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Prisoners of War

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A multi-part commission for 1mastermind - he told me to surprise him, and this is what I came up with! Hope you'll find this interesting, and I look forward to your comments!

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The Personal Estate of General Rei, Commander-in-Chief, 155th Planetary Assault Division

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The fields sprawled upon all directions, beyond where one's eye could see due to the rolling landscape. The divisions among them were geometrical, as perfect as a laser could draw upon measurement, with minimal pathways separating the different allotments. It was a sunny day, the red circle high above the horizon, yet a persistent mist floated upon the fields, provided by the on-site desalination plant and the vaporizers that kept the crops optimally hydrated. A few picket probes floated above the stalks that swayed in the gentle wind, and zapped the occasional pest from the air before they could spread and ruin the precious produce.

For all the interstellar glory of Bartenor, its farmers were still prized beyond many other ranks of citizens. It was no wonder that there were automated guard towers surrounding the perimeter of the great farm, on the three sides that were not terminating on the sea.

When the shuttle approached, it was allowed to pass unhindered. The sleek craft sported the crescent-shaped emblems of the Confederation and the Navy, and transmitted a signal accordingly that the computerized security system recognized. This was a friendly visitor, one that had been expected, too. It made the crops swing against the blow of the wind, when the shuttle passed only meters above them, heading for the small concentration of buildings by the seaside, protected by a solid fence. In the Master's mind, no amount of hyper-modern technology could amount to the same sense of safety as a wall of steel and plast-concrete.

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The white tiger's tall, muscled body glided upon the water with innate feline grace. His feet and legs and his arms and paws paddled with firm, measured strokes that cut through the surface with care. No effort was wasted upon inefficient splashing, but every movement seemed calculated and steady, cutting through the water in the sizeable indoors pool, a lap after lap.

A sonorous beep attracted his attention - broadcast into the room both through speakers in the walls and inside the pool so that there was no missing it even if the feline occupant of the room might have been submerged at the moment. His head popped above the surface, covered in a sheen of refreshing water.

"Report," came the tiger's curt voice, a clear command if there was one.

"Sir," came the response of the household computer, polite, toneless, yet unmistakably male, "Navy shuttlecraft 3-0156217 Bravo is approaching and preparing to land."

The tiger, paddling water, rested his elbow against the tiled edge of the pool and shook his head to get the water off him. That left his furs astray, but he felt good, invigorated by the cool water.

"Is everything cleared?"

"Yes, sir. Landing zone is clear and they have been authorized to approach as per your command."

"Good. Have the Overseer ready to meet them with me in 10 minutes."

"Yes, sir."

The white tiger emerged from the water with seemingly little effort, paws on the edge of the pool, pushing him up. The nude cat walked into a large hot air cabinet on one side of the large bathing area to get himself dried up and groomed before it was time to get himself outfitted for the occasion.

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The shuttlecraft landed onto her slim legs with the assistance of thrusters and hoverpads and then rested in place, slowly expending curls of vapour as the engines continued their cooling down sequence. A door eventually opened on the small vessel's side and a ramp extended to allow the egress of the crew carried onboard. Four men in green uniforms and caps emerged, trailed by another two in blue, a lion and a tiger.

These two stood out from the rest, not only for their simple, baggy apparel compared to the smart soldiers that accompanied them. They wore thick black collars on their necks and their paws were secured behind their backs with sturdy cuffs, and similar implements tied their legs together and forced their gait into a short, unsteady shuffle. They wore no hats and the brilliant sun, augmented by the shine from the sea, made them squint under its rays.

"Stand with your backs straight!" one of the green-clothed felines told the two, a pistol on his hip giving him authority over these two who were a head taller than the slim cheetah issuing the command. They did not offer resistance to the order, but raised their heads high upon the order. Whatever their position was in comparison to the four men accompanying them, their pride seemed unhurt by the bondage and being told around.

"Your lot is gittin' what's coming for ya," the highest-ranked of the four soldiers commented, a cougar with a twisted lip and a lame ear. "Piece of shit Unionists..."

A door on the side of the main building opened and a black panther emerged. He wore a simple white coverall in contrast to his dark fur, and his eyes were the most brilliant shade of green one ever saw. He crossed the distance between the house and the landed shuttle with swift steps, and stopped in front of the small part awaiting.

"Good day, gentlemen," the black panther said, "I am the Overseer. I am the General's estate manager and I am in charge of the operations here. The General will join us shortly. He is bathing."

"In the sea?" a young jaguar with pilot's tags on his rank collar quipped.

"That is not relevant," the black panther replied with bluntness only an anthrobot like himself could possess, yet the tone was one of politeness as it ever was these mechanical beings, built for the purpose of serving organics to the best of their enhanced ability.

"Great," the bound lion hissed to his tiger compatriot. "That probably gonna be our jailor."

"Shut yer trap!" the commander of the troops snapped. "Or you're getting zapped ye Unionist piece of shit!!"

The two prisoners glared at the cougar, but did not speak up again. The weather was giving them enough discomfort, besides the shackles they had been made to wear. Their wardens weren't any better off, either, in their fatigues and caps. They were all sweating, waiting for the master of the house to arrive.

The white tiger appeared a few minutes afterwards. He was splendidly bedecked in uniform, not wearing flashy medals and campaign stripes or the sash that was part of the dress version, but he appeared extremely trim, neat and composed in the fur-tight apparel of coat and pants, and perfectly shiny boots that completed the get-up. The four soldiers immediately stood in attention and drew their paws up in salute.

"Tenshon!" called the cougar.

They made a small line, with their charges standing ill at ease behind them. The white tiger saluted them briefly and gave the command with a simple nod for them to stand at rest. They barely budged.

"General Rei," spoke the cougar, "it is my honor to present to you this tribute from the General Headquarters for the valorous services rendered for the Confederation as the General in Command of the 155th Planetary Assault Division during the successful campaign for Esilos!"

The white tiger took the boastful words with quite pride, and in perfect composition. He would not let anything pass from his face. He simply gave them a courteous nod.

"I stand honored," the tiger commented.

"Yes, sir!" called the cougar, followed by a chorus of 'Sir, yes Sir!' from his men.

Now the tiger turned his attention to the two prisoners. His eyes were stern, as was his expression, deep and silent.

"You have been captured by the Navy and you are prisoners of war," he spoke, "behave well, and you will be treated well and with respect. Perhaps you will be even regarded with trust, if you prove yourselves to be worth it. Break this trust, and you will be punished accordingly. Simply having lost your freedom does not mean you have lost your soldier's honor. Remember that."

The captive tiger and the lion did not reply to the white tiger's speech.

Rei pointed at the black panther standing nearby impassively.

"This is the Overseer," the white tiger said. "His commands are to be followed as they would issue from me. He only takes orders from me and me only. He is responsible for your safety as much as mine. Follow his orders. He is a very reliable servant and will help you with your tasks when it is appropriate. Should you not follow his orders or otherwise break the rules of my house, he is allowed to use certain punishments on you. He has my implicit trust."

"It truly is an honor to meet you, sir," the cougar seemed to be keen on making a good impression on the General, "and to see you prosper - "

The white tiger raised a paw and silenced the tan cat without further words.

"You may depart at your convenience," Rei said. "The security net will allow you to pass with ease. My staff will handle everything from here on. Thank you for your services, men."

"Ye heard 'em!" the cougar turned to yell at the POWs behind them. "He got you now basterds!"

"Step forward," Rei spoke.

The tiger and the lion moved as they were told, but offered no words, nor other shows of cooperation or acknowledgement of the command. The black panther moved to stand by them without a further order from his master, and remained there, watchful and keen with his paws held aggressively about his hips.

"Good day to you," Rei spoke with finality to the cougar.

"Ten-shoon!" went the cougar, resulting in his small cadre to pay their final respects for the high-ranking tiger in front of them. The tiger returned it in kind, prim and proper and his head tall. He did not stand at ease when the crew began to file into their small ship.

"Take them to the quarters that have been prepared for them," Rei ordered the black panther. "The main quarters."

"Yes, sir," the black panther replied sharply. "Follow me."

"Do as you are told," the tiger addressed the two once more, "and you will be fine."

He turned on his heels and head for the house, without paying a further look at the two prisoners in blue. The lion and the tiger looked at one another.

"Typical," the tiger hissed. "Leave a bot to look after us."

"Follow me," the black panther spoke again. "You must comply."

"This is our jailor?" the tiger muttered.

"Follow or you will be punished," the Overseer replied. "I am authorized to use physical force and to activate your insubordination deterrence implants up to level 5, which is physical incapacitation and insufferable pain."

"I think we got it, bolt-boy," the lion grunted. "Show us to the cell."

"Follow me," the Overseer said.

"Are you stuck on repeat?" the tiger asked.

"Humor not recognized," the black panther replied.

"It's a fucking joker, too," the lion shook his head.

"Silence," the Overseer commanded. "Move."

The two sun-baked males could only do what they were told, under the threat of violent punishment coming from the android. The black panther set off towards the house, with the two men following him to the best they could.

"Slow down!" the lion called out. "We can't walk that quickly with these braces on!"

The black panther stopped, and looked at them.

"I am not allowed to remove your restraints until you are inside your quarters," the Overseer replied.

"Well then you'll have to babysit us a bit longer, don't you? We have to take it more slowly."

"That is acceptable, considering your physical limitations," the black panther said.

They continued across the yard at the slow place forced by their bondage. Their ears soon drooped down to their skulls when the engines of the shuttlecraft revved up and it started its vertical takeoff sequence. Even the black panther's ears did as much, a part of his very extensive behavioral simulation. For him it did not pay the same protective purpose as for the two cats accompanying him.

"There it goes..." the tiger peered up at the shuttle on its ascent, as much as he could without getting blinded by the sun.

"The lifeboat..." said the lion.

"So does your General keep any vehicles here?" the tiger asked, sounding almost casual.

"You are not entitled to that information," the black panther replied without stopping.

"Okay," the tiger said.

A picket robot moved past them, floating on its hoverfield, its numerous armatures at rest for now. The almost insect-like machine let out a series beeps as it detected their presence, and moved along noiselessly. The lion looked at it for a moment, before speaking up again.

"A lot of robots here, aren't there?"

"Farming is automated," the Overseer said. "All functions are performed by automated staff."

"How about the house?" the tiger asked. "Does this General of yours have anyone else living here with him? Staff or guards or wife or whatever."

"Security is automated," the black panther said. "Services are provided by automated staff as needed."

"So there's nobody else here but that guy?" the tiger sounded puzzled.

"You are not entitled to that information," the black panther said.

"Right," the tiger said.

The shadow of the house offered a little respite from the sun. The door into the building opened as they approached, and closed behind them when they had entered the long, non-descript corridor that terminated in another door. That too slid open and admitted them into a small corridor, with doors on either side. One of them was made of a transparent material and revealed a room within, equipped with two beds and little else. This door the black panther opened with a touch on a control panel on the wall next to it.

"This is your quarters," the black panther said. "Enter."

This time the tiger and the lion did not crack any jokes or complaints. Both were tired after the flight in the cramped, uncomfortable holding area in the shuttle, and the prospect of getting onto a real bed was a genuinely pleasant one for the two soldiers.

"These are your beds," the black panther pointed out the two beds, each of which had folded sheets and a blanket on top of them, waiting for the beds to be made. "Those are your storage units. You may keep allowed items there."

The android's fingers gestured at small transparent plastic cabinets on the foot end of each bed.

"You may not bring anything here from elsewhere in the house without express permission," the Overseer continued. "You will be reprimanded if you attempt to do so."

The black panther then pointed out a niche on the far side of the room. It was divided in half by a transparent wall, and one side contained what was obviously a toilet seat and the other side was furnished with showerheads and shutter-like nozzles for the warm air blowers.

"This is your hygiene processing unit," the black panther said, "you may use it at your convenience. You must maintain your personal hygiene at all times."

"And no privacy either..." the tiger mused.

"That is a privilege you are not entitled to," the Overseer's voice did not change as he spoke up. "Toiletries are provided in the small plastic pouches on each of your bed. There is one item for each of you. When they are expended, you must request more from your master or myself. You must refer to me as 'sir' at all times. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir," the lion muttered.

"Hmm...sir," the tiger noted.

"Good," the black panther nodded. "You will now remain here until further notice."

"What about our rights?" the lion demanded. "Medical care, negotiation with the attaché for prisoners of war, visits by the Interplanetary Charitable Relief - "

"You are prisoners, you have no rights beyond those decided on by your master," the black panther said. "Medical care will be provided if deemed necessary by the on-site medical service unit. Does that answer your question?"

The lion huffed.

"This is crap," he said.

"Fecal matter must be disposed of at a clean and hygienic manner," the Overseer spoke. "The hygiene extraction unit will provide spoken guidance at this procedure at request."

"Okay, okay," the lion threw his paws up in the air, "I get it."

"What about these?" the tiger wriggled to demonstrate his paws, still cuffed behind his back.

"You are not required to wear them, now," the black panther said. "You are released."

With a remote command, all four sets of cuffs unlatched and dropped onto the floor, much to the relief of their former captives.

"Move aside so that I may gather them."

They did so, and the black panther picked the sets of cuffs from the floor into his paws.

"I depart now," the black panther said.

The black panther exited through the transparent door which slid into place behind him and then locked into place, leaving the two men in their aquarium-like room. For the moment, the only sounds present were their huffed breathing and the hum of some air conditioning system, as the two men sized each other up with their eyes. This was the first time they had been alone with one another. They had no previous association and had only seen each other for the first time when they were loaded onto the shuttle at the base and then flown in their individual box-like stalls inside the shuttle to this strange, new place. This was the first time they could actually look at each other, to speak, to interact without being interfered with.

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Thank you for reading! How will thery fare? Find out in the next part!