2019-02-22 - spike - The New Shop 101

Author: spike
Title: The New Shop 101
Date: 22 February 2019

Chapter 101
The day wore on. They joined him again for breakfast and the moment that was done, a gold statue gathered all the plates and rushed off somewhere to wash them.

Q and the officers left and again, hours of silence. I was used to standing immobile but this was the longest time I think I had. At least since the initial suiting.

It must’ve been… I don’t even care to think how long it was before they returned… They seemed to be in brighter spirits though, having clearly been shown around.

“So how about it? You’ve spoken to your comrade.”

“And he’s told us how much pain he’s in.”

“True, but did he say he wanted out?”

They shook their heads. “He still wants to experience this… this pleasure you seem capable of giving.”

“And you’re not in the least bit curious?”

“And there’s no way to experience it without the suit?”

“Oh yes, even I’ve experienced it without the suit. It’s the plug that creates the sensations, colonel. Not the suit. And it’s the plug that’s causing him pain. The suit’s just helping by preventing movement down there.”

“I… see. And the five slaves in the medical centre? How long have they been frozen like that?”

“About a week.”

“A week? But”

“Think of it as a full body cast if you like. They suffered. Their breathing apparatus was compromised during an expedition to the factory. For them, as they were still somewhat protected we managed to get them back here in time. You can thank the quick thinking of the other slave who was with them. He sealed their air hoses forcing them to resume breathing through the filter. They’re undergoing treatment for several toxins. Exercise is the last thing they need right now.”

“So your protection equipment isn’t perfect…”

“Nothing’s perfect. It’s as good as it can be. Normal excursions outside only require the filter. A few areas on the island require an independent air supply which overrides that filter. Sever that air hose and… Well… I think you get the idea and it’s something that could happen to anyone in any sort of suit.”

“And our man will be ready in another day?”

“He should be. We’ll check on him periodically. The moment he reports no pain downstairs, we’ll release him from his freeze and he’ll be free to re-join you. He has missed the tour though. I’ll have one of my slaves escort him around before he does.”

“Acceptable. I must say, this facility is impressive. It must’ve cost you a fortune.”

“With slave labour doing the brunt of the work, a lot less than you might expect. Materials only and some of those could be harvested from the island itself after decontamination.”

“When you first mentioned slaves, I recoiled in horror, but now… I agree, it seems a good way to do things.”

“If this has awakened a need to take slaves of your own, remember this… Nothing like the forced labour of old. Slaves are human beings with needs. One of those needs is to be treated well. Not worked to death. I for one do not condone the enslavement of unwilling men.”

I chuckled. Not entirely true, but he’s telling the truth about being given a good life.

“So what would you recommend? To pass the time while we wait?”

“You’ve seen our recreational facilities. Unfortunately all the books are in English, so you may need your captain to read to you if you want to avail yourself of the library but apart from that…”

“I would quite like to go for a walk outside.”

“Outside, in the green zone, feel free. There is half a mile of it to explore. Don’t be shocked however, colonel.”

“Shocked?”

“Slaves can earn free time and some of that time, they like to take enjoying themselves out there. That can mean being tied up in some, to you, very uncomfortable positions. If you wish to leave the safe zone, you know what that means.”

And again, they were gone.

I was finally released for an errand after their meal. I’d been standing motionless for god knows how long at that point when… “Blank. Clear the dishes and wash them.”

I almost fell off my plinth. I managed to save myself just in time. I gathered everything together and… I looked at Q. “Sir. Where do I go?”

“Ah, first time as a statue?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Very well. And very good. The last first timer tried to muddle through without knowing what it was doing. It took three times longer than expected just to find someone who could tell it where it needed to be. I commend you on your honesty.”

“Thank you, sir.”

He fiddled with his band again. “Blank. Help it gather all this, then show it everything it needs to fulfil its duty as a statue.”

It twiddled a “Yes, sir.” and beckoned me to follow.

The moment we left the hall, I twiddled. “How many times have you been a statue?”

“Oh, loads. I like it. A chance to see my master at work, plotting, playing. It’s good. Especially this time with that lot in there.”

“How long does it last?”

“Does it matter?”

It was then it struck me. It didn’t. It didn’t matter if I was a statue for a day or a year. Obviously, I hoped it wouldn’t be a year, but who was I to complain if it was? I did get to see him, see him relaxing, working, chatting and that was good enough for me.

“You’re right. It doesn’t, does it?”

Two doors down, a small room with a sink. It pointed at the one opposite.

“If you’re ordered to provide drinks, that room there. Are… I noticed quite an influx of Americans recently. Are you one of them?”

“I am.”

“How do you make a cup of tea?”

“Milk, sugar, tea bag, pour on hot”

It gripped my hands to stop me. “Once you’ve done the washing up, I’ll show you how to do it properly. If you’d been ordered to make him tea and that was the result you would’ve spent the next hour being shocked to buggery.”

“That bad?”

“Piss poor tea? Of course. And the way you make it, it would be weak as piss too. Tea needs boiling water, not just hot. Putting the milk in first not only scalds the milk, it prevents the tea from brewing in that boiling water. The milk cools it. Besides, he doesn’t like tea bags. Tea pot, loose leaves, a tea cosy to keep the pot warm and a separate milk jug and sugar bowl. His personal slave makes his tea, you just put it on the table.”

”Thanks, Blank.”

Blank walked to the end of the room, collected that trolley with the squeaky wheel and handed it to me. I nodded and went to collect the dishes.
* * *
I’d been a statue for a long time with no idea where anything was. Now, I knew.

I knelt on my plinth this time, having taken up yet another pose. I went for the thinker. Down on one knee with my elbow on the other and my fist under my chin as if deep in thought.

When Q glanced at me as he passed, he chuckled. “Nice pose, Blank. I approve.”

He wasn’t there long.

Another age of waiting. Of snoozing.

The next time I was aware of anything different, they were back and this time, the major was with them.

I must’ve woken mid conversation, the captain was translating.

“ing thing I’ve ever worn. It feels marvellous and now the pain’s gone, I feel like I could live in it.”

Q nodded. “Now, you know your suit is two pieces?”

“Yes?”

“Slaves who’ve pleased me, who’ve begged have been allowed into similar suits that are made of a single piece of the material.”

“Single? Oh fuck! You mean”

“They’re in there for life. You’re right, you can live in it. Many have opted to live in such a suit permanently.”

The major nodded. Judging by his posture, he wasn’t even shocked. The colonel on the other hand…

“Those… Those frozen figures in the garden? They’re in permanent suits?”

“It’s a dangerous island colonel. Yes, they are, but more than that, their suits are permanently hardened.”

“Hardened? They’ll never move? Ever?”

“Colonel, those are our equivalent of your glass cube. They’re dead. They stand there as memorials to themselves.”

His eyes widened. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t let it concern you. This is a huge project in a deadly place. Six deaths in the space of five years just proves how much I care about health and safety.”

“Yes, even a coal mine or quarry. I see your point.”

“Now, major. I suggest you take a seat. I think you’ll need it for what comes next.”

“The pleasure?”

Q nodded.

The major sat immediately. Q pointed his fob and he sat bolt upright. He squirmed. He shifted about so much he almost fell off the chair. It couldn’t’ve been more than a couple of minutes before Q pressed the fob again.

“Fuck me! And they get an hour of that?”

“More if they perform well enough.”

“I can see why your slaves are so loyal to you. What do you do if one requires punishment?”

“You want to experience that too?”

“When in Rome, as they say.”

“To coerce a new slave into doing something it doesn’t want to… This…”

The major gripped his throat. His nose. It was obvious what Q had done there. He only left it on for a few seconds though.

“God, that’s a good way to force someone to do what you want. And as a punishment?”

Q smiled. “This.”

The major shot up out of his chair as if a sword had impaled him through it.

“The plug’s capable of far more than pleasure. Fortunately, there’s little need for punishment. My slaves know their place. Now, major, if you could escort them to the room where you put yours on… I believe it’s time to suit up yourselves. Do you still want to inspect the factory and see the rest of the island?”

The colonel nodded.

“Very well then.”

And again… they were gone.
* * *
It was dark. I don’t know what it was that woke me. Maybe the click of the door latch, maybe a creak from the door itself, but… There was movement.

A blank crept down the hall. It looked at the statues as it passed and put its finger to its mouth tube to each of us as, when it got to Q’s throne, it lifted his cushion and placed something under it.

It bolted out the way it came.

The next morning, all the officers were back. The major still in his suit. They clearly hadn’t remained in theirs for longer than necessary. The major didn’t eat of course, he just watched the others wolfing down their breakfasts.

“Thank you.” The major I’d spoken to said. I can’t even remember his name now. “A very enlightening tour. And your man spoke the truth. They even demonstrated the removal and processing of one litre of whatever it is in those containers.”

Q sighed. “Yes, quite. And it’s a long, slow, drawn out process.”

It was the colonel’s turn. “It’s such a shame.”

“What is?”

“So much potential here. We could supply you with countless slaves.”

Q sighed. “I take it you’re talking about these political prisoners again?”

“Yes. Yes, I am. And what’s more, I can’t think of a better place for them.”

“You know my feelings about suiting up”

“Think of it. Please. Currently, the conditions they live in is hell. I don’t agree with a lot of them being there either but they will never be released. They will die there so why not send a few of the more… appropriate ones here instead? The ones who are in hell only for their beliefs. They’re not violent. They’re not dangerous. Some only annoyed the president by looking at him in an odd way five years ago.”

“But Putin isn’t in power anymore. Surely Ivanov can release them?”

“He claims to be a progressive but when it comes to prisoners… No. He still sees them as a threat, as troublemakers. He’s far more concerned with the nation as a whole. There has been a halt to more being imprisoned but the ones already sentenced…”

“I… see… How about a compromise.”

“What do you mean?”

“Speak to them. Make them an offer. If they accept, I will speak to them too but only when they’re no longer under the influence of your nation to see if they genuinely meant it. If they did, I’ll accept them as my slaves. Only if they can understand, speak and read English, though.”

I noticed something odd then. The moment the captain translated that last sentence, the major’s shoulders sagged a little.

Was he the one? The blank who’d put something under Q’s cushion? I chuckled to myself. Did he want to give himself to Q? Since my little speech he’d certainly seemed more understanding than the others.

“And the ones who didn’t mean it?”

“Their choice. Back to your prison or suited and sealed into mine. Understand this though. No documentation. By all means fake their death certificates for your administrators but nothing connects them to me.”

The colonel smiled. “Agreed. What is it your old movie star said?” He screwed up his face and attempted an impression. In English. “Thizh could be the zhtarrrt ov a beautivul vriendsjip.”

Q nodded. “Yes, yes, I suppose it could. Now, Ten’s awaiting you. It’s time you were suited up for your departure.”

They nodded and made their way to the exit but the major paused. He looked at Q, then pointed at his butt and held his hands up three times. Thirty?

Q grinned, waved the fob and nodded.

The moment the door closed behind them, he hopped back up to his throne, flicked out the keyboard and started tapping away. No idea what he was doing, I couldn’t see the screen, but, judging by his expression it was work, not play.

He continued this for a while before he paused. He flipped a switch and I almost fell off my plinth again.

“Blank, whiskey, two ice cubes.”

I hopped down, turned and then turned back to him.

“What? You’ve been shown where everything is!”

“Sorry, sir… Check under your cushion.”

“What?” He shoved his hand under and when it came out it was holding a folded paper. “Who put this here? When?”

“It was a blank, sir or it looked like one but I think it might’ve been the major, judging by his reaction, sir.”

“Reaction?”

“His shoulders sagged when you said only English speakers, sir.”

“Really? Interesting.” he opened the letter and immediately returned to the keyboard. “M, is the translator still there?”

“Yes, sir. He’ll leave when Ten waves them off.”

“There may be a couple more things left for him to translate. I’ll hold it up so you can see it.”

Almost as soon as he did, the laptop’s voice sprang forth.

“Your statue was right. We are all slaves to our possessions and the more I saw of your home, the more I liked it. Please, I’d like to stay. I’d like to be one of them. Permanently. The idea began before I’d even experienced the pleasure. I’d willingly give up my old life for what they get, here.

It’s signed Major Alexi Grekov, sir.”

Q began to chuckle. “This is definitely a surprise. It seems you were correct, Blank.” Another rattle. “Two, redirect the output of the laptop in the store. Send it directly to the ears of Major Grekov. He’s the one who wore the suit from the start. And blank… get me that whiskey.”

I rushed off to get it in the hope I wouldn’t miss too much.

I got back, handed him his glass, performed a thank you and hopped back onto my plinth. I took a boxing pose and froze back in place again.

The first thing I heard was Ten. “I’m just about to halt the boat for decon, sir.”

“Very well. Take your time. I want to get this right.”

“Yes, sir.”

He rattled away at his keyboard for quite a while before finally speaking.

“Blank… Careful with this translation, it’s going straight into the major’s ears. None of the others’ll have a clue he’s being spoken to.”

M’s voice then. “It signed yes, sir, sir. It’s fingers are hovering, ready.”

“Major, do not react, this is entering your ears and yours alone. None of the others can know, so just listen and absorb.

I would be glad to accept you as one of my slaves, major, but my conditions do stand. You do need to be able to understand, speak and read English. It’s how all my suited slaves communicate. The golds have the additional benefit of the armbands, true, but you’d need to earn a promotion to gain that. You would begin as a blank. Spend your free time from now on doing that. Learn English. Take all your leave and travel to English speaking countries. Immerse yourself in the language. I hear it helps considerably.

When you’re capable, but only when you’re capable, go to a fetish store in the USA or Canada. I am affiliated with many. Many of them help in the recruitment of my slaves and if you find the right one, just saying Master Q sent me should be enough. If they have suits on display similar to the one you wear now, that’s another good indicator. Test its elasticity to ensure it’s genuine or if someone’s on display in one, test its hardness.

Security is paramount. You may be followed. I know how paranoid some Russian officials can be. Especially if they suspect you may desert or defect, so I’ll just name some cities now. None of them are directly linked to my main training facility but they may be a step in the journey. San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Ottawa and Calgary. We can make you vanish, major. No-one would ever see your face again. Understand that commitment. I hope to see you soon, or at least, eventually.”