Welcome to the Abysm

Posted on Tue Apr 18th, 2023 @ 5:35am by Lieutenant Sky Jansen-Carey

Mission: Starship Side Quest
Location: Abandoned Astrode Mining Station.
Timeline: Directly after "Captives"

***Warning potentially disturbing content***

(ON)

The mercenary vessel left the salvage station with their prisoners in a cell. As the station shrunk in the distance from the cell window there was an explosion that blew half the structure into debre. It was the 'accident' the Orion woman was talking about.

Sky cringed as she stood watching through the cell window, tears running down her face as she watched the only place that the Resolution would look for, was blown up.

The window closed and the ship went to warp.

Sinking down into a huddle in the corner of the room, Sky wished she was home with Xavier and Talsi. Back with Tony, safe and sound on the ship.

Soran opened his opened his eyes, he was in dark place. He could hear the hum of a ship's engines and feel a slight vibration from the floor. His whole body ached his hands and were still shackled, but he wasn’t strapped to that sled anymore, there was a collar of some kind around his neck. He turned his head, grateful he could move. His legs still seemed heavy, he didn't think he could walk even if his legs weren't shackled. He could hear someone move toward him.

"Sky?" His voice was weak and scratchy.

“It’s me” Sky nodded as she appeared out of the dark, it was obvious from her red swollen eyes that she’d been crying for some time. Her hands were unshackled, and she had a medical tricorder so she could monitor Soran. “The device around your neck is a stun collar, they said if either of us do anything stupid that they’ll stun you.” She sniffled, then stifled a yawn she needed to sleep but had been afraid to with Soran asleep incase they were separated.

"It's probably a monitoring device as well!" Soran rasped. "If so… ALL YOUR MOTHER'S ARE COCKSOCKING COWS! YOUR FATHER'S HAD PAY FOR THE PLEASURE AND YOUR SPAWN ARE MUTATED DISEASED GUTTER TRASH!!!"

Soran's eyes were filled with fiery determination and rage.

“Stop it!” Sky clasped her hands over her ears. “Please...stop it!” She sat on the floor and huddled up resting her head on her knees. “I want to go home! I should have listened to Tony, I shouldn’t have come!!”

"Hey." Soran said. We don't have time for that right now, you're stronger than this. Don't give in to fear. Don't give them what they want. Your twins are counting on you."

Soran wanted to say more, but they were definitely listening. He had to find a way to keep them alive long enough for a rescue.

Sky looked up at Soran, wiping away her tears she nodded. “I...I’ll try.” Her focus changed to telepathic communication, hoping Ren could still hear her. Why do they want us Ren?

Soran shook his head must be the drugs causing the link as he felt more clear headed he could hear, but it was fuzzy.

"You're stronger than you know..." Soran said in a sincere tone.

Sky nodded as Soran answered verbally, instead of telepathically. Their telepathic connection was obviously wearing off. “I guess now we wait.” Her stomach rattled, making her blush. “Sorry, the food service around here sucks! Some of us are eating for three!” She called hoping to get some food at some point.

The door hissed open and the Orion woman stepped in and put two bottles and a small package in front of Sky. "water and rations cow!"

Sky nodded. “Thank you.”

"What about me!?" Soran barked.

Sky shot a look at the woman waiting to see what her reaction would be.

The Orion woman turned on her heel and kicked Soran between the legs. "Shut your mouth, PINKSKINED PIG!"

Soran's face went pale, but he didn't cry out. He would have egged her on further but he saw the look in the Sky's eyes.

Sky waited until the door was closed before kneeling at Soran’s side. “Are you okay!?” She looked at the tricorder noting that it had picked up improved vitals when Soran was angry. “You can share my food and water.” She sipped her share of the water grateful for a drink, then offered Soran the rest.

The door opened again and a man stepped into the room. "Go back to your corner woman. You can share your water with him if you want, but keep your rations."

Sky nodded and backed away leaving the other half of the water with Soran. She watched as the man drew a hypospray and approached Soran.

Soran tried to avoid the hypospray, but the man grabbed his hair. "Relax, it's just nutrients. We're not taking you out of those shackles, and nobody's spoon feeding you."

Soren said something in Angosian and spit at the man. The man roughly injected him with the hypospray and slammed his head into the wall.

Sky cringed as she watched helplessly, she wished Soran would stop getting himself hurt, but she understood his anger.

The man turned and stormed out of the room. Soran looked at Sky and smiled. "I'm alright it takes more than a bump or two to hurt me, I would like some water."

Sky smiled and moved to pick up the water, gently placing what was left of the one bottle of water by his lips ready for him to sip. “Here...drink.” She gently angled the bottle for him so he could sip. Soran accepted the water, as it began to go down his throat he realized how thirsty he really was. As she held the bottle her hand touched his chin, he concentrated his thoughts toward her.

They need us for something so they're taking care of us now. Be strong, we can't give them what they need. They're playing their games and I'm playing mine.

Sky had to focus hard on what Soran was saying, the message was fuzzy and not entirely clear to her anymore. She nodded to say she understood. She pointed to the food, wanting to know if he wanted her to share it.

"The nutrients are enough for me, eat as much as you can." Soran explained. "There's no telling if you'll be fed again"

Sky nodded. “Let me know when you need to drink again.” She offered a more relaxed smile now they were alone again. Returning to her corner she sat on the temporary hard bed that was on the floor, and sat down to eat. The food wasn’t that fresh, but she tucked into it regardless, she needed the energy and nutrients to keep herself and her twins fed. She stifled a yawn, tiredness was starting to kick in.

"Sleep if you can," Soran sighed. "I'm alright, I’ll keep watch. Get some rest we need to maintain our strength."

Sky finished off her food, before sipping her water. “Thank you Ren.” With that she made herself as comfortable as she could on the hard makeshift bed. Some sleep would be better than none.

Soran at sat focused on his breathing, trying to center himself. He entered a meditative state…

Soran eyes opened, heard change in the vessel's engines. They'd dropped out of warp. 'They be coming for us soon' he thought he wasn't could probably get out of the shackles, but the collar was problematic. He'd bide his time and wait for an opening. He looked at Sky she seemed to be asleep, so he saw no reason to wake her.

The door hissed open and the Orion woman walked in, she smirked at Soran and held up a small device. Soran recognized that and tried to praise himself for what would happen next. She pressed the button and the collar activated,pain shot through his spine. He didn't cry out, but all his muscles convulsed and he fell unconscious.

Sky’s eyes shot open at the sensation of pain coming from Soran. “Ren!?” She sat up looking at the Orion woman, before grabbing the medical tricorder and moving to Soran’s side. “How do you expect to keep him alive if you keep doing that!?”

The woman smacked the tricorter out of Sky's hand and stamped on it. She moved forward and raised the hand to slap her.

Sky automatically backed off, expecting to be brutally hit at any moment. Her eyes fell on the door as it opened again.

"Maras!" The Angosian leader shouted. You were supposed to use the sedatives! They are not to be harmed!"

Sky looked at the Angosian. “How could you do this? Soran is one of your own.”

"Correction, he was one of us. He's an augmented weapon from a forgotten war." Mangath said in a clinical tone. "They are of little use to a civilized society and never behave."

“Because they haven’t been given a chance!” Sky looked at Soran. “He doesn’t deserve this.”

"Hold your tongue or I'll let her muzzle you," Mangath said in a warning tone.

Sky nodded as she looked down at Soran, she smiled just a little as Soran moved.

Soran opened his eyes, "Mangath I thought the Talsions killed your sorry ass. There really is no justice in this fuckin…"

Mangath Injected Soram with a hypospray. That's the problem with the collar: the Augments recover too quickly. Don't worry dear lady, it was a much smaller dose than last time."

Another Orion came into the cell with an antigrave sled, he lifted Soran onto it and they took him out of the room.

Sky stood ready to go with, so far they’d been kept together she just hoped it would stay that way. Without Soran she was vulnerable, she didn’t want to be alone.

The Orion woman grabbed Sky’s arm and pushed her towards the wall, she slapped a pair of shackles on then pushed her out the cell door.

Sky watched as she saw Soran being pushed down a ramp that left the ship. She had questions but it was better to keep her mouth shut, and her wits about her.

The Orion woman pushed Sky from behind, "keep moving! COW!"

Sky stumbled forward to managed to keep her balance. She followed on down the ramp.

Ichatha was standing in the bay, his black eyes glistening with hate. His lipless mouth formed a sneer as he saw Soran.

The young Ullian woman, Kara stood alongside her master, this was the moment they’d been waiting for, the horror for Soran was just beginning. “Gently now...” she looked towards the Orion woman. “We can’t have the dear Counselor being hurt now can we?”

The Orion woman had a look of hate In her eyes as she spat on Sky's feet.

Sky could do nothing but look down at her feet, she wasn’t going to give anyone a reason to punish her. Soran had told her to be strong, that was what she was going to do. The man was familiar to her, she’d seen him in Soran’s mind.

"Mangath take him to lab," Ichatha ordered. And Mangath make sure your people are guarding him."

He turned Kara, "put the counselor in an isolation chamber."

Sky’s heart sank at the mention of being separated from Soran, she wanted to put up a fight, demand to be kept with him, but she knew that would fall on deaf ears. Right now she had no choice but to go along with what was happening, but not before she looked at the black eyed man. “You’re Ichatha, aren’t you?”

Ichath gave her a cold stare. Welcome to the Abysm"

(OFF)