“You do that.” He lay against the pillows and, as she left the room carrying the tray, he did a fast scan of the chamber. There were four more beds in the ward but the frames held only bare mattresses, no sign of recent occupants. The area in proximity to his bed was clean but, in the corners of the room, the dust of long disuse had collected.
Experimentally, he yanked at the restraints, but there was no give in the metal. He was well and truly caught. Getting out of this fix is going to require careful maneuvering. He could do with a few less mysteries. He was going to need answers to an imposing list of things. Top of his list was the exact nature of the relationship between the Badari women—never mind the astonishing fact of their existence—and the Khagrish. Were they allies? Or could he hope for some help? Keshara at least had plainly wanted to be somewhere else—maybe he could use that as leverage in some way.
The sound of footsteps alerted him, and he faced the door as the Khagrish woman swept in, with the older Badari woman behind her. Two male Khagrish lab techs with sparse hair crests in faded pink and yellow trailed behind. Lower caste. Each man was armed, he noted, although only one had his pulse gun drawn and at the ready, aimed in the general direction of Gabe’s chest.
Really? What am I going to do chained to this damn bed? But interesting to know there didn’t appear to be any trained security force at this lab, aside from the guard captain Raeblin had mentioned. Always an optimist by nature, Gabe suddenly liked his chances.
“So, you’ve regained your senses,” the scientist said in decent Basic, looking him over from head to toe. Her crested hair was a bright, vibrant red, thick and braided at the end, with few strands of yellow showing. A high ranking individual. “Took you long enough to emerge from the vegetative state after we decanted you from the healing module. Clearly, whatever race you belong to lacks the stamina and physical reserves of the Badari.”
“Thank you for taking care of me,” he said, doing his best to be disarming. “I’m Gabe Carter, by the way. I’d rise and show proper respect, ma’am, but you have me at a disadvantage.”
“I’m Dr. Farahnnim, Director of this facility.” Her tone was haughty. “What manner of being are you? And why were my people pursuing you?”
“I’m a human,” he said promptly, having decided modified explanation would serve him best for now. “My spaceship was attacked and boarded by Shemdylann pirates, and I was taken prisoner. They stuck me in stasis, and I woke up on this planet, in another lab, run by a guy named Gahzhing. Do you know him?”
There wasn’t a flicker of recognition on her face. “I don’t keep up with the comings and goings at the other facilities any longer. My research is quite different, on a higher plane of significance.”
I’ll bet it’s different, if you’re studying female Badari. So far the situation, while odd, wasn’t too far from the normal set up. Each Khagrish lab operated independently to a certain extent. But Gabe was sure there was some dark secret under the surface since absolutely no one on the planet knew Badari females existed.
Farahnnim had more questions, asking them in rapid-fire fashion. “For what purpose were you taken? What experiments were to be done?”
He shook his head. “I have no idea, and I didn’t stick around to find out. I was lucky enough to steal a flyer and escape. Only then I was unlucky enough to get shot down.”
Eyes narrowed, she put her hands on her hips and eyed him with open suspicion. “How exactly did you escape?”
Now he was going to dissemble. Trying his most charming smile, he said, “You’ll pardon me if I choose not to answer. Gotta keep a few trade secrets close to the vest.”
“There will be no secrets kept from me,” she said with predictable Khagrish arrogance. “I’ll learn whatever I need to know. Your only choice is how much suffering to endure before answering my questions.” She raised one finger, and the lab tech closest to her flipped a switch on the neurocontroller he held.
Unable to control his body, Gabe writhed under the assault of pain from the black bracelet on his right wrist, sending sheets of hot, sparking pain through his nervous system. He fought the restraints to the point he was bleeding before the scientist gave the order to shut the device off. Dimly, Gabe took note that the two younger Badari women seemed distressed by his pain, but the elder was stone faced.
“Now, we’ll try the question again.” Farahnnim’s voice was patient, with a hint of glee. He had the distinct impression she’d enjoyed watching him suffer.
“Which—which question?” he asked, breathing hard. Lingering flickers of burning pain traveled through his nervous system and his vision had bright splotches in it.
Tapping her toe with impatience, she returned to the topic of interest. “Your escape? How did you accomplish it?”
“No one had put a bracelet on me yet. I was able to overpower a guard, steal his weapon, and shoot the others. Then I ran like hell in the direction of the landing field, which we’d just left. I’m a pilot so I climbed into a flyer with the hatch open, ordered the enemy pilot off at gunpoint, and figured it out.” He was rather proud of the completely fabricated story. It could have happened like that.
Apparently, the scientist was satisfied as well. “See?” she said to Ashla and the techs as if she’d won a point in some fierce debate. “The bracelets are the critical factor in prisoner control. If we decide to go hunting more specimens, we must have an adequate stock of the bracelets on hand.”
The closest tech tapped his stylus on the handheld he grasped and all but saluted. “Yes, doctor. I’ll prioritize reactivating the inventory.”
So, if he had to wear a bracelet, why weren’t the Badari women under similar control? This place didn’t add up. And where was she planning to go ‘hunt’ specimens? Did she know the male Badari were roaming freely now, no longer prisoners? Gabe’s head ached.
The scientist stepped away from the bed. “Give him clean clothes and relocate him to a cell. I’ll interview him at length later, after my session in the lab.”
“I want to see Keshara,” he said. “Please.” Might as well throw in a little attempt at courtesy.
Eyebrows raised to her hairline, Farahnnim paused, squinting at him as if he was under a microscope. “Why?”
“To thank her for her help. That’s the polite thing to do. And I want to be sure she’s okay. Last time I saw her, she wasn’t exactly getting the friendly treatment.” He glanced at Ashla, who gave him a scornful head toss and ostentatiously examined her partially extended talons.
Sticking her head out rather like a bird of prey, the Khagrish asked, “And this matters to you?”
“Hell yes. I don’t want to be the cause of more trouble for her. I owe her my life.” And maybe she can give me some badly needed answers since she was trying to escape.
Tilting her head, Farahnnim was silent for a moment, chewing on her lip. Then she nodded as if some conclusion had been reached. “More data is needed.” She resumed her path out of the room, pausing to address the lab tech. “Arrange for him to have a brief meeting with the girl. And then I’ll interview him while I eat my dinner.” Shaking a finger at him, she said, “Never waste time.”
“Yes, doctor.” The tech’s face was expressionless as he acknowledged the order.
Once she was gone, Ashla trailing after her, the tech came to the bedside and held the neurocontroller like a weapon next to Gabe’s head. “I suggest you behave yourself once we let you out of the restraints.”
The other tech stayed out of reach and raised his weapon threateningly.
“Fine, no need to use that thing.” Gabe tried to act as cowed as possible, while silently vowing to use the device on the tech at some point and let him see what it felt like. “I’d like to clean up before I see Keshara.”
“Here’s how we’re going to proceed,” the tech said. “The Daughter will escort you to your cell under my watchful eye. The room is equipped with a shower, and clean clothes will be waiting. Don’t waste time.” He rolled his e
yes and exchanged glances with the other tech. Clearly, Farahnnim must utter the phrase often. “We’ll take you to meet with Keshara before dinner and since you can’t be late for the meal, the time you spend in the shower will have to be cut from your time with the girl.”
“Fine. I give you my word as an officer not to attempt to escape.” Not between here and meeting Keshara anyway. Gabe kept his amusement internal and maintained a poker face. “You guys have names? I like to know who I’m dealing with.”
“My name is Slibb,” the tech said as he backed away from the bed. He tossed a key to Raeblin. “All right, release him.”
She and the other Badari approached the bed somewhat gingerly and made quick work of undoing the restraints at his wrists and ankles. Relieved to be free, he sat up and slid to the floor, staggering a bit. Raeblin put her arm around his shoulders and braced him.
“You haven’t been out of the healing module or the bed since you got here so take it easy,” she said. “Take a few minutes to regain your equilibrium.”
“Thanks, I can walk.” He stepped away from her and headed toward the door, annoyed to find his steps wobbling. Like a three day drunk only there were no feelgoods involved. He was barefoot and had on a loose shirt and pants like oversize beige pajamas. “Do shoes go with this get up? What did you do with my clothes?”
“The garments had to be destroyed as they were torn and bloody,” Raeblin said, pursing her lips as if to express disgust. “There will be sandals for you in the cell.” She kept pace with him, as if unsure he wasn’t going to fall over despite his denials.
With his peripheral vision, he saw Slibb and the second lab tech whose name he didn’t know yet walked behind. The other Badari woman remained in the medlab. He didn’t try to make conversation, being more intent on studying the facility as he and his escort proceeded. The building appeared to be similar to the first lab, in the southern plains area, where he’d been held, but built on a smaller scale. Room after room was closed off or covered in dust as he walked by, and he was even more curious about what was going on here. Water stains covered the ceiling and part of one wall appeared to be rotting away in a cross corridor, but he didn’t linger to look too closely. No other sentients were encountered on the trip and the final destination was a small cell block.
Raeblin waved him inside the first cell and activated the force barrier as soon as he was through the portal. “I’ll wait for you out here,” she said. “When you’re ready, I’ll take you to Keshara.”
Pondering the fact the Badari seemed to be like prison trusties here, if not outright collaborators with the Khagrish, he checked out his new home. The space was big enough for more than one person, with six bunk beds and a table and chairs welded to the floor. In the corner was the bathroom arrangement, including the shower. “I’m going to need you to face the other direction,” he said as he took off the green pajama style top and threw it on the floor.
“Why?”
Pausing in the act of unfastening the loose pants, under which he wore nothing, he glanced at her. “You’re kidding, right? Modesty and all? There’s no distort curtain for the shower.”
She smothered a laugh with her hand. “Who do you think has been taking care of you for the past few days? My friend Palinna and me.”
Gabe felt the tips of his ears going red. Not to be egotistical but he had a good body—he worked out hard to stay in top shape for combat and other missions and no woman had ever complained about his equipment—but he wasn’t an exhibitionist. If he was going to show his naked body to a woman, he wanted to participate in the decision. Time to establish boundaries. “About that. We humans like our privacy. And no touching without permission.”
“You were unconscious and needed medical care.” She seemed puzzled. “I’m trained in healing arts.”
“Okay, medical procedures I can forgive since I’m alive and well now. Going forward I need you to respect my preference. Now face the opposite wall.” He made a circular motion with his finger and waited until she complied.
“The Director may require access to your body for experiments,” Raeblin said over her shoulder. “She won’t ask permission.”
No surprise there. No one asks the lab rat if he wants to be experimented on. “Thanks for the warning. I’ll raise the issue with her if and when it becomes necessary.” Which, knowing the Khagrish, it probably would, sooner than later. He had to get out of here, and not just in case Farahnnim had a wandering eye. Lurid tales shared by some of the Badari soldiers about the female Khagrish fascination with the male prisoners surfaced in his mind, and he ruthlessly shut them down. One thing at a time here.
Gabe made the shower short since he had an audience. The two Khagrish lab techs weren’t paying attention to him, but were deep in a conversation about an experiment they were running. The Badari remained facing the other direction as per his request, but the situation was uncomfortable. At least there was plenty of hot water. After toweling off, he got dressed in the beige prison jumpsuit and slid his feet into the flimsy shoes provided. So far this part of the lab was pretty much the same as the original lab.
“I’m ready,” he said, approaching the energy barrier.
Raeblin turned off the power, and he stepped into the corridor.
Slibb administered a swift dose from the neurocontroller, and Gabe dropped to his knees as pain jolted through his body like a lightning strike. It passed soon enough, but left him gasping and aching. From his hands and knees on the cold floor, shaking his head to clear the aftereffects, Gabe said, “What the seven hells was that for? I’m following orders.”
“A reminder.” Slibb exchanged an amused wink with the other lab tech.
Without comment but seething inside, Gabe got to his feet, adding the incident to his ever growing catalog of grievances about this lab and the Khagrish running it. “We’re going to see Keshara now?”
Raeblin’s eyes were wide and she looked from one lab tech to the other as if in disbelief of the way they’d used the bracelet to punish him. Her voice had a small quaver in it as she said, “I’ll take you there, as promised.” She led the group to a cross corridor then down a hall lined with empty, dark cells until she stopped in front of the only one with lights on.
Keshara was sitting on the bed but rose and approached the force barrier. Eyes glowing slightly, she smoothed her jumpsuit as if wishing to present a better appearance and checked Gabe over from head to toe. Giving him a crisp nod, as if he’d passed inspection, she smiled. “I’m glad to see you healed so well.”
Anger at his captors mounting, Gabe took note of bruises around her eyes and on her arms. Apparently she’d taken quite a beating recently and she’d been braceletted too, unlike any of the other Badari he’d seen. “I wanted to thank you again for rescuing me.” He turned to glare at Raeblin and the two techs. “Can a guy get some privacy?”
The other Badari woman blinked in surprise but stepped away with no protest.
“And why would I agree to this request?” Slibb wasn’t so easily persuaded.
“What am I going to do in a minute or two of conversation through the force field—plot an escape?” Hands on his hips, Gabe glared at the smaller man. “Be a nice guy? Or if that doesn’t work for you, think of me as the condemned man, asking for a final favor. Who knows what your director might decide to do to me?” He softened his tone and stood down from his aggressive stance. “I’ll owe you one. I’ve been worried about her.”
Slibb chewed his lip, fingering the neurocontroller and finally conceded to the request grudgingly. “We’ll move over there.” He pointed at a spot one cell length away. “Remember you have to be on time for your interrogation by the Director while she’s on her dinner break.”
Yeah, this is no ordinary Khagrish lab. Sloppy discipline. I probably wouldn’t even have been allowed to see Keshara in the lab where I started on this damn planet. Satisfied with his effort to test the boundaries here, Gabe leaned closer to the barrier and lowered his voice. “H
ow are you really? Are they mistreating you because of me?”
She shook her head, but he thought tears glistened in her eyes, and she rubbed one hand over the bruises on her opposite arm as if to erase them. “I’m all right. Ashla has been administering punishment daily to reinforce the seriousness of my infractions. Or so she says. I angered her with what she sees as my betrayal. I broke the rules, and I knew it, nothing to do with you.”
“Except you came back here to save me.” He wanted to touch her and offer some comfort, but the prison barrier crackled between them. Try as he might, he couldn’t summon his anger about her handing him over to the Khagrish. All he felt was concern for her well-being. What the seven hells is going on with me and this woman? “Are they going to let you out of there?”
“I—I don’t know. It’s the Director’s decision to make. I may have been marked for transfer to the lab annex.” Her tone made it clear the move probably wasn’t a good thing.
He was full of questions and trying to focus but, now he was in one piece again, he realized his first hazy impressions of Keshara were not exaggerated. In addition to being strong and smart, she had an appealing face and amber eyes that probably sparkled when she was happy, and a lush figure with ample curves under the shapeless prison jumpsuit. Focus, Gabriel. “I need to know one thing about how we ended up here.”
She raised her head, no doubt because of the change in his tone, from friendly to flat and cold. “I did not betray you into the hands of the Khagrish to benefit myself, if that’s what you’re going to ask. You would have died out there, probably within a day or less. I’d exhausted all my healing powers, which still haven’t fully replenished. Getting you here, to be treated, was the only thing I could do to save your life. I wanted you to live.” Eyes glowing fiery and golden now with emotion, she stared at him and Gabe found he had to work hard not to avert his own gaze in embarrassment for doubting her. “I gave you full credit for being a warrior. I assumed once you healed, which I’m happy to see you have, you’d figure out a way to escape. After all, you tell me you’ve done it before.”
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