2019-04-19 - spike - The New Shop 110

Author: spike
Title: The New Shop 110
Date: 19 April 2019

Chapter 110
After the wash and flush, it was a free day for us all.

I wandered around, noting any changes first of all. In the elevator, a blank stepped in. It pressed the panel and looked at me. I chuckled. It had a chain around its neck.

I gestured “Hello” at it. It shrugged, the elevator opened and it left. I followed and leaned against the wall in such a way that the panel was inaccessible. It hadn’t noticed as it pressed the cell block four panel and vanished within.

It was a few minutes before it returned. It froze. It rushed up to me. Tried to get around me to press the panel. I shifted to block it. Shock me will you? Torture someone for laughs will you? I wondered how many times the blob had done this now.

It tried again, I blocked again. “What do you want, Blank?”

It looked at my fingers. I did it much more slowly. Too slowly. “I . s.a.i.d . w.h.a.t . d.o . y.o.u . w.a.n.t . B.l.a.n.k?”

It stepped back. “P.l.e.a.s.e.”

“P.l.e.a.s.e . w.h.a.t?”

“P.l.e.a.s.e . s.i.r . . I . n.e.e.d . t.o . p.r.e.s.s . t.h.e . p.a.n.e.l.”

“W.h.y?”

“T.h.e . v.o.i.c.e . t.o.l.d . m.e . . I.t . h.u.r.t.s . i.f . I . d.o.n.t. . s.i.r.”

“I.m . a . s.l.a.v.e . S.t.o.p . c.a.l.l.i.n.g . m.e . s.i.r . . M.y . n.a.m.e.s . B.l.a.n.k . t.o.o.”

My timing was impeccable. It jumped. Obviously the first shock.

“P.l.e.a.s.e . l.e.t . m.e . p.r.e.s.s . i.t . . P.l.e.a.s.e!”

“N.o.t . y.e.t . . I . t.h.i.n.k . I.l.l . w.a.i.t . u.n.t.i.l . y.o.u.v.e . h.a.d . a . f.e.w . t.e.n . s.e.c.o.n.d . o.n.e.s . . L.i.t.t.l.e . s.e.c.r.e.t . f.o.r . y.o.u . B.l.a.n.k . . I . w.r.o.t.e . t.h.e . p.r.o.g.r.a.m . t.h.a.t.s . p.u.n.i.s.h.i.n.g . y.o.u . n.o.w . . T.h.e . b.l.o.b . c.o.r.r.u.p.t.e.d . i.t . b.u.t . I . w.r.o.t.e . i.t . a.n.d . I . d.o . n.o.t . a.p.p.r.e.c.i.a.t.e . b.e.i.n.g . t.o.rt.u.r.e.d . b.y . a.n . e.l.e.v.a.t o.r . t.h.a.t . n.e.v.e.r . a.r.r.i.v.e.s.”

It stepped back again. Then tried to worm its way past me. I blocked it again.

“I.m . s.o.r.r.y . . I . d.i.d.n.t . k.n.o.w.! P.l.e.a.s.e!” It collapsed to its knees and started to sob as another shock struck it. This one knocked it onto its back.

I waited for it to look at me again which took a few seconds. Good, more time wasted.

“Y.o.u . k.n.e.w . t.h.e . b.l.o.b . w.a.s . y.o.u.r . o.l.d . f.r.i.e.n.d . t.h.o.u.g.h . d.i.d.n.t . y.o.u? . . H.o.w . l.o.n.g . d.i.d . y.o.u . t.o.r.t.u.r.e . i.t? . . T.h.r.e.e . m.o.n.t.h.s? . I.t.s . f.r.e.e . o.f . t.h.e . g.a.m.e . n.o.w . . I . k.n.o.w . y.o.u.l.l . h.a.v.e . t.o . w.a.i.t . a . l.o.t . l.o.n.g.e.r . t.h.a.n . i.t . d.i.d . . Y.o.u . d.e.s.e.r.v.e . i.t . f.a.r . m.o.r.e.” I twiddled its chain. “A.n.d . I.l.l . a.l.w.a.y.s . b.e . a.b.l.e . t.o . r.e.c.o.g.n.i.s.e . y.o.u.”

Another shock. I waited. It looked more urgent now. More panicked. It threw a punch. I calmly raised my hand and caught it, twisted it and kicked the blank away.

“T.r.y . t.h.a.t . a.g.a.i.n . a.n.d . I.l.l . t.e.l.l . e.v.e.r.y . b.l.a.n.k . t.o . i.n.t.e.r.f.e.r.e . . Y.o.u.l.l . b.e . w.a.i.t.i.n.g . h.o.u.r.s . f.o.r . t.h.e . p.a.n.e.l . o.r . e.l.e.v.a.t.o.r.”

Another shock. It crawled to its knees to beg. “P.l.e.a.s.e . . I.t.s . h.e.l.l!”

“Y.o.u . f.o.u.n.d. . i.t . a.m.u.s.i.n.g . e.n.o.u.g.h . w.h.e.n . y.o.u . w.e.r.e . d.o.i.n.g . t.h.i.s . t.o . s.o.m.e.o.n.e . e.l.s.e.”

Another shock. This one, it struggled to get up from. Ten seconds and another one hit and another.

I waited for one more, hit the panel and stepped to one side.

It crawled, took another shock and finally slapped the panel. It collapsed in relief.

The elevator arrived, I stepped in and hit the panel.

When it tried to get in, I let it but as the doors slid shut, I threw it out again. The doors closed and I chuckled as I went up to the rec room.

Another series of shocks for it. Good.

I made a beeline for the nearest TV and, pretending to not know any better, sat on the sofa and reached for the remote.

It wasn’t long before I got my shock and M’s voice filled my ears. “Blanks sit on the floor unless given permission.”

I did, turned on the TV and looked at what was on offer today.

A gay porn, something I might actually try, see if it did get me going now, the original dog race, the second one, both full seasons… And the third dog event on the island.

I sighed. Something I’ll have to ask for when I’m me again. I selected it and looked around. A few blanks sat at tables, one read a book, three played cards and another couple talked… Well, signed.

I rushed over to each table. “Oh my god, you’ve got to see this.”

I pointed at the screen.

The first blank nodded and wandered over. The blanks in the middle of the card game shrugged. “What?”

“It’s amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it, come and see.”

I beckoned, they joined me and curious, the last table got up and followed too.

The moment we were all seated, backs to the sofa, I hit play on the first dog race trailer and then the first episode.

They sat engrossed. When we moved on to season two, I did too. I’d only seen a couple of episodes. God I wanted to be out there again.

The moment the trailer for the second one had ended, one of the blanks nudged me.

“Fuck that looks good.”

I nodded. “Why do you think I called you over?”

“Who are they?”

I shrugged. “Obviously, they’re slaves. Blanks like us.”

“We… I… I don’t think I could handle that.”

“Me neither, but if they make us… Well…”

It nodded as the episodes unfolded. I chuckled at some of my take downs, my rescue of Max. Then I shivered as the gunshot sounded. As I ran from shelter to shelter.

Again a nudge, this time from the other side. “How did it survive!? It was shot but it seems fine! Fucking cold, but fine!”

I shrugged. “Could always ask one of our masters. Easy enough to find with one of those numbers on the backs of their heads.”

Another nod.

It was interesting, watching the hunters. Especially with me off the field, there was much more footage of events I’d not seen. I studied their form, knowing this time, I’d be avoiding them rather than be one of them. Bandit’s tactics differed significantly from his brother’s. He was more direct and much as I found it hard to believe, faster. Slasher was much more cunning. He enjoyed playing with his food. Doing what I’d done before the gunshot, guiding, directing, and trapping.

As for Duke… Cunning, sneaky, excellent at hiding with an endurance I boggled at. It must be all that long distance running the first time. I’d have to be careful about him.

When the final episode had played out, I selected the third island event.

I chuckled at the opening. As the dogs ran out to collect their batons, another dog entered the field. The frame froze and a caption appeared. “Today’s hunter. Caesar.”

He really had fallen in love with it and good god he was good. He didn’t do quite as well as me, but he still managed to take eight batons out of play. Some dogs even chased him down and managed to steal them back before he pulled their tails to get them again.

It looked like he was having a whale of a time judging by his tail’s reaction.

I’d got a lot more experience as a dog than him but I think he might be a force to be reckoned with if we were to ever face up against each other.

I looked around as the final dog video ended. A crowd had gathered. What had begun as eight blanks, now, sixteen and a couple with marks.

I stood and craned my neck. They saw me doing that and turned their heads.

It was Thirteen and his brother. I sidled over to them. “Sir, do you have the others?”

“Others?”

“It said that was the third one on… wherever that is, an island somewhere. Do you have the first two?”

Fifteen looked at the screen and its shoulders sagged. “Ah, shit. Don’t tell me they’ve gone already! It was good to see Tyson out there.”

“Tyson? That wolf in the second race? The one who got shot?”

“And the first, but he was just in a bare dog suit then. So was I.”

“How did he survive? It hit him, it even shredded his coat, but he seemed fine!”

“He was cold. Forced him to drop out of the race but the suits are pretty much indestructible.”

“A… So he… How did he freeze himself, sir? I thought you needed a tail pull from what I’ve seen.”

“Built in safety measure. You saw that in the first one too with the bear. You bite down, hard. It triggers a freeze. Tempted then?”

I stepped back. “I… I could never run that far. I can barely manage four miles on two legs right now.”

Slasher chuckled. “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that. We’ll have you fit as fuck by the time you race. It’ll be at least a week or two before you’re dogged up. We only just received the all clear from Q that the weather’s improved enough to start again.”

“So… this… Tyson…”

“Not here. He’s with Q right now.” Its shoulders slumped. “I miss him. We’re almost brothers now. That one…” he nodded at Thirteen “is my brother.”

“Runs in the family, sir?”

It chuckled. “I suppose you could put it like that. I suggest you get down to the gym and have another run.”

“Suggest, sir? Not order?”

“You were given two days for taking the fob. Tomorrow, it’ll be orders.”

“Thank you, sir. And… we’re all doing that? All twenty of us?”

“Jesus. It’s not just you. There’ll be at least fifty dogs out in the field next time. Probably sixty, we still haven’t had word from all the outsiders.”

“Out… what?”

“Public. The races are open to masters and slaves outside. There’s prize money for them if they do well.”

“And us?”

“Oh, we never get paid. Not in money. We don’t worry about bullshit like that anymore. Pleasure, free time but not money.”

I nodded. “Thank you, sir. I’ll have a run now, sir.”

When I got to the gym, the blob was on one of the treadmills. I stood back and watched for a few minutes. It was amazing how much it’d lost. It didn’t wobble anymore. It didn’t even slow as it looked at me. I glanced at the display and… Fuck me. It’d already passed the five mile mark.

I took the treadmill next to it and began, keeping up my feeble persona, struggling and collapsing to my knees at the four mile mark.

I staggered over to a weight bench to sit. It stopped and sat beside me.

“Problems? You look slim enough.”

“How…” I looked at it as if it was a different person. “How did you manage that far? I can’t even make it past four and you seem to be fine!”

“My master ordered me to push myself. I am. Oh, fuck me I’m starting to like myself. I feel fucking good. I” It took a deep breath. “You’ll get there, Blank. Just don’t give up. Push and push hard and you’ll be faster than me in no time.”

“How did you end up here? You really seem out of place.”

“Cos I’m fat? It’s OK. You can say it. They all call me the blob but I’m doing my best to lose that now. I’ve already lost two of you. Weight wise.”

“Two? But I weigh a hundred and eighty pounds!”

“OK. Nearly one of you then.”

”How long have you been here?”

“Oh, months. I don’t care anymore. I know I’ll never be free and now, I really am starting to see the good in that. I didn’t believe it was possible at first, losing weight. In the first three months, I’d lost about eighty. Last month, I lost sixty in that month alone. He cut all the carbs and fat out of my diet at first. Slowly weaning my back onto them now. I can really push myself thanks to them. They’re giving me an extra boost.”

“But that’ll slow down your weight loss won’t it?”

“He said a pure protein diet over a long period can cause problems. I’ve burned off a hell of a lot of my fat so now that I’m fit enough he said I’m ready. He has doctors there to advise him.”

It was amazing how much it’d changed since I last spoke to it. It wasn’t a pitiable excuse for a waste of air anymore. It even stood with a bearing of… I suppose you could say self-confidence. I decided it was worthy of my time and what’s more, I’d give it something. I might even begin to think of it as a friend.

“Could you push me? I know one blank I’ll have no trouble recognising.”

“Seriously? You want me to coach you?”

“Well look at what you’ve done in three months. You’ve certainly got the motivation. Tell you what, we’ll push each other. It’s got to be easier, having someone else do it rather than do it yourself.”

It nodded and held out its hand.

I shook it.

It nodded towards the side of the room. “We’ll spot for each other on the weights too. Need to work on your arms as well as your legs. Especially when you see what they have in store for you.”

“The dog races? I’ve seen the videos. Fuck, that looked good.”

“I’m almost looking forward to that myself, too. Next time I see Q, I’m going to do it. He said he didn’t want it out of fear.”

“Do what?”

“Submit to him. Give myself to him, fully.”

“You haven’t yet? But you’ve been here months!”

“I know. Let’s just call me a special case and leave it at that. I’d rather not think about the first three I was here. The future’s all I care about now.”

“So, you’re in the next one?”

It shook its head. “Still too big. My master said he’d have a dog pelt made for me though, Rottweiler, but only when I’d lost more. I need to get down to two fifty but after that, I’m going to ease off. Slow down.”

“Why? Don’t you want to lose it all?”

It nodded. “If you ever see a blank with a chain around its neck, stop it from touching the panel for a while. It won’t like that. It’s enjoying a little game right now and it won’t be free of it until I’m down to my ideal weight. I don’t want to get down to that too quickly, so, when I reach two fifty, I’ll slow down my weight loss. Keep it in the game for a lot longer.”

“Game?”

“It’s something about those first three months I don’t want to think about.”

“Go on. It can’t be that bad, can it?”

It sighed. “OK. The place here’s controlled by a computer. I hacked in, thought it was a game and they got me when I punished the slaves here. The one with the chain, it knew it was real and who I was. We used to be friends. Well, online acquaintances at least. He kept playing the game with me as the only target. Tortured me incessantly for three months. There. I said it. I’m free of the game now. It won’t be until I’m down to one fifty.”

I chuckled. “I think I’m starting to like this Q. Just as well as he’s my owner now but fuck me, he’s got a good sense of justice.”

“Oh trust me, I didn’t think that at first. He made me take every shock I’d handed out. Took weeks and the last week was hell! I’m never… I don’t want to think about it anymore. I’m here. I’m getting happier with every pound I lose. The only thing about that time is that blank. I want it to suffer.”

I nodded. “I’ll help with that too when I see it next. How?”

“Just stop it from hitting any panels. It’s similar to the program that’s running the place now but I removed a few safety protocols. It really hates waiting for an elevator.”

“So, hold the door, stop it from moving for a while?”

It nodded.

“I’ll do that then. How much do you weigh now?”

“I… I’ve not checked in a while.” It nodded to the side of the gym. “Scales. There.” It jogged over.

I followed and watched as the needle swung.

“You said you lost eighty the first three months and then sixty all in one?”

“He said I’d lost nearly ten stones since I got here, yes.” It looked at me and chuckled. “He’s English. They use some weird measurements.”

“What were you last time you checked?”

“Three hundred and eighty pounds. Why?”

“Look, Blank.” I pointed at the display. “Two fifty’s your target! Two weeks they said. Before we’d train as dogs. Looks like we’ve both got a goal.”

It stepped off the scales in shock. “Three ten? I’m only sixty away?”

“Do you think if we push each other you could lose that? In two weeks?”

“I’m getting fitter. I’m running further than I ever even walked before. Fuck me, I might!”

“I… I’m not sure if it’s possible. Losing over four pounds a day. I’m not sure it’s even safe, but you… How long do you stay in here, exercising?”

“Cardio, three, three hour sessions, run, bike and rowing machine broken up by an hour on the weights between each one.”

“What, every day? Twelve hours, in here? Every day?”

“Master’s orders. Push myself. I am. I’m pushing myself harder than I thought it was possible to. I owe him.”

“I don’t know how much time I’ll have to push you, Blank. Still new here and this is a free day. Tomorrow I’ve got no idea what they’ll have in store for me.”

“I know you’ll get an hour in the morning and one at night after they finish whatever they’re doing. Some work nights cleaning the place, I think. Sundays they have a free for all.”

I shrugged. “I don’t even know what month it is anymore, let alone day. Amazingly, I don’t even care.”

“I know how you feel.”

“So, where do we start?”

“Rowing machine, your legs need a rest. Try to keep up with me.”