"What up doe," Aries says cracking a smile as Alashie is pushed into the interrogation room.
"Why didn't you run with us?" Alashie says holding her head. She tried to blink back the tears but they wouldn't stop.
"They're going to come in here and ask questions in a minute. Follow my lead."
"What's the pla...." Alashie says under her breath as the door flys open.
"Ms. Laurette. Captain Quinones. Thank you for joining us. Well I see I was informed correctly. You do have pretty eyes don't you?" A man in a fresh white Federation uniform barks as he sits down across the table from Aries.
"We can skip all the games, Lieutenant .......Jacobson is it. We have nothing to talk about. I have a lawyer and I'd like to call him now." Aries says without missing a beat.
Lieutenant Jacobson laughed loudly. Alashie shrunk down in the corner holding her head. "Captain do you really think you're calling anyone? Since when do defectors have rights?"
"Defector? What the fuck are you talking about? I served my time" Aries says raising his voice.
"And took the early out huh. I've read the file Captain. Right before I shredded it. There's a new file now. One that includes stealing Federation equipment and treason as of today."
"You can't do that!" Aries yells while looking at the file on the table in front of him.
"So much yelling" Alashie says to herself holding the knot on the back of her head
"Can't do? You know better than that don't you?" Jacobson says smiling. "You won't be calling anyone Captain. Defectors don't get rights. Ms. Laurette, how's your head?"
"It hurts," Alashie says with her eyes squeezed shut.
"Fine. I can't make a call. Let her call. Alashie call your mom and get outta here." Aries says to Alashie over his shoulder.
"Get out of here?" Jacobson says still chuckling. "I'm afraid that also won't be happening, captain. Terrorists don't have rights either."
"Terrorists?!" Alashie and Aries exclaim in unison. Alashie winches
"Well yes. What else could you be with that amount of illegal Federation tech?" Jacobson asks casually. Neither Alashie nor Aries answer. "I figure it's pointless to ask you where your accomplices are."
"Do I get my call if I tell you?" Alashie quickly asks
"Nope."
"Then fuck guānbì"
"I figured you'd say something like that. Truth be told we don't need your help finding them. Let's get you something for that head yeah?" Jacobson moves to take Alashie's arm and she quickly steps away. Aries stands up and two soldiers come in to restrain him.
"Let's not make this harder than it needs to be," Jacobson growls. Alashie stares at him through teary eyes and then stares at Aries.
"We'll figure this out," Areis said faking a smile.
Jacobson walks Alashie to the end of the hall into a small medical lab. Alashie admires the equipment through bleary vision. She made a mental log of the machines and machine components around her. She remembered when Xalissa had taught her that particular coping mechanism. Xalissa. Xavier. She hoped they were alright.
"Ouch!" Alashie cried. Lost in her thoughts she didn't even notice the nurse walk up from behind her. "Is that something for this headache?'
"Oh, that's just a minor concussion you got. The effects will pass soon enough." The nurse responds absently.
"Yeah. Well, you could give me something still. Wait. What was that you injected me with then? Alashie asks puzzled
"Just a little something for that immune system." Jacobson answers.
Alashie wipes her eyes. "I just turned 16 so I just got my yearly. All you had to do was ask." Alashie says as they leave the room.
"We weren't giving you an immunization" Jacobson laughs, "I think we got a virgin here folks."
"That cherry's about to get broken," One of the soldiers says.
"Alashie slows her pace and looks at the guard. "What the hell do you mean by that I'm curious," she says trying to sound intimidating. Her only response was laughter from the soldiers and Jaccbson. At the processing center, Alashie was fingerprinted, photographed, and herded from one place to the next. It seemingly took forever. Not only were her eyes still watery but now her nose was running. When she was given a dingy yellow jail uniform Jacobson talked to the guard. Alashie made a note that this guard wore a different uniform
"Got a virgin for you."
"Oh really?" The tall square-jawed guard asked. "Hey hurry and get dressed"
"Y'all gonna give me some privacy?" Alashie asks wiping her nose.
"You forfeited privacy Hündin. Now get dressed." The guard responded forcefully. Alashie slowly starts undressing. "Eile!" the guard yells motivating Alashie to move just a bit faster. "Hey, Jake look at her. She's feeling it already." he chuckles.
"Yeah, she is. How's that head kid?" Jacobson replies
"Hey. Laurette. You got a lillte tickle in your throat? Nose a little runny?" The guard asks
As Alashie pulls the uniform shirt on she blinks away tears and answers the guard. "A tickle she asks confused?" Jacobson looks at files on his handheld.
"Drake you won't believe this. She's more virgin than we thought. No broken bones. No hospital visits. Nothing but routine immunizations."
Drake smiles a devilish smile. "This is going to be fun."
"Um excuse me. What exactly is going to be fun?" Alashie says as she sniffles.
"Tell me Laurette. When's the last time you were sick? Look at her. She feels it and doesn't even know what it is." The guard leads Alashie down a hall that she can see a dormitory at the end of. The sound of people coughing echoed down the hall.
"Have a good time Ms. Larette. That influenza comes fast to you virgins who've never had it" Jacobson calls from behind her laughing.