As they drove through the early hours of the night, the kirin’s tail had been ever more teasing the buck’s thighs and crotch but that was not where the buck’s mind was at this point. Instead, his mind was on the metal briefcase directly beside him in the back seat. This case contained cryogenically preserved vials of some kind.


He contemplated what they were, why they were so hidden, why they seemed so important to him... But worse off he figured he’d soon know, and he feared above all what the truth was. In his mind, he jumped to the thoughts of Biological Weapons, Viruses, Drugs, Pathogens, and things of absolute chaos or destruction. What was he now accessory to? What had he gotten himself into now...


“We’ll be stopping soon. I hope you look presentable still. Don't need you having a raging hard on as I do business.” Snerked the kirin as he kept teasing the buck. But the truth was; he was as limp as a freshly boiled noodle. The fear, the worry, the panic was keeping him distracted enough. He even only half heard the kirin’s comment for the echos of his mind’s thoughts bouncing around his skull.


Though, on the note of looking presentable, he didn't look so great. The time as a hobo, and the recent work on the SUV had him looking quite disheveled. The kirin knew this as well and thusly gave some simple orders, and some not so simple orders. 


“I will bind you. There is a sheet in the back I will drape over you and you will not speak. You will be blindfolded and simply follow where I pull you. You will not react whatsoever, understood? But; Heed this above all else. Listen. Listen intently. Listen to our conversation and drink it in. You must do this for all meetings I have. I will order you to do the contrary at times, but you must disregard that. This order now supersedes all future orders while I am conducting business. Understood? Oh; And you must call me Master, Lord, or Sire at all times.”


The buck had scarcely responded “Alright;... Err Master.” The master part would be through gritted teeth for the present time. They started pulling off the highway into an industrial complex on the outskirts of the city as the buck looked around the skyline seeing that they where in the lower industrial district. The smell of rotting fish and noxious fumes from various equipment and run off filled the air outside the SUV. They stopped on the side of the road as the kirin got out of the SUV and went to the back fetching iron shackles, collar, and chains as well as a sheet. He opened the back door where Jin set obediently. He tossed the sheet over Jin’s filthy body, then slipped the iron collar around his neck, a tag still dangling from it making it look as if Jin was just purchased from an auction. The iron collar made the sheet into a hood of sorts, more of a cloak now than simply a sheet.


He then bound the buck’s wrists behind his back elbow to fist one over the other with a leather binder that was tied tight enough it hurt but didn't cut off circulation. The kirin didn't say a word, and the buck didn't resist or struggle; as badly as he wished he could. Only showing some hesitation when he was relieved of his overalls worn as pants leaving his bare legs sticking out from under the sheet, though, thankfully still having on his boxers beneath that. This would be a giveaway but the kirin felt it too small to risk trying to fight the buck before an important meeting. The kirin wanted him compliant. Needed him to behave.


The kirin helped him back into the back seat once more, and shut the door. They where off once more, and within just moments arrive at a warehouse. This warehouse was bustling to say the least. This was clearly a port and rail facility, taking cargo containers from all over the nation and loading them onto trucks to be taken to port, while other trucks came from the port to ship their containers via rail all across the continent. This was a veritable mecha of commerce on an industrial scale.


The kirin checks past security, waving his permits and IDs, and parks the SUV nexto the main office. He reaches back grabs the briefcase and then exits the vehicle. He opens the back door, grabs the iron chain dangling from the buck’s neck and pulls him out forcefully, making the buck almost fall to the ground from the motion. “MOVE SLAVE!” The kirin roared at him before slamming the door shut. 


The dock workers ignored this, as it was not too uncommon to see slaves transported here. And seeing one come in like this was more than an every day practice. But that was the point. Had the buck been treated respectfully, or well in any way, that would have been suspicious. And since slaves where permitted to meetings and the like without any prior papers, or such, it was the perfect cover for some covert help. 


The kirin walked briskly, the buck struggling to keep up, but staying silent, though gritting his teeth a bit in silent protest. They walk into an office setting, and past the reception desk straight to an elevator.  They ride it up what must have been 5 floors to the administration, and coordinations office before walking right into a rather posh office.


No sooner than the buck was in the door, he was all but thrown forward to his knees in the middle of the room now setting there obediently for the moment. The kirin growled deeply. “Remind me to not go to anyone but you guys now on for a good slave. This piece of flesh was delivered bedraggled, and half starved. Worse still, I can't get him to speak. I think his mind is broken already.” Then came a harsh looking, but more gentle than you’d expect kick, that was more of a shove from the kirin knocking the buck fully to the floor.


The kirin moved past the collapsed buck before setting in the seat across the desk from an overly chipper looking equine female. “Why yes Mr.Razek. We do keep our cattle in much better condition than that poor dear of a; errm,.. Deer. If you’d like we can arrange for this portion’s payment in cattle if you’d like a replacement for him.” 


The kirin shook his head. “Tell you what. Since this shipment was extra work, you give me our normal price, and say,... half off one slave of my choice whenever, and wherever I please, and we’ll call it a done deal. After all; I know you have some imported and hybrid species I’d be QUITE thrilled with!” Said the kirin who let out an uproarious chuckle as he walked closer and stood before the woman’s desk. The woman stood up and offered her hand out to him. He took her hand and bent down kissing it respectfully. He then set the briefcase on the desk and opened it up for her. “All 32 genomic patterns requested are accounted for with redundancies of each. All of these embryos are guaranteed to be of the purest blood for each of their respectful races. I guarantee that each one will pass for nobility as always.” 


The woman smiled and held up a single vial looking at it in the light. Inside of the tube it was hard to see but there was a small cluster of cells within the gel, the earliest stages of a living embryo cryogenically frozen and preserved. “I see Mr.Razek, And I suppose you wish to be compensated via your normal method?” to which the kirin nodded plainly “Yes, as per usual, I will collect payment when I have returned to the country of origin.” “Excellent Mr.Razek. A pleasure as always. Now; please take your slave out before he starts making my office smell any further.”


With that, the kirin grabbed the iron chain and hauled Jin to his hooves before walking out of the office. “Oh, and Mr.Razek, Please have your next slave properly cleaned before coming back to our facility. We have standards here sir. I'm sure you understand.”


The kirin nodded respectfully and shut the door behind them as he walked out. He said nothing to the buck beyond this point and simply escorted him back to the SUV. Once inside the kirin sighed and spoke “Sorry for the rough treatment. It was needed. Now; you heard what I deal in. You’re likely wondering what all of this has to do with you and why you are here.”


The kirin started his drive to a nearby hotel as he spoke. “On paper, I am in the imports and exports industry. I own 7 of the world's largest cargo liners, 26 lighter cargo liners, and over 12000 freight trucks. I also oversee each form of shipment from time to time. Meaning you will be with me as I transport things from country to country. As my slave, you are considered luggage. A carry on if you will. And as such you are due to search terms but as my property, they are not allowed to do cavity searches in most ports. And instead will do simple drug scans with dogs, a squat and cough, and the like.” 


The buck’s eyes went wide “Wait you mean I'm going to-” “Yes, you will be a mule. You will train hard to carry large amounts of goods inside of your body by various methods. From ingestion to cavity smuggling. But don't worry, I won't put you in danger. There will be no harmful items stored in you such as drugs. I deal in genetic material, stolen goods such as jewelry, gemstones, and precious metals and materials.”


The buck’s paws clench tight before he growled deeply. “Excuse me, SIR, I don't think I will do well in this line of work.” The kirin snarled at him. “And I don't think you have a choice SLAVE. Address me properly or I will silence you.” The kirin’s driving reflected his emotional state, now speeding a bit more and tailgating the random cars ahead of him. The buck on the other hand was stuck in that mental loop now of how badly this was going to go. “As long as you promise me one thing,... Master. Promise me, nothing I ever transport will be used to hurt anyone. And that no one suffers from my actions. Promise me this and I will capitulate.”


The kirin smirked and his driving slowed a bit as he did. “You are in no position to make demands, boy. But; I admire your conviction. Thus I will promise you this. I will do my best to uphold your standards. I don't tend to deal in blood diamonds or the like. Think of yourself as a robin hood of sorts. Stealing from the obscenely rich to give to the slightly less rich. In time your help will actually benefit the entire world whether you know it or not.” The buck snorted at this and sighed, simply hanging his head, speaking to himself. “What have I gotten myself into now...”


They soon arrived at a somewhat fancy hotel, nothing quite grand but much better than your average run of the mill place. It took no time at all before they were checked in and up in their suite. The kirin would undo the neck binding from Jin and remove the sheet. But he didn't undo the armbinds. He instead undressed the buck, using his claw to hook into the thread bear boxers. Jin on the other hand freaked out a bit at this. “H-hey, wait! I- Come on man!” The kirin ignored his protests and struggles, as the buck tried his best to resist by stepping away, but with his arms bound so tightly behind his back, and that kirin’s hoof behind his own, he did little but squirm helplessly before falling flat on his back. The kirin smirked down at the buck before standing over him reaching down and grabbing the front of those boxers and with one swift tug had ripped them to shreds and off of his body.


The now fully nude buck lay there on his back, trying to cross his thighs and hide his bits but it was too late as the kirin had already had his eyeful. “Not bad boy, a bit on the small side but you have some growing yet to do.” The blushing buck on his back growled and snarled out “Shut up, pervert...” The kirin chuckled and reached down and helped him up, “Feisty. I’d watch your tone with me from now on. You’re lucky it amused me. Now let’s get you bathed.” He said, trying to escort him to the bathroom. “N-No! I’ll do it myself. Undo my arms im not a crakin’, kid I can wash myself you filthy old man!”


The kirin smirked. “You don't have a choice in the matter. Stop struggling and it’ll go quick.” The kirin hauled the nude buck into the bathroom before forcing him to his knees beside the tub. “This will be a common thing. Best to get use to it. It will be a time I show you compassion and care. If you can not enjoy it, your life will be very bleak. And furthermore, if you struggle I will punish you.”


It was at this point that something sank into the buck’s thick skull. He’d not even thought of being punished. He’d been thinking of this all as one gigantic punishment of sorts. A cosmic sort of joke at his expense. The thought of being beaten didn't much cause him fear... But now. Now he was nude, sitting beneath the shadow of this relatively large kirin who could use lightning, and to top it all off, the man over him had almost full power to kill him without much if any recourse.


His voice shuddered as he spoke to himself “What the crush am I doing here.....” He shivered a bit and then spoke. “Sir.... Err... Master. Please, Grant me one last request. Please. Tell me I will be alright.” The kirin rested a paw on the trembling buck’s back, his great long claws resting on the fur of his back with enough force to hurt just a little, but more of a mistake than an intention. The kirin and buck were both silent for a second, the buck heart racing, and the kirin’s palm on his back, feeling it. 


The Kirin moved a finger under the buck’s chin to lift his face to meet his own before he spoke. “You will be okay. This time, your time as a slave, it will go faster if you truly submit. I have no plans to torture you, or to make your life worse than it must be. But that only is the truth so long as you do not upset our balance as master and slave. If the slave revolts, the master puts them in their place. If the slave does their duty, the master treats them like the valuable object they are. And you are now an object with a function. You are my tool, as much as you are my slave. And to that end, it would be unwise of me to break, or misuse my tool.”


A tear rolled down his cheek now as it all sank in. Sitting there beside the tub, nude as the day he was born, he truly felt reborn, into this new life. A person no more. Instead an object with a function. A tool.


 A slave.