Star Runners: Scorpions

Chapter 13

13

Horizontal tube lights flashed overhead. Some squeaked as people murmured. Ryker’s frail body rocked under a white sheet. Her vision focused as if she climbed out of water. Blinking, she took in her surroundings.

Lab assistants wearing dark lab coats flanked both sides of her gurney. Someone pushed her down the long, dark corridor. Raising her head slightly, she noticed no restraints held her down.

Her pulse quickened. A thin layer of sweat covered her scalp. If she acted fast enough, she could knock the assistants to the floor. Then she could put her plan into place.

Over the past several months, she’d dreamed of escape. Somewhere in this complex, there were other Star Runners. She would free them from this horrid captivity and together, they’d find a way out. Surely they would be able to find a ship and escape.

And she would make Rampa pay.

Adrenaline surged, her hands quivered. Closing her eyes, she imagined kicking the assistant on the left and twirling off the gurney. Alarmed, the assistants would realize their mistake and try to force her back down. She’d have to move fast, but it was possible.

And then she would be free. Free to return to Austin and her beloved Legion. She could almost see her Trident, her beautiful fighter, sitting in the Formidable’s launch tubes.

Okay, she thought, here we go.

She lifted her leg to strike—

Searing pain shot through her body. She arched her back, writhing on the gurney. She shrieked, making fists and curling her toes.

And then it stopped.

Sweat beaded on her forehead, sliding down into her eyes and burning. She lifted her free hands and wiped perspiration from her eyes.

What happened?

She looked around, saw the assistants still marching like robotic servants. They had to have heard her scream, but they didn’t even look down.

Raising her head, she stared down the corridor. Another trio of fluorescent lights passed overhead, the brightness forcing her to wince.

“You cannot flee. You cannot commit any action without our permission.”

She blinked, her jaw dropping. What was that? It sounded like Rampa.

“We have the ability to monitor negative or unproductive thoughts. Any attempt to escape—any effort to do anything outside of our directives—and you will be punished harshly. Do not test us or you will suffer.”

Resting her head back on the gurney, she took in a deep breath. They were in her head. The Zahl Empire. Rampa.

“Why?” she whispered.

“For the greatness of the Zahl Empire. In time, you’ll see the honor that has been bestowed upon you.”

“Never.” A lump formed in her throat. “I’ll never see it. You’ll have to kill me.”

“Oh, no, Star Runner. You’ll not die until we allow it. From this day forth, you’ll not live unless we allow it. You will not speak unless we allow it. Star Runner, you are now…ours.”

The assistants placed the gurney upright and stuck an IV into Ryker’s arm. She stared down at the gauze and the tube. Her eyelids grew heavier.

Strength left her. Her head bobbed as she tried to focus on the new room. Computers lined the walls. Assistants wearing the same black lab coats sat at various terminals, typing away on old keyboards. Click, click-click, click-click.

Above, a bright light beamed. It hurt her eyes. She thought of lifting her hand to shield her from the light, but her arm refused to comply.

A salty taste filled her mouth.

Blood.

Probing her cheek with her tongue, she felt rough flesh on both sides. She forced herself to swallow and tasted blood running down her throat. Her stomach rolled, and she winced.

“Self-inflicted wounds. You nearly chewed through the flesh with your last session.” The voice spoke Zahlian, yet she understood the language. “You really need to stop doing this to yourself. We have work to do.”

She frowned, touching her ear and finding no translator.

“You don’t need it anymore. In addition to translation, your implant allows for me to communicate with you directly if needed.”

She licked her cracked lips.

“If …” she said in the Zahlian language, struggling with each word. “If there is anything decent…in you…”

“Yes?” Rampa pulled a stool next to her gurney. “You’re speaking our exalted language well. Would you like to finish what you were saying?”

“Please.” She met his eyes. “Let me go.”

He smiled and nodded. “I can make your life much easier. First, you must accept I’m now in your head, and I can control your efforts through pain.”

“You’ll never control me.”

“Ah.” He moved his face near her cheek. She felt his breath on her skin. “I am growing impatient, Star Runner. I’ll have you. You’ll become the greatest pilot in the Zahlian Navy. In time, you’ll realize I’ve shown you the light. I’ll show you the way, but you must first accept my control.”

“Never.”

Rampa leaned back and placed his hand over hers. “It’s taken us a great deal of effort, but we know who you are. We cross-referenced what you’ve told us with information from our moles and have identified you.”

She swallowed. “I don’t care.”

“Sure you do, Ryker.”

Through a fog over her mind, she remembered the Zahlian agents who had hacked into the Legion systems. Commander Horace had wondered how effective the hack had been and shut down communications on the carrier. It appears his caution had been justified.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think we’d get a Star Runner of your caliber to join us for our first program,” Rampa continued. “It’s the reason I’ve been so patient with you thus far. Do you realize what a difference you could make in the universe as a Zahlian Interceptor pilot? You could literally change the course of history.”

She shook her head. “By conquering other worlds? By destroying lives and taking prisoners?”

“By liberating other worlds from their own primitive, barbaric governments. By giving them the advanced civilization and luxuries of our Empire. We advance people’s lives. We don’t destroy them any more than they destroy themselves. Once they accept our control—as you soon will—they’ll see we bring them a life of peace and tranquility they would have never known otherwise.”

She snorted. “You like hearing yourself talk, don’t you?”

He folded his arms over his chest. “Today will be a special day. While relations between the Empire and the extremists you call a Legion have improved since the fool Tulin was defeated, my government would like to accelerate our program for the impending war undoubtedly on the horizon. You, Ryker, will be one of the first. But, as I said, I’m growing impatient. I’ll not waste any more time with you. We have too much to do. Today will be the last day.” He paused, staring at her. “Do you submit to the Zahlian Empire?”

Ryker pursed her lips. “I will not. You’ll have to kill me.”

“I won’t kill you.” Sighing, he stood and leaned over her. “But you’ll wish you were dead.”

Fire surged onto her skin. Waves of electricity sizzled through her body as it writhed. Time stretched as the pain intensified.

Clenching her teeth, she screamed without opening her mouth as the torture continued.

“Please stop!” she shrieked. “I submit! I’ll do it! Whatever…you want. Please.”

The torture ceased, and her body relaxed. She caught her breath. Leaning back into the sheets soaked with sweat, she opened her eyes.

Rampa stood over her, his gloved hand rubbed the top of her matted hair.

“Good, Ryker,” he whispered. “You did well.”