Isabel's Parting Blow

Isabel came at her fast and hard. Her body was a blur of motion. She knew how to fight and knew it well. In the first few seconds, Kara knew she was in trouble. She felt awkward, out of balance. Her body knew what to do, counters and movements fluttered through her mind.

But she had no order! The loss of her memories meant she was unable to act or press the attack. She could defend herself, but that was it.

And Isabel was vicious. Her blows thundered into Kara’s guard. She used fists, elbows, kicks and strikes. Kara found herself giving ground almost instantly. Weaving a **** defence that could only buy her time.

Isabel’s leg lashed out and Kara tripped, the world inverted and she hit the ground hard. She spun and rolled as Isabel’s foot crashed down next to her. The other woman caught her in the side with a follow-up kick, knocking the wind out of her.

“Don’t worry,” Isabel growled. “I won’t hurt you too much. Your buyer wouldn’t like it if you arrived damaged. But I am sure a bruise or two could be easily overlooked. Just punishing a naughty slut.”

Kara rose to her feet. Her body was shaking. Even if Isabel was not her master - thanks to the graduation ceremony she and Richard had performed in his quarters - she still had some power over her. Her command rang through her, and part of her was screaming to surrender. To accept her place. To obey.

Kara was fighting a war on two fronts and she realised that she had no way to win either.

But that didn’t mean she was going to lose! She’d pulled off the impossible before, all she needed was the right chance!

How do I know that? How is it that I’m so sure?

But she was. It was knowledge without knowledge. Experience without memory. She didn’t know what she had done, or how she had done it, but she knew she’d done things. Faced things.

Isabel was not the worst of the enemies she had stared down in her life. Not by far.

She lashed out, diverting into a **** offensive. Her arm lashed out, but Isabel swayed to the left and lunged. Kara spun, blocking it with a forearm - the pain radiated through her - and lashed out with a knee to the gut. Isabel grunted, doubling in pain.

And just like that, Kara saw her chance.

As Isabel rose, Kara threw herself into a frenzy of strikes. Her body was beaded with sweat, her chest was heaving, her limbs ached. She didn’t have much left after this, but that didn’t matter if she committed absolutely everything now. She didn’t know exactly what she was doing, but she let her instinct guide her. She hammered into Isabel’s defences again and again, striking and twisting and kicking. The other woman took a step back, then another. Kara’s eyes lit up. Almost there!

But she deflected the next strike and caught Kara with a ringing slap to the face. Pain exploded through her, but she lashed out with a kick. Isabel turned it aside. Took a step forward.

No!

Kara surged, lunging with a series of **** attacks that left her totally open. Isabel was surprised. That was the only thing that kept her from capitalising on it and dropping Kara there and then.

Instead, she blocked one strike, dodged another, stepped back to avoid a third and then-

And then realised that Kara had tricked her! Her last step backwards had taken her out of the ship, through the open portal. She shrieked, but it was too late. Kara jammed the button and the massive, bulky door slammed into place.

She was locked out.

Kara stood on the other side of the portal, gasping and wheezing. Her body ached, her muscles burned. Isabel hammered at the panel on the other side of the door but Kara already knew it would do her no good.

This model of ship could be opened either from the inside or with the captain’s direct authority. And Isabel did not have a ring like Richard. She was trapped on the other side.

After a few moments, she came to the same conclusion. Glaring at Kara through the glass portal set into the door.

“You think you’re so smart?” Her voice was fainter, but could still be heard. “You think you’re going to get away? When Pump finishes with your friend, I’ll have him tear this door open and drag you out! And when he does, I am going to take my time punishing you! You’re going to beg, Kara! I’m going to treat you as my personal slut and I am going to give you my undivided attention! I don’t care if your buyer complains, I’ll find another! I am going to have you screaming on your knees for mercy.”

“That won’t happen,” Kara said. “Your friend would have to beat Richard first, and he won’t.”

“You really believe that?” Isabel gave a cruel little smile.

“With all my heart.”

“Then I can start your punishment right now. Let me tell you what Mister Pump really is, little girl. And let me tell you how it’s all your fault.”