A lot going on in this chapter but it didn't feel right to break it into two chapters. Major warnings for whump!

Chapter 17

Jakobb groaned slightly in discomfort as he pushed himself up from his prone position, having just woken up. His back still ached from the lashing he received for his failure to extract information from the Nere'i prisoner. Not that he hadn't tried but the prisoner was an unusually resistant person. Jakobb couldn't help but admire the man, considering other Nere'ii would have given up their own mother after the abuse he'd inflicted on Alex.

Rubbing his face to refocus his thoughts, he slowly stood up and headed to the shower, the pain in his back reminding him how lucky he was compared to other Human slaves. Unlike others, he had his own private bedroom suite. Others in the household shared rooms and had only one bathroom amongst them. Stepping into the shower, he turned on the water, which was immediately at his preferred temperature, and washed, being careful not to aggravate his sore back. Feeling at least cleaner from his shower, he finished getting ready for the day by gently dressing in a tunic and trousers.

Going down to the estate's kitchen, he greeted his staff who were also just starting their day. Breakfast was a group activity, as usual, and passed quickly so that the staff could go on to their duties. Just as he did every day, he ensured everyone understood their assignments, approved the cook's menu for their master and the rest of the household, made sure the Keeper received his morning meal, ensured that any necessary orders were made in a timely manner – wouldn't do to run out of food or hygienic sundries – and inspected the security system to ensure that there were no incidences to handle from the previous day. When he completed his tasks, it was time for mid-day meal, when he made certain was served to his master before the rest of the staff could partake.

Once he had refreshed himself and was rested from his morning activities, Jakobb moved onto his duties as the Keeper's personal assistant. Going to his master's office, he bowed in submission and waited to be given orders.

The Time Lord didn't even raise his eyes from the papers he was reading as he spoke. "I will be taking on interrogating the Nere'i. Focus your skills on the other prisoners and your household duties." He paused, put the papers he'd been reading down, and finally looked at his slave. "Did you receive medical attention for your back?"

"I have, sire," Jakobb replied, his eyes downcast as was appropriate under the circumstances. "Thank you for your mercy." Although he still had faded scars on his back from the lashing, he knew other slaves would likely still be recovering and would end up with permanent and much more prominent welts.

The Keeper merely nodded his acknowledgement of the gratitude before waving Jakobb out of the office.

The Human bowed again and obeyed the unspoken command. Even as he did so, he wondered why the Keeper had such a strong interest in this particular prisoner. It couldn't be a good thing, whatever the reason. Nevertheless, he would obey his master's instructions. It was only a matter of time when the Keeper would need his assistance with the Nere'i once more.

When Alex regained consciousness, he was somewhat relieved to discover that he had been returned to his cell. While he hated the small room, it had become a kind of safe – if temporary – haven. Away from the skilled hands of either the Keeper or Jakobb, he could just… be… for a little bit, even if that particular state included feeling the after-effects of being tortured. Like the after-effects he was feeling right at that moment. His entire body hurt, a sensation that he hadn't thought was even possible before he'd been strapped to that examination table only… how long ago? He wasn't sure. He was finding it more and more difficult to feel the passage of time, which was disconcerting to say the least. He'd always been able to tell exactly how much time had passed, even if occasionally he had to really concentrate. When he really thought about it, he wasn't surprised. Who wouldn't lose track of time in his predicament?

He shifted slightly on the bed, whimpering softly as his nerves protested his actions. He wondered briefly if he would see Jakobb soon. The Human had been there to tend his wounds previously but perhaps that particular role was no longer required, now that the Keeper had taken over as his interrogator. He couldn't help but worry a little about Jakobb, especially with the knowledge that Jakobb had been punished for his inability to gain information from him. He imagined that others would find it odd for a prisoner to worry about one of his torturers but he couldn't help it. There was so much of Jack in Jakobb that he knew – he just KNEW – he could convince him to let him go. And maybe he'd be able to save Jakobb's soul in the process.

Hours passed and Alex started to think that he might actually get some time off from being interrogated. However his hopes were dashed as the door to the cell opened again and two slaves – the same two who had strapped him to the examination table – came in. Without a word, they pulled him to his feet and dragged him from the cell. He feared that they were taking him back to the lab but found his destination was the interrogation room where Jakobb had whipped him into unconsciousness.

Once again hanging from his wrists in manacles, he waited in trepidation for whomever was going to go through the door to torture him for information. He wasn't surprise, but was a little disappointed, when the Keeper entered a few minutes later. The Time Lord didn't say a word, merely giving him a wicked smile, before going to the hidden cabinet behind Alex. Opening it, he located and retrieved his device of choice and then walked back so that he was right in front of Alex.

The hybrid regarded the device in a glance. It was a long pole with a translucent tip on one end. He remembered the instrument quite well, having been on the receiving end as it was being operated by a different Time Lord so very long ago. Back when he was all teeth and curls, as his third incarnation had described him. He shivered involuntarily at the memory.

"Oh, you know this implement!" the Keeper noted his reaction. "Very interesting. Then you know what it will do to you if you refuse to answer my question. Where is Lord Rega?"

Alex hesitated for a long moment, forcing himself to put on a brave face, before swallowing and looking into the Keeper's eyes. It was enough to remind him why he was allowing himself to be tortured when he could easily just surrender to avoid the pain. "I will not now nor will I ever tell you where Rega's camp is."

Just as Alex knew that he would, the Keeper pressed the translucent end into his side, causing him to bellow in pain as electricity surged through his body. The pain continued for a full minute before the Keeper relented just enough to allow Alex to catch his breath. Then, without a word, the Keeper repeated his actions on another part of Alex's body, bringing about another minute of agony.

Alex didn't know how much time had passed nor how many times the Keeper used the tool on him. All he knew was the torture seemed to last for hours. His whole body twitched in anguish the longer the torture continued and his mind, desperately needing escape, started to shut itself down. Only a loud crack and an intense sharp pain in his right leg brought him back from near unconsciousness. It took a moment for him to realize that the Keeper had changed his method of interrogation from the electrical torture device to breaking his leg. Another crack and shooting pain told him that his left leg had been broken. He opened his eyes long enough to see the Keeper gleefully swing the electric prod like a baseball bat at his right arm, causing the bone to snap followed by his left arm. A strike to his chest broke the ribs that Jakobb had broken earlier with his fists.

Hanging from his broken arms, he panted heavily, desperately wishing an end to the pain. He struggled to breath as the weight of his body constricted his chest. Almost as if to reinforce his demands, the Keeper pushed the translucent end of the electrical torture device into Alex's back, forcing one more scream from his already harassed lungs before he slipped into unconsciousness.

Everything seemed as quiet when Jakobb entered the cell. Alex was lying on the bed, apparently deep in sleep. Approaching the bed, he grimaced at the mauled figure there. Bruises covered his chest, arms and legs, the latter two laying at odd angles on the bed. Further investigation revealed the prominent scars on his chest and abdomen, leaving Jakobb no doubt as to what Alex had endured at the Keeper's hands in the last couple of days.

A pained moan and gasp escaped Alex's lips, drawing the Human's attention to his face. The tautness of his features highlighted how tormented he was, even in his sleep. Sweat beaded his forehead and cheeks which merged with the tears that slipped through his tightened eyelids.

"No! Please!" he begged, pulling on his restraints. He screamed, reliving the torture inflicted on him as he fought to free himself and escape the horror in his mind.

Jakobb startled, jumping back involuntarily. He'd never heard such sheer emotional pain coming from a sleeping person. His heart clenched in empathy as Alex continued to beg and scream.

Finally reality asserted itself in Alex's mind, waking him abruptly and ending the screams. Focusing his mind, he forced him to calm himself or risk hyperventilation. He made a quick assessment of his situation, disconcerted when he saw noted his damaged body. Funny, he didn't really feel any pain at the moment. He quickly diagnosed himself as being in shock. Turning his head, he noticed Jakobb standing nearby and watching him.

"My master sent me to attend to you," the Human told him with a catch in his throat.

"Of course, he did. Do what you have to do then." Alex gave a weak laugh. "I'm not going anywhere."

Jakobb paused, briefly wondering about Alex's mental state. Without a word, he chose focus his attention on Alex's arms and legs and then his chest, using a healing device to not only repair his broken bones but also to strengthen the repairs down to him after the vivisection he'd endured. Then, he worked on lessening the various scars on his skin. The entire time he worked, Alex cried out, unable to prevent tears from escaping his eyes.

Jakobb understood the use of aggressive interrogation to get information but there was a point of going too far. He never would have left his prisoners in the condition Alex was in, laying in a bed with his limps broken and twisted for hours on end. As for the Keeper, from the first moment he laid eyes on Alex, there had been a certain glee in his eyes that Jakobb hadn't seen when the Time Lord was questioning other prisoners. When he thought on it, he remembered seeing that look on other interrogators who'd gone too far. They didn't really care if they got answers; they just wanted to hear someone scream. If they could satisfy some twisted scientific curiosity while they were at it, all the better. Something about Alex fascinated the Keeper scientifically and he was going to study the Nere'i to his hearts' content. Getting the location of Rega while he was doing it was just an added bonus.

Jakobb looked on Alex's face as he struggled to cope with the pain he was in, despite having all his wounds healed. There was definitely defeatism now in his eyes, an expression Jakobb found somehow unnatural to the Nere'i. It wasn't the look of someone who was on the verge of surrender, though. It was the look of a man who has realized that, no matter what happens, he would never be free of the terror. Alex wasn't going to give into the Keeper's demands; he was going to make sure that the next time he was interrogated by the Time Lord would be the last time. He was going to let the Keeper kill him.

At that moment, Jakobb made a decision. He just needed to know one thing. "Is Lord Rega worth it?"

Alex blinked at the seemingly random question. "Sorry?"

"This torture you're letting happen to you… is he worth it?"

The hybrid paused in thought. "I don't know. But she is."

"Your girl," Jakobb surmised.

"My fiancée," Alex corrected. "Probably will never see her again. I'll never escape this hell."

"Not without help."

"What do you mean?" There was very little interest in his voice, like he was just humoring Jakobb with responses.

"Hang on a little longer," Jakobb told him. Seeing the look of confusion Alex gave him, he gently took his hand. "Promise me."

Alex hesitated for a moment before giving him a nod, realizing that Jakobb was going to help him, though he wondered how that was going to be possible.

Having received the promise, Jakobb refocused his attention on his duties and ensured that he had finished tending to Alex. Once done, he gave Alex a reassuring nod and exited the cell without a word, leaving the hybrid to wonder what exactly Jakobb was planning.

Alex spent hours alone in his cell after Jakobb left, so long that he wondered if the Human was ever going to be returned. Shortly after Jakobb exited the room, the lights went out, leaving him in complete darkness. He tried to rest but every time he was about to drift to sleep, sounds were pumped in through speakers he hadn't known were there. Horrible sounds. Frightening sounds. The kind that haunt you and make you wonder if there was something in the room with you that was going to rip you apart. It didn't help in the least that he still hurt all over. Sometimes, he actually thought that a monster had actually ripped off his limbs and was enjoying them as a midnight snack.

After hours being in the dark, the defeatism that had plagued his mind started to return with a vengeance. He just wasn't so sure how much more he would take. He'd almost given into the Keeper's demands after the Time Lord had broken his bones, had almost told him exactly where the encampment was. The only thing that stopped him was his memory of Rose. He'd rather die than put her in any danger and he knew the Keeper would kill everyone in the camp if he knew where it was. So, Alex mentally prayed for death so that he wouldn't give into what his body wanted: an end to the pain, no matter the cost.

When the door to his cell opened, he reacted instinctively, scrambling as far from the door as possible in a futile attempt to escape the pain he knew was coming. "Please, no!" he whimpered as two servants, whom he now viewed as the harbingers of despair, entered the room. Without a word, they took hold of him tightly and carried him out. He was far too weak to give them a decent fight so he did the only thing that he could do: he pleaded.

The servants were completely oblivious to Alex's protestations as they took him to the interrogation room and chained him with his hands above his head. They left the room once he was secure, ignoring his weak struggles to escape.

The moment the door closed, Alex stopped fighting, knowing all too well that it was pointless to do so. The Keeper would be in soon to torture him and demand to know where Rega was and Alex wasn't sure he wouldn't give in this time.

After Jakobb tended to Alex's wounds, the Keeper instructed that the lights in Alex's cell be shut off and the prisoner be inundated with sounds. It was a simple form of torture, one that could be done without either him or Jakobb, and had been quite effective in some of the more stubborn cases. However, he doubted that it would be completely successful on Alex so he decided to spent some time studying the results of the various tests he'd performed on the hybrid, both during his initial examination after kidnapping Alex from Earth and during his recent interrogation. If only there were something in the tests that he could use against the stubborn man.

If there could be a more perfect specimen of Nere'ii, the Time Lord couldn't find it. Nearly perfectly half-Human and half-Gallifreyan with perfect Nere'ii organs. What was more Alex's brain was mostly Time Lord which meant his intelligence was greater than any ordinary Nere'ii. It was that intelligence that was making it so very difficult to break him. It made the Keeper all that more determined to do so.

After a couple of hours of studying the results, he saw it. It was such a small marker on the brain scan that he hadn't thought much of it before, especially since there were many Nere'ii with the same marker. But Alex was from Earth. The chances of him having that marker, just based on his planet of origin, were extremely low. Yet, there it was, like a gift from Rassilon himself. All he needed was a decent supply of a certain chemical. Fortunately, he already had a good supply available for use; he had many friends who gave him favors in exchange for a few vial of the drug which he obtained on a regular basis. Nothing near the strength he wanted for his experiment but he could just give Alex larger quantities over time.

Determined to put his intentions into action, the Keeper ordered Alex to be moved to the interrogation room before going to his lab to collect the needed materials.

The moment that the door to the interrogation room opened, Alex put on an expression of defiance. He would never show the Keeper just how close he was to breaking. Just pretending to be unbreakable was helping his mindset, giving him just enough courage to continue fighting. The persona dropped, however, when he noticed that the Keeper was carrying a syringe and several vials.

"Hello again, Nere'i. Did you rest well?" he greeted with a smile, receiving a furious glare in return. "Such hatred in those eyes. I suppose I'm fortunate that you are restrained. I'd imagine even in your weakened condition, you'd likely strangle me."

"I would certainly try," Alex confirmed, knowing the chances of succeeding in such an attempt were small under the circumstances. "So what are you going to do with me this time? Whatever it is, it won't work. I will never tell you where our encampment is."

"I think you will with a different kind of persuasion. It is clear that no amount of physical pain will make you tell me where Lord Rega is. Oh, you would scream and plead and beg me to stop but you'd never break. Not completely. And that means that I'll have to try something completely different." He took a breath, allowing Alex to consider his words for a moment. "I examined the results of all the tests I've done on you and I found something very interesting. A marker on your brain scan normally found on the brain scans of Nere'ii or Gallifreyans addicted to a common narcotic known as Hype, something I didn't expect to see in a Nere'i from Earth. I believe the drug is used as an antipsychotic for Humans." He noted that Alex's expression of hatred quickly changed to one of apprehension. "I thought as much. Since you've obviously been without for at least as long as you've been on Gallifrey, based on your scans, I became curious how your body would react to a reintroduction of the drug. Of course, for scientific purposes, I will begin with a small amount and gradually increase the dosage, taking down detailed notes as I observe your reactions. Naturally, the sooner you tell where Lord Rega is, the greater your chances that I will end this experiment before you suffer permanent brain damage."

"You won't let that happen," Alex countered. "As long as I have information you want, I'm more valuable to you alive and rational."

The Keeper huffed derogatorily. "Please don't make yourself out to be more important than you really are. You are not the first that I've interrogated in my search for Lord Rega, only the longest lasting. I have absolutely no qualms turning you into a crazed lunatic barely surviving out of a rubbish bin in the seediest part of the lower city. Whether or not you remain sane through this is entirely up to what you tell, or refuse to tell, me and how valuable I deem that information to be. Now… let's begin."

After he left Alex recovering in his cell, Jakobb ensured that his master received his evening meal and that the staff had fulfilled their duties before they too had a meal. He reviewed the duties for the next day with the staff and made sure that the master's suite was ready for the night. Once he was sure everything was done, he dismissed the staff for the night.

As he walked into his room, he thought seriously about his life after becoming the Keeper's slave. He'd only agreed to his own enslavement to save his own life with the bonus of becoming the most powerful Human in the Empire. At the time, although it really wasn't much of a choice, it seemed like a win-win situation. Since that day, he'd tortured many people, mostly Humans and Nere'ii. He'd become so feared that very few people would even look at him, much less talk to him unless they absolutely had to. Other than the Keeper and the household staff, that is. Perhaps that was one of the reasons he found Alex so compelling. He looked at him as a person, not a pariah.

Ever since he'd joined the Time Revolt, he had a habit of studying people. It was an important part of his job, a skill he'd continued to practice as the Keeper's personal assistant. In his study of Alex, he'd come to several conclusions. First, Alex was a man of strong convictions. Second, he was willing to suffer or die for those convictions. Third, he cared about people. A lot. It didn't matter what species you were. Fourth, he would do whatever he had to in order to save even one person. Fifth, he hated injustice with a passion. Jakobb had a feeling that, if he wanted to, Alex could be a very dangerous person to cross. He would also be your greatest ally if he considered you to be a friend.

As such, Jakobb decided he'd rather have Alex as an ally than an enemy. He also knew that if he even had a slight chance at redemption for his great crimes – the betrayals he'd committed that he refused to speak of – Alex was his gateway. The latter had seen how much Jakobb hated his current life and had offered him a path out of slavery. All he had to do was take the first step.

With that in mind, he grabbed a large satchel and left the estate without any interference. Not that he expected any. While he didn't really have friends, he did have a couple of relationships strictly based on the need for physical comfort. It wasn't unusual for him to make a rendezvous. Sex, however, wasn't on his mind this night as he got into the public transport and rode to a familiar part of the city. He got off the transport early to avoid being noticed and walked the remaining few kilometers.

Long ago, after he had proven himself to the Keeper, the Time Lord had arranged for Jakobb to receive a security card, enabling him to have limited access to secure areas as long as he received approval from the Keeper. The Human had hacked the card, giving him the ability to go anywhere in the city, primarily so he could reach his rendezvous discreetly. Not once did he think he would ever use the card to do something that, if caught, might get him killed.

"I sure hope you're worth this," he murmured before he inserted his security card to enter the Hall of Science and Technology. Gaining access, he made his way to the cold storage room and entered without setting off any alarms.

The most useful thing about the Time Lords, Jakobb decided, was their massive egos. While it was overbearingly annoying to be treated like a lesser species, Jakobb often used that ego to his advantage. In this case, he knew Time Lord ego would never have allowed them to think anyone would dare another break into the HST. Everything Alex had tried to steal had been put back in the same area as before. Security had been tightened at the main entrances and there were more frequent Imperial Guard patrols but Jakobb was sure it wouldn't be a problem. He was feared by them and even knew some of them… personally. He was confident he'd be able to talk himself out of trouble if necessary.

Inserting his card to gain access to cold storage, he went to the computer terminal, typed in his access codes, and found out which locker held the disease and cure Alex had stolen. He then cleaned out both lockers, putting the marked vials into his satchel.

Returning to the computer terminal, he took a deep breath. So far, he'd done things he could make excuses for. What he was about to do would definitely bring about his execution if caught but he knew in his heart that he was doing the right thing. Accessing the database, he located and erased all research on the Human/Nere'ii killing disease. He also perused the files on the cure to the disease to make sure that the disease couldn't be manufactured ever again. At least, not without starting from scratch.

Confident that he achieved what Alex had attempted, he covered his digital tracks as best as he could and then left the room, making sure he hadn't been detected. He then carefully made his way out of the building the same way he came in. He walked the same route as before, keeping guard of his satchel. Again finding public transportation a good distance from the HST, he rode to the industrial area of the Citadel. From there he walked a few kilometers to a nearby steel manufacturer where he threw every vial of the disease into the smelter, making sure not to accidentally destroy any of the cure. Once he was sure the disease had been completely eradicated in chemical form, he again found public transportation and returned to the Keeper's estate.

Giving what time he was returning, Jakobb stealthily entered the mansion and went to his room. He carefully hid his satchel for safekeeping before preparing for bed. He knew there was nothing he could do for the rest of the night. The heist had taken half the night and soon the morning staff would awaken. He would just have to wait until an opportunity presented itself, probably the next evening. He just hoped that it wouldn't be too long a wait.