Frying Pan pt 2

Posted on Sun Apr 30th, 2023 @ 4:17am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen & Lieutenant Commander Aurora Vali

Mission: Repairs and Retribution
Location: Cardassians freighter
Timeline: Current.

Rhenora drew quiet after their conversation, partially from the pain still ringing through her skull, and partially so she could have a good look at the cell they were being held in. It was a fairly standard Cardassians cell, metal bars on two sides, a bulkhead to the rear and a forcefield at the front. There was no privacy, no food, and only a bucket at the back corner for excrement. She had been in situations like this before and knew what to expect. They would be kept alive until they reached their destination but it wouldn't stop the Cardassians crew having a their fun I'm abusing the trio enroute. There would be little to no food or water, a few beatings and bruisings and a continuous stream of vile verbal abuse.

Savar watched as Rhenora grew quiet and contemplative. He could guess what she was thinking. Their situation was dire to say the least but they were together and that gave them strength. A strength they would need in dealing with the Cardassians. He knew what was coming. Beatings, little food or water. All designed to humiliate them and break them before their death sentence was carried out. He did not fear the future, but he was concerned for Aurora and the loss of her senses and Rhenora especially with the Captain's history with the Cardassians. He was afraid the Cardassians would be excessively harsh in their punishing of the Captain. He also knew with a certainty that the worse was yet to come for all of them.

Aurora knew their situation was dire, it was already hard and it was going to get worse. Her stomach rumbled, she hadn’t eaten since breakfast, she was also thirsty. “I don’t suppose there’s any chance of room service around here?” She offered a brief smile.

"I would say, our chances of receiving room service are slim Aurora. I would also say that the accommodations are severely lacking in amenities." He was pleased to see Aurora making the most of their situation. He wished he could hug her but their binds prevented that.

Aurora offered a nod. “I’m already hungry, I wish I’d had something more to eat when I had the chance.”

"I am sorry Aurora." Savar replied as truly was. "However, I am afraid you and we will all get much hungrier before any food is provided."

Aurora nodded. “I know, at least my body will continue to support our baby. I doubt I’ll have time to become malnourished before we reach our final destination.”

Savar felt a pang of sorrow as Aurora spoke of their baby. A baby who would die with her, himself and Rhenora unless they could escape or they were rescued. "No, I do not believe you will become malnourished Aurora." He answered simply.

Aurora gave Savar an apologetic look. “Imzadi I’m sorry! I’m feeling sorry for myself, and I didn’t consider you. Forgive me.”

Savar shook his head, "You have nothing to apologize for Aurora. Nor is there anything to forgive. You are concerned about our baby as any mother would be."

Aurora nodded and looked at Rhenora. “What about you Captain? Are you both okay?”

Rhenora was trying to find the control mechanism for the force field, occupying her mind to overrule the discomfort in her body. She could see it beneath a poorly sealed bulkhead but that was a meter above her head. The panel was only sitting up by a millimetre and there was no way any of them could reach it without detection.

"I'm fine" she mumbled as she worked, counting down 6 panels on the wall to see if the secondary control mechanism would be easier to access. The sound of heavy booted footsteps caught her attention and she stepped back, feinging innocence.

"Trying to find the control mechanisms are we?" The large Cardassians spat, clearing having observed her movements from some unseen sensor panel.

"Just seeing if you'd improved your design at all in the last thirty years. It appears not" Rhenora shrugged, goading them. If they got cranky enough they'd focus their attention on her and leave Savar and Aurora alone.

It had the desired effect and the guard dropped the forcefield, grabbing her roughly by the shoulder and hauling her out of the cell. "Don't even think about it Vulcan" he spat at Savar.

Savar had made a move towards the cell opening to protect the captain but was brought up short by the Cardassian guard. He could only watch as the guard pulled Rhenora down the corridor to some unknown destination as she was helpless to resist with her hands bound behind her.

“Captain!” Aurora could only watch alongside Savar as Rhenora was dragged away, she knew there was only so many beatings the body could take especially for a pregnant woman. She didn’t want to see Rhenora lose her child. “Hey! Is this what you call good sport! Beating a defenceless woman?” She had an idea. “Where’s the fun when your prey don’t fight back? Don’t you Cardassians like to hunt your prey?”

"Aurora stop." Savar said. "Your attempt to provoke the Cardassians to hunting you, us, will not work. They have us incarcerated and we are on our way to some unknown location to be executed. They will not risk us escaping or depriving them of an execution."


TBC