Foxy let out an anguished groan as she opened her eyes. Feeling a grip on either arm, she tried to open her eyes and struggle free. Her arms were sluggish, and muffled voices told her to stop. She knew they were familiar and stopped struggling until she could finally see again. Looking beside herself, she saw Emma and Easy holding onto her, and Leira behind her with her back supporting her own.

“What..?” Foxy slurred.

“Relax. We got hit with some kind of gas. Deep breaths and try not to move,” Emma stated.

Foxy felt her breathing shift without her even trying. Emma held her tightly and focused her eyes on hers. Soon the world became clearer and Foxy could see others around them. They were all sitting on the floor of a long, small room. The sway and bumps she started to feel suggested they were moving on a train. All around them were others they saw at the party. Everyone was an Emberborn. Some looked at her as they spoke, then returned their eyes to empty space in front of them.

“It was a trap,” Foxy muttered to herself. “I’m sorry I didn't see it sooner. That I couldn't get you out.”

“You got one of them,” Leira commented. “You can get the rest later.”

Foxy felt up her skirt to find the knife she kept hidden before withdrawing her hands. The bullets at her skirt were gone, but they had failed to search beyond that. The train rumbled on while the air in the cattle car grew hot and humid with the breathing of so many together. It didn't last long. The brakes squealed, causing them to tumble over at the sudden deceleration. The girls waited. They heard shouting outside as they emptied one of the other cars before finally getting to theirs. The door slid open and men with guns stood menacingly, wearing the same uniforms as those who had been serving drinks at the party. Olive green jackets with gold trimming over black vests with red trim that matched their trousers.

“Animals out. Carry the sleeping. No doddiling,” the closest one to the door shouted and marked himself to Foxy as the one she wanted to kill the most.

The ones closest to the door leapt out. Many stumbled and fell, giving the rest of them enough room to move. In front, a pair held a third unconscious and tried to hand her to a pair already off the train.

“Her mouth is foaming,” one of the soldiers commented.

“She is still out, not swallowing right,” her holder said to defend her.

“Foam is green, allergic reaction. She won't wake up,” the guard commander stated upon closer inspection.

“No, she is fine. Maybe she might need medicine, but--” A gunshot cut her off.

The body fell to the ground in front of the train, and those who had tried to help her off the train were shoved along so the rest could disembark. Horrified, one of the ones who had supported her and spoke in her defence screamed in panic, leaping off the train to cradle the body. He was picked up and dragged away by a pair of the soldiers. Foxy was the first one down of their group and she levelled an icy glare at the commander.

“Oh, you,” the man stated, noticing the glare. “Don't be mad, she was already dead. Thank me for my mercy. Had it been you though, I'd have let you suffer. Tossed you in the ditch to take days to die. You killed one of my men. A life that was actually worth something. You have a use now, but when you don't, I will be the one to take my time killing you.”

Foxy smiled. With a quick flick of her wrist, she drew the knife, hitting the button to extend the blade and gracefully sent it through the air into his eye socket. She had aimed for the throat but didn't mind the results of her hasty throw. Putting up her hands to surrender so the others didn't shoot her, she watched the man scream and yell as he clutched his eye. Quickly restrained, Foxy was forced to kneel but didn't mind the closer view of the man's last moments. The man sent to fetch the doctor never even made it to the compound before the screaming stopped.

Her wrists tied, Foxy was hauled to her feet and put back with the group before they were all ushered, at gunpoint, down the road the messenger had run to fetch the doctor. The compound was composed of one massive central building with many other outlying buildings that looked mostly for storage. They could see crops growing all around in whatever otherwise empty space that could be found. More Emberborn worked the fields wearing metal collars around their necks. They could hear another train car being offloaded behind them as they were herded down a ramp and into the main building.

They walked through what was obviously a loading dock from the stacks of crates along the wall. Emma gasped as she noticed the air holes cut into the sides. The crates were too small for adults to be inside. Leira ignored everything, focusing her efforts on the iron shackles Foxy was wearing. She worked with the decorative brass cogs she ripped from the corset and smiled fiendishly as she unlocked one of her wrists. Past the loading dock they moved through a long narrow hallway, but instead of a roof was a wire-fence dome cover. The walls only came to shoulder level for the taller prisoners, so they could see out into the wide open area.

All around them were the sounds of animal lust. Emberborn having sex in every way imaginable. Imaginable in their own limited experience, anyway. All wore the metal collars like those outside as they gleefully went from partner to partner in an unending orgy. There were pools, rocks, cushions, pillows, beds, benches, poles, and every other kind of comfort one could want in a luxury resort. On all of them, were Emberborn enthralled with sexual congress. Emma saw one woman, some kind of feline, bent over a table with a wolf howling behind her as he finished. Only moments after he had done so, a lizard came and took his place, and she never stopped moaning in pleasure. Leira had been distracted by the rampant sex, but as they finally passed the wide-open room to enter some kind of medical area, she returned to her work on getting the second wrist free of the shackle.

As they arrived they could see the previous group being lead out, wearing the metal collars. A pudgy man with a monocle stood waiting next to a table covered in collars. Once they were all in the room, he looked around, trying to find someone.

“Where’s Biddon?” He asked in a nasal voice.

“Dead,” Replied a soldier flatly, not seemingly troubled by the news.

“I thought Pillip died.”

“He did, at the mansion. Biddon got a knife in his eye next to the train.” He nodded towards Foxy.

The man walked up to her. “Did you not check her for a knife?” he asked.

“Had it up her skirt. She's clean now.”

“Are you?” he asked, directing the question to Foxy.

“Not for long.” she replied at the sound of her other shackle coming free.

Reaching out, Foxy slashed deep with her claws and tore at the flesh at the fat man's face before the soldiers moved on her again. This time she didn't surrender and took advantage of the fact they didn't seem to want to kill her. Her claws drew more blood as she demonstrated her martial skill. Frozen in surprise, Emma couldn't move to help her as someone threw her to the floor to get to Foxy.

It wasn't until Leira pulled her away, that she could move. Leira guided her towards a wall, and Emma watched as she reached to the side of an air vent and released a clasp holding it in place. Urging Emma inside after opening it, Leira followed and slid her hand through the slats to lock the clasp back. In all the commotion of the fight, nobody noticed their escape.

Foxy was eventually overwhelmed and subdued. She grinned as she felt blood dripping off their faces onto her fur as they held her tightly. Two mewled on the floor, grabbing at eyes that were no longer there. The fat man held a towel to his cheeks, staring at her in confused shock. The tension hung in the room until a door opened and they could hear the crying wails of a child undoubtedly upset at the noise the men on the floor were making. An Emberborn owl woman cradled the young bird in her arms. He squawked as his mother stopped at the sight before her.

“Put that thing in a crate and shut it up!” The fat man yelled at her.

The owl walked over to a crate without its lid and tried to set her child down, arms unable to let go.

“Let it go and seal it up!” he yelled, again fetching a clean towel for his face.

The woman let go of her child and began to sob as she moved the lid into place and locked it.

“Stop that damn crying!” And she did so. “Be happy you made something worth selling and get back in there to do it again!”

A forced smile covered her beaked face, and she stripped the simple cloth robe from her body and walked through another door that led up some steps to the room they had seen as they entered. Another door opened behind them, and from that doorway sounded a deep booming laughter of genuine amusement.

Everyone turned to see a woman wearing nothing. Deep blood-red skin covering a tall, powerful, yet feminine figure. Dark purple hair flowed over her shoulders almost covering the dark nipples on her massive, firm, breasts. On her head, poking through the hair, were a pair of ivory horns slightly curved upwards. Looking down her legs past powerful thighs and calves were hoofs instead of feet. A pair of tails swayed behind her that ended in fleshy spear tips. Although hard to see under her hair, she too wore a collar. Her powerful body heaved with laughter as though hearing the best joke in the world.

“Stop laughing!” the fat man shouted, and immediately her laughter choked in her throat. “Get down here and put a collar on this one,” he demanded, pointing to Foxy.

She came down, hooves clomping along the tile, and picked up a collar from the counter. Kneeling in front of Foxy, she sighed in apology before silently mouthing thanks to her and put the collar around her neck. It clicked together and she withdrew, handing something to the fat man when she went to his side.

“You will not attack anyone anymore,” he glared at Foxy as he spoke, before nodding at his men to let her go.

Foxy stalled after standing back up, not finding the control to resume her struggle.

“Take off your clothing.”

Foxy began to undress, wondering why she was dressed in the first place. As the last of her clothing hit the floor, she looked at it pondering the reason she did what she was told.

“Now, wait,” he said before turning to the demon beside him. “Put the rest in collars.”

One by one Foxy watched her put collars on the new arrivals and inwardly raged at one being put on Easy yet remained waiting, at a loss as to what to do.

“Now all of you, strip naked.” he said, switching to yet another clean towel for his face, while the rest of the men finally started to tend to their own wounds.

With every Emberborn naked, he spoke again, “Obey all orders at all times from any humans. When I am finished, and emberstones are implanted, you will all go through the door that leads to the breeding hall. Once inside you will find a sexual partner of the opposite gender and mate.” He paused to emphasise a point, “Provided they are not of blood relation!” giving the impression it was a new rule. “You will do so repeatedly. Females, accept the seed from any males available as long as you do so in a manner that has a chance of causing pregnancy. If you believe yourself to be pregnant, then inform a human to request a medical exam. Eat when necessary, use hygienic facilities when necessary. Sleep is not allowed unless it is from exhaustion. Males, move on to another female once you have seeded the one you were with. The one exception is any female with clothing is considered pregnant and not to be used as a mate. Males, ignore females with clothing.”

He paused for breath after delivering his rehearsed lines, “You will all enjoy this breeding and do so with enthusiasm.” Then, he looked at Foxy, “Except for you. You will breed with enthusiasm but are under no orders to enjoy any of it. I want you to endure without that little gift. We aren't cruel, so we want the rest of your kind to enjoy this, it doesn't cost us anything. But you have cost us much so you will have to live with it.”

The demon looked surprised at the order and offered a sympathetic look to Foxy.

“Under no circumstances will you take any orders to countermand the ones I have just given you!” he shouted.

After each woman who required an emberstone was implanted, they all turned and filed through the door to once again look upon the Emberborn orgy. Foxy eagerly searched out for a man and a spot she could use to spread her legs. Easy giggled in anticipation as she grabbed one of the men that entered with her to take her on the floor just inside the room.

****

Juno stood next to Inky while she talked with Liddy. Kilty and Laurel were getting their kit on behind them.

“They are late. I know spending the night was a possibility, but even so, they are overdue.” Inky stated.

“Agreed. I can see them putting up a fuss if they were having fun, but I doubt Foxy would let that stop her,” Liddy replied. “Go find them. Haul their probably drunk asses back here.”

Inky saluted and took a paper Liddy had scribbled the address on. The four soldiers set off down the road and retraced the route the girls would have taken.

****

Emma helped Leira into the small chamber where very little light was able to reach. A metal grill floor covered half the chamber, and was not entirely under the opening they were entering from. With her feet guided to it, Leira was able to push off and settle on it safely. Emma let go of Leira’s hips and sat down with her legs hanging in the air exchange chamber. It was hot and humid in the dark, where the two women sat, finally able to relax and process what had happened.

“What now?” Emma asked, weakly trying to hold back tears.

“I have no fucking idea. My plan just took us this far. Usually, some fucker just finds me sooner or later so I never had to plan for this,” Leira confessed.

“They took Easy and Foxy. Making them mate like that…”

“Let’s be honest. Easy wouldn't mind so much even if she wasn't told to enjoy it. You heard the tub of shit. Foxy… well I don't know her that well, but she's got a lustful streak and technically he never told her to hate it either. Just kinda assumed she would. Either way, they are safe for now.”

“Well, I suppose. Still, told to enjoy or it not, it's not right.”

“Maybe not,” Leira paused, “I think this was the fucking place I was going to be sent to for being too difficult to train as a slave. Collars like that and it wouldn't matter how fucking stubborn I am.”

“So we escape. Get back to town. Find Liddy. Bring Inky to get the others out.”

“Too much open space. I bet it's all covered by assholes with guns in case someone bolts or tries to sneak in. Nighttime might work, but I really don't think the soldier girls would like us leaving them behind like that.”

“What else can we do?”

“Well, I’m thinking it's a long while until night either way. So unless we think of something else that will be our fallback plan.”

“Fine. What do we do until then?” Emma asked.

Leira stood up as high as she could without hitting her head on the roof and started to strip off her dress, “Getting out of this thing so I don't boil. Water is fine, but sweat water is not.”

Emma stood up with no chance of hitting her head on the roof and began to strip as well, “It will be easier to move about in our underwear instead of our dresses as well.”

“Right,” Leira agreed, getting distracted by the elf, stripping down to a dark green bra and panties set lined with black lace. Of course, in the dark, she could have been mistaken but the view was fine either way.

Emma hung her dress on a rivet with the intent to grab it later if everything worked out, and did the same for Leira’s, trying to pretend she wasn't staring at her ass.

“Top or bottom?” Leira asked.

“We have time I’m sure, but not in the mood to pass it that way,” Emma scolded.

Leira laughed, “I mean the vents out of here. There is one up there or one down there.”

“Sure you did…”

“Okay, fine, yes, I wanna fuck your sweet body. I get it's not the time and you don't really like lady folk, but if we get stuck, and know we got no way out, I am going to suggest it again.”

Emma turned around and pushed Leira against the wall. One hand over her mouth and one between her legs. Staring into her eyes in the dark, Emma watched as Leira’s opened wide and her body shuddered. Leira screamed into her palm for a few seconds before relaxing. Emma took her hands away to let Leira breath deeply to catch her breath.

“Satisfied now? Did it to men a lot before working on the ship, so I never learned how to really make it last, but hopefully, it gets it out of your system long enough to help finish our plan.”

“Fucking fuck,” Leira gasped. “You can just do it like that? Why would you ever need to fuck anyone else?”

“I can't bring myself to climax... Well, at least not like that anyway. Now, the vents. Where do they go?”

Composing herself, Leira spoke, “No idea. But if we are going to get any new ideas, it won't be until we get into them and look around. At the very least we can find some path outside. Or we can find other things in this place that might give us more options.”

“Like a switch on those collars or a radio?”

“Something, yeah. Not sure how to use a radio, but I suppose we could threaten some asshole.”

“Okay. So plan A is to find some way to bring Liddy to us with Inky. Plan B is to find some way to get to them.”

“Plan Fucked is when we wait for them to find us on their own because we got caught, killed, or stuck in this shit box.”

“Right. I will take top. Give me a lift.”

Emma was able to reach the top vent, thanks to a helpful boost from Leira, who spent too much time groping her as she did so. She knew Leira was still stressed, so she didn't feel like scolding her again since they now had a plan. Once she thought Leira was far enough away, she took some time to express her fearful sobs.

****

Foxy turned around to see Easy getting on top of one of the males that had entered with them, and moaning when she felt him slide inside. She bounced herself and fluttered her wings with excitement as his hands held her breasts tightly. The others started to pair off almost immediately as well, though since most were female, they had to search out mates. Reminding herself to find her own, Foxy was about to turn to examine her prospects when a large arm went around her waist and a hand between her legs. Eagerly spreading her legs, she was held too tightly to his chest to look at the man as she felt him pushing inside her after lifting her. Holding Foxy by the knees from below and keeping her legs wide he held her as if to display her body as he thrust inside her. A soft-faced rodent of a man walked by looking for a mate, but all that mattered was that he was male.

“I've got enough room for two,” Foxy gasped, knowing that if she wanted to get pregnant, then more men had to be giving her their seed.

Getting the hint, he approached her and despite the other man occupying her, he was able to fit himself inside. It hurt, but Foxy knew it was the best solution. Inwardly, she knew she always wanted to be with another Emberborn male but didn't think it would happen like this. Feeling both men compete for the space inside her, she whimpered softly.

“Something wrong?” the man in front asked, grabbing Foxy by the breasts while thrusting harder.

“Not used to this much in me and had wished this to happen differently. That's all,” she replied.

“You don't want this?” the man behind asked as he grunted.

“Of course I do, I need to get bred quickly. I just wasn't told to enjoy it, so it's difficult to get over the disappointment of the circumstances.”

“Why would they do that to you? They never do that.” the man in front took his turn to talk.

“Shot one when they took me, stabbed one getting off the train, clawed up more and took a few eyes before they put the collar on. So they weren't too happy with me.”

“I suppose….” the man behind blew his load and grunted loudly as he filled Foxy up. “...that makes sense.”

“Can you keep me up so he can finish breeding me?” Foxy asked as the man behind pulled out.

“Sure, I got time.” he replied, knowing he would have to wait for a bit before he would be ready for another female.

The other man, now with exclusive access, worked inside the hot wet flesh Foxy had. “Well, hopefully, you can enjoy yourself anyway.”

“They didn't tell me not to and it's not like I don't crave it anyway. Funny thing is that my friend, probably wouldn't need to be told to enjoy it.”

They looked at Easy, who was eagerly thrusting her hips against a new man holding her while he stood with her legs around him. Her wide smile only broke when she lip-locked with her partner for a deep kiss. Among all of the other women Foxy could see, Easy was the only one whose eyes didn't show the desperate pain of living in this place. Even the other new girls, showed it in their eyes, their true feelings evident, even while their bodies were committed to lust. Foxy felt her feet touch the floor as the man in front had finished.

Looking around, she saw another man looking for a mate, to whom she responded by bending over and wiggling her bum in his direction. Seeing her availability, he moved behind her and slid right in and began to work without heed to the seed dripping out of her. Foxy felt the grip on her hips and decided that the best way to get herself pregnant would be to simply keep up the pace and let herself enjoy the ride. It was really the whole point to her life anyway, so there was no reason to avoid it.

Easy giggled when her partner finished and reached out to grab another man, and without touching the floor, her legs moved from one to the other and got him inside her. She screamed in climax at the euphoric pleasure of constant sex.

****

Hannah lay naked in her bed breathing heavily. The two men next to her were on either side doing the same. The fresh troops were a great relief to have since they were full of energy and nowhere near as weary as those in the trenches for so long. She didn't notice Grey had come in until he flung her cap at her and left. She considered going out wearing nothing but the cap, but he seemed serious, so she quickly rolled over the man between her and her clothing. After getting dressed, she followed the pointing fingers of the troops she saw directing her to where she was needed. Her new trench gun slung over her shoulder. Moving as far from the front trench as their own trenches got, she came into another dugout, used to store ammo when they had it, to see a much more decorated uniform than hers pouring over the papers they stole from the enemy.

The puzzled look on his face -- that he tried to make look like sage understanding, -- told her he didn't know what he was looking at other than it was important. The only piece not present was the personal journal she kept in her room. She knew someone else who would appreciate it more. The Leftenant spotted her as she entered.

“Ah, Hannah. Good to see you finally got some rest,” he said with a wink, knowing she was doing other things in her bed. “This is General Andrews. Commanding the defence of the ember mines.”

Hannah snapped to parade attention and put up a sharp salute, “General, Sir!”

Suddenly realising a woman was present, the general looked up, “Oh my. I had no idea such a fine looking woman was the one described to me. Your beauty was left out of the report of your battlefield conduct. I hope the men haven't been treating you inappropriately.”

“Of course not, General. They have been respecting any boundaries I have set for them.”

All the assembled men, not part of the general's staff nodded in agreement since it was exactly true.

“Well good. I knew my men could restrain themselves for matters of propriety. This is quite a haul of technical documents and such. A great find. And you lead the attack?”

Hannah wondered what he had been told and what she should say regarding the Leftenant and his mental state. “I did. The Leftenant remained behind to hold our trenches while the spider attacked.”

He nodded in approval, “Yes, that contraption must have been even more frightening when it was working.”

“I would like to recommend a commendation for the gunnery crew that brought it down with masterfully precise gunnery work.”

His eyes widened with a bit of surprised, “I thought you took it down?”

“I threw a grenade in the troop compartment, cooked off some more munitions inside. That kept it still long enough for them to take the final kill shots.”

“I see. Well, I will make a note of that then,” he stated as one of his toadies scribbled a note down in a book. “You are all due proper commendation for your efforts. With fresh troops in place, you will escort me to an audience with our Duke Harnon. Get you out of the mud for a bit while the Duke recognises my leadership skills. How about that?!”

The general seemed to think he was ingratiating himself with the troops, but they all knew he was a long way from that. Of course, he was getting them off the front, so they didn't let on. They smiled and agreed like they were suddenly friends.

****

Emma found the vents to be claustrophobic at first after leaving the junction, but as she crept towards a vent cover, the dark cramped tunnel felt safe. In there she couldn't be seen. In there she was secure. Yet, her friends depended on her to learn what she could to help their escape. Creeping forward slowly so she didn't bump the metal walls and make noise, she approached the vent, worried that someone might see her. It was some kind of lavatory room with metal lockers and bathing facilities. It was empty, but the vent opened at ground level. Her tiny hands slid through the slats on the vent to find the clasp that would release the vent cover. She didn't want to use it now, but knowing it was there was enough. Withdrawing her hands quickly in case someone walked in, Emma moved on through the vents.

After a slow and painful climb upwards, Emma heaved herself into a horizontal duct and caught her breath. As she did, she noticed a nearby vent that looked out into the main room. She could see hundreds of couples, all desperately enjoying their forced reproduction. It was hard to see Foxy from where she was but Easy was quite obvious. Not because she was the only fairy, since she wasn't, but because a crowd formed around her. It seemed that even with the collars on, the males gravitated towards the one woman who might honestly have been enjoying the whole experience.

Other females had to walk over and then get the male's attention in order to mate, rather than simply wait for the next taker. Soon, Emma spotted Foxy with one of the males that had been waiting for Easy, when he took the place of a bull that had been on top of her. Women in robes, some most obviously pregnant, relentlessly cleaned and mopped the whole area. Foxy howled in climax and Emma was relieved that she was letting herself enjoy the experience, despite not being told to do so.

It was hard for Emma not to be aroused by the sex she witnessed. Slowly she slid a hand between her legs as she watched the fit bodies of so many males thrusting into their partners. Massive members, she wished to feel inside her, plunged into the lucky women as Emma settled for two of her own fingers. Her other hand rubbing her clit as she thought about how impossible it would be to actually fit many of the men she saw inside her. Emma bit into her own shoulder to keep herself quiet as she moaned and arched her back, trying to quickly satisfy herself so she could focus.

She saw Foxy now with another male, had her breasts pushed against the wall as he penetrated her from behind. He held her by the scruff of her neck and by her tail as he slowly withdrew his hard manhood from her before violently slamming it inside her. Emma rapidly penetrated herself as she watched him repeat his assault on Foxy over and over until he slammed her hard against the wall and kept her pinned there with his body, getting himself deep inside her and keeping himself there. Only once he was done filling her up did he let her go and Foxy slumped to the floor.

Emma finally felt her own release and bit herself harder to keep it quiet as her climax ripped through her body. She could see Foxy pushed over by another male, who spread her legs for her and got inside her, since she was too sore to move on her own. Again Emma needed to catch her breath. She saw Easy lip locked with another woman as they both were drilled from behind. Knowing she could spend all day watching the men satisfy themselves on the women, Emma shook her head to look around at other things.

Between the sex floor and her was a walkway that ran over the trench where she had walked to enter the place. The walkway connected two rooms that overlooked the area. In one there seemed to be a lot of soldiers resting and cleaning their weapons. In the other seemed to be some equipment where a man sat with a pair of headphones hanging around his neck. Near him was the fat man Foxy scratched up being tended to by the big red woman with hooves. A funny little smirk on her face.

Looking back at the man sitting at the equipment, she could see him fiddling with dials and holding one ear-cup of the headphones to the side of his head. It looked different, but Emma was certain he was using a radio like the one Ving had on the bridge. She was excited and suddenly very worried. Getting there would mean getting past a lot of armed men, and however much more were elsewhere, that would come running when they heard a commotion. Emma set that issue aside, knowing it would be a problem for later. For now, she had to focus on learning whatever she could in case it proved helpful. Trying not to think about the sex going on below her.

***

Although the heat was uncomfortable, Leira appreciated the fact that the humidity kept her skin moist. Now out of the junction, she was starting to feel cold and dry from the air blowing against her. It was hard to find her way in the dark and none of the vents she found, mostly by accident, lead to anywhere she could see anything. Closed supply rooms or some such, she guessed. It wasn't until an unexpected drop that she saw some light briefly as she fell down the vent. Her body slammed into the metal vent cover that only slowed her slightly, before landing on hard concrete flooring. Wincing in pain as she rolled off the vent cover that had already made marks on her back.

Suddenly a hand gripped her arm and hauled her up before pushing her away, causing her to tumble over again. Her eyes not having adjusted to the room, she couldn't see what was going on. She could hear a few metal thumps before the loud groan of a rusty hinge of a door opening. Boots came into the room.

“What’s going on?” A deep voice demanded.

“What does it look like you idiot? The vent cover fell.” another voice replied.

“Yes, I can see that, but why?”

“Like I keep telling you, my centrifuge is broken. I was spinning my own samples when I hit the vent cover and it fell.”

“Why is there blood on it then?” a third voice asked.

“What do you think I put in my centrifuge? Pudding? I use it to separate blood samples. That's the purpose of it to exist. Now, unless you are here to replace or fix it, get out of here and let me work.”

A few dismissive grunts and bootsteps later, Leira heard the door close and lock again. She could see well enough now, and realised she had been thrown under a desk behind some crates that prevented anyone from entering the room from seeing her. Fearing to move or make a noise, she remained where she was until she heard a voice again and looked towards it.

“My girl, I am terribly sorry. Are you alright?” he asked as he knelt down to help Leira sit up.

“That really fucking hurt. Am I really bleeding that bad?” she asked, looking at the vent cover and the blood on the floor.

“Oh, no, you aren't bleeding at all. I really was trying to separate my own blood samples,” he said, holding up a string with a broken phial at the end of it. “I have a lot of free time on my hands down here.”

“How bad am I hurt then?”

“Well, you're going to be sore for the rest of the day. Then get really bad for the next few days. But if something was broken, you would be in a lot more pain now and unable to move. It's a miracle you didn't break your neck.”

“Why did you hide me?”

“We are both prisoners here. I may be human, but that just means my cage looks different. Also considerably less sex.”

“Fine, but I will just lay on my back while you fuck me. I'm not up for moving just yet.”

“Wait, what?” he reacted with shock. “No, girl. I'm not going to make you do anything like that.”

“You saved my life and I haven't been laid in like, a day, it's hardly going to be forced.”

“Flattered, but between the crushing disappointment in my skill and what the sudden motions would do to your back for those twenty-seven seconds, I don't think it's the most medically appropriate thing for you right now.”

Leira laughed and suddenly regretted it as her back hurt more. She got the message.

“Fine, so what now,” Leira asked as she stood up.

“Well…” he paused as he guided her to his bed to lay down on something soft. “You will get discovered eventually. If I knew how to escape I would have done it already. Best bet is to re-enter the vent when you feel better and get caught elsewhere. At least then they won't know I helped and I can try and help more whenever you get pregnant.”

“Not going to be here that long. I have friends. Three others and one is free like me. Then there are the people on the ship I live on. They will get here and shoot the fuck out of this place to get me back.”

“Oh, there are a lot of soldiers in this place. Not sure anything short of an army can push their way in here, and that's assuming there is a city they haven't made rich with this farm.”

“Gotta be a way. Not that I mind fucking lots, but I want it to be on my terms. What do you do here then? Blood samples?”

“Oh, well, yes. I track the breeding program. Mostly it's made up bullshit to keep me alive, but enough to make myself valuable. Originally, I helped devise the use of emberstones for breeding.”

“Don't those stop pregnancies?”

“Yes, that's why it was perfect. Emberborn breeding is difficult because they don't breed with each other very well. A lot of pregnancies, but almost never a viable offspring. The farm would have a tremendous waste of life and time. Women were almost always pregnant but… you know. Even with the collars, it destroyed them mentally as well. Now, I hated the whole idea of this farm, so I lied and suggested that the stones could be used to stop the failed pregnancies and only allow the healthy ones. Since Emberborn from humans generally come out healthy. I just wanted to stop the misery but I ended up being correct. Fewer pregnancies, but overall, greatly increased breeding. I failed at driving the farm under but at least I helped a little. I wanted to spoil all the implanted women so they could get sold off to be servants. Anything would be better than this place. Since their fertility is still higher amongst themselves they get pregnant a lot faster than humans would with the stones.”

“Wow, so how’d you get locked up?”

“Oh, they found out I meant it as a sabotage.”

“I was going to be sent here before I was rescued from the market by the captain of the ship I live on. She really hates what happens to us. She will burn this place to the ground when she finds it.”

“Well, she has to find it first. There is a radio somewhere upstairs but I'm not sure where. It's been a while. When you feel better, I will boost you into the vent. Let me get you something for the pain.”

The man walked away and went to a case on the wall full of phials of various liquids.

“What's your name? Mine is Leira.”

“Adler. Nice to meet you Leira.”

“You, too. Now once you stick that needle in me, I'm gonna want something bigger stuck inside me was well.”

Adler sighed as he blushed. “How about some water?”

“A bit thin compared to what I wanted to swallow, but fine,” Leira teased.

He gave her a cup of water as he took her arm to inject her. Leira took a big swig and surprised Adler when her gills opened up and the water came out. Then she took a few more gulps of water, looking at him as she did so, hinting at her throat's capacity.

****

Inky and her girls maintained a steady double-time march down the road to where the estate was located. Her gut told her something was wrong when she could see a lot of heavy vehicle tracks in the grass. The rest of the place looked abandoned. With a clipped signal, they approached with weapons ready. She sent Juno to scout around the back, and led Kilty and Laurel up the front steps. They paused before moving to the heavy doors, to look down at a pool of dried blood and brain matter.

Inky took aim at the door as Laurel pulled it open. Kilty got the clear signal from Inky and made her entry to sweep the room. The bullet holes on the door did not go unnoticed. Inside, they found furniture arrayed about the place but no signs of life. A very specific tap on the door signalled Juno returning from her look around the back. Inky turned and received a shake of the head from Juno. It wasn't long before they looked behind the curtains and saw the canisters and read the label.

“Gas, blood, and bullet holes. Something happened, but they aren't here anymore.”

“Shell casings,” Juno called, sweeping her gun around to try and see what was being fired at. “Most fired at that door, but some of the windows. Trying to let the gas escape?”

“Once those doors were closed, she couldn't do much else. This stuff wouldn't let her get far enough to find another way out,” Kilty commented, kicking the canister and getting an empty sound.

“Laurel,” Inky commanded.

“Ma’am,” she replied, immediately moving closer to Inky.

“Get back to the ship. As soon as it can fly, have it come here and follow the road. We are going to follow the trail and maybe find out where everyone was taken.”

She saluted and began to run back down the way they had come. Inky gritted her teeth in anger over the crime against one of her own and the people she was supposed to be protecting.