Ok this is a really short chapter just so you know, but I decided to keep it this length because… well that's just how it works best.
Chapter 4
Trip was so shattered by the time they were called to give in their collected ore he would willingly sleep on the floor where he stood, even if it was sticky and smelly from blood and urine (there were of course no facilities). Shran stood behind him, and Trip kept glancing over his shoulder to check he was still there. The Orion guard who was checking the ore amount per prisoner suddenly gave a snarl.
"This isn't even half!" he barked. The miner, a woman with delicate markings on her skin from her temples down to her shoulders, trembled.
"I'm, I'm sorry. I couldn't find anymore." she pleaded. The Orion sneered at her,
"Couldn't find anymore? Then where did all the rest come from?"
"I, I mean I couldn't reach any pockets of ore, they'd all been claimed."
"There's always plenty of ore. You just didn't work hard enough." the Orion's voice was like oil, smooth and dark. The woman began to cry. "Take her."
"NO! NO PLEASE!" she screamed as two more guards grabbed her arms and dragged her away. Her screams could be heard for what seemed like hours, although it was only minutes, and Trip fought not to shudder in horror, not in front of the Orion. Eventually he handed his box over and the Orion gave it a look over.
"Not bad." he said as he tossed the ore into a large cart and the box to the other side. "You keep this up you may find yourself doing quite well here." Trip stared at him coldly, refusing to give away anything. "Keep moving." Trip did, but slowly, watching Shran over his shoulder. Shran handed over his box, head down and hands shaking. Trip was beginning to wonder if it was just fear or something more physical that was causing it. The box was taken, and the Orion barely spared it a glance, just tossed the ore into the cart.
After tossing the box away he reached out and grabbed Shran's chin. Shran's eyes widened in terror, then narrowed in acceptance. The Orion turned his head to the side and he grinned broadly. "I'm glad I've made my mark on you." Trip's eyes furrowed and then he remembered the bite mark. So this was the son of a bitch that did it. The Orion released his chin and then viciously pinched Shran's neck, making him yelp. The Orion laughed and then shoved Shran onwards. Shran fell forwards and bumped into Trip who grabbed his arm to steady him. Shran's head shot up in shock and he stared at Trip wide eyed, as if he couldn't understand what Trip was doing. Now Trip had a perfect view of his eyes. They were dull, but alive, very much alive, the pain in them, the confusion, and the fear all accumulated in small amounts of brown, that in this dim light were like dark chocolate. Trip suddenly wondered how eyes could be so expressive, how did they show so much of a person? Staring at Shran's eyes seemed to sink his heart to the ground, as he saw his own fate if he never got out of here. He straightened Shran up and then said,
"Where do we sleep?" Shran pointed down a tunnel, still staring at him in confusion. "Then let's go get some." They walked down the tunnel after the others and emerged into a large cave. Here was a load of long five level tall, metal shelves. There was one set on the left and another on the right, and an aisle down the middle.
Trip was vividly reminded of a photograph he's seen when he and his family had taken a trip to Auschwitz. It had shown the beds the Jews had to sleep on, and they'd been nothing but body length shelves stretching across the hall. These were just like that, except they were made from metal. He realised when someone behind him shoved him that he'd stopped in horror. He saw how everyone just scrambled to get a place, and there seemed no particular placement. You grabbed what you could.
Trip moved forward and pulled himself into the third level, observing the thin blanket that covered the wooden boards that made the beds. He lay with his head pointing to the aisle and lay on his stomach, peeping out. He then beckoned Shran with his hand to join him. Shran looked at him and then slowly shook his head. It seemed that his cheeks flushed with colour, but the lighting made that hard to tell. Trip frowned and beckoned him again. Shran looked at him with the strangest expression on his face. Suddenly a six foot tall alien grabbed Shran by the arm and pulled him back against him.
"I won him tonight! If you want him you earn him!" Shran shut his eyes tightly, head bowed. Trip frowned in confusion, wondering what the hell the alien was talking about. The alien dragged Shran to the opposite set of shelves and shoved him onto the second level, clambering in after him. In the terrible lighting Trip could just about make out the alien, who appeared to be looming above Shran, and pulling at his clothes. Silence descended over the prisoners, and Trip watched in horror as the alien lowered his body down onto Shran's.
"What the hells he doing?" he asked no one in particular.
"He won the Andorian." grumbled one sleepy man, who lay on his right. "It's up to him what he'll do with him." Trip looked around so sharply his stiff neck cricked.
"Say again?" he asked, "What the hell do you mean what he'll do with him?" The alien shrugged,
"He might just lie on top on him, or he might do more. Whatever he wants."
"What the hell makes him think he can do that?" the man shrugged,
"The Andorian doesn't exactly resist." Then he rolled onto his side and seemed to fall asleep. Trip could hear snoring, but nothing else. He looked over to where he knew Shran was being crushed by the larger alien. What the hell was Shran here? Trip dearly wanted to climb out and pull Shran free but he knew it would do no good. He gritted his teeth and lay his head down against his heart's will, falling instantly asleep.
"Girl,
You lived your life like a sleeping swan
Your time has come
To go deeper"
His voice was deeper and rougher than it once was when he could hit some of the highest notes, but it was still a good singing voice, although no one would ever believe he had it unless he demonstrated it and he didn't often do that anymore. Thy'lek tapped his foot as he sang one of the songs he'd written years and years ago as he listened to his own recording on the music player.
"Girl,
Your final journey has just begun
Your destiny chose the reaper"
He leaned his head back as he lounged in the pilot's seat of the small shuttle. He'd be very glad to get to Heliusta and relax among other Andorians. He couldn't remember the last time he'd taken a holiday like this. That was enough to convince him he was overdue for one. Andorians were hard workers but even they needed breaks, especially if one had a sister like his. He pitied his brother for being stuck with her on his own for a while, but then again, that was fairly normal, since he was often away in space… or he used to be. His antennas drooped as he thought of the Kumari. Not gone a half a year now, yet everyone around him seemed to have moved past its destruction. But he hadn't, not yet. That was why he was heading away, he hoped that some relaxing activities like climbing ice cliffs and such would help him figure out his thoughts. He'd been offered a job as official ambassador to Earth, and he'd be lying if he said the idea didn't hold some appeal. He'd never thought he'd see the day when he'd actually enjoy sitting around a table and talking, and talking, and talking… there were now times when he'd get sick of the sound of his own voice, although woe to the day he'd ever admit it.
"No Fear
Destination Darkness"
He sang softly, remembering the time he'd spent perfecting the music to it. The lyrics had come easy, but the music had been harder, he'd had the basic tune, but that wasn't enough. It was like his brother, Senkrad, with his artwork, or Lissiel with her patients, or even Sakrana with her inventions and Sanakral with his monitoring of schools. You start with something and you perfect it in one form or other. Sometimes there are setbacks, like with the Coalition and Terra Prime. A fairly large setback, but not a fatal one. They'd just need to smooth it all over and the Coalition would be formed, even if it took a few years. He stood up and began to pace, still singing.
"No Fear
Destination Darkness"
He checked the computer, incredulous when he saw he still had twenty hours of travelling to go. It was official. He was hitching a ride with a faster ship next time. His shuttle had warp 6, but that was still a wait when the Kumari could reach warp 9. He was just contemplating taking a nap to pass the time, when the shuttle shook violently, nearly knocking him off his feet. He felt the shuttle drop out of warp.
"Computer! Raise shields! Identify vessel."
"Orion battle class." The computer answered coolly. He fell into his seat and brought the phasers online. He took aim and fired,
"Computer send out a distress signal."
"Unable to comply, communications are offline."
"Of course they are." he snarked irritably as he dodged another phaser blast. The shuttle suddenly jerked sharply. "Computer what was that?"
"A tractor beam has locked on." He growled furiously and tried to pull the shuttle loose. He targeted the tractor emitter but before he could fire, the shuttle was hit again and he had to dive out of the way as his consol exploded. His head collided with the bulkhead and everything went black.
"No Fear
Destination Darkness…"
Aw poor Shran. If you wanna find out what's happening to him, you'd best review nice and promptly ;)
Night's Darkness.