Chapter 9: Bloodrage

The trail was easy to find, easier to follow and Trazu traveled as fast as he could: the sooner he found the culprits, the sooner he will know Tzosha's fate and punish those responsible. He was forced to make camp and rest a few hours due to sheer exhaustion, since he had been on the go since the previous morning. Sleep was restless for him though, nightmares of what could be happening, if not already happened, to Tzosha plaguing his mind. Thus his eagerness to find her was renewed when he picked up the trail again.

By that afternoon the trail ended at an old remote storehouse far from civilization. The place was likely set up by gangs and pirates themselves rather then legitimate parties: who else would use a place so remote? However why the building was there was not important to him, for with the lack of any fresh trail leading away from the location it meant he had found where they had taken Tzosha. Not seeing any guards about, he strode right up to the place and found the door open.

Idiots. Assuming I wouldn't come after them… He thought as he walked in. His sixth sense was nagging at him, trying to tell him something wasn't right, but he ignored it, rescuing, or avenging, Tzosha at the forefront of his mind.

The storehouse was like one big room with a few smaller offices along the sides and from the number of crates and various other storage containers the place was in active use. The containers were all stacked high enough to prevent him from looking over them and set up kind of like a maze; making searching the place and keeping an eye out for guards an annoying affair. His sword at the ready, Trazu picked his way through the maze of containers and soon found a large open space within the maze. He saw Tzosha on the far end of that open space, tied up between two poles.

"Tzosha…" He breathed as he ran toward her, forgetting he was in enemy territory. He ignored the fact that it was strange he had yet to see a guard and that Tzosha was shaking her head madly, unable to speak due to a gag. By the time his sixth sense had sounded off loud enough for him to have no choice but to take heed it was too late.

There was a sudden loud bang and Trazu found himself suddenly blown off his feet by a large sonic burst. He smashed against a support pole, his sword flying from his hand, and fell to the ground. Stunned and the world spinning in his vision, Trazu struggled to get back up to his feet and shake the stars out of his head. He was dimly aware of the sudden appearance of dozens of pirates, but he didn't get a chance to react to their appearance, as a sudden sharp blow to the head rendered him completely unconscious.

His head ached as he regained consciousness, his vision taking a moment to sharpen and clear. He found himself tied up across from Tzosha, stripped of everything including all his clothing, even his bracelet. At first he felt embarrassed that he was being seen by Tzosha in a manner usually only reserved for bathing and the most intimate of situations, but he quickly reminded himself that this was no time for modesty. He looked Tzosha over from his position: she looked a bit roughed up and slightly bruised, but otherwise not injured.

"I'm sorry…I…" Trazu started to say, but found words failing him. Tzosha seemed to catch what he was trying to say, for she slowly shook her head, her eyes full of forgiveness. With a sigh, Trazu turned to study his restraints: maybe he can get them out of there before their captures returned.

He was tied up in a similar manner as Tzosha was, bond with a strong polymer based cord. Trazu moved one hand around, attempting to loosen the cord enough so he could slip his hand through, but the cord held fast and he only rubbed his hide raw for the effort: he already knew he lacked the leverage and the strength to break the cord with brute force and his claws weren't sharp enough to cut through them.

"About time you woke up." A familiar voice said. Trazu turned and his eyes narrowed at the figure that appeared. Zista was leaning against one of the crate, looking smug and sure of herself and holding some sort of whip in her regenerated hand. "I was afraid my minions had hit you too hard."

"You…" Trazu growled hatefully, straining against his bonds.

"Now now." She said teasingly. "Don't get yourself worn out now, there's a lot of fun to be had before we are done here." Zista said as she walked up to him. "I have plans for you, you see. You have a lot of spunk, which I like, but too much will. So...so that I can do what I want with you, I need to break you in."

"You mean make me your slave." Trazu hissed. "I'll die first before letting myself sink to that level."

Zista merely chuckled. "Now, thanks to our last encounter, I knew to anticipate that kind of attitude. That's why I captured your little friend here…" She gestured toward Tzosha, whose eyes widened.

Trazu's own eyes widened. "Leave her alone." He said warningly.

"Or what?" Zista laughed. "You're not in any position to stop me are you? Submit to me…or she pays."

Trazu felt torn between his own dignity and his feelings for Tzosha. He didn't want Tzosha to be hurt because of him, but he didn't want to become someone's slave either. Tzosha was madly shaking her head, but Trazu couldn't if she was trying to tell him not to fall for her blackmail or what.

"No answer?" Zista said as she walked over to Tzosha and ripped her gag off. "Maybe hearing her scream a few times will loosen your tongue." She looked back at Trazu with a malicious smile. "They do say…that if you strike someone with this kind of whip too many times they suffer permanent brain damage…I wonder how many times that has to be…"

"Don't submit to her…" Tzosha said bravely. "No matter what happens to me!"

"Now now sis…" Zista said as she moved around behind her. "Let him decide that." The low hum of the whip being turned on could be heard. Then there was a brief streaking flash as Zista raised the whip and snapped it sharply against Tzosha's back.

He could tell she really tried hard not to scream, but the pain was too much for her and her scream tore into Trazu's heart. Just as painful was the spasms he could see coursing through her helpless body and he crushed his eyes close so he could not see it. But he could not shut his ears. Much to his distress, he could not choose his pride over Tzosha or Tzhosha over his pride. He found himself sinking deeper into despair. Why can't I be strong enough to have both?

An image flashed in his mind, no a memory, of the battle he fought with the K'Satikur and reminded of that rage he had gone into then. Yes, that's it. If he could go into that mode again….

But wait. He was mindless killer then, what if he killed Tzosha while in that mode? As another scream echoed in his ear drums, he over heard one pirate whisper to another: 'won't matter what he does…boss intends to kill her anyway from what I 'ere.'.

Hearing that made the decision for him: it was their only chance, no Tzosha's only chance. What happened to him he didn't care anymore, all he cared about was make sure Tzosha survived. He reached down deep inside of him and found that mode deceptively easily and embraced it.

The familiar surge of strength came into his limbs and he strained with all his might against his restraints. Suddenly the cord on one hand snapped, making him swing wildly and almost lose his footing. Quickly he reached over and attacked the second cord, the cries of Zista's disbelief and ordering her minions to stop him barely registering. Before they reached him though the second cord came free and his vision became filled with a blood red haze.

When his vision cleared the floor was slick with the blood of his enemies, he himself was coated with it. His body ached and threatened to collapse under him as he forced himself stagger toward Tzosha, who was slumped over unconscious, or worse. He collapsed against one of the poles that she was bound to and forced himself to start working on untying her, his mind threatening to lose consciousness with every movement. The task was made even more difficult due to the fact his fingers had deep lacerations and the blood was making the cord slick and difficult to grasp. Finally one of her hands was free, but before he could move himself so he could free her second hand his body gave up on him.

Tzosha…please be alright… He thought as the world turned black….