshingly fruity, although it tasted nothing like anything he could identify.
He felt its effects immediately as it tingled through his bloodstream,
clearing his head and settling his stomach. Still feeling slightly queasy
though, Chakotay remembered the heavy perfumed water of the day before and
called out “just PLAIN water”. Skan gave him a disappointed nod and
proceeded to prepare him his hot bath.
The hot bubbling
water called to Chakotay like a siren’s song and he detached himself from the
still sleeping Wi and padded to the spa. He realised that he was being observed,
but under the circumstances he felt very little embarrassment at his nakedness.
Only the spirits knew what kind of drunken performance he had given in bed last
night, so it was a little too late for modesty, he decided.
As he sank into the
water, he felt the warmth creeping into his aching muscles and sank back with a
sigh of bliss. He allowed Skan and Tate to climb in with him and massage him,
although he firmly drew the line at any attempt to take the physical contact
further. They acquiesced with an alacrity that surprised him until he realised
that they were probably even more physically sore than he was.
“Come here” he
beckoned Skan, and then pushed him against the side of the spa. Skan folded
himself until his upper body was lying over the edge of the spa and his buttocks
were raised over the waterline, then he spread his legs to allow Chakotay’s
access. The only access Chakotay
wanted was visual, but the boy’s position gave him a clear view. The puckered
flesh of Skan’s ass was swollen and red, but untorn. Chakotay sighed with
relief.
Unable to actually
remember, he had imagined himself raping and ravishing the K’tech in his
drunken state, particularly given the undoubted aphrodisiac in the wine.
It appeared that he
had either used lubrication, after all, or that the boys were well accustomed to
being entered. The latter, more probable, explanation sparked his outrage once
more. He had entered such a den of debauchery and horror that despite his
avowals to control his temper, he was finding it harder and harder to remain
objective.
“Don’t let us
interrupt you, Chakotay.” Ikton’s voice boomed out.
Chakotay looked up
to see the B’rech’k Captain enter with two companions. They were all looking
hungrily at Skan’s exposed ass.
“I’m done.”
Chakotay replied firmly, deciding there was no way they could tell whether he
had just penetrated the boy or not, since his back had obscured Skan from their
vision.
“A pity.” One
of Ikton’s companions drawled with a knowing smirk. “Your K’tech looks
eager for more.”
Chakotay watched in
growing alarm as the B’rech’k stripped himself and descended into the bath.
“You don’t
mind, do you?” The B’rech’k said, taking Chakotay’s place in front of
Skan’s buttocks.
“Of course he
doesn’t” Ikton replied, his eyes flashing to Chakotay’s warningly “You
are his guest this morning and therefore have use of ALL the facilities.”
So Chakotay found
himself unable to do more than clench his fists futilely under the water as the
new B’rech’k penetrated Skan with one fierce thrust. The K’tech screamed
as he was mashed against the cold metal of the bath rim and then the air was
punctured with loud sobs as the B’rech’k savagely demonstrated the obscene
way in which a penis could be used as a weapon.
By the time he came
with a roar, the water was tinged pink with the streams of blood from Skan’s
ass. He reared back out of the torn
flesh, wiped his bloodied cock in the warm water and then looked straight into
Chakotay’s furious eyes.
“NOW he looks
like he’s been fucked!” He said and smirked again.
It took all of
Chakotay’s self-restraint not to launch himself at the B’rech’k and wipe
that smirk permanently off his face. The
only thing that kept him in place was the sickening realisation that this had
been just another “lesson”. Clearly
the B’rech’k knew he had not fucked Skan, and this was their punishment. The
message was clear, either he maintained his sexual relations with his K’tech
or someone else would do it for him.
Looking at Skan’s
shivering, sobbing body he knew he couldn’t risk angering the B’rech’k any
further. But he promised himself that one day he would make them all pay.
Chakotay wasn’t
just a Starfleet Officer, he was Maquis. He knew how to wage a campaign of
resistance against terrible odds. He
had to box clever.
He gave the
B’rech’k a self-depreciating smirk.
“Actually, I
didn’t do it to him at all!” He confessed and saw the B’rech’k’s eyes
widen at the confession. Chakotay
slapped a comradely arm around the stranger and led him out of the bath so that
his next words were also directed at Ikton and his other companion. “I was so
bloody worn out after last night that I couldn’t. You know how it is, the mind
was willing but the flesh was weak!”
Although the phrase
was lost on them, the meaning wasn’t and all three B’rech’k roared with
laughter. Ikton grinned
understandingly at Chakotay
“Well, you DID
have quite a night of it, Chakotay. By the way, this is Syal our navigator and
Baddiel our cook. “
Chakotay nearly
choked at the realisation that the B’rech’k who had just raped Skan was the
same fucker who had ‘dressed’ the K’tech for last night’s dinner. He
barely noticed Tate and Wi as they rushed over with towels and began to dry and
dress both himself and Baddiel.
“You are indeed a
man of many talents.” Chakotay said to Baddiel, only a deep fire in his eyes
betraying any emotion. “I should compliment you on both performances.”
Baddiel grimaced.
“It’s always a problem when the K’tech are that old. The meat needs
a lot of tenderising to make it edible.”
Syal sniggered.
“Never mind him, he’s only pissed because the Captain sent him down
pre-slaughtered. He prefers to tenderise the meat in his own unique fashion and
he hates fucking corpses.”
Baddiel shrugged
“How I prepare meat is my business, I don’t tell YOU how to navigate!”
Considering the
pointlessness of a Navigator on a star ship that ran on permanent auto-pilot,
Chakotay was sickened by the realisation that Baddiel was the only person on
this ship that had a real job function, which either made him more or less
powerful than the others depending on how exactly this sick society worked.
As Tate led them
meekly to the breakfast table, Chakotay grasped Wi by the arm and pointed him
meaningfully at Skan, who hadn’t moved from the bath.
Wi gave him a look of pure gratitude and rushed off to help his
unfortunate friend.
Chakotay found the
couches strange and uncomfortable. The idea of eating in a prone position struck
him as both unnatural and needlessly lazy. But he lay down without complaint and
took his first look at the table. Fruits, bread rolls, honey and thin golden pancakes made his
mouth water. Then he noticed a plate of bacon strips and fat sausages and
remembered what Ikton had said about there being no other meat on board except
K’tech.
He had an insane
urge to laugh at the idea of K’tech sausages, but he identified it as
incipient hysteria and told himself to get a grip. He felt like he was walking
the edge of madness. Each renewed proof of the B’rech’k’s monstrosity made
him totter precariously at the edge. It took a huge amount of willpower to reach
over and fill his plate with several of the pancakes and some honey.
Syal looked at him
with interest. “Ikton said you were a ‘vegetarian’. Is that really
true?”
“My people are
all vegetarian. We do not eat flesh.” Chakotay replied, careful to keep his
tone light and free of any condemnation.
Baddiel snorted in
disgust “No wonder you are so short. Stunted growth, that’s what it is.
Bloody unnatural being vegetarian.”
“Actually, I’m
glad you brought that up.” Chakotay said politely
“You mentioned
that you were actively looking to increase your gene pool.” He said, turning
to Ikton and ignoring the look of distaste on the Captain’s face over the
change of topic. “Since I am obviously physically smaller than you
B’rech’k, I do not understand why you find me a suitable prospect.”
“You are
admittedly small, but well-made, handsome and sharp-witted.” Ikton replied
generously
“What he means is
that beggars can’t be choosers and since the portal broke down, we have had to
take what we can get.” Baddiel
said nastily.
“Then why
didn’t you take the whole crew of Voyager? You had the firepower to disarm
us.” Chakotay challenged.
“We used to. Take
whole crews, I mean, but it always caused more trouble than it was worth. Most
of a ship’s crew are useless anyway; they don’t have the brains to
compensate for stature. Then, when the women die, the rest of them usually go
crazy and have to be put down. It’s needlessly distressing for everyone.”
Ikton confessed.
“What do you
mean, when the women die?” Chakotay asked
“Most women
can’t survive on B’rech’knar. There is something in the atmosphere that
affects them. The current population of B’rech’knar is about 10,000. We have
only 293 women. “
Chakotay’s mind
reeled with the statistic. He understood at least why women were not allowed on
star ships. Presumably they were kept like a national treasure, imprisoned and
protected, as helpless in their slavery as the K’tech.
“After several
generations, the male B’rech’k have a tendency to become sterile unless new
blood is introduced. We assume it is the same atmospheric problem that affects
men, but obviously over a much longer timescale.” Ikton continued. “A man
like you can single-handedly ensure the survival of a new generation. With the
use of our laboratories, we can splice your genes and create endless
permutations.”
“But, even so,
your population must be shrinking, unless you have extensive facilities for
artificial wombs.”
“It is and we
have.” Ikton replied confusingly
Baddiel grinned at
Chakotay’s incomprehension. “What
he means is that since we have no more idea how the technology works than we do
about this bloody ship, as things break down we can’t fix them. The situation
is getting worse year by year. In another century or two the only creatures left
alive on B’rech’k will be the K’tech.”
“That’s
heresy,” Syal hissed
“It’s the
truth, whether people like it or not.” Baddiel replied smugly.
“Back up a
little,” Chakotay said “Why the K’tech?”
“Because they
breed like rabbits.” Ikton replied derisively
“Rabbits?”
Chakotay repeated, stunned again by an earth reference
“Little
fur-covered four-legged animals.” Ikton replied with a dreamy look “We have
vids of all the animals that came in the crossing. Of course, none of them
survived B’rech’knar. “
“The vids are
fake.” Baddiel sniffed “Animals covered in FUR. How the hell would you cook
them?”
Ikton shrugged
“Maybe their cooks had more imagination.”
Seeing Baddiel
preparing a vitriolic reply, Chakotay cut in to get the conversation back on
track.
“How do the
K’tech breed if there aren’t any women?”
Syal and Baddiel
both gasped in horror but Ikton laughed easily. “Remember the language
problem, Chakotay is an alien, he’s not being deliberately offensive.”
Both Syal and
Baddiel nodded and relaxed, while Ikton turned to Chakotay
“You must learn
to use the right terminology, Chakotay. A woman is a female PERSON.
A female K’tech is an animal.” Ikton
informed him with a warning flash in his eyes.
“Of course,
forgive my ignorance.” Chakotay replied smoothly and was rewarded by a
noticeable relaxation in Ikton’s shoulders. “So the female K’tech survive
on B’rech’knar?”
“Yes, and no. The
survival rate of female K’tech is decidedly higher, in the region of 20%, and
they are very fertile, with a tendency to large litters.”
Chakotay chewed his
pancakes thoughtfully as he digested the information. Something in the
B’rech’knar atmosphere was fatal to humans. It manifested itself most
dramatically in humans with a Y-chromosome. It was more fatal to people who
carried the genes for dark hair and eyes and for some reason was most benign to
women with blonde hair, blue eyes and a genetic predisposition to have
multiple-births (or at least that was what he assumed by litters).
“So how many
K’tech do you have?”
Ikton looked
puzzled for a moment. “I don’t think we count them, but probably 20,000
personal K’tech at the moment, and another 200,000 or so on the farms.”
Baddiel laughed,
“You can tell he’s not a cook. There aren’t that many. More like 50,000
farm animals at any one time. There’s no necessity to keep too many since
it’s a waste of grain. We breed them as necessary. Each farm has a strict
quota and if they exceed it, the surplus are culled.”
Chakotay pondered
the facts, even if Baddiel’s figures were correct, the K’tech outnumbered
their masters 7 to 1. On the other hand, since the B’rech’k preferred their
meat ‘tender’, most of the K’tech were probably children and only the
personal K’tech and the breeding stock could be counted into the equation, so
the figure was more likely about 30,000. Still the odds were still 3 – 1, so
why the hell hadn’t they revolted?
Because they were
bred as animals, and treated as animals, and no doubt thought of themselves as
animals, he reminded himself bitterly. Yet, from the corner of his eye he could
see the careful, loving way that Wi was looking after Skan, and he remembered
the very human gratitude in Wi’s face when he ordered the K’tech to help
Baddiel’s victim.
He felt a kernel of
hope. There WAS a potential for revolution, as long as it was handled correctly.
He had seen Bajoran children take on Cardassian warriors and win. With the right
planning and the right leader, perhaps the K’tech could escape their tragic
destiny after all.
It wasn’t even a
REAL breach of the Prime Directive, either, he realised. Since the B’rech’k
themselves admitted that it was only a matter of time before they died out and
left B’rech’knar to the K’tech he wasn’t changing anything, just
hurrying it along.
Then he smiled at
his own attempt to justify his actions. The truth was he didn’t give a stuff
for the Prime Directive. He could no more walk away from this situation than he
had been able to walk away from the Maquis cause.
“You seem happier
today, Chakotay,” Ikton said, noticing his smile.
Chakotay gave him a
genuine smile back
“Oh yes, I am. I
can see a real purpose for myself here,” Chakotay replied.
Ikton, Syal and
Baddiel exchanged pleased smiles at Chakotay’s apparent acceptance of his
future as B’rech’k ‘breeding stock’.
“You won’t
regret this decision,” Ikton said, as the three rose to leave.
“When should I
report for duty, Captain?” Chakotay asked
Ikton waved his
hand expansively “Feel free to wander around the ship if you want. We only man
the bridge if we encounter hostiles. If that should happen an alert will sound.
Other than that we pretty much do as we like. I’ll see you at dinner, then.”
Chakotay was left
gazing at their disappearing backs. As far as he could tell, no one (with the
noticeable exception of Baddiel) actually did anything on this ship. It was just
an excuse for a four-month holiday of eating, drinking and fucking.
From Ikton’s
comments about the lack of anyone’s ability to repair the artificial wombs, he
suspected that life on B’rech’knar was similar. The B’rech’k were
uneducated, undisciplined and ruthlessly cruel idiots, he decided. Then he
recalled Baddiel’s mention of a portal and kicked himself for not having
picked up on it earlier.
If the portal was
the way the B’rech’k had traveled from the Alpha Quadrant, then it was
possibly a way home. Just because the B’rech’k couldn’t fix it, didn’t
mean he couldn’t. As far as he could tell, the B’rech’k would struggle to
rewire a light switch.
He began to laugh
at the irony of it. Here he was, perhaps weeks away from finding a way home and
Voyager was flying off in the wrong direction.
He didn’t realise
he was crying until Tate’s tentative hand stroked his cheeks. He blinked and
gave the K’tech a reassuring smile.
“Tell me, Tate.
Why are you still wearing the K’tech’nar?” He had noticed the K’tech’s
groin looked swollen and uncomfortable, and he assumed the cock ring was biting
into the boy’s penis.
Tate flinched
uncertainly and then dropped his eyes
“Am I no longer
YOUR K’tech, master?” he pleaded
Chakotay suddenly
realised that he had unwittingly nominated Tate as his personal K’tech by his
actions the previous night. Presumably it was an ‘honour’ Tate wanted to
retain.
“You look
uncomfortable.,” He said
quietly, his fingers reaching out and touching Tate’s
cock gently.
Tate blushed
furiously. “I am a good k’tech, master,” he said, his voice tinged with
panic.
“I’m sure you
are, Tate,” Chakotay replied soothingly
Tate looked at
Chakotay helplessly. His master didn’t SEEM upset with him, but on the other
hand he couldn’t understand why he was being made to suffer like this. He had
assumed he had done something wrong, and had borne the pain without complaint,
as K’tech must do. Now, he began to realise that his new Master didn’t even
seem aware of the pain he was causing.
He opened his mouth
to explain, but his nerve failed him. He would rather die from the agony in his
groin than be returned downstairs with the other meat K’tech.
Seeing the boy’s
struggle, Chakotay led him gently to the bed and sat him down. He didn’t know
if he was breaking some cardinal rule, but he was damn certain he wasn’t
leaving Tate in pain. He reached and unfastened the viciously tight cock-ring.
For a second Tate sighed with relief and then he stiffened and clutched his
groin desperately.
“Go,” Chakotay
hissed, as understanding struck him, and he watched Tate run frantically to the
wall behind the bath and pressing an invisible panel to reveal a urinal, he
relieved himself.
The boy’s actions
reminded him of his own need to go and he joined Tate. When he had finished, the
boy dropped to his knees and licked Chakotay clean.
Chakotay shuddered with distaste. It was one thing to have his cock
licked clean after sex, to have it done after taking a piss was obscene. It was
only the knowledge of the B’rech’k monitors that made him allow the boy to
do it.
He realised that he
would have to take his instructions from the K’tech. They knew how THEY should
behave, he would simply have to take his cues from them and swallow his own
moral indignation. That decided, he raised Tate from his knees and looked the
boy straight into his wide blue eyes.
“If I ever make a
mistake like that again, you must tell me. Do you understand?” he said firmly
Tate flushed and
avoided his eyes
“Was it not a
punishment, master?” He asked in confusion
“NO!” Chakotay
snapped but then seeing the fear and bewilderment in the K’tech he gave the
boy a hug
He couldn’t
imagine ever raising a hand to any of the boys, let alone deliberately punishing
them, but he was wise enough to know it would only confuse the K’tech if he
said so.
“When I punish
you, I will tell you what it is and why I am doing it. If I have not done this,
and you are in any pain or discomfort you will tell me. Do you understand?”
“Yes, master,”
Tate whispered gratefully.
“So explain the
K’tech’nar to me.”
“The
K’tech’nar are worn to show that we are not meat k’tech, master.” Tate
said and then looked fearfully at Chakotay, belatedly realising that if his
master had not understood the implications of his gift, he might now take it
back.
Chakotay gave him a
reassuring smile and then picked up the cock-ring. “And this?”
“It is not
permitted that a K’tech should ever respond to his master’s touch. We are
K’tech and our function is to give pleasure not to receive it.”
“So this is to
ensure that?”
“Yes master,”
Then Tate bit his lip uncertainly.
“Go on,”
Chakotay encouraged gently
“It is usually
only in public that a Master concerns himself with such things.”
“So in my
quarters you do not need to wear it?”
“If master
pleases.”
“I do. From now
on, as soon as we return home, you will remove it,” Chakotay replied and Tate
gave a relieved smile.
"What about Wi
and Skan? Can they wear the K’tech’nar?”
Tate’s
face fell and tears brimmed in his eyes.
"I’m
sorry, sorry, sorry….” He began to mumble
Chakotay grasped
his trembling chin and held it up
“I mean as well
as you, Tate,” he explained softly and saw the panic fade from the boy’s
eyes.
“If master pleases,” Tate confirmed with a hopeful look.
Chakotay felt his
stomach churn over. Yet again his ignorance had caused hurt and fear. When he
had put the K’tech’nar on Tate last night and had left Wi and Skan
unadorned, the poor little bastards must have thought he was still undecided
about whether or not to return them to the kitchen.
He needed to learn,
and he needed to learn fast. It was time he sought out some other crewmembers
and got to the bottom of the rules of this sick society. Maybe they had a
manual, he thought wildly and began to laugh.
The immediate fear
in Tate’s eyes warned him he was bordering on hysteria again and he pulled
himself together.
“Go tell Wi and
Skan to put on the K’tech’nar,” he said and Tate’s sunny smile proved to
him yet again that whatever else the B’rech’k had taken away from the
K’tech, they hadn’t stolen the ability to care for each other.
“I’ll be back later,”
he promised, and then let himself out of the door.