Author – Kundri
E-mail address – digitabulum_magae@hotmail.com
Author's Website: None
Rating: PG-13 bordering on R
Category: Drama
Spoilers: Blood of Kerensky Trilogy
Summery: Just a little something I started writing because I liked the Clan Invasion of 3050…
Disclaimer: I do not own BattleTech or any of the characters therein, they belong to FASA.
PrologueJumpShip Dire Wolf
Location unknown
Mid May 3050Tora squeezed her eyes shut against the harsh light that hung above her and struggled futilely against the bonds that held her strapped to the table. She could hear whispering just outside her field of vision.
Where am I? She thought as she tried to turn her head to look into the shadows surrounding the table. Tora realized that forming coherent thought was becoming more difficult as the IVs in her arms pumped more chemicals through her system. As her body relaxed Tora's eyes slowly opened, leaving her vulnerable to the pain the light above her was causing. She vaguely remembered hearing someone approach as she concentrated on regaining control of her body.
"State your name." A feminine voice said. It was quiet and soothing. Tora wanted to answer it but she was not going to reply to any of their questions until she got some answers of her own.
"No." Tora stated defiantly. She heard a frustrated sigh as the silhouette next to her turned away.
"Faline," A deep male voice said. "Your caution is well warranted, but at this rate she will build up a resistance as we question her."
"I know Marcus, I just did not wish to hurt her." Faline replied. "But I see your point.
"What does her SPL blood level look like?"
"In the fifty-sixty percentile." A new voice replied in the darkness.
"Take her to the seventieth, but be prepared to take it immediately down to the sixtieth if that proves to be too much.
"State your name."
Tora was losing her will to fight as her brain absorbed the chemicals in her body. It's only my name…what could it hurt? "Tora Akira Archer." She answered. Her voice sounded slow and her speech slurred.
"Is that your true name?" A male voice asked. Tora thought that it must be Marcus.
"Yes."
"Do you know why you have this name and what it means?"
"My name is Japanese for tiger and Archer is German for courageous." Tora replied slowly, trying to penetrate the fog around her brain. "I was named Tora for my aunt and Akira for my grandfather and Archer is because of my father."
"Now, Tora," Faline said softly. "Tell us about your parents."
They have me, but I can't let them hurt my family! Tora screamed to herself. Her resistance immediately solidified. "No!"
"Come now, all we want to know is who your parents are." Marcus said quietly yet firmly.
"No! No, no, no, no, no!" Tora screamed her defiance.
"Spike her to the eightieth percentile and time it for ten minutes." Faline ordered as she turned away. "Them bring it back down." She turned back to Tora. "Who are your parents?"
Tora felt as if two great hands had grabbed hold of her shoulders and were ripping them back. She screamed in pain, as her chest was ripped apart. Before her scream ended, another hand grabbed her legs and forced them behind her back to her head. Panic set in as she screamed again and found that she could not breath.
"Back her off to seventy-thirty." Faline snapped. "Her will is strong, but it is weakening."
"Tora, what is your origin?" Marcus asked.
They want to know about my home! Tora thought. They want to hurt everything that I love!
"We are getting spikes to the top of the scale." The voice in the shadows replied.
"Freebirth!" Faline cursed. She looked up at Marcus and he nodded. "Take her up to the seventy-fifty."
Tora felt like she was floating as she absorbed more of the chemicals. All her cares seemed to disappear.
"What is your origin?" Marcus asked more firmly.
The words were in her mouth before she could stop them. "Donegal…in the Federated Commonwealth."
"She is blocking." The vice in the background stated.
"Recent sources have shown that LyrCom and the Suns have joined forces." Marcus said. "Which part do you come from?"
"The Lyran Commonwealth." Tora replied, her voice showing the stress that she felt.
"That was not so hard."
"Tell, us, what you, a warrior for the Lyran Commonwealth, was doing defending New Bergen?" Faline asked
"The Free Rasalhague Republic asked the Commonwealth for help." Tora said as tears began to well up in her eyes. "I was part of the regiment that Archon Melissa Steiner sent to their aid."
"Who was the commander of your lance?" Marcus prodded. Tora held her tongue and began trembling as tears streamed for the corner of her eyes.
"It is okay, Tora." Faline said gently as she patted her leg reassuringly. "No one will suffer because of the information you give us."
Tora could not resist any more. Her desire to answer the voice was over powering. "Hauptman Zachary Archer was commanding the lance when you attacked."
"Is Zachary Archer related to you?" Faline inquired, finally feeling she was getting somewhere with her questioning. Tora nodded reluctantly. "Don't nod, speak."
"Yes." Tora replied weakly. "He is my brother."
"Good." Faline said soothingly. "Who are your parents?"
A soft sob escaped Tora's throat before she spoke. "My father is Kommandant Nathaniel Archer." She swallowed hard as painful memories flooded her brain. "My…my mother. My mother-No!" She began sobbing as someone in the background spoke.
"We are getting spikes right off the scale, sir."
"Take her to the eightieth then, on my mark, drop her to the seventy-seventh." Faline commanded her voice cold with determination. She put her lips near Tora's ear and spoke sharply. "Who is your mother?"
"No!" Tora howled. She screamed hysterically in pain as a fire started at her toes and slowly moved up her legs. She felt her skin char and begin to flake away as the fire advanced, further ravaging her body. A death by fire was a MechWarrior's worst nightmare. Tora cried out and fought violently against her bonds as the firers licked at her upper body.
"Who is your mother?" The voice was like an icy wind on her scorched flesh.
"Serafina!" Tora screamed agonizingly as she writhed in pain.
"Drop her!" Faline ordered.
Tora felt the fires die suddenly as she shuttered, drawing in a breath.
"Continue," Marcus said gently.
"Serafina Nishi Archer was my mother." Tora stated. Her voice carried the tone of a tormented child. "She is…no." Tora shook her head as much as the strap over it would allow as a fresh was of tears coursed down her cheeks.
"We are all friends here, do not be afraid to speak." Faline said like a mother comforting a frightened child. "Cooperate with us and we will not have to hurt you again."
Tora was not sure if she could survive another of the hallucinations as was ready to answer any and all of the questions asked of her by her tormentors. The thought of her mother dredged up more painful memories. Tora whimpered deep in her throat and struggled with her past. "My mother was killed when I was fifteen."
"Who killed her?" Marcus questioned.
"A renegade group of mercenaries who didn't much care for Dracs." Her voice trembled as she answered.
"Your mother was from the Draconis Combine?" Faline inquired.
"Yes, from Deiron." Tora took a deep breath before she continued. "Her parents moved to the commonwealth shortly after her birth."
"Good, good." Her female captor said. "Now, we are going to continue with this until we are satisfied. Do you understand?"
Tora forced her eyes closed as she swallowed hard. She nodded her head and spoke almost inaudibly. "Yes…"
Harkin sat in his darkened room staring at his monitor. He licked his lips in anticipation as to what was to come, as he studied the people on the screen.
"Serafina!" The young woman strapped to the table screamed in a pain filled voice. Harkin appeared to take pleasure in the torment of that one tortured voice.
As he continued to listen to the interrogation, Harkin made a few notes on his data pad. "She is a half-breed and Freeborn." Harkin mumbled to himself. "I do not understand what Faline plans to use her for, but when I get my hands on her, every tactical secret she knows will aid the Crusaders in the domination of the Inner Sphere."
He paused in his ramblings as the interrogation session came to an end with one final word.
"Yes." The tortured voice said. It carried the tone of defeated innocence and Harkin could not wait to make her scream by his hand.
The monitor grew black and Harkin found himself sitting in total darkness. He set his data pad aside and steepled his fingers in front of him.
"You are too gentle with her, Star Commander." Harkin told the blank screen. "However, if these interrogation sessions are any clue, my job will already be half done.
"Fear not, Tora, because when you are mine, and mine you shall be, I will break you until you are no more that a dog on a short leash." He continued in a sinister tone. "Be patient Tora, soon you will be mine."