7 - Interrogation

(Warning: This chapter contains violence, torture, and offscreen rape.)

~Day 21~

~*Amb*~

The Jaffa stay true to their word and grab me. I suddenly feel very sleepy.

Please, Malek. You don't have to suffer alone.

I can't stop them. Please, let me do this.

He won't if I refuse.

I love you. Please. You suffered alone without me. Let me do this.

Alright. Once! If I'm collected again, we suffer together.

Thank you-thank you-thank you-thank you-thank you-thank you.

:.:.:.:

There's tears in my eyes when I wake up. Malek is hiding the memories.

Malek, let me see.

In time. I didn't want to overwhelm you.

The way my body aches tells me that they have a pain stick. I am in a cage that's too small to lay down or stand in. I see others. Two men in other cages. Women who share a much larger cage. The women are the only ones wearing clothes. Sort of. It's lingerie.

Malek is drifting off to sleep.

"How long have you been up here?" I ask as I gently rub Malek. I feel him press against my fingers before he falls asleep. He's a little tighter around my spine than usual.

"A few weeks," the man replies.

Weeks?!

"Are you that Tok'ra fellow?"

"Yes. I'm the host."

"Oh. Um. Well, um, they won't keep you that long, but only because Zar wants to torture you." He makes a nervous laugh. "Lucky you."

I sigh as memories of today drift to me. I flinch, trying to get comfortable. It's impossible.

"Years," answers the one woman who has the most clothes on. She rubs her stomach. "We…breed their children. This is my third."

I gasp in horror.

"A boy. I know that much." She cries. "In seven months, they are going to take him. I won't even be allowed to hold him."

"I'm sorry."

"There was a fifth. Lona. But-but she couldn't have any more children, so…"

"They don't even have the decency to kill us after," another said bitterly. "They put us on the surface to die."

"A week today," the second man replies. He looks familiar. "They took me soon after you arrived."

"Oh." Has it only been a week or so?

"My name is Flip. So, do you belong to Martouf or are you equals?"

"We are equal." I'm surprised he referred to Martouf instead of Lantash.

"Good for you. Sorry, about, um, kicking you."

That's why he looks familiar.

"When your master attacks someone, we all have to jump in. You got reeeeeal lucky that he announced you as a Tok'ra. Lantash doesn't normally bother with new prisoners. Otherwise, well…"

"I would have been owned?"

"It's not that bad. I'm skilled and very obedient." He smiles at me.

I suspect he is trying to sell himself to me.

"And I'm young too. Somewhere in my late twenties. I think."

Shit. I thought he was in his fifties. "How long have you been in the prison?"

He shrugs. "I was nineteen. Didn't start out here though. Another Goa'uld. Another prison. Don't know which of either. A few years back I was sold or stolen. Don't know which of that either.

~Day 24~

For three days, Malek endures. I still don't know exactly what the Jaffa have done with my body, and I regret that I agreed to allow him to suffer alone.

Malek. Please, let me know what they did to you.

Not now, he replies.

I don't push for it, knowing that he's ashamed.

:.:.:

Zar takes us that afternoon. I hope he can't see how terrified I really am.

The more scared you are, the braver you are, Malek assures, though I don't know which of us is more afraid.

Zar sets up a device to record this session.

He thinks he's going to break us, Malek warns.

Since I'm laying on the ground, I sit up to feel a little dignified.

"I see my Jaffa…enjoyed you," he says as he grabs the pain stick.

Sleep well, I think before the stick is brought down on my neck.

I will-

Pain! Agony!

I collapse after, gasping.

"Where are the Tok'ra?"

Malek is passed out again. I rub him gently, ignoring Zar. Somehow, it's comforting. He's there. He is my strength. I will not fail him. I will not break.

"The Tok'ra…"

:.:.:.:

I remain silent for… I have no idea. An hour. Hours. A day? Ten minutes?

"Where are the Tok'ra?"

His irritation scares me, so I try to find it amusing. That's me. My silence. His anger is my power over him.

Yes. I am stronger than he is. He will not break me. Malek is my strength.

:.:.:

I'm laying face down. My skin prickles painfully, but somehow also feels numb. The pricks intensify where he touches my back.

I scrunch my face, trying not to make a sound, but as he leans in, I cannot help but groan in pain. I gasp loudly when I feel a sharp pain moving down my back.

"This is almost too fun to do without him."

I feel warmth on my back, then smell blood. I realize he's cutting me.

"Should I wake him?"

I don't dignify him with a response, but then I feel the itchiness of a healing device. Many pains ease away, and that worries me. Why is he doing this?

Then he heals Malek, just enough to wake him. I feel a weak wiggle before Malek takes control. We're both surprised and nervous that he was awoken so quickly.

He healed you, Malek notices as he sends a warm shiver through me.

"Your host suffered alone because he won't answer me."

Malek doesn't reply. You are strong, Amb. I'm proud of you.

"How much worse does he suffer when you are not there?" Zar grabs my arm and forces him to sit up on my knees. He then walks away to grab the pain stick again. "If I don't get an answer today, you will die."

We'll die for the Tok'ra, I assure.

It's my privilege to die with you. Malek remains quiet, glaring in defiance. Zar moves behind us. Then my hair is suddenly grabbed.

"Tell me, and after I have destroyed your home, I will release you. Those who survive will never know that you betrayed them. In fact, I bet they would be happy to see you after so many have died."

They must have moved after our capture. Of course, they moved. There's so much more that we both know though.

Malek jumps as the pain stick activates, then realizes it's not touching us.

I'll meet your other hosts.

We're meet them together, he replies, making me feel warm. Control?

No. I feel so weak. Terrified. Malek?

I'm here, beloved.

Zar laughs. "You so desperately want to protect him." He pets him, touching my neck. "My Jaffa tell me that you were in control whenever they were…having fun."

I feel disgust as memories wash over Malek, then me.

But…" He touches our neck with the stick.

Ahhhhh!

The pain slowly eases.

Malek blinks back tears, held too firmly in place to hide them. I love you.

Zar leans in closer.

I love you too.

"Tears. I thought you were the strong one." Zar laughs, then calls out… "Shak'l."

A Jaffa who obviously used to work under Apophis comes in.

"Prepare the drug."

"Yes, my lord."

Zar moves inches from my face. "Tok'ra tears have the sweetest taste."

I feel gross as he licks a tear away. Malek gives him a look of disgust as Zar closes his eyes, savoring the taste.

Even Shak'l looks a little grossed out. He recomposes himself quickly. "My lord."

Zar takes the needle.

Malek winces as he feels a needle pushed into him. He can't identify the substance, but it freezes inside his veins. He gasps in pain, and I feel my eyes burn.

"Are you ready to die?"

"You…cannot…break us," he replies bitterly, fighting for every word.

"You misunderstand. You'll die. Your host will not."

No! Acid burns my heart. My skin feels frozen. Sweat pours off me.

Malek retreats immediately to kill us both.

Hurry! I beg of him.

Pain! Agony!

Malek! I feel him. He's squirming. He is screeching.

I'm dropped.

Nothing.

My heart pounds painfully, spreading acid. I feel dizzy. My body feels numb. Malek?

I can't feel him.

"Malek?!"

With dread, I reach for him, trying to rub him awake.

"Malek! Malek! Mal-lek!"

My body trembles. My chest feels like ice.

I feel a touch on the back of my neck.

"Malek?" No. It's Zar's gripping fingers.

"He's dead."

I throw up.

Malek. Malek. Malek. Malek.

"So his name was Malek."

Death take me. Malek. You should have killed me! No. He didn't know. I cry. For Malek. For my anger. For my guilt in getting angry.

"Let's get creative, shall we?"

I wait for the death that Zar promises.

"Malek. Come back, my love."

It takes too long.

Stop healing me!

"Please, come back," I beg.

I feel so cold.

"Malek."

~Day 26~

I wake up in a room, and I immediately begin crying. "Malek." Jaffa leave the room. "Malek."

I feel confusion. It's not mine? How is that possible? I don't remember a sarcophagus. Then I feel a wiggle.

Talk to me. Talk to me. Talk to me.

Amb. He doesn't remember the last few minutes of his life.

I cry in joy, caressing him.

We died. He slowly accesses my memories. Crystals, I am so sorry.

You're whole? No part of you was…absorbed?

I'm whole.

I was lost without you.

You were strong, beloved. He finds that my body is thick with dried blood.

I didn't realize I was this bad, I admit.

And I'm naked.

Did he rape you? Malek asks gently.

I don't remember.

If he revived us, he's not done with us.

How did he kill you while I survived. That's not supposed to happen.

I think that's what the drug was.

Zar walks into the room, and Malek immediately takes control.

"Malek." He grins. "Your host proved weak."

I feel dread. I gave up his name. I don't even remember it.

That doesn't hurt me. Malek glares at Zar while "hugging" me.

I'm so sorry. I want to cry. I don't know what else I told him.

If you had been broken, this would be done with, and we would both be dead.

"I'll give you a chance to free yourself and Lantash. If you refuse, more than the three Jaffa will be…excitedly waiting."

Malek shudders. As more memories wash over, I realize he had been questioned the entire time they were on us.

"Where are the other Tok'ra?"

I gave him the base!

If you did, he would be attacking, not torturing us.

"Tell me."

"Revanna," Malek mocks.

"Don't be a fool."

"Tollan."

His eyes glare in irritation. "Very well." He grabs a new tool that I've never seen before.

I have, Malek informs with terror.

:.:.:

After he's done, we are sent back to the Jaffa.

They immediately pin me down, and…

~*Malek*~

~Day 29~

Lantash is there when we ring back down. His expression is hard, unreadable.

"Do not touch him," he orders as the prisoners look very interested in me. "Can you walk?"

"I don't think so," I admit.

He picks us up with ease, and we are carried back to our quarters. This is humiliating.

His expression softens once no one is watching him. He gives me water.

"Amb sleeps?"

"Yes." He must do the same.

I drink the water, then curl up on my side.

"Do you need…cleaning?"

"I really don't want to be touched right now."

He nods, then sets a new prison gown next to me. He offers a blanket.

I nod, then cry out when he starts to put it on. My skin hurts, and the blanket feels heavy. He removes it quickly.

"How did you survive this?"

"I didn't. I was revived many times."

"Did you know he can kill a symbiote without killing the host?"

Horror flashes in his eyes. "No. I don't think, but I don't remember most of what he's done to us."

I nod.

~A few hours later~

Malek!

I flinched. That counted as the same session.

It did not!

I sigh. I panicked.

We have to get through this together. You can't make me sleep every time we're going to be raped.

Lantash does it.

You don't know that. Maybe he does. Maybe he doesn't. That's between them. Malek, my love, you won't even show me everything those bastards did to you. Please. Please, let me help you. Next time, because we both know there's going to be a next time. Together. Alright. You can be in control if you want. Just let me be there with you.

I cry. I promise.

I love you.

Lantash sits next to us. We feared, for some reason, that tears would make him judge us. Now though, we realize how ridiculous our fears were.

~The next day~

"Would you like to bathe?"

"In the drinking water?"

"It's the everything water, and those higher up in the hierarchy can get away with using it to bathe."

:.:.:.:

The water feels so good!

It feels wonderful.

Do you want control?

He gives a sort of internal grin. No. I enjoy feeling you enjoy this. You had control with the Jaffa. You can have the bath.

The water feels cool in this hot prison. I use a rough rag to scrub away grime and blood. I don't care that it hurts. I'm in pain anyway. The water around me is sludgy and red as I clean. It smells putrid.

I didn't realize we were this disgusting, Amb thinks.

The water is constantly running, and the filth disappears into a filter. A few minutes after we have scrubbed, the water is clear again.

I duck under, then just stay there for several minutes as I swim at the bottom.

Best…bath…ever!

I worry that I might be taking too long. Lantash is probably itching to do…whatever he does. I swim to the edge and look to him.

He's actually smiling. Oh, that beautiful Lantash smile.

"Martouf enjoys swimming in the water as well. We find it…calming."

Wow. First smile. First real mention of Martouf.

To be continued…