Service Is For Life

Posted on 05 Nov 2019 @ 12:12pm by Lieutenant Commander Aidan Datari & "Don"

Mission: Mission 2 - The Agora crossroads
Location: Unknown
Timeline: 4 days after auction
1002 words - 2 OF Standard Post Measure

Extremely sore still from the lashing he had received the day before, Aidan lifted himself up from his bed with a great deal of effort, nearly giving up on getting up altogether. His cheeks burned at the memory of the humiliation he had endured and he had no idea how long he had been out, exactly.

The mirror in his room was only large enough to check his personal grooming so he had no idea how bad the damage was other than that he was in considerable pain and feeling very stiff. Aidan glanced at his reflection only long enough to make sure he looked well enough.

He reached for clean clothes and checked the bandage around his left hand. The Trill hissed as he first pulled off his old dress, and then pulled on the clean semi-dress, opting to only loosely toss the sash across his shoulder to avoid the fabric rubbing against his skin. Still since he couldn't very well go around naked, this was his only option of attire.

Taking his simple breakfast -or was it lunch?- from the kitchen, he went straight to the Don's office where he beelined for his assigned desk. He didn't acknowledge anyone and didn't speak to anyone in return. In silence, he slid into his chair and started to go through the 'paperwork' that was left for him

"How do you feel?" Suddenly sounded and the Trill looked up, startled at being suddenly addressed.

He flushed, looking down. "Sore, my Lord," he answered softly, "moving is very painful."

"You brought that upon yourself," the Don answered neutrally as he beckoned for his servant to rise. "Come, walk with me." While sounding as a request, it clearly was not.

"Yes my Lord," Aidan answered softly, though he grunted as he got back to his feet. "You don't want me to go through documents today?"

The Don turned towards him, reached to lift his slave's face up. "Slaves don't look down," he said sternly. "I want to see your face when you speak to me. I want to see how you feel, how else am I to detect a dishonesty."

"I don't lie my Lord," Aidan whispered unhappily, "I've never lied in my life. Giving a false name was part of my cover but the name I gave is important to me." He cringed fully expecting a nearby guard to spring into action for his speaking out of turn.

"You will obey," the Don said. "Why did you try to run. Why did you take the risk... You can have a good life here, why risk such injury to yourself and your pride? You are a healthy specimen, though I don't know what you are."

Signing, and wincing again, the Trill looked up as he was ordered to do. "I was trained to do what an officer must do in the event of capture my Lord," he answered as he walked with the black clad mystery. "The risk is mine to take as it is my duty to return home." He risked a faint smile. "I wasn't necessarily attempting to escape my Lord, but I was trying to learn more about this area. I stumbled upon the weapons room before I was caught. You have an... interesting collection."

"I do," the Don replied and Aidan could detect a sliver of humour in his voice. "You are different than most of my slaves. What are you."

Aidan paused, pondering how he should answer. "My homeworld is Trill," he finally answered, "I was born and raised on my home planet before joining Starfleet." He fell silent, quickening his step to catch up. "What do you expect of me? I still want to return home, I will never stop wanting to."

"I expect your service. I expect you to do as you are told, when you are told. You will forget about your home as this is now your life." The Don turned. "You will come to like it here, if you serve well. Perhaps, in time, I will let you use my weapons. I can see that you have the muscle to use them." He reached to squeeze the Trill's bicep. "You have speed. Perhaps, if you serve loyally, I will allow you to become a guard yourself."

"I have told you, I will serve my Lord," Aidan repeated, "but only until my crewmates come for me. And I know for certain, that they will. I just don't know when. But until that time, I will serve." He wouldn't risk another session as yesterday's again.

The Don turned on him, the flash of a blade visible in the sunlight. "They won't find you," he said as the blade dug into the Trill's right arm. "My medics found your tracker." A small device surfaced as the blade was retracted. The Don dropped the device and crushed it with his heel. "You are not the first with tracking devices. Better resign to the fact that you will remain here Aidan. The sooner you do, the happier you will be, and the better you will serve."

Aidan yelped, too startled to react. He had, in all honesty, forgotten about the device. He stood, holding his bleeding arm for a moment before ripping s strip of cloth from his dress, making a makeshift bandage. His eyes flashed briefly before sighing again. "Yes my Lord. Permission to return to my duties?"

The Don nodded. "You will join Iola and me for dinner tonight. I have matters of business to discuss. Have two girls assist you with bathing before you attend." If anything, he saw that personal hygiene was seen to by any of his staff and his servants.

"Yes my Lord..." Aidan gave a stiff now before moving back to his desk. As he walked away, the tears that welled up went unseen to his master.

---

●● Lieutenant Aidan Datari
Chief Science Officer
USS Andromeda

The Don
Sector Master
Feared trader
pnpc Aidan