Chapter 13

"What's wrong?" asked Princess innocently.

"I'll tell you what's wrong!" yelled Jason angrily, "That damn mecha isn't ready! We were nearly killed when the dampeners failed!"

"There was no equipment failure." Mala stated quietly. She stared at the pair. Even with gun barrels at their foreheads they declared their innocence. But she knew better.

"An unauthorized transmission was sent from the mecha." she said. "A distress call." With a deft maneuver she ripped off their masks so she could stare at them fill in the face.

"I was… just testing…" said Princess.

"Silence!" cried Mala, as she slapped Princess across the face. "I won't listen to any more of your lies!"

A cold, hard look stole across Mala's face. "Bring them in for questioning." she ordered the guards. They were quickly shackled at both hands and feet.

They were shoved down a long hallway toward a part of the base that they had never entered before. Jason realized that it was the detention area for prisoners of the state.

As they were thrown into a chamber they stumbled and fell flat on their faces. Princess was yanked up by her collar. She found herself face to face with a furious Xati.

"I thought you were my friend!" she hissed. "And here I find that you are just a traitor!" She spat into Princess' face.

Princess stared back blankly. There wasn't much else she could do at this point. Anything she might say would only serve to dig her and Jason into a deeper hole.

Mala entered. "We have confirmed that there was no equipment failure on the vehicle," she stated coldly. "Restrain them!"

The goons forced Jason and Princess into alcoves in the wall. Their hand and foot restraints attached automatically and then broke apart. It took only moments for the two to find themselves spread-eagled against the wall, unable to move. The goons departed, leaving Jason and Princess alone with Mala and Xati.

"I'll begin with you." Mala pointed a blood-red fingernail at Jason. She picked up a long, metallic whip.

"Whom were you trying to contact?" she demanded. Jason stared arrogantly at her.

Mala flicked the whip at him. It sliced through his goon uniform and left an angry red cut on his arm. Just as the whip flashed away Princess saw Jason's body jerk spasmodically. It was obvious that he had been given an electric shock. He gasped in pain.

Princess knew that Jason wouldn't show any weakness if he could possibly help it. The fact that he had made her worry all the more.

"I'll ask you again. Whom were you trying to contact?" Mala asked icily. When there was no response she lashed his other arm. This time Princess was sure she saw a flash of bone as it cut deep. Again the electric current shocked Jason's body.

Princess bit her lip to keep from screaming on his behalf. If he could deal with this kind of torture then so could she.

'He must be using his implant to dull the pain.' she thought. She actually didn't know if he was coherent enough at that moment to access it, but it was something to hold on to.

"We managed to distort your signal as it left our atmosphere." declared Mala gleefully. "Its strength is diminished and it will never reach Riga." She lifted Jason's head and looked into his eyes. Seeing no sign of defeat in them she was enraged.

She lashed her whip at him again. And again. Princess lost count of how many times he had been hit and shocked. His uniform was in shreds and dozens of wounds had manifested themselves all over his body. She tried to use her implant to will him to go on: to not give in to the torture and the pain.

Eventually Mala understood that Jason was not going to talk to her. No matter how many times she hurt him he still managed to glare at her with those defiant blue eyes.

She realized that she had another weapon to use against him. Turning to Princess she said, "Let's see how your sister likes my little toy!"

Jason's head whipped up and a look of pure hatred shot towards Mala. She laughed, reveling in his reaction. She had finally managed to find a weakness.

The whip lashed out at Princess, catching her across the thigh. Compared to the cuts she had given Jason it was light, but it stung like fire and Princess gasped in pain. Then the electric shock coursed through her body and she wished that she could die. The pain was so intense that it was the only way she could think of to gain release. When it was over she hung limply from the restraints.

"Whom are you working for?" demanded Mala of her prisoners. "What is your mission?" When they both declined to answer she raised her whip again.

Just then the door to the torture chamber opened. Jason raised his head to see Zoltar enter the room. It appeared that their troubles were just beginning. He seethed knowing that Zoltar had him at his mercy, even if the Spectran leader didn't actually realize whom he held captive.

Zoltar glanced over at Jason, but eyed Princess with more interest. "This is the girl from the simulator this afternoon." he declared gleefully. "You would have done better to let me have her Mala. I can see that she has only caused you trouble."

A terrible look came into Mala's eyes. "Take her now then brother." she whispered. "Do with her what you will…" she glanced over to see Jason's reaction.

At first Jason didn't comprehend what Mala was referring to. Then Zoltar reached down and ran a finger along Princess' thigh where it had been exposed by the whip lash.

A cold rage choked his heart. No… not…

"You can't!" he gasped without thinking, "She's a…"

Despite the bizarre circumstances Princess blushed to the roots of her hair. How did Jason know she was a virgin? She had never talked to anyone about it…

She suddenly realized that this lack of experience was about to be wiped away. Desperately she looked up at Xati. Her former companion had been watching the entire proceedings impassively. Princess silently pleaded for help.

"I told you not to catch his eye." Xati whispered with a gleeful smile.

"Release her to me!" Zoltar commanded. "Bring her to my quarters!"

The Spectran leader turned with a flourish and left the room. Princess felt her arms and legs moving as her shackles re-connected and detached from the wall. She fell to her knees. Xati grabbed her by the hair and half-dragged her out the door.

Jason's vision went red. At that moment if he could have incinerated himself and the entire planet he would have gladly done so.

But he didn't have that option.