Ours Are The Furies: Executive Decision

[Tu'arr Korrtaurro]

He scoffed at that.

"Kuua'eita ku ne San'kame."

Tu'arr gave a patronizing sneer, not really bothering to give her any sort of satisfaction at her dead weight. She was met with more carefuly application of claws, and a quick pull that brought her close to his side. Head angling down, the Cizerack male locked eyes with her, letting silence hang between them for a short time before speaking once more.

"jYou'rre gojing to make an announcement, jSspotted One. And jif jyou don't, jI wjill jettjisson yourr Herrgljic frrjiend. Do jyou underrsstand?"

[Kiimiti Taassaurra]

An unguarded moment of fear broke the guard of Kiimiti's anger, her lip shaking as she glanced back to her friend. She wanted to believe it was a bluff, but Tu'arr had already readily demonstrated he was comfortable with using whatever violence he needed.

"W-what k-k-kjind of announcem-ment?"

[Tu'arr Korrtaurro]

"A ssjimple one, rrealljy."

His smile turned terribly sweet at that, and he reaffirmed his hold on her arm. His eyes dipped low, taking her in as he held her close. He could smell her fear. It was a shame; she was a beautiful woman, and would benefit from a life living equally among men.

"jYou'rre gojing to tell Commanderr Akjiena that jif he doess not sshow hjimsself jin thjirrtjy mjinutess, then jyou and jyour frrjiendss here jin the command hub are gojing to go bljind. Afterr that, forr everjy ten mjinutess that passs and he doess not sshow hjimsself, one of jyou will be reljieved of jyour extremjitjiess."

[Kiimiti Taassaurra]

Mutilation.

It was a terrifying consequence, and Kiimiti nearly averted her eyes from the terrorist on his veiled promise to remove them. She might have if she weren't angry that he intended to steal her agency and her voice to become his puppet.

"He won't ljissten to jy-jyou, kaa'skorra. Prrajy to s-s-Saanjarra he hassn't called forr help frrom home. When th-th-the marrjiness come, thejy wjill tearr jyou aparrt and ss-ssend a pjiece of jyou to everrjy m-m-motherr worrld to sshow what we do to trr-trrajitorrss."

Her fear welled up in her throat as a panic alarm, closing it off as she swallowed. There was a part of her that very much wanted to cower and do what she was told so that they might make it out of this in one piece. It was at war with the part of her that had kissed the Mother's du'arri years ago. She'd given her oath. That had to mean something. Not just when it was easy to do it, but it had to mean something right now.

[Tu'arr Korrtaurro]

He saw the look in her eyes. He knew it well. He'd seen it many times before. Sometimes he was able to override those silly notions of duty that those who opposed him held, but there were also times that he was unsuccessful in hurdling that particular bit of ingrained Pride-think.

Tu'arr leaned in close, so that his breath tickled the insides of her ear even as his tail wound itself around one of her legs in a show of possession.

"jI'm bankjing on hjim ljisstenjing to jyou, Sspotted One."

A sideways look, an assured smirk, and he straightened back up.

"Suu'anra," came the barked order.

A stout woman, her features a striped mask of stone, snapped her head around.

"Ssjirr?"

Tu'arr gestured to the Elomin, Mr. Ek'ette.

"Kneess."

The woman wasted little time in pulling Ek'ette from his sitting position up to his knees, and her blaster rested at the base of his neck.

A moment later, and Tu'arr was looking back down at the slip of a woman he still held.

"The quesstjion jyou sshould begjin to assk jyoursself iss jif the Commanderr wjill ljissten to jyou?"

[Kiimiti Taassaurra]

The threat of death at every turn could extend and retract as easily as claws. Kiimiti met the Elomin's eyes, seeing neither fear nor pleading. It was a grim expression. One that expected neither heads nor tails, only the certainty that the coin would be flipped.

Preita'rrou Taassaurra's breaths came long and quick, her chest heaving with conflicting emotion. She closed her eyes to keep from looking at her captor's face, and nodded in agreement.

[Tu'arr Korrtaurro]

"Good," came the purred acknowledgement.

His free hand traversed the inter-comm station, taking hold of the compact comm mic and bringing it close.

A final whisper of 'encouragement' before he depressed the 'talk' button.

"jYou hold thejirr ljivess jin jyourr vojice, Sspotted One."

[Kiimiti Taassaurra]

"Mjy name..." Kiimiti's eyes opened, burning Tu'arr with smoldering hatred, "jis Preita'rrou Taassaurra."

With few options that were evaporating quickly, Kiimiti considered the madman's request.

"Put m-m-me on hologrram, and the rr-rresst of the crrew. The C-Comanderr wjill want a p-p-prroof of ljife. Prroof that jyou haven't alrr-rr-rreadjy kjilled uss."

[Tu'arr Korrtaurro]

He gave a light hrmph, his head angling up to afford the woman a strange air of respect. He paused momentarily, then nodded.

"Verrjy well."

A look to the side then, at his second in command.

"Gatherr them up," an arm swept out to encompass the rabble that were their prisoners.

"Anjy trrouble, and feel frree to brreak a kneecap orr two."

[Kes Akiena]

* * *

The advance scout slowly lifted the grate to level 9 let his eyes scan the entirety that his field of vision would allow. His ear strained to pick up any sound that would signal the presence of others, but there was nothing. Only silence. Level 9 was an extension of the habitation ring, having been designated a sort of diplomatic quarter. Most on Jovan called it the Visitor's Ring as it was.

Another few moments of vigilance, and the scout gave the all clear before lifting the grate up and out of the way completely, climbing out to allow those behind him the chance to do so themselves.

Kes was the fourth man up.

"Anything on the box?"

"Nothing yet." Won't last forever though, Commander."

A nod, as Kes knew the inevitable truth of those words. They were running now, trying to find safety where there was none to be had. At this point, it was simply a matter of staying ahead. If they could do so until help in some form arrived, then all the better. But their options were dwindling.

The redhead hitched his firearm up a little higher on his shoulder while watching Doctor Vek climb out of the maintenance hatch, followed by a careful slew of hands navigating a gravely wounded Mr. Khosente out.

[Vek Vek]

"Careful, careful. Keep intravenous supply in elevated position."

Vek cleared the hatch, watching over the tide of hands carrying the bare-minimum field cot. With only a hand unit for diagnosis, the Doctor kept hawkish vigil over Khosente's vitals.

"Commander, patient's vital signs showing stability in deep coma. For now, best case scenario. Nearest medical facility two sections away. Securing location imperative."

He'd already put a tremendous amount of effort in thwarting Death, but the Durwi looked exhausted, even if he didn't dare comment on his own condition.