As he had passed through the halls, his eyes glanced from door to door that had glowing purple bars in the small window. Lorca was shoved into a large cell landing to his side onto the floor. The doors closed behind him. Lorca felt around his waist band. They had taken his communicator off his person during the escort. From the large circular windows there were screams of pain and anguish coming from the windows that were set all over the room from all sides to the ceiling. There was a groaning figure hidden in the dark on both sides of the room. When Lorca looked on ahead, his eyes caught sight of his assignment. He saw a gray appealing Klingon at the back of the cell with one hand on her lap. Her head was tilted up at the bars. The white armor made the Klingon look like a warrior and a queen with sharp armor that made her seem royal.
Lorca slowly strolled toward the Klingon.
"You must be L'Rell, house of Mo'Kai, house of T'Kuvma." Lorca said.
"There is no T'Kuvma house," L'Rell replied, with a Klingon accent.
"I heard otherwise from Starfleet," Lorca said.
"That information is wrong," L'Rell said.
"Well," Lorca said, coming closer to L'Rell. "We have a Klingon informant who says otherwise."
"Your Klingon informant is full of shit," L'Rell said. "Honorable Klingons don't lie about that."
"I seem to recall that you were the little Klingon bird that tweeted that," Lorca said. "you have been the one saving lives."
She looked toward Lorca.
"T'Kuvma's house fell apart after the battle," she looked down toward her hands in shame. "after . . . After T'Kuvma's defeat at the hands of the Yeager's captain."
"Captain Maranville," Lorca said. "he must had a good reason."
"Good reason. . ." L'Rell muttered. "Now Voq is spearheading the war and I. . . I have . . . I have gone against everything a Klingon is supposed to be," Lorca slowly seated himself down in front of her. "I am part of the rogue Klingon fleet."
"No," Lorca said. "You are part of Starfleet," he placed a hand onto the side of her shoulder. "And every starfleet officer aboard this prison ship is going to get out of here alive."
"Tell that to the last Starfleet officer who tried to escape and died trying," L'Rell said.
"They weren't Gabriel lucky-with-a-torch-under-his-ass Lorca," Lorca reassured L'Rell.
"Captain Lorca," L'Rell said, as his name registered. "Starfleet captain. . . the captain who can't be fooled, victorious captain at the battle of Fey-tow, captain of the honorable Buran," she tilted her head. "That captain?"
"One and only," Lorca said. "the only people who were honorable in that fight were my crew. They are the ones who destroyed two squadrons," the look of awe and admiration was present on her face. "I am not honorable nor am I victorious."
"So it is true," L'Rell said. "the stories about you playing mercy on Klingons and letting them go."
"Not completely," Lorca said. "Klingons don't like surviving a battle. It's the Klingon way."
"Respecting their honor," L'Rell said. "You are more Klingon than I ever was."
The smallest of a smile appeared on Lorca's face toward the woman. The door to the cell slid open. He looked over yanking his hand back from the Klingon's hands. Two Klingons who were a shade of blue entered the room in what seemed to be golden armor that had a fancy, sharp sleek aesthetic to it. It was like knight armor mixed with the armor of a Klingon. The lead Klingon had a D'k tahg in one hand. With a press of a finger the upper part of the dagger extended below the black handle.
"Choose your pain," SuDqu' said.
"What is this?" Lorca asked.
"Torture," L'Rell said.
L'Rell pointed at the direction of a hiding starfleet officer with regret in her eyes. She reached out stopping Lorca from going after the Klingon who proceeded to beat up the young man. There was a loud crack once the man's body hit the wall falling back to the floor. The second Klingon kicked the young man's head. Then there was silence as Lorca looked on in horror. Then his body was dragged away. The Klingons turned away and left the cell. The doors closed behind them, silently.
"Tell me," Lorca said. "Do you have another cellmate I should be aware of?"
L'Rell turned toward him.
"Lieutenant Ash Tyler," L'Rell said. "Security officer."
"Security," Lorca said. "we got the odds in our favor,"
"I am afraid not," L'Rell said, Lorca raised a eyebrow. "Voq has taken a liking to him."
"What kind of liking?" Lorca said.
"The taken advantage kind," L'Rell replied. "He won't be fit for serving on a federation ship, but for Klingons," Lorca squeezed his eyes with his head lowered. "we fight against them in counseling sessions."
Lorca slowly nodded.
"And you have been doing that with him, haven't you?" Lorca asked.
"It helps him feel better." L'Rell replied. "Playing out a fantasy happens to be relieving his anger."
"How close has he come to killing you?" Lorca said.
"Since my placement, three times," L'Rell said. "He has apologized and wish to not continue it."
"But you decline and want to help him," Lorca said.
"Yes," L'Rell said. "One of Yeager's officers once told me . . . My guilt is strong."
"Guilt can eat you up," Lorca said. "I am sure Klingons know that more than anything."
"If that is truly the word in your language that describes what I feel then it must be," L'Rell said. "I wear the cone of shame. Another 'Earth' phrase. Is it not?"
"It is," Lorca said. "look, are you with me to redeem your house and drive these rogue Klingons out?"
"For a Klingon with a worthy cause, I am willing," L'Rell said.
"My cause is to freedom and cooperation," Lorca said.
L'Rell held her hand out.
"You can count on me, Captain," L'Rell said.