2017-11-19 - spike - The New Shop 43

Author: spike
Title: The New Shop 43
Date: 19 November 2017

Chapter 43
After an hour with the sign language, I left Perkins in the hands of twelve.

I still had a few kinks to work out again in the gym. A few ideas to work through in room one. I spent the rest of my day in there, more routines added to the framework, a few refinements to the framework itself, a database schema for job and slave profiles.

I returned to the shop floor about eight that night.

"Anything new, sir?”

“Actually, yes. Couple of potentials came in, handed the cards provided by Luke. That’s five now, three for the permanent suits the moment they come in, their checks came through last week, two for the temp suits when they can get time. One said he might be able to get vacation for this week.”

“How long?”

“Couple of weeks to start. Then, the moment Q deems them worthy, temps off, perm suits on, another two to begin training properly.”

“And we might be getting the rest Q put on hold before the race too. Any word on how many?”

“I… think it’s somewhere along the lines of twenty now. A few more added to the list the past couple of weeks.”

“Oh fucking hell, sir, this is going to be awesome!”

“It is?”

“Remember what Q said? For every batch of slaves over twenty, another race at the end of their training!”

“Oh my god, you’re right!”

“I wonder where we’ll do it this time… Will it be the same place? Will it be the same course? With so many more and two more hunters… Oh god…”

He sighed. “Shame I can’t take part.”

“You could always ask. Maybe he could put one of his other slaves in control of the store for a week or two while you’re a dog, sir.”

Joel seemed a little unsure… He took a deep breath…

“I’ll ask him tonight.”

“You’ll be able to join in every race once Alpha’s back. You did say a year”

“Oh… fucking hell!” he grinned. “I might make it two!”

“How long before the new suits are available?”

Joel laughed, pulled up the counter and lead me to a new display. On it, all the accessories. The plugs, the tails, even the tubing, gag, funnel and food supplements we used, dog training plug set, an array of small to huge for getting them accustomed to the plug along with a large poster showing one of us in the dog suit. At the back of the display on an infinite loop, the trailer and on the side, a download station. Free files of the trailers along with bonus items in ultra HD via Wi-Fi or direct USB4.

“The suits, ready and shipped for Wednesday, I think. Only a consignment of five for sale this time. The rest… for the dogs here.”

“How much for the complete set?”

“Suit, plug, normal core and tail, plug harness to hold it in when not in the dog, plug training set, tubing, sealant, solvent, earplugs and food for one month… One thousand dollars. That’s the gold package, the platinum one’s two thousand.”

“What’s the extra thousand for?”

“Quite reasonable… A wet room like ours. It’ll only be small but it’ll have all the pumps and drainage, and it’ll double as a shower for the master and allow the hosing down of a dog that gets muddy, filthy or contaminated, like you did. It’ll even have the lighting system for freezing with the core removed.”

“Bet not many would go for that, sir?”

“Depends how committed they are to the idea. If they just want the suit, six hundred. That doesn’t include anything else, not even the plug and tail. The whole lot bought separately comes to almost nineteen hundred and when they see those races…”

“Why?”

“Outsiders will be permitted to join the race, eleven! Oh god, in a couple of months this could be truly epic!”

“What about the training?”

“For that… Their handlers will be given strict instructions. Only fully equipped dogs may enter. They’ll be provided with temp suits, part of the entry package. Their ears will be turned off, their eyes blackened and they’ll be frozen before delivery to a pickup point. They won’t see where the training centre is. No idea it’s downstairs but they’ll be here for the full period of their training before the race and two days after to get them back on their feet. There’ll be an entry fee and for outside slaves, a cash prize for handlers or owners. Guess that means Q wins most years unless he has a special place for outside winners.”

“We’ll need even more hunters at this rate, sir.”

He laughed. “I know! Oh god, this is getting better and better!”

“What are the bonus items in the package, sir?”

“Just porn, nothing special. A few do contain slaves in suits though so they might’ve been filmed over at Q’s. Little bit of bondage. Little bit of S&M. Mild stuff but enough to make it worth putting the package together.”

I rushed back down to the rec room and tapped each slave, pulling aside thirteen and Slasher before going to the dungeon. That’s where I assumed Duke would be and I was right.

When we got down there, it was in the harness, dangling above a treadmill with M at the controls to the winch.

“How’s it doing?”

“Fine. A lot better than four, I’ll tell you that. Already on fifty percent weight.”

“Good. Good… Can it take a break?”

“Why?”

“News. You might want to come to, it’s fuckin’ amazing!”

“Oh? More race related stuff?”

“Oh god, yeah. Wanted all the hunters together for this one but you’re welcome to eavesdrop. We’re not discussing tactics or strategy this time.”

“Blank, do you think you can stand unaided now?”

It shrugged.

“Let’s try. I’ll lower the winch. Get ready to catch it if it falls.”

I nodded towards thirteen and its brother and they took up position.

As the winch lowered, its knees buckled but with great effort it managed to straighten them again.

“I think you still need support. We’ll go back up to the rec room.”

Thirteen and blank supporting it, M following behind we took a table away from the rest and sat it down. I sat opposite and the others sat too.

“First of all… I’ve never spoken to you, blank. You’ve been a dog since I was stolen. I know, you thought you’d sue us into oblivion, I was still a biped when that came out. How are you now though?”

“I knew the moment I woke up as a dog I was fucked, sir. What they’d said about there being no escape was true. I was just your plaything. Nothing. Then I saw you prancing around me in that suit, as a dog truly enjoying itself.”

“Himself. Yes. When you’re a dog, you’re an animal and animals have gender. When you’re a blank you’re an it.”

“Still coming to terms with that but fuck me. I admit it took me a week to get into the mindset but after that… After I saw the murder accusations, the arson. I knew I was his for life and really started to try. You know what’s really fucking stupid?”

“What?”

“I’ve seen the store up there now, sir. I studied the prices. You weren’t in competition with me at all. Nothing I sold was high quality. It was all tacky toy crap for those just wanting to play at being kinky. Not the true fetishists. Not the ones who cared about what they wore or used. Now, I’m a slave for life. During that dog training, god, I’d never felt so exhausted but I knew I had no choice.”

“And after the race?”

“I’d never felt so alive out there! I glanced back just before I crossed. To tell you the truth I was terrified of being let out of the dog because I didn’t know what else you’d do to me. The idea of being let out was a fifty/fifty split thing. I wanted out, I wanted to be able to talk again but at the same time, I found I liked it. And there was that fear.”

“Well, you’ve been rewarded for that sacrifice. Biggest surprise of the event, you pouncing on me mid air like that and that reward is partly why I grabbed you three.”

“What? Why?”

“Q told me last night, from now on, every slave will be dog trained. At the end of their training each time there’s more than twenty, we hunt and they all race. Every single one of them!”

“Oh god! Really?”

“It gets better!”

“How can it get better than that?”

Slasher’s shoulders shook. “I was just about to ask that too. I’ve never felt so alive as when I was out there either! I want more!”

“There’s a display in the store now. Current things on sale include the tubing, plugs, tails and food. The first suits for sale will be on Wednesday or thereabouts and masters who fully equip their dogs can enter them into the races!”

Thirteen almost shot to attention. “Oh god, this is amazing! As for you...” it looked at Duke and held out its hand.

Duke just looked at it. “What?”

“Shake, you idiot! I’m thanking you for the most amazing thing that’s ever happened to me! It’s your fault we’re here. If you hadn’t hired us to rob the place none of this would’ve been possible and fuck me I’m glad about that now.”

Duke reached out almost expecting a trick, but thirteen grabbed it and shook it enthusiastically. It seemed taken aback.

“Oh god… Thank you.”

“Sir.”

“What?”

“Q named me, remember. I’m thirteen now, not blank, so, you call me sir. That’s right isn’t it, sir?”

I nodded. “You outrank your brother too but remember, when we’re dogs, we’re equals. Brothers.”

“Oh god, so we are.”

Duke sagged a little in its chair. “Oh god, I… Thank you sir. Thank you too. Do you feel the same way?” he looked at Slasher.

Slasher nodded. “I do. Don’t worry. Fucking scary situation to find myself in but now? The fact its permanent, the fact there’s no escape just means there’ll never be a temptation to try. I’m happy with that. Happier than I’ve been in my life. Q’s a good guy too, I know that much because he kept his word. He elevated my brother when he won. I didn’t expect that.”

I nodded. “Not to mention what he did for your friend’s family. Surprised even me, that. They’ve always said he’s never one to break a promise or back down on a threat. Well we’ve all seen proof of that now. His word is one everyone can trust.”

Slasher nodded. “That was the most amazing thing… I think it even beats being here.”

I typed something and placed my hand in the middle of the table. “Everyone else, too.”

They looked at me and did the same. I raised my hand along with theirs high, then hit my armband enter button with my nose.

“Brothers of the hunt!”

All three of them started laughing.

“Agreed.” Slasher said, pulling himself together. “Brothers of the hunt. I love that!”

“Oh, one more thing… One of the blanks now… A guest, so to speak. He’s not in a permanent suit, he’s a cop. Guard your fingers when you’re in the cages tonight. Just tell him that you love it and you never want out. That’s true for all four of us now isn’t it?”

All of them nodded.

Duke shifted a little nervously thought. “What the fuck is a cop doin’ here?”

I spent the next ten minutes telling M’s story. A couple recoiled.

Thirteen was the first to express its disbelief. “Fuck? But he seems like a nice guy?”

“He is now. Back then, total shit. Slavery. Changes people in ways you wouldn’t believe and he has been one for a long time remember.”

Duke nodded. “All I ever cared about was money. Never managed to claw together enough for the life I thought I deserved. I was probably bigger shit than he was. Now? I’ve only been here… what is it now? A month?”

“Less. More like three weeks I think, in your case.”

“Now? I’m free of it. I had debts up to my ears, that’s why I was so scared about yet another fetish shop opening and some of the people I owed money to…”

“Heh. Even if one of them came into the store when you were on display they’d never recognise you. I mean… I would’ve failed to pick you out of a line-up after the hunt.”

“Well, we do all look alike.”

“Yes, but you were still quite distinct. Your build. You had a belly on you. It’s still there but give it a month and you’ll be almost as ripped as we are.”

M’s voice butted in. I’d forgotten he was standing there. “There it goes again…”

“What?”

“History repeating itself. First month in the old shop, I’d lost over a stone. That’s the point of turnaround for me. Seeing the slavery in a new light. As something good.”

I nodded. “M?”

“Yeah?”

“How would you like to join the hunters next time, assuming I win best place again?”

“Oh no… Sorry eleven. I know it looks like fun but I’m no spring chicken remember. Leave the hunt for the younger ones, please. I’d much prefer to use my wiles to avoid a confrontation rather than seek them out. Until you started chasing me I’d never seen another hunter, let alone been chased down by one.”

“OK, M. I won’t pick you. Shame though, god it’s fun but I suppose you’re right.”

M took Duke back to its treadmill training with thirteen to help support it and I had one more slave to seek out. I found it in the dungeon, tying another slave to the wheel.

“How’re you getting on just being a blank again?”

“I’m still freaking out about it, sir, even though what you said must be true because you found me so easily.”

“Well, do you remember what Q said after the race?”

“What about, sir?”

“Me, being granted a boon?”

“Ah.” he nodded. “What did you go for, sir?”

“First idea, permission to sit on the sofa, rec room… Then I thought, nah, selfish. I can live without. You on the other hand…”

“Sir?”

“I asked him to name you. You’re still going to be the rank of a blank but soon, you’ll have a white name on the back of your head, just as M has gold and twelve has silver. Something similar to Omega.”

It froze. It stared at me and then threw itself at me, gripping me in a tight hug. It started sobbing.

I stroked its back until it calmed down.

“Better now?”

“Oh, fuck yeah. Sorry about that. I… It was just the relief, sir, it’s as if all the tension from the last few weeks… It’s gone sir. I feel like I can finally start enjoying this fully. It felt like some doom hanging over my head for the rest of my life. What’s my name, sir?”

“No idea. The replacement hood will arrive in a day or so, I think. We’ll know when we apply it. No ownership marking on the chest though, that comes with silver. You still have something to work for in order to be elevated fully.”

“Thank you, sir. Oh god, I will now. I’ve never felt happier. Thank you.”