Asylum

By: Skyie

Chapter 4: The Dirty Truth


A/N: If you read the note I put at the end of my last chapter you should know that I rated this story "M" due to the adult content. I've done my best here to try to talk around the subject of what has happened to the four women to make them so dead set against going back to Lord Terrel. I hope I did a decent job here without being offensive, coarse, or insensitive.


Tara held Ania as she slowly calmed down and regained her composure. She looked evenly at the younger Thundarian female, "Your patience and understanding are appreciated."

Pumyra nodded, "My mother was always there for me when I was troubled too. If her medical condition was any indication of why she's so upset, I can understand."

Tara raised her eyebrows in mild surprise, "Most don't guess that I'm her mother." She looked down at Ania's rich auburn hair and fair skin which were nothing like her darker skin and pale brown hair. Their eyes, while both blue were different. Ania's were a deep blue while hers where a pale blue. Their lack of resemblance had kept Ania safely away from the declining Empire for so many years after her beloved husband's accidental death.

Ania took a deep breath to steady herself and pulled away from Tara, "We should go. I don't think this should wait any longer."

Tara smiled grimly, "Yes. Time to shed light on Terre's dirty little secret."

When Tara got off the medical bed she immediately noticed the lack of the ever present pain in her abdomen. She lifted her shirt to look at her smooth stomach without the numerous scars. She looked up at Pumyra again and stated simply, "Thank you"

Pumyra's smile reached her eyes, "You are very welcome." She turned to the door and nodded at Cadea who had been standing stiffly just close enough to the bed to assist if she was needed for Ania again, "I'll show you to the council chambers."

Lion-O watched as Pumyra led the three remaining women into the council chambers. He noted how the older woman carried herself with a quiet air of authority. The older woman met his eyes with an unflinching gaze as the others sat down near Kiana, "I am Tara, Formerly Lady Tara when my now deceased husband was Lord Vannon of Talagaran." She indicated the petite young auburn haired female next to her, "This is my daughter Ania" She indicated Kiana, "Kiana is the daughter of former Minister Jerlaxal who was my husband's dearest friend and closest advisor." She indicated the silvery blonde who was watching with hard and wary eyes, "This is Cadea who is the daughter of the former General Setea. He was my husband's greatest military commander and one of the first that Terrel assassinated after he had my husband killed. Miknister Jerlaxal was the next one he assassinated to gain control and put his own people in place to take over."

Lion-O felt his stomach drop as he realized the woman were the survivors of an overthrown empire, "You were captives."

"I was from the start. Terrel needed me around to keep the people calmed. They had to see me alive and well so he would not be challenged in the beginning. "She looked at Ania and smiled sadly, "We had been warned of treachery within our own court not long after Ania was born. I sent her away when she was only two years old to hide her and protect her identity. Cadea was hidden within our own military and trained as a weapons specialist under Terrel's own nose without his knowing her identity. Kiana was sent into the civilian sector and raised in the arts where she progressed as one of our greatest dancers. Sadly, she did too well since Terrel became attracted to her as men often do with beautiful women they cannot have."

Tara leaned back into her chair and her eyes took on a distant look as she continued, "Terrel went crazy when he couldn't find the only living descendants of the overthrown lord and his two greatest advisors. His plan wasn't only the overthrow of the Empire. We were once a proud people, too proud and vain, and we valued our genetic purity above all else. There was a time when no Talagaran could marry without a complete genetic work up on both partners to ensure complete compatibility and to ensure their children would be the best offspring possible."

Tara looked over at Kiana and smiled sadly, "We had become such arrogant and ignorant fools. Our desire for the best offspring did create some amazing results. Kiana is a powerful empath, able to feel others emotions often before they are aware of what they are feeling. She can also focus her abilities at an individual to impose a feeling onto that person for a period of time."

Kiana spoke firmly, "It's not something I enjoy. Not only does it exhaust me, but I'm left being connected to that person for a period of time. It's terrible to be connected to someone without being able to shut them out like I can normally do."

Tara nodded, "Cadea has amazing strength and reflexes. She can physically withstand things that would make most men bow down. She's deadly accurate with any weapon."

Cadea laughed bitterly, "But I'm not immune from a well placed sedative dart. Once I was discovered in the screening all they had to do was keep me sedated and confined."

Tara looked over at Ania, "Ania has been gifted with the ability to remember anything she sees, hears, or reads to the most finite and exact detail. I sent her away from any Talagaran influence where she would have hopefully remained hidden. Unfortunately, her skills also brought her out into more public attention. Once she was scanned her identity was uncovered and she was also captured."

Tara looked at Lion-O and her voice took on a hard edge, "Part of Terrel is our societies own creation. He also evolved into what he is. He is ruthlessly cunning and lacks any regard for morality or feelings of others. He developed a master plan to make the Talagaran Empire even greater in his own vision. He was going to bring together those with certain genetic abilities to breed even better Talagaran's. He completely restructured our societal codes. Females were to be crossed with whatever males would produce the best offspring. He did away with marriages since he wanted greater genetic diversity. Those who refused to comply willingly were forced to submit in any way manageable as long as a healthy child resulted." Tara stopped talking as the rage over seeing so many women brought into Terrel's medical centers filled her memory.

Kiana stiffened and closed her eyes to try to shut out the sudden onslaught of emotions in the room as well as her own anger and terror. When the meaning of Tara's words sank in to the Tundarians in the room she felt a rolling wave of black anger hit her. None of it was directed at them but she still began to sweat with the effort of blocking it all, "Get the rest out…….please" she gasped, planning to flee the room as soon as they knew.

Tara nodded grimly, "Ironically, they caught Ania first even though she was the furthest away. She fought and was injured. You saw the medical scans as a result. Kiana and Cadea had heard the rumors and took steps to try to…….protect themselves." She looked at Kiana who was now pale and shaking. "They bought the black market contraceptives not knowing the long term risks, only hoping it would prevent the inevitable. They caught Kiana next and their tests on her to reverse the drugs effects were nothing less than brutal. Cadea was almost too dangerous to handle without severe sedation."

Kiana stood up suddenly, "You can finish without me." and bolted from the room. She ran almost blindly down the hallways to put some distance between herself and the strong emotions emitting from her dearest friends and the Thundarians. The wave of anger was slowly ebbing but the strain to try to block all the emotions had left her almost blind with a headache. She stopped running and realized she had no idea where in Cats Lair she was. She put her back to a wall and slowly slid down to sit on the floor with her eyes closed. She began to focus on the meditative centering her teachers had taught her so long ago. The intense pain was making it hard to focus. A tear leaked past her closed eyelids and slid down her cheek.

The Thundarians looked at the now shut doors on the council chambers where Kiana had fled. Lion-O was the first to break the silence, " She will need someone to get her back to the medical center." He looked at Cheetara, "Can you shield enough to approach her?"

Cheetara nodded slowly, "I think so." She stood and hurried out of the room.

Lion-O looked at Tara, "There's more?"

Tara nodded, "I was essentially useless by the time they were all captured. I did my best to deflect as much attention as I could. I set about planning our escape. I'll tell you this now. We were willing to do anything to get out of there. To escape the torture. Guards were killed and the ship was stolen. It was once my personal ship which Terrel kept close to gloat and to keep us all reminded that we would be caught if we ran away. We risked it anyway even to the face of certain death. We were all prepared to die to avoid recapture. You discovered the Senity capsules?"

Pumyra nodded, "I wondered why you each had them on you. Their death is among the most painful I've heard."

"But once consumed there is no antidote and death is assured within minutes, even if it is painful. It was freely administered to those deemed no longer useful."

Lion-O inhaled sharply and looked at Tygra. For the first time ever he saw his teacher, mentor, and friend with his hands clenched into fists in rage.

Tara broke the silence, "If Terrel gets us back he will kill me for certain and the other's fate will continue as he originally planned until they too are deemed no longer useful." Tara stood and went around the council table until she stood in front of the lord of the Thunder Cats. She bowed once respectfully and stood to her full proud height, "Lord Lion-O of the Thunder Cats, as the overthrown Lady of the Talagaran Empire I request amnesty for myself, my daughter, daughter of High Minister Jerlaxal and daughter of General Setea. We in turn are prepared to pledge our loyalty and skills to you renouncing our Talagaran rights."

Lion-O sat back in stunned silence. By all that he had learned of any court politics, Lady Tara was completely correct with her plea. All the women would face certain continued death after many unknown years of torture. Pumyra's medical scans had confirmed her accounting of events. Ania had symptoms of severe physical trauma. Kiana and Cadea each had numerous chemical substances in their systems.

The implications of his acceptance weighed heavily on his mind as he replied, "Lady Tara, you are all welcome and I vow I will provide you any protection I can grant you as Lord of the Thunder Cats."

Tara seemed to sag down with relief and Lion-O thought he saw the faint glimmer of tears in her eyed as she faintly said, "Thank you."


A/N: I wouldn't normally update two chapters this close together but this part of the story was just begging to get out right away. I'll be continuing soon!

I am shamelessly asking for reviews and constructive criticism. As I have read from several other authors, that's our only form of payment and provides the greatest motivation. Be well all!