14. Redundancy
Darkness and dreams.
Chain links clicking together, the toughest titanium known, stronger even than hardened Tempest hull.
Chain that held her down, heavy.
Dreams.
Time had no reason here, in the cell, and dreams were all she had to keep her mind focused -- focused on surviving another day under the interrogation by her brother, Daison. He always started the procedure as he did every day, methodical bastard that he was, by sitting in a chair he brought with him to her cell. He would straddle the cell doorway, and bright light flooded the cell from behind him so that she could not see him well, let alone the other person who stood there in the passageway behind all of that.
"Hello sister. Shall we begin again?" He would say, just as he had a moment ago. She rocked back and forth to gain momentum, the Septum Collar always holding her down. She stood, holding the tattered clothing to her, just enough for common courtesy of appearance.
"Yes, brother, let us begin again." She said this time, and his smile faded. She could see his bright beautiful face in shock, his chin and mouth dropped.
"What did you say?"
"Let's begin again, dear brother, to ask about the ronin. Let us talk of the path of the Paratwa, of the secrets hidden in the caves of the Amamake system. Let us talk of the problems you face as interrogator of your own sister."
He raised the lance, her lance, toward her stomach but did not fire. "Do not parody me, sister. You are the child of my father, but we are not relatives of interest or love."
"Love?" She leaned just a bit closer. The lance tip touched her naked belly. "Let's talk about love."
He tapped her stomach with the lance, laughing. "Actually, tell me what you know of viruses."
She ignored his question, instead trying to see beyond the doorway to the corridor using her peripheral vision. The other Amarr stood behind the lights, but she could not see him or her clearly. The curvature of the corridor seemed unusual, like the curvature of a . . . a passageway of an Amarr ship!
"Viruses?" She replied, still trying to look at her brother and not appear to be evaluating the world around her.
"Yes, sister. Viruses."
"Someone littering up the systems with corpses?" She laughed, the first time in, well, she didn't know.
Daison tapped her stomach harder with the lance tip. "Yes, that you mention it. We are suffering under an outbreak of a virus in Amarr Prime. Matari calling themselves the Sect of the Warden are claiming responsibility. You know something of it."
"Viral agents are easy to come by. Hardly news worthy of my time."
Daison stood, angry. "I will determine what is worthy of your time, slave."
Gaelbhan dropped her clothing, tattered anyway, and Daison's eyes widened. He stared at her a moment too long. "Let us talk of your love for me, brother. Does your Amarri friend know you hold unfettered love for me, sinful love?"
Her hands, though shackled, took the lance from her brother's hand. A swift gut punch and a crack on his head sent him to the floor. She saw the other Amarr leaving to the left as she turned the lance towards her own throat. A moment passed, then she fired. The Septum Collar fell away, and she used the Amarri weapon to release her wrists and ankles. Pain filled her body, making her dizzy and unable to run. The poison introduced was continuing to work, and she would not survive another few weeks. She had also lost her shared mind with her tway, and nothing remained.
She took the corridor to the right, wondering why the alarms had not gone off, and why there were no guards.
The effort to stay standing proved troublesome, but she needed to find a hangar or escape pod. The lance had easily removed her chains, but the blast had also been carried into her body. The lights of the corridors were bright, and her pain asked her to fall into unconsciousness.
Sweet sleep awaits you.
"Over here," a voice said. Gaelbhan could not turn her head, the collar having kept her neck immobile too long. She fell against the wall, breathing hard.
"There is an escape pod access over here," the voice said, and arms tried to pry her from the floor. Gaelbhan looked up as best she could, and stared into an Amarri face she knew.
"You are . . ."
"Yes, I am." A strong voice, determined and dedicated to being obeyed, prompted her further. "Move Matari or die here."
"That's why there are no guards or alarms."
"Yes. Can't have people noticing me visiting a terrorist, can I?"
Gaelbhan moved her feet, and tried to balance with her arms, but the effort was leaden. The Amarri pushed her along, holding her up. Too long it seemed before an access hatch opened beside her and she fell into the pod. Hands worked the controls, but Gaelbhan passed out as the Amarrian exited the pod.
She dreamed of the voice of her mother saying "Auto-pilot engaged."