Alliance Hunter
Chapter 27

The door slid open to my touch. I leaned out from the shelter of the doorframe and peered over the threshold. I was expecting another corridor or room. What I got was a lot larger. It was what appeared to be despite the dim lighting a warehouse. The roof of which was at least three times the height of the door and twelve times wider than the corridor I was in. At the far end as near I could make out was a set of double doors. In the space between were shelves of crates reaching to the ceiling. I could see an automated loading hoist on rails on ceiling. It was inactive at the moment. After a moments hesitation I entered the room moving slowly. I edged around the shelves pistol at the ready sweeping around there were too many darkened corners for it to be safe. I remembered my old Security training and took it slow and careful.

I went left and swept that section first. There were a couple of doors set into the wall between the shelves. The first door was a cubical filled with crates. I moved to the second door every minute expecting an ambush. The second door revealed more of the same. I moved to the right hand wall discovering two more doors. The first door opened into a washroom, used from the looks of it. The second door opened into a corridor with more doors off it.

“Damn it, how big is this place!” I cursed and shut up realising that the barrette was picking up my words. One door opened to reveal a canteen of sorts, dirty but showing signs of use. The next was an empty space except for the rusty brown stains on the floor, which I suspected was blood. I was becoming very suspicious I hadn’t encountered a single locked door our even anyone beyond the guard and the receptionist. I was just waiting for the fall I had to ready in case it did. The next door opened into another corridor. There were a number of doors down one side. The doors had little hatches about chest height they reminded me of prison cells. If that were true I’d replace my team here.

I reached over to the closest door when it opened I jumped back my gun at the ready. Denassi stepped out and gave me the eye. He was naked with dark stains on his fine fuzz of fur. I kept my eyes averted and blushed. I was never such a prude on Alfheimir but his nakedness put a crimson blush on my cheeks.

“Gwen Hunter,” he said like we were just passing and he was fully clothed.

“Denassi,” I said hurriedly. “How did you escape?”

Denassi frowned. “It wasn’t easy.”

I more concerned about the fate of the rest of my team. “The others.” Part of me was pleading ’don’t tell me the others are dead.”

“In the cells I assume,” he replied.

“They ok?”

“That I do not know.” He waved his hand at the other cells. The Valkyrie got the worst.” Denassi scowled. “They must have wanted us alive. They used stunners and capture nets. Those assholes found your pack but not you?” He gave me a questioning look. “How did you escape and how did you replace us?”

“Long story lets get everyone out of here first ok?”

“Good,” Denassi stated. “I want some payback for what they did to me.”

He stepped over to the next door with a deft flip of his fingers had it open. The door slid open. Inside was a naked badly bruised Valkyrie with a black hood over her head. She was chained to the floor kneeling over a drain cover. I waved Denassi back. The Valkyrie whoever she was would react badly on seeing a naked male in close proximity to her.

“Denassi get the other cells open.”

“Gwen Martin?”

I recognised Kadlin’s voice. “Kadlin I’ve come to get you out!” I pulled the hood of her head to reveal her bruised and sweaty head.

Kadlin jerked the chains holding her to the ground. “I’m going to kill those arouraío faced little bastards!” Straining with all her might against the chains holding her. Suddenly her chains snapped and she tried to get up. She collapsed into a quivering heap. “Mother, cramp fuck it!” she snarled.

I wasn’t going to help her she wouldn’t appreciate it. It was the Valkyrie way. “I’ll be back.” I told her. “We need to get the others out.”

Denassi opened the next cell making it look easy. It contained another Valkyrie, Bergljot if my guess was right. Like her clan sister she was chained over a drain with a hood on her head. Her body was a mass of half-healed cuts and bruises. I pull off her hood. She blinked at the influx of light one eye puffed and swollen.

“Mother, I hated that,” she stated simply. Unlike like her clan sister she was calmer.

“I’m going to get you out of this.” I took one look at the lock it was an electronic one.

I called Denassi hoping that Bergljot did take offence at him seeing her naked. “Denassi can you do something with this lock?”

Denassi entered without saying a word and started on the lock.

“So they stripped you naked to?” Bergljot said if it was nothing. “Just get this crap off me. I don’t ever want to piss down a drain again.”

I didn’t say anything my mind on the humiliation they had to endure. I felt my anger surge these were my people I was going to replace who did this and rip them to pieces. Involuntarily opening and closing my hand. I pulled myself back from the brink and let out a deep breath. I heard a click and saw the chains fall off Bergljot’s limbs and she wobbled to stand. I stepped back letting her do it.

“Kadlin will need your help, she’s got bad cramp.”

Bergljot nodded. “She suffers a lot from that, where is she?”

“The cell next door.” I said and pointed the way.

“Good!” Bergljot replied as she staggered off.

I gestured to Denassi. “Let’s get the rest out I don’t know how long we have?” Which was a big concern for me. I hadn’t the time to spare. I wasn’t sure how I’d got away with it for so long surely a place like this would be crawling with guards?

There was a Valkyrie in the next cell. Audbjorg if I was right. She looked a battered and bruised as the others. It didn’t bode well for Kelli and Jervic. Valkyrie were tougher and could take the pain.

“Audbjorg!” I said as I pulled of her hood.

“Mother,” She uttered staring at me. “I thought they’d got you to?”

“They did but I escaped.”

“And found some clothes from the looks of it?”

“Long story,” I told her. “I have Denassi with me to get those chains off you. We’ve already found Bergljot and Kadlin.”

“Good time we got some payback. Get on with it Gwen.”

“Denassi,” I called.

He slipped in behind me and went to work on Audbjorg’s chains. I saw her look at him like a hungry dog eyeing a piece of meat.

“Nice?” she said suddenly her eyes on Denassi’s crotch.

I swear I saw Denassi visibly shudder. I on the other hand had focused on the task to hand and not looked there. Finally her chains were off but she made no move to get up.

“I’d get up but the drug hasn’t worn off yet.”

“Drug?”

“The one we use of difficult prisoners.”

It put me in mind of the one Kelli used on me when I tried to fight the guards outside the med bay. She had thought I was Valkyrie. I guess she was right in a way. I seemed to be taking on too many Valkyrie traits no matter how hard I tried to deny it.

“Kelli” I asked her.

Audbjorg shrugged. “I don’t know these cells are sound proofed.”

The next two cells were empty although one had signs of recent use. We stuck lucky on the third one. A naked hooded T’Arni female was shackled like the Valkyrie.

“Kelli?” I asked hesitantly.

“Gwen?” Came the response. It was Kelli, bruised and battered but it was her.

I strode quickly over to her and pulled off her hood. “We’re going to get you out.”

“Do so,” she replied looking as relieved to see me as I was to see her.

She blushed red as Denassi entered. He quickly had her chains off. I helped her up while her hand hid her crotch her other over her breasts. Clearly she was discomforted by people seeing her naked. She was more prudish that the Valkyrie. I had heard the Confed GF used mixed showers and dormitories. It was the Valkyrie that didn’t. I suppose Navy was different.

“I’m so ashamed,” she whispered to me.

“Don’t be you aren’t the only one,” I assured her. I had an idea and pulled off my scarf. It long and dark enough to make a wrap for her waist. In doing so I exposed the burns on my neck. I was glad the nanobots had taken the pain but I still sported my burns.

“Ancients Gwen! Are you ok?”

“That’s what I should be saying to you.” I made light of the situation.

“I’m being serious!” she demanded going into medical mode. “Does it hurt?”

“It did,” I told her giving her a significant look. I handed her my scarf. “Put this around your waist it will make a skirt.”

She took the scarf and wrapped around her waist it was short but long enough to hide what she was afraid of exposing. With her dressed I could concentrate on my task. I led her back to the cell with the three Valkyrie in.

“Oh?” was all that she said on seeing the Valkyrie naked.

Bergljot was massaging the cramp in Kadlin’s leg. Kelli pushed me aside and hurried over to the Valkyrie.

“Let me do that you are doing it all wrong.”

I was glad it took her away from her own woes. I on the other hand was reluctant to leave them here unprotected.

“Which of you is the best shot?” I asked the Valkyrie.

“Me,” Kadlin replied. “Or will be once this cramp has gone!”

I handed her the other pistol and spare clip. “I’ve got to replace Jervic,” I stated.

She nodded. “Go then.”

Denassi was waiting for me outside. “I wasn’t going in there so I decided to wait out here. I think I’d be better off with you then with them.”

It surprised me that Denassi was afraid of a hand full of naked Valkyrie. Me on the other hand had seen many naked Valkyrie while training of Alfheimir.

“We’ll keep searching.” It occurred to me that there was nothing remotely sexual walking around with a naked Ezaran. Then again was he really naked he did have a layer of fur covering him? I shook myself from the way my thoughts were going I had to replace Jervic and get the Confeds in. The last couple of cells were a bust. No Jervic I was really worried about him now. It clawed at my belly. Despite how distant he had become to me I still cared a lot about him. I stood in front of the last cell in the block debating my next move. On the wall opposite were a couple of doors and one each end of the corridor.

“Let’s try these doors,” Denassi said pointing to the one directly opposite to where t was standing.

“Do so.” I shouldn’t have been that short with Denassi but Jervic’s whereabouts had me on edge. I watched with bated breath as he opened the door. I felt my heart sink as he revealed a storeroom full of stuff.

“Our gear!” he announced triumphantly.

Inside were the packs they were carrying when we had got ambushed. Denassi immediately picked up his and rifled through it.

“Bastards!” he muttered angrily. “They took my toys.”

Girding up my courage I picked up one of the packs. It contained spare clothing but no weapons. Disappointed I spoke to Denassi. “We best get these back to the others.”

We picked up the packs my heart in the gutter and headed back to where Kelli and the Valkyrie waited.

“Thanks,” Kelli said. She didn’t need to ask if I’d found Jervic, she could see it in my face. “We’ll replace him,” she consoled me.

I’d wanted to cry at that point but I had a job to do not matter how much my heart wanted to shatter. I just nodded.

“We’ll help you,” Kadlin said with a dangerous glint in her eyes. She seemed to have recovered from her cramp and was fixing on payback.

As much as I wanted the company the practicalities on our current situation reared its ugly head. “Stay here!” I ordered them.

“That wise?” Audbjorg asked.

“No,” I admitted. “But you only have one pistol.” I pointed out.

“I see you point LT,” Bergljot said.

I turned on her my anger surging. I savagely suppressed it. “Don’t go all formal on me!” I snapped at her. It wasn’t her fault it was my worry about Jervic clouding my judgement.

“Sorry Gwen,” she replied.

Kadlin stepped between Bergljot and me before things could escalate. “Don’t be too long. Otherwise we will come and replace you!”

I merely nodded knowing them to be right. Kelli looked as if she wanted to say something but wisely kept silent.

The other door on the wall led to a short corridor with doors leading off it. One to the left, one to the right and one at the end of the corridor.

“What is it with this place?” I growled. “Too many damn corridors.”

I opened the door nearest to me gun at the ready only to replace a blood stained washroom. That didn’t bode well in my mind. The next door seemed to be a break room with a coffee machine and dirty mugs. A table sat at the centre of the room with a few chairs around it. None of the mugs showed any sign of warmth. I moved on to the last door not knowing what to expect. It slid open quietly under my touch to reveal an operating room. That was my first thought until I saw the torture tools. My blood ran cold as my eyes alighted on the operating table in the centre of the room. A figure in a blood stained white coat leaned of another figure lying groaning on the table. There was a cell stitcher at the back of the room. Suddenly I recognised the bloody form of Jervic. I’d know his body anywhere.

“Jervic!” I screamed.

The other figure turned blood dripping from the knife in his hand. I just reacted and fired. The figure staggered and I fired again this time it went down. I rushed over and tenderly touched Jervic’s mottled face. He was bleeding from dozens of cuts there was no reason for this madness.

“No, no!” I kept repeating tears trickling down my face. I was crying uncontrollably.

I looked down to see the figure I’d killed. It was an older plain faced man with greying hair not one that looked like a torturer. Sudden rage filled me I wanted to smash his face in. fortunately the practical part of my mind took control. I stifled my sobs and turned back to Jervic.

“Jervic,” I said my voice wobbling I was close to losing it again.

“Gwen?” he stumbled saying my name.

My heart took a lurch. “Jervic?”

“Gwen is it really you. Am I dead?”

“No, silly.” I was relieved to hear his voice.

He nodded in pain. “Good then. I was hurtful to you. I’ve regretted it everyday since then. I was stupid and jealous of all the attention you were getting. Please forgive me?”

“Already done,” I replied brushing my hand over his dirty matted hair. “I get you out of here.”

I cast around for something to stanch the blood, some of the wounds were deep. I had to do something otherwise he would bleed to death. I pulled the coat off the dead man and laid it over Jervic’s naked body.

“I going to get help,” I told him loath to leave him on his own.

He looked at me with his pained filled eyes. “Don’t ever leave me Gwen?”

I choked back a sob. I had to get Kelli.

Kelli and the others were in the corridor outside the cell when I found them.

I’d gained a bit of equilibrium but I was so on edge that anything could have pushed me over the top.

“Kelli, quick I’ve found Jervic but he’s in a bad way!”

Even in my distressed state I’d noted that they had found those Confed jumpsuits they wore but no boots.

“Keep it together,” Kelli warned me and gestured to the others. “Grab our gear and relocate.”

I was glad she had the foresight to take charge I was in a mess at the moment. I led them back to the torture room.

Kelli hurried over to Jervic. She took one look at him. “Denassi get these restraints off. We’ll put him in the stitcher.”

I went to help but Bergljot stopped me her hand resting gently on my shoulder. “Let them get this done,” she said to me softly.

I hated it but she was right I’d just get in the way. I trusted Kelli to do what she could.

Audbjorg stepped across to the body and gave it a vicious kick. “Bastard!” she spat and kicked the body again. “Scum sucking mato. Took pleasure in violating me while I couldn’t fight back. She suddenly looked around. “Where are the rest of his scum suckers?”

That was what was worrying me. “That’s the question I’ve been asking myself,” I said to them. I explained my encounter with the receptionist and the guard. I gestured to the body on the floor. One of the Valkyrie had the foresight to move it to a corner.

“And then there was him?”

“There must be another way in?” Audbjorg suggested thoughtfully.

“There is,” Denassi stated.

Audbjorg regarded him suspiciously. “How do you know that? We were all unconscious on the way in.”

“I wasn’t” Denassi replied. “They did put a hood over my head. I counted my footsteps. Based on Gwen’s recollections it makes sense we were taken through another entrance,” he said smugly.

Audbjorg glared at him.

“Stop it the both of you!” I ordered them. “We can speculate later we have to hold this position until the cavalry gets here?” Deliberately using an Imperial expression.

Audbjorg looked and me as did Denassi. I had them flummoxed we didn’t need to fight each other that was counterproductive. I took a deep breath the practical part of my mind reminded me why I was here besides replaceing my team.

“I’ve still got to replace and disable the defences.” I pointed to the floor. “Stay here and secure this room. I’ll get back as soon as I can.” I wanted to stay here with Jervic but that was stupid.

The two of my three Valkyrie armed themselves with a collection of tools and knives. They looked ready for a fight. I was surprised that they followed my orders. I wasn’t going to question them over that.

“We’ll hold here until your return Gwen,” Bergljot said with a nod to Kadlin.

“And we’ll not give them a second chance to take us again,” Kadlin added.

I was tempted to say something but it would fall on deaf ears with the Valkyrie. In the end all I could say was. “Wake in the embrace of the Mother.” I left it there and hurried out.