2019-06-14 - spike - The New Shop 119

Author: spike
Title: The New Shop 119
Date: 14 June 2019

Chapter 119
I handed blank the belt. “Here it is.”

It looked at it, turned it around in its hands. “It’s so light! What happened to the metal ones?”

“Trust me, the metal ones were comfortable enough, but these. Fuck me they’re good. You only feel them when you get a hard-on. Now, stand still.”

It nodded.

Cock in the tube, adjust, fiddle, snap, snap, adjust again to get it exactly right and… Click. “Now, how does it feel?”

It shifted, it bent and twisted. It jumped on the spot. “I… You’re right! I can barely feel it.”

“Good. Now, how do you feel, now you’ve spoken to your master? Now you’ve seen how he deals with things?”

“Is it true? Burial pits and vats of oil?”

“Oh, it’s true. There was a blank in one of those tubes, feet shackled with the shackle chain attached to the bottom and its hands tied behind its back so it couldn’t even ask to be released. I also witnessed two blanks being removed from the burial pits. It’s not just soil you’re buried in either.”

“Now just soil, sir?”

“One was tar or… well, a tar like stuff. Not hot tar, that’d cook a man if he was buried in it, but it looked like tar when we pulled it out. If you’re seriously into pain, one of them was burial in glass shards. I should warn you, be careful which gold you ask.”

“Why?”

“One asks how long you want and then utterly ignores the request, sometimes doubling or tripling the duration. Another one rolls a dice. They like having their fun.”

Blank shifted and looked down at its crotch. Its shoulders shook. “You’re right about only feeling it when you get hard, sir.”

I nodded. “Now, feelings?”

It sagged a little. “I’m sorry, sir. I… I’m actually starting to look forward to it now.”

“Good. Forget your old life. It’s irrelevant now. If you had any assets, we’ll get Q back online later. You tell him, he’ll deal with it. You can select a charity to donate to.”

It shook its head. “No assets, sir. Nothing worth mentioning. I could barely afford the rent and bills as it was. My credit card was overdue most of the time too.”

“Well, now they’ve got no way of chasing you for those debts. They’ll never find you. You can suggest any ideas you might have to explain your disappearance though. Sometimes it helps.”

“I don’t see any point. No-one gives a damn about me apart from work, sir. What did you do?”

“Me? I owned a yacht. Stormy sea, wallet found aboard, no body, will written to bequeath everything to my ex-slave. Moonbeam’s hers. She became a dominatrix after I was taken. She knows I’m alive but permanently trapped though.”

“How the hell does she know?”

“My master. He was livid when he heard what Alpha had done. Trapping me, just because I tried on the suit without even a hint of I never want out. When he found I was a straight master with slave in a cage and I’d been here for a couple of days, he sent someone to make sure she was fine, released her and arranged for me to speak to her one last time. Of course, she doesn’t know I’m me, even though we’ve spoken a few times in person, now. She’s been to the store, of course.”

“That was good of him.”

“He’s a good master. A bloody good master. I wasn’t kidding when I said I loved him either. Alpha trapping me was the best thing that ever happened to me, even if I took a few weeks to come to terms with it.”

“And now I’m in the same situation and you did it to me.”

I nodded. “You did ask for it though. That was the difference and quite frankly, I did you a favour. You would never have agreed to it otherwise.”

“And now?”

“As Q said, four days freedom from duties. Four days to get into the spirit of it, to learn to love it.”

Its shoulders sagged. It nodded. “It’s a huge leap. I’ll never see true freedom again?”

“You were never truly free. Think of it like this. Before this, work. And the only thing you worked for was to pay for rent, utilities and food. As I said to some visitors to the island while I was there, I was a slave to my possessions. Now I’m a slave to a master. A man’s a better master than an apartment.”

“I suppose it’s one way to put it. I’ll never…” It sighed. “Alright. I think I’ll adjust, sir.”

“Oh, you’ll adjust, Blank. You have your whole life to get used to it.”

“Shit, it won’t take that long will it?”

I chuckled. “Talk to the Thirteen, Fifteen and Sixteen. Bandit, Duke and Slasher were taken against their will too. They attempted to burglarize the store. We caught them, suited them… They love it here now. You’ll learn to love it too. It won’t take long.”

Just then, the elevator opened and my large friend entered. I waved at it.

It spotted me and started towards us. “Blank, I’d like you to meet Blank.”

“But, that’s the blob isn’t it? I was told not to speak to that thing.”

I sighed. “Let me guess… Alpha told you?”

It nodded.

“Well I rescind that order. It’s a friend now. Did he tell you what it did?”

It nodded.

“Did he tell you what we forced it to endure?”

“Take every shock it handed out? Yes, sir.”

“Well, since then”

“But he said it was nothing, just a whiny useless pile of blubber not even worth the air it breathed, sir!”

“Things change. Look at it now.”

“It does look… Different. Why’s it walking so slowly. It looks just as lazy as he described it.”

“It ran a marathon this morning.”

“A marathon? That ran a marathon?”

“It did. Yes.”

“How do you know it’s not lying?”

“Because I was the one who pushed it into it. I ran the marathon alongside it on the treadmills. It’s changed. I saw that the day I got back. Why do you think it’s a friend now? I made friends with it.”

“But… It was huge! I saw it a couple of times, the suit barely contained it!”

“When it was finally free of the game, when it’d taken all those shocks, my master gave it an order. That mark on its chest is his reward for its dedication to that order.”

“And the order?”

“Push yourself. Lose that weight. It has. It lost a hell of a lot and in so doing it built up its muscle mass, increased its fitness to such an extent that this morning… Marathon.”

“Jesus, sir. I feel even better now.”

“Good. One thing. The name blob? I forbid it. It’s earned its way out of insults now. It deserves respect for what it’s achieved.”

Finally, Blank reached us and collapsed onto the fuck bench we were standing next to. It looked up at me and its shoulders shook.

“Laughing again, Blank?”

“Yes, sir.”

“How are you feeling now?”

“Physically? I don’t think there’s a word in English, sir.”

“Speak to M before he leaves, he’ll be able to extend your vocabulary a bit where that’s concerned. The English seem to have a lot more terms for wasted.”

“What like?”

“My favourite’s knackered.”

It nodded.

“And mentally?”

“I just had the most fun I’ve ever had in my life, sir. I’d never felt so alive as a dog and then when you told me I’d run a marathon, sir… I…” it paused.

“Go on.”

It took a deep breath as if preparing to speak, then paused as it realised it had to sign instead. “I think I’m in love, sir. I’ve never felt like this before.”

“Not with me, surely?”

“Sorry, sir. No. With this place. With this.” It prodded its mark.

“Which dog were you, by the way?”

“Titan, sir.”

“Good name. I know it was probably chosen to signify size, Blank, but instead, think of it as signifying power. The titans were the parents of the Greek gods. Think of it like that.”

“I will sir. I do like the name.”

I glanced at the other blank. It was frozen to the spot staring at it.

I gave it a prod. “Blank. Sit with it. Talk to it.” I returned my attention to my bigger friend. “It’s still new, Blank. It only found out the suit was permanent two hours ago and it’s having difficulty accepting it. Take it under your wing. Tell it. Even better. Partner with it. Push it like we pushed each other in the gym.”

“A mentor, sir?”

“Yes, that’s a very good way to put it. Mentor it. Teach it how much there is to love about this life.”

“But I’ve still got a lot to learn about that myself, sir.”

“Then you’ll learn together. You need friends and what better way? Oh, the programming task will begin in a few days. When, I’m not sure. My master promised me a full day, twenty-four hours of pleasure. I very much doubt I’ll be in a fit state after that for anything for a while.”

It stared at me. “A day? Of that? And it’s safe?”

“M survived it a few months ago. I’ll be fitted with a heart monitor. If it shows too extreme a reaction it will be stopped, don’t worry. Oh, both of you, spend some time in the dungeon. I know there are things you liked, Blank. Try doing the tying, this one likes chains and whipping. Give it some.”

Blank nodded. It looked at its companion. “I’ll tie you up if you do the same to me. I want to get to love everything here.”

“Agreed! Shall we go down there now? Err… Sir?”

Blank chuckled. “No sirs with me. I’m as much a Blank as you are, just the supersized version. Come on, then. We might as well. Maybe if you stretch me out a bit it’ll help with this stiffness.”

It forced itself back to its feet, the new blank stood too and helped it to the elevator.
* * *
I dropped the shorts, boots and gloves in the centre of the ring and waited.

It was a while before Fourteen appeared, but the moment it stepped out of the elevator, as I was already kitted out and couldn’t use my fingers in the boxing gloves, I nosed the enter key.

“Fourteen. It’s time. Step into the ring and prepare yourself.”

I’d entered a few time-delayed messages into the armband this time. Five minutes should be more than enough for the next message to play.

It squared its shoulders, took a deep breath and nodded.

I pointed at a blank nearby and the pile. As Fourteen scrambled through the ropes, the blank did too.

Fourteen laced up the boots, pulled up the shorts and the blank loosened the laces on the boxing gloves.

Before Fourteen thrust its hands into the gloves, it signed. “Is there a point to these, sir? You’re going to be beating me, not the”

I held my fist up and nodded.

A minute later, Fourteen was rendered as mute as a dog. I circled it until the next message sounded.

“This was for the terror of my departure. I hope it suffers. Don’t worry, it will.”

A hard upper cut. Fourteen staggered back but pulled itself together and stepped forward again.

“This is for the man I nearly killed when he attacked me because of the sign on my back.”

A gut punch followed by a right hook before it could collapse.

It took a while to struggle to its feet. I’d figured this one would require a longer delay. I waited as Fourteen resumed its position. A few seconds later…

“This is for the gunshot wound that cost me a kidney!”

A few punches in rapid succession for that injury.

“This, for the shattered leg, when the cunts ran be down with their truck!”

Another hard gut punch. Another minute before it could crawl to its feet.

“And for the broken arm when I struggled in agony to climb the fence to the railroad…”

Upper cut, left hook, right hook.

Again, it staggered back. It shook its head and stepped forward again.

“You’re forgiven, Fourteen. It was a fucking stupid mistake and you’ll never take a short cut again, will you?”

“It shook its head.”

“Good. Then lesson learned. Now, fight!”

It stepped back in shock. Good, I’d expected that. I’d typed my next message in anticipation of it.

“I’m serious. Defend yourself. You’ve received your beating. Now, fight!”

After the beating it’d taken it wasn’t at its best, but then, neither was I. I had run a marathon that morning.

The result? Not too bad a fight which left both of us exhausted. I won, but it was a small margin on points rather than knockout.

I pointed at the blank again and it hopped back up to untie my laces. Once done, I untied Fourteen’s and started on my boots. It did the same.

It looked at me. “I’m sorry, sir.”

“Fourteen, I said you’re forgiven. Don’t do it again. Yes, it was hell. No, I don’t bear a grudge. After what happened later, I couldn’t. Too much good came out of it.”

“Good?”

“Look at me, Fourteen? I’m not a cripple. I’m fitter now than I was before I was sent away. I’ve met Q! I…” I sighed. “You know how I feel about him now? How I feel about the island?”

It nodded.

“That good!”

The moment the boots and shorts were off, I handed them to the blank. “Store them away.” I nodded at Fourteen. “You. Room two. Let the doctors fix you up. Oh, no more cylinder cleaning. You’ve done enough of that. You’ve paid for your mistake.”

It collapsed to its knees in thanks as I hopped down from the ring and headed to the elevator and my cage. I needed a sleep. Big day tomorrow.
* * *
Sedating the new permanents and replacing the suits? With the help of all the numbered slaves, done in an hour.

I went back up to the stores to get the additions for the terrorist.

It was a box addressed to me. Well, me as number eleven. It’d obviously been sent before I had. Before Q had decided on my new name.

I tore it open. Inside, a full head mask, the whole skull and face sections hardened with an unhardened neck, a large yellow arrow down the back of the head. I examined it more closely. It was paper thin, in two halves joined together by uncured graphene so it would be easy to fit.

Next, a vest, but… God, it looked almost like scale mail. Overlapping leaves of hardened graphene covered it, covered every inch of the torso of the wearer.

At the bottom, a note.

“Eleven, or whatever name I’ve chosen for you,

You know how to attach these but pay particular attention to the head. It was moulded on a 3D printed head based on the scans of our terrorist friend, so it will fit him perfectly. Once cured, it’ll bond permanently as will the vest, but be careful fitting it. The two halves will snap together and the join will bond to itself just as the mask will bond to the material underneath. It’s in for a shock when it wakes. It’ll never feel its face again.

As you can see, the vest is a modern interpretation of medieval scale mail. It is a vast improvement in design however. The scales will not restrict movement but will lock together when put under rapid force such as blade, punch or bullet. This will distribute the force throughout the entire area attacked and considerably reduce the damage beneath.

Signed. Q”

I nodded and turned the vest. Again, the same message in large yellow letters with one addition.

I am Ibrahim Khan.
I am the Atlanta school bomber.
This suit is my punishment.
Make me suffer!

I nodded in approval at the final line. Nice touch.

I headed down to block four. The murdering bastard was frozen in place for its wash as usual. Its tubes hadn’t been connected yet.

I blackened its goggles before I entered its field of vision.

First, the head. I stretched open the two halves. God, even paper thin, it was still as hard as a rock. Place over the face, align to the goggles, nose, head and mouth tubes. As he’d said, a perfect fit. Make sure none of the unhardened material was snagged and press the two halves together. I felt the click of the two halves joining with my fingers. Smooth the neck, stretch it and ensure a perfect join, then for the vest.

That went on just as every vest did.

I connected the head tube, turned on the cycle, popped off its mouth cap and fed it. The sedative for this one could wait.

Fortunately this wash was only the short one, soap and water, dry. The moment it was done, I popped off its mouth cap and tipped down the sedatives.

“M, is the pod ready? And has it been removed from the database?”

“Everything’s all set, sir.”

“Wheel the pod into the wet room. I want it to see what it has in store for it before it passes out. I’ll be in here too, to point at the mirror.”

“Do you need backup? I could send your brothers down.”

“I’ll be fine. I have the fob after all. It tries charging at me, it’ll be on its knees gasping for air in a second.”

It took a few minutes for the pod to arrive which, as far as I was concerned, perfect timing. The moment the wet room was clear again, I turned off the freeze and stepped back to watch.

Its hands shot up to its head, fingers probing, trying to find a join, a way to release its face. But there was no join. The two halves had indeed fused together just as everything else had fused to the suit. The blank looked like it’d been in that from the start.

It span and, spotting me, stepped back.

I pointed at the mirror and typed. “Your solitary confinement is over, Blank. Or should I start calling you by your real name now. Ibrahim? You’re not one of us, you never were and after today we’ll only ever see you in news reports. You’re going back to Atlanta and fuck me I hope they torture you for the rest of your miserable life.”

It shook its head, obviously in terror.

“Look in the mirror.”

It sprinted to the mirror and froze at what it saw. It started examining itself more closely.

“You know the suit is permanent. Now all the additions are too. You’re protected. When I was sent mistaken for you I was in a standard suit but I had the same message on my back.”

It stood bolt upright and twisted in an attempt to see its back. At the sight of it, it yanked, scrabbled about for anything to remove that message.

“That message resulted in a gunshot wound that nearly killed me. You can’t be injured in that way. Your suit’s armoured and even if they put a gun to your head, it wouldn’t… Well, I say it wouldn’t hurt, it’d probably wrench your neck, but it won’t penetrate the suit. Your skull is hardened, your torso’s protected by scale mail and the chastity, also permanent, protects your crotch. You get shot in the same way I was, it’ll distribute the force. Prevent internal injury. We want you to live for a very long time. Preferably in agony.”

It span and stared at me. It wasn’t shuffling like a zombie now.

“You can’t do this!”

“It has been done. Nothing can undo what’s been done to you and why would we want to?”

“You can’t send me there! They’ll kill me!”

“That’s what you want isn’t it. Martyr? But no, they won’t kill you. I’ve passed the message that death is not what you deserve, partly because you want those seventy-two virgins but mostly because we want you to live to a ripe old age. Perpetual suffering until the day… you… die… They agreed. They’ll keep you alive, Khan.”

It staggered. Collapsed to its knees.

“Please!”

“Why would we offer you mercy? Those children didn’t get any. Where was the warning phone call? That’s what more… civilised terrorists used to do, such as the IRA. They sent coded messages warning where their bombs were placed so the people could get clear. You deliberately detonated your bombs for maximum carnage and killed hundreds of innocents. Hundreds of children and teachers. You don’t deserve mercy!”

Its hands clenched and unclenched. I could see it was preparing for something, but when it tried to stand again, it found its legs would no longer support its weight. It couldn’t get back up.

It shook its head, put its hand to its forehead and tried to force itself back to its feet again. It managed half way before it collapsed, flat on its face.

“Goodbye and good riddance. As they said to me when they sent me away the first time, thinking I was you… I hope they make it suffer, and the reply, don’t worry. They will. Fuck me they did. You’ll have it much worse.”

It was still fighting the sedative. Trying to push itself back to its knees, but its arms slipped on the tiled floor and flailed, quivered. It was losing its ability to move just as Q had suggested. Before long it’d be unconscious.

I wandered over, flipped it onto its back, put its arms in position by its side and tapped on my armband.

“Activate lockdown on wetroom four. Send someone in to help get it into the pod.”

Instantly, it stopped quivering. I prodded its thigh… Solid as a rock.

A minute later, M and Twelve appeared.

I chuckled. “Don’t worry, you two, I already told it what you said when you podded me.”

M nodded. “We heard. Let’s get it tubed up and in then.”

“Oh… Don’t forget Khan… The police are the only people with the things you need to survive. I just hope they hand the fob to one of the prisoners rather than the guards so they can keep you in torment forever.”

The tubes were attached in no time and we lifted it into the pod, snapped on the mouth tube, plugged its core into the charging port in the pod and snapped the lid shut.

“Damn.”

M looked at me. “What?”

“I wish we’d thought. A drone or two to watch its progress.”

“We didn’t but this time, Q did. There’ll be drones watching and according to Q, they’re so small, it won’t even notice them.”

“Really? Oh fuck, I want to see what it does differently to me.”

M and Twelve nodded as we carried the pod to the elevator.