The Slave Registration Board was a governmental agency that had offices in every county seat in every state of the country. Their job was to track slaves that were bought and sold, process slave certificates, ensure that contracts were honored, and arbitrate the loss of slaves because of injury, illness, or old age with their owners, insurance agencies, and the government. Once a month, a three-member panel would convene to deal with any issues that came up. Usually, this involved property disputes among owners or insurance conflicts, but other rare issues were raised from time to time.
It had been nearly a decade since the last Death of Personality case was brought before the panel in the county where Handleman Farms was located. Lewis had filed the paperwork through an attorney to begin the process, and it had taken several months to prepare for the case to be presented.
All such cases required the slave in question to be brought before the panel. It could be restrained or even gagged, but its physical presence was a mandate. The owner and advocate had to be there as well. The law stated that five pieces of evidence had to be presented to the panel. The first was a statement from the owner explaining why a frontal lobotomy was sought. The second had to be from a witness or a witness statement that corroborated the owner's case. Then two pieces of evidence directly connected to the slave had to be presented. These types of evidence were extremely difficult to obtain in some cases, which is why the proceedings were rare. The final evidence to be presented would be a neutral report from a government representative assigned to the case to study all the evidence and make a recommendation.
No matter what evidence was presented, however, the final decision always rested with the panel. The county elected each member during local elections and could have no connection to the owner or have any financial interest in the decision. Additionally, because of the finality of the procedure, the decision had to be unanimous.
It was early morning when Lewis arrived at the brick building located near the center of the town that housed the Registration Board. Beside him, bound in chains and gagged tightly, Val was restrained naked. A security guard hired by Lewis guided him as they entered the building.
"Welcome!" a young man said brightly from beyond a desk as the three of them entered an ornate rotunda that was gleaming with white marble and tile. "Can I help you?"
"Slave committee hearing," Lewis replied as he pointed to Val.
The young man looked over, and his eyes bulged as he saw the large slave tightly bound and held by the officer. What drew his attention immediately was the enormous set of balls that hung low between the slave's legs.
"Fuck!" the young man said before turning red. "Sorry! I apologize. That was bad manners."
"No worries," Lewis laughed. "Val is a beast of a slave."
"What is the name?" the man asked.
"Handleman," Lewis replied. "Lewis Handleman."
"Handleman," the man said as he scanned some records. "Oh yes. You are in room two."
The young man stood and pointed across the rotunda.
"Take that hall, and it is the third door on your left."
"Thanks!" Lewis said as he gestured to the guard, who then forced Val to follow.
As they entered the room at the end of the hall, they saw it had been richly furnished with fine cedar paneling. There were murals of farm life around the room with slaves in various states of work and labor. At the front was a raised platform with three chairs. In front of this, there was a lower table with two seats. To the left was a metal cage with a door that stood open, and on the right was a raised platform surrounded by a wooden wall on three sides that was about waist high.
"Lewis!" came the voice of a man who was sitting at the lower table and had turned when they entered.
"Hey, Charlie," Lewis replied as he walked over and shook the hand of his attorney.
"You ready for this?" Charlie asked.
"About as ready as I can be," Lewis replied.
Charlie looked over at the officer.
"You can put the slave in the cage."
The officer nodded and forced Val over to the large metal cage on the left. The slave's chains were secured to an eyebolt in the floor, and when the cage was closed, there was left little room but for the slave to stand and face forward. Spit was drooling out of the ball gag that was tightly bound in its mouth.
The next sound was the door from the hallway opening again. This time, Burt appeared with Nutless following behind. Burt looked uncomfortably dressed in a rather old pair of slacks and a shirt that looked like he had tried pressing unsuccessfully. Nutless walked behind, bound in chains on his ankles and wrists, but otherwise docile as it moved.
"No security?" Charlie asked as he walked over to shake Burt's hand.
"None needed," Burt replied as he shook his head. "Nutless knows not to act up. Don't you, Nutless?
"Yes, Lord," the slave replied.
"Just hang out in the back until you are called," Charlie replied. "Hopefully, this will not take too long."
Burt nodded as he directed Nutless to the back of the room and stood beside him.
Nutless had no idea what was going on. It had awoken as it normally did and was preparing breakfast when Burt appeared and told the slave it was needed. Without replying, the slave dropped what it was doing and followed its owner. Burt had bound its ankles and wrists before putting it in the back of the truck and driving the hour to the county seat.
When they had entered the room, Nutless had kept its eyes forward and focused on its master, but when it looked over at the cage, its jaw dropped. The slave was hairless now, and its balls and dick were larger, but it was unmistakably Ralph Bagwell.
"Fuck," Nutless said softly.
Burt turned, frowned, and slapped the slave's mouth.
"Watch your language here, slave."
The commotion drew the attention of Val, who turned to see the slave standing to the side. Val's eyes also widened. There, standing only feet away, was its best friend and criminal companion, Jed Star. But Jed's balls looked huge now.
"Is he a milking slave, too?" it thought.
The two slaves were distracted when the back door of the room opened, and three older men appeared and walked to their designated chairs behind the raised platform. As they did so, Charlie and Lewis stood and faced them. When they took their seats, the one in the middle picked up a gavel and struck it.
"This hearing is now in session," the man said. "I am Council Member Bezner, and I am joined by Hightower and Gierhart."
Bezner pointed to his right and left before continuing.
"We are here to rule on the Death of Personality request of owner Lewis Handleman. Are all parties present?"
"Yes, Your Honor," Charlie replied.
"And this is the slave in question?" Bezner asked as he looked over at Val, who was seething in its cage.
"Yes, Your Honor," Charlie replied.
"Very well," Bezner replied. "Present your case."
"Thank you, your honors," Charlie replied as he walked into the space between the desk and the raised platform. "Here before you is slave E754. It is a red-tagged slave that was purchased by my client Lewis Handleman to be used as a milking slave."
"And a prolific one I expect from what I see," Hightower replied, looking over at the slave.
Bezner rolled his eyes. "Let's keep it professional."
Hightower nodded, and Charlie smiled before continuing.
"My client wishes to perform a frontal lobotomy on the slave in order to control it. The slave has resisted all types of management and punishment, and my client has no other recourse."
"What about selling the slave for hard labor?" Gierhart asked.
"That was considered," Charlie replied. "But as your honor noted, it is a prolific beast and is very valuable to Mr. Handleman's bottom line. Simply put, it is worth more than two of his other slaves combined."
"Understood," Bezner replied. "Continue."
"The first piece of evidence we are presenting to the hearing is a criminal report of the slave before it was processed," Charlie said as he picked up a pack of materials and handed it up to Bezner. "E754 was convicted of attempted rape, possession of stolen property, drug possession and distribution, and other offenses. It was sentenced to life in prison, and only weeks after incarceration, nearly killed a fellow inmate, who took weeks to recover."
E754 smiled broadly.
"It was sold into slavery by the state and was later purchased by my client," Charlie continued. "My client paid to have it altered for milking production based on its high sperm counts, mobility, and potency values, as you see before you."
"Impressive," Hightower replied as he looked through a copy of the report. "Very impressive."
"As you will note, the slave was noted for severe antisocial behavior and resistance to authority," Charlie said. "The highest warning was attached to the slave's bill of sale as a result. Since purchase, it has continued to act out, resist authority, and put its life and its fellow slaves' lives in jeopardy."
Charlie stopped speaking as the panel continued its review of the files. After a silence of about five minutes, the three members of the panel spoke quietly to one another before looking back up.
"We have reviewed and accept these documents," Bezner replied. "What corroboration do you have?"
"Your Honors," Charlie replied. "In these packets are sworn testimony from women who were raped and abused by the slave in its former life. I also have a statement from the prisoner who was assaulted, as well as one from the prisoner in the slave's cell who was treated as a personal sex toy, in his own words, while residing with the slave."
"Is this all?" Bezner asked.
"No, Your Honor," Charlie replied. "I also have statements from representatives from the Texas Slave Market who interacted with the slave during its processing."
The three members spent another ten minutes reviewing the testimony and evidence before speaking once again.
"You may continue," Bezner replied.
"To further our case," Charlie began, "I have two pieces of evidence to present that are directly connected to the slave, personally."
"Very well," Bezner said.
"The first is a sworn report from an investigator from a legal brothel about a hundred miles from here," Charlie said as he handed copies to the committee. "The report concerns a slave known as G127."
"And what connection does this slave have to E754?" Bezner asked.
"Slave G127 was a close friend and criminal companion to E754," Charlie replied.
"I see here," Bezner said. "A one Leonard Michaels?"
"Correct, your honors," Charlie replied.
The mention of Len caused both Val and Nutless' hearts to shudder. It was the first time either of them had heard their friend's name in months.
"As you can see in the report, G127 was moved to Grayson State Correctional Facility in an attempt to deal with its psychological issues."
"What type of issues?" Hightower asked.
"It was mentally depressed and borderline suicidal," Charlie replied.
"Continue," Hightower replied.
"While at Grayson, it coordinated an attempted escape that left several guards and prisoners dead and many more wounded."
Nutless stood in shock as Charlie continued.
"It was given a choice of a possible death sentence or life in slavery, and it chose the latter. It was sold, emasculated, and turned into a working eunuch. At first, it appeared to be well-behaved, but soon after it arrived, it violently assaulted a guard, leaving him so severely injured that he has forgotten the past year of his life. It also injured a sex worker, who was found bloody and unconscious in a bed and had to be put down. It then went on to damage property and computer records, and then, inexplicitly, stopped and walked out of the facility, committing suicide."
"It did what?" Gierhart asked, shocked.
"Apparently, it just walked out the front door and let its proximity device kill it," Charlie replied.
Nutless's heart sank. It was stunned. That did not sound like Len. He had never intentionally harmed anyone. Sure, he had participated in their criminal enterprises, but he had constantly tried, unsuccessfully most of the time, to prevent violence whenever he could. Even Val, who would think nothing of killing or injuring someone in his way, was stunned by the report.
"It was deranged!" Hightower replied.
"We agree," Charlie replied. "And as our fourth piece of evidence, I would like to call upon another slave who worked closely with E754 as additional corroboration. I call F385 to the stand."
Nutless's hands were physically shaking as it was called forth. The chains between its legs dragged across the floor as it was directed to the raised platform surrounded by the waist-high barrier and faced the panel.
The three men took a moment to look at the slave before Charlie approached.
"Please tell the panel here your name."
"F385, Sir," Nutless replied. "Though my Lord calls me Nutless."
"Nutless?" Charlie asked.
Nutless nodded and took a deep breath before replying.
"My Lord castrated me, Sir. My testicles were removed and plasticized when I was sold. My Lord made me display them around my neck for many months to remind me of my crimes and my disrespect of authority."
"And those?" Charlie asked as he pointed at Nutless's large sack between its legs.
"My Lord implanted fake testicles inside me and then permanently severed my ability to become erect," Nutless replied. "I may look male, but I am not. I am a sexless slave that is only useful for labor."
Val was utterly silent. Hearing what had been done to its best friend was unimaginable. At first, it was stunned. Then it felt rage. It wanted to fight. It wanted to punish everyone for what had been done to Jed. As its body reddened in anger, the chains between its arms jingled, but no one noticed.
"Can you please turn around, slave?" Charlie asked.
Nutless complied, and the three men got a clear view of the massive scars that crisscrossed its back.
"And what are those?" Charlie asked.
"My Lord whipped me when I arrived at his property," Nutless replied. "I was arrogant. I was abusive. I did not respect his authority."
"And you were punished," Charlie asked.
"Yes, Sir," Nutless replied.
"Turn and face us, slave," Charlie replied.
Nutless spun again in compliance.
"Did you know slave G127?" Charlie asked. "The one that we have heard about in this report."
"Yes, Sir," Nutless replied.
"It was your friend on the outside?" Charlie asked.
"Yes, Sir," Nutless replied.
"Would you agree it was a hardened criminal who had no respect for life or society, and one that could apparently not be reformed?" Charlie asked.
Nutless paused for a moment. It knew that the answer was false. Len could never have done the things they said. But the slave knew that it was not here to speak on someone's behalf. It was here to win a case for its Lord. That is all that mattered. The truth was irrelevant. Only the devotion to its Lord and Master was important.
"That slave was not redeemable, Sir," Nutless replied. "I was shocked at what I heard today. You are lucky that G127 did not injure more people."
Val stopped breathing for a moment. Was this truly Jed? Jed would never say that about Len.
"Do you know this slave?" Charlie asked as he pointed to E754.
"Yes, Sir," Nutless replied.
"And were you friends?" Charlie asked.
"Yes, Sir," Nutless replied.
"And how would you describe your friend?" Charlie asked.
Nutless looked at the three members of the panel, unable to face Val.
"The slave you have here is like G127 was described in the report. E754 cannot be redeemed. It was a horrible human being on the outside. It sought out violence and death as sport. It will never stop trying to escape. It will never submit."
"And how do you know that?" Charlie asked.
Nutless turned to him.
"Because I was the same way."
"But you were redeemed," Charlie asked. "Were you not? I don't see you acting out here."
"Only because I was whipped until the brink of death," Nutless replied. "I was forcibly punished in other degrading ways until I submitted. I had a choice. I could resist and die or submit. The one you have in your report, G127, resisted and died. I submitted. The slave over there, however, will do neither. It will fight and fight until it can fight no more. Pain is meaningless. Life is meaningless to it. It is not human anymore."
Val was now on the verge of a mental breakdown. One of its best friends was dead, and the other had betrayed it... no... it had stabbed it in the back. It had not only betrayed it, but it had also insulted it. It had degraded it. The slave growled and bit down on the gag and strained against its bindings. It wanted to strangle the life out of Nutless. The resulting movement, growling, and drool falling from the slave's gag attracted the attention of those assembled in the room.
"That," Charlie said as he pointed to E754, "is what we are talking about. Look at the reaction this testimony has caused. This slave will never submit. Even now, it is doing everything it can to fight to get out and kill us. Isn't that right?"
Charlie was looking at Nutless, and the slave nodded.
"If given the chance, you would all die here... and it would surly kill me for what I have said here."
"There you have it," Charlie said.
"And do you have an independent report to back up these accusations?" Bezner asked.
"Yes, your honor," Charlie replied as he grabbed a stack of papers and distributed them. "This is the sworn testimony of the independent observer from the board."
"Ahh, yes," Gierhart said. "This is by Baker. He always is thorough."
"Very well," Bezner said. "I think we have all we need. We will reconvene in fifteen minutes."
The gavel was struck, and the three men left the room. As they did, Nutless looked over at Val one last time. The larger slave was literally seething like a bull ready to pounce. Nutless closed its eyes, turned away, and then walked over to stand by Burt.
"Well done, slave," Burt said without looking. "I am pleased."
Nutless felt its heart ache at the betrayal it had committed, but it stood in silence next to its owner.
The courtroom was silent for a long while. Only the seething slave straining against its bindings punctuated the air. Then, fifteen minutes later, the three council members returned. Charlie and Lewis stood again, and Bezner took the center chair to speak.
"The panel has reviewed the evidence and come to a decision."
He then turned to the slave, Val.
"Slave E754, it is clear you are a danger to not only yourself but your fellow slaves and the community at large. As a red-tagged slave, the State has a vested interest in controling your more violent instincts. Your value to your owner has been taken into account, as has the evidence presented here today. As such, this committee judges that you can be cleared for a Death of Personality procedure. It is so ordered that you will be taken from this place to be immediately lobotomized. Upon your recovery, you will return to your owner to continue your use as a milking slave. When your usefullness has ended, the State will then determine your ultimate fate. This judgment is entered into unanimously and without prejudice on this date."
The gavel was struck again, and Val growled and thrashed. The security guard called for backup to escort the slave away as Lewis and Charlie shook hands. Burt just waved at Lewis and directed Nutless to follow him. Nutless took one last look at Val before turning and leaving.
As it walked down the hall and back to the waiting truck, Nutless felt a tear fall down its face. Its adoptive brothers, the only family it had ever known, were now truly gone. Len was dead. The circumstances made no sense, but the truth was undeniable. And now, Ralph would soon follow. The slave's body would remain, but the personality, the soul, would be torn away. The resulting husk would be nothing but a commodity, just like Nutless. The only friends it had left were Cee and Gimp, and it now realized how important they were to it.
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