The stench of death and mold tore into his nostrils, dragging him violently back to consciousness.
The rest of it followed soon after the metallic taste of blood pooling in his mouth, the acrid texture of sweat sticking to his skin like a second, fetid layer.
They had been at him for hours. Maybe days.
Was this the second or the fourth time he’d blacked out?
His thoughts blurred and tangled.
His wrists were numb from being bound high above his head, the tips of his boots barely scraping the cold, wet floor beneath him.
He remembered Sozzenel's cantina a meeting in the heart of N’orlannia’s capital, a simple transaction.
Or so he thought.
Now he was here.
As his vision slowly sharpened through the haze of agony, he caught sight of his captors two towering figures,
armored in the distinctive, battle worn beskar of Clan Raives.
Deep crimson and tarnished gold gleamed under the sickly glow of the overhead lamps.
A nearby table bore silent witness, it groaned under the weight of cruel tools, devices twisted by design for pain and precision.
The two Mandalorians conversed in low, harsh tones.
Though their voices were strained,
he couldn’t make out their words not yet.
His ears still rang with the aftermath of the last beating.
They noticed when his body tensed, when he tried futilely to shift against his bindings.
One of them broke away from the conversation, approaching with a slow,
deliberate stride that echoed across the stone floor.
His armor clinked with each movement, each step an announcement of control.
The rest of it followed soon after the metallic taste of blood pooling in his mouth, the acrid texture of sweat sticking to his skin like a second, fetid layer.
They had been at him for hours. Maybe days.
Was this the second or the fourth time he’d blacked out?
His thoughts blurred and tangled.
His wrists were numb from being bound high above his head, the tips of his boots barely scraping the cold, wet floor beneath him.
He remembered Sozzenel's cantina a meeting in the heart of N’orlannia’s capital, a simple transaction.
Or so he thought.
Now he was here.
As his vision slowly sharpened through the haze of agony, he caught sight of his captors two towering figures,
armored in the distinctive, battle worn beskar of Clan Raives.
Deep crimson and tarnished gold gleamed under the sickly glow of the overhead lamps.
A nearby table bore silent witness, it groaned under the weight of cruel tools, devices twisted by design for pain and precision.
The two Mandalorians conversed in low, harsh tones.
Though their voices were strained,
he couldn’t make out their words not yet.
His ears still rang with the aftermath of the last beating.
They noticed when his body tensed, when he tried futilely to shift against his bindings.
One of them broke away from the conversation, approaching with a slow,
deliberate stride that echoed across the stone floor.
His armor clinked with each movement, each step an announcement of control.
“Well, look who decided to wake up.”
The man’s voice was thick with a Mandalorian accent, his words rough and jagged, like a blade that had tasted too much flesh.
Clearly, he only used Basic when absolutely necessary.
His lip curled in a half smile as he drove a vicious punch into Seen’s gut, knocking the wind from his already battered lungs.
Clearly, he only used Basic when absolutely necessary.
His lip curled in a half smile as he drove a vicious punch into Seen’s gut, knocking the wind from his already battered lungs.
“So,”
the captor said, leaning in close enough that Seen could smell the stale breath behind his helmet grille,
“let’s talk about that little chip of yours, shall we?”He tapped his gloved finger against Seen’s forehead mockingly.
“Tell me again how exactly do we exchange information?”Seen coughed, blood flecking his lips, his mind spinning. He had survived worse. He had to remember that. He had to hold the line.
Even here, dangling between life and death, he reminded himself:
Pain is temporary. Betrayal is forever.
Tag;@Seen
Even here, dangling between life and death, he reminded himself:
Pain is temporary. Betrayal is forever.
Tag;@Seen
