Key to Freedom

Posted on Wed Jun 9th, 2021 @ 1:03pm by Lieutenant Commander Deanna Celes & Lieutenant Ayana Hillis & Lieutenant Commander Estella Stratton

Mission: A Dark Looking Glass
Location: Mirror Universe

Ayana led Estella away to a new room which at that moment had several other females occupying it. Ayana looked at the gaggle of females and spoke plainly and with force, "Leave." The women quickly exited, and Ayana walked around Estella, looking her over. "You are a decent-looking woman. The Intendant will approve of you. We simply have to dress you appropriately and teach you what it means to be a good servant. Now I need to get you attired. Strip."

The Counselor fell into step behind Ayana and walked with her into another chamber where a number of other women were gathered and stopped as she came to stand in the middle of the room and the others were cleared out with a single command. When the two of them were left alone, she felt rather uneasy. The manner in which Ayana circled her too was off-putting. However, she stood unmoving and offered no response as a comment was made as to her appearance. No, she wasn't supermodel material, but she wasn't too hard on the eyes. Even so, she wasn't looking to catch anyone's attention.

Her lips parted and she let out a gasp of disbelief when she was ordered to undress. She hesitated and weighed her options. Were she to refuse, she might lose whatever chances she had. Yet, if she was too compliant... wouldn't they suspect something? She opted to comply, but not without showing some displeasure. Eyes narrowed and lips were drawn in a disapproving scowl, she slowly began to disrobe.

Ayana looked her over as she disrobed. It was as if she were studying her, the way one might in an Orion slave auction. "You don't have flaws, rare for a Terran. The Intendant will like you. I understand what Celes meant. You very well may be the distraction we have been waiting for."

Her stomach knotted and churned when she noted the way Ayana was observing her. Flawless? How? Estella almost scoffed at her choice of words. Her body might not carry any scarring, but some wounds went unseen. However, it was her comment in regards to her being a distraction... something they needed that peaked Estella's interest. "Distraction?" she asked. Her voice even. Although, equally concerned her, as she recalled the way the Intendant spoke to Jon earlier and the fire it sparked in her blood.

Ayana was silent for a moment. She considered if she had misspoke, if she had uttered something she shouldn't have. But if Celes thought she was the key, Ayana believed this woman deserved to be told...something. She grabbed a Tholian silk dress and walked to Estella and handed it to her, "Put this on" she said somewhat forcefully. She remained silent once more as she waited for Estella to react. She closed the distance between the two and whispered in her ear, "The Terran resistance is coming. We simply need to distract the Intendant. You are that distraction. You are the key to our freedom, the key to the defeat of the Intendant. Now dress, quickly."

Arm extended, Estella took the dress and slid into it. The silk was soft against her skin. Rare too. Exceptionally, if she wasn't mistaken. Something that she would not have imagined given to a servant given how prized the material alone was. Still, she had more important matters to consider than attire. Shoulders squared and back straight, Estella stood upright trying her best not to feel like some form of a living trophy. She tensed slightly at Ayana's words and inhaled sharply with the whispering of resistance, and her being the key to freedom. Just what kind of a mess had they walked into? Still... this might be the perfect chance for her to find a way to get them all out of there!

Ayana nodded her approval as she looked Estella over. "Yes, very nice. The Intendant will be pleased. Now all we have to do is teach you how to be submissive to the whims of the Intendant and you will be ready."

Submissive? The Counselor visibly flinched as she remembered the manner in which the Intendant spoke to Jon. The very thought of that woman was enough to make her sick! Any questions she had for the time, remained unspoken and she continued to observe, waiting for the window of opportunity. Although from the manner in which Ayana spoke of her, it was clear she was more the decoy to let the other Celes pull off some kind of elaborate escape plan. Just how long had this been in the works? How long had they been waiting? And if they thought she was just going to sit there and let herself be used without seeking an opportunity to strike herself, well... that was where Ayana might have been mistaken.

Celes entered the room, a look of panic evident. "Is she ready?" she asked, fear in her voice.

Ayana looked at her, uncertainty upon her face. "She is properly attired, but not fully instructed."

Celes looked at them both. "We have no time for proper instruction. We have been summoned." She looked at Estella, "You would be wise to play your part. It may be your only hope of survival." She turned and began to walk out of the room.

Ayana gave Estella a gentle nudge, "We must go. Move."

Play her part? She had yet to audition and for a role, she didn't fully understand. She was quite literally going out onto a dark stage into a spotlight without call cards or having rehearsed her lines. And yet, here they were putting all their hopes on her. She couldn't mask his cynicism. Nor did she try as she was escorted out of the room and led to meet with the one woman she had no desire to see.