Remember, Never to Forget--19
John knew he'd done something wrong, but for the life of him he couldn't remember what it was. He ached from the tip of his toes to the roots of his hair and suddenly realized he could not move. A flash of memory coursed through him and he briefly opened his eyes to find a small light blinking rapidly above his head. "Turn that damn thing off, Carson!" he snarled, frowning when he tried to picture the man whose name he'd called.
"John, you have disappointed me time and again…"
"Ask my father about disappointment and maybe I'll give a damn!" John spat and turned his eyes until he could see the man standing beside him. The look on Hawk's face did not bode well for him, but John had never been one to back down.
"You will learn to bend your stiff neck when I tell you to, John…"
"Like hell I will!"
"I promised you would be punished for what you did today and I believe this should be sufficient to prove it was not just an idle threat!" Hawk warned, his eyes dark as he stared at his recalcitrant slave. "You will regret what you've done."
"Only thing I regret is that I didn't kill you when I had the chance!" John spat.
"Watch your mouth, John!"
"Go to hell!"
Hawk's eyes burned with anger as he grabbed something out of John's line of sight. He smiled, but it held no mirth as he showed the captive the device held tightly in his grasp. "This is a little something Kudrone developed at my request, John, and although I would prefer not to use it you leave me no choice."
John felt his mouth go dry as he looked at the strange device Hawk held in front of him. He had no idea what the clamps would be used for, but he knew it did not bode well for him. He swallowed several times, but there was no moisture to be found as Hawk twisted the clamps and brought it forward until it was inches above his face.
"Open your mouth!" Hawk ordered.
"No!" John snapped, tightlipped and angry.
"John, don't make this harder on yourself than it already is because I assure you one way or another you will open your mouth!"
John glared at the man whose face was a mask from some horror movie and he was the victim who'd walked in at the wrong time. There was no way he would ever allow himself to become a victim, but truth be told Hawk held all the cards and no matter what he did there seemed to be no escape. His only sense of freedom came from his sense of preservation and pride and neither would allow him to give in to being a slave no matter what Hawk threatened him with.
"Kudrone, come here," Hawk ordered and the other man moved into John's line of sight.
"You would do well to do as Hawk ordered, John," Kudrone said, wincing when he looked at the device his friend held. He'd developed it, but wished there was some way he could get rid of it; unfortunately, Hawk had taken to using it when a slave proved as stubborn as this one. It would be a painful reminder that Hawk was not a man to be crossed.
John kept his mouth closed and shook his head even as Kudrone reached out and pinched his nostril, effectively cutting off the supply of oxygen. John knew he could not hold on indefinitely, but he held out longer than he thought possible until his body betrayed him and he opened his mouth to take in the air. His vision blurred, but he refocused as he felt something pressing down on his tongue and his mouth was quickly pried open as the clamps were applied to either side of his mouth.
"Are you sure you want to do this, Hawk?"
"He needs to be shown that I will not back down! He is strong, but even the strongest of men can be brought to his knees by pain. John, this will stay in place until you realize I will not be denied. You are my property and I will do what I see fit with you," Hawk warned as he slowly adjusted the device until the captive's mouth was open, stropped just before the force would break John's jaw.
John had never felt this kind of intense pain and gripped the edge of the bed as Hawk seemed to take perverse pleasure in tightening the clamps before forcing his lips to close over the tube he'd fed through his lips and down his throat. He could breathe through his nose, but the nausea churning through his gut threatened to choke off any air he breathed in. Pain coursed through him as Hawk adjusted the clamps so that there was no way he could breathe through his mouth without causing excruciating agony to shoot through his skull.
"This will stay in place until you prove to me that I can trust you," Hawk told him as he finished adjusting the strap around John's head and made sure it was locked in place. "You will be fed through a tube, but will be unable to speak unless I allow it. Rest assured this is only a hint of the pain I can cause with this device. Kudrone did well when he designed this for me."
John knew there was nothing he could do or say to dissuade Hawk from this form of punishment. His eyes drifted toward Kudrone and he caught sight of the pity in the man's eyes before he looked away. 'Rodney,' he thought, but knew whoever Rodney was he was nothing like this man.
"Sleep well, John, for when I return you will apologize for your behavior," Hawk warned before leaving Kudrone alone with the slave.
"John, don't push Hawk any further, or this will seem like a mild punishment," Kudrone told him sadly. "Perhaps if you apologize he will remove it."
'Never,' John thought, but the pain had spread to encompass his gums, jaw, cheeks, and even his eyes as the darkness reached out to claim him.
Kudrone looked at the device before turning and walking away. He'd never enjoyed seeing anyone in pain, but he would continue to develop devices like this as long as Hawk commanded him. This was his life and compared to others he was lucky not to be on Hawk's bad side. He hurried toward his lab and began to think of a way to help John regain his memory and hopefully escape Hawk's wrath.
SGASGASGASGASGA
Suduko sat at the table near the back of the bar and waited for Trazdia to rejoin him. He'd explained the situation to his friend and hoped the rest of the council members were as easily convinced that they now had a tactical advantage over Shazzia. If the Atlantians were truthful then the new crafts would easily infiltrate the high priestess' fortress and get them close enough to rescue McKay.
Suduko reached for the cup of ale and swallowed half of it before searching the dim interior for any sign of trouble. There were several other patrons, but none seemed to have any interest in what he was doing. He turned toward the back as a familiar figure strode toward his table and signaled to the barmaid to bring him a drink.
"Well, my friend, it looks like we're in for a hell of a fight," Trazdia told him.
"The council agreed?" Suduko asked.
"Not all of them, but there are enough volunteers that the council had no choice, but to agree."
"How many?"
"22…and they'll be bringing their own weapons although we could use a few more," Trazdia explained.
"I'll see if Lorne has any extra artillery," Suduko told him.
"So, when are you planning on storming the Fortress?"
"We haven't discussed that yet, but I'd like you to be there and give us some insight…"
"You know more than anyone what Shazzia's fortress is like, Old Friend," Trazdia said.
"A lot has changed since I was her prisoner," Suduko told him.
"Perhaps, but you're still the best chance we have of successfully getting McKay back. The men will follow you without question, Suduko…and so will I."
"Thank you, Trazdia, always could count on you" Suduko said and finished the last of his ale just as the barmaid brought him another and placed a glass of Trazdia's favorite in front of him. "Well, I'd better be getting back…care to join us for the evening meal?"
"Sounds good…I've missed Kierra's meals since she and Bendor wed," Trazdia said of the woman who'd worked in his establishment before meeting and falling for Bendor. "Tell me she hasn't lost her touch when it comes to fixing meals?"
"No, she hasn't," Suduko said with a hint of pride in his voice.
"Good, then let's get moving…I'm so hungry I could eat a…"
"Don't say it," Suduko warned and the two men chuckled at their own private joke.
SGASGASGASGASGA
Rodney was very self conscious as he sat at the table with High Priestess Shazzia. The table itself was low and instead of chairs he was seated cross-legged on a pile of soft pillows. The food looked wonderful and his stomach rumbled appreciatively, but his own nudity would not allow him to reach for anything. He'd grabbed a napkin as soon as he'd been allowed to sit and covered himself as best he could while Shazzia served herself from the trays of succulent food.
"Dr. McKay, I assure you the food is not poisoned and will please you," Shazzia told him.
"I'm sure it will, but I've never felt comfortable eating a meal while nude," the Canadian told her.
"Perhaps you truly would rather the tube…"
"No…no tubes, I'll eat, but would it help if I begged for my clothing?"
"No, it wouldn't, but I would enjoy hearing you do so anyway," Shazzia said and put her plate on the table. "Come here, Dr. McKay…"
"No…that's okay. I'm fine where I am," the scientist said and reached for his plate.
"When I tell you to do something I expect to be obeyed…"
"I am…I just need to choose what I want to eat," McKay said, hoping he could keep her mind off whatever lewd thoughts she was having.
"Too late…I believe I would enjoy feeding you," Shazzia told him, pleased by the look of surprise that quickly formed on his face. Come, sit beside me and we will share the meal as consenting lovers should…"
"But…but we're not…you know…consenting lovers…"
"Not yet, but that can quickly change, Dr. McKay," Shazzia said and motioned for him to join her. She smiled as a soft cough escaped his throat as he reluctantly moved to the cushion next to hers and sat down. He tried to cover himself, but Shazzia would have none of that and pulled him until he rested against her chest.
Rodney gasped as his bare back came in contact with the heavily muscled body belonging to his captor. He'd never thought of himself as being shy around women, but this was no ordinary woman and he didn't enjoy being at her mercy. "I am perfectly capable of feeding myself."
"I am sure you are, but I enjoy feeding my pets," Shazzia said and reached for a ripe red berry. She placed it in front of his mouth and waited for him to accept her offering.
Rodney realized it would do him no good to make her angry and opened his mouth. He ate the rich fruit and realized it tasted like a cross between a kiwi fruit and strawberries. "That's remarkably good…there's no citrus in it is there. I'm allergic to citrus and I doubt you have the capability to treat a severe allergic reaction here."
"You would be surprised by what we can treat here, Dr. McKay."
"Really…can I ask you something High Priestess?" McKay asked, his mind drifting back to the reason they'd been searching for this woman in the first place.
"Please, call me Shazzia and perhaps I will answer your question depending on whether you please me or not," Shazzia told him while feeding her captive another ripe berry.
"Where is John Sheppard?"
"That is not your concern, Dr. McKay?" Shazzia snapped and tightened her grip around the nude body.
"Please, John is a friend and…"
"John is of no concern to you and you would be wise to forget he ever existed. You are my slave now and I will do whatever I wish to you…including making you forget everything about your past if need be," Shazzia warned.
"I'm sorry…I didn't mean to make you angry," McKay said, hoping she would believe his apology in spite of the anger raging through him. Somehow he would have to stay on her good side if he wanted to find out about John Sheppard's whereabouts.
"I hope you are being sincere, Dr. McKay, because you would not like the consequences if you displease me," Shazzia told him and resumed the act of feeding her slave.
SGASGASGASGASGA
Major Evan Lorne stood between Teyla and Ronan as the two Jumpers descended toward them. Suduko had yet to return from his meeting with Trazdia, but Kierra and Bendor had assured them it would be some time before he had the answers they needed. He moved toward the newcomers as they disembarked and the jumpers were shut down.
Hank Wallace was a tall man measuring six and a half feet and built like a football player. He'd played professionally during his college years, but had decided he wanted something more out of his life. He'd joined the expedition nearly a year ago and had proven time and again that he was more than capable of doing his job and then some. He had a deep respect for Colonel John Sheppard and had been saddened by his 'death'. Now there seemed to be a chance that the man was alive and he would do everything he could to bring him home.
"Hank, welcome to the Retreat," Lorne said and shook the bigger man's hand.
"Not much of a name for such a pretty place," Wallace said of the scenic views he'd seen while piloting the jumper toward the coordinates he'd been given.
"No, but it's apt…seems it's impossible to get here except via a jumper or a craft like Suduko owns," Lorne explained.
"Is this Suduko trustworthy?"
"Yes, I believe he is, Major," Teyla answered.
"Good…it sounds like we'll have our hands full rescuing Dr. McKay," Wallace told them as they made their way toward the house.
"Suduko went to meet with Trazdia and the council to see if they'd be willing to help out," Lorne explained.
"Do we really want to bring others in on this?" Wallace asked seriously.
"We need as many people as we can get. Shazzia's fortress is supposed to be impregnable," Teyla answered. "Suduko and his people have more to offer than just their information…they've been trained for battle."
"Good," Wallace said. "Do we have any idea how many men she has?"
"Not yet, but that's something Suduko is looking into," Lorne advised. "We do know it will take the cloaked jumpers to get past her security system."
"How did you get that information?" Lieutenant Mark Germaine asked.
"Suduko," Ronan asked.
"You seem to be placing a lot of trust in a man you barely know," Germaine observed.
"We don't have much choice," Teyla told him.
"I hope he doesn't disappoint us for McKay's sake…not to mention Sheppard," Wallace said, watching as the rest of his team set up to watch the perimeter in case something went wrong.
TBC