Eleven

*Jaigin*

The smell of blood filled my nostrils, reeking from pools on the cave floor. It was a wonder I still had any left in my veins, for Dylin had sliced my skin to ribbons, leaving his dagger in my thigh. Had my hands not been tied I would've removed it. It was impossible to fall unconscious when the screams of Wesley's friends filled the air, Dylin's followers beating and torturing them. Wesley was in extreme distress, tear streaks forming amongst the dry blood on his face.

"Dylin! Stop!" I tried to haul myself up to no avail, the dagger diving deeper into my flesh. "They don't deserve it - I do!"

Smirking, my former leader walked over, wiping the blood off his sword. He waved his assistants away, leaning so his breath tingled the hairs on my neck. "You foolish child. Look what you've brought upon them."

"Don't do this, Dylin," My voice was thin with pain. "They can help us-"

"They cannot even help themselves!" Dylin whisked his sword across my cheek, drawing the slightest amount of blood. His grin looked demonic in the candlelight. "But I will teach them to obey, just as I taught you. They will make good slaves."

The red-haired lady screamed, squirming against the ropes that held her. A dagger's handle stuck out from her left shoulder. Wesley's tears fell even faster, forming a murky red mixture with his own blood.

"If you do this," I hissed, "you will condemn yourselves. They will punish you for what you've done."

"This is not their planet, is it?" Dylin laughed. "They have no authority over us! In addition, they broke the conditions of our ransom-"

"What you are doing to Wesley is unethical! They had every right to intervene!"

"Dylin," The dark-haired woman spoke, her voice trembling. "If you let us go, we will help you. We have food, water, shelter - everything you need. Our captain-"

"Your captain will watch you die for your insolence!" Dylin announced. He marched over to the male prisoner and snatched his silver badge. "Captain Picard!"

"Number One? Are you alright?" A concerned voice emerged from the badge. "Who is this?"

"You were foolish to send your crew, Captain," Dylin drove the red-haired lady's dagger in further. Her face contorted with pain as she unleashed a powerful scream.

There was a brief silence before Picard spoke again. "Unless you want us to force you cowards out of your hiding spot, release my crew immediately!"

"It is a shame you say that now, Picard. They won't be able to escape even if they tried."

"In what way?" Picard snapped.

"If you do not deliver the supplies we asked for in twelve hours, we will block off the entrance to this cave. The rock is many meters thick, Picard. Your technology nor your willpower will be able to rescue them."

"We will take that as a hostile, barbaric action!" Picard's rage was evident. "Release my crew!"

"Captain, don't!" The male prisoner shouted. "Don't blow your top!"

Picard was silent for a moment. "What do you mean, Number One?"

"Perhaps we should let them go," Jet spoke up. "We have no food left, Dylin."

"Never!" Dylin roared, throwing the badge across the room. "We have the advantage now! Releasing them would condemn us!"

"You have condemned yourselves already!" I shouted. "Do not be fools! Picard's people will help you!"

"How many more times do we have to hear that, boy?" Dylin punched me across the jaw. "You are not one of us anymore. You have no say."

I sighed. "I never was, and I never did."