The struggle begins

Posted on Mon Sep 28th, 2020 @ 6:46am by Captain Gary Taylor & Lieutenant Commander Alicia Kelea-Salik

Mission: SEASON 4: Episode 1: Know Thy Self!
Location: Slaver Station
2173 words - 4.3 OF Standard Post Measure

{ON}

The three hour window to the hound release was fast running down as Alicia made her way along the darkened corridors with Gary, they needed to find somewhere they could hide where the hounds wouldn’t be able to get to them. They also needed to find what food and water they would need or they would starve anyway. She was starting to feel hungry as it was, so much had happened she couldn’t even remember whether she’d had breakfast that morning. “We need to find food and water to take with us Commander, we’re running out of time as it is.”

"No ranks, not here. Just Gary and Alicia, it's simpler that way and yes we need to find food and water. Along with something we can use as weapons and finally a place to hole up. Lets see what we can come up with." Gary remarked to Alicia as they made their way down the corridor checking any rooms they came across.

Alicia nodded. “Did you see the way those guards looked at us? It makes me wonder what our mirror counterparts are like to warrant such a look.” She paused by a partially open door. “Comm ... Gary look ..” she kept her voice low as she motioned for him to look inside. “We could use some of the supplies in there.”

Gary came to look over her shoulder, "What did you find Alicia? Anything we can use?"

Alicia nodded. “It looks like a supply cupboard, I see some rope lying there I’m not sure what else we might find. I don’t know about you but I’m really getting hungry!”

"We'll take the rope. It might come in handy. Let's see if we can find any survival food packets as well as water packets." Gary answered as he was looking around. "Hey! Look at this." He said, holding up a long section of steel pipe that looked oddly like a baseball bat. "This can come in handy for sure."

Alicia nodded. “This too” She pulled out a rolled up mat, it wasn’t that big but it would be good enough to provide some comfort to lie on at night, there was also a sheet that they could use to make a tent if they threw it over something. “Savar and I ... we’ve been trying for a family.” She kept looking for more things they could use that wouldn’t way them down. Her worries were evident in her voice, who knew how long they’d be here and what if she fell pregnant? She was scared.

"Very good Alicia. Good work." Gary answered as he continued to dig and snoop around. He stopped as Alicia mentioned her husband Savar. It made him think of Lia. He hadn't seen her since they were taken from the bridge. "Alicia, you'll see Savar again and you'll start your family. I'm sure of it." He said reassuringly. He dug around some more, "Whoa!!!!! Look! he said holding up several packets of food and beside them were small bottles of water.

“Oh wow!” Alicia smiled the first proper smile since all this had started. “A fantastic find. We’d best get moving and find somewhere safe before they let the dogs loose!” She could only hope Savar was somewhere safe.

"Excellent idea. Some place safe, sturdy and we can keep this dogs out." Gary added as he found an old sack and put the water sacks into and held in one hand in the other he held his 'baseball bat'. "Okay let's find someplace we can hole up." He told Alicia.

Alicia nodded. “It’s a big station so which way should we go? Up or down?”

"Up." Gary answered. "I have a feeling the upper levels haven't been used as much and hopefully we'll find a secure room we can use until after these dogs have gone."

Alicia nodded. “Up it is, let’s go!”

A while later Alicia was tiring fast, the combination of lack of food and water and a pregnancy she knew nothing about was taking its toll. She kept going through sheer determination as they risked a climb up a shaft to make quicker progress.

"Wait a moment Alicia." Gary said as he took the rope they had and handed one end to Alicia. "Tie this around your waist, make it secure but not overly so." He took the other end and tied it around his waist. "Okay, now we can stay together climbing that shaft."

Alicia did as she was instructed. “Gary I’m tired, I’m just going to slow you down! If I fall you’ll be pulled down too!” She was concerned about his wellbeing. “I’m expendable you’re not, the crew need you!”

"We'll stop for a moment and you are not expendable Alicia! No one is. The crew doesn't want an XO that surrendered the ship without a fight." Gary said quietly.

“You did what you had to do Gary” Alicia offered a reassuring smile. “Let’s keep going, we’re short on time and we still need to find a secure place before the dogs are released. Preferably one with a sleeping area off the floor where we can rest out of harms way.”

Gary nodded. Right" He wasn't convinced of that but he wasn't going to argue with Alicia over it. "One secure location coming up." He said as they continued their climb.

~ Sometime Later ~

“What about this one?” Alicia motioned to an old office, there was only one door in and one other leading out the opposite way but the open door was pretty old and it looked damaged. “Do you think we could secure this door or should we keep going?” She looked around.

"Let's take a look." Gary replied as they entered the room. There were some heavy desks inside and a couple of chairs. "I think we can make this work Alicia. Plus time is getting short." He added. "Come inside and I'll push one of these desks across the back of the door. That should be enough to keep anything out."

Alicia nodded and walked inside, she stood ready to help move the desk across the door as they closed it behind them. The lock wouldn’t work but the desk was definitely heavy enough to hold the door shut. “We’ll have to remain silent when the dogs are loose or they’ll find us. I’ll set up a sleeping area over on that far wall we can pull round some other furniture to surround us.”

"Alright Alicia, you do that." Gary replied as he was again digging about looking for something they could use as a weapon. He was pulling drawers open when he stopped. He found himself looking at a small knife or dagger. It had probably been used to open packages but right now it was the best thing he had seen in a long time. "Psst Alicia." He said holding up the dagger and handing it to her. "You keep this. Use it if you have to."

Alicia smiled and nodded as she took the small dagger. "Thank you" she placed it in her bag for safe keeping until after she'd set up their safe area. "Let's get this door blocked off while we can then we'll sort the food and water."

"Yes ma'am." Gary replied as together he and Alicia pulled the heavy desk across the door to keep it from being pushed open. Gary also took a chair and wedged it atop the desk against the door for added security. "I think that is secure." He said looking over their effort. "Now what all did we find as far as food?"

"Let's see" She lifted up the bag of food and drinks. "Give me a moment" she quickly pulled some other furniture round on the far wall making a corner for them along with the mat she'd found which she put out on the floor before tossing the small dust sheet over the furniture to make a tented area. "Home sweet home" she offered a smile. "Let's sit and eat."

"You eat Alicia. Right now I just want some water." Gary answered as he sat and listened for any sign that the hounds had been released onto the station.

Alicia nodded and took a small amount of the food, it was going to have to last for now so it needed to be rationed. She picked up a water bottle and opened it taking a sip which came as sweet relief. It wasn't long before the distant sound of barking dogs filled the air along with the screams of those unlucky enough to encounter them. As the sounds edged closer she moved closer to Gary looking for comfort and protection.

Without thinking, he looped an arm around Alicia and held her close as sounds of the dogs could be heard in the distance. "It's okay. We're safe. They can't get in here." He whispered reassuringly and prayed he was right.

As the sound of dogs entered the corridor they were on Alicia buried her face in Gary's chest, if the dogs did get in she didn't want to see her death coming she just wanted it to be over quick. It seemed like forever as they sat barely daring to breath before the sounds grew quieter and more distant. She looked up at Gary in utter relief and surprise. "Did we make it?" Her voice was barely a whisper.

Gary looked at Alicia, her face buried into his chest and nodded, "Ssssh." He whispered. He wanted to make sure the dogs were truly gone before he allowed himself to relax. "But I think you might just be right Alicia." He whispered but wasn't quite ready to test that theory just yet as he didn't want either of them becoming dog chow.

For now there wasn't much they could do except stay put, Alicia moved to lie down on the small thin mat that they were sitting on. It wasn't very warm and they had no cover, "Would you mind if I lay next to you?" She looked at Gary. "It's cold and sharing warmth will help us both."

"Oh, course not Alicia. You make a good point. In fact it's an excellent point." Gary told her. "You can wrap your arms around me if you want Alicia if makes you feel better."

Alicia offered a smile, it was awkward to say the least but they both needed warmth and Savar would understand, at least she hoped he would. She gently snuggled up alongside Gary trying to share warmth without it becoming more like a romantic cuddle. "They spoke of an arena" she gently lay her head on Gary's shoulder. She had questions but she didn't want to talk too much incase the dogs returned and found them.

Gary nodded, as Alicia snuggled up to him. "Yes, I think they mean it to be like a gladiator pit." Gary answered. "The dogs are, were the first step. Getting rid of a few unlucky souls. The question now is what do they have planned for us next?" Even as he posed the question Gary wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer

"Whatever it is ... it scares the hell out of me!" She closed her eyes hoping to wake up and find that this was all some elaborate nightmare. Her senses searched for any sign or hint of Savar, he was alive that much she knew she'd have felt his loss if he was dead but where he was on the station eluded her. ~ Savar where are you?! ~

"I know it does but you need to be strong Alicia. Strong for yourself and strong for Savar and when we find him and the others. Their all here on this station we just have to find them." Gary answered softly but firmly. "You can cry, scream or throw things after this is over and we're back on our Elysium."

"I don't plan on screaming or throwing things" Alicia's voice sounded slow showing just how tired she was as she started falling asleep on Gary's shoulder. She needed the rest after their climb, who knew what was to come next.

"Good. I didn't think you would Alicia." Gary said quietly as Alicia was falling asleep. He knew she needed sleep. They all needed sleep but right now, he needed to stay awake in case the dogs came back or any other surprises showed up.

It didn't take long before Alicia was fast asleep, her body needed to recoup its lost energy. In her sleep she draped an arm over Gary's chest just as she usually did with Savar.

Gary lay still under Alicia's arm. He had no desire to wake her as she needed her sleep for the coming days as there was no telling how long thet were going to stuck on this station before they could get back to their ship.