I don't own Tenchi Muyo or any related characters ect ect. Plot IS mine though! No takies!
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Ryoko didn't wake up until mid-morning the next day. With a start she opened her eyes, sitting up. For a few minutes she was confused. She could have sworn that the cell she awoke to had only been part of her dream. But, much to her disappointment, everything was disgustingly real.
With something between a sigh and a moan, Ryoko fell back onto the bed. It was quiet, and in the first few moments of her consciousness she was already bored. After a while she got up and started to pace the cell. The entire time Ryoko kept her mind blank as possible. She was afraid of what would happen if she allowed herself to think about her current situation.
Ryoko quickly got bored of moving around and went to lay down again. How much time had passed since she'd woken up? 10 minutes? An hour? She fidgeted around on the bed and then sat up. She'd experienced solitude in the Dark Zone too, but had always been able to move further than the confine of her room. Across the room, the door of the cell opened.
A heavy-set woman in her late 40's entered the room, pushing a cart in front of her. Ryoko was almost overly happy to see her guest. It was the head maid in the palace, Mikio.
"Miss Masaki," the woman greeted her, unafraid. She tucked a bit of graying hair under the cap she wore and then took a tray off the top of the cart.
"This is you food Ryo- Miss Masaki," Mikio set the tray on the desk and then turned to look at Ryoko. She frowned. "You're a mess. Did the guards do that to you?"
Ryoko frowned as well. "Do what?"
Mikio's frown became deeper and she sighed. "I will send water for you to use with cleaning up and some fresh clothes. You are going to the first of several interrogations today, and want to look your best," she gave Ryoko one last look as she returned to the cart. "I'll send some bandages too, and cream for the bruises." She then left the room, pulling the cart behind her.
Ryoko sat for a moment on the edge of the bed, confused. Bandages? Cream for bruises? Why did she need those? Looking down at herself, Ryoko's eyes drifted over the dirty red skirt and tank top she was in, and up her bare arms, settling on purple marks on her skin. Confused, she looked at her other arm, finding the same marks in the same area. She touched the bruise, pressing her fingers gently against the discoloration. A dull throbbing started to trail up her arm.
Ryoko continued to look at the bruises, puzzled by them. It took her a little while to realize that they were from the guards that had been handling her the day before. In fact, both bruises were actually made of several smaller bruises, and circled around her arm. She hadn't realized how tightly they really had been holding her. So now she had the reason for the bruise cream. But the bandages? What were those for?
Once again, Ryoko started an inspection of her body, starting from her toes and working upwards. She searched all visible spots for something that Mikio could have seen, but found nothing. Then, on an impulse, she reached up and touched her forehead. Ryoko's fingers stroked the dried blood there. On the space ship! She'd fallen and hit her head. Once again she was shocked she hadn't realized it sooner.
Ryoko ran her fingers across her face, following the trail of crusted blood from a gash below her hair line to where it had dripped across her eye and cheek and ended on her chin. The trails of blood also explained Lord Kibishii commenting on the guards being rough with Ryoko. She rubbed the heel of her palm against the crusted blood, trying to get it off.
When the supplies for Ryoko were delivered she instantly went to work on her face and arms. Pulling a shallow tray of water towards her, she looked down into the liquid. The face reflected back didn't look like her. The crusted blood looked a lot worse than it really was, and her hair was dirty and limp. Her skin was pale, eyes staring.
"God...I really do look like a murderer," Ryoko murmured, almost afraid of herself.
No you don't, a voice inside scolded. You only look like a woman who is very confused.
With a sigh, Ryoko dipped her hands into the water and brought it up to her face, splashing herself with it. She then took a towel that had been delivered with the bowl and patted her face. She continued to do this, every so often inspecting her face in the reflection of the water.
It was a long process to clean up her appearance. The blood was stubborn coming off her skin, and the cut started to ache half way through. But, she ignored the pain and scrubbed at her face till it was clean. Once the blood was gone, bandaging the cut was easy; she'd bandaged wounds many times before. Then, she put the yellowish bruising cream on both her arms.
After this was completed, she attempted to give herself a sponge bath. Despite the water she sloshed across her floor, she did feel a bit cleaner once this was done. She had even brushed her teeth with some water and her finger and tried to comb out the tangle that was her hair with her fingers before re-braiding it.
Finally, Ryoko turned to the clothes that had sat un-touched since their arrival. It was a black kimono with a dark gray sash, made of a simple cloth and very plain. Ryoko stripped out of her skirt and shirt and left them in a little pile on the floor and then got into the kimono. After she was done, she took her clothes and folded them, placing them on the desk.
Ryoko sat down rigidly on the bed. Mikio had said that her first interrogation was today, which made her nervous. She'd pirated all over the galaxy and yet, had never had to face the charges. What made it worse was that she was being interrogated on something she hadn't done.
Ryoko sat unmoving in the quiet room until the guards came to get her. The cell door opened, and there was another new soldier outside her door.
"Masaki Ryoko," he said in his best authoritative voice. She got to her feet and went to the door. The soldier motioned her out, and once more she was handcuffed in the glowing shackles that she'd worn the day before. This seemed to be enough protection, for the guards didn't bother to hold on to her today. They walked with two in front of Ryoko and two in back silently down the hall.
Ryoko didn't attempt to talk to the guards, and they didn't say anything more to her. They lead her down a different path than the day before, and she never saw the room with the arched doorway. Instead, after another ever-twisting path through the halls, they ended up in front of a set of large golden doors, engraved with a Jurian life-tree. The commanding soldier went to a panel at the side of the door and placed his hand on it. He then stepped back and after a pause the doors opened silently.
The room inside was a surprise to Ryoko, not at all what she expected her interrogation room to be like. It was large, windowless, and decorated with portraits and vases of flowers. The ceiling was decorated with silks of the ever-present Juraian mourning colors. There was a long, wooden table in the center of the room with many high-backed chairs. One was displaced from the others on the other side of the table. Ryoko assumed this was where she was going to be sitting, and her suspicions were confirmed when the guards lead her to that chair and told her to sit. Then, they positioned themselves on either side of Ryoko.
Ryoko and the soldiers stayed in the room for a while without any disturbance. She only tried to talk to her guards once, and it ended up being very discouraging. The guards refused to look at her, and ignored her when she spoke. But, when ever she shifted in her seat, 4 sets of alert eyes snapped to where she sat. Eventually, this got annoying and she tried to stop moving all together.
It was almost a whole half an hour after Ryoko arrived until the golden doors opened again. This time a large procession of guards and obviously important Juraians filed in. In the front were Lord Kibishii and Lady Ayeka, looking solemn and composed. Behind them were a young man and an older, squat man followed by a very pretty female carrying a lot of paper. Behind her came more guards. Once they were all in the room the golden doors shut again. The guards dispersed themselves around the room, and the Juraians went to the seats across from Ryoko and stood in front of them. They waited until Ryoko was half-dragged to her feet and forced to bow before they sat down themselves. Only then was Ryoko allowed to sit down again.
Despite the pleasant decor of the room the 5 high Juraians, even Kibishii, looked very serious. As they settled, Ryoko observed each other the 5 people in front of her.
Kibishii and Ayeka sat directly across from her. Both were dressed in kimonos of dark blue, embroidered in light silvery-gray. They also both wore elaborate silver crowns that circled around their foreheads and then pointed down, framing their faces. Ryoko looked at Ayeka the longest, trying to catch her eye but unsure of what she would do if she was able to. But, Ayeka refused to look at Ryoko. She was obviously uncomfortable about being there and kept in conversation with the woman, who sat at her left.
The woman was tall and full figured. She was pale, with dark crimson hair that was tied back into a loose ponytail and dark brown eyes hidden behind her square glasses. She seemed to be a generally nervous woman, blinking a lot and playing with loose strands of hair. Ryoko eyed the papers in front of the woman and figured that she was a scribe of some sort, and was there to take notes about what happened in the room.
The two men who sat at Kibishii's right seemed to be interrogators. Ryoko seriously doubted she had a lawyer. In fact, she wasn't sure if Jurai had lawyers. The man sitting nearest Kibishii was the older of the two. He was heavyset and short with a large bushy beard and no hair on the top of his head. He had tiny, sharp eyes and a deep rumble of a voice as he turned to speak to his associate. His fingers were covered in sparkling rings.
The other man and the youngest of all the assembled Juraians was the opposite of his superior. He was slim with a mop of pale orange hair and a smooth face. His eyes were a watery green and very wide. He seemed very dreamy and careless, and when he replied to the older man his voice was soft and wispy.
After a few moments of settling, the Juraians turned to look at Ryoko, finally acknowledging her. The three whom Ryoko had never met looked at her with interest and each seemed to have an expectation of her. Ayeka stared down at her clasped hands. Kibishii seemed to be gathering his thoughts. The silence was suffocating. Finally though, Kibishii looked her in the eye.
"Masaki Ryoko," he said, in something of a court-trained drawl. "You are here today on the first of many interrogations which will last until your trial. Present on the council along with myself today are Lady Ayeka, and Lady Himiko to her left. On my right are Lord Ikuji and Sir Kakusu." Kibishii paused for a moment, and then continued. "Do you know of the crimes of which you are charged today?"
Ryoko looked down the row of Jurians. The three men were watching her expectantly. The woman on Ayeka's left, Himiko, was stooped over her stack of paper with a pen in hand, and poised to write down what ever Ryoko said. Ayeka was looking at her for the first time since her arrival, her thoughts unreadable past her discomfort.
"I...I suppose so," Ryoko said finally, forcing herself to look away from Ayeka and into Kibishii's face.
Almost before she had finished speaking Lord Ikuji said, rather harshly, "It is a simple 'Yes' or 'No' question Masaki. Do you, or do you not know?"
"Just saying 'yes' or 'no' will work," Kakusu said airily, lacing his fingers together. Ryoko looked between the two of them, unsure of what to think of the duo.
"I...I don't know then. No." Ikuji blinked, this obviously not being the answer he'd been expecting. Beside him, Kakusu allowed himself a small smile and sat back in his seat, looking almost amused.
"You, Masaki Ryoko, are charged with one count of assault, four counts of breaking and entering and one count of first degree murder." This came from Himiko, and Ryoko was surprised when the woman's voice was much deeper than expected.
"How do you plead?" Kibishii asked.
"Not guilty."
Himiko paused in her note-taking for the briefest moment before continuing. Ayeka's mouth was twisted in a sour look of disbelief and anger. Only her years of royal education kept her quiet, and she lowered her crimson eyes to the table edge.
"Not guilty?" Kibishii echoed. Ryoko nodded.
"Ryoko, do you know who this is?" Kibishii was handed a picture from Himiko and he displayed it for her to see. It was a photograph of Kibishii, Ayeka, and Sasami at one of the more recent Juraian functions, and he pointed at the younger of the two women pictured.
"That's Lady Sasami," Ryoko confirmed, a bit confused.
"And you deny causing her bodily pain of any sort?"
"Well, I wouldn't say I've never hurt her..." All eyes focused onto Ryoko, expecting a confession of some sort. "I probably pinched her while I was on Earth...or dropped a plate on her toe or something. But, I never seriously tried to hurt her."
Was it just her, or had Kakusu just laughed? He received a sharp glare from Ikuji. On Kibishii's other side Ayeka looked furious.
"I haven't seen Sasami since the last time I left for the Dark Zone," Ryoko added, trying to be as agreeable as possible.
Kibishii shifted around in his chair before sitting back. He looked very tired. Sighing he looked over at Ayeka and took her hand. He then continued the interrogation.
Hours passed as Ryoko was questioned. Most of it was done by Kibishii, though everyone but Ayeka spoke when there was need for. Ryoko tried to answer as slowly and clearly as possible, so her words couldn't be misinterpreted or twisted.
After what seemed to be Kibishii's final question, the council sat in silence with the exception of Himiko's pen, which scratched across her paper. Ryoko shifted a bit and wiggled her toes. Her legs were cramping. Across from her Ayeka brushed her bangs out of her eyes and glanced quickly across the table at her. Her face was solemn, and for once she didn't seem mad. Next to her, Kibishii cleared his throat and stood.
"Very well, on to the next interrogation." The rest of the council members stood when Kibishii said this, and Ryoko was hauled to her protesting feet by the guards at her sides. The golden doors opened once more, and the procession of Jurians, followed by Ryoko and then the numerous soldiers, exited the room in silence.
Once more they walked through the maze of palace halls. This time, Ryoko didn't even bother to watch where she was going. Both her feet had fallen asleep and she was trying not to sprain an ankle, since both of them were practically dead.
This time, the twisting passages lead to another large golden door. They stood in front of the doors for a long while before they creaked open. Beams of light spilled into the hall, and Ryoko craned her head to see past into the room they were leading her into. But, the guards who held her up on her numbed feet weren't letting her see very much and she eventually gave up.
It was when Kibishii and Ayeka were announced to the sounds of cheering that Ryoko suddenly realized what was happening. One by one after the royal family, Himiko, Kakusu, and Ikuji were announced. Then she was lead through the door and found herself standing in a room very different from the one she had just come from.
She now found herself standing in front of a crowd. They were all obviously of high influence, and all of their eyes fixed on her, a rainbow of feelings expressed towards her the second they entered the room. The one emotion she saw the most though was malice, which didn't comfort her much. The council from the first interrogation was seated at what looked like a Japanese traditional table in the center of the room. It was low, and there were cushions on the floor. The rest of the room though, didn't look much like traditional Japanese. Though still as nicely decorated as the last room, this one had high windows that let in blinding amounts of light, and pillars all around the room to hold up the extremely high ceiling.
The guards lead Ryoko over to the table and forced her to sit. She was just barely was able to tuck her legs under her in the traditional way. She glanced around the room nervously. So many people were watching. Someone could crack under these circumstances. Ryoko almost smiled. Of course, that is what they were trying to get her to do! Slip up under the watchful eyes of at least 100 Juraians.
Across the table Kibishii looked toward her, and she saw friendly concern in his eyes, though his expression was bland. "Masaki Ryoko, you are here today on the second of many interrogations which will last until your trial. Present on the council along with myself today are Lady Ayeka, and Lady Himiko to her left. On my right are Lord Ikuji and Sir Kakusu, as well as those who observe." Just like the interrogation before, he paused for a moment. "Do you know of the crimes of which you are charged today?"
This interrogation was quicker than the first one. Since the questions had already been asked, Ryoko knew what to say and this sped up the entire ordeal. Once the final question was asked of her and she'd echoed her answer, the council didn't wait around, but she was pulled again to her feet, forced to bow, and escorted from the room. What ever was discussed after that was obviously not for her ears.
Ryoko was returned to cell block 5, where the handcuffs were removed and she fell into a deep sleep on the bed. After a few hours of dreamless sleep she woke up. As she sat up her stomach grumbled loudly and she covered it with her hands. She realized that the meal that she'd been given that morning had been left untouched, and that she hadn't eaten the meal before that on the ship. Again her stomach rumbled. As if on cue, the door opened and Mikio entered the room with a tray of food and a blanket. She left both of these on the desk without a word and then exited.
Ryoko stumbled to the table and sat down. She ate ravenously. Everything tasted wonderful to her, from the bitter tea to the chunky stew. She didn't leave a single bit of the meal, and she returned to her bed with the blanket feeling uncomfortably full. Lying down on the cot, Ryoko tucked the blanket around her and fell asleep again.
In the morning she was woken up by Mikio, who had delivered her meal once more. The old woman told her that the third interrogation was that morning, and offered Ryoko a new kimono to change into before she let her start on the food. After she was done, she was once more escorted to the interrogation room, and then after being interrogated for a few hours had to repeat it again in front of the spectators. Once the questioning was over, she'd be returned to her room for food and an exhausted sleep.
This was Ryoko's routine for the next few days. She could tell that the Juraian council became more frustrated with her and the lack of new information with each interrogation. The atmosphere became more and more tense; even Kibishii and Kakusu seemed affected by it. That's why she wasn't surprised when after the fifth morning of interrogation she'd attended, Kibishii stood up to speak to the commission.
"Esteemed council members," he began with a slight bow. "Today marks the last of our interrogations for a while. I am well aware that each of us has duties besides this one, and I have decided, as the assembly's head, that starting today we will break for one week's time. Hopefully this time will allow us rest, and time to view our...positions on this matter." His eyes shifted to Ryoko and she looked away.
This time, when the council dispersed, she stayed in the room. She'd tried to get up only to be pushed back into her seat roughly.
"Stay," the guard commanded. "Someone would like to speak to you." Ryoko's heart leapt. Maybe Ayeka wanted to talk? Maybe she'd finally gotten the Queen to believe her story. But, a bit to her disappointment, the doors opened and Kibishii stood there instead.
"Ryoko," he said almost tenderly. "How have you been?" The friendliness of his entire aura almost made her want to cry. She'd been surrounded by blank, uncompassionate faces since she'd gotten there. Not that she'd expected anything else, but it was hard to deal with. Even friends like Mikio refused to talk to her more than needed. But now, Kibishii stood in front of her smiling gently. He returned to his seat across the table and sat down in it with a sigh.
"Has everyone been treating you right?"
Ryoko nodded, giving a grateful smile. "It's been lonely, but I've been treated fine." She motioned to the healing cut on her forehead almost as if it was proof of the statement. Her bruises too were fading. They were now only yellowish blotches under her kimono sleeves. Kibishii nodded sympathetically, and leaned forward to rest his elbows on the table.
"Yes, well, the guards and servants are under orders not to talk to you. But I am glad that you are being treated well."
"Yea, I'm not in my cell much anyway, with exception to sleeping and meals. All my other time has been with the interrogations."
"That'll change for a while though," Kibishii told her. "Everyone involved in the case, even you, needs a break. I am sure that many of the council members expected this to be over a lot quicker..."
Ryoko made a noise of agreement. "I was kind of cocky when I was a space pirate..." she admitted. "Perhaps they thought that I would brag about it?" Kibishii looked like he was about to laugh, but held it back.
"Yes, well, whatever the reason you will have some time to yourself for the next week. Will you need something to keep you entertained? I suppose those cells can be pretty lonely."
"That would be nice. Thank you."
The two of them were silent for a moment more, until Kibishii finally stood. Ryoko stood up moments after, startling the guards around her so that they grabbed for her arms rather roughly. She winced as a hand closed around her bruised arm, but then attempted to smile at Kibishii, as if to say 'I'll be OK.' Kibishii stared at her for a moment, and then gave her a small smile.
"Do not hesitate to contact me Ryoko, if you find you are being mistreated. We shall have this entire ordeal sorted out soon." He then nodded to her, and she bowed in return, watching as he left the room and the doors shut. She waited, still standing with the guards for a little while more before they left the interrogation room to return to cell block 5.
Once Ryoko was safely in the little room, her handcuffs were taken off and she fell asleep as she normally did. She didn't sleep as long or as well after that though. Only two or so hours later she opened her eyes to a still bright room. The sound of the door clicking shut had woken her up. Gazing groggily around the room, she spotted several things on the desk.
Getting up, she stumbled to the desk and leaned on the edge. Sitting nearest, washed and mended was her red skirt and tank top. She picked them up and smelled the scent of soap on them. Also on the desk were a light meal and a book.
After changing out of the stiff kimono she'd been wearing and back into her own worn-soft clothes, Ryoko sat down to nibble at the food. She was mostly interested in the book though. It was very thick, made up of several stories combined into one volume. Immersed in the book, she eventually returned to her cot and lay there reading until she fell asleep with the book on her chest.
She slept pleasantly, the first time since her arrival in the cell. Her dreams were gentle and nostalgic, blurred at the edges. She kept on seeing memories of her times on earth, perfectly normal times. Not all of them were good. She got the quickest flash of when she turned to see Tenchi and Sakuya kissing under the moonlight. But it was gone as quickly as it had come and Ryoko found herself comforted by even the painful memories.
Finally, her dreams turned to more recent events. Getting her diploma, feasts at the Juraian royal table, sitting in her window and watching the gentle glow of the sole star in the dark zone. She could also see Sasami, waving to her as she boarded her ship that final time they'd seen each other. Sasami had waved until she'd disappeared from Ryoko's view and she had watched even past then, until they'd lurched out of the atmosphere.
But suddenly, she swayed. She found herself being shaken around almost painfully and her eyes flew open. Her cell was totally dark. But was it her cell? She realized with a bit of a shock that she didn't know where she was, who she was with, or how she had gotten there. Struggling pathetically in her still confused state Ryoko realized she was bound tighter than she had ever been so far. Her arms were tied closely to her sides and her mouth covered crudely with a bandana. Looking around she could only see burly soldiers dressed in non-descript clothes. The hall added confusion. The walls were not polished but crudely cut and darker than the stones of the palace she knew.
Unable to ask questions or protest much Ryoko was brought deeper into the halls until they reached a plain but rather large wooden door. One of the guards opened it and she found herself in a windowless room, so dark it was almost impossible to see. She expected to be left in the room, but instead she was lead to a chair in the center of the room and forced to sit. Her hands were tied behind her back, and the gag was removed. It only took Ryoko a moment to regain her composure and then she was firing questions at the men around her. Each of them went unanswered.
After she was securely tied into the chair, the guards left. For a moment she thought she was alone. Looking around and listening to the silence, Ryoko noticed dark shadows around her, and heard low breathing in the darkness which sent shudders up her spine.
"Who's there?" Two of the shadows in front of her moved and she found herself looking into the faces of Kakusu and Ikuji. Ryoko choked on the breath she was taking in and stared in shock.
"Hello Ryoko," Kakusu said with a smile, brushing some orange hair away from his eyes. Ikuji was like a constant frown standing next to him.
"No Hello? Very well," Kakusu walked forward and circled her under a scrutinizing eye. Ryoko met his gaze with her own, defiant against the amusement in his eyes. Despite her boldness, she shivered with the anxiety that the new turn in her situation had brought. Kakusu noticed her tremor and gave a smile to Ikuji, who didn't respond.
Ryoko finally seemed to find her voice. "What is going on here?"
"You are here for further investigation."
"The council is on break," Ryoko pointed out.
"Ah, yes. But this has not been ordered by the council," Kakusu said with a smile. Ikuji stepped forward and they were suddenly bearing down on her from both sides.
"We have questions for you," Ikuji said finally.
"Questions the council won't ask," Kakusu added with a sadistic grin on his face.
Ryoko looked between the two, eyes wide. Someone outside of the council ordered this? Her mind raced and a name came forward almost instantly. She shook her head slowly, but it seemed to be the only person she'd suspect of it.
"Is Ayeka making you do this?" she asked, feeling more certain per second. She seemed to be the only person so far who had both the power and the reason to privately interrogate her. But something about the smile on Kakusu's face and the look in Ikuji's eyes suggested otherwise.
There was a period of silence when they only looked at each other. Ryoko felt her nerve shrink under their stare. But then she noticed a shifting shadow behind the figures. Looking past them into the darkness she strained her eyes to see something. Kakusu and Ikuji turned to look too, but their eyes seemed to be focusing on something she couldn't see.
"First question," a voice in front of her said. Ryoko looked harder into the obscurity, leaning against her binds. The voice sounded familiar, but there was something about it that didn't match to the voice of any person she knew.
"Do you recognize this?" There was the shuffling of footsteps coming closer. Ryoko could almost see an outline. But then something to her right flickered on. Turning she saw it was a small screen with the image of a spaceship on it.
Yagami. She recognized the ship instantly. It was Kiyone's. She slowly turned to look once more at the figure. A frown was her only reply.
Ikuji growled and swung his hand at her knocking her in the forehead. She yelped, more from shock than pain, and then turned to glare at him.
"Stop that! I will report you both to Kibishii!"
Kakusu laughed. But someone other than Ikuji was laughing with him. A shudder ran up Ryoko's spine and she looked into the darkness again. The figure stepped forward.
"K-Kibishii?" Ryoko murmured, shocked. Was this even the King she knew? He seemed to hold himself differently and his smile was cruel. But it was unmistakably him.
"Hello Ryoko." Even his voice sounded different. It was stern and nastily amused. The King stepped forward, menacingly. He didn't look away and didn't blink. His eyes were almost like lasers burning into her. "Now I ask you again, do you recognize this ship?"
Ryoko looked to the screen he was pointing at and then turned her head away with her nose up in the air, remaining silent. Ikuji's hand came down at her face again, striking her hard on her cheek.
"If you just answer he won't hit you." Kakusu said softly. He sounded genuine but when Ryoko turned to look at him she saw that the amusement was still in his eyes. She shook her head.
"Ryoko," Kibishii said his voice dangerously quiet. "These aren't hard questions. Now tell us. Who knows you're here?"
"Why did a space-travel ship follow the course of our own fleet in less than a 24 hour period?" Ikuji added.
"Were there any other beings at that location who could achieve space travel at that location?" Kakusu inquired, interested.
Ryoko stared up at all of them, her eyes narrowed. "I won't tell you anything!"
Ikuji raised his hand again, but Kibishii stopped him with a motion. He then gave Ryoko a very serious look and leaned forward, close enough so she could feel his breath against her face. "Your defiance is not helping this situation. And the longer you refuse to cooperate, the worse your situation will become. The people of Jurai are already calling for punishment in revenge for Sasami. When they hear of something like Mikio found clinging to life in your cell no one will question the punishment I give."
Ryoko paled, unable to keep herself from imagining Mikio lying bloody on the floor of cell block 5. Would they really do that just to get her to talk?
"I will give you 24 hours to reconsider Ryoko. If you do not start helping us we shall find out about that ship on our own. And then there will be much more dire consequences on what we find." Kibishii's final words hung in the air as he turned and exited the room. After a moment two guards entered and untied Ryoko from her chair and then lead her out. They lead her down the hall to the next door, a large rough wooden one. Another guard was waiting there and he opened the door for Ryoko.
She was led into a short hallway with 4 barred cells, 2 on each side. They put her in the second cell on the left, locking the door and then activating a force field around the primitive cell with a hand pad that was glowing by her door. She was then left in the room alone, and silent. The only light, shining from the hand console, sparkled against the tears that ran silently down her cheeks.
-------------------- END CHAPTER 7