“Told ya’,’ called out Matt as he tossed Terinu a grease can from the doorway.

            “What?” replied Terinu as he caught the can from his perch on the water pump mountings.

            “We’re heading back to the Bolt Hole,” grinned Matt.  “Captain’s just ordered a course change.  We’re meetin’ up with the Gull on the way.”

            “Cool,” Terinu smiled in spite of himself.  The Bolt Hole was a fringe planet on the edge of the badlands that was utilized, amongst other things, as a trading port for underground dealers.  It sheltered a vagrant population of dispossessed people in its decayed lower tiers and served as a base of operations for its unlawful elite.  Mavra Chan included.  Laying harbour there meant shore leave for much of the Marauders crew.  It was a welcome opportunity for the boys to slacken off.

            “Get’s better,” grinned Matt.  “Cookie’s already got permission to take you an’ me planet wards to restock the galley.”

            “Yeah?  No way!”  Terinu’s grin matched Matt’s.  His long gray tail with its large leaf shaped spade curled up over his back, a sign of his pleasure over this unexpected good news.

            Matt laughed.  “Yes way.  He’s got us down for an overnighter too.”

            “So how long to you reckon before he’s totalled?” Terinu asked.

“Not long,” said Matt.  “He’s already talking about how he’s looking forward to catching up with his mates at the Rusty Thorn.”

The galley master’s taste for alcohol was a well known but often ignored fact of life on board a ship where everyone had their vices.  But Cook was inclined to be generous on occasion with the boys.  Despite his questionable lifestyle he managed to retain some pockets of decency and felt bad about the hand fate had dealt them.  It was also the payoff he gave Matt in recognition of the times the boy had saved his skin by taking over the handling of the galley duties when he was ‘under the weather’.  The boys were familiar with the cook’s usual pattern of behaviour.  Within half an hour of land fall he would make his way to the nearest liquor establishment and proceed to drink himself into oblivion.  That spelt freedom for Terinu and Matt.  A day to themselves to spend any way they liked.  That is until the following morning when they’d have to find Cook, sober him up and drag him down to the markets to complete the restocking.

The boys triumph was cut short by a deep, angry voice.

“’Ere!  What the bloody hell’s goin’ on?!”

Matt and Terinu turned to see First Officer Brooks standing fists on hips and legs astride in the doorway.  “This isn’t bloody play time!   What fraggin’ business have you got being here Townsend?”

“Er, nothing Sir,” Matt stuttered.  “I was just on my way...”

“Well keep bloody goin’ then.” Brooks gestured a thumb behind him.  “I’ll speak to that fool in the galley to mind he keeps you on a tighter leash.”

“Yes Sir,” Matt ducked a little as he dashed out the door expecting to feel the back of Brooks hand across his head.  Brooks sneered at the boy as he left.

He turned to Terinu and regarded him thoughtfully.  Terinu silently returned the stare from those mean little eyes.  The boy felt uneasy with the sudden scrutiny but, as always, would never give Brooks the pleasure of letting this show.

“You finished here yet.” Brooks finally said.

“Just about,” replied Terinu cautiously.

“Good, come with me.”

Terinu deposited the grease can and followed Brooks out of the pump room and down the corridor. 

They passed by the Marauders enormous engine rooms and down several tiers.  Brooks came to a low door set in the left hand wall and pulled out a set of lock tags from his belt.  Terinu’s groaned inwardly as he recognised the direction the beefy man was taking.  This was the section of the ship that served as a brig.  Terinu had been here many times before either on cleaning detail, a gut wrenching job considering what went on in these dank cells, or as punishment for some infraction.

Brooks snapped open the lock and pushed the heavy door open.  “I got a surprise for you, freak.”

Brooks was smiling.  His voice had adopted a friendly, almost amiable tone.  Terinu felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise up.

“Somethin’ I’ve been keepin’ special just fer you.”

Brooks ushered him down a short row of dank empty cells.  Terinu’s nose wrinkled in revolt.  The strong scent of cleaning agents used to scrub them out didn’t quite cover the all pervading odour of old blood, excrement and fear. 

The last three cells were occupied.  One held the vulpine pair.  They both looked up fearfully as Brooks moved into their range of vision.  Two sets of guarded amber eyes eerily reflected the blue stained fluorescent glow of the ceiling lights.  In the end cell was Valdon.  He looked rather worse off than the last time Terinu had seen him.  His lip was badly cut and his right eye was sealed shut under swollen, purple skin.  His hands were trussed behind his back.  He stood near the bars of his cage glaring with silent fury at the First Mate.

He’s got guts, thought Terinu.  I’ll give him that much.

“’Ere ya’ go,” Brooks stopped at the cage next to Valdon’s.  “A little present for ya’.”

Terinu stiffened.  Sitting on the floor inside the cage was the girl Fedora.  She had been stripped of all of her precious jewellery and her clothes were crumpled and stained from sleeping on the hard floor.  Her hair cascaded down her back in a tangled mess and her dark eyes were large with fear.

Brooks bent slightly to bring his face close to Terinu’s ear.  “Pretty one ain’t she.  I saw you eyein’ her off in the bay.  Nice bit o’ fluff.  Keep a good shipman’s heart warm, she would.”

Terinu knew Brooks was scrutinizing him, watching for a reaction.  He carefully kept his face neutral, no easy task as the close proximity of Brooks’, foul meat laden breath was making him gag.

“Well say something,” Brooks feigned disappointment at Terinu’s lack of response.  “I’m doin’ you a favour.  See I figure you’re getting on now.  You’re becoming a man, or whatever stands fer a man in your freak-oh existence. ‘bout time you learned how to be a man.  So as yer commanding officer I’ve decided its part of my duty to show you the ropes.”

 “What makes you think I don’t know ‘em already?”  Terinu gave Brooks a scathing look.  “There’s plenty of whore houses where Mavra takes me.”

“Real men don’t need to pay.” Brooks replied smoothly.

“Oh, you pay do you?” Terinu risked a smirk.

Brooks’s expression darkened.  This wasn’t going quite the way he envisioned it.  For a second Terinu thought the heavily muscled human was going to strike him.  Brooks unexpectedly regained his composure.  His fake hurt smile was an unnerving thing to see.  “Now, now, is that anyway to act when someone gives ya’ a gift.”

Behind them Valdon, who had been paralysed with slack mouthed horror, came back to noisy life.  “You soulless animals, you bastard sons of a misbegotten bitch, you will not lay a hand on my daughter!”

Brooks looked over his shoulder at him.  “Shut the fragg up, old man.  This ain’t none of yours.”

“Cur!”  Valdon snarled.  “Touch her and swear on the mantel of God I will...”

“You’ll what?!”  Brooks lunged around and grasped the bars of Valdon’s cage bringing his face close to the imprisoned man.  His voice dropped dangerously low.  “I’d a’ thought by now you would of learned yer place here, you and yer little entourage.  Give me any fraggin’ grief and I’ll figure some of ya’ ain’t worth the feed we give ya’.”

Terinu turned away from the two men.  Unwillingly his eyes were drawn back to the dark haired girl.  She was breathing heavily, terrified.  Her limbs shook as she struggled to wrap her stained clothing even more tightly about her.  Terinu looked away.  On the opposite wall was the cage holding the vulpines.  The younger male was kneeling by the bars, knuckles straining at the ferocity of his grip on them.  He stared imploringly up into Terinu’s face.  “Please,” he whispered.  “I’m begging you.  Don’t hurt her.”

Terinu quickly turned away.

Phzzzt!

Valdon collapsed to the floor gasping in pain.

“Now you can kindly shut the fragg up,” snarled Brooks as he pocketed his neuro whip.  “Otherwise yer gonna’ find just how fraggin’ hard it is to eat or drink when yer mouth’s full o’ gag.”

“Now,” Brooks cracked the tension out of his neck and turned back to Terinu.  He smiled invitingly at the boy.  “What d’ ya’ say, boy?  Nice piece of skirt just waiting for the touch of a man.”

Terinu snorted.  “I ain’t interested in another man’s leftovers.”

Brooks gave a contrived look of pain.  “Oh no, me lad, you didn’t hear me right.  Remember I said I’d been saving this one for you.  She’s pure, untouched.  I swear it.”

Now that was just too much to believe.

“Bull shit.”

“I swear it lad,” Brooks theatrically rested a meaty hand over his chest.  “I’d swear it on me dear old mother’s grave, if I knew where the old bitch was buried.  I ain’t laid a finger on her and I made sure none of the other gents here have either.”

Terinu looked back down at the quivering girl.  He squinted.  Her face was dirty but otherwise unmarked by violence.  There were no bruises on her wrists or ankles.  As bizarre as it sounded Brooks was telling the truth.

Terinu stepped back and shook his head half in disbelief.  Brooks was going to unusual lengths to keep the other crewman away from this girl and all to appease his twisted sense of humour.  Sickened Terinu’s mind scrambled for a way out this trap.  “Why all the trouble?  Soon as I’m done she’ll be passed around the ship.  What’s it to you?”

“Oh no,” Brooks smiled.  “I said I saved this one for you and I meant it.  She’s yours for as long as she’s here.  Nobody else is gonna’ touch her.  In fact, I’ve even gone so far as to inform our good Captain Aynish that no man here may use her least they feel like taking a walk in space.  You ask ‘im.  She’s all yours lad.  That is...” and here his face darkened into a cruel smirk, “unless you ain’t interested.”

Brooks hand lashed out suddenly gripping Terinu by the arm and yanking him forward.  He brought Terinu’s face close to his.  His hot breath stank.  His voice was a venomous whisper.

“’cause maybe you’re just a pathetic runt after all who wouldn’t know what to do with a woman if ya’ fell over one.  Or maybe... maybe,” and here his lip curled into a vicious smirk, “maybe you just prefer other boys!”

“Come here!” He turned and rammed the lock tag from his bunch into the slot on the cage door.  It slid open with a screech.  He frogmarched Terinu into the cage and tossed him into the corner.  Terinu righted himself as he landed.  He stayed crouched, startled and wary at the thick set human’s sudden change of mood.

 Brooks strode the few short paces to the where the girl sat cringing.  She scrambled back with a scream trying to avoid his grasp but it was to no avail.  He grabbed her wrist and hauled her up laughing at her futile efforts to wriggle free.  He pulled her struggling body up to close to his and trapped her with one broad hand on the small of her back.  He gripped her chin with the other and brought her sheet white face up close to his.  His eyes flickered across to Terinu.

“Don’t you dare look away, freak.  Watch and learn how a real man takes a woman.  And when I’m done here, we’ll get some of the other men down here to further your education.  And we’ll keep goin’ and goin’ until yer ready to have a go at it yerself.”