Resurgence - Cataclysm Chapter 26
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I am so thirsty… so hungry… How… How… long has it been. Joy looks around the very dimly lit, metallic room. Metal walls surround her with strobing incandescent bulbs in the overhead. She is so weak that she can barely lift her head. When she tilts her head down she can see the red splatters on the floor and five long pieces of flesh that were once some of her fingers.
She is seated on a hard metal chair with her arms suspended to the sides and in front of her at head level. Her legs are too tightly tied to the chair with rope, three toes have turned black. Across her torso and head are wires that lead to a machine on the table. Still in her Mechwarrior cooling vest and compression shorts and barefoot; she is constantly chilled every time she regains consciousness.
Has it been days? Weeks? A sliding metal on metal sound can be heard and the hatch opens up, flooding in bright white light. Once Joy thought she could see a Battlemech’s foot outside so she thinks she might be next to a hangar on a ship. Considering she has had jump sickness more than once she knows she is in space and not on New Avalon.
The door closes and through fuzzy vision she can see her tormenter’s figure. Joy can audibly hear the other person gulping down a drink. “A… A… drink…… thirsty…” Joy manages to get out in a muffled voice.
“Ha,ha,ha,ha!” a loud female’s voice laughs at her. “I’m trying out a new test drug. You get all the water and nutrients you need to not die but… you will just remain excruciatingly hungry and thirsty. A fun little trick!” Avitue explains with a giggle.
I have to hold out… There is still purpose… My love… My people…
“So, most of my visits have just been for fun, I know you are one tough cookie!” Avitue jests. “But, today I want something real! See, I know from Stone’s younger days that he always had tricks up his sleeve. Sure, your House Lords got unfathomably complacent and just ignored us leaving the Inner Sphere but, not Stone, he knew deep down we were out there.”
BZZZZZT… “Ah!” shrieks Joy as she gets shocked in the abdomen, lifting her head to at least look in Avitue’s direction with a groan.
“Pay attention, you wanted to play war and now you play the part of prisoner. The first time around I intended to be benevolent, then your ancestors decided to take my throne from me. Not this time. Give me information I can use!” Avitue shouts before slapping Joy in the face.
“Wh… What information?” she asks faintly.
“Tell me where more ships are! We expected Julian to have some help, we didn’t expect two Clans to show up! Let alone the Rasalhague! Stone gave you more Warships, didn’t he! Where are they?!”
“We lost Terra, we don’t have anymore warships… Just the… the… Black Vec…” Joy’s head droops, then she is hit with a surge of electricity, causing her to scream for a few seconds.
“Absolute bullshit. Where are your Paladins? What about Levin and Redburn?”
“Lost on Terra.”
“Dammit, the longer you withhold the info the longer this goes on for! Although… I could just make sure I don’t do enough to kill you until we crush your little Nomads, then parade you about in front of whoever is left before stomping you under my mech’s foot… hmmm…” Avitue pauses and considers the thought.
Continuing, “If you want to play, let’s play! Ok, today’s topic is naval vessels. I want to know every last ship in your fleet and where it is. I already know about the ones on New Avalon, I am talking about the others. So let’s start easy, are there more ships for the Nomads?”
“No… No…others…”
“O, looky there, my friend here says you’re lying.” As she points to the machine on the table, then presses the button again.
BZZZZT…. BZZZZT…. Joy shrieks with each zap.
“Five! There are five!”
“Five what?!” shouts Avitue in her face.
“Five W… W… Warships… for retaking Terra…”
BZZZZZZZZZZT…
Joy’s screaming echoes in the room, tears are running down her cheeks.
“Ok, try one more time…” Avitue says as she pulls out something sharp and metallic, covered in dry brown crust that was once Joy’s blood.
“Three Warships, Sabanillas….” Joy feels like she hears the words in her mind. “Ok, ok… We hid three Warships… Sabanillas system.” Joy says aloud.
“Where the hell is Sabanillas? Could be a total crock of shit but, for once… it looks like you aren’t lying. I’ll run with it. Now, another topic.” Avitue checks and rechecks the machine to make sure it is genuinely showing Joy is sincere then she starts tapping her chin and thinking.
Balancing her head, Joy rests it against one of her shoulders.
Avitue again gets right in her face, screaming, “Where the hell are the prisoners kept that your damn forces took! You took my daughter, my Avi!” she cocks back and punches Joy in the ribs, breaking at least one.
She screams in pain and starts hacking. Then she groans before saying, “Daugh…er… Avi?”
“How slow are you? YES!” shouts Avitue before hitting the button. BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT.
Joy can’t even make a sound from all the pains running together, just gasps and convulsions.
Avitue doesn’t say a word for a few minutes as she plays with the knife.
Finally, able to muster the strength to talk… “Loo…k like?”
“You want to know what my daughter looks like?” Avitue laughs mockingly. “Well, hopefully nothing near as bad as you, otherwise I’ll gas New Avalon and move on. Hmmm… Ah! Here’s a picture.” Avitue whips a picture out from a concealed pocket in her robes and shows Avi to Joy.
“Not… Not… Not… see errrr…” Joy goes limp but continues muttering to herself… “gas… Avi… Saba… gas… Avi… Saba…”
Avitue looks down at the limp prisoner, spits in her hair, turns and walks out.