La la la. You know the drill. :D
I'm surprised this is so long; it was a happy accident. I considered splitting it, but...nah. Enjoy.
Things are uneventful for a week.
The prisoners are cooperative, surprisingly so, even the cowboy. They do as they're told, stay silent, and don't cause trouble. Buzz isn't quite sure about what to think about this. He should either be grateful or very, very alarmed. Perhaps both.
The ship is still on Earth, because the lack of instruments that are operational prevents them from flying without great danger to all on board. The defense systems and crystallic fusion cells are in prefect working condition, however. Buzz begins to wonder if the enemy is taunting them. If there is an enemy at all.
He hasn't gone down to the prison bay since he locked Jessie up. He's not quite sure why, only that the thought makes him uncomfortable. What would he say? What could he say? "Hello, ma'am, I'm sorry you're locked up and all, but would you mind telling me all of your evil plans? It would be most appreciated."
Buzz instead spends his time with Commander Nebula, attempting to come up with theories about the strange thing they've encountered. This doesn't do much good, however, as the Commander cannot come up with anything convincing or plausible, and Buzz is distracted, so he doesn't do much. Eventually the Commander orders him to go interrogate the prisoners for information, something Buzz has been begging him not to do mentally all along.
He continues to ponder while he is begrudgingly making his way to the prison bay. Something Jessie had said is caught in his mind.
"I'm just letting you know that things aren't the way you think."
Buzz shakes his head. She could've said that to distract him, as she'd done when she pretended to cry. Still, her words haunt him. What might she possibly know?
He rounds a corner. The prison bay is in sight now.
I don't know what she knows, he thinks, but I'm going to find out now.
Buzz considers talking to Woody first, but he knows that will get him nowhere. His little girlfriend or wife or whatever may have calmed him down, but Buzz doubted he'd stay that way if he were alone. He doesn't particularly want to go to Jessie first, but he knows he has the best chance of sneaking information out of her. The red girl is too calm, the cowboy too passionate about his secrets. Breaking them would be hard. He hopes Jessie's different.
He strides over to the cell cluster of the outlaws, attempting to look cool, collected and in control. He thinks he's failing.
Buzz stops in front of Jessie's cell and clears his throat. The outlaw looks up, and Buzz is once again captured by her beauty. He has trouble finding his voice, as he's too busy unconsciously surveying the way that strand of fiery hair falls into her face, her cute little nose, and her large green eyes—so beautiful, so emotional—he could get lost in those eyes. He knows he's staring and can't seem to stop. It's only when she cautiously says, "Buzz?" that he snaps out of his analysis and remembers his duty.
"You are being submitted for questioning," He announces sternly, staring at the wall of the cell, "You are to follow me and all orders given to you. You are to answer all questions with the full truth. If this is found to not be the case, you will be subject to the punishments involving perjury under the law of the Galactic Alliance. Nothing you say under oath will be held against you, unless it is found to be illegal, unethical, immoral, or a lie. Is this clear and understood?"
Jessie blinks.
"I repeat, prisoner," Says Buzz, "Are all of the stated items understood?"
"Um…sure, I guess." Jessie says. Buzz strides forward, still not looking at her, and unlocks the bars of the cell with a handprint. The bars once again glow turquoise. He pushes them aside and holds out a pair of the glowing alloy handcuffs. Jessie allows her wrists to be bound, and then she is taken from the room by Buzz, who has yet to look at her. She's torn between laughing and yelling. What was this about questioning?
The word stirs something in her memory. She recalls something Buzz said earlier, while he was her captive.
"I was sent here to question you…and incidentally, take you prisoner."
Well, now, she thinks dryly. Mission accomplished.
The light in the tiny room is too bright and the glares she's getting for just existing are starting to annoy her. A mean looking ranger is standing guard at the door, his bulk taking up the entire frame. Her hands are still bound, and she's seated at a tiny desk. Buzz just happens to be sitting across from her. Of course he's the one questioning her. Jessie's trying not to roll her eyes.
The best part is that he's still not looking at her.
"Prisoner, you have been read the rules and regulations you are to abide by. Is that correct?"
She's trying not to laugh. "Yes, Buzz—you read them to me, remember?"
"Prisoners are not to talk back to their superiors," He says, eyes flashing.
Jessie smirks. "I'll let you know if I find any."
Buzz stands in anger and barks an order.
"Ranger Seren, please leave until I say you may return. I need to deal with this—disobedient—prisoner."
"But, Captain! I was told by Commander N—"
"That was not a request, but an order, Seren," Buzz hisses through clenched teeth. The ranger nods, looking very much like a bulky and terrified puppy, and promptly exits. Buzz proceeds to pace around the very small space.
"I have tried to be reasonably respectful towards you, prisoner. You will be punished for your actions."
Jessie really does roll her eyes this time. "Cut the crap, Buzz. What do you want?"
He slams his hands on the desktop in anger. Jessie merely looks up at him with thoroughly unimpressed eyes. He breathes, trying to calm himself, and then leans forward. His nose is only a few inches from hers. He staring straight at her now, glaring with icy blue eyes. His mouth opens.
"Who is your master?"
Jessie sighs. "You know I'm not going to tell you that."
Buzz's eyes narrow. "So you have a master? Interesting…" He's trying to taunt her, even fool her for information. She glares at him in return.
"Tell me, prisoner, how many people have you killed?"
"What does this have to do with anything?" She shoots back. "Why are you questioning me, anyway? I haven't done anything to you."
"We are willing to hurt you for information, prisoner, so you might as well cooperate now! It ought to be in your best interests!"
"I'm willing to die to protect what I know," She hisses. He can tell it's a lie, though. Whatever information she has in that pretty head of hers can be extracted through force.
He's seen it before.
"Listen to me," He says quietly and yet forcefully, "We have ways of extracting information. We have instruments that can torture you within an inch of death. We have a liquid we can inject in your veins that burns you alive, and slowly. We can create alternate dream worlds that make you relive the worst moments of your life. We can stimulate pain censors in your brain to an unbearable degree, so the lightest touch can make you feel as if your bones are shattering. I have seen all of this done; I have overseen certain procedures myself. Star Command will not hesitate to use these methods on you if you are uncooperative. I don't want to see this happen to you. So you really should speak now, Jessie."
Jessie's eyes are hard, but they widen slightly when Buzz uses her name. He feels his cheeks turning slightly pink. He hadn't meant to say her name. She studies his face.
"I can't, Buzz," She tells him softly, "You don't understand…I can't."
"Why?" He asks, just as softly, "Why can't you cooperate? Why won't you?"
Jessie seems to be debating something in her head. She's biting her lip and her eyes dart around in worry. She takes a deep breath and finally speaks. "There's a curse. The weirdness around here is a curse. I am bound by it, and so is my cousin. I cannot reveal anything without putting him in danger."
Buzz's eyebrows shoot up, and then they furrow. "Your cousin?"
"Woody," Jessie clarifies. "He's like my brother. I grew up with him. I don't care about my own life being in danger, but I will not endanger his."
Buzz's thoughts are running a mile a minute. A thousand questions are swimming in his head. He eventually forces one out. "What do you mean, a curse?"
"I can't, Buzz!" She shrieks suddenly, her eyes as wild and terrified as the day she was captured, "I can't! You can torture me all you like, but I can't tell you, I won't!"
He winces at the thought of her being subjected to any of those machines. "We need to know."
She shakes her head, seemingly defeated. "No. No, Buzz."
He feels a twinge, watching her look so helpless. He kneels in front of her, his eyes searching her face. Jessie's eyes are closed, and she is clearly near tears. Buzz lifts a hand to her chin, but she pulls her head away and to the side. He tries again.
"Jessie," He murmurs, finally forcing her to look at him, "I'm sorry. I just don't want you to get hurt."
He can see the difference, now. Her eyes are open and she's staring at him through a pool of unshed tears. But he knows she's not faking emotion this time. Her eyes are different, full of real pain and loss and despair. She's not trying to fool him. She has no reason to.
"I know," She whispers. A tear slides down her face and Buzz has the urge to wipe it away. He brings a hand up and touches the side of her face, erasing the tear in the process. She looks at him, sadly and quizzically, her brow furrowed. He doesn't fully understand why, and he knows it's an incredibly foolish thing to do, but he can't seem to help himself as he lifts his head higher and presses his mouth to hers.
She freezes for a moment, shocked and unsure, and bewildered by the turn of events. But then her eyes shut and he embraces her and all the nerves in her body come alive. She presses herself to him, kissing him back, her bound hands preventing her from clutching him. Buzz deepens the kiss, trying to tell her all the things he needs her to know without words.
I'm sorry, I wish it weren't like this, I want you safe, I need you safe…
She presses to him harder, and the force is almost bruising. The kisses are hard, desperate, full of raw emotion and the absolute need for each other. She doesn't want him to let go and he's not going to. When they do break apart, they're both breathing heavily. Buzz looks straight into Jessie's eyes, his soul completely exposed to her. It's overwhelming for her, and she knows her eyes are the same way his are.
"Jessie," He says to her, very quietly, "I can't let them hurt you."
"But you can't stop them." Her eyes seem to be pleading. Buzz sighs heavily.
"Please, just tell me, Jessie. I wish I could completely protect you from them but I know I can't. The only way I can stop this is if you tell me everything."
Jessie squeezes her eyes shut and a few spare tears escape the corners of her eyes. She presses her lips together and then opens her mouth.
"But Woody…"
"I won't let him get hurt, Jess. But you need to tell me."
She nods and quietly murmurs, "Okay." She takes a deep breath and begins to speak.
*is currently laughing at the expressions on all of your faces*
Ahem. Don't worry, you'll get it soon. Like, in the next day or two.
God, I'm evil. Anyway. Review! :D
