In the Frying Pan pt1

Posted on Sat Apr 29th, 2023 @ 5:19am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen & Lieutenant Commander Aurora Vali

Mission: Repairs and Retribution
Location: Cardassian Ship.
Timeline: After Something Wicked This Way Comes

OOC: Cardassian ship prison hold enroute to secret military location.


IC:

After being transported from their guest quarters on Starbase 67, Savar and Aurora were pushed into a cell. They remained bound their hands secure behind their backs trapped in security handcuffs. There was a bench or bed for them to sit on and little else.

As they sat Savar reviewed what had happened. Members of the Cardassian Obsidian Order and abducted Aurora and himself along with Captain Kaylen but she hadn't been seen yet. It seems when they went missing, the Cardassians held their trial and to found them guilty of guilty Gul Maccet. He was not surprised by the verdict. The Cardassian justice system was known for it's harsh punishments most which were death sentences. He could only hope that someone had seen their or the captain's abduction and reported it to the station's authorities.

He was about to ask Aurora how she was holding up when their cell door was unlocked and two burly Cardassians dragged in an unconscious Captain Kaylen. Like Aurora and himself. Her hands had been pulled behind her back and locked in a set of security handcuffs. She was dropped unceremoniously on the cell floor. "There, now all you murderers are together. Think on what you have done and what awaits you. We have a little bit of a journey ahead of us before we reach the execution site." One of the Cardassians said cruelly. A sneer etched on his face before closing the cell door and leaving the trio alone.

Once he was sure they were alone. Savar got on his knees, close to Rhenora. "Captain? Captain? Rhenora?" He whispered urgently to her in an attempt to wake her. Not getting a response, he turned to his side and took his bound hands and gently sook her shoulder. "Captain? Captain? Captain!: Each time a little louder and a little more urgent that the preceding call.

Rhenora groaned and curled in on herself, protecting her midsection against would could be more abuse. They'd abducted her from the station and spent a good few hours interrogating her, healing her jaw enough so she could speak but not enough to take the pain away. Bruises covered the pale skin left exposed from her uniform, particularly around her face. It took a few more minutes until she was conscious enough to open her eyes, taking in Savar and Aurora who were thankfully very much not Cardassians.

"Thank the Prophets" She whispered as she gingerly tested her limbs, carefully moving them to see if there was any more damage. " Are you both okay?"

Aurora moved to Rhenora’s side as well, she was concerned at the sight of bruises from obvious injuries “Heavens what did they do to you!?”

"Let's just say they wanted to settle some old scores whilst they had the opportunity" Rhenora grumbled as she managed to sit up. "Have they mis-treated you at all?"

“Not me so much, except for slapping an inhibitor on me.” Aurora sighed. “They hurt Savar more than me.”

"They hold him directly responsible for Maccet's death, and whilst you were only a bystander you share his conviction by simply being there. I apologise for you both getting caught up in this" Rhenora replied as she cast her eyes down a little "their beef is with me, not you two".

“This isn’t your fault Rhenora” Aurora offered an understanding gaze. “They’ll wish they hadn’t bothered with us when Starfleet finds out what’s happened.”

"We'll be long gone before Starfleet find out." Rhenora lamented "The Cardassians have labour camps under the guise of prisons hidden all over the place. Usually deep underground, working to death" her words drifted off as she contemplated their fate. "We gotta get out of here"

Savar breathed a silent sigh of relief as Rhenora regained consciousness and as she and Aurora talked. He watched as she struggled to sit up, a task made more difficult with her hands bound behind her back. He turned so he could look directly at her and she could see the gash and bruise on his face.

"I hold the Cardassians responsible Captain not you. They are the ones who refuse to accept the responsibility for Gul Maccet's actions. I agree with you Captain that we need to get out of here however...." He tugged on his bound wrists. "We must first get out of these manacles that bind us. Either by the Cardassians freeing us or us managing to find a way out of them. As our options are limited otherwise. What we can do is plot and think of escape options. We must be careful as I do not wish you or Aurora or myself to face a beating for our actions if the Cardassians find out." He finished.

Rhenora tested her own bindings, finding them uncomfortably secure with little chance of slipping free. Cardassians wouldn't be so lax as to be sloppy with their handiwork at this stage of the game. "From the look of this we're in a standard Cardassians cargo ship, retrofitted of course as a prison barge so they can move their 'cargo' without being caught. They had heaps of these during the occupation. When you scan them, it reads self sealing stembolts and kanar barrels" the irony caused the corner of her mouth to grin a little. "Generally limited to warp 4 or 5, but hey, when you're on your way to a death sentence, the longer the better right?" The black humour of her younger days had returned, a coping mechanism to prevent them all falling into the depths of despair.

Savar watched as Rhenora tested her bindings and like him found them secure. He nodded at her statement of the type of ship they were on. "I am sure the outside of the ship is also very nondescript to avoid attracting unwanted attention." He paused as he considered what Rhenora said about their speed. "With a speed limited to warp four or five and scans unable to tell we are within, the Cardassians are free to travel to any of their worlds. Yet as you say Captain, I am in no rush to arrive at our destination. I do hope we are taking the scenic route though with our present accommodations we are unable to enjoy the view." He replied joining in the black humor Rhenora was employing.

Aurora looked at both of them in disbelief, cut off from the emotional input she was used to, thanks to the inhibitor she was wearing, she was starting to suffer the side effects. “Are the two of you crazy!? Making jokes at a time like this!!” She started pacing. “We’re heading heavens knows where, to die in some hideous way! They don’t even care that the children we carry are innocents!!” She stopped pacing. “Who will care for Sidak? He’ll be all alone...”

Savar looked at his wife. "Aurora, I too am worried about Sidak however worrying will not change anything. I am sure he has already been found and being looked after. As to the Captains and mine mental state, I can assure you it is quite good. The making of jokes helps lessen the despair we would otherwise be facing. It also helps to focus our attention on avoiding what is waiting for us. Come, sit down. I know this frightening and made more so with the loss of you being able receive other's feelings and intentions. However now and whatever comes next is when you and we must be our strongest."

Rhenora sat quietly, contemplating how many hadn't lived through the atrocities she had and still had an optimistic view on all species within the Galaxy. "Trust me Aurora, the Cardassians care more about their pets than they do about us, or our children." She tried not to let the contempt for the Cardassians into her voice. "They are cruel and heartless, particularly when it comes to those they perceive as criminals"

Aurora nodded as she took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, I’m just... feeling out of sorts. Without my senses I feel cut off, it’s hard to explain how disturbing it is.”

"Aurora, listen to the Captain. Listen to me, listen to yourself. You know and saw how the Cardassians are and act. They see us as criminals and there is no changing that view. You must be and remain strong. Do not give in to despair. We are stronger together. We will and must support each other if we are to escape." Savar spoke to his wife calmly.

TBC