Buy a Little Mercy [Open; Potentially Graphic Material]

[cityship]

Less than an hour after the ship leaves Agrestic's orbit, an announcement is broadcast throughout Stacy.

|| Attention, crew. Your crewmates, Howard Bassem and Charles Merriman, have been apprehended attempting to desert. They will now be given Punishment. According to established guidelines, you are all requested to report to the Observation to witness the Punishment. Attendance is not mandatory, but highly suggested. This will serve as a reminder of the consequences of treason and desertion. ||

On the observation deck, Archon Yavek, Archite Rekkti, two other Daligig and a handful of Kessek soldiers stand outside a spherical force field. Inside the bubble, Orc and Howard are suspended by tentacles looping around their wrists. Orc's ceased thrashing around and struggling against his restraints; rust-colored fissures have developed around his shoulders and forearms from the strain, but now he simply hangs there, looking defeated. Howard's nose is bleeding, and every time a drop falls to the bottom of the forcefield there's a small sizzle. He's weeping and begging the Daligig with every plea possible, but they act as if they aren't listening. Instead, they wait for an audience.

Comments

REACTIONS

[meat_mooks]

[Open for anyone who would come to see or try to interfere. You may assault the Kessek, but in the interest of keeping the rebellion on a feasible timeline Stacy will protect the Kessek from being too greatly injured, and the Kessek will retaliate to any attack. If you're interested in having your character seriously injured, let Lisa know.]

Re: REACTIONS

[first_in_time]

As soon as Barbara heard the announcement, she ran as fast as she could to the observation deck. The first thing she saw was Howard and Charles suspended in their bubbles. She covered her mouth with a hand in shock and disbelief, shaking her head like it shouldn't be real.

And it shouldn't.

"How could you?!" she cried at the officials and their soldiers, "they're only children! They shouldn't even be involved in this war and all they wanted to do was get away. You should be ashamed of yourselves!"

[badassfreakingoverlord]

In the arms of his minion, Zetta came up to the scene, a big grin on his face.

"Hyaa ha ha ha ha! It's about time we saw some discipline around here!" he said, directing his voice to the Daligig. "Kick ass and take names!"

He was pretty much counting on the Warden being too busy to read and communicate his thoughts, for the sake of this deception. Of course, stupid other crewmembers believing this crap was also a concern, but he'd done his best to point that he was lying his table of contents off without saying as much on his omnicomm transmission.

Re: REACTIONS

[zouichi]

Zouichi stalked through the halls, his customary weapons (plus one recent acquisition) all present and accounted for. His thoughts were whirling, refusing to settle on anything save the last recording of Punishment that he'd watched. If they were going to try and inflict that on Howard just for trying to leave and make a new home for themselves --

"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded of the Daligig gathered in the chamber. It didn't matter which one of them answered him so long as he got an answer. He and Howard had said their goodbyes. Howard wasn't supposed to be back here. He was supposed to be free from this. Free to start a new life, or what passed for one now that almost everyone in his reality was dead and gone.

"You're going to vivisect a couple of teenagers for not wanting to take part in your damn war? What happened to the truce terms? How many laws did you break to yank them off that planet? What the hell does it matter to you if two kids from out in the middle of nowhere tag along on your little crusade? They're not soldiers! They're not even trained combatants!"

[Chances are they'll pretty much have to severely injure Z to get him to watch the Punishment.]

[theboywhodied]

Cedric had been forlornly playing with the cats back at the inn when the message arrived. He'd dropped his little ball of yarn in shock, leaving Sushi and Emergency Rations to tussle over it on their own.

He looked down at them, sparing a little skritch before taking up his wand and running. Please don't be too late...no...surely they can stop this...

A few minutes later, he skidded onto the Observation Deck. What he saw made his stomach churn. Howard and his friend Orc, captured and afraid. The Daligig looking menacing. Memories of the video he'd hardly managed to watch even segments of flashing through his head.

"This is absurd!" he yelled, clenching his fists. "You're going to torture them for attempting to escape an awful war that we were forced into?"

Re: REACTIONS

[soulinherfists]

When Allenby heard the announcement, she raced for the Observation Deck as fast as she could go. She had seen the recording of Punishment not long after her arrival on the ship--part of it, anyway. She couldn't make herself watch all of it.

If she had her way, all of it wouldn't happen today either. Voices of doubt (or maybe common sense) clamored for attention in her mind, about the Kessek and Stacy's forcefield and tentacles and energy blasters. She ignored them.

Goddammit, Howard was crying. And she was pretty sure those red marks on his friend's body were nothing good. Allenby didn't waste any time with questions or accusations. She just ran until she felt she was in range and lifted her hands above her head. "NOBEEEEL SUPERBALL!"

She pitched the green-white energy orb like a hugely oversized baseball. It sparked with all her rage and spirit as it flew towards the Kessek and Daligig. Take them out, get that forcefield down. Then... well she'd just keep going from there and damn the consequences.

Re: REACTIONS

[theprophet]

Tarrant made his entrance as cool and collected as ever, draped in fine. He was dressed in graduated layers of silk, as was his custom when not traveling. A thin gold band held back his hair; he'd even completed his outfit with the high collar that signified his station -- beaten gold, in the pattern of intricate overlapping flames.

He made no effort to use the weapons hanging at his side. Nor did he try to engage the other crew members. He merely stood watching the two prisoners, imposing in his height and impassiveness. Or so it seemed to everyone else in the room.

To Tarrant's special Sight, the ordinary lighting in the chamber was eclipsed by the strange, otherworldly luminescence of the dark fae that permeated most of the ship. He reached out to that web of power, tasting the currents as they reached out, invariably attracted to the living warmth of the people gathered here. Swiftly, he formed the basis of a Knowing, using it to touch the Daligig and the Kessek alike. If there was information to be found here -- on their future plans, their motivations, their capabilities and armaments... even a weakness or the confirmation of the sordid rumors that had been drifting to his ears from the people of Agrestic -- he wanted to know.

Without the ability to Work the fae themselves, they would have no way of knowing what he was up to. Which was exactly how he wanted it.

[encourage]

The announcement had Sakura running as soon as "Punishment" was uttered. She had to get through the transport tubes, but she's among those early on scene.

She goes cold. Sakura knows it's out of anger, feels it straining against every inch of her skin as she stands still, staring at Howard. She looks to Orc, too, but it's a general check. She knows the relative reality of what's going on, she knows what punishment entails, and she knows it's all the bullshit brought on by the Daligig.

"Are we conscripts?"

It's a simple question, delivered with an entirely even tone of voice. Sakura's face, her mind, her everything is a mask, a focused anger so immense that it's lost all heat. For her, this is the most dangerous sort of moment. It's when she can least predict herself.

[bequiet_hescreamed]

"Civilized beings don't do this to other civilized beings."

The words came from out of nowhere-- well, specifically from Clef, who was projecting his voice so that it could be heard despite his short stature. He had summoned his staff and was glaring threateningly at the Daligig - quite frankly, he did intend to fight if necessary. The only reason he had opened his mouth was in the off chance that words would help. He had seen video of the punishment and refused to allow anything like that to happen again.

"Cease this immediately! The only thing these children will learn from being tortured is fear!"

[not_the_philistine]

Goliath recognizes Howard, not by name, but by face. His immediate opinion is that desertion - especially given that Howard could not more obviously be a non-combatant - is hardly worth Punishment. Whether Punishment entails the suffering the boy and his companion have already been made to endure, or something worse yet to be seen.

"What is the meaning of this?"

[magnetlips]

"What?"

Cassie hadn't been there to see the first and only Punishment that had happened but she had seen the recording. She had to, the person was from her world and had said she knew her. She needed to confirm they'd never met (at least when she was from). She had to stop watching moments in.

"Oh my God they're going to- they can't-"

Before nearly getting killed, Cassie might have charged right into the Daligig, hoping to get a lucky punch in. But now she knew that even if she was in her prime (which she wasn't) they were too powerful.

But Howard was up there. And he'd been so nice (or nice enough) to her while she was recovering and basically lived in Med Bay.

"You can't!"

Re: REACTIONS

[burnedbrighter]

Azula had come to the punishment on her own, curious to see just how this military dealt with desertion. More to the point it would give her a better idea of the fate that awaited her if she couldn't control herself. She was getting better at holding onto her will...but the episodes were also becoming more fractured and unstable.

Peering up at the victims she wondered if it had been cowardice, or something more that drove them to try and abandon the likely last humans in the universe.

Re: REACTIONS

[changelingdude]

Beastboy found these days he was living in a state of denial about the war. It wasn't pleasant, he didn't like it, so he tried to ignore it. But every day it was getting harder.

And so despite having horrible memories of the first one he came to this punishment as well hoping...even praying that something would happen. It was one of the rare times in his life since becoming a hero that he felt truly and completely powerless.

Re: REACTIONS

[keep_surviving]

The last experience Diana had with any sort of punishment had been back on FAYZ, when ‘King Caine’ took the fate of two boys into his hands upon his return to the town. They’d been quickly accused and convicted of trying to kill someone and Caine had tossed one to his death without remorse.

It’d been like this. Public. A demonstration.

But here the fear in the air was more than anything Caine could dream of holding over people.

It certainly hadn’t surprised her, the idea of Howard running away. In fact, it was mostly expected. If there was a way to leave, Howard would take it. And take Orc with him.

What had surprised her was this punishment. Yes, there would probably be some negative effect for trying to ‘desert’ as they dubbed it, but something had seemed off the moment they’d all been requested to join. What needed to be so massive as gather the whole ship? It didn’t sound good.

The unease in the air when she arrived didn’t help. The panicked twitterings. The horrified fear. And then the fights broke out. She did her best to keep away and focus on moving closer to the front to see what was happening but she could hear their outraged battle cries, their anger, their hate. She could guess what was about to happen but tried to refuse such a thing could happen on this ship she used as refuge.

And then Diana saw them.

As Provisions, who’d been perched on her shoulder, tried to make himself smaller and hide in her curtain of hair, Diana took in the scene infront of her, stomach turning. Somehow, she knew what was coming.

“Oh God.” She whispered.

Re: REACTIONS

[hatngartersnake]

By the time Jeka arrived on the Observation Deck, tentacles were already restraining several members of the crew and keeping the rest away from the Daligig and the force field holding the two "deserters". She briefly considered joining those people shouting at the Daligig -- she knows what Punishment is, and she has no desire to see it happen; but instead she slips into a back corner and removes her belt and folds it, fitting it into her mouth. If this works, she's going to need it to keep from cracking her own teeth.

She reaches out with her abilities to see if she can possibly dampen the pain that the Daligig are about to inflict on these two young humans.

Re: REACTIONS

[azulescarabajo]

"No." The word is quiet, spoken by an unassuming boy who stands there, watching with a look of horror and rage. He knows what this is. He forced himself to watch as much of the recordings of before as he could stomach. And there's no way he can stand by and let this happen. No way he can watch and do nothing. He's already sacrificed too much of himself on the altar of this sick conflict.

"No! No one else is getting hurt because you have to be in control!" And as he speaks his armor ripples and comes into being, covering him in its protective embrace. Khaji is already making suggestions for weaponry, noting this power level or that much destructive force. And most of it, Jaime can't use without endangering everyone else on the Obs Deck.

"Let them go!"

Re: REACTIONS

[swordofdorn]

Erhart is watching at first. Shaking with rage. Obviously about ready to draw his blade and launch himself at Kessek. With him, it is really just a matter of time....

Re: REACTIONS

[hit_girl_mindy]

A scene.

That would be easy enough. And it needed to be a scene not from Hit Girl, who could take whatever anyone could dish out, but Mindy Macready, tough but still impressionable girl who was marching into this in angry girl mode.


"What the hell do you think you're doing?! That's Howard, he's part of medical! You can't do this!"

[thewunderkind]

LAsh had been there last time for punishment. She still thought that Big Zero deserved it, but Howard...well he had left the ship. She could only remember the talk she had with him about how Black Hole would have outright killed them for deserting...somehow this seemed less barbaric than this.

Yet, she was here regardless. Part of her wondering, the other knowing why she was here at all. Maybe stir that little bit of anger and rebellion in her that kept slipping in and out all the time. Watching the others running and getting themselves knocked out and going unconscious was not surprising and she flinched a little, looking at the ceiling, not realizing that she was biting her lip down so hard blood was seeping thought.

What an entire spectacle this was.

/all the late to this

[atadiscoverer]

Carson hears the announcement and drops whatever he's doing to go to the observation deck. Once he gets there, and sees the scene going on, he just stares at the forcefield, horrified.

"What the bloody hell is this?!" Granted he doesn't like Howard, but this?

Whatever it was, Carson doesn't like it. Not at all. "You've got them chained up like bloody animals!"

[warriorraceguy]

One of the crew's resident huge aliens is not happy.

N'tho stalks onto the Observation Deck, head forward and mandibles held in a tight expression that just exposes his teeth. He goes straight for the Daligig and their Kessek entourage. The angle of his head masks his eyes below the brow of his helmet. The finned shapes of it and the combat harness combined with his patient, deliberate tread evoke the image of an approaching shark. He's doing all he can to be menacing, for whatever it's worth. The Kessek are even bigger than he is. He's good, but he's not that good and he knows it.

"What is the meaning of this?"

Re: REACTIONS

[goddamnwingman]

A muscle in Dick's jaw twitched as he worked to keep his anger under control. It was difficult, but he had a lot of years of experience keeping his emotions under control. He wasn't as good as Bruce at it, but he was good.

"As head of ship's security, I'm logging an official protest of the treatment of these individuals. One, they're still children. And two, this isn't the way that the crew handles problems amongst ourselves."

Re: REACTIONS

[couldputitback]

Faiza stared, hands over her mouth. She'd heard about this, but she'd never thought that they would really go through with it.

"This is barbaric," she said, looking to the Daligig. "It isn't enough that we've lost our worlds. Must you take their dignity as well?"

PUNISHMENT

[meat_mooks]

[Orc, Howard and NPCs.]

Re: PUNISHMENT

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Howard hasn't stopped pleading while the fight broke out, except to scream some useless advice for Zouichi to watch out when a Kessek went to attack Zouichi's back. Words keep ripping their way out of his throat, now made hoarse from sobbing and screaming.

"Please, please don't do this to us, please, please, we're only kids, we didn't know, we didn't mean to, he's just fourteen, we're only kids…"

Not that that has ever made any difference. Not that in the history of Howard's life since the FAYZ, that age has ever protected them from anything. That the universe ever stopped for one instant and realized they were still children. Why should it start now?

His arms are completely numb from hanging like this for nearly half an hour now. The pain in his shoulders tells him that one or both are probably slowly getting dislocated from his own body weight. God only knows what Orc's feeling right now.

He looks over at his best friend, hanging there almost entirely motionless except for the rise and fall of his chest. He's so tired of seeing that look on Orc's face. Waiting for the inevitable, beyond caring enough to fight it. And the inevitable is always bad.

"I'm sorry, Orc, I'm so sorry. I didn't know. I'm sorry." And then he's crying too hard to speak.

AFTERMATH

[meat_mooks]

[Any subthreads can be started here. Go to Med Bay for care, freak out at Stacy, patch each other up, whatever you want.

I will put up a thread for dealing with Agresticans, who are now thoroughly PO'd, when DW's done being a pilbotron.]

Re: AFTERMATH

[kaya_waterwave]

She was waiting in med bay, for reasons she knew would have made sense to no one. She met Orc once, and he was a nice guy. She knew that well enough and was concerned for him.

But Howard. Howard was her friend, her antagonist, a guy she couldn't begin to hope to understand but liked well enough. For that reason, for the rebellion she knew was inevitable, for her own sanity, she had waited in med bay. She knew herself well enough: every bit of training and every death strike she knew would have been levied at the Daligig approving this cowardly, disgusting, arrogant attack.

And she knew just as well that there WOULD be those that attacked the Daligig and they would be ending up here. And that was exactly what she wanted.

It was time to put the bus to good use.