By four horses

Posted on Mon Sep 28th, 2020 @ 8:26am by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Captain Gary Taylor & Lieutenant Commander S'hib

Mission: SEASON 4: Episode 1: Know Thy Self!
Location: ISS EYLSIUM
Timeline: MD-1
1494 words - 3 OF Standard Post Measure

The doors to the room holding phoenix opened as suddenly as the man being thrown in, skidding across the floor in a panicked scramble to get back to his feet as S'hib stormed inside. "No, please... stay there." He snorted as a hoof dug into the man's back and pressed him back onto the deck, his frustrated gasps for air echoing off the metal floor.

"Hello, Captain..." S'hib said softly as he tilted his head to look at Phoenix. "I gathered you would get rather bored hanging there, so I brought you some entertainment..."

Phoenix didn't recognize the crewman but, she figured it was one of her Engineers. "Really how quaint of you Lieutenant, I was fine giving your captain blood pressure problems. Tell me, when will you kill Taylor?"

S'hib simply smiled at her last comment, he was almost starting to question if this woman was actually from his universe instead. "Well, I've got to kill this one first..." He snorted gleefully before removing his hoof from the crewmen.

"And before you say anything Captain, no... I'm afraid I'm not here to ask any questions that might save his life, he is going to die... and you are going to watch, it's as simple as that." S'hib said before expelling a satified sigh from his oversized lungs.

"Captain you can't let him!" The young man yelped as he was dragged back up off the floor the flung towards Phoniex, his already bruised and bloodied face glowing under the pain booths light.

Phoenix wished she could help him. "Ensign" she said softly. "I am sorry"

“Oh please, You don’t even know him...” S’hib scoffed as he marched over and kicked him in his side, the soft thump of his hoof removing the air from the mans lungs as he fell to his side coughing. “Like... really? do you even know his name?” S’hib laughed, waving his arms about at his side before viciously kicking the man again, the casual brutality of it all on full display for Phoenix.

"That does not matter. I have contacted families for each crew member who has passed under my command, regardless of if I knew them or not!" She shouted. "They are people. Their lives matter!"

"Well, maybe you should get to know him, since what little of his life left apparently matters to you," S'hib said softly, as he gripped the man by his uniform with both hands and raised him off the floor. "Why don't you tell the class your name." He snorted, holding him against the pain booth.

"Captain, please... just tell them what they want!" He pleaded before he was suddenly yanked back, his fingerprints left smudged against the glass as he was thrown across the room.

"Unbelievable..." S'hib grunted, reigning in his temper as he glanced to Phoniex. "One moment Captain..." He smiled before moving towards the crewmen who had already scrambled to his feet with fists raised.

Phoenix wanted to kill the horse. They never asked her any questions they just did this for fun!

S'hib simply walked through the first two punches, too stubborn and angry to feel anything as he lunged forward. And as he did so he let out a dreadful cry, the horrific screeching yell of a tormented equine filling the room masked any pained cries the crewmen made.

"Tell her...your name!" S'hib roared as he brought his fist down one last time and let him fall to the floor against the wall, spittle and blood dripping from his broken lips.

"Ensign, what is your name" Phoenix yelled. She didn't want him to suffer any more, and knew he was going to die.

"D-Deacon... Ensign Deacon." He stuttered as blood dripped onto the floor.

"There we go," S'hib said proudly, bringing his hands together with a loud clack of hooves. "Now, Captain... tell me, does his name? ring a bell at all?" He asked, with a spiteful tone.

"Does it matter? You are just going to kill him and He will be another letter or holo call to make right?" she snarled back at him, eyes flashing.

"I'm sure it matters to him... he's about to die for you," S'hib said while looking down at Deacon, his face a mixture of genuine confusion and amusement. "And to be quiet honest, it sounds like you just want me to get on with it... Though I suppose, just being another name to read of a list it's hard to get attached." He said softly, slowly looking down at Deacon trying to sit back up.

Then, In the blink of an eye his hoof came down, crushing Deacons left hand with a sickening crack of bone that left his wailing in agony.

"You see I'm not like these Terrans..." S'hib shouted as he walked towards Phoniex, ignoring Deacon as he writhed about clutching his wrist.

"They've never lost anything of value, so they don't know how to take anything that matters." He snorted, tail lashing as his eyes glared into hers. "I could have shot him the moment I brought him in here," He spat, pointing back at Deacon. "And you would have forgotten about in an instant."

"No, I remember every name I have had to contact. I remember walking into a house for a yeoman and having to swallow my bile as her adoptive parents basically spat me because she shamed them. I remember every name because they are all worth it and let me tell you something, I will remember and I will avenge those who you all kill here with my own dying breath. I am not Terran. I am not the Erisians of this universe, I do not discard people. YOU could have killed him, But you didn't because you have something that stops you, its called having a Jimmy cricket. a conscience."

"Oh, this is getting boring." S'hib sighed as he turned around and started walking back to Deacon. "You're no fun Captain," He continued, rolling his shoulders and stretching his arms as he stopped above the Ensign. "Shes right, gimme your hand... I'm done having fun." He huffed, waiting for Deacon.

"There we go..." S'hib smiled as Deacon nervously reached up, gripping his right hand and lifting him up ever so slightly before shoving a hoof onto his chest.

Shock and realisation spread over Deacon's face as S'hib gripped both hands around his wrist, his eyes growing wide in panic as his muscle and skin started to stretch.

"No no!" He cried out before words melted into a wretched scream as his arm dislocated, his broken hand clawing desperately at the hoof pinning him to the floor.

Then with a sickening twist and the snap of sinew, his arm came free, uniform and all.

"oh gods" Phoenix gagged and had to bit her lip to stop herself from throwing up. "Oh gods" was all she could say

"Ha, Ha, Ha." A voice from the doorway sounded as Captain Gary Taylor stood there an amused expression on his face. His eyes flicked to Phoenix still hanging suspended inside the booth who looked like she was going to throw up to S'hib. "Now S'hib, go ahead and quit playing, your making Captain Lalor sick."

"I'll be outside, sir." S'hib snorted while discarding the arm to one side, not even bothering to watch Deacon die.

"No, no S'hib stay here. You got the good captain's attention. Lets keep it. In case her attention wanders" Gary said. "Captain what is the disposition of you fleet?"

She raised her head, blue eyes gone silver now. "You best kill me now."

"If you haven't noticed," S'hib said, waving an arm over to Deacon, a pool of blood steadily growing around him. "The theme is everyone else." He added before begrudgingly clicking over to Gary's side.

"You've made that clear. But let me be even more clear. The only way you walk out of here alive is if you kill me now, for if I get out of here, no one, not even a Q will stop me from killing you both and skinning you. I need a new rug on my office floor and I think horse hide will do nicely,"

"Says the imprisoned Captain." Gary looked over to S'hib. "I do hope you brought more to play with. Next one pull off a leg."

"I was hoping to drag that one out a bit more, to be honest, but I'm sure I can go find another." S'hib huffed, his throat growling out his nostrils.

"Yes. Get another and remember theses things must be done delicately." Gary answered

Phoenix muttered something under her breath as Deacon took his last "Lissenen ar' maska'lalaith tenna' lye omentuva"

"What was that Phoenix? I didn't quite catch it?" Gary taunted.

She just glared at him, and her eyes promised death.

"I'm certainly glad looks can't kill." Gary chuckled. "Say, did you ever answer me about your fleet disposition?"

=/\=