Pookahs Part 2 By Valerafon A few earth men find that the galaxy isn't a men's club. Caution: Adult situations Chapter: 3 The Itanocron My first night of imprisonment was a restless one. Sleeping naked on a hard metal surface can be a difficult assignment. Especially, when your aboard a spaceship bound for a totally alien world that is dominated by giants, and your prospects were for a life of subservience to a race of tall beautiful Amazons. That night, my dreams or rather my nightmares were invaded by giant aquamarine women and unusual gadgets. The women were unbelievably aggressive and controlling and the gadgets were sinister and caused me no end of trouble. After a particularly bad encounter, I would wake up in a cold sweat with my heart pounding in my chest. The other men were faring no better. A couple of times I heard a man wake up screaming. I did wonder if he was having the same or a similar nightmare as myself. I don't think any of us got a good night's sleep that night, not after what all of us had been through during the day. I try to use the terms night and day, but actually aboard this spaceship, and trapped in this cargo hold, night and day had no meaning except to give our minds balance. All the men's biological clocks and body rhythms were still attuned to earth time. We still tended to sleep when others slept and waken when others woke. After Roberta had served us breakfast we all settled down and waited for the women to return. Gordon had coined that name for our constant robot companion. I didn't think the robot was a male or a female..not in the literal sense, but the name seemed more appropriate then Robby given the situation we all found ourselves in. No more than five minutes could have elapsed, since Roberta had zapped our dishes with some weird ray from her eyes, when the women appeared again. I fully expected Pierre to be taken first just like yesterday. However, Kalia had other plans. This time I was plucked from the cage first. In no time, I found myself first on that lift again and then in the strange room with the Itanocron. Kalia laid me gently on the table, and immediately I found myself involuntarily stretching out on the table completely. It was like I had no control of my own limbs. I realized as the Itanocron slowly moved into position and started to hum that restraints were unnecessary. The Itanii had some invisible force that was far better. Before I slipped into unconsciousness and came under the influence of the Itanoron, Kalia spoke to me in her own high lilting voice. This time she spoke in almost perfect English. There was no need for the medallion to speak, and even though it was still around her neck, it did not utter a sound. There was simply no need for it to translate anymore. As I listened intently to her, I realized that she had mastered my own language in less than a day. "Do not be afraid little one...This is a teaching device...It will not harm you." What she did next caught me by total surprise. She bent down and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I couldn't talk and my mind seemed to be drifting, but I did hear her words before she turned and left. "Remember to ask questions. The machine can interact with your mind." I saw her smile one last time and her last words were barely perceptible before she left the room. "Learn well...much will soon be expected of you." My mind dissolved into a fog. Slowly, the fog lifted and was replaced by a large planet drifting in space. Somehow my mind knew the planet. It was Itan. Home world of the Itanii race. I was immediately struck by how vivid the images were. I felt like I was there. It was like I could almost smell and taste the planet as well. As I began to see the planet from many angles, I somehow knew many things about the beautiful emerald world before me. It was nearly half again as large as earth with a gravity that was higher as well. I wondered if that would be a major problem when I got there. Another voice answered in my thoughts..it was a female voice. Somehow, I knew it was the Itanocron. "Gravity will be slowly increased aboard the Travantii. This will acclimate you slowly to the new gravity over time, but you will be somewhat sluggish on Itan, and you can overexert yourself easily. Your Carnah will carry you everywhere when you are out in public." When I heard the words Carnah, I thought about Kalia. The Itanocron answered my undirected thoughts once again. "Yes, Kalia is your Carnah...your mistress. My mind translated the word, but I knew Carnah had far more meaning then just mistress. It was intimately related to the predator prey relationship as well." I heard the word mistress and felt embarrassment. The Itanocron read my thoughts once more. "There is no need to feel shame. You are Pookah..She is Carnah. Everything is as it should be. It is the natural way of things." Not on my world I thought. The Itanocron spoke calmly and gently, like a female whisper, in my mind. "There are no Carnah there. If there were...it could hardly be otherwise. It is the natural order of the universe." Deep in the inner recesses of my mind I still doubted that statement. Almost immediately I felt a stab of blinding white hot pain. It lasted only a moment. Was that the Itanocron? Did it just punish me? Somehow I knew the answer. It spoke gently again, "We have much to learn in this time period. We can not take time to debate the obvious. You will understand better as we proceed." I tried to clear my mind of thoughts for the moment. I concentrated completely on the next image. A great feeling of well being came over me as I observed and learned. The next images were from the Itanii home world and I was learning Itanii physiology. For some reason, the learning came easy. I did not challenge my teacher further. At least not this time. I learned much about the Itanii home world and the Itanii themselves in my first go with the Itanocron. The Itanocron placed the subject matter for my next lesson in my mind as well, as I was slowly brought back from a deep sleep. I was to learn about Pookah-Carnah interaction during my next lesson, and about the other Pookah races like myself. In my mind the thought appeared that this was a very important lesson indeed. I awoke to a smiling face above my own. It was Kalia's. Even before I was fully awake, she reached down and scooped me up. As I cleared the cobwebs from my brain, I realized that I remembered all that I had seen and heard with crystal clarity. It did help me to understand a little better, but I was not about to give in to the idea of Carnah superiority just yet. As she carried me to our next destination, I went over what I had learned about the Itanii. They had always been predators. As far back as their racial memory could remember. It had shaped them, made them what they were, and what they are now. I realized that we had not evolved as predators back on earth. For a long time in our prehistory we were prey. We cowered in trees or stayed in groups for protection and in the relative safety of numbers. It helped us develop into a social animal. Slowly, our superior brains allowed us to gain mastery over the environment and the other less intelligent animals till we reigned supreme on earth. While the Itanii had always been masters of their environment and their prey. They had developed as far less social animals and did not like the company of other Itanii. They would rather interact with their prey...the Pookahs. This was far less challenging for them. I remembered that their great size, strength, and intelligence was ordained from the beginning of their evolution. Nature tended to evolve predators in such a fashion. As we reached our new destination, I remembered the lesson I received on Itanii physiology as well. The Itanii were not just several times stronger than Pookahs, in a ratio proportional to there greater size and weight. Rather, they were dozens of times stronger than us. Their tissue was more densely packed and was formed from masses of diamond shaped crisscrossing muscle tissue. This gave their limbs great power, quickness, and flexibility. I remember the Itanocron stating with total certainty that their was no Pookah who could match a Carnah in speed, agility, strength, and intelligence. I thought that covered just about everything. My thoughts drifted back to the present as we entered the new room. This time there was another Itanii waiting for us. She was standing by a table that looked too much like an operating table to keep my nerves calm. I was placed on this table just like in the room with the Itaanocron, and my body was stretched out by some unseen force just like the last time. This time I remained conscious. The other Itanii lowered an instrument and I heard a slight whirring sound. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see a little drill heading for my temple. I panicked, but I couldn't move a muscle or speak. Kalia saw my expression and told the other Itanii in her own language, "Sedate him! There is no need for him to suffer." For some reason the medallion translated her orders into English for me. The other Itanii produced a little aromatic dispenser with a ball at the end. It reminded me of a dispenser one might see on a bottle of perfume. In the next moment, she sprayed a fine mist on my face. I immediately lost consciousness. I awoke in Kalia's arms. She was carrying me somewhere else. I had the worst headache of my life. As soon as she saw I was awake she said, "Do not be afraid..the pain will soon go away." It took me just a second or two to realize that the words were unspoken..Kalia was in my mind. As she carried me to the lift again, I felt her presence in my mind once more. "You have been given the I-bar. It is a device that allows me entrance to your mind and thoughts." I was filled with uncertainty and panic. My thoughts would no longer be my own? "Stay calm..little one. It will be used only as a summoning device. I can communicate with you over great distances. It will allow me to summon you when I need you in my presence." I went over the ramifications of her being able to read the thoughts in my mind. It scared the hell out of me. Her answer to my thoughts came quickly. "I can only partially read your thoughts. Your mind is much to weak for complete and total communication." I felt shame once more...it was that Itanii superiority rearing its ugly head once again. Kalia had more to tell me. I wasn't sure if she ignored my thoughts this time or if she couldn't read my present thoughts. I also wondered if the I-bar could read emotion as well. "The I-bar has one other function. It can discipline a Pookah or reward him for obedience. In my mind I felt great pain for just an instant. It was enough to momentarily blind me. Then in another instant, a wave of great pleasure engulfed my mind. It was the most intensely pleasurable sensation I had ever felt. I likened it to an orgasm only there was a much greater feeling of peace and well being all at the same time. I didn't want that feeling to end it was so pleasurable. Through the waves of ecstasy I heard Kalia's voice once more in my mind. "The I-bar can give pleasure or discipline if need be. Although, I prefer other means of pleasure and discipline to this, but it is wise not to provoke me. Follow my instructions and keep to your duties and your life on Itan will be uncluttered and a happy one." She carried me through an opening that appeared before us and I found myself in the cargo hold once again. As I was put back in my cage, she offered one last silent piece of advice. "Do not worry your pretty little head about things you cannot control..It is just the way of things....I will protect you always...my pretty little helpless Pookah." She kissed me on the cheek again before she put me back in the cage. I heard the men cheer when they saw the kiss. I heard Gordon yell out, "That's it mate!....Show her who's boss." I looked over at Gordon, but did not say what I was thinking, and that was, that I think she already knows who the boss is. Kalia turned around and smiled at me. I knew she had read my thoughts. As she left the cargo hold and my eyes followed her out, the saying, "Don't worry your pretty little head about things you can not control," echoed in my mind. I knew why. It was something I had said to any number of my girlfriends on many occasions. My thoughts came back to the cage. Something was odd. I turned around and faced Pierre. He was still in the cage. Kalia had not taken him with her this time. I saw he was very relieved and he sat down and made himself comfortable. As I looked at him, I wasn't sure why I felt uneasy...something just didn't seem right. -------------------------------------- We were left alone the rest of the day. It gave me a chance to think about everything that had happened to me. I found out later that Gordon had also been exposed to the Itanocron. He had learned much the same information as I did. For some reason, Gordon's cell mate had not been taken either. It was most curious I thought. I must have been exhausted. I slept like a baby on the hard cell floor. I awoke to Roberta passing out breakfast. I felt a lot better after a good nights sleep. The food was welcome as well. My mood was the most upbeat since I had arrived. It did not last for long. After breakfast our six jailers paraded in. Some of the other men must have felt emboldened by the good food and rest. They made some sexist remarks about the women, everyone laughed including me. The women walked right up to the cage, and as the bars vanished reached in and grabbed a man. Pierre was not so lucky today. I thought this was to be his day with the Itanocron and I-bar, but I couldn't have been more wrong. Instead of walking out with their captives, the women grabbed the men by the neck and twisted or positioned the men in such a way as to bend them backwards in a manner that their bodies couldn't bend. I heard a few loud and sickening cracks. I looked on in horror as all the men were quickly dealt with. They died instantly I thought. At least they didn't suffer. It all happened in just a matter of seconds. The men never had a chance, and probably died before they realized what was happening. The women's strength was just overpowering and unreal. It didn't even look like the women used a fraction of their great strength. And they performed the deed in such a casual manner, it didn't even look like an execution to me. I looked at the women, their was no remorse or sadness for what they had just done on their beautiful faces. Does a wolf feel sorry for a rabbit? As they turned their attention to the remaining men, I prepared for my own death. Before the women returned to the cages, they threw the dead men into a pile. As they landed with a thud, some of the men's limbs were at odd angles attesting to the women's strength. To my great sadness I recognized the faces of Carl and Bob in the pile of corpses. The women then turned their attention to the remaining men. I braced for the worst. We all were frozen in fear. What could we do against such raw and savage power? What chance did a bug have against a spider? Instead of the worst, I heard a soft voice in my mind. "Do not be afraid...little one. The choosing is over. Now you belong to me forever. Soon you will leave your cage for the last time." After Kalia's gentle words the women turned and left. The surviving men, including myself, were silent for some time. I had a feeling all the remaining men had been given similar silent assurances by the women. All we did was stare on in horror at the pile of dead bodies before us. The grizzly spectacle didn't last for long. Roberta soon appeared and floated the dead men, one-by-one, to an opening that materialized in one of the walls. The men were placed in the opening and disappeared from our sight forever. I didn't know their fate. Were they vaporized or set adrift in the vastness of space? After the last man was removed, Roberta neatly cleaned up the spilled blood with a beam from her eyes. Soon there was nothing left to attest to the terrible spectacle we all had just witnessed. Gordon led the remaining men in a prayer for our dead brethren. The women left us to ourselves and our thoughts for the rest of the day. No one wanted to speak and the cargo hold was eerily silent.. -------------------------------------- My second lesson, with the Itanocron, lasted many days and each session was longer than the last. There was a lot of material I had to become familiar with. It turns out there are six Pookah races. All of them are star faring races in their own rite just like the Itanii. The humans are an experiment and the six of us are the lab animals. If our training goes well, then the humans well be added as the seventh race, and men will be harvested from earth on a regular basis. In my sessions, I learned about each race of Pookahs as their world appeared before me. The Gorin were very tall and strong by earth standards. Their average height was around seven feet tall and they were the most muscular of all the Pookah races. Even though they were considered by the Itanii the least intelligent race of Pookahs, they too traveled among the stars. As I watched, I wondered if humans would soon be considered the least intelligent race? An answer came quickly and it was surprising. The voice in my mind said, "No!" The Gorin were also the ugliest of the races. They had a face like a pit bull. I learned the Itanii used them for labor and did not have the Ecarnah or pleasure sex with them. The Gorin's color was red. Each race of Pookahs were dressed in their own color while in the service of the Itanii. I saw a uniform or clothing the Gorin wore. It consisted of two pieces. A red shirt and red shorts. It reminded me in some ways of the Itanii dress. It was also made of the same silky metallic material. I asked a question. "Would I soon have something to wear?" The answer came immediately. Our color was to be silver and the computer was designing our uniform now. I would be wearing it shortly. The next race I learned about was the Calnarii. They were the teddy bears I had seen earlier. They may have been teddy bears, but they traveled among the stars in great ships as well. Their race was not a robust one. Their people only numbered in the millions. In a sense, the Itanii considered them an endangered species. Although, they were highly prized by the Itanii, they were rare in Itanii society, and any Itanii having one gained much status. I learned the Itanii had a breeding project ongoing for the Calnarii and where trying to increase the Calnarii numbers. The color for the Calnarii was blue. I had to admit that they did look cute in their little blue uniforms. It seemed to accent their fur perfectly. The third race was the Zanti. They averaged about five feet in height and were extremely quick and agile on their feet. They looked much like the Itanii and the humans in facial characteristics, but they did have a small bony crest on their foreheads. I learned that they were prized by the Itanii for sport and often had Ecarnah with the Itanii as well. Their color was green. The fourth race of Pookahs were the Tarnaks. They were tall by earth standards averaging six and a half feet in height. I thought they resembled humans very closely and even had the same skin tone as earth men. Their was a grace to their movement and their long slender arms and fingers only added to the effect. They were considered the most advanced and the most intelligent of the Pookah races. They had been traveling among the stars for thousands of years. They had built a civilization that spanned many star systems. The Tarnaks were used by the Itanii in many capacities, and they could even use a few of the simpler Itanii devices without aid. I learned that many of the other races considered them snobs in the interactions they had with them. A picture of a Tarnak appeared before my mind's eye in his gold uniform. I had to admit he had an arrogant look about him, but he was elegant and handsome looking as well. All the races I had seen so far wore collars. Many were finely jeweled, but they were collars never the less. I asked about this and was told that a collar was the law for Pookahs. There was a leash law as well on Itan. No Pookah could travel in public without his leash and collar. Once the collar was put on, they could never be removed by a Pookah. I asked when I would get my collar. "Soon!" came the reply. Their were two other Pookah races I had to learn about. They had attained great status on Itan..Almost a sacred status. They were the Arkanians and the Bremmin. Their colors were white and black respectively. Both were about the same height as humans with the same features as the humans and Itaniis. A distinguishing characteristic of the Arkanians was their golden skin color. I thought it did make them look regal. The Bremmin on the other hand were completely hairless. On them it didn't look bad. I was told they were the best match in physiology with the Itanii race. I was to soon learn how important that would be. The next bit of information was very interesting. I was finally to learn about the Itanii men. It seemed a plaque had all but wiped them out thousands of years ago. A few were still alive even today. The plaque had been conquered long ago. By this time the Itanii women had seen no need for the men. They did not like their aggressiveness and weak minds. A small number of Itanii men were still kept for their genetic material. However, the women had found another method for procreation. Itanii eggs were impregnated with male Itanii sperm in their labs and the resulting embryo was planted in the stomach wall of a Bremmin or Arkanian Pookah host. The gestation period was sixteen months. During that time the Pookahs were treated royally in the household of the woman donating her genetic material. Before the Arkanian or Bremmin could be used in this manner, they had to undergo a series of injections. This changed much of their bodies chemistry and hormonal outputs making their bodies a more friendly atmosphere for the embryo. In the Itanii labs genetic material was centrifuged and sorted. Since the genetic material of a female is heavier then that of a male, there is more genetic information on two X chromosomes than there is on an X and a Y chromosome. Male genetic material can be sorted out with a 99.99% certainty. Thus ensuring the fetus will be female. The few males that are born are used for their genetic material thus ensuring the survival of the race, and that the race will be almost completely female. The few males that are alive at any one time are kept in special compounds and are made docile with injections. The women have not bred out the aggressiveness of the males for that would have ultimately affected their aggressiveness as well. Talk about your female dominated world I thought to myself. The Itanii had elevated it to an art form. Pregnancy had one major drawback for the Pookahs. An Itanii birth meant a Pookah death. As the fetus grew, it severely weakened the Pookah. The Itanii cared for the Pookahs and honored them right to the very end. At fifteen months the Itanii young were removed. Unfortunately for the Pookah, removal meant death. In their weakened condition and because of the size of the Itanii baby the Pookahs could never be saved. The Pookahs were given full honors and even buried somewhere on the estate of the Itanii woman. Since the Itanii population was small by Pookah standards, only several hundred million at any one time, the Bremmin and Arkanian races were not adversely affected. Each race numbered almost ten billion people. The Itanii made sure they managed their own and the Arkanian and Bremmin populations closely. I learned that once many centuries ago a virus threatened the Bremmins. The Itanii found a cure within a week of the onset of the virus. Even so, harvesting of Bremmin Pookahs was severely cut for many years. --------------------------------------- Chapter: 4 The Ten Minute War Like always, after a session with the Itanocron, I awoke to Kalia's smiling face. However, this time I was not taken back to my cage. In minutes, I found myself alone with her in her private rooms. True to her word, Kalia almost always communicated with me verbally. She seldom used the I-bar. She let me have some privacy in my own mind. For that I was grateful. Some of the other men, I had learned, were not so lucky. The I-bar was used often and to punish. I guess each Itanii women had her own training methods. Kalia was seated sipping from her favorite libation and I as usual was at her feet. She looked at me, smiled, and gave me an order. "Take off my boots..it's been a long hard day!" I looked into those amethyst eyes. I barely had the strength to look away. Why did I feel so weak when I looked into them? I quickly decided it was not the time for disobedience. I stood and surveyed the problem. Her boots and feet were huge in comparison to my much smaller body. The top of my head was barely even with her waist when we were both standing. Kalia was almost exactly twice as tall as I was. She lifted up her right foot and held it out for me, just a hint of a smile could be seen on those lavender lips of hers. I grabbed one of her boots with both of my hands and yanked.....nothing happened. I looked up at her. She was shaking her head in amusement. At least she wasn't angry. I pushed her outstretched leg down slightly and mounted it facing away from her. I grabbed the boot in both hands and pulled as hard as I could, again nothing happened. I heard her laughter. After a moment or two she commented, "My weak little Pookah!....What am I going to do with you?" As I looked back at her she raised her leg even higher lifting my body off the ground. I found myself riding her giant leg. In the next instant she reached toward me and lifted me off her leg and placed me nearby in a standing position. Then she pulled her boots off slightly and commented, "Try again!" I got into the same position as before. This time, with great effort, I was able to remove the first boot. I heard her laughter once again as I struggled for what seemed like many minutes to remove it. The second boot was even worse. This time I moved to the end of her foot and yanked. It finally gave way and I found myself falling backwards across the room. I landed on my ass with the giant boot still in my hands. Looking at it's immense size made me feel so small and insignificant. Her laughter filled my ears. As I got up so did she. I stood and watched in complete and utter awe as she took off her uniform. It was the first time I had ever seen her in all her naked glory. I felt my heart beating in my chest as I looked on. She looked magnificent. Her breasts were so firm and ripe looking...like two giant melons. I knew each melon was as big as my head. I couldn't help it, I felt myself lick my lips as I gazed at her beautifully formed breasts. Her laughter filled my ears once again. "So you like what you see...my little Pookah! Come closer...little one." As I slowly approached, my gaze lowered to her pubic area. It was huge and beautiful and inviting and it was almost even with my head. I couldn't pull my eyes from the hairy patch of my desires. I soon found myself standing next to her. I don't remember getting there. My mind was otherwise occupied. Standing next to her, she dwarfed me in size. I meekly looked up at her and found that she was still so impossibly far away. She gazed down at me with an odd look on her face. It was unreadable except for the pleasure I saw there. I felt so insignificant and small as I looked up at her. I didn't move. I knew she would direct us. She grabbed my head with both her hands and shoved my face right into her womanhood. My face was buried in the object of my desires. I did not have sufficient strength to pull away or even move my face away enough to breath. I heard her voice above me and from a distance. "Kiss it!...Show me your respect." Her voice was almost like a growl. I felt fear and excitement all at the same time. It was a strange mix of emotion in me. I kissed her womanhood tenderly. I had no choice and I really didn't mind. After my service, I was pulled away and lifted up. I was positioned with my legs straddling her stomach and one of her arms under my butt for support. I found myself looking into those purple eyes once more. This time there was something different in them. Something I had not seen before. Could it be lust? She was breathing heavily and her words came out in a growl. "The next time you are with the Itanocron, I want you to learn the appeasement's. I can wait no longer." As I looked into those amethyst eyes, I felt a mixture of fear and lust. I didn't fully understand her words, but I knew the Itanocron would explain. She looked at me for what seemed like an eternity. I felt her body tense and she was shaking, but it was different than before. It was not anger I sensed, but lust and attraction. She grabbed my jaw with one of her hands and kissed me hard. As she pulled away I felt her nip my lip and draw blood. Immediately, she kissed me once more. This time her huge tongue invaded my mouth overpowering my own tongue. The kiss lasted a long time. I was no more than an object, a toy for her pleasure. When she pulled away, I could see my blood on her lips. She was licking it with her own tongue. Her breathing was getting heavier and her eyelids were fluttering. I felt real fear that she would lose control as I looked into her face. I sensed that her losing control would be very bad thing, if it were to happen. She must have sensed my fear, "Enough!" She yelled. "I will lose control. That would not be safe for you without the appeasement's." She lowered me to the ground and sat back down on the chair. "Rub my feet!" she commanded. I sat myself down by her feet, crossed my own legs, and gathered up a huge foot. I slowly started to rub it with both of my hands. It was hard work. Her feet were very large, but I could see the pleasure on her face. Slowly, she started to calm down and my fear and excitement left me as well. After a very long time of rubbing, she stood up and put her clothes back on. She gathered me up after that and told me once again that I was to learn the appeasement's. After that, I would leave my cage and live with her in her private rooms. It would not be completely safe for me until then she informed me. There was always some danger of her losing control. I had to admit I wanted to know what those appeasement's were. I was sure I would soon find out from the Itanocron. When I returned to my cage. I noticed a few of the cages were empty. Gordon informed me the men had been gone all day. He sounded worried. I knew they may already be living with their Carnah's and may never return. I explained as best I could and calmed his fears. My own fears were another matter. ----------------------------------------- My next session with the Itanocron was the longest yet. I had to learn about Ecarnah and the appeasement's. It turns out that there are three ways an Itanii can lose control. When they're challenged directly or someone shows anger, when they're orders are not obeyed, or during Ecarnah or pleasure sex with a Pookah. Before I learned about Ecarnah I asked if the Itanii had ever fought a war? The female voice in my mind answered, "It is not a thing that is possible...We are Carnah!...War with us is impossible." I began to grasp the Itanocron's meaning. I was beginning to understand the way things were. It was not arrogance at all. Then the Itanocron explained the one exception to me. About one hundred years ago the Tarnaks proclaimed Jihad or Holy War against the Itanii. They wanted to break away forever, to change the natural course of things as the Itanocron explained it. During one of the gathering expeditions by the Itanii on one of the colony worlds of the Tarnaks, twenty Itanii were attacked in one of the Tarnak's small settlements on that world....The Itanii were prepared. Over a thousand of the Tarnak's specially trained soldiers beamed in and immediately started to fire their pulse weapons at the Itanii. The Itanii were much too quick an agile for the Tarnaks. The Tarnaks would aim their weapons and fire, but by that time the Itanii were somewhere else. They moved like a blur amongst the Tarnaks. I watched the battle from slightly overhead. It gave me a good view of the entire battlefield. Almost from the beginning the Tarnaks fell like wheat cut by a sickle. When the Itanii fired they never missed. A Tarnak would always fall to the ground dead. When a Tarnak fired, it was always much too slowly. The Itanii was already gone. Quickly, the Tarnak dead mounted. Some of the Itanii carried what was called Picahs or killing blades. They moved among the Tarnaks with impunity killing them as they encountered them. The Tarnak's shot wildly now hoping to hit something. It was like the women were blurs. It almost seemed like they were in two places at once. The battle must have lasted no more than five minutes. When it was over there were still twenty Itanii standing. Not one had even been injured. Scattered all about were the dead bodies of over a thousand Tarnak's. The battle had been a slaughter. The Itanocron told me in its female voice, "It could have hardly been otherwise. The Tarnaks had acted illogically. They simply had no chance." My view suddenly changed to nearby space. There was three Itanii ships advancing on fifty Tarnak vessels. Before the Tarnak ships got in range, to fire their weapons, they started to blow up. No projectiles or beam weapons could be seen coming from the Itanii ships. The Tarnak ships just seemed to explode. In less than five minutes, the Tarnak fleet was no more. A video was sent, of the battles, to the Tarnak home world, and to the other Pookah races as well. Soon after, the Tarnaks surrendered unconditionally. The war had lasted less than ten minutes. The Itanocron rambled on about the illogic of it all. But it did serve as a warning to all the Pookah races. Two acts of submission were required by the Tarnaks. The Itanii told them that a city would be destroyed on their home world. Soon after, one of their largest cities disappeared. It didn't blow up, it just vanished. There was a huge hole in the ground where it had been. To this day the Tarnaks do not know what happened to it, and the Itanocron did not explain further. For the other act of submission, the Tarnaks were required to turn over their leaders to the Itanii. They were to become Pookahs. The Tarnaks gladly accepted and handed nearly a hundred of their leaders over. After that, like before, the Itanii vessels moved with impunity throughout Pookah space. The Itanii vessels moving like wolves through a pack of sheep. The other races turned their heads the other way as Pookahs were gathered. The Pookah ships ignored the Itanii vessels, as best they could, as they moved and did what Itanii did for whatever inexplicable reasons Itanii did what they had to do. The reasons for their actions only fathomable to the Itanii themselves. The people that disappeared were considered acceptable losses by the Pookahs considering the alternative. There was one note of sadness for the Itanii, during the war, the Itanocron explained, many of the Itanii that fought on the ground developed the Tora or blood lust. Upon return to their vessel they killed many innocent Pookahs. It was a great loss of property. Many could not be turned and had to be abandoned to space. They were given a vessel and banished to the far reaches of the universe. It was a sadness the Itanii still feel. It had been a millennium since the last such occurrence. After the explanation of the war, I was relieved that the Itanocron moved to another subject. It returned to the explanation of Itanii composure. It was very dangerous for a Pookah to be in the presence of an Itanii that has lost control. In fact, it was almost always fatal for the Pookah. I now understood Kalia's earlier warnings to me when I showed anger and questioned her orders. I had broken two cardinal rules of Pookah behavior. I was lucky to be alive or not severely injured. Kalia had shown remarkable restraint. The final way an Itanii can loose control is during Ecarnah or sex with a Pookah. There were some safeguards. They were called appeasement's. I watched a Pookah and an Itanii having sex. There was a number of ritual acts performed by the Pookah during such encounters. It helped to ensure his survival. Although, I was told they were not foolproof. I watched the Pookah closely. I was told this was the proper way to act during sex. His movements were slow and very ritualized. It reminded me of a mating dance by a male bird back on earth trying to woe a female. The Pookah initiated no aggressive movements and he always followed her lead. Screaming was forbidden. You didn't want to spook an Itanii. Stroking and rubbing was highly recommended as well, and I watched in fascination as the Pookah performed that service for his Carnah. It really seemed to calm her down. He even sang to her in a soft voice. This seemed to soothe her and she even stopped growling. Talk about rough sex! In spite of his appeasement's he was thrown about like a rag doll. I was sure the Pookah, I was watching, would be sore for days. Talk about insatiable! Premature ejaculation was another big no-no. You certainly didn't want to make your Carnah angry. It just wasn't healthy. Finally, the Carnah screamed from her orgasm. It was the most blood curdling scream I had ever heard. After that, the poor Pookah laid exhausted on top of hear. She on the other hand became very loving and tender. It was explained to me proper technique usually had very positive results and resulted in a normal relationship. I tried to understand how what I had just seen could be deemed normal, but I was now living in a completely different world. One in which the female was completely and totally in charge. I was also shown a Pookah who was deemed to have poor technique. I wish I could have blocked out what I saw, but that was impossible. Afterwards, I was assured the Pookah had survived. He of course had volunteered his services to show other Pookah trainees the dangers of poor appeasement techniques. After this lesson with the Itanocron, I did not return to my cage. I would only see Gordon once more and that was when we left the spaceship on Itan. -------------------------------------- My new living quarters were small, but quite comfortable. There was a passageway right to Kalia's apartment complex. I could be summoned at any time into her presence. I immediately had to drop whatever I was doing and come quickly. It was not wise to make Kalia wait. I was given my own medallion. It acted like a mind booster and allowed me to open the doors and to work some of the other simple devices. It at least allowed me to move about the apartment complex and see to my other duties. On Itan I was to be in charge of her house hold and a number of other Pookahs. The Itanocron had already initiated my training in those areas. I had to admit I was a little jealous that there would be other Pookahs around. I often asked her about that. She would laugh and assure me I was the number one Pookah, and I had not better concern myself about the others. I listened, but I vowed to change that and have my way. It was going to take some time though. Sex with Kalia was an unbelievable experience. She really loved my stroking, rubbing, and singing. She was remarkably gentle during Ecarnah..except for that one time. I almost never got punished as well. Though, her spankings did make me limp for a day or two. I knew I loved her. I wasn't quite sure how or when it happened. Once as I sat naked on her huge thigh looking up into her amethyst eyes, as she played with the hairs on my chest, I asked her, "Do you love me?" She looked perplexed and said, "I do not know that word. I am Carnah and you are my Pookah." Of course, that explained everything. Now, I did understand. But I was sure she loved me in her own way. ------------------------------------- Chapter: 5 Itan The hours dissolved into days and the days dissolved into weeks. My training was almost complete. I was spending less and less time with the Itanocron and more and more time with Kalia. I was told, by her, that the "Human Experiment" was already deemed a success and that other expeditions soon would be sent to harvest more humans. Our training had been shown back on Itan and dozens of orders had already been placed for more human Pookahs. It meant that Kalia's estate would gain much wealth and prestige from her visit to my planet. I was truly happy for her. In just a few short weeks my needs and desires had been transformed. Her slightest wish was my command. I wanted nothing more than to please her. If other Pookahs lived with us, well, then that was OK with me. We were very close to Itan and I was sitting on her lap, and we were both relaxing, as the first transmissions were received from there. It was video similar to our TV only infinitely more complex. I didn't even ask her about it. I knew it was more complex than my mind could understand. That no longer bothered me. It just was the way of things..I was a Pookah. The show beamed to us was named Pookah Varieties and it was very popular back on Itan. I knew most of the Itanii would be watching it aboard ship. The show started with a number of Carnah and Pookah's in a large circular area that reminded me of a circus ring. The Carnah's were leading the Pookahs around by leashes. I watched for awhile and it looked somehow familiar to me. I couldn't quite put my finger on it..Then it hit me. It was just like a Kennel Club dog show back home. Only this time, the Pookahs replaced the dogs. Kalia explained to me, I hadn't yet mastered her language, that we were watching the finals. "Best of Show" would soon be determined. The rules were simple. There were six elimination events. Each Pookah race had there own elimination event. Each individual was judged solely on what was considered the prime attributes of each race. A winner was determined and entered the final event or "Best of Show" competition. None of the finalists were judged against each other, rather they were judged against what was considered the ultimate for each race. Kalia told me that a Calnarii often won. I shook my head, those damn teddy bears were hard to beat. As I looked on the women were running around the ring leading the Pookahs by a leash. The female judge was watching them intensely. There gate was being considered at the moment. I could see all the Pookahs were naked. I did a double take. The Calnarii were unbelievably well endowed. Damn those teddy bears! I think the other Pookahs were lucky that they didn't have to compete head to head with the Calnarii so to speak. I looked at Kalia and asked, "Will humans be entered soon?" She smiled at me, patted my head, continued playing with the hairs on my chest and said, "Of course! Maybe I'll enter you." That made me very proud. I turned and watched the remainder of the show. By this time, each Carnah was holding up her Pookah, outstretched by his arms, in an Itanii version of the iron cross. His feet dangling by hers many feet off the ground. The judge went down the row of contestants looking the Pookahs over. She would stop by a Pookah and touch some part of him, his muscular arms, his legs or face, even his equipment. Depending on what attribute in each race was deemed important. The judge paused at the Tarnak for a very long time and shook her head in approval. Kalia told me that the announcer said this could mean an upset today. As soon as the Tarnak was set down, his owner fed him a treat and then they started running again. Finally, "Best of Show" was chosen. It was the Calnarii and the Tarnak was placed second. Those damn teddy bears! I looked up at Kalia and said, "I could beat him!" She looked at me and laughed and lovingly kissed me on the lips. All she said was, 'I know my little Pookah...I know." ------------------------------------ The day had finally arrived. Right now, the big ship was landing on Itan. I was dressed in my best silver uniform as were the other men. Kalia wanted me to wear my jewel studded collar. So of course, I did. I still didn't understand how the collars could be removed. All of us were waiting patiently to disembark. There was a crowd gathered at the space port to see the new Pookahs. That in itself was unusual. I looked over at Gordon and he smiled at me and said, "It isn't all that bad mate..now is it!" I glanced up at Kalia, who was carrying me like usual. I looked back towards Gordon and shook my head no and smiled back at him. He was being carried as well, as were all the men. He winked at me and added, "Well have them eating out of our hands in no time." I winked back. Just then I felt a slight twinge in my temples. I looked over at Gordon and he was holding his head too. I knew he had been warned as well. He shrugged but didn't add anything further. We both knew who the bosses were. Just then a door materialized in front of us and the women paraded out of the spaceship with their new Pookahs. The sunlight was dazzling, the gravity weighed me down, and there was a sweet smell to the air. I heard the small cheering crowd and then I saw them. The crowd was small. I was disappointed. There should have been more Itanii's, but I remembered they didn't like to gather together. Most were content to view the humans on the vids. I wasn't certain about my future among a very dangerous predator species, but I knew my own nature well. Maybe, we weren't predators, but we were damn adaptable. I looked up into Kalia's amethyst eyes and saw peace there for the first time and felt contented. I knew I would do well on this new world. The End..