"HOLD!," a human voice shouted from the direction of the gate. Fully attentive, Hayes saw that a muscular, balding man had stopped in his tracks next to the terminal, as its operator held a hand up, emphasizing the order. A ripple went through the crowds, and the Androsynth soldiers were tensing, seeming ready to open fire if the situation calls for it. The swarthy Synth woman at the gate said something, and moved in front of the detained man, pistol drawn, though not yet pointed. Slowly, he raised his hands.
Tarnovetsky and Hayes shared an alarmed look, and moved forward cautiously. Looking up for a moment, Hayes noticed that the lone VUX on the catwalk was now aiming their laser rifle their way.
"Heh. Embedded in bone, meant to emulate its structure and consistency, with no electronic tells," the operator said, looking at the Earther. "Clever, but not enough."
Master 157's drone was also next to the man, presumably making its own scans—and ready to vaporize him at a moment's notice. Indeed, in no time the Ur-Quan made a hissing sound, then spoke.
"Confirmed. Illicit device detected. Do not make any motion to tamper with it, Earthling: it will be detected."
The man stood still, but his eyes were wide, bordering on panic. He kept his composure, however, and made no sudden moves. The Androsynth woman came to the operator's side, watching the screen.
Alarmed voices could be heard on both sides of the fence, with a number of fearful, apprehensive or dejected faces visible. Hayes himself wasn't sure what he felt. An attempt at composure fought the blankness. He and Tarnovetsky cautiously moved closer, but stopped a slight distance from the gate, facing decisive stares from the Androsynth who didn't seem likely to take well to their coming any further.
"The encryption isn't anything I find familiar," the man at the terminal mused. "It will take some time for our measures to work—"
"That will not be necessary," the Ur-Quan interjected. "This one will give up the object's secrets soon enough."
After a pause and a shift of its posture, the green creature continued. "Worker 331. You stand in violation of Section 23, having knowingly broken it and defied a call for lenient disclosure. You already know what the consequences of that may be, and I will not waste time repeating them to you. Instead, you will be given another chance: should you surrender the contents of the drive immediately, my sentence shall be carried out as defined by the appropriate personal responsibility sections. Should you however persist in your refusal, I will apply the discretionary measures and order the summary execution of one of your crewmates chosen at random." Several gasps and quiet protests broke the silence.
The Ur-Quan continued. "This will be repeated as many times as will be necessary to obtain your compliance. Any attempt at a data wipe will be met with extreme reprisals against this crew contingent. You have been warned."
The green Master then focused on its haptic interface, manipulating it with its fingers and baton. Seconds later, it looked up. "Worker 465, step forward. To the gate."
A brunette woman at the other side of the gate soon pushed through the crowd, very pale. She stood next to the apprehended man.
"Worker 331, observe your fellow worker," Master 157 said. "Do go on."
The man and the woman looked at each other for several moments.
"Witness the first slave who will have to suffer for your obstinacy. This does not need to happen. Fulfill your duty to your comrades and to the Ur-Quan, Worker. For once, choose honor. I will give you…," the Ur-Quan typed something. "Twenty of your seconds. Decide."
For several moments, the two humans locked eyes. The man was sweating, still as a statue.
As the deadline neared, the man turned towards the Ur-Quan. He spoke, voice cracking slightly, "I'll do it."
Hayes finally breathed, not having realized that he had forgotten it for a good half minute. For a moment, he closed his eyes.
"Good choice," the Androsynth terminal operator said softly. His fellow soldier next to them seemed to relax a bit, but not nearly as vividly as the Earther woman, who sighed loudly and seemed on the verge of collapse.
"Proceed with information disclosure," the green caterpillar boomed.
'Worker 331,' whose identity Hayes did not know, quietly talked for a minute with the Androsynth technician, presumably cooperating with the extraction and decryption.
"There," Worker 331 then spoke louder, addressing the Ur-Quan Master in a monotone, dead voice. "It's done. You can access it now."
The Androsynth man worked on his computer. His compatriot, the woman that stood at the gate, observed again.
"Whoa," the Synth said, and the woman next to him frowned. "These are the design blueprints for their Cruisers!" he exclaimed. Hayes felt something in his stomach sink.
The Ur-Quan very obviously fidgeted. "This is a grave breach," Master 157 spoke with what seemed like an undercurrent of anger. "Your smuggling attempt was clearly aimed at fomenting insurrection against the Hierarchy. Even as Fallow Slaves, you aim to do us harm."
The silence in the hangar felt physically palpable, until it was broken by a sharp intake of Ur-Quan breath. The alien extended a tentacle with its baton, indicating a location to the side of the hangar section, before the gate. The drone began floating towards the indicated spot.
"Follow my drone and await your sentence there, oath-breaker."
Worker 331 did as he was told.
Hayes could not remember a moment in his life when time seemed to move so slowly.
"Earthling Captain," the Ur-Quan called out.
Tarnovetsky jerked slightly and stood straight.
"As the commanding officer in your contingent, you were to ensure compliance with the entire body of our slave law. Evidently, you have failed. Answer me: what was your role in this plot?"
Hayes was close enough to observe every expression on the Captain's face. It seemed blank, but there was a sort of resignation in the Captain's eyes. Hayes understood it all too well, for they both knew what had to follow.
Tarnovetsky blinked, long seconds stretching quietly. Then, calmly, "I did everything in my power to prevent this sort of event. We checked for contraband as best we could. I warned the crew, many times. I wish this man had listened." As he spoke, the Ur-Quan seemed to stare at the Captain with an odd intensity. Sighing, Tarnovetsky continued, "But what's done is done. I know my responsibility, and accept the consequences. I only ask, Master, that I do so alone. The failure is mine."
Hayes closed his eyes. God-damnit. He hated this feeling of helplessness, and the fact that the Captain was taking the fall for this. For a moment, he had the wild notion of volunteering to share the blame.
"Considering the drive's contents, the gravity of the offense is such that Ur-Quan law gives me the license to order a decimation of your crew, Captain," Master 157 said, and gasps could be heard, even a cry from somewhere. Hayes now stared at the green creature, wide-eyed. "As well as the extradition and execution of co-conspirators on the planet below. However, that may not be necessary. I will honor your request, under one condition." The giant caterpillar paused, raising its head and spreading its gaze throughout the audience.
"Slaves. Workers. Earthlings. If there are any of you, anyone else aiming for treachery, come forward immediately. This is your final warning. Submit now, and you alone will be punished—and your confession will be factored into the outcome. Should you, however, persist… there will be no mercy. You have…" Master 157 manipulated its screen for a moment. "One Earth minute."
Only the low-key, but excited chatter between some of the ground-floor Ilwrath could be heard. Sweating, Hayes met the Captain's eye again. The old man was putting up a brave front, and made an attempt at a wan smile.
The crowd at the other side of the gate parted, as a lone woman made uncertain steps forward. She was clearly terrified out of her mind, yet kept going until she reached the terminal.
The Ur-Quan considered her for a long moment.
"Your report, Worker?" the emerald alien asked placidly. The drone moved to within a couple of meters from her.
"I−I brought the schematics for a communication device," the tall woman said haltingly. She closed and opened her fists nervously, then seemed to gather herself. "It's in a tooth implant, meant to be undetectable."
"Ahh." The Ur-Quan splayed its tentacle-hands for a moment. "So, another one. Very well then, give the Sentinels access to this information. Sentinels, forward it to my personal station as usual." The Master took a breath, then continued, "Worker 48, explain the specifics of this… communication device."
She was quiet for a moment, clearly nervous. "It's a prototype, so far untested. In theory, it might allow for seamless communication with Earth."
Hayes felt a chill. This was bad, very bad.
The Ur-Quan fidgeted again. "Yet another grave breach committed by this crew rotation," it said with an undertone of irritation. "You are fortunate today, Earthlings. Had it been someone else in my place, your people could have been punished most severely—both here, and on the surface. But we Ur-Quan also recognize the value of our given word, unlike some of those present. As I have promised restraint should offenders come forward, so it shall be—if there will be no further violations." The green alien paused, seemingly for emphasis. Then, turning to face the human woman, "Worker 48, provide access to the data."
The woman spoke with the Androsynth terminal operator, but Hayes was too far away to make out the quiet words. The silver-suited man then took out a datapad and held it close to the woman's face. Typing for several seconds, he seemed to wrap it up. The Ur-Quan gazed down upon its own screen, manipulating the haptic interface for several minutes. The Synth did likewise on his terminal.
Suddenly, the green giant boomed, "The contents of the chip have been confirmed. All is as Worker 48 claimed." The Ur-Quan then went quiet, studying the data before it for a while longer.
Finally, it spoke up again. "This would have been an interesting attempt to interfere with the harmonic oscillations in the slave shield, utilizing them to send a coherent message through. A marginally clever idea, but primitive and insufficient. We have foiled finer attempts than this." Hayes thought he could detect a faint tone of amusement in the alien caterpillar's mental tone.
Master 157 then turned its gaze to Tarnovetsky. "Captain, Worker 48, both of you are to join Worker 331. Your sentencing is in order."
With a last look and a nod to Hayes, the Captain walked past the gate again, to the isolated, forlorn-looking man.
"Proceed with the security screening of all remaining workers," the Ur-Quan added.
In an atmosphere of despondency, the humans continued going past the gate, one by one. After several minutes, all but the three condemned people had crossed beyond the security fence—without further incidents. This fact did not put Hayes at ease.
"Earthlings. Heed," Master 157 spoke again. "The regular proceedings of the admissions process are complete, but sanctions are in order. For their crimes, I will now pronounce the sentences facing Workers 331 and 48, as well as the Starbase Captain. These judgments are the voice and represent the authority of the Ur-Quan; they are final and not subject to appeal or clemency."
"Worker 48." The woman in question stood more straight, looking in the direction of the green overlord. "Your grave breach of trust has partially been commuted by your disclosure, however late it may have been. As such, your sentence shall be twofold. The first measure is a punitive one, which will be administered here. The method to be used is Excruciation, which will be delivered via my drone and at the level appropriate for a member of your species."
Hayes frowned. This was not something he had heard of before, though it did not sound pleasant, to say the least. The people around him seemed to share his feelings, mostly bearing expressions of some mixture of apprehensiveness and confusion.
"I believe an explanation is in order," Master 157 continued. "Excruciation is sometimes used as a punitive technique aboard Ur-Quan vessels and habitats. It involves an application of pain into the nervous system of the recipient."
Hayes heard a gasp somewhere nearby, and somebody swore under their breath. The woman awaiting her sentence fidgeted visibly.
"Members of our slave races have, on occasion, voiced their objections to such methods, considering them cruel. This is, perhaps, understandable from your perspective. We Ur-Quan, however, are not thereby advocating any measure we do not ourselves face."
The caterpillar-like alien fell silent and shifted for a moment, then continued.
"Since childhood, every Ur-Quan is familiarized with pain. As they grow, larvae fear it, yet through it they also learn—obedience and proper behavior, but also endurance. Our upbringing, including our Excruciators, teaches us to withstand pain, to live with it, to use it as a focus for our will. And should the worst come to pass, when the deepest darkness falls upon you, that pain may be the only friend you have. When there is nothing else and all hope is lost, pain… may be your salvation. More than a mere misfortune or something to be avoided, pain can build your character, and should you master it with diligence, you can wield it as a shield."
Master 157 exhaled, having spoken with what seemed to be a certain amount of passion.
"You would do well to remember that. And now, Worker 48 will be the first here to experience a small fraction of an Ur-Quan's moment in life. The procedure will be short, and was calibrated to fall within human tolerance levels. Before we proceed, one more matter requires attention. An Earthling medical team is required to stand next to the felon. While a health emergency is rather unlikely, your services should be on hand for the eventuality. Damage or death is not a desired consequence of this process."
During the resulting quiet, several people gathered in front of the gate. After what seemed like a moment of hesitation, they proceeded to the other side, taking their place near the three condemned individuals.
"Before we proceed, hear the second part of your sentence, Worker 48. After you recover from the Excruciation, you will board my Dreadnought, and are permitted to carry travel necessities allowed by Ur-Quan Slave Law. You will carry out a full tour of duty in Ur-Quan space, same as expected from Battle Thrall crews in Direct Service, for a period of roughly five of your years," Master 157 said. The woman just stared at the Ur-Quan, mouth open. "You will receive your assignment when we arrive to our central region. But now, it is time for your immediate punishment."
The green caterpillar seemed to straighten out somewhat.
"Worker 48, maintain standing position. Medics, stand by ready to catch the Worker should she react with excessive force. Do not act otherwise until the process is finished." The Ur-Quan's drone moved to float in front of the woman. Hayes could see that she looked pale and terrified. She fidgeted, looked sideways, but stood her ground.
"Initiating Excruciation… now." The drone closed the meager distance to the woman completely.
What followed was an agonized shriek, which did not seem to have an end. The woman made a short jump, limbs flailing wildly. The scream tapered off after what Hayes thought was only a couple of seconds, but couldn't be sure. She collapsed, caught in the last moment by two of the medics.
An older man whom Hayes recognized as Dr. Liang, the starbase's senior medical officer, leaned down to check up on the fallen woman, with another medic holding a medscanner next to her. Dr. Liang soon stood up, facing the Ur-Quan. "She's unconscious," he spoke in his gravelly voice.
The Ur-Quan spoke. "Very well. The medical team shall take Worker 48 through the gate and proceed with her into the Starbase interior once these proceedings have finished. You are to furnish her with any permitted necessities a human might require for a long journey, at least for the initial stage. Our fabrication modules can replicate most basic items quite well, once they are scanned. We already possess data for the creation of Androsynth essentials, which should cover most of your needs adequately."
The team carefully picked Worker 48 up, taking her limp body back to the main group of humans.
With a loud intake of breath, Master 157 continued. "The time has come to carry out the verdict against the Captain and Worker 331. For this duty, I will require a single volunteer among the present Battle Thrall Sentinels. If there are any, speak now."
It took scarcely a moment for a voice to respond, darkly cheerful. "In the name of the Dark Twins, I shall carry out this bloody sacrifice!" One of the groundside Ilwrath had spoken. He produced a wicked-looking curved knife. "Dogar and Kazon shall feast upon the still beating hearts of these creatures, and as their foremost wretched servant on these grounds, I, Butcher Urgolon, shall present the copious gift of their blood for all to see!" the spiderlike alien concluded, shouting triumphantly, front-arms thrust into the air.
Oh no— Hayes felt very cold indeed, knowing that what was about to follow was the—
"I'll carry out the sentence." A calm human voice spoke loudly, just as Urgolon finished his proclamation. Turning towards the source, Hayes found it to be none other than the Androsynth woman at the gate, who Hayes by now figured was their commander. Taking a few steps forward from the gate, she looked squarely at the Ur-Quan.
"Aaah." The Ur-Quan trailed off. "And are there any other candidates for the task?" Master 157 took its gaze across the crowd, waiting. Nobody else stepped forward. Hayes presumed that the Ilwrath volunteer was the commander of his own contingent, and nobody dared challenge his claim to the impending kills.
"So be it," continued the giant green caterpillar. "Ilwrath commander," the spider in question stiffened, "You have spoken of your method of execution. Tell me, what other motions would your approach include? Is it a swift kill, or a more… protracted affair?"
The Ilwrath spoke with what seemed an undertone of glee. "Worry not, o Master, for they will suffer for their transgressions! I am an expert in pain and agony, and the two shall live long enough to witness their own evisceration. If you so desire, I can extend the prior preparations into a proper torture session. Indeed, with pleasure," the Ilwrath ended on an almost reverential note, obviously relishing the thought of what he'd inflict.
Hayes heard a whimper somewhere behind him, as well as something that he couldn't quite make out, but which had the quality of a "my god…" sort of utterance.
Master 157 flicked its command baton. "As expected, then," it said non-committally. "And you, Androsynth Commander? How would you carry out this order?"
The Androsynth woman's expression seemed almost neutral, and she spoke in a similar manner. "Two shots each to the heart, one to the head. It will achieve the desired result quickly, efficiently and with certainty."
The Ur-Quan sniffed. "I believe you are correct in that." Shifting in place, it took a moment's pause. "Ilwrath Commander. Your notion of punishment is most gruesome, and I have no doubt you consider that a compliment. However, I must impress upon you an important point: you are here to serve the Ur-Quan. You are here to uphold Ur-Quan law, as interpreted by the Ur-Quan—not by the gods you worship, or their priests."
The Ilwrath fidgeted, seeming displeased.
Master 157 continued. "When I gave my verdict, I outlined the punishment quite clearly. For these two individuals, a death sentence. I do not envision a grisly, torturous divine bloodbath, but quite simply an execution." Inhaling, the alien continued. "Your Androsynth counterpart seems to understand that quite well, and offered to take precisely the sort of action which was called for—no more, no less."
The Ur-Quan now pointed its baton ahead. "Androsynth Commander, the task is yours. Proceed."
The hangar bay went quiet as the woman moved into position past the gate, maybe a dozen meters from the pair of condemned men. The air felt eerily quiet, yet oppressively thick. This was it.
For several seconds, the woman and the two men just watched each other impassively. Captain Tarnovetsky looked unfazed, seemingly determined to face death with dignity. Worker 331 was shaking slightly, but didn't look away. The Androsynth was completely still, staring emotionlessly ahead.
Then she drew her sidearm, pointing it towards Tarnovetsky. He stiffened slightly, but that was his only reaction. They stared at each other a few more seconds, her face partly covered by her outstretched arm. Time seemed to stretch, and Hayes was no longer certain of his perception of its passage. Then he saw something shift, as Tarnovetsky narrowed his eyes for a moment. Then, suddenly he closed them and faced slightly downwards.
Two odd-sounding shots echoed in rapid succession, then he was down. The man next to him jumped in place, but another pair of bullets found him as well, and he too was on the ground.
Hayes felt light, his ears buzzing, as he watched the woman take off at a brisk pace. Upon reaching the two unmoving forms, two more shots echoed throughout the hangar.
She stood there for a moment, then calmly returned to near the gate, leaning onto a fence post and staring off to the side, as the Ur-Quan's personal drone approached the corpses. Hayes finally registered a sniffling somewhere behind him.
Master 157 broke the silence, speaking, Hayes felt, as if nothing of particular note had just occurred. "The deed is done, the sentence carried out successfully. Our duties here are finished. Earthlings, you may now go to your stations within the Starbase. Sentinels, you will stand guard as I make my exit along with my crew, then secure the starbase until refueling and repairs are completed on our vessel. Further arrivals will follow, which you will secure and surveil. After that is finished, you may take your leave, and proceed toward your base on the slave planet's moon—or to your home sectors, as it may be. That will be all."