Captive Lieutenant
Chapter 2
By KatWarrior
WARNING: This chapter contains moderately distrubing/brutal torture scenes. You have been warned.
***
They had grown bored with the blazing hot irons, no doubt because they failed to loose Welkin's tongue. At least, they'd failed in the way of him actually telling them anything. Screaming, however, he hadn't been able to help. The soldiers had been almost sadistic with the metal rods and left several stripes of red, burning flesh over his body. Being tied in the middle of the room had left Welkin's skin open to them from all angles, which they had taken advantage of.
He hung limply from his bonds, breathing hard and groaning on occasion. Welkin grimaced when his hair was grabbed and tugged on, forcing him to lift his head. The supposed leader of the four tormentors glared into his eyes.
"I'm not surprised that you're so stubborn, Gunther. You are the leader of Squad 7 after all." Then he smirked. "I wonder how they're doing without their fearless leader? Running around like scattered sheep? Maybe they're dead already."
"You… don't know them," Welkin moaned. "They… they're strong… Even if you kill me, they'll keep fighting."
"I hope so," the Imperial sneered. "I want the chance to pay every single Squad 7 dog back for my comrades' lives." He released Welkin and stepped back, summoning one of his helpers. This man was shorter than his leader, but with broad, menacing shoulders and toned arms underneath his uniform. He was flexing, and had a whip raveled around his shoulder. He slipped it off, catching the handle and letting the long, thin braid of leather trail on the floor behind him.
He stepped behind Welkin, and then reached out with a large, gloved and to touch the torn, singed clothing still on his back.
"Are you ready?" he murmured with demented pleasure obvious in his voice. The first lash fell before Welkin answered. There was no way of knowing if the man had deliberately aimed for it, but the first stroke hit one of the fresh burns. Welkin cried out in his renewed agony. His cries continued with the beating, intensifying to near wails when the soldier moved around to the front and brought the whip down over his hips and upper-thighs. And then, far more suddenly than expected, he stopped.
Welkin looked up despite the shuddering breaths he was taking. The whip was raised over the soldier's head, but was caught in Jaeger's hand before its descent.
"That's enough for now," the older man said. "You're making this too personal."
Even as Jaeger scolded the soldier, Welkin's stomach began to rise. The pain was too much. He was too weak to keep his whole body from lurching as he threw up. The soldier swore and there was a sudden, swift pain at Welkin's jaw when he was punched. Blood began to fill his mouth along with the residual bile. He hadn't lost a tooth, but bitten his lip. The thick, red fluid spilled forth, running down his chin.
"Take a break, boys," Jaeger ordered. "We can continue later. He's not going anywhere."
Welkin was not sorry to hear them leave.
***
Dusk was a blessing, at is offered some form of cover for the Edelweiss during its return to the battle-ravaged little town. The soldiers of Squad 7 moved silently alongside it, Alicia and Hans leading them. Isara had been willing to act as Hans' handler, but she alone could operate the special tank. She drove it onward with her heart pounding nervously for her brother.
She wanted desperately to be part of the team that would go in and personally save her brother, but since the Edelweiss did not fare well in this particular town, she would be waiting in the tank to take him safely back to the nearby Federation base. It was all she could do for him, and so she would do it well.
"Hang in there, Welks. We're coming."
***
Someone came into the supply room, but since they neither addressed nor bothered Welkin he ignored them. While this mystery person was there he heard a bucket of water sloshing around, and what must have been a mop sliding over the floor in front of him. Good. At least some of his embarrassment was being washed away. Welkin still hadn't opened his eyes by the time they left.
A short while after the mess was cleaned up, the door at the top of the stairs opened again. Again, Welkin paid his visitor no mind. At least not until there was a damp, cool cloth wiping the remnants of vomit and blood from his chin. Welkin lifted his heavy eyelids to find that this person was Jaeger.
"It's hardly gentlemanly to have such things on your face," the bearded man said, "and hardly gentlemanly to leave them on someone else's." He continued from there, wiping off the splotches that covered Welkin's shirt, boxers, and legs. After this, Jaeger reached for the hem of Welkin's under-shorts.
Welkin had been through enough already that day, and when Jaeger slipped his boxers down over his hips it was almost too much. No, he hadn't expected his Imperial captors to be merciful, but surely even they wouldn't resort to this kind of torture. Despite his weakness, Welkin pressed his knees together as tightly as he could.
"Please… don't…" It took almost all the breath he had to gasp out those two words.
"I do not consider rape to be an acceptable means of interrogation," the much older man murmured. "Relax your legs, lieutenant. I'm going to help you out a bit more."
Something about Jaeger's tone was sincere enough that Welkin believed him. He allowed his trembling body to completely relax, including parting his legs to support himself as best he could. It was then that Jaeger was able to rub a soothing ointment on his bruised and tender privates. The touch was awkward and Welkin's face grew hot, but the pain relief was more than welcome.
"Why are you doing this?" he found the voice to ask. Jaeger had finished with the ointment and pulled Welkin's boxers back up. He stood fully upright, pulling a canteen from the depths of his coat.
"You do need at least some care to ensure that you live," Jaeger pointed out as he lifted the canteen to Welkin's lips. "As expected, we still haven't gathered any useful information from you." There was something more, Welkin could tell that much, but he didn't push for answers. "Try to hold it together, Lieutenant," Jaeger continued when Welkin was finished drinking. "Things aren't always as bleak as they seem." He turned and left. Welkin watched him and then, finally feeling a little bit better, let himself sink into a sweet unconscious sleep.
***
Rosie hated to admit it, but Isara's idea was working well. She and the others had shown Alicia where they had been at when the smoke bomb had hit, and after taking a few whiffs of the sketchbook Hans was on the trail. She didn't want to give a dark-hair so much credit, least of all for presenting such a ridiculous idea, but it looked like she wouldn't have a choice. For once, Rosie was glad to have kept her mouth shut when Isara made the suggestion.
Hans picked his way through the narrow streets as Isara and some others kept the Imperials busy with the Edelweiss. They were firing into empty buildings at random, trying to hold their attention while Alicia, Largo, Rosie, and two others of Squad 7 searched for Welkin.
The Imperials who had taken the Lieutenant clearly hadn't expected to be followed. Only a few blocks from the battle site, Hans stopped at the top of an outside stairwell that lead down into the entrance of a basement. He grunted and squeaked anxiously, flapping his little wings. Alicia picked him up and Largo stretched and popped his shoulders before bounding down the steps.
"Here we come, Boss!"
***
The five members of Squad 7 did not find the Imperial hide-out unnoticed. Jaeger stood atop the abandoned office building, observing as the young men and women - and was that a porkavian? - descended the stairs to basement.
His Excellency would have expected Jaeger to alert the soldiers, bringing the rescue mission to a sudden and deadly halt. But he couldn't. After seeing the look in that young man's eyes - the hurt combined with a fire that would not die - he could not deny him this chance to live. Jaeger would let these young people go in without his interference. If they made it past the guards inside, then they earned having their leader back.
***
They came back, but this time Jaeger was not with them, and neither was their previous confidence. They were panicked and almost tripped over each other as they descended the stairs. The leader was the first to reach Welkin, his eyes wild as well as spiteful.
"Are you proud, Gallian? Your attack dogs are here!" His fist struck Welkin's ribs with impressive force and speed. Despite the pain, Welkin smiled faintly. His squad wouldn't let him down. Given the option he would have preferred that they not risk their lives for him, but he certainly wasn't going to be ungrateful once they came bursting through that door to deliver him from the Imperials.
"Don't look so smug!" his tormentor snapped, suddenly grabbing Welkin's neck. "They haven't found you yet, and if I have any say so they'll need a body bag to get you out of here!" Welkin tried not to let his eyes widen, but now he was actually a bit nervous. These men had nothing to lose. What might they do?
The man who had whipped him stepped forward, grabbed Welkin's boxers with both hands, and then tore them in two and completely free from his body. Welkin closed his eyes and shivered. His shirt was torn off next, but he didn't bother to open his eyes. He only prayed that his squad would hurry.
To be continued...
