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Chapter 37

A young girl sat in a cold, dark and empty room. The only light that shone was a small over-head light…that barely illuminated her legs.

She shivered wildly from the temperature…and her fear.

In the background…she heard the door open; she anxiously peered in that direction.

"Hello," she said weakly. A few tears streamed down her cheek.

She heard footsteps; they grew near.

"Please,"

The footsteps grew louder; her shaking grew stronger with each passing step.

The sound stopped; a dark figure appeared before her.

She looked up…terror in her eyes.

"Let me go," she whispered…whimpering as she spoke.

The figure was silent for a moment; the only sound that could be heard were her weak moaning.

Then…the grabbed her and pulled her into the light.

She wore a tattered…bloodstained Starfleet uniform.

She looked into the eyes of her captor.

It was Sakal.

"Please let me go," she cried again. Tears gushed from her eyes.

Sakal's face was pained; guilt seeped from his eyes.

"My commander has a few questions,"

Sakal led the young girl to another dark and cold room.

This one had a metallic table at the center, with another dim light shining above.

Sakal threw her into a seat connected to the table…and strapped her down.

"Ahhhh….stopppppp," she screamed between tears.

Sakal disappeared into the shadows.

She sat there for several minutes…again the only sound that echoed were her cries of pain and fear.

Then…out of the shadows…stepped Lo-Chem.

His face was emotionless; his eyes were like stone.

He banged his fists onto the table in front of hear; she let out a terrified scream.

"You will tell me everything you know," he growled.

She stared into his eyes; they were devoid of all compassion and empathy.

She peered into him…and could see no light of life left.

Only emptiness.

In that moment…she lost all of hope of escape.

All hoping of even living.

"I don't know anything," she stammered.

"YOU WILL TELL ME!" for an instance…his scream took on a life of its own.

It was no longer the voice of a man…but of a beast.

A demon.

She sat there…crying and shaking uncontrollably.

Unable to speak.