by Brian Dorsey
“You don’t need to talk dirty to me,” replied Sierra. “You’re the ProConsul’s toy now.”
“Well I guess she needs something to play with since she doesn’t have her son anymore.”
Martin’s head snapped to her left as Sierra landed a powerful blow to her jaw. She struggled to take in air as Sierra grabbed her throat and began to squeeze.
“Was it something I said?” coughed Martin.
Sierra’s eyes burned with anger. “I am going to enjoy watching you skinned alive.”
Martin attempted to speak again but couldn’t bring in enough air. Her vision clouded and she lost consciousness.
***
“I thought she’d never shut up,” said Sierra as she released her grip on Martin’s throat. She walked to the comms station and activated the video link to the bridge.
“What are your orders, Commander Skye?” asked the ship’s captain.
“Send a spin message to the ProConsul. Tell her we have Martin and will meet her on Dolus.”
Chapter 16
Stone jerked awake.
His thoughts flashed to his last moments of consciousness. “Emily.”
“I’m sorry.”
Stone looked up to see Mori sitting next to him on his bed. “Why did you stop me?” Still groggy, he swung his leg onto the floor and balanced himself against the wall. “I need my weapons.”
“She’s gone, Magakisca,” said Mori as she stood next to Stone. “There’s nothing—”
Stone glared at Mori. “I’m going back.”
“We’re already out of the system. The Humani have the station.” She took his hand. “It’s over. She’s gone.”
Stone jerked his hand away. “I can’t leave her there,” he said as he sat on the edge of the bed.
“I know she was important to you and was a good soldier,” replied Mori, “but we have all lost men and had to move—”
“She’s not just another fucking soldier,” cursed Stone. “She is…was…”
He felt Mori’s hand on his shoulder.
“I didn’t’ mean to—”
“Just leave me alone,” he interrupted.
“Maga—”
“Please, Ino’ka,” he said softly.
“We will talk later,” she replied.
Stone remained silent, his head in his hands, as Mori left the room.
***
Mori stepped outside of Stone’s quarters and let her body fall against the bulkhead. Her stomach churned as the vision of Martin in the sights of her rifle flashed in her mind. She had done some horrible things in her life but this was the worst and she doubted she would ever feel right about it.
But she couldn’t undo it.
And she had done it for her people, the Akota. Not the Hanmani, not the lost souls in the Dark Zone, not even for the Terillian Confederation—she had to keep the knowledge of the virus and the vaccine secret. It was what the Shirt-Wearers had ordered.
She had taken dozens of lives for her people with little outcome and Martin was just one person. She was one person that could have ruined everything for her people—for her. “It was worth it,” she said, trying to convince herself.
Even if she couldn’t convince herself, it was her burden to carry for her people.
Mori pushed herself from against the bulkhead and made her way down the passageway to her quarters. With her and Stone fighting more than not, and knowing the potential for conflict due to her orders from the Shirt-Wearers, she had asked to be assigned a separate stateroom as a precaution. As she walked, her mind shifted from her guilt to her concern about what this would do to Stone. Even after she was gone, Martin was still driving a wedge between them.
Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t notice Katalya standing at the access to her stateroom until her sister called out.
“Ino’ka.”
Mori stopped and smiled. “How are you c’uwe?”
“We need to talk,” replied Katalya.
“Of course,” replied Mori as she opened the door to her stateroom.
Katalya stepped inside and Mori followed. Once the door shut, Katalya spoke.
“I need to understand what happened,” she said. “And please do not lie to me.”
“C’uwe,” said Mori. “I wouldn’t lie to—”
“Just tell me what is going on. I listened to you and went along on the station because there was no time but we are back and I need to understand why we are betraying Magakisca.”
“We’re not betraying him.”
“How are we not? You have the data for the antivirus don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“And Magakisca doesn’t know?”
“No. He doesn’t.”
“Then how are you not betraying him? He and his men won’t be protected from the virus?”
“They will. The Shirt-Wearers have assured it. In a few weeks, a standard update to deployment vaccinations will go out. The antivirus will be included but listed as a vaccine for an insect-vector fever. They will be protected.”
“But why lie?”
“It is what the Shirt-Wearers want. And they have their reasons.”
“And those are?”
Mori took a deep breath.
“Or are you going to lie to me?” asked Katalya.
“No,” she huffed. If she could trust anyone, it was her sister. “The Shirt-Wearers feel that if the Humani see the virus spreading in the Dark Zone, they will assume it has affected us as well and attack with a force that is unprepared for the combined Terillian Confederation unaffected by the disease.”
Katalya stepped away from her sister. “So you’re going to let…” She shook her head. “Let them die?. Millions of them?”
“It is a hard decision and one the Shirt-Wearers did not make lightly. If—”
“No,” interrupted Katalya, shaking her head in disbelief. “You can’t.”
“We have to.”
“No. Don’t forget I have spent my entire life in the Dark Zone. Those are people you are talking about. People like me.”
“But they’re not Akota,” replied Mori flatly. “That is where my loyalties must lie.”
“They—we—are all Akota, or have you forgotten?”
“But our civilization must survive for us to have anything for the survivors in the Dark Zone to look to for guidance once the Humani and Xen are defeated.”
“That’s why you don’t want Stone to know…he’d make you give the antivirus to the Dark Zone worlds.”
“And then we would have to fight even more followers of the Word, more warlords, more people like the Association.”
“So you’ll just kill them off instead?”
“So that our culture can survive…yes,” she replied, trying to convince herself.
“What about my people…or have you forgotten I’m not all Akota anymore. Is the wolf-clan also expendable to protect your culture?”
“No…we can make sure—”
“So you decide what cultures get to live and which get to—” Katalya paused. “They’re going to make you a Shirt-Wearer for this.”
“I don’t know what the future holds for—”
“Cut the bullshit, Ino’ka. Or do you prefer colonel or Ki’etsenko since titles seem to be what’s important to you?”
“That’s not fair,” snapped Mori. “I am doing this for my people.”
“And Stone would care about all people.”
“Which will not help us win the war or take back our lost colonies from the previous war.”
“Saving the Akota culture through conquest.” Katalya laughed, “So the Akota and the Xen are not so unlike after all.”
“Not conquest, sister,” replied Mori. “We are taking back what the Xen and the Humani took from us generations ago. These planets have wilted and decayed…you should know better than anyone—”
“Don’t you dare tell me what I should know. You haven’t lost…you didn’t see what our mother had to…how she…” Katalya stopped as tears rolled d
own her checks. “Just don’t.”
“And I spent my entire life looking for you. All of those shithole planets. Places where—”
“Places where our mother was violated and then killed like an animal. Where I was bought and sold and…” She paused. “But it was also the place where I fell in love and raised a family—”
“A family that the Humani ripped apart.”
“You don’t have to tell me,” growled Katalya. “And don’t hide your ambition and xenophobia behind patriotism or the Shirt-Wearers’ scheming.”
“You don’t understand—”
“I never would have thought I would trust a fucking Humani officer over my sister,” interrupted Katalya, “but you’re making it easy.”
Mori’s jaw tightened. “It’s not about choosing me or him and…” She paused, her skin growing hot. “Are you going to betray your people?”
“What people?” shouted Katalya, her canines showing. “Akota? Terillian? Wolf-Clan? I’m sick of it all. All this fighting and death over the tiny things that make us different…like you and—” Katalya paused again, stepped away from Mori. “Did you kill Martin?”
“No,” huffed Mori.
“Did you even see her?”
“I did. She—”
“Never mind. I don’t want to know. ”
“Are you going to tell to Stone?”
“What? That you probably left Martin to die, or worse, or that you are going to let millions, maybe billions, be killed in hopes of gaining advantage against the Xen when they attack.”
Mori stared into Katlaya’s green eyes. “Either.”
“No.”
A sigh of relief escaped Mori’s lips.
“Not because I think you’re right,” continued Katalya, “but because I hope in time you will realize how wrong you are and tell him yourself.”
Katalya walked past her Mori to the door.
“And what if I don’t?” asked Mori as the door slid open.
Katalya stopped and turned toward Mori. “Then I guess I have no family left at all,” sighed Katalya. “And I hope you get everything you deserve for service to your people.”
***
Martin’s body ached as she hung naked from the cold metal walls of a cell on Dolus.
The door opened and the green-eyed bitch that had brought her to this hell walked in.
“The great Emily Martin…Elite Guard, Red Wolf, Paladin….” Sierra laughed. “Traitor to her people.”
“Have you killed that bitch for me yet, doggy?”
Sierra laughed again. “Don’t worry, I’ll taste her blood soon.”
Sierra stepped forward, closer to Martin.
Martin grunted and struggled to bring in air as Sierra landed a blow to her stomach.
“But I’m going to do it for the ProConsul, not you, traitor.”
“A—and where is fucking Astr—”
Another blow to her stomach stopped her mid-sentence.
Regaining her breath Martin looked up as Astra stepped into the room. Followed by a tall medical officer, two Praetorians, and a man dressed in black suit.
“My old friend Emily Martin,” said Astra as she stopped a few meters from Martin. “I’m sure this isn’t quite the reunion you had hoped for.”
“I dunno,” replied Martin. “The reunion’s not over yet.” She glanced toward the two Praetorians. “I didn’t think I left any of those pieces of shit left alive…you know, when I took your baby.”
Martin let out a groan as Sierra slammed a fist into Martin’s kidneys.
“That’s okay, Commander Skye,” said Astra, raising her hand to Sierra.
“Skye?” Martin laughed.
“What of it?” asked Sierra.
“I just really fucking hate that name,” replied Martin.
“Well,” continued Astra as she stepped close to Martin. “I bet you would really like to get your hands on me, wouldn’t you?”
“Hands, sword, knife…I’m not picky.”
Astra let out a small laugh that ended abruptly as her face tightened.
“I want to know where my son is and I will only ask you one time.”
“I don’t know where he is and he’s not your son anymore, bitch,” spat Martin, her sarcasm succumbing to her hatred.
Astra stared into Martin’s eyes, pain and hatred radiating from her body. “I didn’t think you would talk, you’re too stupid for that.”
“Then let me down and I’ll rip your fucking pet apart,” replied Martin as she looked toward Sierra.
“I would gladly skin this one for you, ProConsul,” said Sierra returning Martin’s gaze.
“That won’t be necessary, Commander,” said Astra. She turned toward Martin. “I have so much planned for you…so much.” Astra slowly pulled a small leather-bound ledger from a pocket in her dress. “Do you know how long I have thought about this moment?”
“Probably about the time I killed all of those Praetorians and took Octavius.”
Astra shot a piercing gaze toward Martin before returning her attention to the ledger. “Before that,” replied Astra. “Even when you were playing the loyal pet, I knew the day would come when you would have to be put down.”
“You listening, little doggy?” asked Martin, again looking toward Sierra.
Sierra laughed. “If the ProConsul wants to kill me right now, I’ll hand her my blade.”
“See,” added Astra. “That is loyalty.”
“Woof….woof,” replied Martin, still looking at Sierra.
Astra waved her hand and the two Praetorians stepped forward, gagging Martin.
“It’s okay, we’ll take that off so you can scream properly later,” said Astra. “But back to what I was saying.” Astra opened the ledger. “You know, people have really lost the art of handwriting. I find it much more personal than clicking away on a data screen or dictating words.” She ran her hands over the open pages. “That is why when I have something really personal to convey…” She looked up toward Martin. “And trust me, you fucking bitch, this is personal…” Astra took a deep breath. “…I wrote down everything I wanted done to you…I even categorized it.”
As Astra spoke, the medical officer stepped forward and began to place marks over Martin’s body. Her head was restrained along with all of her limbs but she felt pressure on her torso, then her legs.
Astra turned the book toward Martin. “See…I have broken it down to mental, physical, and…” Astra stopped and looked over the length of Martin’s naked body. “…sexual.”
“But don’t worry,” continued Astra. “I’m not going to kill you…not ever. I’m going to keep you here, like a trophy on my wall to come back to and put my hands on from time to time.”
Astra continued.
“If you had been a genetic match, I would have just turned you into one of my pets and sent you with my dear Sierra to finish the job…but you are not that lucky.”
Martin attempted to mouth a curse through the gag but only mumbled grunts escaped her.
Astra turned the page in her ledger.
“My plan is to first break you down to the point you forget you are a soldier…then I will make you no longer want to be a woman.” Astra glanced toward the man in the suit, who smiled toward Martin. “Then you will forget you are even human.” She stepped in close again. “Then, when you realize the filthy animal that you are, I’ll make you realize you are nothing but an insect.”
The doctor stepped away from Martin and nodded to Astra.
“Dr. Gratis has made some marks for me so I can play around with you and not cause you to bleed out.” She looked up toward Martin again. Astra’s eyes were a mixture of rage and pleasure. “Take the gag off.”
The Praetorians removed the gag.
Martin adjusted her jaw. “You better hope I never—”
Martin let out a groan as Astra slid the blade of a knife into her side.
“You won’t,” said Astra flatly. “All of the marks made by the doctor…so many c
hoices.”
“Fuc—”
Martin was cut short again as another blade slid into her thigh.
“So, you see, anytime I particularly miss my son…” She slid another blade into Martin’s torso. “Which is constantly,” she growled. “I’m going to slide one of these little blades into you.”
Astra glanced at the man in the suit.
“This is Mr. Stansfield. His specialty is pain. He will be responsible for all of the other things I have planned for you.”
Martin tried to speak but all she could do was pant against the pain.
“These blades aren’t the only things that will penetrate you. In fact, every sort of metal, wood, and species will feel the inside of your body.” She looked over the man in the suit again. “Maybe Mr. Stansfield will make a few more orifices for that use if the others become too…damaged.”
Martin took in a deep breath. “I’ll die before I break.”
“You weren’t listening,” replied Astra. “I’m not going to let you die…you will be here, on this wall, in pain…forever.”
About the Author
Brian Dorsey is a retired Naval Officer and is currently a Nuclear Test Engineer for a Naval Shipyard. When not spending time with his family, Brian enjoys reading and researching US and Native American history, watching good TV shows or films (anything by Joss Whedon), hunting, teaching the occasional history class, or working on his next writing project.
Current books available in the Gateway Universe
(with more to come!):
Gateway (Gateway Series Book 1)
Cold Planet (A Gateway Universe Story)
Saint (Gateway Series Book 2)
Uprising (Gateway Series Book 3)
Rise of the Wolf: Katalya’s Story (A Gateway Universe Novella)
Schism (Gateway Series Book 4)
