Searing pain wretched it's way through Madison's fragile body. It was moments before she realised her eyes where open and that it was the room that was in complete darkness. The co-ordinates had been correct, she had transported down to the city in a hope that she could get on a ship that would take her into the next solar system. What she found herself in was an all too familiar torture situation, the cold steel of the bench bit at her bare shoulders. Perhaps they had been there all along, just waiting for the right moment to claim her back, of course. That's why her father was faking his death, the Hashem Vulcan's must have been angry that one of their slave's was so disobedient that this was all because he was told he must pay compensation. That's why Enterprise was sent. Her father had every confidence that if she was to be found Enterprise would, and knowing how complacent Jonathan was, would bring Madison home within a heartbeat. With or without her protests.
While Madison was forcing these thought through the dull ache that throbbed through her cranium she felt the burning eyes of two people boring into her. All came flooding back, the second she had transported to the surface, the Vulcan ship, which had been cloaked had transported her back to their ship.
That was days ago, since then she had been subjected to electrolysis, drug induced torture and even rape. She was now placed in her cell which had transported her from Earth to Vulcan so many years ago. She hadn't seen him, but she knew her father was on board. She knew one set of those eyes belonged to him and she knew he had watched her being raped by the Vulcan guard. Given nothing but rags to wear which provided no protection from the daily beatings, she could feel that her lower ribs were broken and could feel the swelling upon her ankle, she sobbed silently, dry tears knowing they would show her no mercy and that there was no means of escape this time, even if her ankle wasn't ripped from it's socket.
There was no hope of Malcolm finding her, why was it Malcolm who she thought of first. Once he had been told about Trip and herself being blessed he wouldn't want to know. She bite her lip, tasting the dry blood that had crystallised over the gaping wound on her lower lip, as she mentally kicked herself for not telling him. Enterprise would start the search on the planet, even if somebody did she a flickering image as she transported from one place to the next. By the time they had found that person, the ship that she was on would be long gone. They're probably still looking, Madison thought hopelessly wondering what had happened to the phase pistol that she had stolen from Malcolm's quarters. She smiled as she recalled the image of him reaching over Jonathan to transport her off the ship. He'd trusted her so much to let her go, or was is just that he was so angry at her?
Her smile faded as the door opened and light flooded the small cell.
*****************************************************************
"I have sold her." A fat looking Vulcan picked meat from a decaying carcass. "But she is in surgery in order to be presentable."
"I don't see where you are going with this?" Karl asked impatiently, it was becoming dangerous being out there. He must get home before Enterprise tried to contact him.
"It will cost a lot of money. She really wasn't worth it. I'm not getting a full price for her." The Vulcan explained toying with the phase pistol concealed under the table. "I had no choice but to get her back because of repercussions of if she had ever got back to Earth and expose you and-"
"Retulm. You have her.... My job is done, kill her if you wish. I don't want to hear from her again." Karl got up to leave.
"You see Karl. We have a problem, I'm in debt because of her. And there's still the possibility that I'm already exposed. I'm sending her to a place where she'll be content as a slave, there's one thing I need to prove to her. Does she know of anyone else's involvement?" Retulm questioned.
"No-" Karl was cut short by a warm sensation in his stomach. Retulm had pulled the trigger and killed Karl. He pressed the com button. "Is she out of surgery?"
"Yes. Although there is still residual damage." The voice explained. "But I can bring her around."
"Do it." Retulm answered as he retrieved a blade from his guard.
**********************************************
Her father's severed head was placed upon her lap, blood seeping through her rags she made no attempt to show any kind of feeling towards the head. Inside, she wanted to wretch, not because of who the head belonged to but because of the smell of the anaesthetic and the burning flesh was revolting.
"What reaction would you like?" Madison whispered weakly, hoping she wasn't portraying herself as one who actually gave a damn.
"None." Retulm answered honestly. "This is only proof that your father is dead. I've selected a planet for you. You will be well treated and can work your way out of slavery-"
"How very kind." Madison remarked and was punished by a strike to the face. "So full of anger." Madison goaded him.
"24 hours. That's all that lies between you and freedom. Don't make me kill you, you won't be missed-"
"You kill me, Enterprise will hunt you down." Madison grabbed the head by the roots. "Thank you for the present. Now feed it to the dogs." She gestured to the two Vulcan guards knowing they where cannibals.
While Madison was forcing these thought through the dull ache that throbbed through her cranium she felt the burning eyes of two people boring into her. All came flooding back, the second she had transported to the surface, the Vulcan ship, which had been cloaked had transported her back to their ship.
That was days ago, since then she had been subjected to electrolysis, drug induced torture and even rape. She was now placed in her cell which had transported her from Earth to Vulcan so many years ago. She hadn't seen him, but she knew her father was on board. She knew one set of those eyes belonged to him and she knew he had watched her being raped by the Vulcan guard. Given nothing but rags to wear which provided no protection from the daily beatings, she could feel that her lower ribs were broken and could feel the swelling upon her ankle, she sobbed silently, dry tears knowing they would show her no mercy and that there was no means of escape this time, even if her ankle wasn't ripped from it's socket.
There was no hope of Malcolm finding her, why was it Malcolm who she thought of first. Once he had been told about Trip and herself being blessed he wouldn't want to know. She bite her lip, tasting the dry blood that had crystallised over the gaping wound on her lower lip, as she mentally kicked herself for not telling him. Enterprise would start the search on the planet, even if somebody did she a flickering image as she transported from one place to the next. By the time they had found that person, the ship that she was on would be long gone. They're probably still looking, Madison thought hopelessly wondering what had happened to the phase pistol that she had stolen from Malcolm's quarters. She smiled as she recalled the image of him reaching over Jonathan to transport her off the ship. He'd trusted her so much to let her go, or was is just that he was so angry at her?
Her smile faded as the door opened and light flooded the small cell.
*****************************************************************
"I have sold her." A fat looking Vulcan picked meat from a decaying carcass. "But she is in surgery in order to be presentable."
"I don't see where you are going with this?" Karl asked impatiently, it was becoming dangerous being out there. He must get home before Enterprise tried to contact him.
"It will cost a lot of money. She really wasn't worth it. I'm not getting a full price for her." The Vulcan explained toying with the phase pistol concealed under the table. "I had no choice but to get her back because of repercussions of if she had ever got back to Earth and expose you and-"
"Retulm. You have her.... My job is done, kill her if you wish. I don't want to hear from her again." Karl got up to leave.
"You see Karl. We have a problem, I'm in debt because of her. And there's still the possibility that I'm already exposed. I'm sending her to a place where she'll be content as a slave, there's one thing I need to prove to her. Does she know of anyone else's involvement?" Retulm questioned.
"No-" Karl was cut short by a warm sensation in his stomach. Retulm had pulled the trigger and killed Karl. He pressed the com button. "Is she out of surgery?"
"Yes. Although there is still residual damage." The voice explained. "But I can bring her around."
"Do it." Retulm answered as he retrieved a blade from his guard.
**********************************************
Her father's severed head was placed upon her lap, blood seeping through her rags she made no attempt to show any kind of feeling towards the head. Inside, she wanted to wretch, not because of who the head belonged to but because of the smell of the anaesthetic and the burning flesh was revolting.
"What reaction would you like?" Madison whispered weakly, hoping she wasn't portraying herself as one who actually gave a damn.
"None." Retulm answered honestly. "This is only proof that your father is dead. I've selected a planet for you. You will be well treated and can work your way out of slavery-"
"How very kind." Madison remarked and was punished by a strike to the face. "So full of anger." Madison goaded him.
"24 hours. That's all that lies between you and freedom. Don't make me kill you, you won't be missed-"
"You kill me, Enterprise will hunt you down." Madison grabbed the head by the roots. "Thank you for the present. Now feed it to the dogs." She gestured to the two Vulcan guards knowing they where cannibals.