CH.6: Descent into darkness

Alex…that is all she had now to her former identity. She was once again treated for wounds suffered. The shower scene still fresh in her mind and she knew that she had to get those people back, take revenge for them making her suffer the way she had. She was descending into a state of mistaken identity, a point when she stopped being the woman she was and into this…thing. The Creg, a reviled race for being bullies and hunters; yeah, not exactly the type of species they saw associating with.

Alex found herself standing in a circular ring that had other girls chanting about, her body upright as she crunches her knuckles looking over at the other female before her. The incident in the showers had not gone unnoticed or quiet so Kel figured he would set up a little fight…just to keep the ladies in line, along with the other species and whoever won got to be his bodyguard.

This could be her chance to get close to him and then rip…no…she'd never do something so immoral and degrading that it would tear her character apart. Alex was a good person…that she remembered. It was a struggle fighting past this fog and the more she delved into her identity the more reserve she gathered to keep from slipping down this slippery slope.

"I'm going to tear you a new one Dani…heh…you'll be screaming just like in the shower!" The four eyed alien was quite pumped, but, so was she.

"I'm all healed up…give it your best shot." Alex can hear the chants and while they weren't for her, well, they'd sing a different tune after she was done with her.

"Now ladies I want you to know that this fight is to improve morale and create a better living environment, if you ever feel the need to fight we can set this up as our calm zone. Today will decide which of you gets special privileges and time out to do as you please."

Alex noted the way he looked at her and it made her sick to her stomach. Her identity was being taken from her by this specie's physiology but if there was one thing she held onto fiercely was she was not straight…it never really suited her anyway. Maggie was important as well…but…given the two choices it was important to not reveal her hand because Kel could use that against her.

There were a few males in their midst but they seemed less chatty than the females. Just what did Kel do to the males anyway? Did he figure them more restless than the females and had to incapacitate them somehow? Rolling her neck she hears a gun shot and steps aside letting the female throw herself at where she had been.

"You have to try better than that…go on…give it another try." Alex was never like this and her training told her taunting made her no better than her opponent. Still it made her blood pump and she watches the alien swing at her. Catching the attack she smiles a toothy smile and uses the momentum to throw her into the circle of girls.

"Get back in there…show her who is boss!" The aliens chant and soon the alien girl is swinging at her. Alex ducks and moves back letting her build off her anger and swing at the air.

"Ooh, so close, my turn." Alex barrels into the woman and picks her up with a savage smile before pile driving her into the ground. Bringing her fists up she begins to pound into her…the alien screams out as her face is bashed in and no one stops her. Why was no one…was this to the death? She looks around and spots Kel just sitting there taking a sip of a drink.

The face of Maggie comes to the forefront of her mind and she pulls away sickened by what she had almost done. The alien was bleeding and barely conscious after the brutal move and as she was dragged away through the parting crowd she could see the mixed apprehension on their faces. They had come here to see her beaten to a pulp…not the other way around. Alex wanted to throw up but had nothing to throw up…again she had gone without a meal.

She wondered what her kind ate…she hadn't inquired any before coming here and she feared she might eat flesh or brains…something to ask the Doctor as she seemed to know about her kind. A shot was fired and the crowd stand still as Kel walks over. The smug look on his face was clear and she folds her arms.

"Well done Dani…you have proven yourself capable and strong, two qualities I need in a bodyguard. There are many who would try to take my life and I do my best to surround myself with those who are capable…welcome aboard." He grins as he eyes her before walking off.

"When do I begin?" Alex inquires as she tries to still the blood pounding in her head. The other aliens murmur a bit.

"You can accompany me now, but, might be better if you help the guards escort the aliens back to their cells. You'll be busy and life won't be a bore…so…welcome to your new life." Kel waves at her as he walks off and she just watches him leave.

"Alright ladies and gents…back to your cells…or do you want what happened to four eyes to happen to you?" She shot them a look and they all began to scatter. She was starting to enjoy this.

Maggie accompanied Jony to the security room where she hoped to free the aliens and hopefully stop this ship from reaching Earth with the time they had left. Much of their walk was in companionable silence, neither of them saying much and Maggie began to question just what was running through that head of his. He had long brown hair that was twisted a bit and his skin was ashen in color, his tall frame stretched the clothing that he was given.

"So, Jony, how long you been working here?" Maggie trained her ears for anything out of the ordinary while also keeping a hand resting on the weapon she had, knowing if it came down to either of them she'd be the victor. Ok, so that was a tad self-sure, however she could not afford to be hesitant in a life or death situation.

"What makes you think I work here? Believe it or not a lot of us are not here by choice, work, it implies we have a choice in the matter." He spits a bit and does not turn around.

"I see…so…much like those in the cells you are kept under the watchful eye of Kel. So, how did you manage this lucrative position?" Maggie saw him turn up ahead and she memorized their path so if she did get away she'd be able to find her way back.

"An arrangement was made, you could say…between us and Kel. Our expertise and knowledge of the ship came in handy…made us valuable to him. Truth is before Kel there was another Warden, but, a power struggle came into play and Kel with his charismatic way easily took over. Kel is a master manipulator and once he knows your weakness he holds it over your head so you never forget."

Maggie was beginning to understand why operations of this place was run a certain way. Kel had stuff on everyone here and no one dared to take him on. Such a man in power would bring about horrid peril if one got in his path or disagreed with anything he said.

"You speak of freeing everyone…of giving us a fighting chance…what do you get out of it?" Jony spoke the question she had been afraid of hearing.

"My girlfriend is one of the prisoners on this ship…you guys spoke of her when I was in hiding, the Creg." Maggie notices him look back at her, not sure really if his face was shocked or neutral in that he didn't care.

"A human and a Creg…that is unheard of. They have nasty tempers and tend to kill or worse any who get with them. They mate but after offspring are made…they kill their mate. The fact you two are female is very rare…no way to create offspring…"

"I see. Well…this Creg is different, not on the whole offspring thing but she is not violent." Maggie held onto hope that the changes to her anatomy and mind were not affected yet. This procedure done to her, she would have preferred it was done to her and not Alex.

"Keep telling yourself that…but a few of us have seen what a Creg does and it is never pretty. I would suggest killing her in her sleep…cause that is the only way you will survive." Maggie stiffened at that and before the guy could turn she pins him to the wall and grips his arm pinning it behind his back.

"You mention that again or even think it and I will break this arm of yours, you got it? I love her, and, I would never hurt her…you got it? I don't know what you have planned…or even if you are taking me in the right direction, but if you try and double cross me so help me I will end you."

Maggie lets him go and the alien rubs where she had grabbed and while he was taller than her she had dealt with muscle heads, junkies, even tall men…she was not some lady to throw around or mess with. They stare at one another a bit…no doubt sizing each other till at last he cracks a smile.

"It is this way…and I have no intention of double crossing you. Your offer is good, though, not sure if the others will see it that way. Once we are there expect security to double."

Maggie follows him as he leads her the rest of the way and as they make it there he was not kidding. Bringing out her weapon she presses up against the wall, her body tense as she notes the pattern of movement the guards go through, a rotation several minutes. Kel must not want anyone in there, bad for him…good for them. Rushing in she knocks one guy out from behind with a well placed attack of her gun and watches him crumple to the deck. The next guy comes in and barely has time to throw a few punches before Maggie ducks through his defenses and leaves him gasping for breath on the deck.

"I did not come here to fail. Come on Jony." She looked back but did not see him. He had not betrayed her…but…given his height she thought he would be imposing and not a white streak a mile long. The only problem this set for her was managing to hold out long enough to do what needed to be done without exhausting herself. Normally she had backup but without Jony she was in for a long haul.

Rushing in she sees several men looking her way. Placing her weapon in her holster she rolls her neck and throws off her jacket. The door slides shut behind her and she hears the knuckles crack. So…it was going to be like that huh? Very well…game on.

"Alright…whose first?" Maggie sees someone jump towards her and she braces a bit before moving away from the guy behind her trying to grapple her. The fight was on and she took a few hits to the face but kept upright. A few body blows but she was scrapping and intending on outlasting them…still…Jony could very well have alerted them to her presence and cut off her escape. It was hard to know what to think and she tasted her own blood from her cracked lip. Someone grabbed her and threw her across the room and she jarred her shoulder against some control panel kicking up sparks. Shaking the pain off she sees them advancing on her.

"Nowhere to run honey…game over." The men were quite confident, but, Maggie would not give them the time of day.

"This is nothing, go on, give me your best shot!" Maggie raced at them, even with one good arm she'd go down fighting…even as the pain became too much.

Authors note: Alex is now Kel's personal bodyguard and finds herself liking fighting, a bit much you could say. Meanwhile Alex finds herself in a pickle and Jony has fled. Next chapter day two will be ending and both girls will be facing difficult crisis of character.