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jeriendhalJumping ahead a bit in the story, since the current chronological scene is leaving me stuck.
CONTENT WARNING: Discussions of drug abuse, child soldiers,and Melanie being a perv
The comm chimed for a full fifteen second before the CONNECTION ESTABLISHED, AUDIO ONLY indicator came on. Which was followed shortly thereafter by Melanie answering grumpily, “Salli, do you have any idea what time is on this planet?”
“I need to speak to you and Rolas immediately,” Salli told her.
“I’m sorry, Rolas is a bit tied up with something at the moment,” Melanie answered with false sweetness.
“Melanie, I honestly do not care what perverted bedroom games I just interrupted. Get Rolas to the com right now,” Salli snapped.
There was a brief pause, then Melanie said, “Give me a half-minute.”
To her credit, it was actually less than that before the vid activated, to reveal Melanie very much dishabille in a loose red silk robe not quite hiding the black rubber bustier she was wearing, while beside her Rolas sat barechested and fur ruffled, rubbing his wrists discreetly below the level of the camera’s range. “Alright Salli, I’m here. What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Ali is in the hospital. Someone switched out her medication and she injected several cc’s of bleach into her veins,” Salli said flatly. She gave a summary of the medical team’s evaluation of the damage, as both Melanie and Rolas’ ears turned back in shock, concluding with, “She’s on full life support now, I don’t know if she’s going to die in pain or live a cripple, and if my mother breathes one word about how this will oh so neatly fix the problem Ali represents to her House I will rip out her throat.” She closed her eyes briefly, composing herself. “So please tell me, Melanie. Did you know she was a drug addict?”
“Yes,” Melanie said flatly, while beside her Rolas let out a startled, “What?”
“And you didn’t see fit to tell me this?”
“I didn’t tell you because it wasn’t your business.” She held a restraining paw, as Salli opened her mouth to object. “Let me explain.”
Salli closed her jaw with a snap. “I’m listening.”
“Ali has spent her entire life since the age of six under the thumb of one mistress or another. First as Margo’s slave and soldier, then as my bodyguard and pet, and now you as prisoner and leigesworn both. She’s had no privacy at all. Save for this secret, which she begged me not to tell you. So this once I did as she bid.”
“I don’t understand. Why would she keep this a secret from me? I could have helped her.”
Melanie’s expression turned mournful. “Because she was ashamed, Salli. She wanted you to respect her.”
“But I do!” Salli exclaimed. Her stomach knotted up. “How could she think I didn’t? Did she think I would abandon her?”
“You wouldn’t do that, Salli. That’s one the reasons I tried to hook you two together in the first place,” Melanie said. “But she was ashamed of her weakness. Ali didn’t want you to think she’d ever falter in protecting you.”
“Mother Goddess bless.” Salli rubbed her ears, still trying to comprehend it all. “But how did she even get started in the first place? She takes such pride in her athletic ability.” Her forehead wrinkled briefly in thought. “Surely she wasn’t into steroid enhancement.”
“No, it started a lot earlier, when she was eight, still serving under Bloody Margo.”
Rolas, who had been listening quietly, muttered, “Surely not. Why would they give an eight year-old cubling drugs?”
Melanie shook her head, turning to look at him. “Dear husband, despite my best efforts you’re a clean minded soul. Think it through. How do you get a child of eight or ten to kill other children? First you start injecting them with drugs to get their adrenaline cranked up into a combat high. Then you do it again, and again, and again, until they’re hooked tight and the idea of refusing, of getting their drug supply cut off, is more horrible than the murders they’re asked to commit. That’s how Bloody Margo got Alinadar to damn herself again, and again. That’s why she was taking the opoid antagonist.”
“I never saw her take it, and we were living in close quarters for weeks when I was on my Grand Tour,” Salli said.
“It’s a long acting drug. She only needs to take it every few days, sometimes as a little as every two weeks, depending on how stressed she was,” Melanie told her.
“She’d…. been under a lot of stress recently,” Salli said hollowly.
“Do you need us to come home?” Rolas asked.
Salli shook her head reluctantly. “Even if a ship was there to run you home, the average freighter would take a couple of weeks minimum. I need you both there to administer the colony. I”m going to have to take care of this myself.”
“Then at least keep us informed, please Salli,” Melanie asked. “I know you have no love for me, but we both love Ali, if in different ways. Watch out for her.”
“I will,” Salli said, and cut the com.
CONTENT WARNING: Discussions of drug abuse, child soldiers,
The comm chimed for a full fifteen second before the CONNECTION ESTABLISHED, AUDIO ONLY indicator came on. Which was followed shortly thereafter by Melanie answering grumpily, “Salli, do you have any idea what time is on this planet?”
“I need to speak to you and Rolas immediately,” Salli told her.
“I’m sorry, Rolas is a bit tied up with something at the moment,” Melanie answered with false sweetness.
“Melanie, I honestly do not care what perverted bedroom games I just interrupted. Get Rolas to the com right now,” Salli snapped.
There was a brief pause, then Melanie said, “Give me a half-minute.”
To her credit, it was actually less than that before the vid activated, to reveal Melanie very much dishabille in a loose red silk robe not quite hiding the black rubber bustier she was wearing, while beside her Rolas sat barechested and fur ruffled, rubbing his wrists discreetly below the level of the camera’s range. “Alright Salli, I’m here. What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Ali is in the hospital. Someone switched out her medication and she injected several cc’s of bleach into her veins,” Salli said flatly. She gave a summary of the medical team’s evaluation of the damage, as both Melanie and Rolas’ ears turned back in shock, concluding with, “She’s on full life support now, I don’t know if she’s going to die in pain or live a cripple, and if my mother breathes one word about how this will oh so neatly fix the problem Ali represents to her House I will rip out her throat.” She closed her eyes briefly, composing herself. “So please tell me, Melanie. Did you know she was a drug addict?”
“Yes,” Melanie said flatly, while beside her Rolas let out a startled, “What?”
“And you didn’t see fit to tell me this?”
“I didn’t tell you because it wasn’t your business.” She held a restraining paw, as Salli opened her mouth to object. “Let me explain.”
Salli closed her jaw with a snap. “I’m listening.”
“Ali has spent her entire life since the age of six under the thumb of one mistress or another. First as Margo’s slave and soldier, then as my bodyguard and pet, and now you as prisoner and leigesworn both. She’s had no privacy at all. Save for this secret, which she begged me not to tell you. So this once I did as she bid.”
“I don’t understand. Why would she keep this a secret from me? I could have helped her.”
Melanie’s expression turned mournful. “Because she was ashamed, Salli. She wanted you to respect her.”
“But I do!” Salli exclaimed. Her stomach knotted up. “How could she think I didn’t? Did she think I would abandon her?”
“You wouldn’t do that, Salli. That’s one the reasons I tried to hook you two together in the first place,” Melanie said. “But she was ashamed of her weakness. Ali didn’t want you to think she’d ever falter in protecting you.”
“Mother Goddess bless.” Salli rubbed her ears, still trying to comprehend it all. “But how did she even get started in the first place? She takes such pride in her athletic ability.” Her forehead wrinkled briefly in thought. “Surely she wasn’t into steroid enhancement.”
“No, it started a lot earlier, when she was eight, still serving under Bloody Margo.”
Rolas, who had been listening quietly, muttered, “Surely not. Why would they give an eight year-old cubling drugs?”
Melanie shook her head, turning to look at him. “Dear husband, despite my best efforts you’re a clean minded soul. Think it through. How do you get a child of eight or ten to kill other children? First you start injecting them with drugs to get their adrenaline cranked up into a combat high. Then you do it again, and again, and again, until they’re hooked tight and the idea of refusing, of getting their drug supply cut off, is more horrible than the murders they’re asked to commit. That’s how Bloody Margo got Alinadar to damn herself again, and again. That’s why she was taking the opoid antagonist.”
“I never saw her take it, and we were living in close quarters for weeks when I was on my Grand Tour,” Salli said.
“It’s a long acting drug. She only needs to take it every few days, sometimes as a little as every two weeks, depending on how stressed she was,” Melanie told her.
“She’d…. been under a lot of stress recently,” Salli said hollowly.
“Do you need us to come home?” Rolas asked.
Salli shook her head reluctantly. “Even if a ship was there to run you home, the average freighter would take a couple of weeks minimum. I need you both there to administer the colony. I”m going to have to take care of this myself.”
“Then at least keep us informed, please Salli,” Melanie asked. “I know you have no love for me, but we both love Ali, if in different ways. Watch out for her.”
“I will,” Salli said, and cut the com.
