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Post by Brie on Feb 11, 2005 17:22:10 GMT -6
Comeek couldn’t figure out if he was more excited or nervous, but he knew he was both. He had been summoned to a meeting with Master Pierce. He had good news to bring to him, but was still worried about the reason why he had been called. He hoped that he had done nothing to displease his master.
Following the directions that he had been given, Comeek found himself in the Callisto’s temporary quarters. This was a surprise to him, he had expected to meet in a dark room somewhere in the bowels of the ship. He knocked the secret knock, and Pierce greeted him at the door. “Hello there,” he said loudly. “Are you the young man they told me might be able to take a look at my computer? I’ve been having problems with it all cycle.”
“Um, yes,” Comeek replied. He nervously followed Pierce into his temporary quarters.
“I actually am having a problem with this blasted computer,” Pierce said after the door had closed. “I can’t call up the Tribunal files, and I need to file a final report. So there was no reason to make this meeting clandestine. But there is something else I need you to do for me.”
“Anything, Master,” Comeek replied in awe.
Pierce placed a hand on Comeek’s shoulder. “You’re hardworking and loyal. I wish that I could say the same about all my children.”
Comeek tried a couple of things before the files appeared on the screen. “Is this what you’re looking for, Master?”
Pierce smiled. “Yes. Thank you so much.”
“I have that information that you wanted before,” Comeek said feebly. “About the codes...”
“Very good, my son,” Pierce replied. Having been disowned by his natural father at an early age, Comeek beamed inside whenever Pierce called him that. “You keep that information in mind, and I’ll let you know if and when I need it. Have there been any more visitors?”
“Only one since Lazant,” Comeek informed him. “I couldn’t see well because he stayed outside the cell, but I’m pretty sure it was Boleman. The Widow seemed pretty upset when he left.”
“Boleman,” Pierce repeated. “Interesting.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. “Now for the reason that I asked you here. Tell Chip that since he has finished what he needed to do, he will be taking over watching the feed of the Widow. I need YOU, my son, to work your magic and acquire me a shuttle. The information about time and the flight plan is all here, as well as the passenger list.” Comeek took the paper from him. “They’re all aliases, of course. In fact, you’re right here,” Pierce pointed, “and your room-mate is here.”
“There’s no pilot listed,” Comeek observed.
“Not yet. I have someone in mind, but I have to make sure she checks out first. If she does, I’m afraid you’ll have to arrange for a little bit of R & R for her.”
“Whatever you need, Master.” Comeek was glad that his skills as a computer hacker were proving to be valuable to the New Secret Survival Society.
“I know I can count on you, my son. I’ll be in touch.”
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Post by Brie on Feb 12, 2005 16:39:38 GMT -6
In a closet two halls over from the Med Lab, Kyla was busy at work. “It’s looking a lot better,” she informed her patient. “How’s it feeling?”
“It barely hurts anymore,” Nedra replied. The original pain from the chemical burn on her arm had been so intense that anything paled by comparison.
“The skin is finally growing back,” Kyla said. “You’ll have a scar, but there won’t be any permanent damage.”
“I’ll consider the scar a badge, a symbol of the consequences of disobedience.”
Pierce had been standing quietly by their sides. He ran a finger down Nedra’s face. “Good girl. I’m glad you learned your lesson. The most important lessons in life can be also be the most painful.” He outlined Nedra’s mouth with his finger, then pulled his hand away. “I need you both to be ready to leave at a micron’s notice. Our plan is almost finalized.”
“I’m just about finished with my assignment,” Nedra said with satisfaction.
“Good girl!” Pierce repeated. He patted her on the top of her head. “I’ll send word on where it needs to be delivered.”
“I’ll be waiting, Master.”
“You need to get back to work before you’re missed.”
“Yes, Master Pierce.” Nedra opened the door, glanced around, and hurried down the hall.
“What about me, Master?” Kyla asked. “I still have a few more centons before I need to report to the Med Lab.”
“I think we can find a way to pass that time, my pet,” Pierce replied. He pulled the young woman close and into a kiss.
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Post by Brie on Feb 13, 2005 15:16:25 GMT -6
Kyla hurried to get herself straightened out after her time with Pierce. It was important to him that no one knew that anything was going on. “Master,” she asked as she put on her shoe, “can I ask you a question?”
“Anything, my pet,” Pierce replied. Already dressed, he stroked her hair.
“Do you love me?” Kyla grew nervous as soon as the words left her mouth.
“Of course I love you,” Pierce replied. “You should already know that. Why do you ask?”
“Well,” Kyla stammered, “before, when the woman with the chemical burn was here, well, it’s just so hard for me to see you touch another woman like that.”
Pierce reached out and took Kyla’s hand. “I have enough love to share. We’ve talked about this before.” Unexpectedly, he twisted Kyla’s arm hard behind her back. She groaned in pain. “I think a better question would be do YOU love ME?”
“Yes, Master Pierce,” Kyla replied through the tears. Pierce was squeezing her wrist so tightly that she could almost feel the bruise starting to form.
“I expect complete and total obedience from those who follow me, not questions.” Pierce twisted a little bit further. “Prove it.”
“Prove what, Master?” Kyla asked. She hated herself for her show of disrespect, and believed that she deserved the pain that was being inflicted upon her.
“Prove that you love me. What will you do for me?”
“I, I,” Kyla stuttered, “I can kill Captain Amy for you.”
Pierce loosened his grip a small amount. “How?”
“I could add poison to her feeding tube, or add something to her fluids,” Kyla replied. “No one would ever notice the difference. They wouldn’t think that she had been murdered, especially since Amy’s mother is obviously friends with Captain Urdea. Who would kill someone under the head of Security's nose?"
"Why kill Amy?" Pierce asked. "What good would it do?"
"If Amy dies, the Widow spends the full ten yahrens in the brig,” Kyla explained.
Pierce silently counted to ten, then released his grip. “Very good, my pet. You DO love me, after all. It’s not necessary to kill Captain Amy, though. I’m thinking of putting her brain-dead body on display for all to see once I take over, as a reminder of the regime that I’ve saved everyone from.”
“What about the Widow?” Kyla asked.
Pierce smiled, and stroked Kyla’s hair once again. “Between you and me, when I’m in power the Widow will be publicly executed. But for now that’s just our little secret.”
“I won’t tell a soul, Master, I promise.”
“I know you won’t, my faithful pet. Now, there is something I need you to acquire for me.”
“Anything, Master,” Kyla replied. Pierce whispered in her ear. “Won’t it be missed?”
“No one missed any on the Galactica,” Pierce said sternly. “If you’re saying that my children on the Galactica are more competent than those here on the Callisto...”
“No, Master,” Kyla said quickly. “I’ll get it for you, I promise.”
“I know you will,” Pierce told her. He took her hand, held it for a micron, then squeezed Kyla’s wrist where the bruise was forming. “Because I won’t accept anything less. You need to go, you don’t want to be late for work.”
“Yes, Master.” She went to open the door.
“One more thing,” Pierce said, stopping her. “You do know that I love you, don’t you, my pet?”
“Yes, Master, I realize that now. I’m sorry for questioning you.”
“And?”
“And I love you too.”
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Post by Brie on Feb 14, 2005 13:08:30 GMT -6
Although he wouldn’t admit it out loud, at first Chip was disappointed by his new assignment. He had found a planet, possibly the future home of the remnants of the human race, and now he was stuck watching Brie in her cell, while Comeek was busily, secretively working on something else. “Mind if I turn on IFB?” Chip asked his roommate.
“Huh?” Comeek replied. “Oh, yeah, sure, go ahead. It won’t bother me.” He eagerly returned to his work.
Chip was disappointed to see that Zerra was on doing an interview. He hated that show, he would much rather watch General SickBay. That girl who played Laura was just so darn pretty! He knew that she was sealed to a man from that space show spin-off, but he still dreamed. He was about to turn it back off when Zerra announced her first guest. “Hey, Comeek, get this. It’s Boleman!”
“Huh? Oh, I wonder if Master Pierce knows.”
“Of COURSE Master Pierce knows, he knows everything.” Chip glanced at the feed from the brig, then back at the IFB monitor. “Holy frack, the Widow is watching Boleman on Zerra’s show! Lords, she looks upset!”
“Record it!” Comeek said quickly. “You never know what Master Pierce will want to see.”
“Good idea.” Chip started to record, suddenly not quite as bored with his new assignment.
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Post by Brie on Feb 14, 2005 16:13:50 GMT -6
Hearing the secret knock on their door once again, Comeek and Chip both covered their equipment. Comeek answered the door and was surprised to see Pierce standing there. “I have another question about that computer problem that you fixed for me earlier,” Pierce said, although no one in the hall really noticed. “May I come in?”
“Certainly.” Comeek hurried out of Pierce’s way. As soon as the door closed Comeek bowed his head. “Welcome, Master.”
“Yes, Master Pierce,” Chip said. “Welcome to out humble dwellings.”
Pierce glanced at Chip. “Please, as you were. Continue with your assignment.”
“Yes Master.” Chip returned to the live feed of Brie in her cell, but watched Pierce with awe out of the corner of his eye.
Pierce stared directly at Comeek. “Is there something you forgot to tell me, my son?”
Comeek grew nervous. He had no idea what Pierce was talking about. “N-n-no, Master.”
“Are you sure?” Pierce pulled a seat out from the desk and placed it in the middle of the small room. “Have a seat, my son.” Comeek anxiously sat down. “There’s nothing at all? Just a seemingly minor little detail?”
“No, Master,” Comeek replied.
“Take off your shirt,” Pierce ordered. Comeek knew better than to disobey. Pierce picked up a laser combo blade off the desk. He took off the safety screen and stared at the blade for several microns. He stepped over to Comeek and held it close to his neck. “Nothing about visitors to the Widow?”
“No, Master,” Comeek repeated.
Pierce pulled the blade away. “That’s funny. You told me that after Lazant the Widow had only one visitor, but according to the sign-in records for the brig, she had two. Boleman, who you told me about, and Lieutenant RaycerX, from Black Squadron, who you conveniently forgot to mention. Does any of this sound familiar?”
“He might have arrived when I was taking a turbowash,” Comeek stammered.
“Taking a turbowash,” Pierce said. “Did I give you permission to take a turbowash during your shift?”
“No, Master, but...”
“But?” Pierce was obviously angry but wasn’t yelling. “I don’t want to hear excuses. If I give you an assignment I expect you to do EXACTLY WHAT YOU’RE TOLD! Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, Master.”
“Good.” Comeek breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the worst was over. Pierce turned suddenly and, using the laser blade, sliced Comeek superficially across his right shoulder and chest. Comeek winced but didn’t let the pain show. “Tell me why I just did that.”
“Because I disobeyed, and needed to be punished,” Comeek said, believing every word.
“That’s right, my son.” Pierce turned to Chip. “Do you have a clean towel?” Chip was immediately on his feet and had the towel in microns. “Thank you.” Pierce handed it to Comeek. “The bleeding isn’t bad, you’ll survive. With any luck, you’ll have a scar. Do you know why that would be lucky?”
“Because it would be a constant reminder of how badly I let you down,” Comeek replied, using the towel to put pressure on the cut.
“See to it that it doesn’t happen again,” Pierce said sternly. He took a couple of steps towards Chip and his assignment. “Anything new?”
“She was visibly upset earlier, when Boleman was on Zerra’s show, Master,” Chip replied.
“Interesting,” Pierce said.
“I taped the feed,” Chip informed him.
“Good thinking, my son,” Pierce replied, patting him on the back. “If I have time, I’ll watch it later.” Pierce stared at the monitor, a smile crossing his face. How he enjoyed watching Brie! Her pacing showed how fed up she was getting. Something caught his eye. “What’s that on the floor?”
“I don’t know, Master,” Chip said nervously. “Looks like it’s made of paper.”
“Interesting,” Pierce said again. He looked at his two followers. “Just between the three of us, once I’m in power the Widow will be publicly executed. For now that’s our little secret, don’t let anyone else know.”
“We won’t, Master,” they said in unison.
“I know you won’t.” Pierce walked towards the door. “I wish that all my children were as faithful as the two of you.”
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Post by Brie on Feb 15, 2005 13:40:53 GMT -6
A few centons after the food incident in Brie’s cell, on a different part of the Callisto, Major Pierce was happily holding something in his hand.
“There wasn’t just one, like you had thought, there were two,” the man who had spilled the food said.
“Very good, my son,” Pierce replied. He opened the first crumpled piece of paper and read it to himself.
“Brie, I know the times ahead will be difficult for you and you want to be left alone. That is a fair enough request. But before you plunge yourself into eternal despair, DO NOT turn your back on your friends. I will never turn my back on you. I will do whatever I feel necessary to secure your freedom no matter the consequences. Please forgive me for any personal anguish I have put you through. BUT, my feelings towards you and you know what they are, will never change.
Your Warrior In Arms
JustinB”
Pierce smiled as he uncrumpled the second note.
“Brie,
Put me on report for contacting you if you want but I want you to know something. What happened on the Galactica shouldn't have happened, but it did. I am not sorry it did either. What has happened to you is criminal itself. Whatever happens, I will be a loyal friend to you and should you ever need my help all you have to do is ask.
You wont receive any further contact from me until you ask for it.
JustinB”
“Did you read these?” Pierce asked.
“No, Master,” the man replied. “I brought them straight to you.”
“Well, basically it looks like the leader of Black Squadron has a ‘thing’ for the Widow,” Pierce explained.
“Is that good?” the man asked.
“It’s good for us to know,” Pierce replied. “The more we know about the Widow AND her friends, the more we can use against her. Just between you and me, once I’m in power I’m going to have her publicly executed. But that’s our little secret.”
“I won’t tell anyone, Master, I promise.”
“I know you won’t, my faithful son.”
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Post by Brie on Feb 16, 2005 16:35:17 GMT -6
As Kyla went about her duties in the Med Lab she couldn’t help but daydream. How she wished that Master Pierce would allow her to prove her love by killing Captain Amy! It would be so easy. A lethal addition to her food mixture, an extra syringe for her fluids, even an “unexpected” problem with the life support machines would bring the desired result. But Master Pierce knew best, she kept reminding herself. She pictured Amy, still living through the machines, out in a common area for all to see. Maybe Amy would be the last thing that Brie would be allowed to see before her execution. And Kyla was watching the whole thing at Master Pierce's side...
Kyla snapped out of her dream when Captain Urdea returned. For someone who had been in a good mood a centar earlier he looked distraught. Something had obviously happened. She watched as he entered Amy’s room, and it was obvious that he wanted to leave with Amy’s mother. Kyla moved closer, hoping to be able to hear if they left the room.
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Post by Brie on Feb 18, 2005 13:23:53 GMT -6
Kyla was just about to give up when she noticed that Urdea had somehow managed to get Abby to leave the room. As she moved closer she heard all that she needed to hear. “I’m so sorry to have to do this—On behalf of Fleet Security, I must inform you that your husband Elmer has been found…dead.” Scared of being noticed, Kyla moved away, trying to think about what to do. Should she tell Master Pierce? Absentmindedly she rubbed her bruised wrist. If she did the wrong thing something worse could happen. Treating the woman with the chemical burn was a constant reminder of disobedience. But if she didn’t tell him...
She suddenly remembered that she had been given an assignment, and that she shouldn’t seek her master out until she had completed it. Looking around again, she made her way to the supply closet. She put on a pair of gloves, then keyed in Doc Bkj’s own code. The two ingredients that she needed weren’t hard to find. Either one of them alone was medically beneficial, but mixed together...she shuddered at the thought of the results. She didn’t know why Master Pierce wanted them, but she knew better than to question.
Stuffing the two small bottles in her pocket, Kyla exited the supply closet, then went to look for her superior. She hoped that she would be able to take her meal break. She needed to get a message to Master Pierce.
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Post by Brie on Feb 24, 2005 6:26:41 GMT -6
Pierce shook his head in disbelief. He didn’t mind that the time had come, but he hated being forced into it. When things are rushed people get sloppy.
He stopped by to visit a few people, give them some last centon assignments. He made a different type of stop, one in which he showed the punishment for speaking without thinking. That was good, another chance to show his followers, his Chosen, the consequences for disobedience.
The last stop he made was to Comeek and Chip. The information that Comeek had found out would prove very valuable after all. He let them know what they needed to do, then sent out one last coded message to everyone, including the Livestock Ship. It consisted of three words, “Four more cycles.” Everyone who received it would know to divide the number in half and replace “cycles” with “centars.”
As Pierce packed his belongings from his temporary quarters on the Callisto he smiled. It was almost time.
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