RP: YSS Aeon [Mission 6.3] Battered, beaten, but not broken

[Nashoba]

Deep in the prison there were a series of crucibles. These were for valued prisoners. These were located in the edge of the Prisoner Core on the west side of the prison. Twelve isolation crucibles, but only one was currently occupied. A prisoner that the instructions from the higher echelon put limitations on what they could do.

The room was a small space 3 meters, by 3 meters. The walls were solid stone, on the right side of the chamber a metal slab was fused that served as the bed. On the left side of the room a small spigot was present, it provided tepid drinking water in limited quantities. A small opening in the floor served as the only place for body waste to be deposited.

The ceiling had a number of features, recessed lighting and speakers were present but behind protective barriers. The lighting could be turned off, or up to blinding intensity. Nozzles in the ceiling could dispense ice cold water, or a spray with a mild acid.

In the one active cell sat the only priority prisoner. Around her neck was a explosive laden collar. The collar was able to project psionic imagery that the prisoner would have to react to. Removing the collar by force would cause the charges to detonate resulting in decapitation. The collar could also deliver a debilitating electric charge which the warden enjoyed using.

Two days a week, the prisoner was taken from her cubicle. One day was to meet with the Warden who would proceed to ask her the same questions and punish her if he deemed her answers insufficient. The other day she was taken into the exercise area. This gave her one hour of sunlight.

Today the routine was broken, when the lighting in her cell went to normal and from the speakers the following was heard.
"The prison is in lock-down. Any prisoner not in their cell will be shot and killed on sight. Parasite contingency is being prepared. Deployment will commence if the intruders breach the core."

 

[Miyako]

Are they trying to change the schedule?
Psychological strategy shift?
They might come to end me, this time.
Did the war end, or have I become unnecessary?

Fractious lines of multiple, strained trains of thought spun around the inside of the wary Nekovalkryja's head like a spider's web caught in a blustery Autumn storm. The schedule had been interrupted by /something/ and the best guesses she had were they were preparing to kill her, to break her mind, or someone was attacking the planet. Unless we're on some kind of new interment center in space...I can't decide what would be worse.

How long had she been at this location? The interrogations still occurred, but with less frequency than when she was captured. Her hair was matted, dirty, it looked more auburn than it's natural red thanks to every bit of dirt for so long finding it's way there between when she could really, truly clean herself. In a way the monotony promised by prison life almost agreed with her, as much as it drove her mad by every twitch of the clock hand through the hour.

Reviewing battle tactics and theater strategies, playing back old failures in her head to find a better way to win, to ensure the maximum possible victory with the fewest amount of casualties...even her own failures. They had been her most constant source of joy, and the knowledge that there might still be an Empire alive to live on out there, even if she died in the cell at the end of the progressively louder sounds outside her door.

I hope they are real this time...

 

[Nashoba]

The guard responsible for overseeing the priority prisoners came to Akina's cubicle. He flipped the controls for the lighting to maximum. He then opened the door, "Rise Princess, time for your regular visit with the warden.

Did you like the announcement? I do hope it sounded authentic. We want to make your fellow prisoners feel there might be hope of a rescue. But sadly, you folks are forgotten by your people. Hell they probably already declared you dead and made a new copy of you." he said with a sneer.

 

[Miyako]

Akina closed her eyes several times when trying to get used to the sudden saturation of light present, she then looked to the guard, guessing where she could strike him to incapacitate him. All she needed was a chance. Estimates...if we are under attack by friendlies...45.6% chance of retrieval before they execute me. Now is that chance lowered if I try to get closer? Thought the woman while her captor spewed more vitriol.

"The Empire never forgets, shouldn't you know that?" It was the first thing she had said aloud in what felt like ages, even though there was an internal clock running, one that never ceased inside of the Nekovalkryja.

"It seems like a waste of resources...even for someone like me." Replied the prisoner, but she knew something was wrong. Why waste those kinds of resources on all the prisoners, and even ranking POWs that they no longer believe will give them information?

That digital mind throbbed between both pointed ears while she thought of how to incapacitate him before she was the one on the ground. I have nothing to lose if they cloned me. No reason not to start an insurrection.

 

[Nashoba]

The guard opened the door and took Akina by the arm. There was just a hint of extra moisture on his hand when it made contact with her skin. His other hand was resting on the gun in the holster on his other hip.

"Let's not keep the warden waiting." he said.

 

[Miyako]

By the arm...exposed. Akina thought, the Taisho put on her normal, displeased look she wore by reflex when the warden was about to enjoy taking his time interrogating her, and looked past the guard.

"You came to meet me. That's just so sweet." She said dryly, hoping that if even for a moment, she was convincing enough to look away. All she had to do was incapacitate the guard with his own pistol, just a second was all that was required. The first step of a strategy: control your own place in the matrix, control... She thought, as the rest of her digital connections flew with possible battle outcomes and reactions if she couldn't get the shot off in time, the outward shell of her form continued to look detached and scornful towards the imaginary jailer.

Kill or be killed...has it really come to this? I'll see you in the black, one way or the other my love.

 

[Nashoba]

It was unclear if the guard heard Akina or not. But as he started to move the lights in the cell and the hallway went out plunging the two of them into total darkness. "Blood hell... now what is up." he said not letting go of Akina but a second later a source of light appeared as he activated his communicator to check in.

 

[Miyako]

Moving as fast as she could muster while remaining silent, Akina struck out for her guard's weapon. It was her only chance, and she was going to take it. Striking hard at his side, then attempting to kick his knee out, the Taisho moved to try and break his grip on his weapon.

Getting it, and getting out of his grappling range was the idea, enough that she spent most of what was left of her energy to try and wrest control of his weapon while he was distracted with the screen. Dead or alive, she knew she was not going back to that cell.

 

[Nashoba]

Akina heard two things as she relieved her handler of his weapon. The first was the crack of one of her jailer's ribs, the second was a click from her collar and the pressure from it decreasing.

The irate jailer looked at Akina, "You are going to pay for that, be the last thing you ever do besides scream." He pressed the control for her collar savagely, was shocked to see that nothing happened.

 

[Miyako]

Akina didn't bother to give the man even a moment of warning: she brought the weapon up while moving backward, and fired at his center mass, hearing nothing but the rushing thunder of her heart in her ears.

It didn't work, the collar didn't work. Thought the Taisho, another release was fired, the redheaded Nekovalkryja continued sliding towards the exit, holding her weapon on her former captor, adding another shot towards his head as a shudder of revulsion of how easy it seemed to escape ran through her. Still, it couldn't be a hallucination or trick again, could it?

 

[Nashoba]

The jailer was knocked forcefully backwards by the force of the NSP. A hole was torn through his body by the energy released. The shot to his head caused it to explode splattering the wall behind his body to be decorated by blood and brain matter.

Behind Akina the sound of the heavy isolation doors could be heard. The doors were not closing, rather they were opening one after another providing a clear passage.

 

[Nashoba]

A moment later two Daisy Clad soldiers appeared as they disabled their stealth system.

"Shimizu Akina-San, I am the Gambit Squad leader. The Star Army has liberated the prison. I have been ordered to escort you to the leader of our group Kurusu-Chusa. If you will kindly come with us, we will provide you with cover just in case we encounter any hostile guards." Jacob said

 

[Miyako]

Akina could feel her mind reasserting itself, the years of interrogation and attempts to compromise her mind melting like ice sloughing off mass in a drink had stopped. I am free. If she died while escaping, that was another matter, but with a gun in her hand was better than anything else.

"Thank you...thank you! Ah, I thought I would have to fight them all on my way out! They were deceivers until the end. Take me to the chusa please."

Liberated... The Taisho pushed her thoughts back as they moved through the prison to the control room.

 

[Nashoba]

Jacob looked around, he was impressed that given her condition she was able to overpower the guard. He wondered about having her climb on the back of one of the Mindy's but figured it was better to let her walk.

"Kindly come with us ma'am. Stay between us, if we encounter any hostiles, we are your shields." He said.

Jacob motioned for the Neko's to move out as they left the corridor he took a moment to contact Misaki.

"Gambit leader to XO, we have secured the package. We should arrange transport and have medical standing by to receive. Heading back to your position."