Chapter 4

What doesn't kill you.

The blood flowed from his nose, trickling into his mouth, dripping from his chin, slowly recoloring his cream colored shirt and adding new stains to the floor. So much for hope, he thought as he spat out some of the blood.

He knew his distress signal had been broadcast because the Batarians had picked it up, something he knew was a risk. From the small chips of conversation he had managed to overhear, he knew the signal hadn't lasted long. He had hoped that even if they had picked up the signal, he would be able to keep the location of the beacon secret long enough for rescue. But with such a short amount of broadcasting time, James had lost hope entirely.

It didn't take long for the Batarians to realize what had happened and within the hour Malek was at the door of James' cell appearing more violent than ever.

They had questioned and tortured him brutally on the subject of the distress signal. He endured the pain from Maleks fists for several hours and had, for a time, remained defiant. Another Batarian had entered the room during the interrogations and had pulled Malek out for a discussion in the hallway. It sounded like the new person was the one in charge from the tone in the voice. Large gashes on the sides of his head had caused blood to seep into his ears, interfering with his hearing but he still managed to understand some small pieces. A word here and there. Not that any of it made much sense to him.

Now, with only his underwear remaining to cover his decency, he hung with his arms chained to the wall above his head and his feet confined in crudely constructed brackets that were simply nailed the wall. He knew he was already dead. And Malek wasn't going to make it quick, he was enjoying it. James was too weak to fight back. He fantasied about freeing his legs in a surge of strength, just to give his sick torturer a kick, but there was no strength to be found. It was over.

Just let it end, he pleaded to whatever deity would hear him.

An hours reprieve was all he had from his almost relentless torture. Malek had made some brought makeshift instruments with him that James could only assume were designed to cause more pain. Malek laid them out on the floor so that his victim had a clear view. The large Batarian had a deep, vicious glare from fiery eyes and an excited, menacing smile. He's looking forward to this; James winced and tugged on the chains. He knew it was hopeless, and regretted it instantly as he saw the satisfaction on Maleks face.

"You know what this is for?" Malek was holding a plastic block with two metal prongs protruding from it, with wires connecting them to a power cell. James didn't answer.

The torturer got closer and stray strands of light illuminated his face and his dark eyes as he grinned at James. James closed his eyes, his heart was pounding.

He heard a fanatic laugh, distorted through the blood in his ears, and then a sudden crunching shock on his right hand side. His eyes were forced open as he lost control and his whole body convulsed, head shaking violently as he screamed in reaction to the excruciating pain.

Malek pulled the homemade Taser away. He wasn't going to kill him if he could help it, yet. James was still conscious, but barely. His breathing was erratic.

Not again. Let it end. Please just let it end. James closed his eyes. He wasn't religious, but he kept praying over and over for his final wish to be granted.

Suddenly, there was a lot of commotion in the hallways. He heard distant shouting, getting louder. The sound of panic inherent in the tone of the voices. He heard another shout, closer. Maleks voice, filled with anger.

What's going on? He struggled to open his eyes. His vision was blurred.

"We don't know who! It passed real close, slowed right down. They know we're here, I'm sure of it, we have to go!" He heard a new voice, a messenger?

"Coward. Telik would never run. We will stand and fight." Malek boomed. James saw the blurred silhouette of Malek turn back towards him. "Looks like our fun is over. Shame, I had so much planned."

Malek stepped up to James and sneered at him. I'll be the last thing you ever see.

James knew this was the end. He summoned what little strength he could muster and spat a large ball of blood into the Batarians top left eye. One last act of defiance.

Malek stepped back and quickly wiped it out, cursing at the top of his voice. Fueled with rage, he lunged in and thumped the Taser into the bottom of James' rib cage. As his body violently shook he knew this was it. Malek continued to hold the Taser to his skin in his rage. James' strength was gone; he knew could take no more.

Goodbye.

"He dead?" The Batarian who had brought the message kicked the limp body hanging from the wall. No response.

"Must be. Humans are pathetic."

"How do you even check a human for life?"

"Do I look like a damn doctor to you? He's dead, I put enough volts through him to fry an Elcor. Now let's go." Malek pushed aside the messenger as he stormed through the doorway and into the corridor.

His comrades were running around trying to prepare for battle, collecting up guns from wherever they could find them and scraping up bits of armor they had just thrown about in complacency. There was a lot of panic in their voices as they offered up opinions on the upcoming fight. There was a mix of excitement and dread. Malek didn't want deserters or cowards freezing in fear, he would need to make sure to get them in order.

Malek made his way with pace through the dark winding corridors until he reached Teliks office at the far end. A single booming voice from inside was barking orders, Malek pushed open the doors to see his boss standing in front of a group had been chosen to lead in the defense."

"Malek, so you didn't run. I began to wonder. Hurry the hell up."

Malek rushed over and stood with the group. "Is it true?" He asked, already knowing the answer and regretted speaking. Telik immediately made him feel stupid.

"You think everyone's running around preparing for fun? Yes, we picked up something on the radar. Looks like a ship on a flyby, it slowed right down. We think they were making a drop, we don't know the size. So get a damn move on and get your shit together. Then go out to reception room and form the defense. Kill anything that comes through those doors. We have snipers heading outside that will warn us, they have orders not to come back in unless told."

"Got it."

"We're not prepared for this! What if it's serious? We should just cut our losses and get out while we can." One of the chosen leaders blurted.

Telik eyed him coldly. He wasn't about to fight alongside cowards.

"Do not be a coward, Jemek. We stay and fight. We will not give in. Our species deserves better than to be an outcast race, and I will not be forced out again! We will make our stand here! We will send a message. A message that we are not to be messed with! That we are more powerful than they believe. We are strong, we are brave and we are united! We will not bow down to the whims forced upon us by the oppressors of the galaxy! We will fight, here and now! For freedom!"

Teliks speech brought forth cheers and shouts from all except from Jemek. He didn't want to die, he wasn't here to fight. He was here to get rich dealing drugs and sometimes partaking in the slave markets. This wasn't his fight.

"No! I didn't sign on for this!" Jemek panicked. "I'm getting out of here."

Telik watched as Jemek turned and quickly made for the door. He wasn't going to allow deserters. Calmly he grabbed his pistol and brought the weapon into line with the back of Jemeks head. He squeezed the trigger and Jemek shot forward, slumped down and hit the floor, an explosion of blood raining down onto his lifeless body. Everyone else stayed very still watching in terror. All except Malek, grinning psychotically.

"I have no time for cowards," he said emotionlessly. "If we leave on the ship, we will be shot down. We make our stand here. Only when we have crushed our enemy will we pack up and set up elsewhere. Now go."

He turned to Malek as the rest of the Batarians made their way out, stepping over the bloody body in the doorway and leaving to carry out their duties.

"You know what to do. Anyone else gets any ideas out bailing out on us, give them the same treatment as our good friend here got."

"Will do." Malek followed in the others footsteps and hurried to get the defenses prepared. Huge amounts of adrenaline rushing through his system. This will be fun.