Posted by Lieutenant Commander Faye Calloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Elsewhere- A Honeymoon

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Daggum Hammor (Chief Operations Officer) in Elsewhere- A Honeymoon

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Faye Calloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Elsewhere- A Honeymoon

(snip)

“My guess is that it’s been fifteen years since regular use based on the rust buildup. Rates of oxygenation and all that,” she said, letting her hand slip out of his. Moving off, Faye searched on the ground and after a moment stooped to pick up a tiny piece of metal.

Gazing at her husband, Faye studied Daggum at length before seeming to decide something and walking to the doors. Those dented doors chained to keep people out.

Crouching on one knee, she found the little lock partly hidden by the chain and studied it. Sticking the metal in, she used delicate motions to open it, slipped the lock off and tossed it and the metal pin to the side. Rising she gave Daggum the most loving look she could. You go in, or you don’t. And if you go in, you leave. All of your own accord. Your choice, Star Man. Either way, I’m with you.”

~Faye

Daggum took a breath and then said “In for a penny, in for a pound.” and then he grinned. “Another Paul-ism. No idea where he gets them from.” and he moved forward and pushed the doors open. Inside was dark, and there was no movement to be seen or sensed. Wordlessly, Daggum led them forward and soon they walked onto an abandoned promenade that was open to the sky. “This place was wall to wall vendors. Food, drink, fight memorabilia… anything, really. Black market operated pretty freely here.” He looked up and pointed to a row of broken windows a few stories above them. “Thats where the bookies and the fight managers would work. Place your bets, buy or sell a fighter.” and he shook his head. They wandered through the space, littered with trash and pools of standing water for a few quiet minutes. Once they were on the far side of the promenade, they came to a set of metal double doors. Daggum stopped and stared for a moment before walking up to them and pulling on one. It didn’t move, but gave a slight squeak. Daggum’s jaw clenched and he put both hands on the large handle and yanked it back, the door flying open and screaming in protest. As the door opened, old lights lining a flight of stairs going down and turning slightly left came on. Daggum stared down the stairs for a long time. Finally, he reached back and took Faye’s hand and led her down without a word.

She squeezed his hand and followed, breathing deeply so she could be the support he needed her to be. Faye was taking in all the details, just as he had when they had been at Kodell’s. And a part of her wanted to prove to herself she could handle it, whatever was thrown her way.

The stairs spiraled down for a long time, finally opening into a hallway that stretched off to either side. The walls were bars… and everywhere that the dim illumination showed were cages. They were in various sizes, ranging from very large to very small in no particular order. Rusted drains in the floor of each and stained rock were all that seemed to be in the cells. “This is where we lived.” Daggum said softly.

Daggum

Eyes tracing the cages, Faye hands flew to her pendant, opening it but it didn’t quite work fast enough…

Cam was gazing down at her, terror in his light brown eyes.

Pushing herself to a sitting position, her earlier guess about the Orion woman and her crew was reframed into a much clearer light.

Around them were people packed into what she could only describe as a cage. Around them, similar cages held all sorts of beings, many of whom were yelling or screaming. Some rather burly looking Orions patrolled the aisles between the cages with disruptor rifles that Faye had no doubt lacked a stun setting. While not dark, the light was dim and the smell was rather noxious. Then again so many stressed bodies in one cavernous space were bound to create a stench.

“What are we going to do?” Cam said, crouching beside her.
“Stay calm, for one,” Faye said, taking in too many details to process at the moment but ones she knew might be vital later if they wanted to survive.
“Well your father was definitely right. We have to keep our identity a secret.”
Faye shook her head. “Too late. They already know, Cam.”

Daggum had felt her grasp loosen and he looked back and saw her eyes glassy and distant. He didn’t speak, just turned to her and took her other hand and looked at her.

The scene shifted slightly as the smell permeated her mind and suddenly her mind slipped back to the present. She wasn’t gone long, but still it bothered her. But Faye was honestly just surprised it hadn’t happened yet. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered as her eyes took in the setting again. “I’m glad he got you out of here,” she said, referring to Paul.

~Faye

Daggum didn’t reply for a moment, he just asked “Are you ok?”

Turning his attention back to the prison… because that’s what it was… he said “Paul got me out of Orion. I got me out of here. C’mon… I’ll show you.”

He led her around the place until they came to a section where the cages were larger than the rest. These cages had the remains of cots and various bits of detritus that could have been primitive utensils or such. These dozen or so cages were also set on either side of a large ramp that led up and into darkness.

“This is where the prized fighters were kept. We’d eat, sleep, and exercise in the cages. They’d take us out for training or-” and he pointed up the ramp, “- up the ramp to the Pit for a fight.” He led her to the left of the ramp and pointed at a cage. “That was mine.” He looked at the cage for a long time, and then slowly turned and looked at one of the stine pillars near it. He ran his fingers down it, and then froze for a moment. “Here.” and he indicated a spot where the stone had been broken away. “Thats where I smashed the Keeper’s head into the pillar. Killed him. Took his keys and opened every door in this place. They caught most of us, but I got out. Paul found me a few years later. Thats when my real life started.” He looked around and slowly shook his head.

“This… all of this… this was just the nightmare before I woke up.”

Daggum