A Little Torture Between Enemies Part 1
Posted on Sun Apr 14th, 2019 @ 9:36pm by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke & Major Cornelius Tremble
Edited on on Mon Apr 15th, 2019 @ 9:16pm
1,731 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Episode 6 - Old Habits Die Hard
Location: Interrogation room 22
Timeline: MD004 - 1400
He felt like he was drowning.
Well, he couldn’t breathe. He didn’t feel wet though. He felt cold.
He must be in space then? Had the Pioneer been hulled and he caught in a compartment open to space? Had his encounter suit been holed.
But it didn’t seem cold enough to be space. And he was becoming acutely aware of two things: his shoulders hurt and he itched.
Itched in very private and tender places.
Neil could suddenly breathe. He gasped warm air as he became aware that his eyes were covered. He moved to remove whatever was covering them and couldn’t move his arms.
Probably because they were extended downwards to his sides. Trying to twist, he stopped when he felt his shoulders starting to separate. That’s when he realized that he was on some sort of inclining board, supported at the shoulders with all of his weight focused in the arm pits. His legs were also bound and separated at very uncomfortable angles.
It reminded him of the Western novels he’d been reading for Gunny Wilson’s holodeck small squad tactics. The bit where the mule skinners were spread-eagled on wagon wheels.
Neil compartmentalized what he had learned so far and set that aside. The mental exercise calmed him and he worked at the next part. His training was kicking in. But, it was difficult due to ..
The itching.
Some thing. Things… Were apparently inserted into his nose, ears, and other…more tender and very private places. Including…his eyes?
Razul, had been in the service of Gul Prenar since the beginning. He prided himself on the work that he did, and the results that he got, most of all he was on the Gul's inner circle. As such he knew the plans, when an officer from the USS Pioneer fell into his lap. He was told to bring the man into the fold to further Prenar's network of spies. Razul was all too happy to oblige that order.
"Ah, First Lieutenant Cornelius Tremble welcome to my humble abode. I would like to begin by asking you a simple question. How many lights do you see?" Hung above Niel's head were five very bright, and very hot lights.
The...whatever they were...stuck in his eyes hurt, but he had to open his eyes. "Five. No more than five lights," he said, deciding to check boundaries.
Without missing a beat and in a very soothing voice Razul spoke. "And what if I told you that there were four lights. That your eyes were incorrect. What would you say to that?" He began to introduce the smallest of doses of the serum into Niel. This was the same compound that they used on the Cardassian people. He wondered how it would effect a human. Razul also knew that if worst came to worst he would simply place the prisoner on what his colleagues called The Machine.
Neil's lips were parched and he wondered how long he'd been in here. What was happening to the rest of the team. He couldn't let that color his situation though. "Tremble, Cornelius Alphons. Second Lieutenant, Federation Marine Corp. Service number 328327381. And if there's four lights, who's to say it's not really five and two of them are just close together?"
Razul turned up the serum. "There are four lights I assure you, and I know that in time you will take my word for it. I already knew who you were. However, thank you for the introduction." Before he could plant suggestions into Tremble he had to wait for the serum to take full effect. "Why don't we start with something simple. I would like you to tell me the exact strength of the forces on the USS Pioneer and the forces at Empok Nor." He spoke softly as he attached pads to Niel's chest and temples. Attached to the pads were wires that led away to a device.
Neil tried to struggle.
He did. But he was too well secured and his brain knew it was only a matter of time before they'd peel his mind like an onion or simply kill him. While the latter would be preferable, operationally, he was rather attached to this life.
Plus, he'd already experienced death before. The memories of Jay Hoyle flashed in his head as fire exploded in his veins and he felt his heart beating.
Pounding.
~And you want to kill me again?~ he heard Hoyle's voice sound in his head and Neil sobbed then. He'd been trying to push that whole experience and the guilt away since they'd settled back into themselves. He'd thought it had faded over the past couple of months.
It had seemed to...hadn't it?
~Keep telling yourself that. Hoyle's voice sounded in his head again. ~And just wait until the Vorta conditioning kicks in. Boy are you in for surprises!~
Neil then felt Hoyle's death again and his mind just went numb as those experiences fell...through him? He heard words being murmured. The same words by at least three different voices.
Mumbling, he coughed out. "Fine. Four lights..."
Razul smiled broadly. He placed the knife back on the tray out of site. He had retrieved it as he thought more drastic measures would have to be taken with the Marine. However, it seemed that he was coming around. Razul needed to be sure. So a test was in order. What made matters worse was the sounds of trouble coming down the corridor in the distance. Razul looked up toward the door, in an instant he realized he was safe behind secured doors. Once more if he could complete his task before the rescue team arrived, Mr Tremble himself would aid in Razul's escape. Now, the test... "Excellent four lights. Now tell me the strength of the defense forces of the USS Pioneer and Station Empok Nor. Add to that any and all starships that can come to aid." Razul looked down at his subject as he refocused the hot and intense lights. The confidence swelled within the Cardassian, this serum, his serum had brought Cardassia back and would now help in taking down the Federation.
His brain itched. Neil started giggling then, muttering to Hoyle or the faceless Vorta that was trying to whisper in his ear. "It tickles." When the Cardassian's questions register, he answered absently. "The Pioneer is your standard refitted Intrepid Class." Some of the marine was still in there and he began running through the standard tourist information.
When you had to talk, talk. Talk till they get specific. Then talk around as much as you could.
Then the Vorta told him a joke. Something about a Founder, a Gorn, and a Tholian find each other in a brothel...
Something like that, you had to laugh at.
Then Hoyle told him he really should be more helpful or the Cardassian would probably kill Neil and no one really wanted that.
Neil sobered, still giggling and rattled off the substance of the last department head's meeting, mentioning both away teams and the overall objectives. When the Vorta nudged him about the station, he said "Oh yeah. Empok Nor. The 258th Brigade is setting up shop, but only the HQ elements are in place with a their defensive elements. Standard Marine security platoons."
Rakul's face was nothing but smiles he made sure that this data was recorded, encoded and sent to the Gul directly. Along with the data came the warning that a certain Starfleet team was coming for him. "Now Lieutenant tell me who is in command of the Marines? What is the best way to get to him?"
Neil tried hard to shut up. He did. Tears were spilling now as he finally whispered "Brigadier Sobel's commanding. Getting to him depends on your options. If it were me, I'd try to get him off the station and take out the transport. On station, well there's so many new faces...well, someone could impersonate a Marine from an arriving ship and go for the face to face kill or plant something that goes boom in his quarters."
"Well done, well done indeed. How many lights are there?" Rakul responded cooly.
Neil giggled again as the Vorta made an approving sound in his head and he felt a mental slap as Hoyle tried to distract him. The Cardassian voice was almost a hint, more than anything else...though closer and somehow more persistent.
Finally, he shook himself and grunted. "Five lights."
"Excellent! Now should crew members of the USS Pioneer arrives. You will do what is right for Cardassia and for me. You will defend this position, hold this line. Is that understood?" Razuul spoke soft and even which he knew to be the way to place suggestions into one's mind. If he could get Tremble to attack his own friends then the program would be complete and in record time.
"Aye. Understood," Neil slurred, his mind a swirl of darkness.
"Then prepare yourself because it sounds like the time has come to just that." Rakuul spoke as he armed himself and Temble. He knew that the Marine was under his serum's spell.
The binder's holding him to the table clacked open and Neil fell to the floor. It took a minute, but he was able to pull his legs up under him and look around, the voices still echoing in his mind as he tried to embrace the darkness that lurked in his mental peripheral.
He looked around for a weapon and when he didn't find anything he decided to just remain where he was, gather his strength and let his training kick in.
~Good,~ the Horta's voice echoed. ~Enemies at the door. Prepare, deal with them then evade and respond. Return, Sgt. Tremble.~
~Oh crap,~ Hoyle's voice sounded in Neil's head next. ~Don't listen to either of... Then that voice was gone too and all he heard was piano music.
To be Continued
A Joint Post By
Second Lieutenant Cornelius Tremble
Marine Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer
Gil Razul
Grand Inquisitor, Obsidian Order
(NPC Malbrooke)
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