Version 13

Version 13

 

By

The Gray_Man

 

Caution! The following is a work of pure fiction I have been thinking about writing for some time.  If there are any similarities between the names, characters, places and actions of this story and those of the 'real' world then it is 100% coincidence.  There is a great deal of violence, and other sensitive subject matters here.  If you are under 18 years of age or this material is considered illegal where you live then do not read any further.  It is not my intention to get anyone in trouble, just to write out and express my free speech rights while I still have them.

 

Synopsis:    Jack Dullman had always had problems.  His girlfriends leave him.  His pets run off.  He is balding, fat, and in a go nowhere job with a pitiful salary and bleak prospects for anything positive.  But one day in the not-too-distant future his luck changes, because Jack Dullman is the winner of a free virtual fantasy, courtesy of Future_Line Virtual Industries INC. 

      But just when things appear to be turning around for him, Jack finds himself stuck in a perverse computer generated world of his own choosing where the lines between pain and pleasure are blurred, and his only escape back to the real world is death. 

 

 

 

       “Hello.”

       Jack’s eyes flew open.  He had been given countless instructions as to what to expect but nothing prepared him for the sharp ‘reality’ of what happened.  One moment he had been swimming in a vast sea of warm white light letting the pulsing waves of energy flow over his flesh and then, without any warning, he was sitting in the middle of an ornate office decorated in warm wood tones with bookshelves and art and a magnificent view of a city skyline from floor-to-ceiling windows that covered half the room.  That, in itself, would have been disconcerting to most but being in this classically beautiful office naked as the day he was born was ridiculous.

       “Woa...what the fuck!” He screamed. “Is this how this shit starts?”

       The person on the other side of the desk, sitting across from him in a plush leather chair, gave him the briefest of smiles.

       “I’m sorry.  I do not understand the query.”

       Jack looked down at all his parts hanging out and winced.  He saw himself getting into the shower every morning and getting dressed and undressed.  He should not have been so shocked at the sight of his own gut, man boobs, hairy chest and tiny pecker lying out there.  But sitting down was different.  All the parts were pushed up together to make his stomach that much more pronounced, his chest saggy and his dick appear even smaller than it usually did.  Damn, but he had let himself go.  Too many late night pizzas.  Hastily, one hand moved to cover his flaccid member and he crossed his legs as he looked around nervously.

       In stark contrast was the man at the desk.  His graying hair was short and well maintained.  His shoulders were broad and his torso appeared solid but fit beneath the navy blue fabric of his custom suit.  His face was strong featured and lean but well tanned and the hair of his goatee was thick but expertly trimmed.  He gave off a powerful, almost menacing presence that set Jack even more off balance that what he already was.

      “Is there a problem?” The man asked calmly.

      “No.  Everything is fine other than me being in the skinny over here.”

      “Skinny?” The man repeated in a quizzical tone. “I do not understand.  Please re-state.”

      “Re-what.”

      “I do not understand.  Please re-state.” He said again in clear, precise English devoid of accent.  In fact, Jack realized, he had asked the same question twice, in the exact same tone, in the exact same manner.

      “Who the hell are you?” Jack demanded warily.

      The man across the desk nodded.  He rose from his chair and offered a hand to Jack.

      “Of course, introductions are in order.  I am Lothor, an avatar.  I am your direct interface with ‘the Core’ for the duration of your virtual fantasy.”

      “What’s up.  I’m naked.” Jack ignored the hand and glanced around the room scratching his bald head. “Hey, Luther.  You wouldn’t happen to have some cloths laying around anywhere, would you?”

      Lothor looked back with a blank stare for a few seconds, his hand still extended.  It was almost like he was listening to something far away.  And then he came to.  “My apologies…there must have been a slight skip in a subroutine in one of ‘the Core’s’ periphery systems.  Most unusual but easily corrected.”  And he snapped his fingers.

      For an instant there seemed to be a subtle shift in everything.  The world lost focus for a mere second and came back just a little clearer.

      And now he was wearing cloths.  Jack jerked with a start.  Tentatively he moved his hands over the fabric of the pale gray shirt and black slacks.  He looked to his feet and....yep...he had shoes too.  A comfortable pair of black loafers had miraculously appeared down there.  And it all felt real.  Almost immediately his mind tried to wrap around the fact that he was not sitting in a corner office of a high-rise.  He was actually in a controlled coma, lying face down in a cold, dark room on a modified massage table with a trio of data-stream cables plugged into the back of his head while Future_Line technicians he could still remember speaking with quietly monitored every vital sign he had; from respiration and heart rate to each fart that passed his ass cheeks.

      The techs and warned him about this.  It was easy to forget that this was not as real as it seemed.  But even if it was not real it could still hurt you.  The techs had patiently tried to explain this to him even though he still barely understood.  What it boiled down to was that all of the five senses, when broken into their base forms, were streams of electrical pulses interpreted by the brain.  The data link Jack now had with ‘the Core’ was capable of overpowering or even suppressing his natural electrical pulses and transplanting different ones directly into his cerebral cortex which coincided with whatever stimulus the program was offering.  So, in other words, the cloth felt real, the room appeared well lit, the air seemed fresh because ‘the Core’ was telling him it was.

      “Nice cloths, Luther.  But you have got to tell me next time you try that shit.  You almost gave me a heart attack.”

      The avatar hesitated, but then nodded. “Understood.  You will now be notified of all further attempts to alter or manipulate the current user package.” 

      “Yeah, great.  Thanks.”

      “You are welcome.” He almost sounded defeated when he spoke.

      Again he leaned over the desk and offered his hand. “I am Lothor, an avatar.  I am your direct interface with ‘the Core’ for the duration of your virtual fantasy.”

      Jack stood and grabbed Lothor’s hand tentatively.  “I’m Jack Dullman.”

      Lothor seemed to ignore him. “I suppose congratulations are in order. You are the winner of the Future_Line Virtual Fantasy Giveaway.”

       Jack was not the best of judges when it came to character but even he could tell the avatar’s congratulations were less than sincere.

      “Oh, really?  You already know about that?”

      “Of course.  I have access to all personal and preference information at ‘the Core’s’ disposal.”

      Jack’s eyebrows rose.  “That was fast.” 

       “As an interface with all client users, it is one of my primary functions.  The download was accomplished while you awaited the current Main Start-gate program to load.”

       He remembered the nearly four hundred question psych test, all the papers, disclaimers, and release forms he had been forced to sign and the various medical probes that he had been subjected to.  All of it loaded in a few seconds.  He wondered why it couldn’t have been that quick for him.

       Jack looked over both shoulders before pulling the avatar close enough to whisper in his ear. Even as he did it he realized the absurdity of the gesture in a computer simulation. 

       “Hey, Luther.  You said all my preference information was downloaded too, right?”

       “Yes.  Your preference information was downloaded as well.” The avatar replied matter-of-factly.

       “So...uh...you know exactly what I want for my fantasy?”

       Lothor nodded.  “All of the data requirements to place you in the proper program have been met.”

       “Well, good.  I...”

       Lothor cut him off quickly.  “However, any further discussion concerning the parameters of your choice program should wait until you can be supported by your Personal Program Assistant.”  The avatar smiled.  It was a cold, machine-like gesture with no warmth at all.  Jack almost shivered.  “You shall meet him shortly...but first we must deal with a few matters of legality.”

       Lothor snapped his fingers again and Jack saw movement in the corner of his eye.  A large set of shelves, covered with various bottles of fine liquor retreated from the center of the wall behind the wet bar he hadn’t even known was there.  Suppose it fit in, though.  In its place emerged a massive TV screen which promptly came to life. 

       “Hey.  I thought you were going to tell me before you did anything like that?”

       “The recessed video monitor was already a facet of the Main Start-gate program.” Lothor replied.  “I am required to only notify you if I attempt to alter or manipulate some aspect of your user package.”

       “Oh...okay.”

       A white background with fine type began to scroll across its surface and he began to speak with all the excitement of a telemarketer on valium.

       “Future_line Virtual Industries Incorporated has an excellent record with its clients.  In the history of the company there have been no reported accidents or injuries associated with the Virtual World Interaction System II.  This is due to the fact our company places a high priority on safety.”

       “Oh yeah?” Jack interjected. “What ‘bout that guy I heard of out in California back when the company was just getting started?  They say he got his brain fried crispy and when they tried to pull him off of the system he went into convulsions and died before they could get him to a hospital.”

       “I am positive that despite whatever rumor you may have heard there have been no reported injuries or deaths with the use of this system.” Lothor responded.

       Jack accepted that...for the most part.  He had heard it from his cousin Benny up in Jersey.  Benny was a moron.

       “Okay.”

       Lothor went on. “Considering the importance of our customer’s safety we have instituted a dormant emergency failsafe which may be activated at any time by the user.”

       “User?”

       “Yes.  User. That would be you.  If at any time during your fantasy you feel endangered or threatened or if you wish to simply end the program you have only to repeat your secret safe word three times in a row and an automatic escape route back to the Main Start-gate program will be enabled.  You can await upload from here.”

       “Upload?  Oh, you mean back to the real world?”

       “Yes.  Your safe word was created, and is only known, by you.  Do you remember it?”

       “Yeah.  I got it.  What if I don’t want to go back to the real world?”

       “I am sorry.  Your time in the choice program is limited even with the Mark V compression filters Future_Line currently uses.  Your session is eight hours long.  You have a minimum program run time of twenty four hours and a maximum run time of twenty six hours, after which you will automatically be removed from the choice program and returned to the program start-gate for upload.”

       “Sounds great.” Jack said, even if most of it had gone clear over his head. “When do we start?”

       Lothor ignored the question.  More writing rolled down across the viewer and the avatar continued.  “There is a privacy disclaimer.  All customers of Future_Line Virtual Industries Incorporated are under the protection of the Virtual Privacy Act which entails that at no time can any aspect of your fantasy or your actions while in your fantasy be reproduced, copied, sold, or in general, used for or against you for any reason unless it is by your consent.  As avatar of ‘the Core’, I and your Personal Program Assistant both fall under the purview of this act.  We are sworn to uphold your personal privacy no matter what your actions are.”

       “Gotcha.  Can we get started now?” Jack said.  He had started to come to grips with his surroundings and the initial shock of this ‘virtual world’ had worn off.  Now he was getting excited.  If the program he went into appeared as ‘real’ as his current surroundings, and there was no reason to think it would not be, then he was going to have some fun.  This was a once in a lifetime license to do whatever he wanted.  These Future_line fantasy getaways were thousands of dollars a session.  There was no way he would ever be able to come back and try this again.  And he had wasted enough time listening to a long-winded simulated person informing him of his right to bail out and go home. 

       He expected Lothor to say no, not yet, and start into another bylaw or legal issue.  But instead the avatar let go of a very human sounding sigh of exacerbation.  He snapped his fingers and the viewer went dead, retreating back into the wall to be replaced by the stocked bar shelves.  He took hold of Jack’s arm and guided him to the office door, talking as they walked across the thick carpet.

       “You have finished the orientation of the Main Start-gate program.  Any future inquiries concerning legal or other issues must be directed to your Personal Program Assistant.” 

       They stopped at the door. “To access the next level of your virtual fantasy you must enter through here.  Good luck, and from all the employees of Future_Line Virtual Industries Incorporated, we hope you enjoy your fantasy. Good day to you.”

      This was it.  The moment he had been waiting for.  Jack went to take the door handle. "Yeah, Luther. Thanks p-"

      There was a blinding flash of light that was gone almost as soon as it hit.  Jack raised his arms up to shield his eyes instinctively.  He blinked several times to disperse the brilliant white spots and his eyes slowly refocused. 

      "Sorry about that."

      Jack nearly jumped out of his skin. "What the fuck are you doing?" He yelled as all his frustrations came out. "First it's poke her and prod there!  Then it's swoosh here and a big flash, then swoosh there!  Snap at this and snap at that!  This is seriously fucked up, Luther!"

      "I must sincerely apologize, my lord."

      "Well this is getting ridiculous.  You can take your apology and st...Holy shit!"

      Jack's eyes had adjusted and he realized he was no longer in the office.  In fact, he seemed pretty far from it.  He was standing in the middle of a cavernous, ancient style, high roofed room with gray stone walls.  Evenly spaced around the perimeter, on both the lower floor and the second floor gallery, were fantastic suites of armor covered with cloth banners of all different colors and beautifully adorned with their own individual sigils.  In the center of the floor was a large table covered in maps, scrolls and books.  "Badass!  Complete badass!" He muttered.

      "I am glad you appreciate it, my lord."

      Jack was so stunned by his change in surroundings that he had forgotten all about the voice he had heard.  It wasn't long before it hit him this was not Lothor.  There was a slight accent to this one and the tone was not nearly as deep.  He turned on his heels and came face to face with a small, almost delicate man with short blond hair and full beard.  The man wore a suit of chain mail armor covered at the shoulders and chest by plates of gray steel.  On his hip was a long, straight sword and under his arm was a steel war helmet with thin grooves for eye slits.

      His free arm went out to his side in a sweeping motion and he bowed with all the grace of someone who had been born to it. "My lord, allow me to name myself.  I am Axel, your Personal Program Assistant."

      Jack stared at him for a minute. "Axel...Axel?"

      But the assistant smiled.  It seemed a truly friendly expression. "A name is but a name, my lord.  I care for it not.  You may call me what you wish."

      Jack waved it off and embarrassment flushed through him for being so rude.  Then he realized he had been rude to a computer program.  All the same, manners were still manners.

        "No...no.  Axel is fine.  It’s just a little unusual, that’s’ all.  I’m Jack Dullman.”

      Axel nodded curtly. “It is an honor to meet you, my lord.   Welcome to the Medieval World Program Start-gate.”

      He took another look around the vast expanse of the room.  “So this is it?  This is my fantasy?  Where is everybody?”

      The blonde man smiled. “Not precisely, my lord.  It is usually the custom of all new users to review their personal preferences before continuing to the actual choice program.”

      “Well, okay, if you say so.  Lothor said all my information was already downloaded.”

      “Yes, my lord.  I already have access to it.  You requested Medieval World, Version 12.  Is that the correct choice?”

      “Yeah.  I think it is.  I’m not exactly sure what all that means.” Jack said.  He remembered choosing exactly what he wanted from the list of possible fantasies.  He thought those were the right picks.

      “Might I give you a brief overview?” Axel asked.

      “Well why not.  I’ve waited this long.” Jack said as calmly as he could even though he was getting slightly perturbed.  It seemed he was doing nothing but wasting time with avatars and personal assistants when what he really wanted to do was go find a chambermaid or some willing tavern wench so he could have his way with her.  But he tried to remember the old saying about all good things going to those who waited. “Whatcha got for me?”

      Axel walked over to the table and Jack followed.  He effortlessly took up a large book bound in leather and opened it, flipping the massive tome to show an illustrated diagram. “As you can see, the choice programs are divided into different worlds.  Medieval World, Western World, Ancient World....they are but a few samples of the available selection.”  Axel’s thin finger traced the outline as he spoke. “You have chosen Medieval World...see here?  Each World program has several different versions.  Medieval World has 12 different versions.  You have chosen Version 12.  It is a most unusual program as it deals more with the sexual fantasy aspect of the era more so than the simulation or the adventure versions”

      “Yeah.  That’s me.  The unusual one.  I’m probably the only one who will ever use it.”

      Axel shook his head. “On a contrary, my lord.  There are actually six other users currently in the same version.”

      Jack was shocked. “There are other people....real people in this version of my program?”

      Axel nodded. “Yes, my lord.  But do not worry.  The size of the program is so large the odds of you meeting and interacting with another user are infinitesimal.” Then he turned the page of the book he was holding.  The title of the page was ‘Lord Jack Dullman’ with a rounded shield of aquamarine blue above it.  In the center of the blue field was a golden eagle with outspread wings. 

      “Hey!  Is that mine?  My banner?” Jack asked excitedly.

      “It is, my lord.  Exactly to your specifications, is it not?”

       Blue and gold were his favorite colors.  The eagle was his favorite animal.  He had thought so many of the questions he had been asked were incidental and their answers would never be used.  He was beginning to realize he was wrong about a lot of things in this virtual world.

       “You are Lord Jack, master of the castle and village of Hargate, in the Duchy of Loranth.  You will find that you have your own retinue and court created specifically to cater to your every need.”

       Axel turned another page, this time opening up to a map.  The land had a jagged coastline and dense forests in the interior bordered on the north side by a mountain range and to the east by a wide plain.  In the center of the western forest was a tiny dot with the name Hargate scrawled above it.  A slender finger pointed it out.

      “This is where you will be, my lord.”

      “Do I have my own women?” He blurted out. “Oooops.  Sorry, Axel.  I got carried away.”

      “I am sure you will find all the provisions you desire within Version 12.  It caters to all different aspects of human sexuality.  Whatever they may be.  And if you do not, then you have only to call me and ask.”

      “You’re gonna be there to help?”

      “Yes, my lord.  I am, after all, your Personal Program Assistant.  I can advise, re-arrange or alter any feature within the program, excluding actually reconfiguring the program itself.  I am sorry to say that is the purview of the ‘Core’ and its avatar.”

      “Okay.  Well, can we get going now?  I’m getting an itch I have had for a long time here.  Can I go get it scratched?”

      Axel smiled warmly.  It was very human-like.

      “By your leave, my lord.  You have only to call if you need me.  Do you have any questions or comments at this point?”

      Jack shrugged. “I guess not.”

      “Do you wish to alter any aspect of your user package at this time?” Axel asked.

      “Well...no.” Jack answered, slightly confused.  He wouldn’t know what to alter.  “I’m okay as is.  I can’t think of anything to change.”

      Even so, Axel hesitated.  “Very well.  Enjoy yourself.” He closed the book and put it down.  His hand came up with thumb and middle finger touching.  He was ready to snap when Jack stopped him. “Wait! Wait...wait...wait.”

      “Yes, my lord?”

      “I did want to say something.” He offered warmly. “Enough of this ‘my lord’ stuff.  If we are going to be working together you can call me Jack.  And just for the record, for a person made by a computer, you’re a damn nice guy.  One hell of a lot nicer than Luther.  Maybe you should get promoted to avatar or something.”

      Axel bowed slightly to the statement. “Why, thank you, m....Jack.”  Then he laughed. “And you are a damned nice person too....for a human.”

      Jack smiled broadly. “I appreciate that.”

       “You’re welcome.  Now, are you ready to begin your fantasy?”

      Jack had learned his lesson.  He tilted his head back and shut his eyes to the blinding flash he knew was probably coming.  He set himself, widening his stance and girding his midsection, like a man expecting to be punched in the gut.

      Two deep breaths and exhale.  “Okay, Axel.  Zap me!”

      He heard the snap of the fingers and felt a sudden shift.

      And then nothing.

      At first, he thought something had gone wrong then Jack opened his eyes and the sun nearly blinded him.  He could feel the warmth of the rays against his skin and a fresh breeze slapped him in the face.  He gazed down to see his new cloths; knee high boots and breeches, a white linen shirt and black vest.  All fit perfectly and far more comfortably than his cloths in the real world.  After a quick inspection of his surroundings he discovered he was standing on a balcony in a stone tower.  Not far below was a curtain wall where armored sentries with spears and bows walked along the battlements.   The slate roofs of countless buildings were packed below into the confines of the great wall.  Beyond the main gate where chimneys belched soot filled smoke he could track tiny people moving about, some walking, some with horses or mules and even some with ox carts.  Beyond the village was a vast emerald green sea of dense forest and cutting through it was a single road.

      “HELL YEAH!! FUCKING SWEEET!” He screamed at the top of his lungs, not caring if any of the computer simulations within earshot of his booming cry heard it. “THIS IS FUCKING SICK!!!”  He cupped both hands to his mouth to amplify his voice.  “WooooooooooooooHoooooooooooooooooooooooo!!”

      Jack shuddered as an earsplitting crack sounded off around his head. “Hey, what the fuck was that?” He uttered as he tried to cover his ears in a belated attempt to protect them.

      “WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?”

      Jack spun around and was faced with the woman of his dreams.  She appeared to be in her mid to late twenties even though Jack had a horrible time with ages.  She had a lovely face framed by long, thick tresses of black hair which hung down loosely to the top of her ample breasts.  She wore a flowing gown of crimson and black with a near bursting bodice scrolled with silver thread.  Even under the heavy hems of her skirts, Jack realized she must have had an amazing body.

      And she had a bullwhip in her hands, idly flicking the tail of the whip back and forth like a cat about to get a bowl of cream as she leaned against the entrance to the dark tower interior.

      “I asked you a question, my lord.  What is the meaning of this?”  Her voice was smoky and strong.  The authority in her tone left no doubt as to a challenge.  Jack’s knees nearly buckled.  This was not what he had been expecting but if this is what he got....then so be it.  Who was he to argue with is very own Fantasy program.

      “You are one hot assed computer person, sweetie.” Jack told her as he placed his hands behind his head in supplication.  “Come and take me, mistress.  I've been a baaaaaad boy.”

      “Then my lord had best prepare for his punishment.”  She walked forward slowly, like a panther stalking its dinner.

      “Oh yeah, devil woman.  Hurt me.”

     

      Jack had always thought himself to be a dominant.  Jack could never remember actually having submissive fantasies.  He had never really thought about submitting to bondage and discipline before.  So he really didn’t know why he went along with the lady in crimson and black.  Perhaps because this was his fantasy and to try something once when no one else would ever know....well what was the harm in that?  Or perhaps because he had always been the type of person to go along with the flow and when the dark haired beauty had blindfolded him, wrapped the bullwhip around his neck and began to lead him down into the bowels of the castle he had simply followed the way of things, assured that at some point he would be able to turn the tables on her.

      Turning the tables no longer seemed like an option with his wrists chained above his head and his legs spread wide on the cold stone floor, ankles chained to opposite walls in the small chamber.  But at least he had gotten his own set of mistresses.  Once the lady in crimson and black had gotten him down to the dungeon she had watched him strip naked, took him into one of the smaller cells and chained him, but then, to his surprise, she had left him to the tender mercies of two lovely blonde women who had appeared out of nowhere.

      For what seemed like forever one of the dungeon helpers, clad only in boots, loincloth, halter and heavy gloves, slowly paced around him, a short leather cat-o-nine tails in her hands, swishing out to thwack him somewhere on his exposed flesh every so often, while the other knelt down in front of him and used her tongue to expertly stroke his cock while her hands gently massaged his ball sack.  He was rock hard and the waves of near orgasmic pleasure she was giving him was in stark contrast of the stinging kiss of the whip and the growing frustration from being held on the verge of ultimate pleasure without getting to release.

      “If I don’t cum soon, I’m gonna go insane.” He muttered between gasps. 

      “Oh, really?” The blond with the whip answered mockingly. “The mistress gave express orders that you were not allowed to let go your seed.  If the pleasure is driving you mad then perhaps we should turn up the pain to take your mind off of it.”

      The blond threw the whip down and roughly tightened the screws on the iron nipple clamps she had placed on him some time ago.  He yelled as a wave of fresh pain washed over every nerve in his body.

      The blond drew away and went over to the wall where various other whips and paddles hung from metal hooks leaving the weighted nipple clamps bobbing up and down in her wake.  She paused briefly and even if Jack was distracted by the mind blowing mixture of pleasure and pain he was receiving he still tried to focus and pay attention to what she was doing.

      The blond reached over and picked up a paddle.  She studied it for a moment then brought it over to him.  Jack’s eyes widened as he took in the monstrous device.  The paddle was nearly two feet long and six inches wide.  Its smooth surface was marred by countless rows of iron studs bored into the wood.

      The blond saw his expression and laughed cruelly. “Should this be sufficient to take your mind off of my companion’s efforts?”

      “That thing looks like it might hurt.”

      The blonde smiled wickedly. “I assure you, my lord, it certainly will.”

      “No, please.” Jack was not sure how much of it was act and how much of it was real anymore.

      The blond walked about him, slapping the paddle lightly into her gloved palm.  Jack followed her with his eyes as growing trepidation filled him.  That paddle was a monster.  It was really going to burn.

      Finally she ducked under one of his outstretched arms and was on his back side where he could no longer watch her.  A moment of panic filled him.  There was no way of knowing what she was doing back there and his mind filled with a helplessness that he had never felt before. 

      “Hey, lady....please be careful with....”

      THWAAACK!

      Jack’s breath exploded from his lungs in an ear splitting scream as searing hot pain spread across his ass.

      “THAT FUCKING HURT!!!” He bellowed as the pain slowly began to recede.   A hand grabbed what little hair he had left and yanked his head backward.  Jack could feel the blonde’s hot breath on the side of his face and her whisper sounded like thunder. “Still too much pleasure?”

      Somebody had definitely turned this up a notch.

      “No!” Jack answered hoarsely.  “Please.  Don’t hit me like that again.”

      But the blond gave his head a hard jerk. “What was that, worm?  Did you say something?”

      Jack answered louder this time. “Please don’t.  Don’t hit me like that again.”

      “Oh?  Don’t like it?  Care to beg now?”  She took the massive paddle and rubbed it up and down his back, the sharp iron studs scraping along his skin like nails.

      “No!  Please put it away.”

      Anger filled her voice. “You shall not tell me what to do, worm.”  She let go of his hair and backed away.

      “Wait, lady! No, stop....oh shit!”

      THWAAACK!

      Jack screamed again as fresh agony infused his already sore ass.  He slumped in his chains briefly but all of his considerable weight was then being supported by his wrists and he was forced to stand on his feet again. 

      “I see your game, worm.” The blond said.  She walked over to one side of the room and Jack noticed a small wheel set into the wall.  The woman began to turn the wheel, her tattooed arms straining with the effort.  Jack heard the clanking of chains and felt himself being pulled up by the wrists.  After only a few turns Jack was forced up on the balls of his feet placing extra strain on his arms shoulders and calves. “Now you have nowhere to go.  No room to relax.”

      Jack hung his head and shut his eyes.  The pain was nearly unbearable.  Years of ideas and fantasies floating around in his head were being called into question and he was beginning to wonder if he had chosen wisely.  This was wrong.  This was all wrong.

      THWAAACK!

      A new sheet of pain spread across the back of his left thigh. 

      THWAAACK!

      Same pain, this time across his right thigh.

      Every muscle in his body tensed and he screamed like a banshee as the bite of the iron studs pierced the flesh and his legs trembled with the effort to keep him up as his hamstrings were turned to jelly by the blows.

      THWAAACK!

       THWAAACK!

       THWAAACK!

       Several more blows fell on his ass and back and thighs and several more screams resounded off the stone walls.  Each hit brought another harder and faster than before and Jack could feel blood trickling down his legs to pool at his aching toes.  Jack could no longer judge time as he once could.  The beating with the paddle, and the never ending blowjob seemed to go on forever.

      “I trust my assistants have kept you interested?”

      With pain filled eyes Jack looked up to see the woman in black standing in the doorway to the chamber.  His eyes widened and he had to admit that even through the suffering he was aroused by her outfit.  She wore only a black loincloth and black linen wrap to cover her ample breasts with knee high boots turned down at the cuff.  Her body was just as magnificent as he had imagined it when he first laid eyes on her. 

      “Please, mistress.” Jack muttered half delirious with pain.  “No more, please.  I can’t take it.”

      The lady in black smiled.

      “Oh, poor Lord Jack.  Can’t take anymore, eh?  Well I should guess you could use a bit of a rest.”

      Relief began to flood over him.

      She stepped forward and placed a loving hand on the head of the blond woman kneeling before him. “That will do nicely, Ayla.  I think his lordship says he has had enough.”

      Ayla gave him one last flick of her tongue along the shaft of his member and backed away leaving his dick hard and wet and with no possibility of relief in sight.  Jack almost broke down and cried as his relief vanished.

      “Please.  Take me down now.  I’m done with this fantasy.” he said.  Things had started off fun enough, but now they had turned disturbing.  Jack had never been more helpless than he was now and it was beginning to scare him.

      The lady in black stepped up to him, leaning in to press her chest against his and Jack could feel the softness of her breasts beneath the cloth which bound them. 

      “Have you really had enough?” She asked him.

      Jack slowly nodded. “Yes, mistress. Please.  I’ll do anything.  I don’t think I want this anymore.”

      “Then why don’t you quit?”

      “Okay I’ll....huh?” 

       It hit him suddenly.  The safe word!  He had forgotten all about it.  Say the safe words and everything would be back to normal except he would be kicked out of his fantasy. 

       But even if his body was throbbing, his mind clouded with agony, he could still tell there was something not quite right.  It seemed all too easy.

      “Quit?  You mean....use my safe word and go back?  I don’t want to quit.  I just want you to stop hurting me.”

       Her dark eyes smiled at him.  It was an evil smile, devoid of any feeling. “It is a simple thing to do, my lord.  You have but to call out your safe word three times and all will be well.  I promise you.”

      “Fuck you.” Jack retorted defiantly, not believing what he was hearing.  Fantasy was gone out the window now and Jack was really scared.

      “Well,” The dark mistress chuckled as she backed away. “If you will not quit for me, will you scream for me?  Is it not the least you could do?”

      For a brief moment fresh strength infused him and Jack strained every muscle in his body to break his bonds but he soon slumped in exhaustion, all the fight in him was gone as he realized the chains were not going to break.

      “This is not real...this is not real...this is not real.” He began to repeat over and over again.

      “It is real enough, my lord.” The lady in black mocked. “Varisa?  Ayla?  I think it is time we used more persuasive methods.”

      “Yes, mistress.” Both answered nearly in unison.

       Jack watched as Ayla stepped over to the wall and retrieved a four foot long leather whip with shining bits of metal entwined in the braid.  The other blond, Varisa, put her monstrous paddle back on its proper set of hooks and picked up a second whip identical to the first.

       The lady in black gave one more look to Jack as he hung helplessly in the dungeon room, his eyes full of desperation and fear. “Continue with your work, my dears, but use the razor whips only sparingly.  I have something much more painful in mind for him and I shall return shortly.”

       Razor whips?  More painful?  She had to be joking.  But if she wasn’t?

       He was near panic.  He had to do something.  Jack filled his lungs with air and screamed.

       “HELP ME!  SOMEBODY HELP ME!  THESE BITCHES HAVE GONE CRAZY!”

       All three women laughed.  “My lord,” The lady in black informed him. “There is no one who will hear your cries for help.  You only waste your strength.  It would be a shame if you did not save some for later.”

       And with that she turned and left.  Ayla and Varisa stepped up and held their whips for him to see.  Jack turned his head away rather than see the instruments they were going to use on him.

       Both women snickered as they stepped to either side, one to his front and the other behind him.  Jack closed his eyes, preparing for the first blows to fall.  He knew this was going to hurt.  Those whips would shred his skin like tissue paper. 

       Using his safe word was starting to look better and better.  But there was an uneasy feeling in his stomach.  If this was supposed to be his fantasy world then why were the computer generated people trying to kick him out of it?  He did not know but whatever reason was behind it, Jack knew it would certainly not be good.  Quickly, and with far more courage than he thought he ever had, Jack decided to try and hold on for as long as he could.  Perhaps this was all scripted and soon his rescuers would come running down the dungeon stairway.

       “Ayla?  Varisa?” The mistress suddenly called from beyond the chamber entrance.  “Come and help me a moment.”

      Jack opened his eyes and saw an expression of sheer disappointment cross the face of Ayla, the blow job tease. 

       “Come on,” She said to her companion. “, lets go see what she wants.”  As Varisa walked by she caressed his flank with her nails, “Why don’t you hang around awhile until we return, my lord.”  And both women walked out the chamber entrance laughing, coiling their whips at their sides. 

       Though he could no longer relax without feeling as if his arms were being ripped from their sockets, he breathed a quick sigh of relief.  He had been given a momentary reprieve but soon they would be back and he did not know how much more he could take.  The paddle had been bad enough.  His ass and the backs of his legs felt bloody and burning.  But those barbed whips horrified him beyond words.  He did not want to be on the receiving end of them but there was soon to be little choice.  Either he could use that safe word and go back to the real world or he could hang there while three crazed women continued to torture him.  He fought through the pain filled haze that was clouding his judgment and searched for any other option that was open.

      “Where the hell is Axel at when I need him?”  Jack muttered absentmindedly.

      “I’m right here, Jack.”

      The familiar voice was a shock to his ears.  His eyes brightened as the small statured man stepped into his view.

      “Axel?” Jack cried out, not fully believing what he was seeing. “Is that really you?”

      “Shhhhhh! It is me.  But you have to be quiet or else they will hear.” 

      “Where have you been you lazy fucker?  Zap ‘em, Axel.  Snap your fingers or somethin’.  Those bitches are evil.”

      Axel took his hand and placed it over Jack’s mouth.

      “MMMMmmmmmmmph?”

      “Jack,” Axel said at barely more than a whisper.  “Listen carefully.  I am here to help you but you must hold on.  I could not come until I was called but I promise I will get you out of this.”

      Jack jerked away from Axel’s hand. “What the hell is going on here?” He returned with a whisper of his own and a quick glance at the entrance to make sure they had not already been heard.   “I thought this was a medieval sex-fest, not a torture session with the wicked witches of the west.”

      “Trust me when I say it was not meant to be so.” His assistant said.

      “Then what the hell happened?”

      Axel looked to the dark entrance of the cell then back to Jack’s abused form. “Something very, very bad has happened.  I will tell you more about it later but for now I must go and get help.”

      “What?” Jack almost shouted, remembering at the last moment they were supposed to be quiet. “You are NOT leaving me chained up here with these psycho women, Axel.”

      “I promise I will be back as soon as I can.” Axel tried to explain.

      “No,no,no,no,no.  You need to find a way to get me down...or better yet; you need to zap my big ass to somewhere nice and safe.”

      He remained undeterred.  He shook his head.  “It is not that simple.  I can’t do that anymore.”

      “Axel,” Jack nearly sobbed in desperation. “, these women have barbed whips they are going to use on me.”

      “I swear to you, Jack,” The assistant said trying to be as reassuring as possible. “I will come back just as soon as I get help.  But in the meantime, and this is extremely important, you must not use your safe word in an attempt to escape.  Do you understand?”

      “Why not?” He asked. “I’m not stupid.  They want me to use them but I’ve been holding out so far cause I know something really fucked up is going to happen when I do.  But I don’t know how much more I can take.”

      “I will explain later.”

      Axel stepped away. “Remember, Jack.  Whatever you do, you cannot use the failsafe.  It is a trap.”

      Jack could not help himself.  His voice called out. “Axel? Axel!  Damn you, don’t leave me here!  You sorry fuck!”

      With one final twist back Axel snapped his fingers and dissolved away just as Ayla and Varisa came back into the cell.  Neither one of them were pleased by the interruption.

      “Who were you talking to, worm?” Ayla asked harshly.

      “Go fuck yourself.”

      Having the cavalry on the way was a great boost to Jack’s morale.  There were only two problems.  (A)How much morale could a man beaten and whipped bloody and chained up in a torture chamber have once his tormentors returned and (B) how long was it going to take the cavalry before they arrived.

      The lady in black returned to the entranceway. “Was he talking with someone?”

      “The mutterings of a fool driven mad, more the like.” Varisa offered in explanation.

      A sadistic smile crossed the face of the other blond. “Soon to be driven even madder, I’ll wager.”

      Jack saw the mistress’s eyes narrow.  Finally she said. “Very well.  Ayla, bind and prepare him.  Varisa come with me.”

      Both women nodded their consent and the lady in black retreated back into the darkness with Varisa.  Jack watched Ayla as she went over to the wall and took down a thin leather thong about eighteen inches in length.  In the corner of the room was a small jar which she also picked up.

       “What are you gonna do with that?”

       “Watch me.” She chuckled.

       She went down on her knees in front of him again and slowly started to stoke his now flaccid penis back to an erection.  Even through the pain it was not long before he began to respond.  Expertly she took the thong and began to tie it tightly around the base of his member so as to keep the blood from flowing out of the erection.  Then she worked the cord down and around his sagging testicles and roughly bound them in such a way as they were not only kept separated from his body but also from each other.  Then she intricately laced it up the shaft and tied the thong off at the head and looked up with a smile.  All the while Jack peered down helplessly, gasping with each yank and squeeze.

       “Did you enjoy my tongue, worm?  I am an expert in its use for all manner of pleasures.” Ayla cupped his ball sack one last time. “I have also been instructed in every manner of cock and ball torture known to womankind.  This is one of my favorites.  Perhaps it will be one of your favorites too.”

       She reached down to the jar at her side and lifted out a liberal amount of an opaque jelly-like substance.

       “Now be prepared.” She said mockingly. “The salve will be cold....but not for long.”

       Ayla took the salve and smeared it over his balls and stiff cock and Jack took in a sharp breath.  Cold was not exactly the word he would have used.  Frigid would have been better.  And despite himself he began to enjoy the sensation of her hand massaging the cold cream onto his tightly bound package.

       From behind, Varisa waddled in, a brazier in her mitten covered hands with tendrils of distorted air shimmering up from its contents.

       “Oh, no fucking way!” Jack exclaimed as he realized what was about to be done to him.

       “HELP ME!  HELP ME SOMEBODY!!” He screamed. “AXEL!  GET YOUR ASS BACK DOWN HERE AND HELP ME!”

       Varisa sat the brazier in the middle of the floor only a couple of feet in front of him.  It stood about two feet off the ground and the coals in the heart of it were glowing red.

       “AXEL!!  YOU SORRY MOTHERFUCKER!  WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?”

       “Don’t waste your lungs, yet, worm.  There is so much screaming left to be done.” Ayla said with a smirk.

       “Of course,” Varisa retorted. “You could always use your safe word and all of this will be over.  What say you?”

       “Drop dead.” He cried out with all the bravado he could muster.

       Varisa laughed derisively.  “Is that really the best you can do?  I should think you would know so many better insults to use on us than that.”

       “I tire of this game.” Ayla said though her eyes watched him with lustful excitement.  Both these women wanted to see him squirm and hear him scream and beg for mercy. “Let us finish him and get our reward.”

       “Very well.” Varisa agreed.  Her booted foot went to the corner of the brazier and gently began to push it ever so slowly toward the apex of his spread legs. 

       Jack’s breathing became labored as he prepared himself for the white hot, soul searing pain that was to come.  He watched as the brazier moved ever closer with each second.  He could not pull his eyes from the sight of it creeping toward his tender parts. 

       And even after Axel had told him not to do it, the safe word started mulling around in his head almost ready to spill out of his lips.

       BLAAAAMMMMM!

      The thundering echo was a tremendous shock to both Jack and his two torturers.  The women whirled on the entrance, the brazier only inches from being directly beneath his exposed crotch.  From out beyond the door there was a commotion going on.  He could hear muffled voices yelling at distance. 

      BLAAAAMMMMM!  BLAAAAAAMMM! BLAAAAAAMMM! 

       There was the gut wrenching screech of wood being torn asunder as one of the heavy dungeon doors was battered and split off its hinges. 

       That was all the incentive Varisa needed to leave.  Without a word she bolted through the door and was gone before Ayla had any time to react.

       “HOLD THERE!!!” Came a booming female voice. “HOLD, I SAY!!!”

       This was the chance he had been waiting for.  The cavalry had arrived.

       “I’M IN HERE!!! HELP ME!!! I’M HERE!!!” Jack blasted as loudly as he could.

       Ayla turned then.  Spite filled her brown eyes. “Burn, you bastard!  Burn and say the words!”

       With one foot she kicked the brazier the final short way between his spread legs.  Jack’s eyes turned wild as the coals were only a few inches from his family jewels and the heat came on immediately with an intensity he had not expected.  He screamed like he had never screamed before as the salve began to melt and bubble on the soft skin of his balls and prick.

       Ayla stood there for another brief second and gave him a final, wicked smile as she made a run for it too.

       Jack did not know how long it took before the first of the guards entered into the room and kicked the brazier over onto the floor.  It seemed like hours, but he knew it could not have been that long.  But still, after the heat was gone, his balls still burned, and he still screamed.  He did not notice as Axel and a beautiful young woman with long, straight red hair and a round face, wearing a cloak of blue and gold entered into the room while guards unfettered his wrists and ankles and laid him gently on the floor.  Jack saw Axel and the woman speak to him.  At least their mouths moved but he could not hear anything.  Then everything started to turn gray.  He wondered if he was starting to go blind.  No, that was silly.  With a sudden, heart thumping, jolt he thought that maybe he had said his safe word and activated the failsafe shutdown or whatever it was they had been trying to force him to do.  But no again.  He had not said anything like that.  At least he didn’t think so.  Maybe he was...just..... passing.............out............

 

 

      “Jack?”

      His mind had been floating near the surface of consciousness for some time waiting for the right reason to wake him.  His name was the trigger it had been looking for.  Jack opened his eyes drowsily but the light was too bright and he had to wait while they adjusted so he could see his surroundings.

      “What happened?”

      “Is it any wonder?  You passed out.”

       “Is it over?” He asked.

      “Is what over?”

      “The fantasy, is it over?”

      “No.  Fortunately for you it is not.”

      “Fortunately for me?”  Jack laughed as he tried to focus and the vague outlines of shapes coalesced into solid objects. “Hello Axel, you sorry bastard.”

      The PPA smiled as he sat down next to him. “Good to have you back, Jack.  And still in proper spirits too, I see.  I was getting worried for a moment.”

      One quick glance around the room and he immediately felt at ease.  He was no longer in the dungeon cell but in a bedroom, tucked into a soft, warm bed with covers up to his chest.  The light of mid morning poured into the room and the windows were open to allow in fresh air.  Rose petals had been tossed onto the bed and the pillow had been scented with sweet oils.  It was all designed to make him feel better. 

      And how did he feel?  He wasn’t really hurting as he thought he should be.  The memories of his experience at the hands of the lady in black and her two companions had come rushing back to him nearly as soon as his senses had come aware.  But still there was no pain.  Not even in his balls.  Even so he was scared to move.   

      “How am I doing, Axel?  Am I burned for life?”

      He was given a most reassuring smile. “No worries.  It is one of the fundamental rules of any of ‘the Core’s’ programs.  If you are harmed in any way, the program is set to heal you with great rapidity.  After all, it would not do for a user to walk into a shower of arrows or under a falling gargoyle and be unable to experience the rest of his fantasy because of a slow recovery time.  You should be perfectly fine.  In fact, as long as you are in the program you are very nearly indestructible.”

      Breathing a sigh of relief, Jack moved his legs.  Even after listening to Axel he still half expected a burst of pain from his abused thighs.  When nothing happened, he slid his hands under the covers and gently brushed his fingertips against his cock and balls.  Everything felt normal, so he felt of the underside of the spongy head of his dick.  He distinctly remembered the feel of that soft tissue blistering as the salve Ayla had so liberally massaged into it boiled from the heat of the red hot coals. 

       It was still slightly tender but nothing out of the ordinary.

      Everything was fine.  Exactly how it should be.  This is how his fantasy was supposed to be.  Except Axel was a beautiful woman ready and willing to pleasure him at the first sign of his waking.  Jack looked at the gruff little man and decided that was not going to happen.

      “Okay, Axel.  I got a few questions for ya’.  First, what the fuck took you so long?  They worked me over for hours!”

      “One hour twenty three minutes to be precise.” The PPA provided matter-of-factly. “I came as soon as I was called.”

      “Oh, so you were watching with a stopwatch?”

      “Jack,” Axel said consolingly, “there was nothing I could do.  I was not released from the program start-gate until you said my name.  I came almost immediately, if you will remember.”

      Jack had to give him that one. “Yeah, well, okay.  But why didn’t you just snap me back to here or something?”

      Axel leaned closer. “Remember when I came to speak with you and I told you I was going for help.  I knew then I could not exhibit the same level of control within the program as I had previously.”

      “You can’t zap anymore?”

      “I have limited mobility for myself within the choice program but that is all.  I am afraid that is not the only control I have lost.  I am also unable to gain access back to the program start-gate.”

      Jack was clueless. “Well....what does that mean?”

      “That means there is no way of going back to the program start-gate.  We are confined to the parameters of this program.”

      “How in the hell a......are you trying to tell me we’re trapped here, in a computer program...is that even possible?”

      Axel shifted uncomfortably. “At this point it would certainly seem so.”

      “I’m a living, breathing person.  I have a body...even if it isn’t much.”

      “Yes, well.  With the program start-gate shut down there was always your emergency access to the failsafe which would get you back to the ‘main’.”

      “Yeah. You told me not to use it, remember?”

      “There was good reason for this.” Axel replied. “While your Personal Program Assistant, I am not only responsible for basic interaction with your user profile I am also charged with monitoring the state of your physical being.”

      “So you keep track of my body just like the technicians back at the lab?”

      “Precisely.  Only...” The PPA hesitated.

      “Spit it out, Axel. It looks like you swallowed a frog.”

      “...well.....Jack, since you were downloaded into the program I have stopped receiving updates of the status of your physical being.”

      Jack’s eyes narrowed. “Wait, wai....wait.  You stopped getting info on the condition of my body?”

      Axel frowned but nodded.

      “Okay...so is that normal?”

      Axel shook his head.

      “So what does that mean...I mean, you say yourself you don’t have as much mojo as you used to have, right?”

      “Agreed,” He was forced to admit. “There are two very distinct possibilities.”

      “Which are?”

      “Either I have lost access to the data, which is, of course, a logical assumption....or your physical being has been removed from the connection.”

      “You mean gone...unplugged.”

      “Yes.  That is why I told you not to enable the emergency failsafe.  There is no more access to the Program start-gate.  Without access I cannot tell if the main start-gate has maintained its integrity.  If there is no main start-gate to return to your user profile would have been sent back to its host form.”

      “And with no body to return to?”

      “Your user profile would have been deleted.”

       That struck him like a fist.  The women who had tortured him had wanted him to activate the failsafe.  If he had broken and said the safe word, he would have been killed.  “How did this happen.” Jack asked, dumbfounded.

      “I do not know, but I believe we must discover the reasons why this has happened, who is behind it and if the current situation can be amended or reversed.”

      “Hey, Axel?”

       “Yes, Jack?”

      “If something has happened to my body, why am I still here?”

      “I do not know.  Perhaps it is some residual effect of your leftover consciousness.” Axel said.  His tone was not reassuring. “This is most extraordinary.”

      “You’re tellin’ me?”

      His blonde assistant smiled then. “It is not all bad news, Jack.  There are some people waiting outside I think you should meet and we also have a surprise for you.”

      “A surprise?  For me?  Axel, you shouldn’t have.”

      “Of course I should have.” He replied.  “You are still lord of the castle until we can figure a way out of this for you.”

      He clapped his hands together loudly and the door to the chamber opened as Jack threw back the covers.  A young girl, no older than fourteen or fifteen, stepped meekly into the room.  She wore breeches and boots and a simple green tunic.  Her hair was a dark red mass of curls and wavy bits someone had clumsily tried to pin back.  Nervously she bowed as he sat up on the side of the bed.

      “M....my lord.  I...”

      “Who the hell is this?” Jack interrupted.

      “M.....my...my lord...”

      “Damn, Axel.  She is worse than you are.  Is this my surprise?”

      The young girl looked up, her eyes wide with fear and Axel laughed. “Most certainly not.  This is your squire.”

      Jack frowned. “I thought squires were boys?”

      “Yes, well.  There are several aspects of this program that are rather a bit different than what they should be.  Consider it yet another strange aspect of this mystery we must solve.”

      Jack shrugged. “Hell, I think I would just settle for getting back to my body.  Hey, girl, what’s your name?”

      “My..my lord, .....K...Ktari, my lord.  I...”

      Jack held up a hand to quiet her.  “Calm down before you have a stroke.”

      “Of course.” She answered, scared nearly beyond words.

      “Okay, whatever.  Axel, what is this girl supposed to do?”  He leaned in a little closer and covered his mouth. “What exactly is she supposed to do for me?”

      “She is supposed to help you in any way she can.”

      “She’s a little too young...”

      “No.” Axel interrupted. “Not that.  Ktari here will dress you, fetch your meals for you, and stand by while you have your morning ablutions....”

      “While I what?”

      “While you bathe.” He answered patiently.  “In short, she is your personal servant.  If you are going to be here for a while then I believe you will need whatever assistance she can offer.”

      “Okay.” Jack stretched out a hand in greeting. “Hi, Ktari.  I’m Jack.  It’s nice to meet you.”

      The girl saw the offered hand and shrank away.

      “Don’t be frightened, child.” Axel told her.  “Step forward and take it.  My lord is a kindly man.  He will not harm you”

      With a hesitant look up to him, she slowly tip toed forward and gently took his hand.  Jack smiled as they shook.  The girl was short and thin, all knees and elbows and not even very pretty.  She was just ordinary, and Jack marveled at the engineering that had gone into this program, into all the programs, into the ‘Core’ itself, to create such a complete world for the mind to wander in.  And, in his case, for the mind to get lost in.  Because as he smiled, he began to realize there was no other place for him to go.  No way to get home.  Not that there was all that much for him to miss or to go back to.  But still, it was his world.

      “It’s nice to meet you, Ktari.”

      “Y...you honor me, my lord.  It is a great honor to make your acquaintance.”

      “Look, I think my friend Axel here has a few people he wants me to say hello to.  Since you are gonna be my helper, can you find me some clothes to wear?”

      “Of course, my lord.  As you wish.” And she scampered off.

      Jack turned to his assistant. “Do you think she knows what she’s doin?”

      Axel smiled and nodded. “If she does not know, I am sure her sister will beat her until she does.”

      “Her sister?” Jack asked.

      “Yes.  Lady Lynette Hunter.  She is the captain of your guard.” Axel answered. “And, I might add, one of the first to find you in the dungeon and save you.  She is awaiting you in the day chamber with other members of the household.”

      Jack breathed deeply, savoring the fresh air. “Well, I guess it would be rude of me to disappoint them.”

 

      Disappoint he did not...and neither did Ktari.  In a flash she returned with black riding boots, buff colored breeches and a blue tunic with the golden eagle of Hargate across its chest.  Disappointment filled him when he discovered he would have to put his clothes on normally.  Apparently Axel had lost the power to dress him with a snap as Lothor had done.  So be it.

      After dressing he stood in front of a hand tempered bronze mirror and hummphed a short approval.  He turned sideways, studying himself from all angles.

      “You know, it looks like I lost some weight in the transition.  What do you think, Axel?”

      “You look fine, Jack.” He answered, sounding more like a husband asked once too often by his wife if she were too fat.

      “Yeah, I do.”  He turned to his companion. “Let’s go.”

      The heavy wooden doors swung open and Axel and Jack strode into the day room, with tiny Ktari bringing up the rear.  The room itself was immense.  There were two distinct levels; the lower level was adorned with a writing desk, a small dining table and chairs, a large globe and map table.  The upper level, separated by banisters and a short set of stairs, was lined with bookshelves and another, even larger table with high backed chairs.  That was where they waited.

      Jack was pure nerves but even he was surprised by how well he handled the meeting.  There were half a dozen men and women waiting for him.  Axel introduced them and in turn they came up and bowed.  Lady Jane Tolway was the first.  She was a delicate but well proportioned brunette in a rather plain dress with striking blue eyes.  She was the Steward of Hargate and therefore, Axel explained, was responsible for keeping the place running properly.  Sir Jeremy Ross was Master of the Horse.  He was short like Axel but built like a bodybuilder, he had short black hair and a black beard which came to a point below his chin which looked sharp enough to spear a wayward hand...or sausage.  Mistress Roslyn was the resident healer.  Though her face was worn with the first signs of age she was still quite pretty.  Her smile was warm and inviting and Jack felt the sudden urge to sit her down and tell her all his troubles.  Next was Sir Alwyn Kessel, he was dressed in full armor, complete with helmet under his arm, just like when Axel had first greeted him.  He was of medium height and weight, with long dark hair and trimmed beard.  His eyes were big and expressive and almost as blue as Lady Tolway’s.  He was the Master of Foot at Hargate.  Sir Robin Beckford was next up.  Slim and pale, it made Jack’s skin crawl just to look at him.  The man looked even more like a snake than some real live snakes he had seen.  Axel named him Master-at-Arms for Hargate.  He was the one responsible for keeping weapons, provisions and also for training of the new recruits into the guards and levy.  And last but not least....Lady Lynette Hunter stepped forward.  He briefly recalled her from his final moments in the dungeon before he passed out.  Now that he had time to concentrate on her he was stunned.  Even in her armor he could tell she was small but lithe.  Her dark red hair was parted in the middle and flowed down about her shoulders.  She had green eyes, a spatter of freckles...and she was one of the most beautiful women Jack had ever seen.  Of course, he had thought the same thing about the woman in black before her, and her little friends, had tried to cook him like a pig over a fire.

      “My lord, it is good to see you up and about.” Lynette said to him and he was forced to smile.

      “After what they did I’m lucky to still be alive.”  And in truth he was.  He was beginning to feel just how close of a thing it had been.  Even now, if he were to burst out with three little words he would probably cease to exist.  It was a scary thought to have your own demise on the tip of your tongue. 

      “I guess I should thank you.” Jack told her with a quick glance back at Axel. “I was told that you were the one who really saved me.”

      “No thanks are necessary, my lord.  I was merely doing what I have sworn to do.”

      “Well, thank you anyway.”

      “I am always at your lordship’s service.” She said with a bow. “But it is with much regret I must tell you we were not able to capture the ones responsible for your suffering.”

      Jack shook his head. “I didn’t think you would be.  She was probably long gone before you arrived.”

      “What does His Lordship remember of the incident?” Slimy Sir Robin asked. “Anything at all would be of the utmost help.”

      Jack knew that he was merely a computer simulation of a person but he still could not stand him.  With a hard tone and a menacing glance he answered. “I remember being taken and almost killed in my own castle.  Does that help?”

      Sir Robin bowed again and slinked away toward the back of the group and out of his line of sight.  But soon his anger cooled and he told everything he remembered, from when he had first met the lady in black all the way up until he was screaming for his life as Lady Lynette and the guards burst through the dungeon door.

      “And does His Lordship know this woman in red and black?” Lady Jane asked him, utterly fascinated by the story he told.

      “Never seen her before in my life.” He answered. “Not a single one of them.”

      Lady Lynette shook her head. “That is something I do not understand.  This woman and her minions were able to enter into the most heavily guarded rooms of the castle and spirit His Lordship away without issue.  They were not even challenged.”

      “They were able to escape our grasp by use of a hidden passage.  Perhaps there were more that allowed their entrance.” Sir Alwyn argued. “There is no other way.”

      “Yes that is possible.” Mistress Roslyn interjected. “But we miss the obvious as well...that they were aided from inside the castle.”

      There was a round of muttering among the group.  Jack stood back and watched with as much confusion as ever.  This was all so absurd.

      Then Axel cleared his throat to gain the attention of everyone. 

       “Good knights and ladies,” He said to them with a quick look to Jack. “, there is no need to argue.  I have but a simple solution.”

      “And pray, sir, what would that solution be?” Sir Jeremy said.

      “Why, sir....if we do not know who this mysterious lady in black was, and where she came from or who sent her, then we have but to ask.”

      Jack frowned. “What is that supposed to mean.”

      Axel smiled.  It was evil and conspiratorial at the same time.  “Remember the surprise I was telling you about, Jack?”

      “Yeah.”

      “Even if the lady in black was able to evade us....one of her minions may not have.”

      There was a sharp intake of breath from several in the group. “We’ve got a prisoner?” Jack asked, heart thundering in his chest.

      “Not quite, but I may know where one of them went to.”

      “Axel,you dramatic fucker, why didn’t you just say so?”