AUTHOR'S NOTES: Again, a bit of a long chapter. I thought about breaking this into two, but decided that the chapters would be too short then…no happy medium. And since I haven't updated in a bit due to the holidays, and probably won't get to update very regularly due to an upcoming move, I figured I'd give you a double dose.

First of all, a very big WARNING to readers. This chapter deals with some very horrific scenes, possibly the worst you'll ever see in these stories, and certainly the worst I've written since my Inu-Yasha story The Killers and the Killed. The reasoning is the same: in that story and in this chapter, the characters confront evil in its purest and most terrible form. I'm not personally sadistic, but the bad guys in both stories are; I do have a reason for writing this. Moreover, Sheila's torture towards the end of this chapter is based on real events: I based it on the tortures inflicted on American prisoners of war during Vietnam, those incarcerated at the infamous Hoa Lo/Hanoi Hilton prison. The straps were used on most of the POWs, most notably George "Bud" Day and James Stockdale. If anything, Sheila's ordeal is mild compared to theirs. A Google search should suffice if you want more information; safe to say that it is among the worst examples of man's inhumanity to man. Nor is the nudity put there for titillation purposes; both the torturers at Hoa Lo and their brothers in sadism, the Third Reich's Gestapo and Stalinist Russia's NKVD, emphasized stripping prisoners naked to humiliate them and make them feel well and truly alone and hopeless. In any case, you have been warned: it is not for the squeamish.

In other references to the POW experience, the Morse code coughing was also a trick used by POWs to communicate with each other, and Sheila's remembrance of her Nagelring lessons is loosely based on the Code of Conduct taught to American soldiers.

And as usual, I've tossed in a few historical and pop culture references, including Marye's Heights (the name of the ridges behind Fredericksburg, where Union soldiers were shot to pieces in December 1862) and "Cell Block V," which should be familiar to fans of a certain guy who wears Guy Fawkes masks. Senefa's remarks to Cavell Malthus about the results of Athena's burning of Front Royal are similar to the reactions of many non-SS (and a few who were) German commanders following the Malmedy Massacre during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944.

Reviewers' corner: as always, good to hear from you folks. Kat, Senefa isn't getting soft; she's just beginning to question what the Clans are really fighting for. The traitor will have to wait for a few chapters, though. Moisin, only about a third of the 133rd Falcon Fusiliers actually disobeyed Athena's orders…the rest, unfortunately, merely "followed orders."

Clan Jade Falcon General Headquarters

Sharpsburg, Vantaa, Federated Commonwealth

18 June 3051

Senefa Malthus stormed down the hallway towards saKhan Cavell Malthus' office, more infuriated than she had ever been in her life. Clutched in her hands was a sheet of paper, and she had to make a conscious decision not to wad it up in a fit of rage. Techs and even other MechWarriors flattened themselves against the corridor walls, not wanting to be close to that anger.

A single unarmored Elemental stood at the door to Cavell's office, five inches taller than even Senefa's considerable height and twice as broad, all of it muscle. "Elemental Star Commander Vornzel," Senefa snarled, "get out of my way."

Vornzel shook his head. Like most Elementals, he shaved his hair close, but had let some of it grow out as dreadlocks. "The saKhan is in an important meeting with Star Captain Athena Henderson and left orders not to be disturbed."

"He's in a meeting?" Senefa felt her anger getting worse. Undoubtedly, Cavell was talking to Athena about the Front Royal massacre, but that had been done by her unit, Senefa's, and she had every right to be there. Athena was under her command, dammit. "Can I go in?"

"No, Star Colonel. He left specific orders that no one was to be admitted without his permission."

Senefa fixed Vornzel with a jade gaze. "Elemental Star Commander, you will get out of my way this moment. Otherwise I will challenge you, right here and now, to a Circle of Equals, and I will at least put you out of action for a minimum of a month."

Vornzel tensed and unfolded his arms. "I cannot let you pass, Star Colonel. I cede to you choice of weapons."

Senefa stuffed the paper into a pocket of her uniform and pulled out the staff, snapping it into its full length. Vornzel had a reputation for being particularly deadly at hand-to-hand combat, and as a member of Cavell's personal guards, the Jade Falcon Keshik, had to be good. "Augumented," she replied. "I will wait while you find an appropriate weapon."

"No need." Vornzel balled his fists and crouched low, turning slightly to protect his groin. Evidently he had heard what Senefa had done to the Clan Wolf Elemental on Strana Mechty. Senefa took a step back and raised the staff, getting out of arm's reach of Vornzel's powerful arms. It would not be an easy fight, because the corridor's confines were narrow, which limited Senefa's options with the staff and made it that much easier for the Elemental to land one, devastating punch. Still, she would not back down. A crowd was beginning to gather, and the murmurs were getting loud.

Loud enough that the door to Cavell's office abruptly opened. He started at the sight of two of his finest warriors getting ready to fight literally on his doorstep. "Star Colonel Senefa Malthus! Elemental Star Commander Vornzel! What is the meaning of this?"

Both immediately came to attention. "I wished to speak with you immediately," Senefa said tightly. "He would not let me."

"As well he should not! I left specific orders not to be disturbed."

"I understand, ovkhan, which is why I challenged him to a Trial of Grievance for the right to meet with you."

Cavell looked disgusted. "Freebirth…stand down, Vornzel." The Elemental saluted and went to a smart parade rest. "Get in here, Senefa." No one missed the fact that he did not use her rank. With Vornzel, that was less of a problem, since he was unblooded, but given Senefa's Bloodname, it was a calculated insult. Senefa, cheeks burning, walked in.

Senefa took up a position, also at parade rest, in front of Cavell's desk, which had been brought down carefully from Strana Mechty and his personal DropShip. Now it was covered in datapads and paper maps instead of books. Next to her stood Athena Henderson. Senefa glanced at her, but her second-in-command was unusually unreadable; Senefa could not be sure if she was being smug or awaiting sentence.

Cavell collapsed into the chair behind the desk, closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then looked at both women. "I was just explaining to Star Captain Athena that I am suspending all Trials of Grievance until further notice, subject to my personal approval. Anyone who disobeys that order will be demoted and sent to hunt bandits. We have enough problems here on Vantaa."

Senefa was shocked, but did not let it show on her face. It made sense to her, though it seemed to violate the Way of the Clans. Campaigns had gone on hiatus to allow a Trial to go through, but that had also been against Clan opponents who would understand; it was unlikely the Inner Sphere would be so gracious. "Do both of you understand?"

"Aff, ovkhan," Senefa barked. To her surprise, Athena hesitated. Cavell noticed it instantly and leaned forward on the desk. "Well, Star Captain?"

"I understand, ovkhan," Athena said, "but Star Captain Kazumi refused a direct order, as did nine other MechWarriors of my unit. I want them punished."

"Your unit?" Senefa snapped. "The 133rd Falcon Fusiliers are my unit, Athena!"

"True," Athena said smoothly, "but you left me in command."

"Had I known you would commit mass murder, I would have left a sibko cadet in charge!"

Athena whirled on Senefa, balling her fists, but both women were silenced as Cavell shot out of his chair and slammed his hands down on his desk. "That is enough!" he shouted. Automatically, both women came to attention. "Stravag, but I have never heard the like! Do I command a Galaxy or a henhouse!"

"Ovkhan, I—" Senefa began.

"Silence!" Cavell thundered. A finger stabbed down on a map, one that showed the position at Marye's Heights. "As you both might know, unless you are too busy acting like old crones, the assault on Marye's Heights failed this morning, because Star Colonel Devlin Hazen, as usual,marched his Cluster right into a massed artillery barrage! So now, as the Sentinels laugh at us from the ridges, we must find another way to bypass their position, and I do not have time for this bickering!"

Senefa stood her ground. "Ovkhan, permission to speak."

"Granted," Cavell sighed.

"What happened at Front Royal was worse than a war crime." Athena opened her mouth, but closed it at an angry glance from Cavell. Senefa pulled the paper from her pocket and placed it on Cavell's desk. "Excerpts from the Spherian newsnets. It is all over Vantaa, and within a week, will be all over the Federated Commonwealth as well."

"So?" Athena shrugged. "It is right they should fear us. That is why I did it."

"But they will not," Senefa insisted, wondering how she ever could have so badly misjudged her second-in-command. "Until you razed the town, the Vantaa Militia and the 12th Star Guards in the Massanutten Valley were little more than a rabble, terrified to face us and unable to believe that they could beat us, only slow us down. With your actions, Athena, you have transformed that rabble to vengeful soldiers. Now they will fight us at every bend in the road and every line of trees. They will fight us with sticks if necessary. Nor will they be inclined to surrender, if they believe they will simply be killed." Senefa returned her attention to Cavell. "SaKhan, you are a student of history. You remember the famous saying from ancient Earth, 'Remember the Alamo.'" She contemptously looked at Athena. "Star Captain Athena has just given Vantaa their Alamo, and quite possibly the Federated Commonwealth as well."

"They were the enemy!" Athena shouted. "They were firing at me!"

"Women and children?" Senefa countered. "Star Captain Kazumi has told me you shot them down in the streets. I am saddened that so many of my Cluster chose to follow you. Farmers with shotguns are hardly a threat to BattleMechs, but I can understand killing them." Senefa's gloved finger pointed to the news reports. "These people were unarmed. Their only sin was not being afraid of your BattleMech, Athena. You destroyed Front Royal because you needed to take out your frustration for losing the bridge—nothing more."

"We are conquerors," Athena hissed. "They will bow to Clan Jade Falcon or die."

"That is enough," Cavell repeated, though more calmly this time. "Star Captain, it is obvious that you have lost the confidence of your commander and other members of the Fusiliers. A command must be unified or it is no command at all. Effective immediately, you are relieved of your position with the 133rd Falcon Fusiliers."

Athena's mouth fell open. "My Khan, this is unfair—"

"Choose your next words very carefully," Cavell told her with a voice full of steel. "They may be your last as a Star Captain. I have solamha units who need commanders." Solamha units were made up of malcontent freebirths and aged warriors too old to serve in line units, and were usually sent to hunt down the criminal fringe of Clan society, or as suicide units.

Athena came to attention. "My Khan."

"Since Star Colonel Devlin Hazen seems to be in need of Star Captains with fire, you will be reassigned to the 7th Falcon Regulars at my convienence. Wait outside." Athena cast a murderous glance at Senefa, and Cavell pounced. "Athena, any actions directed at Senefa or Star Captain Kazumi will result in immediate demotion and permanent exile from the Clan. Dismissed." Athena saluted and stalked from the office. Cavell watched her leave, and as the door slid shut behind her, leaned back in her chair. "I would watch yourself with that one, Senefa. She will almost certainly challenge you when the campaign is over."

"She will not. I will challenge her first." Senefa was still angry. Getting Athena thrown out of the Fusiliers was a start, but she had sullied the name of the entire Cluster. No matter what they did for the course of the war, however long it lasted, Senefa knew they would carry the brand of destroying Front Royal. They would be known as butchers, not warriors. "We should simply put her on trial for war crimes and have her shot."

"And the others in your Cluster who also took part? They were only obeying orders."

Senefa scowled. "With respect, ovkhan, that is the same defense that Stefan Amaris' thugs used for committing genocide on Terra. Every warrior must be responsible to their own conscience."

"Even if it conflicts with the needs of the Clan?"

"If the Clan orders such a criminal act, the Clan has no business being one. It is no better than the Not-Named Ones." Senefa referred obliquely to Clan Wolverine, the only Clan ever annihilated by the other Clans. The Wolverines had used weapons of mass destruction in defiance of the other Clans. Now, their name was not even spoken of. "Athena should be stripped of rank and made to live among bandits. I intend to transfer out those members of the Fusiliers who do not show proper remorse for their actions. Let other Clusters deal with them; I shall not, quineg?"

"And what is proper remorse?"

"I will determine that." Senefa had already spoken to many of her MechWarriors where they were stationed in the Valley. Some had defiantly said that Front Royal got what it deserved. Others had shown signs of depression, and admitted to Senefa that they felt distinctly unclean. Those she could salvage; the defiant ones needed to go. She had to restore unity to her Cluster immediately before it fell apart. Luckily, in Star Captain Kazumi and Star Commander Lina she had a good, solid core to rebuild around.

Cavell picked up the news reports, sighed again, and tossed them into a trash can. "Whatever you do, it must wait until the end of the campaign."

"My Khan, my unit is divided and demoralized. I would rather fight at half strength without the troublemakers than at full strength with them."

"Very well. I want personal approval of your transfers, however."

Senefa was shocked. Khans—good ones, in any case—did not meddle with simple personnel transfers. It went against the dictums of the Kerenskys themselves, who insisted that the Clans should have centralized command, but decentralized execution to preserve flexibility in combat. Khans were not to micromanage campaigns or units. "I do not understand."

Cavell faced her squarely. "Senefa, as of late, I have indulged your obsession with Sheila Arla-Vlata. Now that she is a bondswoman, I consider that matter closed. You need to return your energies to the Clan, not a personal vendetta."

Senefa nodded emphatically. "Aff, ovkhan; I agree completely and I will."

"And what of your promise to her about torture? And your offer to adopt her into the Clan?"

Senefa blinked. "She is a honorable warrior. She could make a valuable addition to the Jade Falcons."

"Perhaps, but that is not your decision to make." Cavell folded his arms across his chest. "Star Colonel, it has recently come to my attention that Sheila was once a member of a war plans group among the Federated Commonwealth. She may have information that is useful to us. Since she is not likely to talk, it may be necessary to…extract the information from her."

"You mean torture," Senefa snapped.

Cavell nodded. "Aff."

"I gave my word."

"It was not your word to give." Cavell leaned forward. "Senefa, of all my Cluster commanders, you are the one I respect the most. I have given you a great amount of latitude. As a result, I now have a Cluster on the verge of coming apart while its commander indulges in a personal war. Sheila is a bondswoman of the Clan, not of Senefa Malthus, quiaff?"

"Aff." Senefa could not keep the anger from her face.

"You are to return to your Cluster, but first I want you to go to Marye's Heights. Devlin has been giving me nothing but excuses. I myself do not have the time to go down and see the ground for myself, so I am sending you. Report back here in 24 hours, and then you will go immediately to your Cluster. You will not see Sheila again, quiaff? You have taken your pound of flesh from her."

"Aff." She paused. "And what about Star Captain Athena Henderson?"

"What about her? She is no concern of yours."

"What she did was wrong, my Khan."

Cavell looked at his maps. "I disagree with your assessment. I dislike the method in which it was done, but Front Royal served as an example. We have already seen a downturn in partisan attacks in the past 24 hours. Again, her methods were brutal and not to be repeated, but I will not prosecute her for it."

"She killed unarmed civilians—"

"I am full aware of what she did, Senefa, but Athena is right in one respect—it is time that these Spheroids learn that we are conquerors, not liberators. They are part of the Jade Falcons now, and the sooner they come to realize it, the better it will be for all involved." He tapped in a few commands on a datapad. "Again, it is none of your concern any longer, Senefa. Athena is no longer part of your command. Nor will I prosecute Star Captain Kazumi, though he did disobey a direct order. He is a seasoned warrior and I will not lose such a man over a trifle such as this."

Trifle? Senefa wanted to shout, there are four hundred people who are dead! But she remained silent, and hated herself for it.

"Will there be anything else?" Cavell asked.

"No, my Khan."

"You are angry, Senefa, quiaff?"

"Neg," Senefa replied, struggling to get the words out. "I have not begun to get angry. Am I dismissed?"

"Aff," Cavell replied, clipping the word, making it sound more like a grunt. Senefa wheeled on one boot and walked to the door. "Star Colonel. I did not see a salute."

Senefa snapped to attention so hard the leather in her boots made a cracking sound. Her salute was precise and worthy of a falconer. It was also full of irony that Cavell did not miss. He returned it nonetheless. "Send in Star Captain Athena. I am not finished with her yet." Senefa merely nodded and left. A moment later, Athena Henderson, her face enflamed, walked in and crashed to attention with much the same faux-respect Senefa had. Cavell only glanced at her, then went back to his typing, determined to make the Star Captain sweat a little.

Inside, he was in turmoil. His campaign, which had seemed on the verge of becoming a spectacular victory, was now teetering again on the edge of disaster. Devlin Hazen's idiot frontal assault was bad enough; the man simply could not use the bathroom without a detailed plan, and would likely be frozen to the seat in indecision if there was no toilet paper. Worse, much worse as far as Cavell was concerned, his star pupil, Senefa, seemed to be suffering from temporary insanity. He expected her to be harsh with the woman who had humbled her, but now Senefa almost seemed to be pampering her nemesis. Extending an offer of abtakha? We are not the Wolves, Cavell thought derisively. Senefa seemed to think that the Jade Falcons existed for her to indulge her obsession with the Inner Sphere warrior, and that the war should be conducted to her whims. Her reaction to the Front Royal incident was far out of proportion. Still, Cavell thought to himself, Senefa was yet young. She would return to form soon enough, and the quickest way was to get her back to what she was bred to do, fighting.

In any case, however, she would need an oblique lesson as to who was still in charge on Vantaa. He remembered that, in his youth, a commander had done much the same to him. Cavell had fallen madly and in unClan like love with a freebirth tech, to the point that merely coupling with her was not enough; he had to have her around all the time. Since it had affected his work, Cavell's Cluster commander had the tech transferred far away. He had been angry and heartbroken, and even challenged his Star Colonel to a Trial of Grievance that he lost, but looking back on it, his superior had been entirely correct. While he had no illusions that there was anything remotely resembling love or even lust between Senefa and Sheila—such things were left to lurid stories written by the bandit caste—there was an unhealthy obsession there, and Senefa would benefit from a more concrete reminder that the vendetta was over for good.

Finally, he looked up at Star Captain Athena, who was by now looking extremely uncomfortable. "Star Captain, I will not hear of any reprisals on your part against any member of the 133rd Falcon Fusiliers. If you wish to challenge Star Colonel Senefa Malthus once the campaign is over, that is your affair, but it will wait until then." She nodded quickly, angrily, and Cavell decided he would not miss Athena Henderson when Senefa killed her in a Circle of Equals. Still, he needed her now. "While I do not share the Star Colonel's views on the morality of what happened at Front Royal, you understand that your actions have divided the 133rd. That is why you are being transferred, quiaff?"

"Aff," Athena answered tightly.

"As punishment for your temerity and insubordination, you will report to Star Colonel Sedale Malthus when I dismiss you. You are being put in charge of interrogating Bondswoman Sheila, formerly Sheila Arla-Vlata of the Snowbirds SMCAT. I have reason to believe that Sheila was once part of the Junior Officers' Strategy Group." He handed her a datapad. "The pertinent information is in here. If she knows anything about future strategy by the Federated Commonwealth, I wish to know about it."

Athena looked at the datapad with obvious distaste. Interrogation was something left to medtechs, not MechWarriors. It was certainly punishment. "What methods do I use?"

"Consult with the medtechs. They have their ways." Cavell stared at her, hard. "You have 24 hours, Star Captain. You will not kill Bondswoman Sheila. If she does not know, she does not know. After that, you will be transferred to the 7th Falcon Regulars, and we will hear no more of this. Am I understood?"

"Aff, ovkhan. Completely."

"I am pleased to hear it," Cavell said sarcastically. "Dismissed." He returned Athena's salute and did not bother to watch her leave. He had little doubt that Athena would take out her anger on Sheila, but hopefully that would relieve that problem as well. Sheila Arla-Vlata was also full of pride and rage, and she too could benefit from a reminder that she was part of the Jade Falcons. Using Athena as his instrument would also further remind Senefa who was in charge. Cavell knew Senefa would be furious, but that would pass, and in the meantime her fury would be focused on the enemy. Cavell allowed himself a small smile and went back to the serious work of taking Vantaa. Idly, he wondered how his own nemesis, Calla Bighorn-Vlata, was taking the loss of his daughter. Well, if Cavell had his way, the father would join her soon enough. He picked up the telephone to let Sedale know Athena was on her way.

Athena Henderson walked into the office of Sedale Malthus, the operational commander of the Jade Falcon Keshik. Sedale's job was to make sure everything ran smoothly in the headquarters area. "Star Captain Athena Henderson reporting as ordered, Star Colonel."

Sedale looked up at her with supreme disinterest. "Mm." He pointed to an older man wearing medtech coveralls trying to be unobtrusive in the corner. "That is Medtech Paul. Take him with you. You are not to kill or inflict permanent damage on the prisoner. Is that understood?"

"Perfectly, Star Colonel."

"Good. Interrogation is not something to enjoy, and certainly not for warriors. You are being punished, Star Captain Athena. Do not forget that."

"Aff, Star Colonel. May I request something?"

Sedale looked up as if Athena had turned into a donkey and begun braying. "What?"

"Is Elemental Point Commander Xedas still part of the Keshik?"

"Aff. Why?"

"Bondswoman Sheila is quite an accomplished fighter. Even deprived of weapons, she was able to beat Star Colonel Senefa Malthus. She is capable of damaging myself and certainly Medtech Paul. I know Xedas—we are sibkin. I would like his assistance."

Sedale paused, then picked up a phone. "Order Elemental Xedas to report to Star Captain Athena Henderson at Cell Block V immediately," he told the person on the other end, then hung up. "Sensible, Star Captain. I should have thought of that. You are dismissed. Report back to me when you are finished."

Athena saluted and left, the medtech in her wake. She and Xedas had been captured together from Hell's Horses, and while they had never been more than friends, they had both tested out into their new Clan at the same time, though his career had not been as meteoric as hers. Athena knew Xedas would obey any order she gave; he was no weak sister like Kazumi or Senefa Malthus. She suspected that she was being used by her Khan, but did not care. If she could not hurt Senefa, she would hurt her old enemy and prove who was the better Jade Falcon.

As they reached the POW camp—what had been the Sharpsburg city jail and now divided by the Jade Falcons into five blocks, with the fifth being held for the most important prisoners—Athena spoke at last to the medtech. "Medtech Paul. How do you usually conduct these interrogations?"

Paul held up a thick briefcase. "We usually inject the subject with drugs. After awhile, the prisoner will feel compelled to answer questions, because their judgement will be swamped by the effect of the drugs. It is a feeling similar to being extremely intoxicated. However, should the subject resist, then I use increased dosage and hallucinogens. The prisoner will feel extreme pain and disorientation. We do not like to use the increased dosages if possible, as they can render the prisoner unable to speak, and the withdrawal symptoms are terrible." He made the process sound clinical. Athena knew better. Like all Clan warriors, she was shown tapes of prisoners under the effect of the drugs, to make them familiar with methods of interrogation; the Clans used drugs on captured Clan warriors as well. The serums used by interrogators seemed to drive the subjects temporarily insane. Most cracked quickly, but some strong-willed individuals were known to hold out for days, to the point of permanent madness. Sheila, in her weakened state, might also come apart quickly, but Athena thought that she might not—anyone who could survive a Circle of Equals with Senefa Malthus had to be rather tough. In any case, chemical pain was not satisfying enough. Sheila might believe herself attacked by nightmares under the influence, but Athena wanted her to know exactly who was inflicting pain on her.

"Medtech Paul, I will not use your drugs. I have other methods in mind," she told him. "All you will do is make sure that I am not killing the bondswoman—and I have a rather liberal interpretation of 'permanent damage,' quiaff?" The look on her face told Paul that Athena would happily inflict permanent damage on his own body if he disagreed, so he nodded emphatically. He had long ago grown immune to pain inflicted on prisoners; that was part of his job, and if it was something he personally disliked, he had his orders.

Xedas was waiting at Sheila's cell. He nodded to Athena. "Star Captain, good to see you again."

"The sentiment is shared, Xedas. I have to interrogate a prisoner, and I will need your help. She is something of a fighter."

Xedas merely nodded. "Good. I have been bored."

Athena opened the cell. Inside, Sheila Arla-Vlata was staring at the ceiling. Her cell was bare concrete and consisted of a bed chained to the wall, a small desk used for eating, a mattress, a pillow, and a toilet screened off from the rest of the cell by a cardboard partition. It was warm enough, but still smelled. "Bondswoman Sheila," Athena intoned.

Sheila got up from the bed. She was actually glad to see someone. Following her release from the hospital, she had been brought to the cell, given a small dinner, and left to her own devices. There was a small window, at head height and barred, but all it showed was a dingy courtyard. The Clanfolk who had brought her to her cell had not been rough, but neither had they been gentle; their attitude was one of bored indifference. To the best of her knowledge, she was alone in the cell block. Her hospital gown had been exchanged for simple coveralls; the hated bondcord was still around her wrist and chafed terribly. For the last six hours, Sheila had spent her time pacing the floor; her captors had not bound her and in fact had seemed to forget about her. She had tried to sleep, knowing she had to keep up her strength, but there was no warm body of her husband next to her. Even prayer had brought no comfort; Sheila knew it would take a miracle to get her out of the prison before she was shipped off of Vantaa to destinations unknown, and, as the old saying went, she was a little overdrawn at the Bank of Miracles. Sheila felt that God owed her nothing, but she prayed anyway, wishing she had her mother's bluster—when Arla Bighorn-Vlata prayed, it was like she was ordering God to help--or Maysa Bari's quiet faith. Now, with these three Clanfolk, there was something to do, and if nothing else, an enemy God could help her fight.

"I am she," Sheila answered simply.

"You will come with us."

"Very well." Sheila put on a pair of slippers left for her and followed Athena out into the corridor. There was no point in resisting; the Elemental would make sure of that. Sheila glanced at the doors of the cell block as she was led down the hallway, trying to memorize a way out in case escape should offer itself. They left the cell block itself and entered another part of the complex, and Sheila saw the first prisoners besides herself since she had been captured. They also wore coveralls and bondcords, and none met her eyes; none were also close enough to talk to. "Do not speak," the Elemental warned, just as Sheila had considered shouting out her name. Just before she was led down another corridor, however, a man sweeping the floor caught her glance. He gave the briefest of nods, and Sheila wanted to cheer out loud. She had been noticed. As they walked further away, she heard the man began to cough. The coughs seemed strangely rhythmic, and Sheila suddenly noticed that he was coughing in Morse code. Hers was very rusty, but before they were out of earshot, she recognized the codes for her first name. My God, she thought, I've read about this! The POWs here already have some sort of underground! He's communicating to someone that he's noticed me and who I am! Sheila had heard stories of Davion prisoners taken in the Fourth Succession War by House Kurita, who used such a code to get out a list of prisoners and their location to MIIO agents, who promptly sent in the elite Black Fox teams to break the prisoners out. Sheila's hopes soared. She had not been forgotten.

When she was pushed into a room that was obviously soundproofed, however, her hopes took a downward turn. She had dreaded being interrogated again, and knew that the questions she had been asked while she was hopped up on painkillers had been softball ones. The room was bare except for two chairs and a gurney. From the appearance of the sheets and stains on the walls, the Clans were not into merely asking polite questions. Sheila had heard the stories as well from liberated officers on Planting and Twycross, and knew that, if she wanted a battle, she had one on her hands now.

She steeled herself, trying to remember the brief lessons at the Nagelring on the subject. When she had asked one of her professors who had briefly been captured by Kurita during the War of 3039 what she should do if captured, he had crisply and succinctly replied, "Don't get captured." Other professors had been slightly more helpful. If you are captured, they had said, give your parole. If your captors obey the Ares Conventions, you will not be tortured. If you are, however, hold out as long as you feel that you can. Know, however, that holding out indefinitely is nearly impossible; everyone has a breaking point. Give your captors as little as possible; lie at all times. But recognize that your tactical knowledge is out of date within 48 hours, and do not feel dishonored if you do break and talk. Merely do the best you can and encourage others to do the same. If you are the senior officer, take command. Never quit thinking of ways to resist your captors and escape. Always remember that you are an officer of the Federated Commonwealth. Well, she was a mercenary, but she would be damned if she wouldn't talk without making the Clanners work for it.

The man who was obviously a medtech stood off to one side. His black bag looked ominous, but worse was the Elemental, who pulled the straps from the gurney. She had heard the Elemental and the woman in the uniform of a MechWarrior talking in low tones in the corridor, and though she had not been able to hear what they had said, it was nothing good for her, she was sure. Sheila looked at the blonde woman, who returned her gaze with nothing less than pure loathing. Sheila noticed the patch on her shoulder, showing a banshee against a Clan Jade Falcon crest: it was that of the 133rd Falcon Fusiliers, Senefa Malthus' unit. So much for word of honor, Sheila sighed inwardly. Knew I couldn't trust that bitch.

"You," the woman said. "Strip off that coverall."

Sheila shook her head. "Who are you?"

To her surprise, the woman answered instantly. "Star Captain Athena Henderson."

"Star Captain, I am Lieutenant Commander Sheila Arla-Vlata of the Sentinels RCAT. My serial number is 32-025-22026. As an officer under the employ of the Federated Commonwealth, under the terms of the Ares Conventions, I am not to be humiliated or tortured."

Athena laughed. "I do not care for such Spheroid conventions."

"They were signed long before the Clans came into existence. Your founder, Alexsandr Kerensky, held to them rigidly."

Athena hesitated, obviously a little taken aback by Sheila's knowledge of the Clans' origins. Then she shrugged. "Kerensky was a Wolf. I am Jade Falcon." She took a step forward. "You are nothing, Sheila. You are a bondswoman to be done with as I please. Now strip."

Sheila was briefly reminded of Marion Rhialla, but Marion had done what she had on Outreach to prove a point. Athena just looked like she wanted to get a little sadistic enjoyment out of the deal. Since the Elemental looked quite ready to strip her by force, Sheila did as she was told and stood in her underwear. "Now what?"

"Those as well." Athena mentioned at the underwear.

"I will not be humiliated like this. I am an officer—"

Athena reached forward and slapped Sheila across the face. Sheila instantly balled her fists and began to swing back, but the Elemental grabbed her. She turned and delivered a shot to the stomach, but it felt like hitting an iron plate. He easily outmaneuvered an attempt to kick him in the crotch, then, with a speed she didn't anticipate from such a big man, struck downward. Sheila's world instantly exploded into stars and she went down. Before she could react, the Elemental punched her again, this time across the nose. Blood flew across the room, and it was all Sheila could do to remain conscious. She gave no further resistance as the Elemental tore away her bra and panties. She curled into a fetal position and looked up at Athena. "You sick bitch," Sheila spat, but inside fear grabbed hold. Interrogation she expected, even abuse, but rape was something she had never considered.

Athena merely smiled at her. "Not so high and mighty now." She knelt. "We can do this quite easily, bondswoman." She pulled the datapad off her belt. "Were you ever a member of the Junior Officers Strategy Group?"

Sheila was too shocked to come up with a plausible denial. Instead she blurted, "How do you know about that?"

Athena snorted. "You think we are stupid barbarians? We have our ways. So—were you?"

There was no point in denying it now. "Yes," Sheila answered.

"What was its purpose?"

"Finding ways to kill Clanners."

Athena clucked her tongue in a synthetic show of sympathy. "You will have to do better than that."

"Seriously. That was its purpose. We wanted to compare notes on how to blow up your 'Mechs and fuck up your MechWarriors." Sheila knew the effect of profanity on Clanfolk; Athena, by the look on her face, was no different.

"That was all?"

"Pretty much," Sheila lied. "There's really not much to tell."

"I doubt that. You are lying." Over Sheila's protests, Athena motioned to the Elemental. He grabbed Sheila from behind once more, this time by the wrists. She squirmed and struggled, kicking the Elemental, but the man didn't even seem to notice. Athena stunned Sheila for a moment by kicking her in the face, enough for Xedas to grab her ankles and bind them with the straps. Having already trapped her wrists in one beefy hand, he bound those as well, and held her up, forcing Sheila to kneel with her arms above her head, trapping her legs between his. Sheila turned her head to face the Elemental and summoned up her courage. "If you're going to rape me, you've got no honor as a warrior."

Xedas looked sick. "I do not defile myself with freebirths." He looked to Athena.

"Rape you?" Athena shook her head. "You should be so lucky. No, Sheila…when we're done, you may wish we had. Unless you answer my questions very quickly. What was the purpose of the JOSG?"

"I just told you!" She winced as the Elemental applied pressure.

"There was no…planning for future offensives?"

"Just ideas."

"What kind of ideas?"

"I don't know!" Sheila shot back. "I was just a lance commander then. They didn't include me in those discussions, okay?"

Athena made a great show of sighing, and nodded to Xedas once more. He planted a hand in the small of Sheila's back and grabbed hold of her ponytail, pushing with the first and pulling her back with the second. Sheila felt as if she was being bent in half. She gritted her teeth, not wanting to scream. "They…didn't…include…me," she struggled out. When the pressure didn't relent, Sheila gasped, "There was some talk about the assault on Twycross!"

"And Planting?"

"Probably!" Sheila's back felt like one giant lance of fiery pain.

"And others?"

"Not that I know of!"

Athena signaled Xedas to let off the pressure. He did so, and Sheila drew in great shuddering gulps of air. "Very good, bondswoman. Now…let's move on to how you know so much about us."

Sheila looked down and wanted to cry. The JOSG was less of a problem; it had pretty much become defunct after Planting and the meeting on Outreach. Admitting her knowledge of the Clans was something else entirely: she would have to admit it had been Jaime Wolf, which would lead to other questions, eventually leading to the discussions she had been a part of on Outreach. She tried not to look at the doctor and his black bag. If they shot enough crap into her, she might even give up what Victor had told her at the dinner—that he and Kai Allard were slated to be assigned to Alyina. The Clans would not pass up another opportunity to snap up the heir to two of their three most implacable enemies.

"Well?" Athena's words came at the same time as Xedas grinding his legs into her ankles. This time Sheila did cry out.

"Please stop hurting me," she said. It was not quite an act.

"Talk and we will."

"I've been fighting you for two years almost," Sheila said. "You're bound to pick up a few things."

Athena reached down and squeezed Sheila's abused nose almost playfully. "You are lying again."

"Okay, okay." Sheila wrenched herself away from Athena. "Senefa Malthus told me. We had quite the discussion while I was in the hospital." Maybe they can stick that lying whore in here next to me, Sheila thought.

The Clan MechWarrior looked genuinely intrigued. "That is interesting indeed. Our very own Senefa Malthus, turning traitor, talking too much." Athena once more shook her head. "I hate that stravag bitch, but I have trouble believing that the Vulcan talks too much. No, there is something more." She consulted the datapad again. "Something about Outreach?"

Sheila felt the tears on her face. "I haven't been to Outreach for years."

"Oh? No high level meetings with Jaime Wolf, that freebirth bastard of a traitor?"

How much do they know? Sheila wondered. Who's been talking to the Clans? "I. Wasn't. There," Sheila said, emphasizing each word. She saw the light in Athena's eyes change and braced herself as best she could, knowing that Athena really didn't care if Sheila talked. She was there to hurt, and hurt as long and horribly as possible. Sheila bowed her head as Athena stood and shrugged at Xedas.

Sheila expected to be struck and beaten, but the Elemental did not do that. Instead, he pulled back Sheila's arms even more. Using more of the straps from the gurney, he began systematically binding Sheila's arms together, until they were pressed together to the elbows. Blinding pain shot up from her arms, but despite the pleas forcing themselves from her throat, Xedas did not stop. He pulled again and tightened another strap. Sheila screamed as she felt her shoulders being pulled out of their joints and the muscles in her chest feeling as if they were being torn in half. Her screams died to sobs as Xedas finished his work. Sheila's arms were now encased in the straps to nearly her shoulders, unnaturally held out straight behind her. Xedas forced her into a sitting position and forced her head between her ankles, then used the last strap to attach her neck to her ankles. If Sheila jerked upwards too hard, it would snap her spine. He stepped back and again looked to Athena. Sheila, in a red haze of pure agony, to the point that she prayed for unconsciousness, noticed that he looked at her as if she was a piece of meat, not a human being. Athena bent down so that she was level with Sheila's face. "It hurts, does it not?" Sheila could only give the barest of nods, and even that hurt terribly. "Good. It was because of you that I have been humiliated and demoted by your 'friend' Senefa. I cannot hurt her. I can certainly hurt you…and I want to go on hurting you." Athena rapped her on the back of the head. "I would leave you there for awhile, but time is short." She motioned at the medtech. "Now we can use your drugs, Paul."

Paul had turned pale. "I-If we use the drugs now, she'll die. You've already done enough to cripple her."

"Your speech, Medtech. Do not sound so barbaric." Athena's smile faded. "Now do as I ask, or Xedas will do the same to you. No one cares what happens to freebirths, bondswomen or not."

Paul shakily nodded, seeing the look on Xedas' face. The Elemental felt nothing for Sheila, but it was obvious he might relish going after a medtech. He pulled out a syringe and walked forward. "I am sorry," he whispered to Sheila. He readied the first of the batch of interrogation drugs; at least it would dull the pain, at first.