The Sacrifice (part 1)

Posted on Sat Nov 30th, 2019 @ 11:39pm by Lieutenant JG Ronnie Wolfe & Commander Hans Munich & Lieutenant Lei Shan

1,150 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Food for the Gods
Location: Unknown

ON:

Frustrated and annoyed, Shan had backed away from the door, pacing out the distance to the wall carefully so she knew just how far it was, even though it was too dark to see. Then she settled down, sitting loosely and comfortably. She didn't pull herself into the full lotus position she often took when relaxing or meditating; the pants of her costume were too tight for that and she wanted to be able to spring into action the moment that damn door opened again. Instead she took a more relaxed siddhasana pose. She kept the plate on her lap then rested her hands on her knees, palms up, and forced herself to relax.

As she relaxed and her senses opened to be aware of the slightest sound outside their cell, Shan mentally stretched, reaching for the Bond that she could feel with her mate. It was still there. Nothing could sever it. But that "fallen asleep" feeling was still there and she was going to try to wake it up. She didn't rage and scream in her mind or pound at the mental barrier. The best way to wake a limb was to stretch it gently; she did the same thing with her mind now, trying to rouse the somnolent link to her Mate.

There was noise outside the room. The occupants could hear movement and soft voices, but could not make out what they were saying.

There was the schlick of a bolt sliding and the door opened. It was hard to say how many there were in the suddenly bright light.

"Come out now," a male said. "It is time for your cleansing."

Shan unfolded, getting her feet under her in a moment once there was a sign of life outside the door. When the door swung open, she half closed her eyes against the brightness and tried to see outlines of the people she could hear out there. She held the little wooden plate rather like a Frisbee. "No," she said sharply, crouching easily and planting her feet firmly, ready to fight before she ever gave in to anything.

A smaller man came into view in robes. "You must be clean, it is for your own good as any tainted part will not fare well. You should be wholly clean when presented as appearances have importance." He gave a glare. "You can be free to cleanse or you will be cleansed and ... it would not be a pleasant experience." He said as a second large man was coming into view. "Now the choice is of course up to you as to how you are cleansed; a pleasure or pain. It matters not to me when presenting you."

"What part of 'no' don't you understand? I'll tell you one more time. No- I will not cooperate. Got it?" Shan's eyes were adjusting quickly to the brightness. She weighed the options before her. The little guy was obviously in charge; the big ones were the muscle who would subdue her. Her heart rate started to increase and her focus sharpened as adrenaline began to pump into her system. Fight or flight. And they had taken away flight.

Ronnie moved to stand against the wall, waiting to see what opportunities opened up. She did not immediately go to fight mode. She preferred to find subtler ways out of a situation, but she would fight if she had to, or if it was the best option. So for now, she would let Shan take the lead, and use the opportunity to prepare for a blindside.

"Easy or hard, your choice." The man said slowly.

The seconds stretched and Shan stared at the little guy. Eventually, he gave the slightest twitch, a little movement of his hand, a signal to the others, and Shan moved, flinging her wooden plate right at his face and she darted forward after it. The idea was to shove him aside and get past him while he recovered from a blow to the nose.

The large man on the right stepped forward and with the speed of a Cobra punched her in the gut so not to leave a mark upon her. If he had been higher could have 'Clothes-lined' her but he wanted it to be less harmful than the chance of breaking a windpipe.

"Make it the Hard Way..." The little priest said clutching his face and trying to regain his footing. "Make her pay for this..."

Shan gasped, the wind knocked out of her and folded over around the pain in her middle. "I- will not co- operate," she managed to wheeze.

"Then you are of no use." He put a hand on the knife. "Take care of you now and no further problem." He warned. "Be a nice time of pampering rather than meeting the worms."

Shan merely managed to wheeze and shake her head. She couldn't catch her breath or manage another word.

The large man bent and grabbing her wrists drew her to her feet and started to not to gently drag/ guide Shan away. She might fight him but not in her present condition. Timing is everything, he would have her at the cleansing area before she caught her breath enough to hurt him, or he would just Gut punch her again?

Shan pulled weakly; there was no chance of breaking his grip, but she pulled anyway. He didn't seem to notice, or care if he did. She was going with him, no matter what.

It was not a long walk until they came to double doors that open as he approached. The room inside was warm from the steam used to heat the large tub of water. All around the room were low hanging curtains and such that would be able to section off the different quadrants of the room.

Two women came up in the Arabian style clothing equivalent.

"We are here to see you are prepared for the ceremony..." The taller woman noticed Shan. "What did you do to her?"

"She resist." The man replied and pushed her forward. "If she gives you trouble let me know."

Shan gave a wheezing laugh. She was finally getting a little breath back. "My- middle name," she claimed with an almost feral grin.

Ronnie had remained silent. She'd honestly hoped Shan would get the upper hand, but with the space they were in, there really was no room for her, without any weapon, to help out without knocking the other woman down, and that would do no good. She still expected to find some way out before long. She just had to be patient and keep alert to what was going on. They were attentive now, but they would not always be vigilant.

(To be continued...)

Lieutenant JG Lei Shan
Assistant Chief Operations Officer

Temple Workers
NPCd by Hans Munich

Lieutenant JG Ronnie Lancaster
Assistant Chief Science Officer

 

RSS Feed