Lee knelt down slowly next to Kendal's unconscious body, she was still breathing heavily from the ordeal she had experienced. He stripped off his shirt tore off a piece and carefully wiped the blood and sweat from her face. He brushed the hair gently off her forehead then picked up her hand hopefully letting her know she was not alone.
He could still hear her screams of agony and her pleas to him to do something to stop the pain. He had the power to bring it all to a halt, all he had to do was agree to help it and it would all stop but he had his duty to perform. He flashed back to another situation where he again had the power to bring the pain and terror to a halt with just a word, but he once again honored his duty and stood mute as Ferrell was dragged from the cell, stood up before a firing squad and executed*. The guilt and self-loathing he felt over Ferrell's loss and his inability to protect Kendal flared like a sun going nova burning him to the depths of his soul. Duty was a demanding, unforgiving, thankless bastard and at times like this he despised and hated it and himself for sacrificing so much in its service.
The irony of the entire situation was that no one on Seaview actually had the capability to fire the missiles without activation of Fail Safe by the President. Luckily for them it was apparently incapable of reading minds and had not ferreted out that little fact otherwise they would have been dispensed with long ago. As long as he refused to give in to its demands, Seaview would stay safe and only he and Kendal would bear the brunt of its anger and impatience.
He looked at her and gently drew his finger down her cheek. "I'm so sorry you had to endure that Kendal; I'd give almost anything to spare you from that agony but I just can't. You know the reason as well as I. I truly hope you can find it within you to forgive me," Lee whispered softly in her ear, his voice very nearly breaking, and then kissed her gently on the forehead. He picked up his shirt wadded it into a ball and placed it carefully under her head. "You rest now, build up your strength, I'll get you out of this yet, I promise."
Lee rose unsteadily to his feet and turned slowly around in a circle scanning the area around him. Based on what he could see he estimated they were roughly in the center of the room. Uncertain whether it was watching or not, he raised his arms as best he could in front of him and shuffled slowly forward like a blind man trying to find his way. He needed to explore the room around him to get a lay of the land so when the time came to escape he would have an idea what was between them and freedom.
He decided to head away from the lights to the opposite wall to start his exploration so he would have a ready point of reference on his return to Kendal. He mentally counted the steps so that he could develop some sense of scale. The room was devoid of any outstanding features, the floor was smooth as though worn down and polished by eons of movement by it as it endlessly paced across its prison. As he reached the far wall he ran his hands across the surface feeling the same smooth texture and a thin veneer of slime. The more he explored the more he realized that this was just a bare cell and truly had to be hell for this creature locked away all alone. He acknowledged the fact but couldn't muster any sympathy for it given all it had done.
As he moved along the wall he occasionally turned around and scanned the room cocking his head as if listening for some sound that would lead him to a way out. As he looked back towards it, it seemed to be watching him amused at his attempt to learn about its cage. Lee started making his way towards the lights keeping his hand firmly planted against the wall as a guide and to provide him far more support than he was happy needing.
As he moved along the wall it began to chuckle. "Going somewhere Lee? You're wasting your time, there's but one way out and you refuse to let us go."
"Well it's my time to waste isn't it?" Lee replied continuing to move along the wall.
"You surely don't want to spend an eternity with me do you Lee? I have been a gracious host up until now, but I do have my limits."
"My guess is I'll die long before that; death is ultimately my way out." Lee countered.
It laughed uproariously at the comment. "I wouldn't be too sure. If you haven't noticed time stands suspended within this prison. You will be with me forever and I will torture you and the female endlessly as you are my only companions and will have my undivided attention."
Lee fought down an involuntary shudder at the thought of that thing having another go at Kendal whenever the mood struck. He had to get her out and to safety, he had to find that stone. Reaching the spot where the lights shone directly above he looked up and noticed that two of the larger ones seemed to have changed color. He smiled to himself realizing that Harri had actually been with him in his mind and he hadn't just imagined it. They were working to get them out, now if he could only carry out his part and save them all.
He continued past the lights and moved towards the back of the cell where it shuffled off to when it wasn't tormenting them. He saw it start to move in his direction blocking access to the area behind it. Lee immediately guessed that the item he was after was located somewhere behind that foul mass and he now needed a way to get past it without it noticing. He had to verify his assumption so he pressed on apparently oblivious to it standing in his way.
It suddenly struck out and Lee was jolted by an excruciating bolt of electricity much like a taser blast that dropped him to his knees then sent him reeling onto his side jerking convulsively as his body reacted to the charge. It seemed to go on forever as Lee writhed on floor grunting in pain through gritted teeth, and then suddenly it stopped. It growled in a low and menacing tone at him. "Go back to your companion unless you fancy another round with me."
Once he regained control of his limbs and between gasps for air Lee nodded and pushed himself back up to his feet. He turned around and began making his way back to where he started. His mind raced furiously looking for ways that he could possibly get behind it to see what it was protecting. Unfortunately every solution came back to Kendal, only when it focused on torturing her could he possibly stand a chance of sneaking past it. 'Oh god please let there be another way', he thought to himself.
()()()()()
Sharkey entered the admiral's cabin in response to his call. He stared momentarily shocked by the presence of Keeper in the room; apparently the OOM wasn't losing his marbles after all. "You needed something Admiral?"
"Yes Chief, we need to prepare to recover Captain Crane and Dr. Ferguson once we receive their signal. I need you to gather four ropes, four rescue harnesses and two small backpacks and split the gear evenly making two kits, then stage a kit in the head in the captain's quarters and in Guest Cabin 1. Also select two teams that will deploy the equipment and recover our people when they are notified. We need the teams to simultaneously deploy the equipment through the mirrors once the skipper gives us the word and then pull him and Kendal to safety when they've clipped onto the lines. "
"Aye sir," Sharkey responded. "How long does each rope need to be?"
Harri looked at Keeper for the response.
"Two hundred feet for each rope should be sufficient to reach the floor of the room and give you enough to hold on to, to pull them up," Keeper answered.
"Anything else sir," Sharkey asked.
"Yes Sharkey, you need to replace the white light bulbs in the captain's and Kendal's head with green ones so they will be able to recognize where their extraction points are located," Nelson finished. "Remember do not get near the mirror or allow anyone to touch it until instructed to do so otherwise they run the risk of being pulled in as well.
"Yes sir, I'll get right on it." Sharkey turned and exited the cabin.
"So any idea how long we're going to have to wait?" Harri asked.
"We have a bit of time for now. It attacked Ferguson right after you completed your conversation with Crane. She is deeply unconscious at the moment as she recovers from the assault."
Harri blanched at the thought of Kendal enduring any torture at the hands of that thing. He also knew what Lee must be going through knowing he could have stopped it had he only agreed to launch his missiles.
"So what's going to happen when Lee grabs the stone?"
"Once he notifies you that he has found it and it is in his possession I will announce my presence to Devil and hopefully it will focus its entire attention on me and forget about your people. When I make my move you must tell Crane to get Ferguson and the stone to the extraction zone as quickly as possible so that we can recover the stone without delay. I think Devil will react violently and strike at the trench below you causing a significant quake, you need to have you're personnel braced to withstand the shake."
"What about the force field, what happens to it once you pop out and yell surprise?" Harri inquired.
"Once Crane takes the stone, its containment field will most likely collapse and as I said I will protect your vessel by erecting one of my own. It is imperative that this vessel stays safe so the stone can be recovered or all of this is for naught and I will be forced to act."
Harri didn't fail to notice that Keeper showed no concern for the two people stranded on the other side, all it wanted was the stone. He needed to convey to Lee the last thing to enter the boat had to be stone. There was no doubt in his mind Keeper would readily sacrifice them if it got its hands on the stone before they both were safely aboard.
"That's most unkind Nelson," Keeper said as it stared at him, a slight smile on its face. "I have gone to great lengths to protect your planet and your vessel. I will not lie to you, my focus is on that stone and I must have it if you want your planet to continue. I do however recognize the risks your people are taking to recover the stone and how personally important they are to you and others on this vessel. I will endeavor to protect them but like in any military operation we must achieve our objective to win the war and if that means their lives are sacrificed then so be it."
Harri glowered at him. "I would appreciate it if you would stay out of my mind. And true, I am very concerned about getting my people safely back on board. I harbor no illusions about how you must view the human race or our expendability in this situation. I just want to make damn sure you don't just grab the money and run, as it were, and leave them there holding the bag at the mercy of that thing."
"Understood Nelson, and I respect that. I will do all in my power to ensure they are returned."
()()()()()
Kendal slowly became aware that she was stretched out on the floor still locked in this festering black hole and it hadn't been some kind of horrific nightmare. Her mind immediately shot back to the excruciating unending pain that had wracked her body and cringed. She had no idea such pain was even possible and was now completely certain she had fallen into hell.
As she began to register the world around her she noticed her body felt as though she's been thrown from a cliff, everything ached including her hair and her muscles screamed at the slightest hint of movement. She also came to the realization that her head was resting on something soft. She eased her hand up behind her head to touch what was there and after a moment determined the makeshift pillow was Lee's shirt. As she moved her arm back down to her side she involuntarily whimpered.
Where was Lee she thought with alarm, surely he hadn't abandoned her here alone in the dark with that thing. He wasn't that much of a coward was he she thought as she recalled him standing by letting it torture her unmercifully.
A wave of abject terror swept over her at the thought of being left alone with that thing. "Lee! Lee! Lee, are you here?" she screamed out.
"Kendal, I'm here," Lee called out immediately as he tried to allay her fears. "I just went off to explore a bit, I'll be back in a moment. Keep talking to me so I can follow your voice back, okay."
"I thought you had left me here," she said quietly.
"Never Kendal, I will never leave you here alone I promise you that." Lee replied earnestly.
"I'm so scared, Lee. I was hoping this was all some bad nightmare and I would wake up and find myself back in my bed chalking it up to bad clams."
"Unfortunately you're not that lucky," Lee answered with a small chuckle. "I'm almost there Kendal, just hold on."
"Okay," she replied with a sniffle as she tried to force back the tears. She had never felt so overwhelmed and alone in her life. Moments later she heard Lee close in on her position and jumped slightly when he reached out and touched her shoulder.
"I'm here now Kendal," Lee said making sure she knew it was him and not that thing. "How are you feeling?"
"I hurt all over and feel as though I've been turned inside out and back again."
"I'm so sorry you had to endure that, I wish that there was something I could have done to stop it."
"There was Lee and you didn't. I didn't sign up for this," she replied bitterly.
Lee sighed deeply and shook his head in despair. "I know and I'm sorry but my hands are tied. You surely must know what would be lost if I gave in to its demands."
Kendal made no response to his comments and sniffled quietly as she fought to bring herself under control. As the silence became awkward she finally replied very softly. "I know Lee. I'm sorry too it wasn't your fault."
"You have nothing to be sorry about, I should have protected you and I didn't. Please forgive me."
A loud and sadistic laugh rumbled over them, making them both shudder in revulsion. "Ah now isn't that sweet, the brave knight unable to rescue the damsel in distress and begging her forgiveness. Should I give you yet another opportunity to come to the maiden's aid Sir Lee?"
Kendal latched onto Lee's arm as the mere thought of another episode of its torture terrified her. She began to shake uncontrollably. Lee pulled her tight against him in hopes of imparting some shred of comfort and support.
"You keep the hell away from her!" Lee spat.
It began laughing heartily again. "Oh so brave Lee."
"Braver than you, you cowardly piece of filth," Kendal added in as defiant a voice as she could muster.
It laughed again then suddenly Kendal began to scream as it launched yet another attack on her. Lee carefully lowered her to the floor as she writhed and squirmed in his arms.
"You bastard, leave her alone! You want to torture someone then try someone not afraid of you! Your bid for freedom is going to fail and you're going to spend the rest of time in this stinking hole," Lee taunted hoping to draw its attack off Kendal.
It growled loudly and one of its tentacle limbs reached out and seized Lee squeezing the breath out of him. It raised him up near its head and sneered at him then flung him back behind it across the room like a rag doll.
Lee slammed into the wall with such force that he saw stars as his head rebounded off the wall; he fought desperately to remain conscious. As he slid down the wall he stood momentarily, until his knees buckled and he fell to the floor gasping for breath doubled over in pain. As he hit the floor and toppled over his hand brushed against something very warm and slimy. There was something significant about that and he struggled to focus his addled mind to recall just what that was.
He fought desperately to tune out Kendal's agonized screams as he searched for the reason that warm thing was important to him. Suddenly like a bolt out of the blue the reason hit him, he'd found it, he had found its power stone. Lee screamed out mentally as loud as he could to Harri. He just prayed to god that he was there and would come to their rescue.
()()()()()
Nearly two days had elapsed since they had heard from Lee and Nelson was extremely worried. As he wandered down the corridor trying to burn off nervous energy Harri nearly passed out from the sudden and deafening cry that stabbed through his mind. He was forced to one knee as the world reeled around him. A single word had been burned across his brain. "Dad!"
"Lee!" Harri said aloud and pushed himself to his feet. He hurried down the corridor to his cabin. "Keeper! Keeper, Lee has contacted me, he's found the stone."
Keeper appeared instantaneously at Harri's summons. "Excellent. Has he taken possession yet?"
Harri quickly cleared his mind and sent his thoughts racing out to Lee. As he touched Lee's mind he was almost overwhelmed by the sense of relief Lee felt as he made contact. He could tell immediately something was wrong given his agitation.
"Lee, it's Harri, what's wrong son?"
"I've found the stone sir but only because it is torturing Kendal at this very moment. We've got to get her out of here now before it kills her or something worse."
Harri opened his eyes to regard Keeper his look nearly frantic. Keeper nodded then sent Harri the instructions he needed to pass on to Lee.
"Lee, Keeper is here and says that it will make itself known to the devil momentarily. Once you know that it's focused on Keeper grab the stone and Kendal and make your way as quickly as you can to the lights. Do you understand, son?"
"Yes I understand, please hurry," Lee pleaded.
"I need to alert the crew to prepare for your return then Keeper will make his move. Hold on son the cavalry is coming," Harri replied.
"Okay Dad," Lee answered tiredly.
Harri sat forward in his desk chair and flipped on the intercom. "Sharkey this is Nelson get your teams into position and be ready to deploy the rescue gear."
"Sharkey here, we're on our way sir."
"Sick bay this is Nelson."
"This is Jamieson."
"Jamie I need Chip in the con now, things are about to break wide open and I need him in command."
"He's on his way Admiral," Jamie replied.
"Jamie, get corpsmen and stretchers positioned in the captain's quarters and in Guest Cabin 1, I'm not sure which portal they'll come through. By the sounds of it neither of them is in pristine condition and will most likely need immediate medical assistance."
"Understood sir, we're on our way."
"Admiral this is Morton, I'm in the con awaiting your orders."
"Chip sound general quarters and have the crew ready for extreme turbulence. Keeper thinks that the devil will strike out with a significant quake once it detects its presence. We need to ensure that injures are kept to a minimum so we can get the hell out of here."
"Aye sir, Morton out." As the intercom clicked off the klaxons sounded and Chip alerted the crew to the impending emergency.
Harri looked back at Keeper. "Okay, it's your move now; we're as ready as we'll ever be."
* Season One Episode – The Mist of Silence