slaves might not apply to him. On the other hand, if she could be seen as a potential point of leverage for her friend, then the Modos would feel that both could be controlled.
The frequency of the ambient light shifted yet again. Cat's internal systems informed her that the frequency was finally in a range that normal humans could detect.
"It's getting brighter," Cat said out loud.
The Hoppers and the three D'lralu were milling about the center of the room. It was obvious that the Hoppers were just becoming able to see as well. This was not a surprise to Cat as she knew their visual acuity was roughly equivalent to humans, at least as far as luminosity was concerned.
Cat's ears picked up a subtle change in the sound from the ventilation system. A light mist entered the room. It had a smell that seemed to be an odd cross between an avocado and mint. Her internal Heshe encounter unit did a quick assessment and determined it was an aerosolized form of diphenhydramine. In addition to being an antihistamine, it also was a mild sleeping aid. In the concentrations present it would have little effect on a human other than to clear up a little congestion. The effects on both the Hoppers and D'lralu were far more pronounced. The Hoppers practically collapsed in place. The D'lralu became markedly agitated, snapping at each other (and in one case drawing blood), before they too collapsed.
A familiar voice filled the round room. It was the synthetic voice she associated with Captain Running Stream.
"Please be so good as to place an appropriate control collar on each of the others."
"No," Cat said calmly.
"Forgive me. I phrased the statement like a request. Understand me when I tell you it was not."
"No," Cat repeated.
"Perhaps I need to make myself clear."
Several dozen circuits, embedded in Cat's jumpsuit, activated. They emitted a microwave pulse that penetrated just deep enough through her skin to stimulate the nerve endings located there. Her nanites blocked the pain centers of her brain. At the same time her AI, which resided in her internal and fully cloaked Heshe encounter unit, calculated the probable effect on a normal human. It sent appropriate simulated responses to various parts of her body. Her muscles spasmed, and she crumpled to the ground in what looked to be complete agony.
The pain emitters stopped. Cat continued the ruse by gasping for breath. Ben reached down to help her up. His eyes were wide despite knowing about Cat's technological advantages.
"I trust I will have your cooperation now," Captain Running Stream continued.
"No," Cat said between clenched teeth. "I will not give you the ability to do this for others."
She began to remove her jumpsuit but the moment her hands touched the fastener her body was ravaged by another round of debilitating agony. This time it did not stop after a moment.
"MAKE IT STOP!" Ben yelled while trying to hold her still.
"Then place the collars on the others," the voice said patiently, as if it were a parent talking to a slow child.
"OK, OK... I'm doing it!" Ben yelled over Cat's very realistic screams. Ben quickly located the clasps on each of the collars and placed one each of the others. As he finished Cat's thrashing subsided.
"Let that be a lesson to you my cybernetic friend. Each of these others I can control directly. Should you disobey me your human friend will suffer greatly. Do we understand each other?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry... what?"
"Ye s… Master."
Chapter Three: Bait Taken...
Cat moved down the chow line with Ben at her side. Earlier in the day they had run into Sassi as they were marched down a hall between the Gym and medical. Sassi had indicated he would try to find them at the quarter day meal. The Modos fed them four times a day at exact quarter day increments.
Although they had been onboard the Modos ship for less than a week, their days had developed
The frequency of the ambient light shifted yet again. Cat's internal systems informed her that the frequency was finally in a range that normal humans could detect.
"It's getting brighter," Cat said out loud.
The Hoppers and the three D'lralu were milling about the center of the room. It was obvious that the Hoppers were just becoming able to see as well. This was not a surprise to Cat as she knew their visual acuity was roughly equivalent to humans, at least as far as luminosity was concerned.
Cat's ears picked up a subtle change in the sound from the ventilation system. A light mist entered the room. It had a smell that seemed to be an odd cross between an avocado and mint. Her internal Heshe encounter unit did a quick assessment and determined it was an aerosolized form of diphenhydramine. In addition to being an antihistamine, it also was a mild sleeping aid. In the concentrations present it would have little effect on a human other than to clear up a little congestion. The effects on both the Hoppers and D'lralu were far more pronounced. The Hoppers practically collapsed in place. The D'lralu became markedly agitated, snapping at each other (and in one case drawing blood), before they too collapsed.
A familiar voice filled the round room. It was the synthetic voice she associated with Captain Running Stream.
"Please be so good as to place an appropriate control collar on each of the others."
"No," Cat said calmly.
"Forgive me. I phrased the statement like a request. Understand me when I tell you it was not."
"No," Cat repeated.
"Perhaps I need to make myself clear."
Several dozen circuits, embedded in Cat's jumpsuit, activated. They emitted a microwave pulse that penetrated just deep enough through her skin to stimulate the nerve endings located there. Her nanites blocked the pain centers of her brain. At the same time her AI, which resided in her internal and fully cloaked Heshe encounter unit, calculated the probable effect on a normal human. It sent appropriate simulated responses to various parts of her body. Her muscles spasmed, and she crumpled to the ground in what looked to be complete agony.
The pain emitters stopped. Cat continued the ruse by gasping for breath. Ben reached down to help her up. His eyes were wide despite knowing about Cat's technological advantages.
"I trust I will have your cooperation now," Captain Running Stream continued.
"No," Cat said between clenched teeth. "I will not give you the ability to do this for others."
She began to remove her jumpsuit but the moment her hands touched the fastener her body was ravaged by another round of debilitating agony. This time it did not stop after a moment.
"MAKE IT STOP!" Ben yelled while trying to hold her still.
"Then place the collars on the others," the voice said patiently, as if it were a parent talking to a slow child.
"OK, OK... I'm doing it!" Ben yelled over Cat's very realistic screams. Ben quickly located the clasps on each of the collars and placed one each of the others. As he finished Cat's thrashing subsided.
"Let that be a lesson to you my cybernetic friend. Each of these others I can control directly. Should you disobey me your human friend will suffer greatly. Do we understand each other?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry... what?"
"Ye s… Master."
Chapter Three: Bait Taken...
Cat moved down the chow line with Ben at her side. Earlier in the day they had run into Sassi as they were marched down a hall between the Gym and medical. Sassi had indicated he would try to find them at the quarter day meal. The Modos fed them four times a day at exact quarter day increments.
Although they had been onboard the Modos ship for less than a week, their days had developed
Similar Books
Heart Stopper
R J Samuel
The New York Doll
Ellie Midwood
Miss Buddha
Ulf Wolf
The Forbidden Lady
Kerrelyn Sparks
Love in High Places
Jane Beaufort
Sins of Sarah
Anne Styles
L.A. Fire
Sarah Bailey
Sacrificed (The Ignited Series)
Desni Dantone
