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RETRIBUTION
CHAPTER 7
The last thing Sheppard remembered was looking at the stars through the gap in the roof, when a sharp pain ripped through his thigh waking him from an exhausted sleep.
Moaning, he began to focus on the owner of the boot..."Mutt"who shouted. "Time to get up, Sheppard, there's work to be done."
John winced as he rubbed the deepening bruise. "And what if I don't feel like it today? I'm kinda tired."
Kolya appeared as if from nowhere. "I fully expected that kind of belligerent attitude from you, Sheppard and I'm happy to say you didn't disappoint. However, this type of behaviour will not be tolerated. You are here to serve the people of the Genii, and will learn humility and obedience or pay the price. But I know for a man like you it won't be easy so…I am only too happy to provide the first lesson."
Nessan motioned to his men who unhooked the chain from his collar, grabbed John's arms and dragged him out of the stall into the large open entrance of the barn. "Take off his shirt."
Looking at Sheppard's emaciated frame. "I can see you have lost weight since we last met…due to your illness I suppose. Pity, as I cannot now delivery the comprehensive beating I had intended."
John smiled. "Sorry to disappoint you."
Malicious eyes glared back. "Please don't concern yourself on my account, as I will savour that particular pleasure for another time. However in the meantime, your flagrant disrespect for my authority cannot go unpunished, so I will settle for giving you a sample of what the future holds."
Sheppard struggled, trying to escape the steely grip of his captors. But weakened by illness he could only watch, powerless to resist, as Kolya removed the thick, wide leather belt he wore around his tunic. Taking the stout metal buckle in his right hand, Nessan wound the belt around it once, then pulled the long piece of leather taut, before striking the wooden stall with a thud. John's mouth went dry, knowing it was his turn next.
Satisfied he was ready to begin. "On your knees, prisoner, and place your hands flat against the wall."
"I don't kneel for anyon...agh!" He groaned as a gut punch forced him to his knees, just where Kolya wanted him.
"Now, Sheppard, hands against the wall or I will be forced to use restraints. Personally…I don't have a problem with that. However the young prison doctor was quite concerned as to the state of your wounds, so we don't want to ruin his handiwork…do we?"
John felt the ache in his wrists, knew they couldn't take any more abuse, and with reluctance, he slowly raised his hands, one at a time, placing them firmly against the rough, wooden barn wall. Locking his elbows in place, he closed his eyes, mentally preparing himself for the enviable.
Sheppard heard the whoosh of the belt as it flew through the air, and gasped when it's sharp bite ripped into his back. Pain seared through him like a knife and tears stung his eyes, as the next strike followed quickly after, tearing his skin apart leaving deep bloody trails in its wake. His back quivered and his arms shook, as on and on the agonizing assault continued, blow after gut wrenching blow, unrelenting in its abuse, ripping fresh welts wide open, forcing a groan from his throat.
He could neither move nor speak, engulfed by pain, as Nessan took the now bloody belt, wiped it clean, and placed it back around his waist.
"You may come down now, Sheppard, I have finished. Painful…isn't it?" He saw John's glazed eyes search his. "This was my father's belt and I too have felt its bite across my back many times…just where you are now. When I came here many years ago as a child, I like you, was stubborn and disobedient but through pain I was taught to curb my wilful ways and learn obedience…as will you."
John was panting, trying desperately not to pass out, when a dark haired woman around his age came into the barn.
Nessan motioned towards the beaten man. "Teresa, clean him up and treat his wounds…I don't want Sheppard becoming ill…he has a great deal of work to do."
Out the corner of his eye, John could see the woman wore the same simple garb he recognised from the first time he'd encountered the Genii with Teyla. Those people were from a different planet, but also made their living from the land…as least he thought so at the time.
Kneeling beside him, she touched his arm." Lie down…so I can attend to your wounds."
John shook his head, sweat running down his face, as he replied in a breathless voice.
"Can't I just sit? Don't want to eat dirt…besides don't think I can move right now."
"Very well, as you wish." Teresa started to clean off the blood when the man yelped and listed to the side. Grabbing his arm. "I think you should lie down…don't you?"
Panting hard, John replied. "If…you…insist."
Taking the discarded shirt Teresa folded it in half, to provide at least some protection for his head, before helping the prisoner lie down on the hard, dirt floor.
"You're hot!" The woman was used to dealing with the victims of one of Kolya's beatings, but this man was obviously unwell.
"Gee…thanks." John could see the puzzled look on the woman's face. "Sorry…bad joke." When she didn't respond, Sheppard reluctantly knew he'd need to offer some sort of explanation.
"I've been ill…blood poisoning. Just left the infirmary yesterday."
"Did Master Kolya know this? You're still sick and should be resting, I must tell him you are not fit to work."
"It's your boss who took me from the infirmary, and somehow…I don't think my health, or lack of it, is of any concern to him."
Teresa went to say something, but seemed to change her mind and after a moment, resumed her task.
Hissing through clenched teeth, John was in agony, as the woman seemed to be take her damn sweet time cleaning his wounds.
"U…dun? Please?"
Teresa saw the clenched jaw and pain filled eyes. "I am nearly finished. There is just some ointment to be applied to the wounds to help stop infection…it may sting a little at first."
"Shit! Shit! Gah...What the hell is in that stuff?" John writhed in pain, fire ripping across his back, as the abuse began by Kolya, never seemed to end. Agony shrouded him like a fog making him dizzy, disorientated, and as he began to grey out, was completely unaware of the woman rushing away, only to return minutes later.
Teresa looked at the sick man with regret. "I'm sorry, I tried to tell Master Kolya you were ill…but he wouldn't listen. He insists you start work now…cleaning out the stalls. I asked if I could stay and help, but he won't allow that either. Please… just take your time and do what you can, I promise to return later."
John rolled over to his side and grabbed the woman's arm. "Thank you for helping me...and for trying."
''Jeff" appeared just as the woman left the barn. He grinned when Sheppard groaned as he tried to rise, and threw a wooden rake towards him.
"I'll leave you to get on with it then, and mind to do a good job now as Mr Kolya won't tolerate slipshod work. Oh…and by the way, Sheppard, don't even think of trying to escape… because one of us will always be waiting close by, armed and ready, with a bullet with your name on it."
John struggled onto his knees panting hard…he could do this…Reaching up to the wooden stall he slowly dragged himself upright, holding tightly onto the post as the world spun around him. He was in agony as each small movement spiked a shaft of pain right through him, leaving him sick and breathless.
He could barely focus, as a noise behind him alerted him to the presence of someone near by.
A young, dark haired boy of about ten years old appeared, a grim expression on his face. "Are you the man who killed my father?"
Crap…John really didn't need this right now. "I don't know, kid…where did your dad die?"
"He was on a mission with Commander Kolya to somewhere called Atlantis."
Sheppard sighed as the kid hit the 'mother load'. Well…his mom brought him up to tell the truth, and he wasn't going to start lying now…even if it did cause him more pain.
"Look, son, I'm sorry for your loss but I had no choice. Commander Kolya and his men, including your dad, were trying to invade my home and kill my friends. But I understand you must hate me…so take your best shot. I mean… hit me, kick me, whatever you want…I won't tell anyone."
Sheppard closed his eyes and braced himself for the assault, but after a moment when nothing happened, he opened his lids and saw the boy pick up a rake and start mucking out the barn.
"Why are you helping me?"
Without looking up, eyes firmly focused on the job in hand. "My father beat me, mother too…I'm glad he's dead." Picking up a stool he came over, put it down beside John and helped him sit. "Take the rake, mister, and if the guard appears...look busy. I'll keep out of sight until he leaves."
John closed his eyes, and leant his head against the wooden stall, relishing the feeling of the cold wood against his flushed face.
"Thank you…What's your name?"
"Sirus."
Sheppard knew he was in a bad situation sick, in pain, surrounded by people who hated his guts. But life was full of surprises and this day had just got a little brighter as he watched the young boy, doing his work, helping him...and Sheppard knew at least he had one friend.
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Later that evening Teresa returned to the barn and found Sheppard chained up by the neck and leaning stiffly, with his shoulder rigid, against the stall.
Even in the dim light of the gloomy interior she saw his eyes were barely focused and his skin was slick with sweat.
"I'm here to check your wounds and change your dressings. Master Kolya was concerned they don't become infected again."
"Hate to tell you this, lady, but the only thing Master Kolya is concerned with is keeping me alive so he can find different ways to beat the crap out of me."
Sheppard grimaced as the dressings were removed from his wrists. Looking down at the injury which so nearly cost him his life, he saw while there was some new, pink skin, other parts were still raw and tender. Taking a deep breath to control the pain, he considered the woman in front of him. In this place where he had been responsible for taking so many lives, what was her story?
Teresa finished her task as gently as she could, then handed Sheppard a metal cup. The cold water tasted wonderful on his dry, parched throat, even if it tasted a little bitter.
"A fever is burning within you and you need to rest, but not before eating some of my broth. You are much too thin and must eat to recover your strength."
John choked back as much of the broth as he could, but he was so damn sore and tired he could hardly see straight.
"I had some help today. I don't suppose you would know anything about that?"
"No, because if I did, someone would get into trouble." Teresa smiled. "Not everyone hates you, John…you do have one or two friends here."
He yawned…struggling to stay awake. "So…I'm guessing Sirus is your son then?"
A mothers pride glowed in her face. "He's a good boy. But I don't think he would have turned out that way, if it wasn't for what you did."
Suddenly more alert, John was amazed by what he was hearing. "Well…that's a first. I've never been thanked for taking a life before. Look…I can't take credit for being the hero here. I killed a lot of men that day, it's not something I'm proud of, but I'm a soldier and it was necessary to protect my home and keep my people safe."
Teresa took his hand. "I understand what you are saying John, but I still believe you to be a good man and to my son Sirus, you are a hero. When Willus died so did the abuse we suffered at his hands. Regardless of what you may think about yourself, all I know is because you took the life of a monster, my son was given the chance to have a new life...free from violence and fear."
None of this wierd conversation made any sense to his foggy brain, but in this situation John was only too happy to accept any help he could get.
The Genii woman could tell he was exhausted, and settled the sick man carefully down onto the fresh straw where he quickly fell asleep. Placing a soft, woollen blanket carefully around his torn body, with a look of concern she quickly rose and walked away.
Nessan saw Sheppard's face flushed with fever and knew he had gone too far.
He had meant to be patient, and initially intended giving Sheppard more time to recover before subjecting him to the brutal beating he richly deserved. But he hated the man with a vengeance and couldn't resist giving him a small demonstration of what was to come. Nessan only planned to deliver five strikes, but because of his disrespect five became eight…and would have been more if he hadn't stopped himself in time.
Nessan knew he'd been foolish. It was only two weeks ago the man nearly lost his life and the young doctor tried to warn him Sheppard was still weak. But…Teresa was right. Sheppard was sick and must be cared for, but only for the time being, and only to ensure he survived the further punishments which lay ahead.
TBC
