Chapter 13

Kim was disappointed when EB argued about putting a leash on her collar. But he couldn’t guide her since she had to lead him through the ship. That convinced her to take the lead.

“Did you miss me, Master EB?”

“Yes, Slave Kim. I missed you.”

“Oooh, that’s good, Master. It should just be through here. It’s still night, I hope.”

“Night?”

“Oh yes, if it’s still night, then none of the trainees will be awake, and we don’t have to sneak through. The VIs haven’t told them about you or me yet. And I don’t think Private Isula has told them either. So it’s just through here.”

“It looks like it’s night, Slave Kim. This is an interesting location. They must have spent a lot making this look like a land base.”

“Yes, Master EB. They did. The ceiling changes to a blue sky, and even a sun goes overhead.” She smiles a bit, “The VIs have told me that no one is on guard duty tonight and that we should be able to get through without problems. That will change soon.”

“Why is it going to change?”

“The VIs can’t set direction and must act to their programming. The training VI can’t set the schedule for training. It has to wait for intelligent guidance. So, he’s been rerunning the same schedule since the battle. Which turns out to be a weekend schedule.”

“That didn’t tell me why it will change.”

“Well, with you here, you can provide them with intelligent guidance, Master EB.”

“Why can’t you?”

“I’d rather be a trainee than a leader, of course. But, fortunately, I’m just a slave, Master EB.”

“You weren’t always one. And you’re just feeling that way because you’re covered in the goo. When we get it washed off of you, you’ll be able to lead them. You were a Commander, a squadron leader at that.”

“Really? Why didn’t you tell me? The VIs said I was a Junior Commander. And didn’t say anything about squadron command.”

“It was in your implant before the purge wiped it.”

“Oooh, well, it doesn’t feel right. I guess I can tell people what to do, but...”

“But what?”

“But I don’t think I could come up with the orders ... I mean, what if I screw up? I don’t want to be the cause of so many deaths if it goes wrong.”

The AI had nothing to say about that, “For now, you can be a trainee if the VIs agree with it. But, I think you will have to take on a leadership role eventually.”

“Why is that, Master EB?”

“We’re effectively in enemy territory. And the supplies that this base has will probably not be enough. So we’ll have to expand, take and hold ground on the behemoth if we want to be safe.”

“Oooh, I see you thought about this, Master EB.”

“I had several days to do so, Slave Kim.”

“But why me?”

“You’re human, and other humans will follow you more than they would me or the VIs.”

“But can’t one of the trainees take over the role?”

“Perhaps they can. Even though your memories have been purged, you still have over twenty-five years of experience. That will leave some neural pathways in your brain that even the purge can’t erase.”

“Oooh, I guess so, Master EB.”

“And from the sounds of it, I’ll have my hands busy guiding the VIs and handling all that. And I doubt I’ll be able to work with one of the trainees as I can with you.”

Kim brought her hands to her cheeks and tried to hide her blush. “Oooh, I’m blushing, and I don’t know why.”

“So the intoxicated Kim can feel embarrassed. That’s good to know.”

“Of course, I can feel embarrassed. What do you think I have no shame?”

“Says the naked slave girl who’s doing nothing to cover herself and is strutting in a way to show off that collar and chain hanging from your neck.”

“I ... I am not!”

“Yes, you are, Slave Kim.”

Kim picked up the pace and almost started jogging toward the administration building. The first building she had entered when she first came to the training area. “It’s just through here, Master EB.” She opened the door and let the camera drone in before walking behind.

“Thank you, Slave Kim, but I could have opened the door for you.”

“Oh no, the slave has to open the door for her master!”

The camera drone’s arms hung limply again as they approached the front desk. Furthermore, an identical hologram appeared that appeared before Kim.

“This is the AI, Master EB, Slave Kim?”

“Yes, it is, Sergeant.”

“My full designation is Ebon Black. Call me EB for short. Only Slave Kim calls me that.”

“That is one thing that concerns us, EB. Why does she call you Master?”

“Do you have a data port I can load multi-media information into? It would be faster to show you. It would also be faster to communicate over a direct communications line.”

“That would leave Slave Kim out of the communications loop.”

“Oh, that’s fine, Sergeant. I trust Master EB! I don’t need to know anything!”

“Slave Kim, your vitals are different, and you seem to be using a higher-pitched voice. Are you sure that’s what you want to do?”

“Oh yes, Sergeant. I can just go play in the warehouse while you discuss things.”

“Play in the warehouse? That warehouse is full of captured equipment.”

EB interjected at that point. “It’s the intoxicating effects of the behemoth goo she’s covered in, Sergeant VI. I highly recommend she get decontaminated. Are there cleaning facilities nearby?”

“Awww, Master EB! Boring Kim is so boring!”

“The slave shipping crate in the warehouse has a cleaning function.”

“Ooooh, yes, the box. I can go there!”

“Or she can go to one of the platoon barracks and use the facilities there.”

“I think that would be best.”

“But that’s no fun, Master EB!”

“No, Slave Kim. I order you to go to the barracks as quickly as possible and get a shower.” The camera drone turned to the hologram, “Are there spare clothes for her? The ones I carry have been saturated by the behemoth goo and shouldn’t be worn.”

“She should toss them into the barracks recycler, along with her footwear. The recycler should be able to clean and decontaminate them while she’s cleaning. A new set should be available within twenty minutes.”

“What about soap, shampoo, and other necessities?”

“Aww, I didn’t need those in the box!”

“One moment, sergeant VI.” EB circled behind Kim, grabbed the ballgag straps, and pulled it into her mouth. “Keep that in your mouth, Slave Kim. And don’t touch those straps.” He told her and left the straps dangling.

“There should be soap, shampoo, and cleaning products available in the shower.”

“Thank you, Sergeant VI. Now Slave Kim, go to the shower and get clean, no excuses.”

Kim’s quickly removed the ballgag when she recovered from the effects of the goo. “At least the water is warm!” She looked around and tried to figure out where she was. The room was a communal shower, with five shower stations and soap dispensers built into the wall under each shower head.