Warnings: Contains scenes of violence in some parts, but nothing graphic.
Disclaimer: As usual I own no part of this world and I gain nothing from this story, other than getting the ideas out of my brain so they can stop nagging me.
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PART 2.
Telpor strutted down the corridor of the prison deck of his ship. He had been questioning his key prisoner all week, but was getting nowhere. Telpor was quite happy to torture the prisoner, yet the human had been very open to questioning and even Telpor couldn't torture a prisoner like that. He could admit this human had thrown him off slightly. He had foreseen shouting, arguing and eventual revelation of information whilst at the same time his scientists and technicians would learn everything about the energy suit.
However, none of that had occurred. The prisoner had been talkative and the scientists had learnt nothing. Though the information the prisoner gave seemed completely unhelpful – all scans seemed to indicate he was truthful. Telpor had studied the confusing answers given by the prisoner many a night, but their meaning still eluded his understanding. He had even been attempted to ask Kathryn about the answers, but she had nothing to add. Confirming for Telpor his previous supposition that Kathryn knew little about the technology she wielded. He had not tried again as he did not want to give her any new information. Best to keep her ignorant and focused purely on her vengeance.
But, he needed to move things along quicker. His technicians had found the suit to be nothing more that a series of basic power circuits, designed to focus and channel energy. There was little more to the suit than that. The material was of an alien design that was highly resistant to any elements or tearing. Telpor had not ordered the suit to be dismantled as that would probably ruin it for life and he could not risk that.
What else could he do? He knew the answer though; put the suit back on the prisoner and see how it works live. The head technician had recommended testing him in a contained cage, but Telpor could not risk his escaping. Unless, he had backup. Someone who could stop him if he escaped – someone whose anger could hold back a supernova…
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Kathryn stood alone in her assigned quarters. The lights were at the lowest setting and she stood looking out at the passing stars. The room behind her was completely bare of any personal touches. Not one single addition to the standard appearance of the room. There was a table, two chairs, a bed and a replicator. There was no sign of colour in the room it was all was dull and neutral. The walls held no pictures, not even a star chart or family picture. Nothing in the room was hers. She owned nothing but the clothes she wore at present.
This room was merely a place to sleep and eat. She used the replicator for food, choosing not to eat in the mess with the other crew members. She sat in one chair to eat at the table and slept in the bed. That was all. The rest of the time she was either standing looking out at the stars or on duty.
As she stood in the dim light she was aware that her anger had lessened. When she gazed out at the passing stars her mind was quiet. No thoughts of anger or revenge. No replaying the painful memories. She was still. Quiet. Yet, when she became aware of this fact, as she was now, she would always lapse back into that hateful mindset. The boiling blinding red anger would rise within her.
There were times when her rational mind would attempt to question where this anger was still coming from after all these years? Why did the anger feel almost…artificial at times? It would hit her out of nowhere, like a wave crashing down, on her penetrating through her pores and into her blood. Then there was nothing else but hatred and anger. It was in those times that she had done her most despicable deeds.
Behind her a siren shrilled suddenly. She turned and looked at the colour of the alarm. Red. She headed straight for the door. As she did she felt the ship rock slightly as if hit by something. It did not feel like a plasma storm to her, nor due to a collision. More likely from an internal cause. She exited her room and headed towards the bridge. People were running past her, heading to their duty shifts. They all gave her plenty of space, all keeping out of her way, even if it meant pressing up against the walls as they passed her. She paid them no attention. They meant nothing, but the means for the correct running of the ship.
Her communicator buzzed as she stepped into the freshly evacuated turbolift. "Kathryn, this is Telpor. Report to the prison level. The human has escaped." She needed no prompting as to whom he was referring. The human with the energy suit. She ordered the turbolift to the correct level. She had not seen the human and had been avoiding seeing him for reasons she did not understand. She did not care.
A sudden burst of anger flashed through her, leaving her gasping. That artificial feeling again! Why?She ignored the question now as a powerful desire grew. She would make them all pay for what they had done to her father! Conspirators and murderers everywhere. At this moment all she felt was the desire to get out her pent up frustration and she looked forward to beating on this enemy.
Another human with an energy suit should give her some decent exercise. She planned to draw out the battle a little longer, so she could enjoy her workout. It should not take long to sort out Telpor's latest mess!
Reaching the prison level she deactivated the force field blocking the turbo lift doors and exited into the bare empty corridor. The doors closed behind her and she heard the snap of the force field reactivating. She headed to her left. She would walk the perimeter of the level and work her way inwards. She could not guess where this human thought he was going. How did he expect to get off this ship alive?
She finished her perimeter walk, ensuring the other prisoners were still sealed away. She began to head inwards towards the labs. She heard a few whimpers within the main lab. She stepped into the doorway to see the head technician hiding behind a bench.
"Where did he go?" she demanded.
The man only shook his head in fright. She moved on. She came across a caged area that had a large hole in its side. Debris was scattered across the floor. She could make out foot prints in the pieces of glass, metal and dust. She tracked him to the far doorway. Kathryn stepped quickly out into the empty corridor. She listened but heard nothing. Looking down she noticed the footprints faded off to the right. She followed them. Until she came up to a corner and knew he was waiting for her around the other side. She smiled at the obviousness of it.
Boldly she stepped around the corner to confront the man.
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He was waiting in the centre of the corridor, matching her bold body language, yet he appeared quite relaxed.
They stood opposite one another, a stretch of two metres between them.
They studied one another, neither moving.
Kathryn noticed first that he was wearing his energy suit and secondly that it fitted him very well. She assessed him as a strong man, tall, broad shouldered, long legs and narrow waist. His hair was black and long, with the occasional bead or feather woven into stray plated locks half hidden in the black hair.
His eyes were almost as dark as his hair and a strange tattoo stretched across one side of his forehead. His eyes looked right at her, free of any sign of emotion.
He was a handsome man, with a brave heart - shame she might have to pluck it out of his chest!
"I am Kathryn." She introduced herself simply.
"I know."
She was thrown by his reply, but brushed it aside.
"Surrender now and I will not hurt you. One way or another you are going back into your cage."
He tilted his head at her ultimatum as if he were considering it. "Why do you work for him?" he asked.
Again thrown by his response she felt her anger rise further. "I do not work for Telpor! I work only for my own interests."
"And what are you interested in?" He asked as he moved from their stand-off position towards her at a slight angle. She refused to shift her position; she would hold her ground and would not be baited into moving.
She crossed her arms tightly across her chest and sighed dramatically. "Are you trying to psycho-analyse me? Looking to find a weakness? Please!"
He smiled at her response, which again threw her off. "I would never be so bold as to try." He replied.
He had a very disarming smile. Well – she would not be fooled by such obvious tactics! Silence fell over them.
"So, are you going to get back in your cage, or do I have to drag you back there by your hair?" She challenged.
He smiled slightly again at her attempt to anger him. Neither wanted to be the one to throw the first punch and open themselves to attack. "I simply would like to know why someone such as yourself is working for such a cruel individual as Telpor?" He asked.
"He serves my purposes. Now, are you going to surrender or fight?" She demanded.
He sighed slightly and seemed to give up his line of enquiry. "Very well." He answered.
Yet, neither moved. Both understood that in this situation to attack first was to give an advantage to the other. However the stalemate was broken as a security team appeared around the corner behind the man. Kathryn knew a force field stood between him and the guards, but did he know that as well? She took her moment and as his attention shifted to the guards for a split second she attacked.
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Kathryn lashed out with a series of blows aimed directly at his head.
However, he dodged the first few, blocked the rest and followed through with a lightening quick blow that caught her directly on the jaw.
She stepped back, shocked. It had been a long time since someone had gotten a hit in on her. She shook it off quickly. She had under-estimated him, but would not do so again.
They circled one another in the corridor.
She activated the suit and felt the ripples of free energy along her arms.
A small smile crept onto her face; she was going to enjoy this.
She attacked again this time varying her targets, he blocked most, but she landed a weak hit on his jaw.
He acknowledged the hit with a smile.
Now they were even.
She struck straight out with one palm, energy fizzling around the hit.
He leant back out of range, whilst simultaneously kicking out catching her fully on her right calf. Pain shot up her leg and the energy with it crackled over her suit.
She limped back to regain her composure, but he followed her retreat and hit a series of blows against her raised arms and head. She struck out with a burst of rage and anger.
He stepped back from the wave of energy just in time.
He was wining this she realised. He had injured her and upset her. Her emotions flared through her. She was unused to feeling anything but anger and hatred. To suddenly feel fear and injury again almost floored her.
She gasped a deep breath and felt her body shake. She needed to regain control. She fixed him with a wide eyed gaze, waiting for his next attack. Yet none came.
He stepped back and frowned at her. "Are you alright?" He asked.
"Fine!" She shouted and threw herself at him. He dodged the badly aimed hits, but she had him backed up against the opposite wall and he had to respond.
He captured both wrists of her flailing arms with a sharp grip in each hand. Her mind sent out a delayed warning – she had been stupid to attack like that. So full of raw emotion that it had clouded her judgement. In a fraction of a second she saw his suit come online and the sharp painful shock of energy that he sent through her entire body.
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Kathryn heard someone scream and realised it was herself. She staggered back from him and collapsed onto the corridor floor gasping for breath. Her mind fought for clarity again through the fog of receding pain.
She had used that very same move on many of her enemies over the years, but she had never realised until now how truly painful an experience it was! And he had only used half of the energy he could have!
Her vision cleared finally and she saw he was still standing opposite her. Surprised he had not made a run for it, she managed to get to her feet.
He was looking at her with deep concentration and she saw the circuits of his suit working over time. "Be careful, Kathryn. Telpor has more of a hold over you than you think."
She frowned at his words spoken so softly that she naturally seemed to believe him. "What…. do…. you mean?" She asked through still struggling breaths.
"To be so angry for so long is not natural, Kathryn. The body can not sustain that. And whatever it is that you are hiding from, it will always remain. Regardless of how angry you are, people you hurt or years that pass."
She felt wetness in her eyes and realised they were the beginnings of tears. She had not cried for years. And she refused to now. She pushed back the wave of emotion that threatened her control by force of will. She stood up straighter and breathed a deep breath.
The man watched as she regained control with a strange expression of both respect and pity on his face. Deep down inside the desire flared up to wipe it from his face as hard as she could. She set her jaw and glared right back at him.
He looked her right back in the eye. And she felt a strange sense of recognition as if she had met him before somewhere, yet she knew she hadn't. She could not maintain the look and distracted herself and him by shouting an order to the security guards who should still be on the other side of the force field.
"They ran away when they saw you hurt." The man offered.
He looked at her closely. "I know some people who could help you. Help you get over the past and develop your skills with the suit further. You do not have to remain here with Telpor. You can choose to leave it all."
She was taken back once more by this man. He was nothing like she expected and she did not know how to handle him. She felt the honesty of his offer, but…
"I can not walk away. I will not walk away." She stated her voice strong once more.
"Then good luck, Kathryn." He offered and simply turned and walked away down the corridor. She realised she should stop him, but also knew she would not be able to.
They had underestimated him and he would easily get off this ship. Telpor be damned she thought. Right now she needed to get to her quarters and see to her wounds, both physical and emotional.
TBC