Time for a little visit

Posted on Fri Jun 14th, 2019 @ 7:45am by Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor & Captain Gary Taylor & Commander Liselle Qwyyn

Mission: Episode 1: Hell is a four letter word
Location: Romulan Prision
Timeline: MD 8
2186 words - 4.4 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

With the Romulan guards now closing in on the shuttle, Lia decided to get out of it quickly. But where could she go? An idea now sprung into her mind, Gary and Liselle. They had been kept separated from everyone since they'd arrived, but just how many Trill could there possibly be in here? And another thing in her favour, Trill and Human together. Couldn't be more than say one couple? So using the scanners on the shuttle she did a very quick scan of the prison, BINGO! Only one location matched her parameters, she zeroed in and found a spot she could transport into. Locking in the co-ords, she readied herself. Taking time to check her message was still being transmitted, yep it was. And since the whole system was now on silent mode and tied directly to the power supply, she shut everything else down except the transporter.

Checking herself over one more time she made her move, "Initiate transport to designated co-ords, and await further orders". As Lia vanished a guard had entered, but he failed to see her go. A quick look around, and out he went satisfied the shuttle was empty. As she appeared in the holding area, she noticed the Romulan Gary had called Pig was sleeping. *Good little piggy, you keep sleeping* she thought to herself. Slowly and quietly she approached the cells, looking round the corner she could see them both. Lia stepped back into the shadows, for yet another check and to calm herself down. Moving forwards she now stood in front of their cell, "Hey! Anyone call for a cab?" it was a reminder of happier times, Risa was a long time ago.

Liselle, slowly opened her eyes, fighting her way through the mental exhaustion and the trauma. At first, she wasn't certain that the sight of Lia was real. But as the image of her continued to stay fixed, Qwyyn felt her eyes widen, tears filling them.

Lia was here! On the other side of the cage!

Gary turned at the sound of the familiar voice. "Lia!" He whispered happily at the sight of her. "Are we glad to see you! Get us out of these bonds!" He hissed savagely.

Placing her finger to her lips, she pointed towards Pig. "Will you hush down, a girl has to think. I can't use a phaser, that sadistic bastard would hear". She checked the power to the cell, her first priority was to drop the power without alerting Pig. She had an idea, but getting Gary and Liselle out came first.

Gary jerked on his bonds, "Get us out of this!" He whispered again. "I have a score to settle." His eyes falling on the sleeping Pig as he spoke.

Lia hung her head, "Yeah, you and me both. But right now I got to get you out of this damn cell, without waking up piggy over there". She dropped the backpack and pointed, "That has clothes and weapons inside, once your free and out I suggest you loose the skin to skin look". She popped a cover and a wicked grin appeared on her face, "Oh you beauty, right now just flick this over and........." The power to the cell faded, Lia checked on the Pig. "Still sleeping", she whispered. Standing behind Gary she looked at his bindings, "This may hurt, but just grin and bare it". She placed a small putty like substance at the junction of the frame holding Gary, a small pop was heard and the framework came loose. The Pig didn't move, Lia helped Gary remove his bindings. "Get dressed before you go rogue on me, and give me time to get Elle out of her bindings". She turned her attention to Liselle, and repeated to process then handed her the clothes she had brought.

"Sage advice." Gary commented on Lia's skin to skin comment. He said nothing as Lia applied the putty to his bonds. An instant later there was a soft pop and he was free. He jerked his hands forward and saw a reddening/blistering of skin from the tightness of the bonds and the application of the putty. He ignored it, he had more important things to see to. He opened up the backpack and quickly got dressed. Not looking at either Liselle or Lia as he did. He grabbed his cricket phaser, check the power level he wanted and only then did he turn to Lia and Liselle. "You two go, get out of here. I don't want you to see what I'm going to do next." He paused and continued, "Find someplace you can hole up. I have work to do." His voice hard, emotionless and his eyes harder. All trace of warmth gone from them. "Find Taam and the Captain and free them, I can guarantee a diversion so the Romulans won't be looking for you."

Lia crossed over to Gary, "Here you'll need this". She handed him a communicator, "I'll take Liselle back to the shuttle, but then I have someone I have to visit. I'm sure Elle can free the rest". She turned to hand Liselle her communicator.

He took the communicator. and placed it on his tunic. Nodding he said, "I'm sure you do. Keep your heads down and stick to the shadows. I'd prefer if you stay with Liselle until the others are free." Not wanting to leave Liselle alone, with knowledge of what she had been through.

Qwyyn looked from one to the other. Though the idea of actually leaving this place still held her firmly in a state of shock, she could see in their eyes that they were determined to pull this off. With pained effort in moving her bruised arms, she placed a hand slowly on Lia's wrist. "How far do we have to go before we can get into transporter range of the shuttle?"

Gary watched Liselle. She still looked a little shaken but was holding herself together reasonably well. Her eyes no longer looking dull and defeated. Life once again shone in them and her voice carried that same spark.

Looking at Liselle, Lia pointed at the alcove she had beamed into. "Right there Elle, all of about twenty feet". She held out her hand, "And if you need me, I'm right here". Lia now looked at Gary, "She's tougher than you think, and she doesn't need a babysitter. But I'll go back to the shuttle with her, my target is around that area anyhow". She gave him one of her lopsided grins and moved towards the alcove, "Just one thing, wake him up first. Prove your the bigger man, not one of them". She pointed at Pig as she spoke, she knew what Gary was about to do but she had no wish to prevent him. She only hoped he didn't loose himself in the action, one death was more than enough for this crew.

Gary listened as Lia gave her opinion. "I know how tough she is Lia." He replied simply. Lia hadn't seen the effects the torture had on Liselle first hand he had. "Thank you." He added simply. He looked at the sleeping Pig. "I didn't realize I had to prove anything least of all to you." He shook his head, "Don't worry. He'll be awake." His tone even deadlier and more dangerous than just a few moments before. He bent down and picked up a pain stick that lay beside the sleeping Pig. "For incentive to get him moving."

"You don't have to prove anything to me, I just don't want you acting like them. Your better than that, 'aren't you?" Lia shook her head, only Gary could misunderstand what she was getting at. "Incentivise him all you like, just face him eye to eye. Prove to them, we're better than they'll ever be". There was hatred in every word as she spoke about the Romulans, a deep violent driven hate. She waited for Liselle to join her, something was ending but she didn't know what just yet.

Gary stood staring at her. His eyes dark, his soul darker. Only it wasn't Gary. It was Grey Wolf, one of the Wolf Queen's legendary and fearsome Wolf Pack. They were the undisputed masters of black ops, of 'dirty deeds' the Federation didn't want to soil their hands with or couldn't officially be connected with. They went where the boogeyman was afraid to go. He could literally kill you with a soup can. Having a phaser and a pain stick were luxuries he was unaccustomed to having. "You and Liselle should go." He answered simply.

Somewhere below the surface of her fractured psyche Liselle was able to recognize that she was still in shock. That same part of her was able to put together exactly what Gary had in mind. She watched herself reach out a hand to him, the motion seeming disconnected from herself. And she heard herself speak to him. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Gary's eyes settled on Liselle. So dark and emotionless. Cold. His whole stature seemed cold as any warmth that was within him had been sucked out. he heard the question and couldn't believe she would ask him that. Not after what she had suffered at the hands of the Romulans. "Yes. I'm sure." He answered firmly. Decisively.

She nodded. Her eyes held him, and neither of them spoke. For a moment Liselle had an overwhelming need to cry and she had to hold her hands firm against her thighs to keep them from shaking. She swallowed the lump in her throat and the emotions were gone. A memory now. "Okay. I'll see you back at the shuttle, then." She turned to Holmes. "Lia, please, I want to go."

"Right." One single word spoken flatly and coldly. Gary knew that whatever came next. His friendship with Liselle was more than likely over. After all she had very firmly and pointedly told him she would never forgive him for the abuse and torture she had been subject to. That she blamed him for all of it.

Lia glanced between the two, then hit her communicator. "Two to beam back to shuttle", the pair disappeared and then reappeared in the shuttle. Turning to Liselle, Lia spoke. "Take the second phaser, and see if you can find the Captain and Black Taam. Use the sensors and beam there, don't try and walk". She checked herself and made for the door, "Give me a couple of minutes, then get the hell out of here. You good Elle?"

Liselle pulled the phaser and checked its charge. Her grip tightened on its handle again and again. She didn't like the finality she heard in Lia's tone. "What are you going to do?"

Turning to Liselle Lia hung her head, "I have a certain person I need to check on, then this former Second Officer is going to kill a First Officer". She pointed at the squad of Romulans visible from the shuttle, "I think the bastard is over there, at least I fucking hope he is". She moved to the door, "Have you found the Captain and Taam yet? I think our pointy eared hosts have finally woke up to our imminent departure, good makes them easier to fucking kill".

Qwyyn started to protest, but thought better of it. She saw in Lia's eyes the same look that she had seen in Gary's. They each had made their decision and there was nothing Liselle was going to be able to say or do to stop them. Worse still was her own personal sense of utter exhaustion -- a weariness that extended past flesh and bone and dug into her soul. So she said the only thing she could in that moment. "I'll find our two crewman. Don't worry about me. Lia, Good luck."

Gary watched as Lia and Liselle beamed away. He turned to the sleeping Pig. he had a task to carry out. Kneeling in front of the sadistic guard, Gary place his phaser under Pig's chin then with his other hand he tapped him in the side with the pain stick. The result was instantaneous. Pig jerked awake swearing then stopped when he realized someone was in front of him. "Taylor!" He spat. "How did you...." Gary shook his head, "Ssshhh. No noise. Get up slowly. We're going for a walk. "I won't..." The rest of what he had to say was loss in a series of cries and moans as Gary hit him in the side with the pain stick again. "Now again get up." Pig slowly rose to his feet glaring death at Gary who was completely unfazed by the murderous look. "Walk in front of me. Remember no noise or I'll burn you where you stand." Gary said calmly as they started their walk.

Slipping out of the shuttle, Lia made her way towards the Romulans. She spotted Khoal, *Leading from the rear as usual* she thought. She looked in as Liselle transported away, then slipped past Khoal and his merry band.

OFF