Chapter Two : Games

A loud banging sound was what forced Spectre's head up. There, standing just outside the cell, a red-furred female echidna stood with a whip in her hand, which had to be the reason for the sound. The dark male couldn't help but notice her outfit barely covered anything: two black leather strips crossing her chest and some shorts stopping at mid-thighs. Not that he was interested, but this was so unusual he couldn't advert his eyes.

Rykor was standing beside the female as well, and both Legionnaires wore smirks on their faces. "Hello again, Guardian," the sergeant chuckled. "I brought you some company that you may enjoy."

"Get lost," Spectre snarled. "I need no other company than the one I have right now." He squeezed Tressa and Thunderhawk close to his chest. He had a feeling this female wasn't good news for him, judging by the way she was looking at him. He quickly lost his temper when neither of his enemies budged. "I said get lost!"

"You were right, Rykor," the newcomer said. "He's cranky. But I think he's handsome, don't you?" The sergeant rolled his eyes in a don't-ask-me-­that way. "He looks nice, but I'm sure he looks even nicer without his clothes on." Spectre growled menacingly and clenched his flesh fist until the flesh under his thick jet black fur turned white. How dare she even suggest something like that? He inwardly fumed. In front of a child, to top it off!

The red female smirked as if she knew exactly what he was thinking, and turned to Rykor. "Rykor, can you get him out of the cell and hold him for me, please?" she asked, smiling sweetly.

The sergeant looked uneasy as he seemed to struggle with himself. "I don't know, Lady Kommissar," he stammered, hesitating. "Your brother Master Kragok forbade anyone to let him out and-"

"Please? And you know you can call me Lien-Da when we're alone," she purred. Lien-Da then seductively wrapped her arms around Rykor's neck; their chests were pressed together and their noses were almost touching. "Please, get him out for me. I promise it won't take long, and you'll be rewarded." She winked maliciously at him, and the brown male gulped.

"Well, when you put it this way… All right, but no more than a few minutes."

"Will do," the female replied as she gratefully licked the sergeant's nose. Spectre couldn't help but gag in disgust as Rykor pressed a button which deactivated the electrical bars. This woman's way of things was utterly repulsing. He could just imagine all the Legionnaires she had gotten this way.

"You're disgusting," he spat.

But Lien-Da simply smiled and winked at him. "Sometimes being the only female in this Legion has its advantages." The dark Guardian winced at the meaning of these words; and he once thought life in the Brotherhood was unbearable.

Rykor entered in the cell and quickly grabbed Thunderhawk by the scruff of his neck and yanked him out of his father's arms before Spectre or Tressa could react. As the black male jumped on his feet to help his son, Rykor simply threw the young boy against the wall. Thunderhawk gave off a squeak as he hit the hard metallic floor, and immediately Tressa took her son in her arms to protect him.

The sergeant grabbed Spectre by the handcuffs and brutally pulled him out of the cell under Tressa's worried gaze. Rykor used his foot to close the door before steadying Spectre in front of Lien-Da, whose eyes were already roaming and wandering. Spectre growled; he knew where this female was intending to go, and there was no way she would. "What are you doing?" he hissed between clenched teeth.

"Nothing at all. I'm just… well, you could say I'm testing the waters as it goes." Lien-Da got closer and ran her hand along his right arm. Spectre wanted nothing but jerk away, and he tried, he honestly tried. If it wasn't for Rykor holding him in an iron grip he would have gotten away at once. What the hell is she trying to do? He growled as she began caressing his back through the shirt. "All right, I think you'll do fine."

"What?" He was so taken aback it took him a few seconds to fully understanding her words.

Lien-Da got in front of him and grinned. "My brother has been bugging me for some time, now. He wants me to bear the Dark Legion's heir, because he says it's hard to find females willing to mate with a Dark Legionnaire." Spectre rolled his eyes. Tell me about it… "He says it'll be easier for me to find a male. And since you're here, why not?" She leaned against his chest and flicked his nose with her finger. "While I'm at it, better make it enjoyable…"

"You're sick," he growled when she began stroking his face. When her hand went to rest on his cheek he bared his teeth and bit it. Lien-Da yelped and furiously back-handed Spectre across the face. Nobody had ever slapped Spectre like that, and the dark echidna winced. Still he felt a grin form on his face; he had made her lose her temper, and that was victory enough.

"You brute!" Lien-Da hissed. She squeezed her wounded hand. "I bet your relationships are about the same," she added, throwing a dark glance in Tressa's direction, but then she smiled.

Now Spectre was really confused; what was the matter with that female? One moment ago she was furious, and now she smiled? I'll never understand women… I swear they come from another world. "But it's okay, sweetheart," she purred as she snapped her fingers at Rykor. The sergeant tightened his already death grip on Spectre, who now couldn't even move a finger. Lien-Da smirked and pressed herself to him to whisper in his ear. "I won't mess with your habits."

Spectre had to wonder about the meaning of these last words when Rykor roughly pulled him away and threw him back in the cell. Caught off guard, Spectre tripped and fell on the ground with a thud. He looked up to see the two Legionnaires snickering at him as he struggled to regain his feet. "And you call yourself a Guardian?" Rykor laughed as Lien-Da wrapped her arms around his waist.

Spectre groaned inwardly. I have a feeling this stay will be long… very long…

Night has fallen. There was no window, no opening to prove it, but night has fallen; Spectre just knew it. From where he was sitting against the metallic wall, staring at the electrical bars, Spectre somehow knew this awful day was over. Which didn't mean his problems were as well.

Sighing quietly, the dark male looked down at his son. Thunderhawk was once again nestled against his father's chest, fast asleep. He bore some bruises from hitting the wall earlier, but had kept quiet about them. Spectre knew his son didn't want to seem weak, and he ruffled the short lavender hair in sympathy. He knew exactly how it felt to be in pain when wanting to be strong. Thunderhawk shifted in his sleep, slightly pressing on Spectre's wounded chest.

The dark Guardian winced as the wound made by the laser stung once again. It felt so much like those times, when he was a child. The sleepless and pain-filled nights, clutching his burning chest as he silently prayed for death to take him away. The pain… the blood… seriously, when he'd woken up this morning, he would have never thought he would end up in such a situation. Such Guardian… I'm supposed to protect the most powerful gem in the world, but I'm unable to protect my own family. What must my ancestors be thinking?

Spectre decided to not think about it for now, and instead turned his attention on his wife, also sleeping. Tressa was sitting beside him, her head on his shoulder and his arm around her waist. The three echidnas had been in that position ever since Rykor and Lien-Da departed; after all, moving wouldn't help.

Spectre knew he should be sleeping as well: he needed all the rest he could get to recover from his wounds. But he just couldn't allow himself to sleep; the thought of being surrounded by enemies and that Tressa and Thunderhawk needed him forced him to stay alert. He was all they had, now, and he'll be damned before he let mere Legionnaires harm his wife and son.

A muffled clanking sound was heard from somewhere in the military complex, and Spectre found himself not caring about it. However, he looked up from Thunderhawk as Tressa stirred against him, waking up. Aqua blue eyes opened, and she smiled softly at her husband, who returned it weakly. "Hey," the female whispered as she once again leaned her head on Spectre's shoulder.

"Hey," he whispered back, kissing her temple. When Tressa seemed to be in deep thoughts, Spectre nudged her with his nose. "Penny for your thoughts?"

To his surprise she sighed and closed her eyes. He couldn't remember seeing her like this since they married, and it worried him. "Spectre, I know this isn't the place or the time, but I've got something to tell you," she said quietly. "You see, I've been meaning to tell you this for some time now. Truth is, Spectre, I…" Her voice trailed off as she seemed to struggle with herself to carry on.

The black echidna was now leaning towards her, all ears, wanting to know what she wanted to tell him. He silently encouraged her to go on, and she opened her mouth to do so when suddenly, the door of the prison bay shot open. Then the person Spectre never wanted to see ever again got in front of the cell he was in: Lien-Da. He growled and pressed Tressa against him, and Lien-Da smirked. "My, aren't we happy tonight? I'm sure you are, since I came."

"Don't dream," Spectre spat.

Lien-Da smiled even more. "That's what I thought. Anyway, my brother has asked me to… convince you, I think that's how he put it, to give us information."

"Go to hell, and while you're at it take your brother with you," Spectre said hatefully. This woman's nerve was really beginning to tick him off, and if she didn't stop soon someone's head was coming off. "I know what you're trying to do, and which things you're trying to get. But let me tell you; you won't have either!"

But instead of answering, Lien-Da simply made a gesture with her hand and something moved in the shadows behind her. Spectre realized with horror that it was Rykor, and the sergeant was carrying all sorts of weapons. Whips, clubs, daggers… so much things that froze Spectre's blood at first, then made it boil. I hope for their health that they aren't planning on harming Tressa and Thunderhawk. "What are you going to do with those?" he snarled as Tressa shuddered beside him.

"Convince you, that's what," Lien-Da said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Now be a good boy and come here by yourself."

"Like hell I will," Spectre growled. He stayed right where he was and was about to snap some more when he saw Lien-Da's gaze fall on the sleeping Thunderhawk still nestled in his arms. What is she planning to do, now?

"This is cute kid you've got here," the red female stated. "It would be a shame to have to scar his little face, wouldn't it?" Spectre froze as did his blood; the message was clear, if he was trying to resist or anything that sort, Thunderhawk would be the one to suffer. And he could not have that.

Spectre gently picked his son up as to not wake him up – or else the boy would freak out – and handed him to Tressa, who accepted their son in her arms. His wife looked scared, and Spectre knew it was out of fear of what was going to happen to him. He couldn't blame her, because he was at least as afraid, but he chose to not show it in front of her. Spectre gave her a reassuring smile and got up, bracing himself mentally for what he knew was coming. Rykor shut the electrical bars out, allowing Spectre to get out, and then they departed with Lien-Da holding the Guardian's handcuffs.

That left Tressa, hugging her still sleeping son to her chest as she wondered fearfully what Spectre would have to endure. All of this wouldn't have happened if I hadn't made him agree to go picnicking. We would be home, and I would have told him about… Her thoughts stopped there and she fought off her sobs, gently rocking Thunderhawk back and forth as she caressed his fur.

Please… let Spectre be all right.

The room was so dark it could have put Spectre's fur to shame. It was situated just beside the prison bay, and they got into it by a small door hidden in the metallic wall. Spectre had never seen anything like this before; the room seemed to absorb whatever light there was and destroy it. It was as if all of the darkness and torment of this world was concentrated inside. And Spectre was being led in that room.

"Where are we going?" he asked nervously.

"You'll see, handsome," Lien-Da winked. He was about to snap at her when she yanked on his handcuffs, forcing him forward. "Come on; time to get the fun started…"

He heard more than he saw Rykor drop his burden on the hard metallic floor and the sergeant approached him. The Dark Legionnaire grasped Spectre's shoulders and pushed down, forcing the reluctant Guardian into a crouching position with some difficulties. Spectre heard something click, then felt Rykor remove his hands; but when the young black echidna tried to stand up, he found out he couldn't. His hands were now chained directly to the ground.

What are they trying to do? he thought, furious at his helplessness. But he quickly answered that question himself: Rykor carrying weapons, a dark room, him chained to the ground… It didn't take any special skill to put two and two together, and Spectre braced himself.

This way he wasn't very surprised when the whip first bit into the flesh of his back.

Spectre gritted his teeth, refusing to cry out. His muscles tensed as he fought some screams of pain. He immediately thought it would be less unbearable if he focalised his thoughts on something else than the leather strip cutting into his back. He tried to think about Tressa and Thunderhawk, his beloved wife and son… only to be reminded that they were there as well, in a cell, and it just made it worse. By the time he pondered over what to do, his clothes had been torn apart, and so had been his upper body.

The Guardian yet yelped in pain as the whip cracked across his face, leaving one long but fortunately not very deep gash there. Spectre had felt that there were spikes, sharp metallic spikes on the leather strip. The black echidna then ground his teeth once again when the next swing of the whip hit his scarred chest; he wouldn't give his captors the satisfaction to hear him scream.

Finally, the flogging stopped after fifteen awful minutes, which felt like hours to Spectre. He could actually feel blood flowing down his back, down his chest, as well as the sting of the gash on his face. The Guardian forced himself to take deep breaths to ease the firing pain, however his rest-taking was short-lived because he felt a hand grab his chin and force his head up. Spectre's bloody gaze met Lien-Da's icy blue one, and she smiled. "Well, are you ready to talk now?"

Spectre had to spit some blood out of his mouth before he could speak correctly. "You're still dreaming."

"Hmm, you're a tough one. I like that." Lien-Da racked her nails through his jet black fur. Spectre found himself unable to stop her, he was just too exhausted to do anything. "We'll take our time, then, and see how much more you can take. After all, we're in no hurry…" The red female bent forward to whisper in Spectre's ear. "I'll enjoy seeing you broken… and you'll be mine."

These words sent up red flags in the Guardian's mind, which filled up with disgust. He couldn't bear the idea of being near Lien-Da, let alone sleep with her. He even found himself wishing for the flogging to continue so the pain would get his mind off of her suggestive words.

And right on cue, it did.

Groggily, Thunderhawk opened one eye as his sleepy mind was waking up. When he saw only darkness, the boy yawned and stretched, only to feel a hand caressing his hair. He looked up, and was surprised to see his mother smiling down at him. Thunderhawk realized he was being held in her arms, curled up in her lap with his head resting against her chest. "Are you all right, sweetheart?" she gently asked him.

Drawing back a little, Thunderhawk was about to answer by the affirmative when he winced, pain flaring up in his bruised limbs. He fought off whimpers and sobs, wanting to put up a strong figure in front of his father… until he realized Spectre wasn't here. "Mom, where is Dad?"

Mother Tressa just sighed sadly and patted Thunderhawk's cheek. "He'll come back, don't worry sweetheart." But in truth, she was unsure herself.

Thunderhawk's head perked up when a blood-freezing scream was heard from the deeps of the military complex. It was short, yet pain-filled, and seemed to belong to a wounded animal. The boy shuddered. I wonder what kind of feral beasts they keep in there. They apparently aren't treated better than we are.

Then he began to seriously wonder… No, it couldn't have been Dad. Dad never screams, he says it's useless. It couldn't have been him. The hate and pain Thunderhawk could feel in the ambient air was enough to overcome his worried thoughts and he shuddered, holding onto his mother even more.

Suddenly, as if a violent gust had burst in, the door to the prison bay shot open. Mother and son were startled, and frightened when a body was thrown inside. Mother Tressa cried out when she realized it was Spectre. Thunderhawk's father was bruised, battered, and even in the dark prison bay you could make out blood flowing down his back. His eyes were closed, no breathing sounds could be heard, and for one agonizing moment Thunderhawk thought his father was dead.

That's it until Spectr released a groan and Lien-Da, having walked in seconds before, kicked him in the side. "So apart from being hot-headed and tough, you're stubborn," she snarled venomously, but with some degree of pleasure in her voice. "We'll see about that, Guardian. We'll see."

And with that she left, leaving a very triumphant Rykor put a very hurt Spectre back in his cell.

"What do you mean, 'nothing'?"

"I mean what it means: the Guardian said nothing. He's too proud and far too stubborn to give up. Rykor and I tortured him during two hours, and still he kept quiet. We got nothing out of him except a single scream. I swear, Brother, we did everything possible."

From where he was sitting in his high-backed chair, Kragok sighed and brought his hand up to massage his temples. "Well, we'll just have to give it time and he'll break eventually-"

"I don't think so, Brother," Lien-Da cut him off. "I don't think time will be our advantage. I've heard Guardians would rather kill themselves than betray their own. I think that's what he will do, even just to spite us."

"What do you suggest then?" Kragok asked. He honestly hadn't thought of this possibility, but now he found it rather believable. Guardians were such cowards such an act wasn't out of the question. "He can kill himself whenever he wants, so what is there for us to do? I don't mind him dying, after all that's what it's all about, but he has to reveal their base's location before."

"Well, from what I've seen the kid is the Guardian's son; in others words the next Guardian." Lien-Da let the meaning of her words sink in as she smirked. "We have the Guardian's lineage in our claws, which could be used as… blackmail?"

A dark grin crept across Kragok's features. "Of course, why didn't I think of it? Surely the Brotherhood may not be very concerned for Spectre, but the last of the Guardians imprisoned should get their attention. Great job, Lien, you really know how to hit where it hurts."

Lien-Da grinned. "Does that mean we're doing it?"

"Sure does. I even think I finally found a use for the Guardian's wife. Bring her to me in an hour or so; I still have to plan out." When his sister nodded and exited the room, Kragok rubbed his hands together and smirked. I won't need Haven's location, after all. Thanks to this kid, the Brotherhood of Guardians will come to me itself. After all, they can't afford to lose their next Guardian, can they?