Hello all. First off, I'm sorry for making you wait so long. I don't want to make excuses, so I won't. The emails and feedback I have received asking for a continuation of this story were deeply appreciated, and I can only apologise yet again for my not updating sooner. That being said, the rest of the story is written. Chapters 13 and 14 are complete, and just need going over a few more times before they can be posted.
I want to say a big thank you to thewinedarksea for all their help with editing and feedback with this chapter.
Enjoy!
*****
Dan
"Keep your back straight!" Rose's instructor shouts, causing me to wince and my slave to flinch, before she adopts an even more uncomfortable-looking kneeling position.
Feeling helpless, I reign in my protests. The last time I said something, alI I did was distract Rose and earn her an earful from the overbearing instructor. Stars, I can only imagine the reaction you would get if you tried to teach humans in the same way Lower Vil are educatedβa lawsuit more than likely.
Given my status as disturbance-in-chief, I've been relegated to the back of the room to watch Rose's training. It's hard seeing her treated this way, but Mr. X is right: her best chance at success will rely on her staying off of the warden's radar.
"Head down! Present!" He shouts, and at once Rose falls forward, placing her head against the ground and arching her back so that, were she not wearing sweatpants, her privates would be completely exposed. I can see why they call it present.
I look away, though I doubt she would be embarrassed. At least now that she has her new lungs and she's taking the pill the doctors here whipped up, all her medical problems seem to have abated. Which is just as well, because where Rose is heading she's going to have to keep her wits about her.
"No! No! No!" The instructor yells, "This isn't working!" He looks over at me. "She needs to be punished."
"No," I say at once, which unfortunately draws Rose's attention.
"Keep your eyes on the floor, girl!"
"I'm sorry sir," Rose whispers as I stand up.
In truth, being moral support is only half the reason I'm here. The use of physical punishment has been a sticking point between me and Rose's ex-warden instructor for the last day and half. He believes it necessary; I believe he just wants an excuse to touch Rose's arse.
"What will spanking her achieve exactly?" I ask. "She's doing fine."
"She's doing fine for a toddler with attention deficit disorder," he replies, looking down at his pupil with something close to despair.
"I think he's right, Master," Rose says softly from the floor.
"You see!" The instructor yells, going red in the face.
"Shh Rose," I say quickly. The problem is that I do see his point. Stars' sake, I've spent the last month teaching Rose to think for herself and not to be afraid to speak her mind. Now she's expected to unlearn all of that in a matter of days.
But I'm not about to let this asshole hurt Rose. I look down at my slave with a frown. I wish I could call her my girlfriend, but trying to explain the idea of an equal relationship would not go well, and I'm not willing to push the issue as she's under quite enough stress and worry as it is.
"Look," the instructor says in exasperation, "I know you're all new-age and shit, but the compounds aren't. I've trained hundreds of Lower Vil over the years and I can tell you I am being ten times more lenient on her than any other warden would."
I meet his gaze with an effort. I don't know where Mr. X found this guy but he's an intimidating figure and I have no doubt that he wouldn't just hurt Rose, he would enjoy it. I need go get her out of here.
"Fine," I say, mustering as much confidence as I can. "I'll do it."
"You can't!" The instructor protests. "You don't know what you're doing."
"Apply hand to arse, repeat 'til red," I reply dryly. "It can't be that complicated."
With Rose still posed like something out of a cheap porno the instructor grabs my arm, pulling me close to his red face. "You're too close to her, and you're too much of a pussy to teach her what she needs to be taught."
"Mark my words boy, she will be slaughtered at any half decent compound," he growls, before pushing me roughly away. "But what do I care, she's your cunt not mine. I'm going to lunch." And with that he turns on his heel and leaves the room.
I watch him leave with a guilty feeling in my stomach, what if he's right? Shaking my head I look down at Rose, who is keeping her eyes dutifully fixed to the floor. Maybe I could try talking to her again? Make her understand how important faking obedience is to her mission.
"Stand up Rose," I say. Forcing myself not to help her as she jumps quickly to her feet.
"I'm sorry Master," she says softly, keeping her eyes on the floor. I want to lift her chin and bring her beautiful green eyes to mine, but I fight the temptation.
Rose isn't ready for this. I doubt even if we had a year of training she would be; subterfuge just isn't in her nature.
"Come on," I say. "We'll go back to our room."
Rose nods and follows three steps behind me as I walk out of the gym. The department of inter-species relations is vast, with a prison, hospital, offices, and even its own landing port for freight ships. Rose and I have been given a room in the enforcer training facilityβthough I'm yet to actually see any recruitsβso we have an entire floor to ourselves.
I place my right hand on the door handle of our room; it turns a bright green as my ident chip is read. I hold the door open for Rose every instinct I have telling me to comfort her. Yet I force myself to take a deep breath, following her into the room with my face set. I don't doubt i'm being monitored while i'm here. I just have to hope the surveillance does not extend to our room.
"Kneel by the bed sweetie," I say, making sure the door is locked. Though, given what I've seen of Mr. X's department so far a locked door isn't much of an impedance.
Rose kneels keeping her back perfectly straight, which has the effect of pushing out her modest breasts. I shake my head, forcing myself to focus as I sit down on the bed.
"Rose," I say, before pausing as I try and think what to say. "That dickhead back there, he's right. You need to do better, you need to be perfect."
She nods, her eyes fixed on the ground. "I'm sorry Master," she whispers, regret seeping into her shaking voice.
I fight back the sudden feeling of guilt as my slave girl whimpers before me. Making her uncomfortable is better than physically punishing her, and it's for her own good. At least, that's what I tell myself.
"I need you to do this," I halt again as my voice catches. "I need you to do this because I'm scared, Rose," I say, resting my hand on her arm. "Unless you can behave as they expect you to behave at the compound, they will hurt you. You'll give them a reason to watch you and that's going to make alerting the inspection team so much harder."
"Yes, Master," she replies softly, nuzzling my hand. "I'm scared too, Master."
I shake my head. Why in stars' name am I letting her do this? I pat the bed beside me. "I know sweetie. I would be worried if you were not afraid."