Chapter 50

Lucas was exhausted and all his muscles hurt. He'd gotten used to having that stupid ball in his mouth most of the time. Lady Rita took it out when she had him behind a locked door and someone always took it out to let him eat twice a day, but he couldn't even tell his overseer when he had to use the bathroom. It didn't matter because he got such frequent breaks, but he wondered what he would have done if Rita had followed Gianna's instructions and kept him gagged all the time.

Lady Rita gave up her days off so that no one else would take over his training. He wouldn't have to endure twelve consecutive hours of back-breaking work, followed by four hours on his knees, still stuck in the gag, and probably beat with a strap if his knees gave out. As it was, Mistress Carmen had really only hit him a few times. He'd provoked it by wandering out of bounds, trying to get a look at the security systems, and even then, she hadn't really hit him that hard.

He knew he was lucky that Rita had been so nice to him, but he was starting to worry about what was going to happen when his time here was up. The mine was dark and the work was mind-numbing and hard, but with Rita watching out for him, he felt like it was more bearable than being sold on an auction block and looking at an uncertain future.

"Lady Rita?" he spoke tentatively. He didn't want to presume on her goodwill.

"Yes, Lucas?"

"I was thinking maybe you should tell Mistress Gianna that I need more training."

"But why? You'd have to stay here longer."

"Exactly."

She caressed his cheek. "You don't deserve to be in here. You should be out in the sunlight where the air isn't stale."

Was this what Darwin felt like when they told him he needed to go swim on the surface and get some sun? "Well, if I could go where there's real sunlight, then sure I'd want to leave, but I'm afraid."

She sighed. "I know you are. I wish I could tell you everything's going to be okay. Your chances are really good, but…" She let the sentence hang unfinished.

"But I'd rather not gamble if I can't afford to lose." For some reason, he couldn't shake the image of Tony running through the passages of seaQuest in his underwear while Dagwood held his clothes and chanted, "I'm the lucky winner."

"I can't keep you here forever, you know. Much as I might like to."

Like to? He forced a chuckle. "What, and work seven days a week?"

"You're working seven days a week."

"I don't have a choice. You do."

"I'd work seven days a week if it would help you, Lucas. If you want me to report to Gianna that you're not ready, I'll do it, but it may backfire. She'll probably want Ms. Jess to take over for me, or she'll take you home herself and apply her own discipline. She can be pretty brutal."

Lucas shuddered. He'd heard the name Jess whispered around and only the pain-crazy guys were eager to meet her. Of course, Lucas could never ask the other slaves any questions because he only got the gag off when he was alone with Rita. He sighed. "Do whatever you think is best then."

Rita patted his shoulder. "Try not to worry. It probably won't be as bad as your imagination is making it."

Try not to worry, she says. Probably, she says. He closed his eyes in an attempt to ignore the wave of revulsion that swept over him as he allowed her to replace the gag. He wanted to scream protests, but it would only make him lose what little privilege he had. Besides, he wanted Gianna to pay, not Rita.

Rita led him back to Mistress Carmen's work group, and he gave both Carmen and Rita a scowl, just because he felt ornery and resented every stinking woman on Juno at that moment. Rita had told him to pretend he hated her in front of others, so he wasn't burning any bridges there. Carmen raised her lash threateningly and he tensed rather than do what he knew he was supposed to: start hauling rocks. She delivered a smack to his back, but it only stung a little. He wondered whether her stroke really wasn't that hard, or if he was comparing everything to his flogging back on If Island, in which case nothing they were doing here would register on his skewed pain scale.

He glared at her just enough to let her know he wasn't deriving any "excitement" from her pitiful attempts at motivation, but not long enough that she'd feel he needed more correction. He'd sent his message of protest for the day, so he went back to playing human skip-loader. Carmen followed him a while, which he expected. She had to make sure his little temper tantrum was over before she went and beat anyone else. It was something like a game and he had a feel for some of the rules now, inane though they were.

Most of the time, he just concentrated on the work: bend over, lift big rock, stand slowly enough not to break back, walk to the conveyer (being very careful not to drop rock on toes), heave rock onto conveyer, walk back, start the process over. He knew he could probably work out designs for the new submarine in his head while his muscles plowed through their motions, but it was too depressing. What good would it do? He had to forget seaQuest and Bridger Hitchcock SeaDesigns. He had to forget his friends and his old life. This was his new fate and his new future. Thinking of the past hurt too much. And unlike the half-hearted smacks from Mistress Carmen, his memories cut like a knife.

Therefore, when he was careful, he kept himself occupied by calculating pi and rehearsing various scientific equations, at least the ones that didn't remind him too much of seaQuest. He was carrying a rather large rock and mentally reciting Kreb's Cycle when he thought he saw a familiar face in one of the distant work groups. He blinked and looked again, but there was no one there. I must be seeing things because I'm hungry. Back to Kreb's Cycle and hauling rock. But he couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him. That's ridiculous, of course they're watching me. There were security cameras and overseers all over the stinking place.

He started looking up more. It was a risk because the ground was littered with smaller rocks that could really hurt his bare feet, not to mention the danger if he stumbled. He saw the face again. Was that Tim? It didn't seem possible. Tim wasn't stupid enough to come to Juno. Heck, not even Tony was that stupid. His mind was starting to play tricks on him. He was going crazy. But if he was just seeing what he wanted to see, why wasn't it Captain Bridger or Dr. Westphalen? Tim's spectacled face was hard to mistake for anyone else. Lucas kept trying to get a better look, but Carmen smacked him twice for dawdling and he didn't see either glasses or a familiar face again, which only confirmed he was losing his mind.

Lady Rita picked him up again. He didn't have any trouble pretending he didn't want to go because he really wanted to try to see that face again. He was genuinely in a foul mood when Rita practically threw him into the 'training room' and locked the door.

"You don't have to be that stubborn," she growled as she reached to unbuckle the gag.

He strained to overcome his frustration before he spit out the ball. "I—I'm sorry. I thought I saw someone I know and I wanted to get a better look, but you dragged me away."

"Someone you know?" She came closer and whispered, "Could it be someone that could help you?"

If it was Tim, then there could be no other explanation. He was far too smart to have come alone. It had to be a rescue. "I think so. Skinny pale guy with glasses. He can't have been here long."

"Puppy. His mistress is some V.I.P. guest. She only left him here for twenty-four hours. Do you want to talk to him?"

Lucas couldn't help the surge of hope swelling within. Sure, he'd be disappointed if it wasn't Tim, but what would it hurt to look? "Please. I owe you big if it's my friend."

"Is there any way I can be sure?"

"His real name is Tim." Then he remembered how Rita had made him take off all his leather before she put him in work clothes. She dressed all the newcomers. "And there are bad scars on his back."

Recognition dawned in her eyes. "Sounds like you do have a friend here. I'll be right back."

Lucas couldn't kneel anymore; he couldn't even stand still. He jumped up and paced the tiny room. When the key turned in the lock, he shied away from the door. He didn't think Rita had been gone long enough and he was afraid someone else was coming in. But soon enough, he saw her enter, yank Tim in on a leash, and then close the door behind him. He was wearing a grey toga-like garment, but at least he was a lot more covered than Lucas was, especially in the back. It took Tim a second to process everything. No doubt he'd thought he was going to get punished and Rita wouldn't have been able to tell him any differently. Then he saw Lucas and his face lit up, but he still didn't know whether he could trust the overseer who had brought him here.

Lucas didn't wait for him to figure it all out. He surged forward and bear-hugged him. "Tim! How did you get here?"

Tim hugged back, quite a bit firmer than his usual. He indicated Rita with his eyes and let his expression ask the question without any words.

"Lady Rita has been nice to me. I asked her to bring you in here."

"Are you okay?"

Lucas nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just sore from working in the mines. I can't believe you're here. Is seaQuest docked? Can we get out of here?"

Tim cringed. "Not quite. You know this place isn't UEO. The governor wouldn't give us permission to dock. We had to find another way in." Again, he eyed Rita distrustfully. "You know the papers you signed? Well, I signed some too. I'm the property of Domina Scarlet Westphalen." He winked when he said her surname, as if he could miss it.

W-W-Westphalen? Dr. Westphalen was here? Lucas was so excited he couldn't speak.

"She and Lady Katerina Hitchcock will want to have a word with your supposed owner. Lady Katerina is extremely put-out that you were stolen from her." He gave Lucas a pointed look to punctuate 'stolen', willing him to read between the lines.

Lucas caught on fast. Katie came here undercover as a mistress and she's going to get me back by claiming she already owned me. He feigned nervousness. "Is Lady Katerina mad at me? I couldn't help it. I swear. Gianna was going to starve me to death if I didn't sign."

"Wait," Rita said. "I thought you weren't into this at all? Now you're saying you had another mistress?"

Lucas looked at Rita and then back at Tim. "I can't to lie to Rita. Not after what she's done for me." He turned back to Rita. "I told you the truth before. But I'm going to have to lie to get out of here. Katerina and…" He couldn't remember the fake name Tim had given Dr. Westphalen.

"Domina Scarlet," Tim supplied.

Lucas nodded and continued talking to Rita. "…and Domina Scarlet are my friends. I was staying at Katie—er—Lady Katerina's condominium in Hawaii when I was kidnapped, and I was working for her—like lots of hours—so it's not really far from the truth."

Rita shook her head. "Gianna won't care. She owns you now."

Lucas started to argue, but Tim grabbed him and shook his head at him. "Let Lady Katerina handle it, Lucas."

He shut his mouth fast. Tim was right. Lieutenant Commander Hitchcock and Dr. Westphalen were not to be trifled with. Gianna was dead meat.

"I told Dr. Smith I found you," Tim faced Lucas as he spoke and all but ignored Rita now. "She's going by Madam Lynx here. She's going to find Katerina and Scarlet. You're not going to believe the costumes."

Wendy was here too? "Oh, I'll believe it. But how many people came with you?"

"Three women, six men, including me."

Six men risked setting foot in a colony where they could become slaves? "Whoa. Six men? Now that's unbelievable."

Tim chuckled. "Wait 'til you see Lady Katerina's LS909."

Why did Katie's money continue to surprise him? Of course she would buy a fancy submarine.

Tim turned to Rita. "Domina Scarlet will be here soon. I know you can't take my word for it, but she and Lady Katerina are going to demand that you tell them where Mistress Gianna is." He practically spat her title. "May I respectfully suggest: don't cross them."

"If anyone found out what I've already done for him, I could end up in chains out there." She cast a glance over her shoulder. "I've already risked a lot for him. I'll try to help any way I can, but, unfortunately, I don't know where Gianna is. All I can do is call the number she left."

"Then I recommend you call her."

It was so funny how Tim was saying 'recommend' and 'suggest' while practically giving orders. In a place where he was supposed to be a slave. It reminded Lucas a lot of Captain Bridger.

Rita looked around the room. She was a little flustered. Everything had happened rather fast and she still didn't know what to make of Tim. "Um, will you both be okay here, by yourselves?"

Lucas smiled at her. "We're fine. Go."

She left, locking them inside.

"Do you want to try to talk to the captain?" Tim asked.

"Yes!" he exclaimed without thinking. "Wait. There's a scrambling field around the whole dome. PALs won't work."

Tim smiled like the Cheshire cat. "I know. Do I look like I have room for a PAL in this toga anyway? You remember how the captain talked to Dr. Smith when we were on the life raft in the Pacific?"

"Mary?"

A nod. "Mary. You'll have to touch me and there're no guarantees it'll work. The captain may have more psychic aptitude or I may not be under enough stress, like I was then. But Mary thinks it could work. You'll have to let down your defenses and let her in."

Lucas grabbed Tim by the hand. "Let's try it."

"Close your eyes and relax," Tim said, squeezing his hand a little. Lucas closed his eyes.

Lucas, can you hear me? He'd talked to Mary on vid-link before, when Tim was kidnapped by Slate. Her mindvoice sounded just like her other voice.

Yes, I can hear you, Mary! Hey, congratulations on getting engaged and all.

Thank you, Lucas. You sound much better than we all expected.

I'm just so happy to see Tim and now to talk to you. Are you with Captain Bridger?

The captain's voice interrupted; it was canned and fainter, like hearing over a radio. No, I'm on seaQuest in the South Atlantic, still tracking prehistoric crocodiles.

Tim explained, Mary's at home in Oklahoma. She's talking to seaQuest on vid-link.

Can you hear me, Lucas? the captain asked.

Yes, I hear you, sir. I didn't think you'd be able to help me. I didn't think I'd ever hear your voice again.

Mary repeated after him, word-for-word and with his same inflection, and she did it without interrupting him or waiting. It was a little unnerving to hear his words echoed, but she kept her physical voice soft so that it was as unobtrusive as possible. She was done almost as quickly as he was.

We got your message. You should know we'd never let them get away with this. The captain's rebuke was gentle. He wasn't pretending this rescue was standard or easy.

Lucas fought tears of joy. I miss you all so much. Thanks for coming after me.

Well, don't thank me, pal. Lieutenant Commander Hitchcock planned this whole thing. You just go along with whatever the women say, okay?

Yes, sir. Tim's telling me what to do.

Good. He's with Dr. Westphalen. You know she can't wait to see you.

I can't wait to see her either.

Are we done? the captain asked.

We are if you are, sir, Tim said.

You be careful in there, all of you.

Aye, sir. O'Neill out.

Tim released his hand and Lucas opened his eyes. He quickly brushed an errant tear away.

"Are you really okay?" he asked again, since Rita was gone.

"Yeah, really. Wardrobe sucks though." He turned just a little, so Tim could see he had nothing whatsoever covering his whole backside, then quickly turned back.

Tim gave him a sympathetic look and then said, "You think that's bad? Ben let Dr. Smith pierce his nipples."

"No way!" Lucas couldn't help but laugh and cringe at the same time. "So Ben's here too?"

"Ben and Commander Ford belong to Lady Katerina. Tony and I belong to Domina Scarlet and Will and Brody belong to Madam Lynx. Oh, and Dr. Westphalen cut her hair—really short."

"She cut her hair for me?"

"Yep. But all the women ever talk about is their high heels being medieval torture devices."

"Well, I think they have some real medieval torture devices in here if they want to see them."

"They didn't use anything on you, did they?"

"No. I'm fine. Really." No way he was going to mention getting his butt paddled in the middle of the town square. He leaned in and whispered, "Do you think we'll get to watch when Katie and Dr. Westphalen open the can of whoop-ass on Gianna?"

Tim shuddered. "The captain ordered me to try to keep Dr. Westphalen from breaking her Hippocratic Oath. But Hitchcock outranks me, so I'm under no obligation to stop her from turning Gianna into a bloody pulp."

"They might not let us watch."

Tim chuckled. "Actually, from what I've seen since we got here, someone will probably sell tickets and run a betting pool."