Delayed Returns [18+]

Posted on 06 Sep 2015 @ 7:47pm by Lieutenant JG Grayson Jones
Edited on on 08 Sep 2015 @ 3:30am

1,374 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 09 - Empires
Location: ISS Saalm, Tyrion's 'room'
Timeline: MD1, 1900 hours

ON:

Tyrion had scrambled from the briefing room and had returned to the darkest recesses of the ship to continue the interrogation of his prisoner. He was very resistant to his probes and though he was mentally very strong, in terms of his telepathy, this person had received training to resist it. It was exhausting and before the prisoner died, Tyrion realised that despite all information he had already extracted, the man didn’t really know more than he’d already discovered. But...the man had knowledge of someone who did know more, and that was valuable information to keep for the Queen Regent.

Now taking a minute to wash off all the grime and blood, Tyrion knew the worst was yet to come. And that wasn’t reporting back to Queen Regent Saalm, no he would actually enjoy that part because it was good news and he knew it’d please her. No, the worst part was Hirad likely finding out he’d done work for someone else.

As if on cue, the large Orion walked into his small, windowless room, barring the doorway with his bulky frame. He studied his naked slave and servant, admiring his bruised body and in particular the damaged inkwork. That had been particularly enjoyable in his attempts to break the Betazoid’s spirit. He unrolled his whip and let it dangle alongside his body, watching Tyrion step out of his shower and watch him flinch as he spotted his master. “You’ve been most disobedient,” he rumbled, his muscles rippling in anticipation of cracking his weapon.

“No master,” Tyrion whispered, bracing himself, “I haven’t. I was told to attend the briefing, and I was ordered to return to my prisoner by the Queen Regent herself.” He cried out as the whip suddenly lashed across his chest, leaving a bloody mark as he recoiled.

“Stand still,” Hirad instructed, “hands against the wall and don’t you move. I never told you to get to that meeting and you neglected to report your discoveries there in spite of you going without orders.” He cracked the whip forcefully across his servant’s back, watching him flinch, hearing him scream. “Don’t you scream now...I don’t want to hear another sound from you for the next ten minutes, while I work. Any sound, will earn you more lashes. Nod, if you understand.”

Tears streaming down his cheeks as he gritted his teeth, Tyrion nodded. Hatred burned in his eyes, unseen to his Orion master. If only he could retaliate, but he couldn’t. His hands balled into fists as the rested against the wall, his body twitching with each lash that borned across his back, shoulders and buttocks. No part of his body was spared as Hirad worked his cruelty.

“I know who you’re waiting for,” Hirad sneered, “but he won’t be coming back. Ever. And that means that I don’t have to keep you alive either, once I receive confirmation that he isn’t coming back.” He gestured to the makeshift crib in the corner. “And she’ll be sold into slavery.”

Tyrion gritted his teeth, keeping himself from moving, from even reacting to that taunt. He knew Grayson was coming back, he was sure of it because he’d received a message only hours ago to wait for him. He held his breath as the whip lashed across his lower back a final time. When he was told he could move, he sagged down to his knees, vomiting violently. He felt Hirad lean over him and cried out when the Orion grabbed a fistful of his hair. “It’s only a matter of hours now Faye, so enjoy them while you can.”

The Betazoid felt something die inside as he considered his limited future and that of his daughter. He couldn’t give up now, he couldn’t! But what could he do, if he killed Hirad to defend himself, then it was sure death. He was no-one, a servant, a slave. A wealthy one but still, he wasn’t a free man, he was owned and there was no way Hirad would allow him to buy his and Dania’s freedom.

He flinched as suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder and fearfully, he looked up. But the face he was met with, was not the one he had expected to be leaning over him. “You have returned,” the Betazoid whispered, “you’re safe. Have you come to take me with you?”

Grayson nodded as he helped his servant to his feet. His expression was grim as he surveyed the damage done to his informant. “As soon as we can,” he promised, then slipped him a PADD. “This is for you. A copy is in my safe, to which you know the combination and you should keep that copy safe at all times. You are my heir, the only servant I have ever trusted and I should never have sent you away.”

Tyrion was shaking as he stood, his body aching from the torture Hirad had inflicted upon him. It wasn’t safe here, the longer Grayson remained, the more they both were at risk. “We can leave now, I have nothing but what I have here. One outfit, and my child. I have to save her master, or Hirad will make a slave out of her. Please let me take her, I beg you.”

The half-Trill studied his servant closely then nodded once. “She’s your responsibility, I have nothing to do with her.” He beckoned for Tyrion to follow; the hard part was now to tell Hirad he was taking his servant with him, and make him pay for two years of torment, which had not been part of the bargain. Unfortunately, just as they stepped outside, Hirad seemed to have changed his mind as he was coming straight for them, dagger drawn. In a single motion, he drove the blade into Grayson’s chest, all the way to the hilt, then gave it a savage twist.

The Betazoid screamed in horror as he saw his beloved master sag to the deck, and instantly placed his daughter a safe distance away before flying at the Orion master. He grabbed Grayson’s electric whip and activated it. He felt the charge as he swung it at his tormentor, catching him right around the throat. Hirad dropped to his knees, clawing at the charged weapon that was choking him. Tyrion took the opportunity to grab one of Hirad’s remaining weapons and drove it into his savage heart. “I am honour bound to avenge my master,” he whispered at Hirad. “Be grateful, that I didn’t resort to your methods.”

Leaving Hirad’s dying body, he returned to his master’s side and cradled the dying Trill in his arms. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered, holding the only man he had ever shown any love or loyalty to close to his chest. “I will do my best to live up to your expectations, and be the man you wanted me to be. Everything I do from here on, will be in your name. And I will be fair like you were, but firm. And I’ll never be like Hirad, never. My servants need to fear me, like I feared you, but I will win their trust and loyalty, like you had mine. My loyalty and love have always been for you.”

Tyrion felt hot tears streak down his cheeks as he held his deceased master. He ordered his own two slaves to take the body and put it in the master bedroom. He would arrange for a proper cremation in terms of just firing a disruptor at disintegration at the body. Slowly, the realization dawned on him that now he was a free man, and he would need to start to act like one. He was no longer someone’s servant, instead he would acquire his own.

OFF:

SoghHom Grayson Jones
Crewmember
ISS Saalm
npc T'Vanna

Tyrion
former Hirad/Jones servant
ISS Saalm
pnpc T'Vanna

Hirad
Crewmember/Slave master
ISS Saalm
npc T'Vanna

OOC: Grayson Jones was written with permission from Grayson's creator

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