by K. L. Bone
When he did not reply, I continued, and with the help of the torturer by my side, I administered my first real injection on a live subject. No sooner had the drug entered Dessa’s veins than his body began to jerk violently in his bonds as his screams rose to near ear-splitting proportions. His screaming seemed to go on forever as the burning, painful drug surged through his veins. When his screams finally did stop and no confessions came forth, a new syringe was filled with a slightly more potent liquid, and the drug was administered again. He survived two more sessions before confessing all.
Later that night as I sat with Lord Kavra safely aboard his ship, he told me that I had done better than expected and had made him very proud. “Bravo, Chrissa; bravo. We are actually going to be staying in this space for a few days and tomorrow you will learn a bit more. Our good friend, Verayt, has recommended beginning your training on the art of cutting. What do you think?”
I looked at him slightly unsure and a bit nervous, but said, “Okay.” The next day, I walked into the same torture room with him. Once again, Lord Verayt began the session, cutting a series of thin lines across his captive’s arms and upper chest. The creature, a Nuphima this time, spilled bright green blood onto the table which ran in streams down his tethered arms. Then Inquisitor Verayt handed me the knife. At the first stroke with the feel of the blade slicing into the soft flesh beneath my hand, I was almost sick. I handed the knife back to Verayt and walked over to the side where a small chair was waiting for me.
I sat down and took several deep breaths. Lord Kavra walked to my side and said, “It is okay, Chrissa. It gets us all the first time. Just take a few breaths, and think of something else.” I reached for him and he took my hand in his. A few moments later I was feeling better.
“Shall I continue while you watch?” Verayt asked
“No,” I said. “I want to try again.”
Verayt did not even glance at Lord Kavra as he said, “As you wish, my Lady.”
I walked back toward him. I took the knife from his hand. I again took my place beside the body. I drew the knife across his bare arm. It was still disturbing this second time around, but I took a shallow breath. I kept going. A few more strokes. It was getting easier. “Just tell us what we need to know and I will stop,” I whispered. I moved the knife from his arm. I made my first stroke on the left side of his upper chest. After barely scratching the surface of the skin, the knife hit bone. The prisoner screamed and I drew back, startled.
“His race has a thick bone plate that protects the neck,” Verayt informed me. “We don’t want to cut into the bone at this time, so move the knife three inches down,” he pointed to a location slightly lower on the creature’s chest, “and the extra bone disappears. Try to cut about two inches below the surface of the skin so that you lightly graze the muscle underneath, but do not cut too deeply.”
I turned back towards the creature lying on the table. I raised the knife once again and carefully drew the blade across the lower section of the Nuphima’s chest. I did this slowly, trying to regulate the pressure. I felt the blade slice into the tender skin and was amazed at how easily the blade sunk into the flesh. There was a slight sound as the flesh opened beneath my hands, yet little blood rose to the surface. “Not quite deep enough,” Verayt explained. He stepped forward and took my hand in his, “Here, let me guide you.” With his hand atop mine we moved the blade over half an inch from the previous cut and once again, we sank the blade into the Numpima’s chest. “Feel that?” he asked me as our captive groaned in pain as the flesh spilt and bright green blood seeped to the surface. “Right here is just the right amount of pressure.” I nodded, concentrating on the feeling of my hand. The smell of blood perfumed the air, filling my senses. One of the great universal mysteries that has never ceased to amaze me over the years; though blood comes in many colors, the smell is always the same.
Inquisitor Verayt removed his hand and then said, “Go ahead. Try again.” After a quick glance at Lord Kavra, I turned back to the creature lying helpless on the table.
Moving over another half inch to the right, I once again cut into the flesh, this time bringing bright green blood to the surface. The inquisitor stepped closer to examine my work, “Great!” he exclaimed before pointing to another area of the body and advising me to continue at the same general depth.
As I continued working with the knife, I imagined myself as a great doctor, a surgeon, working carefully to cut out the truth from deep inside my victim’s mind. Like a doctor I had to be careful, because cutting more than necessary or too deeply would kill the patient, and that was not my intention. “Just a little information,” Verayt said firmly, “and I will tell her to stop.” The nuphima groaned in pain. I continued the careful cuts as Verayt took the creatures left wrist and inserted a small needle connected to a bag of green liquid. “A meferita,” Verayt used a word I did not recognize.
“Blood transfusion,” Lord Kavra translated.
As my blade kept slicing, my imagination began to form pictures painted in the lines of blood and open flesh on his skin. One moment it was a horse and the next, a dragon with wings opened wide. I was a painter working slowly on a priceless work of art the likes of which has never graced any gallery known to man. I drew the blade up and my dragon gained a rider, soaring into the clouds. Another few strokes and a castle appeared in the distance, the dragon racing to its defense or destruction an unknown mystery. Stroke after stroke I painted the simple scene into an elaborate work of art.
As I painted, Verayt constantly checked the captive’s vitals, administered transfusions of blood, and gave various drugs throughout the session. For the most part I remained silent, putting as much concentration into my work as possible. As the inquisitor sat beside me and began to coax various truths out of my captive, he administered drugs directly on the Nuphima’s open flesh. My captive’s moans became screams.
As I listened, I began to notice that the screams caused by the chemicals seemed to be slightly different from the screams caused by the blade. Truths began to spill from his lips and the torture stopped for a time. Then he seemed to find some hidden strength and his confessions ceased.
I began cutting a little deeper, raising the blade to lightly scrape the bone protecting the creature’s neck. This brought forth yet a different type of scream. It became a game between Verayt and myself as to which one of us could make him scream the most. It became a type of music if you will, horrible yet not without a cruel form of beauty for once again, these screams were created not by the voice that cried in pain, but by the stoke of my blade.
I have no idea how long this went on, but eventually Inquisitor Verayt said, “Okay, Lady Kasar, that is enough for today.” I put the knife down slowly on the table. I reached out my hand. I placed a finger in the blood on the knife. It was cold. I watched the blood drip from the tip of my finger and fall to the floor. Lord Kavra approached me and placed a white rag over my hand, wiping the blood away.
Lord Kavra then offered me his arm. I took it and we walked back to his ship. Late that night, Kavra had me sit at my computer and dictate my version of the experience. “I find it helps to understand exactly how you feel after one’s first experience with torture,” Kavra explained. “We will review it later on.”
Two days later, we were scheduled to return to Lord Kasar’s ship when Lord Kavra summoned me into one of the ship’s communication rooms. It was a medium sized room with dark red walls. On the left side of the room there was a black desk with a small computer console used most often for taking notes and two simple black chairs. On the opposite side of the desk, in place of a wall, there was a large, transparent screen. As I entered the room, Lord Kavra was seated in front of the desk. Kavra motioned for me to take a seat in the chair beside him. I took my seat and I stared across the room at the screen. Lord Kasar’s similar communication room appeared on the other side. Lord Kasar was seated at an identical desk and it seemed that both Lords had been awaiting my arrival.
&n
bsp; “Chrissalynn,” Lord Kasar greeted me from across the computer screen. “Lord Kavra has been updating me on your progress. I take it you are enjoying your studies?” he made it a question.
“Anything is better than interstellar math,” I replied, bringing a laugh from both Lords. Then I added, “Yes, Father, I am finding this part of my studies most interesting.”
“That is good to hear,” Lord Kasar said. “I have spoken with both Lord Kavra and the High Inquisitor. They both agree that as long as you are in Setian space, you may as well continue your training. They have something particular in mind for you, and I would like to hear your opinion of their plan.”
“Okay,” I said.
“What we would like,” Lord Kavra said, “is for you to remain here with me on the home planet for the next few months. Inquisitor Verayt will select a captive and assign the captive to you under his supervision. Your ultimate goal shall be to break this prisoner into confessing whatever information Verayt informs you is needed.”
“Wait,” I said. “You want me to break him? Me?”
“Yes,” Kavra replied. “Verayt has offered to hand select your prisoner. The three of us think it best that you break the prisoner using a more,” he paused as though searching for the right word.
“Creative,” Lord Kasar said from the screen.
Lord Kavra nodded, “a more creative method. It will be your choice, and we will provide you with some literature to ensure you have an arsenal of techniques to choose from. You will have three months to do this and when you are not working on your own subjects, you will be allowed to watch the professionals work on other patients.”
“Also,” Lord Kasar added, “it will be a good opportunity for you to spend time on the home planet. You’re always asking questions about where we come from and our history. I figure this will be the perfect time for you to see some of it with your own eyes.”
“Really?” my mind worked to process this sudden change of plans. “You really think I am ready to be in charge of an interrogation session? Both of you?”
Both men said, “Yes, we do.”
“Well,” I replied, “I have wanted to try more things on my own and I really would love to see more of the home world, so if you are both sure…I would love to try.”
“Excellent,” Lord Kasar said.
“Wonderful!” Lord Kavra exclaimed with a smile. “I knew she would prefer to stay with me!”
Kasar sighed at Kavra’s banter, “She just wants to stay away from her math tutor,” he replied. Both men laughed.
Chapter VIII
I remember standing on the balcony of the ship and viewing the planet, illuminated by its two suns. Setianta was more than twice the size of earth, appearing large even from a distance. The sky appeared purple and as the ship moved closer, I could see that most of the vegetation of the planet appeared blue. Half the planet was covered with water. A quarter was a deep blue ocean seen as easily as earth’s from space, while the other quarter consisted of clear lakes, the natural Setian pools. The forests were full of trees so tall that I later remember thinking they must reach clear into the heavens as I stood with them towering above me, craning my neck.
As I stood on the ship and the planet began to get closer, I noticed that the buildings seemed to tower above the planet at incredible heights. Lord Kavra was standing behind me in a pair of black slacks and a red, long sleeved shirt. He took a step forward to move beside me. “Nearly a thousand years ago,” he said, “cities filled the land covering the natural beauty of the planet. However, not long after the Setian nations became an Empire, citizens became strongly concerned with what the tall buildings and paths were doing to the planet. A solution was formed when Councilor Graybow put his head in the clouds; literally. Using what was then new technology, he used the same power that would keep a ship suspended through space to build his house half a mile above the ground. Soon after, entire cities were built in the sky and the ones on the ground were carefully destroyed. Over the next few hundred years and with the help of a few Setian scientists, the beauty of Setianta was restored.”
“It looks beautiful,” I whispered. As we continued the approach, I saw his words with my own eyes. The buildings were not tall, they were floating! Surrounded by white puffy clouds the buildings rose high above the planet’s surface. To this day it is one of the most magnificent sights I have ever seen.
“Look,” Lord Kavra pointed to a particular cluster of buildings that seemed to be slightly larger than the two surrounding it. “That is the capital city, Dehart Kavas, named in honor of the first Setian Emperor, Lord Dehartra. It is home to nearly two-million Setians at any given time.”
“How many cities are there?” I asked.
“Thirteen,” Lord Kavra replied. “One for each province.”
I was suddenly curious. “Which one are you from? Are you and Lord Kasar from the same province? Is it better to be from one than another?”
“Wow, slow down a minute,” he gave a small chuckle. “I am from the Dehart province and yes, Kasar is too.”
Our ship entered the planet’s atmosphere. “Who is actually on the planet?” I asked. “I thought all Setians served in the military.”
“Almost all do,” Kavra replied. “For the most part, the inhabitants are either those too young or to old to serve. Then of course,” he gave a rather distasteful look. “There are a few people who attempt to rise in power through political, as opposed to militaristic, means. However, despite a few of the politicians,” he made it sound like a dirty word, “gaining some power, none have ever risen to a council position.” The other people on the planet are the essentials and of course, the council members themselves.”
We were now inside Setianta’s atmosphere and the buildings which had seemed so small only moments before now loomed over the tiny ship. Kavra pointed to an elaborate building that seemed a cross between an Egyptian pyramid and a Middle Eastern palace. It was tall; towering over the buildings it surrounded and was gold in color, reflecting the beam of the two suns in blinding flashes of light. It was supported with tall pillars, spiraling from the tile ground to the top of its golden roof. “It’s beautiful,” I whispered.
“Yes,” Kavra said. “You have studied our history. Do you know what that building is?”
“The Setian Council Chamber?” I asked.
He nodded. “Yes. It was built to be the most elaborate structure ever built, no expense spared, meant to act as a reflection of Setian power.”
“Wow,” I whispered. “Will I get to see it?”
“Of course. We will be staying just down the street, in fact. Once our ship docks with the city, you and I shall take a shuttle to a private resort reserved for the top Setian Lords. Normally we would stay in my apartments but since you’re here,” he gave a wink with a sly smile, “we can upgrade to your father’s much larger place. He has the indoor pool!”
I remembered from my teachings that each of the Setian Lords was given a private building on the home planet. The higher the rank, the more grand the resort. I was getting very excited as the ship paused to receive security clearance and officially entered the docking station for the Setian ships. Parking was always reserved on the main city for the Lords and Councilors personal ships.
We quickly disembarked and Lord Kavra and I boarded a small shuttle, similar to a bus. I watched the tall buildings fly by as we rounded corners and headed down various streets. We finally reached a narrow street with two tall buildings with a road barrier between them. Lord Kavra and I left the shuttle and walked towards the armed guards standing on both sides of the large, black gate. Kavra reached into his back pocket and pulled out a small identification card. The men standing to the side of the gate were Hordes. They were wearing all black and had large guns in their hands. As the one on the right glanced at the identification, he looked up and said, “Welcome home, Lord Kavra. Hold on while we call in a shuttle from the other side to pick you up. Will you be heading to you tremture,” a Setia
n word for resort or house, “this evening?”
“Actually,” Lord Kavra replied. “We will be heading to Lord Kasar’s.”
“Ah,” the horde replied, “but of course, my Lord.” He picked up a small communication system in his left hand and called for the shuttle.
“I heard you were promoted to the sub-harars level,” Kavra addressed the horde.
“Yes,” he replied. “Sub-harars thirty.”
“It is about time you got promoted, congratulations!” Kavra turned to me. “We were in training together, though I rose through the ranks a bit faster than he did.”
“Well it wasn’t everyone who was taken under Lord Kasar’s personal wing,” was his reply. “Some of us had to do it on our own.” They laughed.
“Tell me,” the sub-commander said, “have you completely forgotten your manners since being promoted, or are you going to introduce me to this lovely girl?”
Lord Kavra reached for my hand and moved me to his side. “Sub-harars thirty, may I introduce you to the daughter of our most esteemed Setian Lord, the Lady Chrissalynn Kasar.”
The sub-harars stared at me for several moments before finally coming out of his stupor. “Well then, allow me to be the first to welcome you to Setianta, my Lady. I hope you will find your stay a pleasant affair and should you find yourself in need of anything, please do not hesitate to ask.”
“Hey!” Kavra said, “No one’s allowed to charm her but me.”
Sub-harars thirty winked at me as our transportation arrived behind us. Sub-harars thirty grabbed the bags that had been placed beside me and carried them to the shuttle. It was a long, white limo. “We keep various vehicles from planets on staff. Since you are both in human form, we thought this would be most appropriate.”
“Wow!” I exclaimed.