(Five)
"Oh, Fallen!" Seth said in a pained whisper, his voice trembling. He hunched over in his chair with an inarticulate outcry of internal agony, squeezing his eyes shut and covering his ears as he had done before when he had been out as a hologram and was frightened. He'd shut himself down so he wouldn't have to look at her.
The X-men strained at their bonds, turning to look at what had spooked Seth so badly. Fallen was walking slowly towards the screen, a ragged ruin of pilot flesh. She leaned sideways as she shuffled her feet, dragging one foot stiffly behind her as she moved with methodical, determined slowness. Clearly, she had a destination in mind, and wasn't going to let her condition stop her from getting there. She pressed both hands against her lower belly as she moved as if her guts were falling out. Her head was down and her breath came out in ragged gasps, blood and spit dripped from her chin to the floor. She was naked and dried blood and dirt caked her furry legs and ankles in a dark black accusation of abuse. She shuffled drunkenly and wasn't looking where she was going, though she had determination driving her on. She kept walking past them until she bumped into the screen, arriving at last. She put up a hand to brace herself, but slid to the floor, leaving a bloody smear on the glass.
Maylee came out of her shock and rushed to her side at once. She cried out in dismay when she saw Fallen's swollen bloody face.
There was a noise as Kimble burst into the cockpit room through a side door, his face tight with barely controlled emotion. He went immediately to Seth and found him cowering in his seat, swearing softly in exasperation at his brother's condition. He brushed a hand over Seth's head and spoke to him softly in an attempt to rouse him, but his brother didn't move. Kimble looked up through the glass and saw Fallen broken and bleeding at the base of the screen. "Get her a wet towel. Clean 'er up," he ordered to Maylee, his voice icy and eerily calm, considering the wildness in his eyes. She obeyed him and left for Fallen's lavatory in a rush.
Henry jerked in his bonds, the doctor in him horrified at the sight of Fallen's abused body. He couldn't restrain his own growl of frustration that he was now unable to move. He could bear being tied, but not when he knew someone was desperately injured and in need of his help. The only thing that gave him any comfort was knowing that Maylee was free and able to act. He would be quick to offer his advice if she needed him.
"Seth...? Seth, are you there?" Fallen called weakly, responding to the sound of Kimble's voice. She searched for him with her dirty, bloody hands, but found only glass. One of her eyes was swollen shut, the other was filled with blood.
"He's here, but he's all crunched up," Kimble grumbled. "Figgered he be used ta yer shit by now. Hope yer happy."
"Don't be angry..." she pleaded, unable to see him but all too aware of his anger.
Kimble leaned against his work table and snatched a pack of cigarettes from his console. He shook one out and lit it with an angry spark from his fingertips. The spark was blue like Fallen's magic pilot's energy, sharp and potent. Kimble wasn't angry, no. He was furious. His voice shook with emotion as he began to speak, threatening to break at any moment. "We take pretty good care of each other, right? You an' me. Heh, I mean yer helpin' us with cummin' out and I look after ya. Makin' shure ya git what ya needs. Keepin' ya safe, huh?"
He didn't wait for a response, but sniffed as angry tears started to shine in his eyes. He was trying to play the tough guy, but he couldn't hide how worried about her he was. "I do a good job, huh? I mean, ya tells me so, right? But you must be thinkin' I need another fuckin' challenge cuz look at ya, girl."
"Kimble, please!" Fallen gasped with a sob, hurt by his words.
It didn't stop Kimble's rant. He clearly had to unload his frustration with his Mistress and figured now was just as good a time as any. He took a deep drag on his cigarette and sniffed impatiently, defying the tears that shined in his eyes not to fall. "You tell me what ta do an' I do it, no questions asked. But I'm thinkin' ya musta missed a file I wuz suppozta get, cuz I just don't know how I'm suppozta take care a ya when ya keep doin' this shit ta yerself."
Fallen didn't answer, but stayed as she was, sobbing.
He shook his head in frustration and raised his voice. "Seth tells ya he's cummin' an you won't fuckin' run! Vally drops his pants an yer right there with yer mouth fuckin' open, Fallen! I mean, Jeez! What am I supposed ta do, Fallen?! You tell me cuz I got no fuckin' clue!" he finished with a snarl, his mouth grimaced and his eyes closed now, the only thing holding those treacherous tears at bay.
"Guys..." Remy croaked, his voice harsh with pain. He had come out of his stupor, brought back by the angry words flying around. He was squirming now in his awkward position, not wanting to be an audience to this argument. The emotions being displayed here were too powerful to be anything but real in his eyes. He found himself responding to all of Kimble's physical signs of distress, one small corner of his mind trying to figure out how something supposedly artificial could behave in such a realistic way. Ever the peacemaker, he couldn't stand it. "Arretez ceci, sil vous plait! Stop dis now!"
He was ignored. Fallen started to shake as Kimble had raised his voice in censure, his anger and pain hurting her even more than she was already. She sobbed now as she requested, "Play me something, okay? I'll.... I'll be all right."
"No way. Uh, uh. I an't doin' nuthin. Not 'til ya tells me why yer doin' this, ya fuckin' little bitch." He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and glared at her. "Tells me why!"
"I can't..."
"You tell me!" Kimble shouted bitterly, standing now and flashing his teeth in an angry snarl. He shook with his wrath, his hands fisted as he looked at her. "You tells me now! I've fuckin' earned it!"
"I can't...I can't..." she sobbed.
"Fine, then!" he spat impatiently and reached for the switch to sign off.
"No!" she begged, pawing at the glass. "Don't leave me...Don't leave me, please!"
He stopped, her pleas halting him. He covered his face with his hands for a moment, then wiped his face on his arms. His eyes were all red now and his nose was running. "Tell me why I shouldn't just shut down," he said quietly, his voice soft with defeat. "Why I should keep puttin' up with yer shit."
"Because you're all I have!" she cried.
Maylee came from the bathroom. She came towards Fallen but stopped abruptly when she saw the two of them were arguing. Even from the screen Kimble's anger frightened her.
"I need you here with me..." Fallen continued. "No one listens to me but you guys. No one helps me like you... Don't leave me!"
"Then helps me, baby doll. I needs ta understand, cuz I jus' don' fuckin' git it. Why do ya let him do this to ya? It's killin' Seth. He gets wrecked evra time an' I git stuck cleanin' up!"
"Because I did something really bad...Really bad...Junta bay...I have to be punished."
"Punished? Fer what? I've seen some pretty bad shit in my time, but you ain't ever done nuthin'. I ain't never seen you hurt nobody! What could ya do that wuz so bad thatcha deserve this?!"
"I can't tell you...."
"Why?!" Kimble snarled loudly, frustrated. "Don'tcha trust me?!"
"I trust you... I just couldn't bear it if you hated me..." she finished in a thready whisper, her body trembling all over now.
"Oh, baby doll..." he said then, a half sob escaping him. He released his anger in a long sigh, a tear finally spilling down one cheek. He leaned forward to put his shaking hands on the glass, reaching out as if he could touch her. He was very close to her now, his lips up against her ear as she rested against the screen. "I ain't never gonna hatecha. Not now, not ever. There just ain't no junta bay in the world that kin change that. We been together too long, you an' me."
"You would... It was so awful!"
"Tell me, Fallen," Kimble insisted, more tears streaming from his eyes now. "Please! I cain't hardly stand this!"
"I can't....I can't...I can't..!" she bawled and slid the rest of the way to the floor. She curled up, sobbing and covered her face with her tiny white hands. Maylee went to her then and started to clean her up, whispering to her foster mother gently in a feeble attempt to comfort her.
Kimble retreated to fell back into his chair in a sorrowful slump. He slowly shook his head and smoked, wiping the wetness from his face in a helpless gesture of defeat. He reached behind him and took a CD from a rack, obeying Fallen finally. He slid a very real looking compact disc into a player and soft music began to play. It was a silly song from Lovin' Spoonful, something about the rain and a roof.
Logan couldn't believe what was happening, it was like being trapped in a nightmare he couldn't get out of. Fallen was lying there broken, Seth was balled up and useless, and Kimble pissed off and crying like some little kid trapped in the body of a grown man. The figures up on that screen were not real, they were a program. A stupid fucking program placed there by some sicko pilot who obviously got off on some kind of melodramatic overload. Programs were there to make things better, not worse. This was a dysfunctional family operating on a scale he had never witnessed before. They should be trying to get away from here, not playing out this sick little soap opera. Cripes!
"Hey! Kimble! Dude!" Wolverine shouted up at the screen. "Vally ain't gonna leave us alone fer long. We gotta bail!" He snarled when he saw he was being ignored.
Fallen heard the music and garbled something unintelligible, laughing.
"Yer all fuckin' crazy!" Logan howled. He'd had enough of this insanity and yanked on his chains. "Alla ya! Fuckin' crazies!" He heaved on the cage and like an evil tease, it started to come apart in one corner, inspiring him to continue. Beast and Gambit saw what he was up to and then helped out, just as eager to escape their prison as he was. They weren't even close to being silent.
"Stop that!" Maylee shrieked in a panic. "If Valentin sees you he'll kill us all!"
"I ain't gonna be around that long!" Logan growled, jerking and grinning with satisfaction as something in the framing behind him groaned and broke.
"What a shame," Valentin sneered from the back of the room. "I was just getting used to having you here."
Logan put his head down and cursed.
Valentin entered the main room and walked up to Fallen. She just lay on the floor, trembling. He towered over her and gave her an arrogant sniff. "You stink, pilot." He didn't wait for an answer, but looked up at the screen. "I see you still have your freaks. Might have to do something about that."
"Fuck you, Vally!" Kimble snarled fearlessly, raising his fists.
Valentin just laughed. "You got a mouth on you, son. Too bad that's all you've got. Had yourself a nice little cry, did you? You fucking child!"
"Leave him alone," Fallen challenged from the floor as if she was in any position to stop him.
"Sure thing," Valentin grunted at her, amused. "For now. You'd best get straight, pilot. We leave for Station Nine in the morning. Shoot yourself full of junk, whatever it takes. No excuses."
He turned to go, but changed his mind. "Think I'll have my Second, Joseph, stay and keep an eye on these guys just in case you get any more ideas about taking off." He whistled sharply and Joseph came up the ramp, ever obedient. He stood and listened attentively as Valentin issued him orders. "Take six men. Camp out in the galley, whatever. I don't want these alphas left alone again."
"Yes, my Lord." Joseph left to collect his team.
Valentin turned his attention back to Fallen. He crouched down next to her with a disgusted sneer. He took her hair and mercilessly hauled her up to her feet like the possession he perceived her to be. He released her enough to be sure she could stand, then he leaned her head back, baring her throat to him. He leaned in and licked her neck with a long, slow flick of his tongue.
Fallen quivered from his touch and urine dripped down her leg. She was broken in every way that counted now.
Valentin didn't care. "It's was nice to see you again, my lovely. It's been so long."
Fallen didn't resist him, she simply stared off at nothing, her eyes glazed.
He desired a response. He kissed her full on the mouth, giving her his tongue. She roused some at the intrusion, sensing that she had to do something to please him, anything to satisfy his desire for dominance. She returned his kiss and he smiled, happy now. He next glared at Kimble who stood with his hands fisted and useless. "See? She's mine in every way that matters." He laughed and released her before turning and walking away, passing Joseph on his way out.
Fallen stood unmoving like a discarded toy, her eyes shiny and half open, her mind completely gone. Joseph sniffed her in disgust, saw her mess, and looked at Maylee cowering by Beast. "Get her cleaned up, girl. Heh, look at you. Getting big now you are," he said, his eyes glittering with evil intent.
"Don' even think about it, you cocksucking son of whore!" Kimble threatened with real enthusiasm. He sounded menacing, but everyone here knew it was an empty promise.
"You couldn't stop me even if you wanted to, freak, no matter how badly you swear," Joseph sneered in a good imitation of his Master. "You're nothing but a crybaby wannabe pilot with a foul mouth and even worse manners. You're not even real. Just what do you think a pathetic scrap of a program like you can do to me?"
Logan shook his head, a headache like a Texas thunderstorm threatening to split his head apart. He was beyond appalled at the behavior he saw today. "What kind of people are you?! I'm not sure who's worse, you or the Dognan creeps who brought us here in the first place!"
Joseph turned to him, the wattage of his evil smile never dimming a bit. "Well, it looks like you'll be around long enough to decide. Better get some rest. We leave for Station Nine in the morning."