The small dark room echoed with the screams from the humiliated prisoner secured onto the cold metal table. His body heaved as the hovering drone inserted a thin blade into his leg. Sweat and blood streamed across his entire body his eyes wide open as he glared up at the three assembled officials. One of the officials, his uniform clean and freshly pressed, bowed slightly as he spoke to the captive.
"Where is the one we seek? Tell us and your suffering will end." His voice was calm and clear with no sign of emotions. The captive looked up at him and then closed his eyes, backing away from the reality.
"I don't know. I... I was never told where he went," he mumbled, blood trickling into his eye. He blinked trying to clear the red liquid. The official leaned over him again his eyes meeting those of the captive. Then standing to his full height he motioned to the guard standing by the wall. The guard nodded and then tapped an unseen control panel. Light shone through the door blinding the occupancy for a second as their eyes adjusted to the light. A figure was silhouetted against the light, its long flowing robes draped to the floor.
"We are in need of your services," the official stated as the robbed figure came to stand next to him. The figure drew back his hood, his head was completely bald a small tat on his forehead revealed his purpose. The Vell-os slave placed his hand on the head of the captive and the guards removed a small device attached to the back of the slave's neck. The slave looked worryingly at the guns pointed at him but then turned to the captive.
"Tell us where he is," the official demanded. The small torture drone drove a small blade into the captives body cutting through several nerves. He screamed. Tears ran down his face as the Vell-os slave searched through his mind. He thrashed about on the table his hands clasped into fists as he fought against the pain and the hands carving through his mind. His pupils reduced in size as the Vell-os smiled slightly.
"No! No!" The captive screamed again as he tried to fight off the invisible hands diving into his memories, searching his deep thoughts, his secrets. The drone moved up toward his head, small needles extended toward his left eye. The shining sliver needles stopped a fraction of a millimeter away from his iris. The captive froze his eyes focused on the drone. The he reacted the Vell-os slave placed his other hand on the back of his head.
"Tell me," said the official, "where were you born?"
The captive tried to focus on blocking the slave and not the questions. His face transfixed in the distance.
"What was your mother like. I bet she was a good-looking woman. Good-looking women are a valuable commodity. I bet she fetched a fair price on the streets. A simple whore. A worthless piece of scum, filling our backstreets and alleyways. She was, wasn't she?" The official mocked, his features smiling. The captive focused on the official, anger filled his eyes.
"No she wasn't. She was not. She... she... No!" he shouted as he realized his mistake. The Vell-os slave penetrated his mind finding the valuable secret. He drew away from the captive. The captive stopped resisting. He was broken. He began to cry. Tears streaming down his face.
"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry," he chanted to some unseen person.
The official turned to the slave.
"Where is he?" he demanded. The Vell-os slave looked up at him his eyes full of disgust.
"He is in the Formalhaut system. On the world known as Gem," he stated. The official turned for the door, and then paused.
"Leave the prisoner here. Execute him in the morning. Take the Vell-os to his room. I have no need for him at the moment." he stated and then turned, walking out of the cell followed by the other two officials.
The guards placed the small device onto the Vell-os slaves' neck and led him out, leaving the prisoner laying on the table. His blood trickled away, dripping onto the cold floor. He continued to cry, his moans echoed in the dark cell, as the door sealed shut.
(This message has been edited by moderator (edited 04-15-2002).)
