Ch. 9
Three-twelve was clearly nervous as he was herded further into the room. He tapped his fingers together, playing with his invisible puzzle while he looked down. "M-magistrate."
"Three-twelve, I'm so glad you could join us," Augris said, striding over to him and putting a companionable arm across the slighter man's shoulders.
Three-twelve's eyes flicked up to Janeway as he was walked closer. He glanced once in the direction of the trough and then back to the floor. "She's wet again."
"Yes, she is. Five-one is a very uneducated female, Three-twelve. She simply refuses to learn." Augris removed his arm from Three-twelve's shoulders. "But that's why I've brought you here."
"Leave him out of this," she managed, her body trembling.
"Why don't you have a seat, Five-one," Augris said solicitously, "before you hurt yourself."
A guard's hand clamped down on Janeway's shoulder, pushing her into the chair.
"Now, Three-twelve, I need your help with a problem," Augris continued. "You'll help me, won't you?"
Three-twelve nodded. "I'll…help."
"I know you will, because you understand how important it is to cooperate, don't you, Three-twelve?"
"Cooperate. Yes." He was visibly shaking. "I shine boots good. Don't I?"
"Yes, you do, but that's not what I need your help with today. Today, I need your help with her." He pointed at Janeway. "She doesn't understand cooperation and how important it is. Will you help me teach her, Three-twelve?"
"Leave him alone."
"Quiet," Augris snapped at her. "She simply won't learn. Three-twelve, I need your help."
"No."
With Three-twelve's single, quietly-uttered word, Janeway felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room. She couldn't see Augris' face, but she knew by the way he had suddenly frozen that he had heard it too. She shook her head, attempting to deny that Three-twelve had said anything, tried to get to her feet, but the guard easily held her in place as Augris refocused his attention.
"What did you say?"
Three-twelve never looked up from his study of the invisible puzzle. "No. Won't help you. Not with her."
Augris studied the man before him, ignoring the grunts behind him as the guard stunned Janeway to keep her still. "Is it possible, that after all this time, you've forgotten what we taught you? Have you forgotten the pain you put your wife through?"
Three-twelve shook his head. "No. Haven't forgotten."
"What about your children? Have you forgotten them?"
"No."
"No?" Augris repeated. "What was your son's name? Kipsen or something."
Three-twelve finally looked up, his hands dropping down to his sides in fists.
"Yes, that was it. We've kept tabs on him, you know," Augris continued, "tried to insure he wasn't following in his father's footsteps." He sighed, never taking his eyes off his attentive audience of one. "Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful. He and his sister became quite the young terrorists. We convicted him of attempted murder only this morning. It's only a matter of time before we get the girl as well."
"No. No, you're lying." Three-twelve shook his head. "You're always lying."
"Why don't you ask her if I'm lying?" Augris pointed at Janeway. "She is, after all, the one who spoke against your son. Accused him, when truthfully, she'd never even seen him before."
Three-twelve looked to her, his breathing faster than usual.
"I didn't," she said. "You know I wouldn't. Don't listen to-"
Augris sniffed. "She was slightly out of her mind at the time. Broken. Weak. She was willing to say anything to save her own skin."
Three-twelve surprised them all when he smiled, his whole body relaxed and the dark look left his eyes. Then he started laughing.
It wasn't anything more than a small breathless little chuckle, but it terrified Janeway and absolutely infuriated Augris. "Put him in the trough!"
"No!"
Augris turned on her. "I'm growing tired of hearing that word today." He turned on the flow of water, higher and faster than usual. "You control his fate, Janeway. He lives or he dies-"
Three-twelve laughed louder. "You called her by her name. You called her Janeway." The guards had him secured, but he didn't even seem to notice the water. "She's stronger than you, Augris," he chuckled at his own daring. "You won't win with her."
With a supreme force of will, Augris seemed to try and calm himself. "Give me the names of the subversives, Five-one. Give me the names or he will die."
"Don't tell him, Janeway," Three-twelve laughed again. "Janeway. I like your name."
"You don't have to do this," she tried. "Let him go. He's harmless."
"The names of the subversives," Augris repeated.
She glanced at the trough, knew it was filling quickly. "Telrim," she said. "Telrim is one of the members of the Resistance."
Augris jerked her to her feet, pulling her to stand next to the trough where she could clearly see the water was already halfway up Three-twelve's face. "Telrim," Augris growled in her ear, "is the subversive that was already accused by the boy. Try again, Five-one."
"Don't tell him," Three-twelve said, still smiling. "Don't let him," he had to spit against the water beginning to cover his face, "win."
"It's up to you, Five-one. Are you going to let this man die simply for your pride?" Augris spoke directly against her ear. "He's going to drown unless you save him."
She wanted to, but even under the water she could see Three-twelve give a little shake of his head, the smallest movement allowed by the restraints. Swallowing hard, she gave him a nod and resolved herself. She looked up at Augris, meeting his silent gaze with one of her own. It was the longest, most agonizing moment of her life. There was a muffled bump against the trough, a second one, and then the room was quiet except for the sound of running water.
She locked her knees to keep from collapsing, wanted to close her eyes. She wanted to weep. But not in front of Augris. Never in front of him would she show weakness.
"Another death on your hands today then," Augris finally spoke. "You let him die for your pride. How pathetic."
She held his gaze, her heart pounding so hard it hurt. "He didn't die for my pride. He died for those twenty-six people that you want me to accuse. He died so they could live. He died for the Resistance."
"A wasted life," Augris scoffed. "Eventually, you'll give me those names, and his sacrifice will have been for nothing."
"I'll never give you those names."
"Everyone breaks," Augris said. "I just have to find the right place to apply the pressure." He straightened the front of his uniform and glanced down at the trough. "Take her back to her cell. I think she'll enjoy some time alone to reflect on what she's done here today."