Adrenaline begun to surge through her veins like an electric current searching frantically for discharge mass. She quickly realised that a black glove had grabbed her by the shoulder, and was holding tightly to her torn garments. The hand lurched, and pulled her around with such force, had she not been involuntarily tethered to her assailant, she would have lost her balance. As the sharp one-hundred-eighty degree turn approached perfection, she began to see a familiar sight – red eyes and pale blue skin, dressed in an imperial uniform.
Kae'rena occasionally experienced only what she could describe as premonitions. Despite only being the forerunner of pain and torment, her psychological defences had not seen fit to supress anything. At this stage of her life, she had become accustomed to them, but this was the difference between a mere dream and cold cruel reality. Stunned by the suddenness of her seizure, she did not know whether to beg for an explanation or just wait for it to present itself. Not only was this whole exchange horrifically vivid, it seemed to be the beginning of something Kae'rena was hoping to avoid.
While she considered her options, the imperial removed his grip on her shoulder, and replaced it about her arm, arcing around to bring himself parallel with Kae'rena. He began pulling her back in the direction she had just come, and she could tell by his forcefulness that no good lay in store. In her desperation, she uttered with as much humility as she could muster, "Where are you taking me?"
"Silence, slave!" the officer replied with a tone of disgust.
With each step that they took, her level of despair rose higher. It must have been her instinct overcoming her rationality not to oppose her masters that she began to struggle against his punishing grip with every bit of strength she had left. While the officer was clearly prepared for her resistance, eventually he grew tiresome of its presence. With her mind so focused on freeing herself, she was entirely unprepared as the imperial buried his fist with expert precision into her gut. The concentration of the impact knocked the life out of her. On top of struggling to break free, she was now struggling to breathe. Her insides twisted in uncontrollable spasms, until she began to throw up onto the sandy ground. Regardless of the shamefulness of how easily she had been subdued, the red-eyed imperial believed there was still some fight left in her, causing him to strike her across the jaw with a weighty follow-through.
Kae'rena tried to rid herself of the blood now pouring from the cuts in her mouth. In-between her troubled respiration, most attempts merely caused her to choke, only exacerbating her difficulties. She continued her struggle, but the fire of rebellion had been extinguished. Succumbing to her weakness and defeat, she tripped and stumbled along the path, as the imperial pulled her like a stubborn animal further and further forward.
As some sense of perception came back to her, she noticed the spectacle of her humiliating escort had piqued the interest of others, walking to their cages as she had been only moments ago. One, however, kept eye contact too long and Kae'rena saw an overseer come up behind them, and strike out with his lash. The sight reminded her of her early encounter with the whip. The memory seemed to revisit the pain upon her, the continued presence of which she had until then learnt to mask.
She was drawn along the path for what seemed any eternity. By this time, she had managed to regain a regular breathing pattern, and was managing to keep pace with her captor. Up ahead she could see a second imperial officer escorting another slave in what appeared to be the direction in which they were headed. "What is this," she thought to herself, "a purge?"
As she reached the pair's right flank, she looked over at the other prisoner. Seemingly, he too had put up a fight, as his face was all bruised and bloodied. Although they did not dare speak to each other, they managed to keep relative eye contact. Kae'rena did not know whether the feeling was mutual, but knowing she had not singled out entirely did bring a minor sense of calm over her.
Not too shortly after, they were led through into what looked like a side entrance to the Main Command Bunker. As the officers approached, she saw the guards stand to attention and render passing honours, until finally they were shoved through the entrance.
While she was temporarily free to move, Kae'rena took in the scene. The interior of the structure was the standard durasteel construction, dull grey in colour. The lighting was plentiful, with the imperial red motif complementing the room's presentation brilliantly. There was little time to admire the aesthetics, as the two of them were once again hauled by their respective handlers further into the centre of the structure. They reached the far side of the room and were led down a long side passage. Kae'rena's eyes, so well adjusted to the excellent illumination of the ante-chamber, took several moments to adjust to the darkness of the corridor. The only source of light, as they were herded down the course way, was from under the metal grating beneath them. Her vision only returned by the time they had reached the end of the walkway, nevertheless it was soon enough to see a large steel door in front of them. Before reaching the hatch, her companion's handler looked over to hers. "Detention block B, sir?" he asked, as he casually made for a control pad on the metal panel immediately left of the hatch.
"Yes specialist," the other replied with a cold formality and indifference.
It was fortunate for Kae'rena the Empire placed so much emphasis on military protocol for it allowed her another brief moment of respite from the loathsome grip of this blue-skinned officer, as he stood to attention, responding, "Very good, sir, I shall take that off your hands then."
"Carry on," came the reply, as the specialist keyed in his access code to produce the entrance. Before the door opened, the status indicator on the control pad switched from red to blue. Kae'rena and her comrade were then forced forward, and led to their assigned detention block.
The holding cell itself was a large rectangular room. Ingress and egress was controlled by an energy force field, which would be raised and lowered at a specific point to create a narrow break. Kae'rena could see clearly enough through the pale pink beam to realise there were already two occupants. One was a man, who was sitting in a corner, pulling his knees towards his torso. He appeared to be going to extreme effort not to look at the new arrivals, or in fact anything that was not immediately in front of him. The other was a diminutive looking girl. This one must have really had a difficult journey from the camp, Kae'rena thought, as the body lay motionless on the cold metallic floor.
The specialist, after delivering his charges to their cell, immediately restored the energy barrier to full power, scanned the holding cell for any obvious signs of trouble, before finally turning and heading back towards the inner door. Kae'rena, now being at liberty to take in her situation and surroundings, held herself more easily knowing he was gone. The man with whom she had been brought was now sitting at the opposite end of cell with an obvious look of bitterness and defeat. With the two male inmates clearly wishing to keep to themselves, she slowly approached the lifeless figure in the centre of the room.
Kae'rena came closer, and gently knelt down beside the body. The various wounds she had sustained began to cry out in agony, while she bent and lowered herself. The sharpness of the pain in time subsided, making her existence endurable once more. She reached over to the shoulder of the girl, and whispered softly to her with a genuine sense of concern, "Can I help?" The body began to twist and turn on the durasteel plates. Kae'rena took this as a sign that her earlier impression was accurate. Whichever officer, who had brought her here, had clearly given no quarter. The girl began to lift herself finally off the floor, and turned to face Kae'rena, who was surprised at the reaction provoked by their making of eye contact.
"Who are you?" she demanded, not in a confrontation or aggressive voice, but neither one imbued with any sort of uncertainty or reserve. It was nothing more than a neutral request for an introduction.
Kae'rena thought that it would be useful for her to have some form of support in whatever it was to come, and so took a brief moment to consider a tactful and tactical response. "Like you, a slave, like you, a prisoner." Pointing out their mutual adverse circumstances, she hoped, would be sufficient to cement an acceptable pretext to engage in a dialogue.
"You are very well knocked up," she observed, as if it were nothing remarkable.
The sad truth was that it was not anything remarkable, and with that in mind the only response Kae'rena could divine was to enquire after the well-being of her enigmatic comrade.
"Who me? No. The imperials do not bother with me," she pointed out, with a tragic smile on her face.
"Why not?" Kae'rena replied, eager to know more of this unprecedented case. Her efforts to avoid a beating never seemed to have had quite the same effect.
"Simple enough. I just don't give them cause. Just let them do what they want."
Kae'rena could not fathom this. "But they are so heartless and brutal. Don't you ev–"
"Look at me," she instructed. Anger had now entered her voice. "Take a good long look. What sort of fight do you think I could put up?"
Kae'rena had to concede the point that while she, herself, had at least some musculature from all the physical labour over the years, this poor specimen had been endowed with nothing but her skin and bones. She thought not to argue the point any further. The girl had seemed rather annoyed at being cornered into admitting her own physical inadequacy. Obviously, it was a sensitive issue, and the conversation was now heading towards the wrong side of neutral. "What is your name?" Kae'rena asked.
"Kory," the girl replied, now with a distinctively warmer undertone. Silence then usurped sound. Wearing a puzzled look, she leaned slightly forward in direction of Kae'rena, who did not seem to realise that the social convention was to reciprocate with her own name. A few moments passed yet nothing was forthcoming. "You must be the life of the party," Kory said with a satirical grin.
"Kae'rena," she at last added in a clumsy haste, "my name is Kae'rena." While at the onset Kory had seemed to her to be a rigid, cold-hearted individual, fortunately it was turning out that she had a sense of humour, in particular finding her lapse of social grace very amusing. Strangely, Kae'rena found this re-assuring, and managed to laugh with Kory at herself.
"Kae'rena," Kory repeated. "That's a new one. Never heard that name before. Does it mean something? What planet are you from?"
"Someone branded it on me," she answered, with a look suggesting she neither knew how, when, where or why it had been done. Nevertheless, she pulled away her sleeve, revealing the scars on her lower left arm. "I naturally assumed it was my name. Maybe it refers to my planet?"
"Kae'rena? A planet?" Kory chuckled. "No, friend. If it were a planet I would know. I was born in space. My father did jobs for Bruga the Hutt between Nar Shaddaa and Dromund Kaas for over twenty years. Specialist Freight Transport. So believe me. I'd know."
"I believe you," Kae'rena replied. "I only know Korriban. I haven't heard of those other places."
"Are you from Korriban?" Kory asked, "Surely you must have heard of those others? Kaas City on Dromund Kaas is the Imperial Capital after all, and Nar Shaddaa is the power seat of the Hutt Cartel. All Kae'rena could do was shake her head. Kory looked amazed. She looked amazed, but also pitying. "They must have got you really young."
"Possibly," Kae'rena had to agree, trying to hide the novelty of someone sympathising with her life's tragedy. "I've had plenty of time to think on it. All I can seem to remember is landing on Korriban in what looked like a freighter, and being marched straight to an imperial compound for processing, bound in convoy with several others like me. After that, it was one labour camp after another, one dig site after another."
"So, where were you before that?"
"I really–" Kae'rena cut off her reply and observed absolute silence. Everyone's attention had been diverted to the sound of the hatch being opened, and more prisoners being brought through. At the head of the column was an imperial officer, behind which were a group of five men with a guard to either side and one bringing up the rear. The officer took a step towards the control console, and lowered the force-field while the three guards herded the captives into the holding cell without any form of compunction. Once all had passed through the break in the energy beam, the officer re-engaged the force-field, sealing in Kory and Kae'rena with their new companions.
Kae'rena overhead the officer ordering the guards to report back to their posts. "At once, lieutenant," they replied, with that unmistakable military courtesy. The guards turned and headed towards the hatch, which opened once more at the keying in their access code, allowing them to leave. Kae'rena was expecting the officer to follow them, but to her disappointment he remained. He stood for a moment to survey the holding cell, before eventually taking up a position behind a single-hand control station. Apparently, his post was here.
Kae'rena was frustrated. Her current predicament may not end well, but at least for the present she had had the rare opportunity to interact with someone without fear of what it might bring. With this officer watching over them, she now would need to keep her mouth shut. Kory, however, to Kae'rena's surprise continued as if he were not there at all.
"So, you were saying?" Kae'rena kept silent and only looked at Kory with a pleading look not to press her to speak. Yet, Kory pressed on. "What's wrong?"
"Don't speak. He's watching. He'll punish us." Kae'rena mouthed to her, communicating each thought with as fewer words as she could.
"Kae'rena, we are not exactly swapping military secrets here," Kory jibbed. She clearly thought Kae'rena's reluctance to draw attention to herself by continuing their conversation was ridiculous. Nevertheless, she realised her new friend would not lightly be persuaded from that position. To break the stalemate, Kory did something Kae'rena thought to be exceptionally brave, but also exceptionally ill-advised. She approached the energy barrier, and in a very familiar voice addressed the imperial officer. "Excuse me, Lieutenant. Do object to me speaking to my friend here?"
Kae'rena was in awe of this. She had learnt the painful way the lesson that one should only address an officer if, and only if, replying to a question. Yet, Kory seemed to take this in her stride. The officer did not seem to be predisposed to offering a reply, however after a few moments without looking up from the console he gave his answer. "As long as you do not expect me to participate, and on condition you do not swap any military secrets," he replied.
"Very kind of you, sir," Kory said to the lieutenant, before turning back to Kae'rena. She gestured to her that they ought to re-locate themselves to the far corner of the cell, and both moved over and began to talk once more, now sharing a space with that strange man, who was still holding his knees to his chest.
"See. Not all the military are animals," Kory said. "They can be harsh sometimes, but stay out their way and do as you're told, most you're likely to get is a tongue lashing."
"Fortunate for us this one seems to be one of the better ones," Kae'rena whispered, still not entirely convinced they ought to be talking, still keeping a close watch on the officer over at the console.
"So, why did you come over to me in the first place?" Kory enquired. She too was now whispering, hoping it would put Kae'rena somewhat at ease.
"I simply wanted to see if you were hurt, and if I could help. It looked like you had beaten unconscious."
"No. Not at all," Kory whispered back. "Just exhausted from the day."
"You were sleeping?" Kae'rena replied, in a slightly raised whisper, unable to believe the truth of it. "How can you sleep with all that is happening?!"
Kae'rena's tone was enough for Kory to understand that she would insist on an answer to this particular question. "Simply, I was tired. I clearly could not go anywhere, so I thought I might as well get some rest. Who knows what this all is about."
Before Kae'rena could proffer a response another voice had cut into the conversation. The man who had been crouched in the corner in an upright foetal position suddenly not only found a voice, but something to say. "What does it matter," he spat at them, "we all die eventually. It's just a question of when and how slowly."
Kory snapped back at him. "Spare me the philosophy lecture, pal. I don't recall asking for your comments."
"But Kory, are you not curious to know what is going on?" Kae'rena retorted. "We might be heading for an execution parade at any moment." Kae'rena discernibly had the same pessimistic outlook as their philosophising cell mate.
"Whatever our fate is, I don't see any way right now to change it," Kory concluded, "so no use wasting energy dwelling on it."
"I suppose that is true, Kory," Kae'rena eventually conceded, forcing a grim smile. "You'll just need to keep enough calm for the both of us.
"Spare me the philosophy lecture, little girl," the man barked back at Kory, using her own words against her. Kae'rena immediately felt a sense of foreboding, as the comment on Kory's physical stature would surely escalate the situation. Kory and the Professor – a name Kae'rena in her head had given to the strange man – stared at each other. Even seated, he was only slightly lower than she, and yet she kept his gaze, as if just waiting for his next move.
The tension was palpable. Kae'rena tried to diffuse the situation, and placed her hand on Kory's shoulder. "Leave it Kory. The officer," she pleaded.
The Professor did not help matters, as he added in a derisive tone, "Lucky for you your friend here has some sense and some muscle on her, little girl."
Kae'rena turned her back to Kory to face this unneeded agitator, but before she could act on her impulse to reproach him about his hostile demeanour, in her periphery she saw Kory rush passed, as she lunged at him, arms outstretched for his throat. Although Kory was a very lightweight, the height advantage proved sufficient to result in enough momentum to knock the man over onto his side. She followed up her initial attack by climbing onto his back, and holding his neck in a hap-hazard choke hold.
For the first few moments, it looked like she was winning. But the inevitability of it all was that she was no physical match, and was quickly overpowered. As the Professor regained his feet, Kory was lifted into the air along with him. In addition to being light, she was also rather short. Eventually, she lost her hold, falling to the durasteel with a deep clunk. At the same moment, her opponent had swung himself around and used the entire force of his weight to send a clasped fist straight at Kory's face.
Kae'rena was in a state of panic. She had spent as long as she could remember avoiding fights like this, and had no idea on how to respond. While her mind raced to determine whether she now had any moral obligation to assist, it eventually settled on the point that Kory had started this fight, and the Professor was merely defending himself. Deep down, however, she knew the truth. She was merely justifying her own fear that becoming entangled in this brawl would only worsen her own situation. Fortunately for her, trying to stay out of trouble with other slaves had necessitated that she develop her faculties, and, in particular, resourcefulness.
It had been less than ten seconds into the altercation, when Kae'rena decided to enlist the aid of the officer on duty, but as she turned to do so she observed the scene outside the cell was just as frantic as inside.
Directly opposite where the entrance to the cell usually appeared was a raised durasteel plate about four metres above the floor. Underneath the metal plate Kae'rena could see two motion-sensor sentry turrets, staring her straight in the eye. The officer was no longer at his control console, but was heading towards the cell with a keen sense of urgency on his face. In addition to the sentry turrets, two riot suppression droids had taken up flanking positions in the far corners of the outer room. The lieutenant had seemingly tripped some sort of security countermeasures, as it appeared he was preparing to lower the energy field and enter the cell.
Kae'rena's expectation had been exact. A hissing sound was born into the air as the field was lowered, allowing access to the prisoners. He immediately entered the cell, and moved over to the corner from where all the commotion was coming. While his back was turned, one of the prisoners thought to take a gamble, and seized the opportunity to secure his freedom. No sooner had he passed through the entrance had the sentry turrets roared to life. Two shots were all it took.
Kae'rena expected the officer to be more interested now in the failed escape attempt. He was not in the slightest, and continued his course straight for the belligerents. By this time, Kory had freed herself from her combatant's chokehold by landing a cunning blow to his groin area. Using his recovery time wisely, she assumed a defensive stance to put some distance between them.
"Stand down!" yelled the lieutenant. While neither of the fighters showed any sign of dropping their guards, the lieutenant's directive had caused the Professor to falter. Immediately identifying his hesitation as an opportune time to strike, to the trained eye, she could be seen transitioning from a defensive stance to an offensive one, in preparation for her next attack. "Kory!" he shouted.
Still Kory made ready to land her next blow. She would have been successful in her attempt, if it were not for the lieutenant moving straight for her. He grabbed her around the waist with one arm, and lifted her, not particularly high into the air but merely sufficient to clear her feet off the floor. Kae'rena looked on at this in bewilderment, noticing the lieutenant reach for his wrist with his free hand. He was wearing a band around his lower arm with two slim-line button keys. Whatever they were, the red was currently active, but that was all about to change as he toggled the blue.
At once Kae'rena could hear a low hum, gradually growing in intensity over the period of about a second. Her curiosity was soon satisfied as a painful electric shock was administered to her, to the Professor, and to everyone else unfortunate enough to be confined in the cell. Those seated now collapsed onto their sides, while those standing plummeted downwards, as the current twitched away any muscular control. The low thunder of bodies connecting suddenly with the charged steel floor was nowhere sufficient to drown out the screams of pain from all in the room. As Kae'rena regained some semblance of focus, she looked up.
The officer was standing unaffected. Obviously it now made sense to Kae'rena why slaves were not given any form of footwear. What did remain unexplained, however, was why the lieutenant ensured that the discharge would not affect Kory. She was, after all, the initial link in the chain of causality, which had led to one prisoner's death and the others' electrocution.
Kory was still flaying her arms about, as the officer maintained a tight grip on her. "Everyone, over in that corner," he yelled, with a mixture of frustration and anger in his voice. Kae'rena obeyed without question, however the rest of her cadre were not as spry as she was. In the end, all it earned for them was another dose of electricity, as the lieutenant once again toggled the blue switch. "Now!" he screamed, with the result that everyone now made haste to recover themselves, and gather in the far corner as instructed. The imperial officer, on the other hand, moved in the opposite direction to the corner diagonally opposite the huddled group of frightened slaves. Upon arrival, he lowered Kory and then grabbed her with both arms, pinning her against the wall and looking straight down at her. "Stop this, Kory" he commanded.
Notwithstanding that she had been yelling obscenities at her mark while all this had been ongoing, she managed to spare some breath for him. While Kae'rena could only hope in silence for her not to provoke this imperial with poorly chosen words, Kory only responded, "I'll show that sarlacc excrement the little of this girl." Kae'rena could hear, though, the ardour of battle had receded, and had now been replaced with what could only be described as a rending sadness.
"I told you, Kory," said the officer, "you can't go around picking a fight with everyone who provokes you, or throws an insult your way. Look how surprised your friend over there was to see not a scratch on you. You think her time here has been easy? Look at her. She hasn't been so lucky as to have had a friend in the Imperial Military to keep her out of harm's way. She's beaten, broken, scarred. And I doubt she was even looking for trouble."
"Marrkus, I –"
"Save it! No honeyed words this time, Little One. You need to face the harsh truth. I know it was not right how you ended up here after that sad business with the Cartel, but surely you realise, in the next twenty-four hours, you're truly on your own. Fortunately, you've managed to find another tall blonde to replace me. Even though she seems to have less spine than a Hutt, something, I suppose, is better than nothing."
After a strained silence, Kory finally found enough emotional stability to speak. "I'm scared, Marrkus. What's going to happen to me now?"
Having to admit out aloud to herself the truth of the situation saw Kory transform from the chirpy, confident, and somewhat outspoken individual Kae'rena had taken her to be, to just another frightened girl, bound in slavery, without any hope. All her talk of not giving the imperials cause to harm her had been an exaggeration, all bravado at not being perturbed by what the future held a falsehood. The lieutenant, or Marrkus Kae'rena reflected, had loosened his grip, and was now holding Kory gently to him. It was a crestfallen sight. "I'll miss you, Marrkus," Kory mumbled into the officer's tunic, so on the verge of tears all she could of were platitudes.
"I, too, my friend," Marrkus replied in a solemn voice, behind which Kae'rena sensed lay a grief-stricken soldier. He took a moment, then looked over at the opposite corner of the room. He glared straight at Kae'rena, whom he saw had clearly taken notice of his gaze. "You. Come here!" he ordered. Kae'rena acquiesced immediately, taking less than three seconds to cover the distance as best as her scorched feet would move here. "You see her," he said, drawing her attention to Kory. "This is my very dear friend of many years. You keep her safe. Fail, and on my life, may the Emperor's Wrath take you!"
Kae'rena did not know how to respond, so she simply took Kory over from him, and helped her towards the main group. "Now, the rest of you. No more trouble, or else," warned the lieutenant, who began to move towards the open barrier. Before he reached the aperture, the main hatch could be heard opening. Two guardsmen came rushing through, and assumed positions on either side of the door. Marrkus continued to exit the cell, reactivating the energy field as he passed through, and climbed over the dead body, which still lay there. As he moved towards his control console to stand down from alert status, he looked over to the guardsmen. "You are dismissed, specialists," he ordered. "The situation here is under control." By this time, he had reached his station, and cancelled countermeasures. The sentry turrets were lowered beneath the surface of the floor once more, and the riot suppression droids began to return to their storage units. It was during all this that a voice came booming into the room, which the lieutenant recognised, but by no measure had anticipated.
"Disregard that order, specialists. You both stay exactly where you are until I say otherwise," ordered a grey-haired man, who had just come into view.
Immediately on catching sight of him, the lieutenant jumped to attention and observed the required military courtesy. "Major, sir. Lieutenant Marrkus Rijgord on station, sir," reported the lieutenant.
"I know who are you are Rijgord," said the major, with hint of mockery in his voice, "what I do not know is why you are on duty, here."
"My division captain assigned me to detention block duty, sir" the lieutenant responded, almost as if he had prepared his response well in advance.
"I see," replied the major, grimacing as he took in the response. "Amazingly enough, lieutenant, I spoke to your division captain a moment ago. He told me you approached him, and requested that you be re-assigned to detention block duty on the basis that you would, as he put it, 'owe him one'. Curious behaviour, Rijgord. Is there an explanation, or is the captain merely covering up his poor judgment in assigning a commissioned officer to such a menial task?"
"It is true, sir," the lieutenant responded, daring not to insinuate that his division captain had given false information. "I did approach the captain for assignment here, sir."
"I already know that, lieutenant," snapped the major, who was now circling his subordinate in an intimidating and menacing fashion. "The good captain is one of my best officers. I refuse to believe that he would be guilty of such a grievous mismanagement of military personnel in the course of handing out duty assignments. Do you intend to waste my valuable time further, or are you going to answer the question?"
Marrkus gathered his thoughts for a moment. He was now beyond the point of being able to rely on rehearsed responses. He needed to play for time, and attempted to deflect the major's attention. "Sir, I didn't mean to waste your –"
"Quiet!" the major shouted, shocking even the lieutenant into silence. After she had witnessed first-hand Marrkus' compassionate side, Kae'rena was willing to concede Kory's assertion that not all in Imperial Military were cold, hard and unfeeling. The major, however, was drawing to Kae'rena's attention a good argument to the contrary - himself. His entire inquisition, it seemed, was going beyond a simple rectification of poor decision-making involving military resources, and so continued cross-examining his junior.
"Explain, Lieutenant Rijgord, if you would be so kind, by what cause alert status was raised from that console a few moments ago," the major demanded, "I am intrigued to hear."
"Prisoner squabble, sir," Marrkus explained. "I raised alert status to activate security measures before proceeding inside the cell to break up the fight."
"And in the process not only managed to allow the loss of one of the prisoners, but also to place at risk a valued imperial officer," the major reprimanded. "The whole purpose of our riot suppression security measures is to enable the duty officer to remain here during such an incident – on the outside of the cell!" All the lieutenant could respond to the major was agreement with his remarks. It was becoming a trend for the conversation, Marrkus thought, standing completely rigid as the major continued.
"Who was involved?" The lieutenant reluctantly pointed out Kory and the man with whom she had been fighting. From what Kae'rena could see of the major's facial expression, it came as no surprise. However, whether that was on account of Kory being involved, or the other, she could not tell.
"That man attacked the young girl on the far left, sir, after having taunted her repeatedly" Marrkus rushed to add. "She, as you can see, is clearly outmatched physically, and I feared if I did not act it may have resulted in a fatality."
"A fear which could have been quelled without putting your life at risk," the major replied, visibly disappointed. "Very well, lieutenant," he concluded, squaring up eye to eye with Marrkus, less than a metre-long gap between them, "what is done, is done, and must be dealt with." Kae'rena perceived clearly the finality in his voice. Enough had been recounted for him to make a decision on how to proceed, and so he raised his left arm, gesturing to the two guards in a short, circular wave of his hand. This latest action had caused a deep sense of anxiety to erupt from Kae'rena's core, and, like larva creeping out of a volcano, began to melt away her fragile inner peace.
The two guards had at once reacted to the major's command. They walked unsympathetically directly towards Marrkus. Surely, they were not going to arrest him, Kae'rena thought.
The major walked over to the control console, and toggled the energy field to reveal a path into the cell. Kae'rena cursed her apparent ability to sense imminent danger or menace as the two guards took up flanking positions beside Marrkus. She expected them to restrain him, and throw him in with the rest of them, however they merely stood there, awaiting further instructions. The major finally broke the silence, as he stepped away from the control console, and back towards the centre of the outer room. "In you go, Rijgord."
Marrkus must have believed protesting would have only made things worse. In the end, he walked into the cell without resistance, being followed closely by his escort. While to some it may have appeared to be the actions of a soldier, well trained and conditioned to follow orders without question, Kae'rena more easily believed he had surrendered so easily because he knew he would be able at least to continue as Kory's protector.
Kae'rena's knotted innards now burnt with an unfamiliar intensity. No longer she felt dread or apprehension, but jealousy. It was in truth a wholly novel state of being for her. Life as a slave was no life to envy. Existing in effective isolation from anyone else, her hardships had been no different to any other slave's, which she had always accepted as being the way of things. And yet, she was now faced with a force so unbreakable it seemed to transcend any preconceived notions of might or power – loyalty. That was something to be envied, she thought, something of which until recently she had not conceived the value. She struggled to decide whether the knowledge did her, in fact, a disservice, but knew it was impossible now to forget or ignore.
Having been distracted by her deliberations, she neglected to take note that the guards had not retreated to the outside of the cell. If it were not for the one beginning to walk towards her and the group of slaves huddled together in the corner of the chamber, it would have been several moments before she refocused on her own predicament. He pushed Kae'rena out of the way, and shot his arm out to grab hold of Kory. Kae'rena, recently inspired by Marrkus' courage, managed to overcome her conditioned tendency to choose flight over fight, and at once made for the imperial accosting her new friend, whom she had been charged to protect. Training and experience were, however, not her allies but her enemies. The guard swung his free arm across her face, knocking her straight to the durasteel floor. Kae'rena, shamed by her failure as a guardian, could only watch as the specialist pushed Kory away, before reaching to seize the Professor. They stood now side by side in the middle of the room, well apart from Kae'rena and the remainder of prisoners. The focal point of everything and everyone had now shifted.
With all the action being localised in the vicinity of the cell occupants, Kae'rena had not noticed the fruits of the second guard's labour. He had tapped some sort of manual release for an overhead panel, which had swung open to reveal a control pad. He keyed in an access code to lower two steel ropes, terminating with wrist-binders. Finally, he turned. "Ready, major," he said.
"Very good, specialist," the major replied. "String him up."
Kae'rena's heart sank as she heard the major's words. What horrors were they going to visit on the heroically noble lieutenant? Fortunately, in the end the two guards took hold of the Professor instead, placing both his wrists in the shackles dangling from the ceiling. The specialist looked over to the other, and gave a nod, to which his partner responded by toggling a button on the control pad, which had been accessed by the open panel. Immediately, the slack on the steel ropes disappeared, as it drew the bound prisoner nearly off his feet.
""Lieutenant," the major pronounced, "in terms of the Part 7 of the 'Articles of War' a member of the Imperial Armed Forces commits an offence by rendering, or by risking to render, themselves unfit for service, and is subject to disciplinary action. You have not denied your conduct. Your culpability is not contested. It is, however, fortunate for you that your division captain, the opinion of whom I both trust and respect, regards you without reservation as a loyal and dedicated officer. The actions of these slaves, however, cannot be ignored. Had such a challenge to imperial authority occurred in the general population, it would have been summarily dealt with. They are still the property of the Imperial Military, and shall receive no special dispensation, regardless of their alleged importance to others within the Empire. To discourage future insurgence, the guilty party shall have our Emperor's retribution. Five lashes, lieutenant. And let that it be by your hand, be your correction."
The specialist closest to Marrkus handed him something, which Kae'rena instinctively recognised as the tool of choice for imperial overseers. The sight of it unsettled her, as she recalled once more her own experience earlier that day. One strike was excruciating enough. Five, she thought, would be enough to cause a sensory overload, sending anyone into unconsciousness, induced by the attainment of a pain threshold the mind simply could not process.
Marrkus took the heatlash from the guard, but was clearly made very uncomfortable by what he was now being asked to do. "Major, sir," he began, "is this absolutely necessary? The situation is under control, and knowledge of this incident shall not reach the general slave population. There is no way it poses a threat to security."
"It is not a request, lieutenant," the major answered, "it is an order. I suggest you carry it out, lest you be guilty of insubordination as well. Unless your hesitation is founded on this man not being the more guilty party? Perhaps we should make the woman our Emperor's example."
Marrkus now had a look of desperation on his face. He did not know the major all that well, but he certainly knew that there did exist officers in senior positions, who were without mercy. He had to act against this. As he opened his mouth to begin to speak, the major conceded, anticipating his objection and interjecting, "We need not administer lashes and protract suffering if that appeases your sense of morality, Rijgord. Death for this girl, I dare say, would be just as meaningful a lesson."
The lieutenant was now faced with a terrible choice, as the specialist closer to Kory raised his blaster pistol, and aimed it at her head. "Standing by, major," spoke the guard, in response to his commander's implied instruction. Kae'rena found his enthusiasm for his work angering her.
Marrkus' mind was now ablaze with internal dialogue and self-examination. "This man does not deserve such a flogging," he thought to himself, "visit some retribution upon him to embellish the lesson, but not something so extreme!"
The possibility of successfully suggesting a compromise was a forlorn hope, even if he had a viable alternative. The major seemed set in his mind. Marrkus unleashed a wave of anguish upon himself, while he continued debating the moral position.
"Kory started all this," he admitted to himself, "and this man is now being made to pay. If there were justice, the hammer stroke would fall on her. On the other hand, if punishment is made on her, it means death, a worse fate than a flogging, and even more disproportionate. The body of the man would mend in time, if not entirely his mind, but death is final. Could the mercy of death be the last kindness I can do for her?"
Marrkus allowed himself a moment to make his decision. "It is not for me to make that choice for Kory, and if protecting my friend means compromising my sense of justice, so be it."
Kae'rena was waiting in dread anticipation, refusing to believe Marrkus would allow Kory to be hurt. Only a few seconds had passed since the major had given him the ultimatum. Finally, he responded, "That won't be necessary, sir. The more guilty party should bear the punishment. As the senior officer, that is for you to determine."
Kae'rena was so relieved, she even found herself manifesting a wry smile along the left side of her face. She reflected that if she had been in Marrkus' position, the decision would have been simple – better a stranger, than a friend.
"Carry on, lieutenant," ordered the major. The man chained up began to protest, although given how stretched his lungs were, it was an effort for him to vocalise anything. The sound which came out was all distorted, with only the occasional word being distinguishable.
Marrkus believed he had convinced the major that his hesitation had not been due to any reservation in his mind over who ought to receive the punishment. Nevertheless, self-doubt began to seize Marrkus' thoughts, as the prisoner began pleading his innocence, or at least his lesser degree of guilt. Every slave, when faced with a beating, rants off a version of miscarried justice, however in this case the compounding effect of that and the lieutenant's own representations on the matter, may have been sufficient for the major to perceive such talk with a hint of credibility. It was an improbable outcome, but one which he was nevertheless not prepared to risk. "Gag him, specialist" he ordered.
Marrkus' voice, as far as Kae'rena could hear, now echoed with the resonance of one trained to command. The specialist as a result carried out his orders at once, without needing to seek the approval of the major, who clearly gave no sign of objecting. The already muffled voice of the Professor all but disappeared, as the guard shoved something into his mouth. Marrkus, thereafter, unfurled the heat-lash, and struck the prisoner. The familiar sound of searing flesh filled the silent room, as Kae'rena counted, "One."
The second blow came near after the first. "Two," Kae'rena continued to herself. She was surprised that she did not hear the man scream out in pain, but then remembered that he had something shoved down his throat.
The third stroke came and went. While the first two had connected along the prisoner's upper back, the third had impacted lower. Marrkus reached back with the lash, and levelled the fourth strike. The man had at each attack not discernibly screamed, but his suffering had been quite apparent from the writhing of his body. The torturous weapon burnt away cloth and skin. There was no escaping it. On this occasion, however, the body seemed to go limp and just hang there, suspended by steel rope and bound by shackles.
The lieutenant, eager to be done with this loathsome business, drew back the lash to strike the fifth and final blow. Before he could proceed, the major stopped him. "Stand by, lieutenant," he ordered in a controlled manner.
"That's only four, sir," Marrkus replied.
"He has been beaten senseless, lieutenant," the major responded. "We are not sadists to scourge a man for its own sake if there is nothing to be gained from it."
"As you order, sir," answered Marrkus, trying not to show just how relieved he was that both he, and this poor soul, had been given even a slight reprieve.
"Punishment ended," the major spoke in conclusion, which the specialists understood as an order for them to release the prisoner from his bonds. The guards, therefore, removed his shackles, without the support of which the prisoner plummeted to the cell floor, landing on his stomach giving all of them a showing of the wounds he had sustained. While the one guard replaced the steel ropes and shackles in the overhead compartment, the other had exited the cell, and was standing at guard attention immediately outside the entrance.
During all this, Kae'rena has forgotten about the dead prisoner lying on the other side of the energy field, until the major issued his next set of orders. "Dispose of that," he said to the specialist on guard at the entrance, gesturing towards the inert body on the floor. The second had now also passed through energy barrier, and was greeted with his orders, being that he ought to remain on station to replace the lieutenant.
"Yes, sir," came their reply one after another, almost as if it had just been an echo.
"Lieutenant, take a moment to satisfy yourself of the prisoners' statuses," instructed the major, "then report to me in my office."
By this time the specialist had positioned himself at the control console, just as Marrkus had done what seemed to have been ages ago. The second guard had brought in an anti-gravity sled, on which he loaded the dead body, and departed. The major fell in behind him, as he moved towards the outer hatch, and exited the room.
Marrkus, as instructed but very aware that a witness to his actions remained behind, wormed his way through the group of slaves, as they stood silent in the cell. His only true concern, though, was for Kory. Kae'rena observed them exchange glances. This was their final goodbye. It was certainly a bitter ending to it all, as Marrkus reluctantly forced himself to walk away, daring not to invite the wrath of the major by failing to report to him timeously. "I stand relieved, specialist," he announced for his replacement, as was the military custom.
"Very good sir," the specialist replied, in fulfilment of his obligation to respond to a superior's address. Marrkus turned his back, and proceeded to the hatch, and keyed in his access code to open it. After he had passed through, he toggled the control panel on the other side to secure door behind him, and walked off to report to the major.
The group of slaves stood in a mild state of shock at all that had gone before, until Kory broke the silence. "Kae, help me bring him over here," she bade her. Kae'rena was happy to oblige, and together they moved the contorted centrepiece to a discrete corner of the cell, where the guard would not easily see them from the control console.
"That looks mighty painful," Kory exclaimed. "Help me remove his vest. It is filthy." Kae'rena did as Kory asked. It was not easily done though. The heat discharge from the lash had burnt cloth and melted skin, which had intermeshed and set. Kory, sensing Kae'rena's squeamishness, pushed her aside and took over, while enlisting her aid once more in a most peculiar way. "Kae, have you drunk anything today?"
Kae'rena was taken aback by the question. "No, Kory. Why?" she said in an uncertain voice. Kory did not answer her question, but simply gave her an instruction to ask the others the same. Trusting that Kory knew what she was doing, she acquiesced despite the awkwardness of the inquiry. Unfortunately, the others were either unable, or unwilling, to assist. Kory swore at them, as soon as Kae'rena reported back. By this time, she had managed to remove the man's vest and had placed it under his stomach as he rested on the cold metal flooring. Kae'rena then pointed out to Kory that his back was bleeding.
"I know, Kae, but if I hadn't removed as much of the garment as I could from the wounds, it would have caused infection," said Kory, as she began to tear a piece of cloth from her own vest. "Better fresh blood now, than rotting flesh later.
Kae'rena was intrigued at the extent of Kory's medical knowledge, and continually urged her for more detail. Kory, however, only had a mind for her task, which now involved removing her undergarments, and hitching up the lower part of her robe. This was too much. "Kory, what are you doing?" Kae'rena insisted.
"Nature's disinfectant, Kae," Kory replied, preparing herself for action, "fortunately Marrkus sneaks me water from the Officers' Mess."
"Nature's disinfectant?" she replied, at a complete loss at making sense of Kory's answer.
"You know," Kory explained without having to get specific. "In a healthy individual it is sterile enough and is an effective agent for reducing the growth rate of bacteria. As we don't have any medical supplies, no choice, I'm afraid. With any luck it will prevent contamination of the wound until we, well, until we get wherever we're going. Possibly we could get him medical attention there, but I wouldn't trust a hope."
Kory, having unclothed herself sufficiently for her purpose, straddled the man. Kae'rena could not believe what was happening. She struggled to supress her inclination to find this all very amusing. Apparently, she was not very successful, as Kory reproached her. "This isn't funny, Kae," she said.
"Actually Kory, it is. Tragic, granted, but still amusing. You are pissing on a man, recently beaten unconscious, lying face down on a prison cell floor, fearing recently for his life, in full view of a room of recently enlivened men. It is literally adding insult to injury, which would only be made more ridiculous if we had a droid serving drinks. And, you don't seem even slightly embarrassed."
"Of course, I'm embarrassed." Kory remarked. "I am sure I am going to remember this as unquestionably one of the most humiliating experiences of my life. I wish I could be unconscious for it too. But I know Marrkus, and I also know that violence affects the agent, as well as the object. Being made to do this, even if to save me, is going to scar him one way or another. I cannot help him to heal. All I can do is this to honour that part of himself he gave up. But enough with the philosophy lecture, cover me so I don't get jumped. Show time."
"Alright then, Little One," Kae'rena responded, grinning at her.
Meanwhile, Marrkus had arrived at the major's office. His aid was seated at a workstation on one side of the outer chamber. Having noticed the lieutenant's arrival, he toggled his communication console. "Lieutenant Rijgord to see you, sir."
"Send him in," came the reply from the major.
Marrkus, having been given leave to enter by the major's aid, approached the door to the inner chamber, opened it and passed through. The major was standing in the centre of the room with his back towards the entrance. The lieutenant secured the door behind him, and announced himself, "Reporting as ordered, sir."
"So lieutenant, did administering that beating please you?" the major enquired.
"No, sir." Marrkus replied honestly and definitively. "I do not see the pleasure in such things."
"I tend to agree with you, Rijgord, notwithstanding that you will come across those in the military who do, almost as often as you come across those who don't," the major replied. "It is irrelevant which disposition either one of us holds. What is relevant is that one does what one is told, what one deems to be necessary. While it was plain you were being ordered to do something which stood against your personal convictions, in the end you did what was required. What you were ordered, to do."
"Yes, sir."
"I understand that you and that woman have a history together, however when past relationships cloud our judgment and threaten military security, it is history, which need to be condemned to obsolescence.
The major, who had remained with his back to the lieutenant, finally turned, and stared him down. A tense, strained silence was observed, while the major gathered his thoughts before delivering his final homily on military matters. "Now listen closely to me, Marrkus," the major began. "You are a part of our glorious Empire's armed forces. A military machine, which has continually expanded our domain, brought the Republic to its knees in the very heart of their territory, and which exists purely to seek out our Emperor's enemies, wherever they may hide, and destroy them."
"Yes, sir," the lieutenant acknowledged.
"I am not finished," the major retorted, although this time in a more constructive manner, as one would expect a father to instruct a son. "This girl's pugnacious character has been a disruption to the stability of our efforts here on more than one occasion. It has only been allowed to persist on account of the enlisteds fearing that doing their duty may earn them your displeasure. You left your old life behind when you joined the army. The men and women under your command are bound to carry out their duty within whatever parameters which you, as their commander, see fit to lay down for them. That is without question. However, you, as their commander, owe them an even higher duty. The only individuals of significance in the life, which we have chosen to lead, are those who wear the uniform. And I suppose, the Imperial Navy are deserved as well."
"I understand, sir" the lieutenant said, feeling slightly more at ease for the quip of the major, who relaxed his posture and continued.
"They trust you. They commend into your hands their safety and well-being. That is your primary responsibility, not the fates and misfortunes of slaves. Just as the security of those under my command, like you, are my responsibility. Our charges here outnumber us many times over. Our overseers' ability to exercise control stems from these wretches fearing our might. When they see us fearing and undermining each other, well, that is when we become the targets. If you as a commander, do not act to ensure as far as possible your subordinates' safety, you have failed them. I trust I make myself clear, Marrkus?"
"You do, sir, very clear," Marrkus replied.
"Good. Now your commanding officer speaks most highly of you," the major confirmed, "but we are of a shared opinion your divided loyalty needs to be addressed. That is why I have ordered that this girl be assigned to that group. They will be shipping out within the hour."
"Shipping to where, sir?" the lieutenant asked. Marrkus at that moment wore an expression of complete and utter responsibility. It had been his overprotectiveness which had brought his superiors to this decision. Her fate was his doing.
"It is better, lieutenant, that you remain ignorant of that fact," the major said, not willing to entertain the question. "Though do not be ignorant of what lesson has been taught here, and I dare say you will justify the captain's and my belief in you as a credit to the Imperial Armed Forces."
Marrkus dwelled on that for a moment, as he, despite the feeling of guilt that twinned it, was unable to stave off the well-spring of pride at the faith his commanding officers placed in him. Kory was beyond his help now. He had done all that he could possibly have done, and, in cruel retrospect, that had been the trigger. All that was left was his duty to his commander, and his responsibility to his subordinates. Resolved not to fail them, as he had Kory, he finally addressed the major, "Understood, sir. Your orders, sir."
"Very well, lieutenant. Dismissed. Secure the hatch on your way out, and report to your division captain for instructions. Carry on."
The major turned and walked back towards his office desk. Marrkus ensured that the hatch had been secured after his exit, and headed in the direction of the operations section of the Command Bunker to report for orders. As he walked, he kept repeating to himself, "A good soldier follows orders," but struggled to keep himself from thinking about Kory, wondering what may be happening to her at that very moment.