18

Again, things went with their own miserable monotony. Orion's life was one of harsh work, harsh
treatment, and low living. He and Hyder were finally allowed to move into the slave dorms, four years after they
had been brought to the complex. Had it not been for the one little incident, they would have been in there a lot
sooner.

Orion was nine. He'd been without chains now for nearly three years, except when he was being
punished. But he had behaved well for a long time, and had not felt the whip for over three months. He had not
even been scolded in a couple of weeks.

One night, as Orion was preparing to go to bed, Blackmoor came to see him in the dorm. As usual, the
young Thunderian cringed away from him, but did not move back. He cast his eyes to the floor. "Y-yes, Master?" he asked.

"I have a proposition for you, brat."

Puzzled, Orion timidly asked what that meant.

"Stupid wretch, I shouldn't have even asked you..." Blackmoor sighed. "There is a lady that lives in
this city that we often deal with. Once a year, her servants are put on vacation. it's something she does for
them." Blackmoor waved a hand, looking mildly disgusted. "Soft-hearted fool. When they leave, it is for two
months, and she rents a slave from this complex to help her out around the house." Blackmoor thought a
moment, then said grudgingly, "You have behaved well over the past few months, you've obeyed every order
you've been given without any mistakes. Are you interested in this job?"

For a moment, Orion said nothing; he was thinking that it might be too good to be true. Still, he managed to stammer, "Y-y-yes, Master..."

Orion almost expected the jackal to laugh and say "Too bad," then walk off, but he didn't. He only
nodded. "Very well. you will leave tomorrow afternoon by cart and will get there in the evening. Tomorrow
morning you will shower and you will be given a clean pair of breeches." The jackal grasped Orion's chin and
forced him to look at him. "You will do every thing this lady tells you to do, and do it immediately, is that understood? If you cause her one tiny bit of trouble, I will beat you within an inch of your life. Is that understood, slave?"

"Y-yes, M-m-master..." Orion stammered, wondering just what this lady might make him do. All of a
sudden, he was a little worried about his decision.

Blackmoor left.

"Don't worry," Hyder said. The young hyena was now twelve, and still nearly as skinny as he had bene
at the age of eight. But he was somewhat taller. "He just says that because she's a good customer...just don't
make her mad. I hear that she's nice; I wish I could go."

Relaxing a great deal, Orion said, "Well...m-maybe he'll let you go too."

Hyder laughed. "Nah, it's all right. He won't let me, and besides, you should go." he lowered his voice.
"It'll get you away from Blackmoor."

Orion nodded and smiled at his friend. He climbed into the bed and closed his eyes, hearing Hyder's
breathing in the cot next to him. Tamarin, who had been in the dorm for a few years now, was a few cots away,
but Orion's feline eyes could see him grin at him in the dim light. Closing his eyes once more, Orion covered
up and went to sleep.

The next morning, he was roused early as usual and sent to work in the junkyard. Late in the morning,
he was taken to the showers and told to wash up well, and Orion was only too glad to do so. he did not often
get to bathe well, and rarely with soap. When he came out and dried off, his thin fur was lighter, and the thick
fur on his back and frontside was puffed out a little bit, and soft. He was given a light blue pair of breeches to
put on, and he was surprised to find that they actually fit. Without any trouble at all, he followed the bored
taskmaster out of the building and out to a waiting cart. He was told to climb inside, and he obeyed, frowning a
little bit when the reptilian attached a strong chain to his collar and attached it to a loop inside the tiny cart.

This done, he climbed up onto the top and made a noise to the reptile at at the reins, and the cart took off.
Orion was a little surprised. He half expected to be made to pull the cart himself, but he got to ride
inside it! There was a wooden bench inside with a thin cushion on it for a seat, and little leg room. He felt slightly claustrophobic, but still.

The young slave was half tempted to lie down and rest, but he had never been anywhere outside of
Blckmoor's complex. Despite what might lay ahead for him, the excitement of leaving it for the first time was
enough to keep him awake and looking out the open windows. There was no glass, only open doorways on
either side. This was why he was chained, it would be very easy to sneak out of the creaky cart and escape. but
Orion almost didn't mind. he was enjoying looking around.

Most of the Mutants he saw in the town looked at him with contempt, but he was used to that. He was
looking at the shops, and the vehicles (many of which he had worked on in the hangars) and the creatures. He'd
never seen such strange, and sometimes scary animals on Thundera! And most of them seemed to be pets!

He was content for a few hours to simply watch, but then he did start to get a little droopy. Orion curled
up on the narrow seat to wait the ride out.

After night had fallen, the cart finally came to a stop. Roused, Orion sleepily opened his eyes and sat
up. With a noise of aggravation, the reptilian Mutant brushed Orion's hair out somewhat roughly, as he'd been
given orders that Orion look presentable. "Should've cut it," he grumbled.

Orion, who did not like being touched, nearly shied away. but he refrained, saving himself from a smack across the face. He let the simian brush his hair and wash his face and eyes. then the chain lead was taken from the collar and Orion was led up the steps.

The young slave was very nervous, wondering how he would have to behave. As it was, he was walking
with his head down and his eyes on the ground in front of him, and the taskmaster wasn't saying anything to
him, so he must be doing all right.

The door opened, and although Orion was tempted t look up and see who was there, he did not. "Yes?"
came a feminine voice, and then answered her own question. "Oh this must be my replacement for these three
months. Please come in."

The taskmaster nudged Orion into the house, and still the boy did not look up. but he did steal glances
from the corners of his eyes. The house was huge! The room he was in, only a foyer, was in itself large. There
was nice furniture and the like everywhere, and he had never seen such richness. Even on Thundera his family had been comfortable in the money department, but nothing so rich as this.

"So what's this young man's name?" the woman asked. Orion still had not seen her.

The taskmaster nudged Orion again. "Tell her your name."

"O-Orion, Mistress," Orion said, using the name Blackmoor ahd said he must use.

"Good boy." The taskmaster nodded, relieved that Orion had cooperated. He himself did not want to go
back to his boss with a bad report.

"Please, call me Hintracrii, young Orion. it's the name I prefer."

She wanted him to call her by her name? Not sure as to what to do, and fearing retribution form the
taskmaster, Orion only nodded.

"Well I'd love to stay, madam, but I've got to get back to the complex. Call there if this one gives you
any kind of trouble." The taskmaster squeezed Orion's shoulder lightly, but the threat was enough. Orion knew
what he meant.

Hintracrii smiled and nodded to the reptilian. "Then have a safe trip. Come on, Orion. it is late, let me
show you where you are to sleep."

Answering in a quiet voice, and still not raising his eyes, Orion followed the tan colored feet of his temporary mistress.

Hintracrii looked back with a frown of mild puzzlement. "Why do you not look up, Orion?"

The voice wasn't harsh, or unkind...Orion wasn't sure if he should look up, or answer. He decided to
answer. "I-I'm not supposed to unless they tell me to."

The woman was not sure how to react to this, and most of the slaves that she had "borrowed" had been
higher ranking ones, and ones that had not been so terrorized and beaten. "Well, little one, you don't have to
look up if you don't want to. But I don't mind. I think that eye contact is a pleasant thing when talking to someone."

A choice? She was giving him a choice? Orion timidly looked up and was a little surprised to find that
Hintracrii was a rat Mutant. She was an older Mutant, and very pretty even for her age. She had a kind look in
her eyes, not something the young slave often saw. Hintracrii smiled. "You have very pretty eyes, Orion. Are
you a Thunderian?"

"Y-yes, Mistress."

She stopped outside a door, and Orion also stopped, wondering if she was mad at him for some reason.
he couldn't explain it, but he really did want her to be pleased with him. and not just because Blackmoor would
hurt him if she was not.

"Are you afraid of me?" the woman asked. Again, her voice held no hostility, only something like curiosity,. And something Orion could have sworn was concern.

Looking down again, Orion shook his head. "N-no, mistress...h-how come you thought so?"

"Your speech seems very afraid, young Thunderian. You don't have to fear me. I won't harm you unless
you try to harm me."

Orion blinked and looked up again at her. He honestly did not know what to say to that.

"Why are you so timid?"

Hintracrii had nt meant it as an insult, in fact later she realized what she ahd said was somewhat
degrading. But a flash of anger and hurt went through Orion's mind at the question. Looking again at the floor
and clenching his fists in helpless frustration, he spoke. He could not help himself, the words just spilled out.
"E-every time I say something, or look up, or even breathe sometimes without permission I get beaten!" he
cried. "Th-they took me form my parents when I was little...I don't even know where they are! They...they
brought me to this planet, and gave me to Blackmoor. he likes to hurt me, uses any excuse! I-i-if you got beat
all the time, or s-starved, o-or dunked...you'd be timid too!"

Taken aback, Hintracrii only looked at Orion for a moment. This time it was she that was at a loss for
words. Though a kind woman, especially by Plundaarian standards, and rich, she knew little of the slave
market. She had not thought they were ill-treated, in fact thought that kind of thing would be counterproductive
as well as wrong.

Misjudging her silence as displeasure, Orion bit his lip, realizing just what he'd done. Tears came to his
eyes, as much as he wanted them to stay away. "I-I-I'm sorry Mistress...I-i d-didn't mean it, I swear..I'm sorry,

I'm sorry...:please don't tell Master Blackmoor...I-I won't misbehave again..."

Hintracrii closed her eyes, almost wishing they had given her a different choice. This one seemed so
fearful, afraid of everything... She didn't know how to deal with him. "Please don't cry," she finally said to
him. "I'm not angry with you."

Again the rat managed to surprise Orion, who looked up slowly, still fearing a strike to the face or something like that. It never came. "Y-you aren't?"

"No, little one."

"Y-y-you...you won't tell my master...?"

"No...I will not tell him. You've done nothing wrong." After a moment of awkward silence, she
opened the door to one of the guest rooms. "Well, this is where you will sleep while you're here. There is
some clothing in the drawers, although I don't think you'll fit into them...have to get some of a smaller size.
there is a shower off to the left there, and a closet to the right. there are some books to read if you like before
bed."

Orion only stared at the room for a moment. it was big, bigger than his room on Thundera, even.
There was a large bed, that looked very soft. Pillows and a blanket... "Th-this...this is where I sleep..? On the
floor?" Maybe it was the lady's room and he had to share it with her.

Hintracrii laughed, the question having surprised her. "Well I suppose if you prefer it. but you can sleep
on the bed. You're the only one who will sleep in here, you can sleep wherever you like. Breakfast will be midmorning, I will come and knock on the door. All right, little one?"

Finally, Orion nodded. "Y-y-yes, Mistress...c-can I take a shower?"

"Dear, you don't have to ask my permission for that." She laid a gentle hand on the boy's head. "Go
ahead and take a shower...and please, call me Hintracrii."

"Yes, Hintracrii...thank you..." He walked into the room and heard her close the door. but not lock it.
But at the moment Orion was not thinking of escape. He only thought of sleeping in a real bed, a warm bed...
He wondered if the water was hot or cold. he crept into the bathroom and discovered that he could choose
the temperature. Even though he had bathed that morning, he couldn't resist. The ride there had been chilly,
as it was middle fall and getting cold. Especially at night. And the cart had been all open.

He stepped into the shower and turned on the water. Gods, he enver thought water could feel good.
but it did. He stood in the shower for a long time, enjoying the warmth, then washed himself well, cleaner afterwards than he had ever been. The showering facilities weren't the best for the slaves, even when they were allowed soap.

Finally the cub dried off, then not sure what to do with the towels, folded them near the door. he would
ask where they went in the morning. he was afraid to get out of the room, as he wans't sure what he was and was
not allowed to do yet.

The young slave climbed into the big bed, amazed at how soft it was. He crawled under the covers,
having a mild panic attack when he sank down a bit it them. but a little readjustment left his head free, and he
discovered that he liked the bed very much. Curled up in the warm comforters, Orion closed his eyes.

Chapter 19

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