The Ionian Stocks

A set of Ionian stocks consists of a block of wood, plastic, or some other such material, about three-quarters of a meter cubed. The victim sits on a low bench before it, with her legs extended into holes that encase and trap them. Her arms, likewise, are extended forward, at shoulder-height, and encased in the block. This leaves the victim helpless, her head just high enough to look down on the top. If she cranes her neck slightly, she can rest her chin on its surface. Escape, however, is impossible; the victim simply cannot reach the blocks and wedges that hold the stocks closed around her limbs.

Melody Clan Chumf sat in a set of Ionian stocks made of bright red plastic, modified slightly to provide a tail restraint as well. A leather cuff held her tail near the end, and a short chain ran from the cuff to an eyehook set in the plastic near her right leg. Except for her faintly tiger-stripped fur she was naked, a green-eyed female Narnow, or cat-alien, who flew a pirate starfighter when she was not being held captive.

Behind her Lieutenant Max Anders sat on a stool, braiding Melody’s mane - among the Narnow, it was the females who had long manes. He was human, dressed in the short pants and short-sleeved shirt usually worn when the enviro systems were set to run warm. He was also a Commonwealth pilot, one who had offered Melody mirlivima, rather than putting her in stasis until the next prisoner-exchange.

Mirlivima translated roughly as ‘honorable dangerous prisoner.’ Originally a Narnow custom, it had spread among all the spacefaring species in the region, and was now as common among the Commonwealth as among the Sagittarian pirates. Especially among the starfighter pilots on both sides: No one raised an eyebrow or twitched a whisker any more when a pilot had a pampered captive sharing his (or her) quarters. And Max hadn’t received anything worse than a knowing grin when he had requested that Tender 94‘s machine shop produce a set of Ionian stocks.

“You’re a cruel man, Max,” Melody said.

“I said I wanted to see how you looked in pigtails,” Max answered. “Besides it could be worse: I might take pics after I’m finished.”

“Don’t you dare!”

Max didn’t answer. Melody could feel him finishing his work, tying pink ribbons to hold the braids in place. He activated a control, and a mirror-field sprang into being before her.

“What do you think?” he asked.

“It’s hideous.” Melody made a face. She could see Max take on a thoughtful look, in the mirror in front of the stocks.

“You’re right. It is.” Max said at last. Melody saw his image start to undo the ribbons. The mirror faded into nothingness, and Melody could feel him pull the ribbon away and unravel the braids.

Melody extended her claws. She could do that; Max had removed her slave-thimbles before locking her in the stocks. Of course, trapped as she was, her claws couldn’t reach anything. “I’m going to scratch your face for this, she threatened.

“Oh?” Max’s voice was amused; taking her threat as seriously as it deserved. “No, you’re going to give your parole.”

“I am?”

“Yes you are.” His clever clawless fingers began to tickle her ears. “I won’t stop this until you do.”

Melody began to giggle. “Heeheehahaha no heehee stop haheeheehee stop!”

“Not until you give your parole.” Max’s fingers began to tickle the nape of her neck, as well.

“Haheeheehee stop heehee no hahaheeheehee please!” Melody said, not meaning it. She actually liked being tickled; what she hated was admitting how much she liked it. And now she began to squirm as well, as Max’s fingers worked their way up and down her spine. She couldn’t do anything about those human fingers tickling her, trapped in the Ionian stocks as she was, but she couldn’t hold still for it, either.

“Heeheeheehahaheeheehee!” Max was using both hands, now. One resumed the gentle attack on her ears and the nape of her neck, while the other ran down and up her back. She pulled at her bonds, unable to keep herself from doing so, even though she knew it was useless. She twisted, knowing that that was useless as well. “Heehee heehahaheeheehee!” Normally, Max kept her secret, even when he applied the tickling she loved, but now he used it against her. He would keep tickling her until she either gave in to his demand or until she revealed how much she enjoyed it. “Heeheehee hahahee heeheehee!”

“Your parole, Melody.”

“No hahaheeheehee.” Melody continued to squirm, but she did not give in. Even when one hand began to move down her tail. She could not lash it out of the way, held as it was by its leather cuff. She could only wiggle, enjoying the tickle sensations as those clever human fingers worked their way almost to the tip and back again. And in the mean time, Max’s other hand worked down her spine and back up to the nape of her neck. “Heeheehahahaheehee!”

A pause. Then one hand began tickling her behind her ears again - and in front of them, as well. The other applied a comb, moving it slowly through her fur, down her back, applying a deliciously diabolical wiggle that called up an answering squirm. “Heehee stop heeheehee!” The comb reached the base of her tail, then returned to between her shoulder blades and began its downward path once again. “Hahahaheeheeheehee!” The fingers of Max’s first hand continued to tickle her ears and the nape of her neck. Melody continued to squirm and giggle. “Heeheehaha no heeheehee!”

Max continued the slow, wiggly strokes with the comb, starting between Melody’s shoulders and working down her spine. Each time the comb ran through her fur, the stroke ended a little further out along her tail. Melody couldn’t stand it, and she loved it, and there was nothing she could do about it, her limbs held helpless in the Ionian stocks, her tail secured and vulnerable. And then there were the clever fingers that tickled her ears and the back of her head, running through her mane and through the fur of her neck and upper back. “Heeheehahaha no heehee stop haheeheehee stop!”

“Give in, Melody. You know you’ll have to.” Max now ran the fingers of both clawless hands through the fur of Melody’s back. All the way up, and all the way down. Back up to the nape of her neck; back down to the base of her tail. It felt wonderful, the expert tickling that they forced on her. Forcing her to twitch and squirm and laugh. Imposing a delicious madness on her. “Hahahaheehee oh heehahee ah heeheehee!”

Now those human hands separated once more. One continued to run up and down her back, clever fingers wiggling through her fur. “Heeheehaheeheehee!” The other tickled the nape of her neck once more, and her ears, and the area around them. “Hahaheeheeheehee!” The tickling continued with that uncanny human endurance; utterly wonderful but terribly draining. Melody felt her squirms growing weaker. She wished that Max’s tickling could go on and on, but she’d have to give in soon. Soon. Soon. Just a little bit more. “Heeheehahaha oh heehee oh ah haheeheehee heeheeheehee!”

Up and down her spine. Behind her ears and inside them. Melody sensed that in a moment more Max would ask if she were enjoying this. And she’d have to admit that she was. She had to give in. “Heehee I heeheeha give heeheehee I give my haheeheehee Igivemyparole heeheehee!”

The tickling stopped. Melody sagged in the stocks. “You give?” Max asked. “You give your parole?”

“Yes,” she gasped. “I give my parole,” gasp, “until tomorrow morning.”

Max, with his human endurance, didn’t seem tired at all. He quickly pulled out the plastic wedges, releasing Melody from the stocks. She collapsed into his arms, into his lap, and felt his grip tighten around her into a hug. She gave a contented sigh. Later, she knew, she’d provoke him again into tickling her some more. But not now. Now she was being cuddled, and cuddling was good.

fin