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

[grimbiker]

Sirius arrived there just in time to see the Daligig deflect Cedric's spells and send him sprawling.

"Cedric!"

Sirius hadn't spoken with Cedric much but he had been Harry's school mate, rival, and most importantly, someone who had died for him.

Sirius ran over to the boy man, quickly assessing his injuries. "Stay down."

[theboywhodied]

If Cedric wasn't so preoccupied with trying to save Howard, he would've rolled his eyes. Honestly---he ached, probably sprained a few things and was bruised, but this wasn't bad yet.

"I can't. Howard." He struggled to pull himself up with a grim expression, quietly casting a stinging hex at that Kessek.

[grimbiker]

Sirius placed a hand on his shoulder to hold him back.

"I know."

If it were James up there... but he wasn't, and that's why he could think clearly.

"You'll only get yourself hurt. You might even make things worse for him." He said in a low voice. "Think, Cedric. We have to wait."

[theboywhodied]

Cedric shook his head violently, not caring about the little sting there. "How much worse? They're already going to tear them apart. They're terrified, they need someone!"

He would try until he was incapable of trying anymore. With that in mind, he broke away, running at the barrier and flinging every destructive spell he knew wherever he saw it. He hurried to dodge any reflections of the curses, especially the ones that made a small explosion on contact.

He knew he'd be hurt badly, maybe even killed, but..maybe someone else would get through if it was weakened.

[grimbiker]

Sirius swore.

This was a terrible idea but he couldn't let Cedric do this alone. He got up and went after him, wand out. He was focused more on keeping Cedric in one piece than bringing down the barrier. He knew from the way the Daligig had shrugged off Cedric's earlier spells there was no way he could bring it down. They'd need more than the two of them working together.

[meat_mooks]

One of the Kessek deflects one of Cedric's stunning spells right into Sirius. Another rushes up to Cedric and beats him, again, down into the ground. And, for added emphasis, steps on the hand holding the wand until bones splinter.

"Do not make me injure you further."

[theboywhodied]

Even Cedric can see that he's powerless to do anything more without magic. Tears well up in his eyes at the pain, and he drops the weapon. Not that he has much control of his hand anymore anyway.

He looks up at the equally helpless Howard and Orc and swallows a sob. They're going to have so much worse than a broken hand.

It's going to be an awful view from down here.