Notes From The Underground

Alex nodded again, and turning strode out of the room.

Prudence rubbed her face with her hands. Like Alex, she was tired of this affair and would be happy when it was finally concluded. Varinia's constant campaign against the Servitude Laws and their continued advocacy for their elimination was a thorn in Zax's side. Over the years they had managed to keep public attention focused on an issue that affected only the tiniest fraction of the population but which greatly effected Zax. It would be nice to finally be rid of them once and for all. Prudence sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose with the thumb and index finger of her right hand. Still success was in the details and although she had no reason to doubt the final outcome, nothing of course was ever completely certain.

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When Kathryn woke up she found that she was back in her cell. Sitting up, she rubbed her nose, and blinked trying to remember exactly how she got back into this increasingly familiar and unpleasant chamber. Looking down she noted the diaper surrounding her lower body and also the lack of gloves on her hands. Like the previous night, the bars were down separating the small room into two parts. On the other side, Phoebe lay on the small bed, asleep and breathing softly. Well at least she wasn't alone, thought Kathryn. Moving to get up on her knees, Kathryn winched as the diaper rubbed against her pisshonie. Sitting back down, she opened her legs and ran her right hand along the front of the diaper, between her spread legs, pushing slightly on the slick surface of the diaper, judiciously probing her body underneath the shameful garment.

There was little sensation, but Kathryn noted that occasionally she would experience a stab of pain and soreness when she pushed on the diaper with her fingers. However, when she squeezed or moved her legs together even a little, her entire pisshonie felt sore, stiff, and raw, especially where the inside of the diaper chaffed against her skin. Kathryn would have liked to look inside the diaper but the garment fit snuggly around both her waist and legs, and every time she moved it, the inside chaffed painfully against her tortured pisshonie. None of this particularly surprised her; in fact Kathryn was surprised that she didn't feel even worse or for that matter that she could move at all. The last thing she remembered from the previous day was seeing Phoebe being pulled off the 'horse' as she was being lifted out of that awful chair into which Laura had placed her. Memories filled with hysterical tears, tormented moans, and the red haze of lingering and repeated pain flashed through her mind as she tried to recall the terrible events that had left her so sore.

As Kathryn struggled with her thoughts, she saw Phoebe move on her bed, a low moan interrupting her rhythmic breathing. The older woman turned her head to the side, and opened her eyes, blinking, and looked at Kathryn. "Are you OK?" inquired Kathryn sheepishly.

Phoebe blinked again before answering. "Yes, I guess" she said, moving her legs a little and winching. Slowly and carefully she sat up, flinching and grimacing in obvious discomfort. "I don't know about you", she said when she finally managed to sit up and place her feet on the floor, "but I feel as if someone tried to pull my legs off at the hips."

Kathryn managed a slight smile at this bit of black humor and said, "Yes I feel the same way. It doesn't hurt as much if you don't move."

"Wonderful!" replied Phoebe sarcastically. "I am afraid that's not going to be an option. Let's just hope Laura's done with us. I'd hate to have her make us run laps or something."

A worried look of astonishment crossed Kathryn's face "You don't think that…that…she…"

Phoebe managed a slight smile and waved her hand. "Don't fret. Laura can be cruel, but she's also responsible for our well being, although I admit it doesn't seem that way right now."

Kathryn looked at her skeptically but decided not to question her mentor's judgment in these matters. After all, Phoebe clearly had more experience in dealing with Laura. "So what happens now?" she asked.

Bending forward and winching with pain, Phoebe slowly moved to her feet and more or less stood up, being careful to keep her feet and legs apart. "I don't know, but I hope Laura will leave us alone for a few days until the worst of the soreness passes." Taking a few tentative steps, Phoebe moved towards Kathryn until she was only a foot or so from the bars that separated the room. She moved like a woman twice her age, hunched over, legs separated, and clearly in considerable discomfort, as if she were arthritic. "God that hurts" she said, moving to stand up straighter. After a few moments, she reached down and pulled up the bottom of her short white tunic, exposing her pisshonie to Kathryn.

Kathryn would have been embarrassed if she were not so appalled by what she saw. Phoebe's pisshonie was severely swollen, her puffy lips and the area under them coved by dark purple and red bruises. Kathryn winched from just seeing her and was glad she had not looked insider her diaper, afraid now of what she would have found. Phoebe looked at her pisshonie and grunted disapprovingly as she released her tunic, allowing it to fall back into place mercifully hiding her tortured sex from further inspection. "Well that sure explains a lot" she said smiling grimly.

Kathryn was a bit taken back by her mentor's light attitude and said "How can you be so…so…."

"Don't worry it's just my way of coping. This is not the first time and it won't be the last. In any event, in a few days it will pass."

Kathryn was not as convinced about this as Phoebe, but before she could voice further concern, the door to their cell opened and Laura stepped in. Addressing Phoebe she said, "Training will begin in two days. You know what to do." With that, Laura strode out of the cell, leaving the door open. As the bars separating the cell receded into the walls, Kathryn tried to stand up, reflecting on Laura's cryptic statement to Phoebe.

Rolling onto her knees, Kathryn gingerly stood up. Each movement was agony as the diaper chaffed her raw and bruised pisshonie and the stiffness and soreness in her lower body became suddenly and painfully apparent. Kathryn now fully understood why Phoebe had moved like an old woman, bent and stiff. She felt that way also. However she realized that Phoebe was perhaps a bit more fortunate since she was not encumbered by the chafe of the diaper.

"Let's go" said Phoebe, nodding her head towards the open door. "You'll feel better after you move around a bit." Kathryn looked at her skeptically but when Phoebe moved towards the door, she followed her, shuffling with her legs spread as far apart as possible, so as to minimize the contact between the diaper and her abused and sore pisshonie.

The walk to the recreation room was like a death march and it seemed they would never get there. Each step was agony for both women as they shuffled slowly along the dim stone corridors towards their destination. Kathryn would have never found the room on her own, as she had still not learned her way around the dungeon. But Phoebe seemed to know her way, or at least the way to the recreation room. Neither woman spoke, instead they grunted and moaned as they struggled along, one step at a time. After what seemed like forever, Kathryn saw the familiar set of open double doors and the brightly lit space beyond, empty except for the tables where she had taken her first meal. As soon as they reached the nearest of these tables, both Kathryn and Phoebe carefully sat down and rested. Both women were sweating and clearly tried by their long slow and painful walk.

After they had recovered, Phoebe said "I'm famished, let's get something to eat". Kathryn reluctantly stood up and followed Phoebe to the opposite wall where she placed her hand on the pate above one of the slots and was rewarded about 30 seconds later by a tray filled with hot food. The fair was similar to her last meal: corn bread, corn soup, and tea. Taking her tray to the nearest table, Kathryn carefully sat down across from Phoebe, who had already started eating. The two women ate in silence and Kathryn realized that she was also quite hungry. When they were finished Kathryn look at Phoebe and said, "What did Laura mean by 'training'?"

Phoebe looked at her young charge wondering how much she should tell her. Kathryn's perceptions and knowledge seems strangely skewed and although she was sweet and likable she was so incredibly naive that Phoebe could not quite decide what to make of her. Finally she said, "All slaves undergo various training depending on their classification and the purposes to which they will be used by Zax. This varies from slave to salve and changes over time. However the training Laura referred to is the basic training all slaves receive after being acquired by Zax."

Kathryn thought this over for a moment and then said, "What kind of training is that?"

"Zax has the largest holding of slaves on the planet. As such they set the standard, so to speak. Basic training includes a variety of things, learning about Zax, and the Zax way of doing things, the layout of the dungeon and various parts of the Castle, how to act around a Mistress, and most important, now to properly serve a Mistress."

Kathryn pondered her mentor's words carefully. It seemed straight forward enough, but why all the bother and the harsh treatment? Admittedly trying to fool Alex into believing she was not a virgin was wrong (although Kathryn was still not sure how she could tell, either way), but still it hardly seemed to merit such severe punishment. Even Phoebe seemed not to believe that what she had done was that terrible. In any event, even accepting that she should be punished, all Laura needed to do was ask her if she wanted something. Admittedly her knowledge of the Castle and dungeon was slight as well as the 'Zax way of doing things'. But again, Kathryn knew she was a fast learner and was confident she could pick up whatever they wanted her to do fairly quickly. Worse, why imprison her here to begin with? After all she had lived on the Island all her life and only a short distance from the Castle. Where else could she go? In any case, Kathryn would have willingly submitted to her punishment and worked hard at whatever they wanted her to do without the harsh treatment.

"I still don't quite understand" she said. "I accept that I should be punished and that what I did was wrong and I am willing to do whatever Laura, Alex, Headmistress Echo, Prudence, or anyone else for that matter wants. There is no need for them to treat me like this to get what they want, all they have to do is ask".

Phoebe looked at Kathryn in disbelief. Surely she couldn't be this incredibly naive. Exactly what did she think went on here? Did she truly think that Zax was training a bunch of domestic servants or something equally silly? Looking into Kathryn's eyes, Phoebe realized that the young woman before her was either an actress of the first rank or the most ignorant and naïve girl on the planet. "You can't be serious" she said finally.

"I am" said Kathryn.

"And what exactly do you think the slaves here do?"

"I am not sure exactly, but you said they serve their Mistresses."

Phoebe was dumbfounded but she was also getting annoyed. No one could be this ignorant. Kathryn must be playing with her. Fighting to keep her temper in control, Phoebe said, "I said properly serve their Mistress."

Kathryn looked at her confused. "Huh?"

Phoebe took a deep breath letting the air out slowly. Exasperated she said, "What exactly do you think properly serving a Mistress means?"

"Well, I'm not exactly sure…" began Kathryn who stopped suddenly after noticing the skeptical and cold hard look in her mentor's eyes. "I guess I really don't know."

Phoebe looked at her and the child-like innocence in her eyes. My god! She really doesn't! Unbelievable! "It means to serve them sexually in any manner they choose. That's what the slaves here do. That's why Zax owns slaves."

The look of shock on Kathryn's face was palpable. It was like Phoebe had slapped her, suddenly and unexpectedly. In that instant Phoebe felt bad that she had not been more subtle and sensitive in telling Kathryn what seemed so obvious.

"No…" she finally said. "You mean that…we…I…."

"Yes" said Phoebe. "I am sorry, but that's the truth of the matter."

Kathryn's shock and disbelief faded and she became upset as the full realization of Phoebe's words set it. "Oh, no! It can't be….oh god no!" she said as she began crying. Within seconds Kathryn started to sob uncontrollably and Phoebe stood up and placed her arms around the hysterical young woman, trying to comfort her.

After a while Kathryn calmed down, and Phoebe stroked her arm lightly saying "I am truly sorry Kathryn, I thought you knew."

Kathryn started crying again, burying her face in her hands and saying, "Oh god, will this nightmare never end?"

Phoebe put her arms around Kathryn again and quietly whispered "I've been wondering the same thing myself. I've been wondering the same thing."

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Erin rubbed her face with both hands and leaned back in her chair. They at been at it for almost 15 hours now, locked up in her quarters, without a break. Despite their best efforts they had gotten nowhere. Shaking her head she said "There has got to be something there. Something we've missed. I just know it."

Kelly looked at Stacy and both women frowned. Erin could be exasperatingly stubborn when she was obsessed. "Perhaps I should search her room again" Kelly said. "Maybe I missed something the first time."

"Or perhaps we should do another body scan" suggested Stacy.

Erin remained silent, but shook her head.

Cathy shook her head also, but not for the same reason. She was also tired and unlike Erin's lieutenants less patient and clearly irritated. "I think is time to admit there is nothing here" she said, trying to keep the annoyance she felt out of her voice.

Three days ago, Erin had ordered Kelly to search India's quarters in an attempt to find out how she planned to communicate with Zax. On their return to the Ranch, Stacy and surreptitiously performed a full body scan on everyone as well as transport and its entire contents. This had been relatively easy to arrange, by secretly installing the necessary equipment on the transport itself. Her results had been negative. No hidden dots, communication Trojans, or other hidden devices were to be found. Of course, India had brought her personal communicating agents with her, but Stacy had scanned these as well, also with negative results. In any case, these were easily neutralized. This of course, this left the items that India had brought with her, as well as the personal belongings in her quarters left from previous visits. Erin had then ordered Kelly to secretly search India's quarters and inventory every item there (including everything she had brought back with her on their last trip). They had spent the last 15 hours going over every item, again and again, in excruciating detail with no positive results. Nor was there likely to be any; Kelly's inventory revealed the usual pedestrian personal items that anyone might bring on a trip: clothes, cosmetics, personal hygiene articles, various electronic devices, etc. All quite ordinary, all scanned and found clean by Stacy, and none of it the least bit suspicious or out of the ordinary. In fact, given India's elaborate sense of fashion and style, Cathy had been surprised that there had not been more stuff.

"No" said Erin. "I know there is something we are missing. There has to be. I just know it."

Cathy making no attempt to hide her exasperation stood up and waved her arms and said "This is ridiculous. We've all been over this again and again, for the last fifteen hours. We can stay here for another fifteen days and its not going to change anything, because there is simply nothing to be found."

Kelly and Stacy were surprised by Cathy's outburst, but found themselves agreeing. It all seemed rather hopeless. If there had been anything, no matter how small or well hidden their scans and searches would have found it.

"I don't care if it takes fifteen centuries. I am not willing to give up" said Erin. "There has got to be something we've overlooked."

Cathy sat down, and folding her arms across her breasts looked coldly at Erin and said "Damn you Erin, when are you going to admit you're defeated? Whatever Prudence and Zax has planed you're not going to find it by searching though India's panties."

"Maybe we should take a break" suggest Kelly, seeing how the tension in the room was quickly escalating out of control.

Erin let out a long and hissing deep breath and said, "OK, perhaps you're right. Let's take a break, get something to eat, and get back here in an hour."

Cathy shook her head and standing up said "OK" as she walked towards the door. Kelly and Stacy followed her without saying a word.

Erin closed her eyes and laid her head back on her chair. She had to admit, that logically Cathy was right. They had been over everything in India's quarters, scanned it and her person for every known communication device and agent: dots on her clothing, micro-transponders in her hair, implants in her body, Trojan networks on the walls, self replicating nano-agents in the shower, you name it, and still they had come up empty handed. The only logical conclusion was that there was nothing to be found. Still, Erin knew they were missing something, but what? One thing for sure, what ever it was, it was well hidden or disguised. Still it had to be there! What were they missing? It must be something obvious, easily overlooked, yet effective, and perhaps even simple. They were thinking about this the wrong way; too focused on the problem from a single perspective or angle. Damn! Thought Erin, they were in a rut, but how to break out of it? That was the real problem. Sighing, she stood up and walked into the bathroom, removing her thong. Stepping into the shower, she stood under the warm water letting it run over her head and down her body. God! She was going to be happy when this was over! She only hoped Cathy would still be with her. Sighing again, she reached down and began masturbating.

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An hour later they were all back in Erin's quarters. Kelly and Stacy sat on the floor facing a damp and naked Erin. Cathy sat on the sofa, arms folded, clearly annoyed at Erin and her causal state of undress. Damn! She knew how this irritated her, thought Cathy, fuming to herself. Cathy was always embarrassed by displays of public nudity and even though everyone had seen Erin naked on numerous occasions, Cathy could never quite adjust to her lover's casual attitude or provocative displays. And why do this now? Just to irritate her further? Sometimes Cathy thought, perhaps Erin didn't really want their relationship to be successful.

"I've been thinking" said Erin, "perhaps we are going about this the wrong way."

"How's that?" asked Kelly.

"We are only looking at this from one angle, and in the process missing the obvious, or at least failing to see other alternatives."

"Such as?" Cathy said, still irritated.

"I'm not sure" said Erin. "But perhaps we should focus on 'commutating' in general, instead of focusing on particular methods or means."