Page 7 of The Omega's Unexpected Bounty
His voice was a whisper when he spoke. “Yes, sir?” Mister Leader chuckled and pointed at a man physically capable of defending himself. Yet if those shaking eyes were a sign, the mental ability left a long time ago. “You see this, new boy? That’s how we expect Omegas to act around here. Proper like and ready to serve as the universe and Volardi scientists intended” He resumed his stare at him and grinned. “I wouldn’t say he’s your replacement. We’ll still be using you.”
Most bounty hunters can read people. All I saw was a man blinking quickly while he made sure not to keep eye contact, at least with that man. His still looked at me several times between blinks, unsure if he was allowed. We were the same sex, but his look was of a man on the bottom.
We walked into a simple, sparse house that if it weren’t for the metal, it wouldn’t have looked out of place on New Texas. The Volardi claim everyone in their empire was cared for. If that was true, then the poor, working folks got it last. The leader’s thick hand squeezed my shoulder while he spoke. “Either this one’s broken already, or we do to him what we did to you. You remember that?”
“Yes, sir.”
“You’ll teach him manners, right? Not going to disappoint me, are you?”
“No, sir,” he said as he shook his head quickly. “I won’t do that.”
I’d say we left the living room, but the outer area was more likely. Living rooms were decorated and made into a home, but not here. This smaller room was nothing but different colors of sheet metal along the walls and roof, a wooden side table, various pieces of clothing, and a thick, sturdy bed. Without a word, Mister Leader pushed me on the dirty mattress.
My voice drew out until it sounded like I was about to cry. “Please... don’t.”
“And he speaks!” he said before a few hooted laughs. “Let’s see if he screams too!”
I wondered what I should call the man scratching his arms. I had plenty of issues with my other parent, but this one still deserved to be called ‘Dad.’ Wasn’t sure if that was the case here. If only half of the things I heard about him were correct that made things more complicated.
Taking the leader out wouldn’t be an issue, but my plan would fail. I looked up into the leering brown, wrinkled eyes of someone I was sure thought he had it all. King of this remote domain and an example of what men with power do; use it to stomp a boot on the little guy.
“Get your pants off boy,” he said. “Hope for your sake, you’re slick down there.”
Shamefully I was, but not because of any attraction – certainly not with him. I wasn’t Volardi, but I had the body of one. Over the eons, they bred safeguards into their Femeni and by default to their new Earth Omegas. Implants so we wouldn’t have to use the restroom back there and natural lube to protect us when entered. I would fight if he tried anything, but my body didn’t know that. Hence the protective slick even if it disgusted me on some level.
I forced a tear and shook my head. “Please, Mister... you don’t have to do that.”
“No,” he said. “You’re right, but I want to. After a few years, you’ll want it too.”
I gulped hard enough to make my Adam’s Apple bob out. With intentionally shaky fingers, I pulled off my pants and gently threw them and a hidden Tiny behind him.
“Top too kid.”
I frowned and slowly pulled it up.
From behind came a soft, “No...”
Mister Leader spun on his boot. I couldn’t see his face from this angle, but his hairy, thick shoulder muscles tensed as did his neck. “What did you say?”
My father’s mouth opened and closed a few times before he spoke. “L–Let me talk to the kid. Explain how things are around here.”
My reflexes are fast, but I’m not sure if I allowed him to slap my father across the face, or if I froze. I don’t know which was preferable. “Don’t youevertell me what to do. Kid’s an Omega like you and good for one thing only.” From the way his arm went down, I presumed he was grabbing his own cock. “You remember what happened when you came here? Well, the kid’s getting the same from everyone. Then we do it again tomorrow or later if I’m still in the mood.”
He reached into his dirty shirt and pulled out a flashing, circular piece of silver metal; a slapper. He tapped it on his head. From outside I heard the whirr of gears and thumps against the ground. I saw one of the Exo-Suits move through the dusty, yellowed grass. With every step, dust puffed around its wide, heavy feet. Through the metallic walls, it loudspeakers rumbled through. “Attention all men, we got an Omega who needs extra training. Add whatever discipline you want when it’s your turn.”
I frowned and raised my eyebrows when the suit mimed a stroking motion.
“Once I’m done, we’ll start the lottery. Until then nobody bothers me.” He peeled the metal circle off his forehead and put it back in his shirt. Then he undressed to his underwear. I thought he would be cleaner, but he wasn’t. Almost like the dust, grime and soot multiplied under his clothing. I suppressed a frown for all the Omegas who didn’t have a choice.
My father’s voice shook when he spoke. “S-Sir...”
This time I saw it coming but did nothing while shame mixed with resolve. I watched as he spun my father against the metal walls. The room rumbled and vibrated. “Listen Nate, we had twenty good years, and we let you get away with a lot. It don’t mean you have power, especially now that there’s another.”
Do something...
“Turn around and walk away. Otherwise, you’re getting it worse.”
The leader wasn’t in shape, and my father still had muscles – although I now remembered the process removed his strength. Even, a knife or a jagged piece of metal would let him win. I couldn’t hope to understand the man, but it’s obvious two decades of this existence took the fight out of him.Tiny’s right. There’s nothing left to save.
