The BLTS Archive- The Good Dog by Ragpants
by Ragpants (mhkurtz@earthlink.net)

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Suz, august, Mary W. and boadicea have all written a spate of Kashyk
stories lately. Here's my take on Counterpoint and Kashyk. (I couldn't
manage a drabble, but I did manage to keep it under 300 words. Do I
get a sticker?) As always, comments of all kinds welcome. ragpants
(ever so glad that is school is out for the next two weeks)

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I know how he thinks of me, if he thinks of me at all. He thinks I am
servile, faceless and conveniently replaceable.

I am all those things.

He snaps, his fingers. "Come, Prax," and I come. "Go, Prax," and I go.

And I obey wordlessly, immediately. His good dog.

I tolerate his smugness, his casual arrogance, because he serves the
Imperium well. He is more successful than most in rooting out the
gaharay filth among us.

He didn't ask for my input when he announced his plot to deceive the
gaharay captain. And I didn't offer any. I know my place and my
usefulness. But his plan troubled me. I could see he lusted after that
alien bitch, attracted by her defiance and her power. I do not blame
him for that. Nor do I blame him for fucking her and delighting in her 
depravity. Any man may fall prey to temptation.

No. I blame him for his pride. He did not foresee the possibility of
failure, that the gaharay in their animal cleverness might plot
deception in return.

The bulk of the telepaths have reached the wormhole and slip now
beyond our reach. Two telepaths remain aboard the Voyager,
crewmembers. And the ship and its gaharay crew will make a consolatory
prize, but with a shaking voice, he orders me to withdraw my troops. I
hear fear in his voice and see it stitched across his face as he
explains that this  failure will look bad on our records. But it is
not our record he means.

I smooth my face and order the retreat. Obedient as always. His good
dog. Until the Inquisitor that I've summoned arrives.

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The End