[04] Elite: Mostly Harmless (10 page)

Katherine still looked dubious but tapped on the comms panel to open a channel, hailing the ship with a neutral signal pattern so its captain knew she wanted no trouble; in particular none of the kind of trouble that involved being shot at.

‘Stand down your weapons and prepare to be boarded, pirate.’

The voice coming to them through the comms link was dry, almost bored, as if he could hardly be bothered with the conversation to facilitate their surrender.

‘Captain Riley, it’s me. Commander Rose,’ she winced as she listened to the static of the comms link, waiting for a reaction. None came. She looked to Katherine. ‘Can he hear me?’

Katherine looked back perplexed. ‘That
is
how an open comms channel works, yes. Problem?’

Angel turned once more to look at the Corvette, which was now rotating slowly, manoeuvring to pull up beside the Asp.

‘My sensors register a fully functioning comms link,’ DORIS said. ‘Analysis of the facts suggests the only course of action is to stand down your weapons and prepared to be boarded.’

‘I repeat, stand down your weapons, pirate, I’m coming aboard.’

‘Riley, it’s me. Angel Rose. This vessel came to my aid when my own ship was ambushed and destroyed. Kram …’ she swallowed hard, ‘Kram’s ship was also destroyed. I’m afraid he didn’t make it.’

‘Pirate, you have twenty seconds to stand down your weapons and deactivate your shields before I deactivate them for you. And Commander Rose?’ there was a meaningful pause. ‘You can deactivate your flapping lips and start thinking about how you can put them to good use making up for the lack of gold in your possession.’

Angel was shocked. Captain Riley was a sleaze ball but he’d never been outright rude to her. ‘Captain, in case you hadn’t noticed, I no longer have a ship. We were ambushed by pirates. If you recall I didn’t want to run this trade in the first place for this VERY REASON!’

 ‘Ten seconds …’

Katherine slammed her palm on the comms panel to mute it and spun the command chair around to face Angel. ‘Screw this. Who is that arsehole?’

 ‘Come along now girls, play nicely and I might let you have a go on my joystick later…’ the voice over the comms link goaded.

‘He’s an arsehole that ultimately has to answer to my father. You might as well do as he says and we can sort this out once he’s boarded.’

‘Five seconds ladies … don’t make me get out my big cannon and fire it at you …’

Katherine growled, actually growled, then swung back around and thumbed the channel open. ‘Okay dick-wipe, enough of the smart comments. You’re so obsessed with size it makes me wonder if you’re compensating.’

 ‘Keep your weapons grid online and you’ll find out.’

A spray of tracer fire suddenly erupted from a gun mounted underneath the Corvette’s nose, peppering the Asp’s left wing before raking across the windscreen.

‘Okay! Okay! Put your pods back in your pants. I know when I’m out gunned.’ Katherine slapped a hand on the weapons control panel. There was an electronic sigh as the circuits powering her missiles and auto-cannon wound down.  ‘Shields too, and no funny business,’ the captain said, voice loaded with contempt. ‘I’m coupling up and coming aboard.’

Chapter 10

‘Well, well, well,’ Captain Riley was hanging off the drag frame that cut through the centre of the Asp’s cockpit admiring his handiwork. ‘Two little birds trussed up and ready for roasting. I have to say I’ve rather outdone myself.’

Angel twisted against the zip-lock band securing her hands behind her. She was still hooked like a side of meat on the life support tank rack. It was possibly the least dignified position she’d ever been in.

‘Look, Riley, I don’t know what you think you’re playing at. You might have my mother in your pocket but you can’t just tie us up like this without any charge. I know my rights.’

Riley let go of the drag frame and kicked off the back of the command chair where he had finished securing Katherine towards Angel. When he arrived he gripped the front of her flight suit with both hands, pulling her face in to his smug leer until they were nose to nose.

‘You relinquished any flimsy rights you might have once had when you put your thumb to that contract, little bird.’

Angel cringed back as far as her bondage would allow, feeling molested by his hot breath as it puffed against her lips with every word.

‘Besides, I’ve spent years dreaming about having you tied up and ready for roasting. You’re not going to snatch that pleasure away from me so soon are you?’

DORIS bleeped, startling them both. ‘There is nothing in my client’s contract which gives the navy additional jurisdiction over property or personnel. Commander Rose is correct. She is within her rights to know the charges being brought against her or you must release the bonds.’

 ‘Ah yes, DORIS, the little homing pigeon flying with the birds. You’ve served your purpose and for that I am grateful. But the gold is gone … I’d say it’s time to terminate your programme.’

He reached inside his breast pocket and pulled out the control pad he’d used to activate the bot and the bangle. He punched in a code and a pattern of orange then red LEDs flashed across the biscuit-tin sized machine’s chest panel. ‘There. Now you can go be a calculator or toast muffins or something. Programme terminated. Your mission was a failure.’ He returned his attention to Angel, sliding one hand around the back of her neck and pulling her face more forcibly to his. ‘Now. Where were we? Oh yes - you tied up and me imagining all the terrible ways I am going to pleasure myself now that I finally have your attention.’ He squeezed just below the base of her skull and pressed his body against hers. ‘Your mother is right. You are definitely going to have to grow your hair back – I need something to hold on to.’

Angel shuddered, turning her face away and swallowing hard. Her mind raced in useless circles around the situation, looking for an escape plan. It didn’t find one.

‘On the contrary’ DORIS whirred and moved closer to the captain. ‘We were ambushed and the gold was taken. True. But my programming requires that I protect my client’s assets. The gold may be gone but until such time as she has replenished its value, Commander Rose is the only asset at my disposal.’

Riley’s eyes roamed down Angel’s throat and came to rest on her breasts. Despite the fact they were covered in several layers of flame-retardant cloth and webbed straps, his gaze made her feel as naked as usual. ‘I think you’ll find the commander’s assets are at my disposal right now.’ He used the hand that wasn’t clasping the back of her neck to pinch the fleshy lumps of her breasts, grinning at the way it made her squirm. ‘Get off me you goid-loving shit-kicker!’ she hissed through gritted teeth.

‘Well, that kind of language will have to stop. From now on you’ll be ladylike and compliant, like a good little woman ought to be - seen and not heard. Don’t worry; I have the perfect supply of narcs to make that happen, just as soon as I get you on my ship.’

‘Definitely compensating.’

Katherine’s heckle made Riley stop clawing at Angel’s body and turn slowly. He glared.

‘Any man who needs to tie up a woman and drug her in order to get his pods off may as well wear a sign saying ‘I have a tiny dick’ and have done with it.’

 ‘Oh yes. I had almost forgotten about you, pirate.’ He turned and gave Angel’s left boob one last grabby squeeze. ‘You are a long term project my dear, and will have to wait I’m afraid. Sorry to disappoint, just when we were finally getting somewhere.’

 Letting go of Angel he kicked off the tank rack, pitching himself towards where Katherine was secured to the back of the command chair. Reaching her at some speed in zero gravity he grabbed a fistful of dreadlocks to anchor himself. She gasped as her head was snatched backwards to cease his momentum, exposing a soft, vulnerable throat.

‘You, on the other hand,’ he slammed his hips up against hers, pressing his lips to her ear as he yanked her head painfully to the side by her dreads, ‘are disposable. Like garbage.’

He licked her cheek suddenly; tasting her with animal intent. Katherine squirmed as a slick of his spittle dribbled down the side of her exposed neck.

‘Like I said, so long as you keep me tied up like this I have to assume you’re compensating for having a tiny dick. You were probably bullied about it at cadet school - I know how boys get in the wash room, obsessed with each others cocks and all that. If you really want to play like a man why don’t you release me? Let me lick you back? I bet you’d pre-jack before you could even get your pods out of your pants.’

The air was driven violently out of her lungs as Riley’s fist connected with her belly, hard and without warning. She bent as double as her bindings would allow, a moan escaping her lips. He let her groan for a moment and then raked her head back again, dreads still balled in his fist.

‘Sensitive topic huh?’ Katherine said voice strained as she fought to suck some air back inside her lungs and overcome the wrenching pain in her gut. ‘You probably struggle to get it up all, even in zero-g, never mind unloading in your pants. Right? Can you only do it if a little boy is sucking it? Is that your trouble sugar?’

This time he struck her across the face with his balled fist. It connected like an asteroid wrecker at full pelt, splitting the skin across her cheekbone and making her teeth rattle. His face was a beetroot picture of rage as he reached between her legs, forcing his thick fingers into the Kevlar covered warmth there. His lips pulled back in a vicious sneer as he tweaked savagely at her crotch. He couldn’t feel her through the rough webbing of her flight suit but it was clear by the way she wriggled that she could feel him.

‘Oh, I can get it up all right you dirty little whore, and it is plenty big enough to get your attention. You won’t be wondering about that for long I can assure you.’

Katherine pushed her hips forwards against his hand, causing his rough exploration to falter.

‘That’s more like it soldier,’ she crooned, pressing urgently against his grabbing hand.

He pulled back a little to look in her face, trying to judge whether she was leading him on or not. She watched him with hooded eyes, a trickle of blood tracing the contour of her face from the fresh split he’d made below her left eye. He pressed his hand more deeply into the warmth between her legs and gave a savage squeeze. Her hips arched to meet him and she moaned, this time in pleasure.

‘Now you’re acting like a real man. Show me what you’ve got then soldier. Let’s see if your cock lives up to your cock-sure.’

Captain Riley looked at her carefully. He was used to taking what he wanted, but never having it offered willingly. He was still unsure whether she was for real, but he wasn’t going to untie her so what did it matter? Let her play her games. It was turning him on something wicked. His eyes wandered the length of her body. Her clothes and jewellery looked heavy and aggressive, but without them she would just be another woman; fleshy body, warm and yielding. He was getting hard at the prospect and stepped in close, placing one leg either side of hers. He kept her head pulled back with a fistful of hair and gave her left breast a squeeze with the other hand.

‘Oh my cock lives alright,’ he said as he ground his pelvis into her hip so she could feel the growing presence of his arousal.

‘I guess there might be something useful between your legs after all. But do you know what to do with it?’

Across the cabin Angel’s cheeks flushed and she looked away, embarrassed. From the little she knew of Katherine so far she was fairly sure this porn movie scene was some kind of ruse to facilitate an escape. But right now pretty much nothing would surprise her and watching it play out was excruciatingly awkward.

Katherine leant back against the command chair, lifting one leg and curling it about Riley’s hip, then repeating the exercise with the other so that she was hooked around his groin, pressing herself hard against his growing bulge.

‘Bite me, captain. Can you do that?’ She bit her own lip to demonstrate what she wanted from him, leaving a pink impression as she dragged her teeth across it.

Breathing hard, Riley leant in to do as he was told. He’d never experienced a dominant woman before. He loved the feeling of power; having total control over lesser beings as they squirmed beneath his hands. It had been the same since his first bootleg consignment of slaves shortly after graduating from officer training; not exactly navy approved cargo, or behaviour, but hard to resist when they screamed so deliciously. It was incredible what a person could be coerced to do when they were terrified enough for their life.

But this?

His senses buzzed with the sensuality of such a strong woman bending to his will.

This experience was going to be hard to beat.

She squeezed her legs around his buttocks, tugging him in towards her, holding him tight. With one hand still twisted into the dreads at the nape of her neck and the other bracing his body against the back of the command chair he pressed his face into the side of her neck, breathing her in, tasting her with his lips. She moaned again and his pants got tighter, threatening to burst. He was going to have to rein it in or her prediction about him pre-jacking would come true. He leant forward and bit down hard on her neck, teeth crunching against cartilage in a very un-sensual way.

Katherine grunted as his teeth sunk deeper. Her legs tightened instinctively around him and he bit down, enjoying the thought of how much pain he was going to cause her over the next few hours. How many hours really depended on her; on how long she remained conscious. Katherine arched her back so that he had to lean in further to keep up the pressure on her neck. It was his turn to moan with barely contained ecstasy.

Suddenly Katherine jerked, arching back in a spasm.

From across the room Angel heard a cold, metallic
clack
. The captain stopped biting and straightened up, cocking his head to the side momentarily as if he’d heard something interesting. Then his whole body went rigid with shock as he convulsed against something ripping at his belly. He tried to pull back, away from the inexplicable hurt. But Katherine’s legs squeezed tighter as the agony tore through him, pulling him towards her and deeper into the pain. He pushed his upper body away from the pirate, bracing arms against the back of the chair as he stared in disbelief into her viciously smiling eyes.