Out of the Fire....

Posted on Fri Sep 29th, 2023 @ 4:14pm by Commander Jonathan Grayson & Lieutenant Ayana Hillis

Mission: Damn Dirty Apes
Location: Ape Military Headquarters
Timeline: After Shadow Tactics

*Ape Military Headquarters*

Jon and Ayana were left alone for a time where they could reflect on their current situation. After an appropriate amount of time had passed, a group of chimps and gorillas entered and quickly and efficiently rebound the Starfleet Officers. Their legs remained tightly cuffed, but their hands were rebound behind their backs. Putting their fronts on full display. Whispered comments were made about the two nude prisoners most were about Ayana. They were then ushered back into another room, this room had two posts in it and their purpose soon became clear. Ayana and Jon were each led to a post where they were tightly chained to it and then without a word the chimps and gorillas left, leaving the pair alone to wait and think.

The apes weren't even being subtle about it. Their intention was to present Ayana and Jon as trophies. Being bound along with being naked lowered their value, putting them on the same level as the other humans on this planet.

Ayana was done crying. She accepted that what was being done to her, to her and Jon was meant to break them. They were degrading them, her more than Jon, though the apes couldn't know that. She had set her mind to the tasks at hand, to survive, and if possible, to escape. It would be a special bonus for her if she had the opportunity to repay Thade for his many acts of kindness he had shown them. Despite the mistreatment, they had at least been given food and water, though the food wasn't gourmet by any stretch, just simple fruits, bananas and mangoes mostly, a few figs. She didn't believe Thade was responsible for the nutritional items, more likely Athos. He was practical, calculating, civil even, not a psychopath like Thade. If circumstances were different Athos might make for an interesting diplomatic conversation, but that sort of wishful thinking needed to put in the back of her mind for now.

Jon looked over at Ayana. She seemed composed. She had stopped crying, but he was sure she was shaken by being stripped nude and then fondled by the apes. It would shake anyone. He wondered what was next for them. The apes seemed to want break and degrade them. Hence them being stripped nude as it was removing a part of their personalities and leaving them more vulnerable to the apes questioning. Nudity heightened the captor-captive relationship. Athos seemed civil, decent. However, Thade was the real threat to them. he was sadistic and cruel and seemed to delight in degrading them, especially Ayana.

More time passed and then a door opened, and Athos came and stopped in front of them. His gaze swept over the nude pair and seemed to linger on Ayana. Finally, after several seconds of intense staring he spoke. "Better. This is better, now perhaps you will be more agreeable to answer my questions."

"Don't bet on it" Ayana muttered.

"For someone as lovely as yourself, you seem to be quite hostile and uncooperative. I do not wish unpleasantness to befall you, but you are making that a likely outcome" Athos replied to Ayana's muttered outburst.

"You may be a more diplomatic member of your race, but Thade is a disgusting psychopath. And you use him to your own advantage anytime you don't want to get your own hands dirty. Stop trying to play the gentle giant. False bravado won't serve to get us to answer anything" Ayana said firmly.

Athos's eyes blazed in anger for a second before returning to their normal color. He continued to stare at Ayana as she stood before him chained to a post, she had no secrets, her entire body was on view. he seemed to be debating a reply before he finally spoke. "You seem determined to force unpleasantness upon yourself. Rest assured we can accommodate that wish and make this much more unpleasant and painful. However, why do you wish to make things unpleasant for yourself and the commander? I have no desire to mar that remarkable body of yours, when it can be avoided to begin with."

Ayana looked at Athos defiantly, "I've already dealt with Thade. Do your worst."

Athos shook his head almost sadly. He was clearly disappointed in Ayana's reply, but he had a duty to do which was to get answers. "As you wish." With that he went to the door and opened it. " Come, she is yours. Do what we discussed." A moment later a chimp walked in and proceeded directly to her. His eyes sweeping over her body but making no comment. he came to a stop in front of her. "We can do this easy or hard." He explained then added, "Open your mouth" as he produced a what looked like a horse bit. It was obvious where it was intended to go.... Ayana's mouth.

"Pray I never break free" she said in a defiant solemn voice. She opened her mouth and allowed herself to be gagged. She stared at the chimp who backed away from her slowly, fearful at what he saw from her.

Once the chimp had placed the gag in Ayana's mouth and tighten the straps behind her head so she couldn't spit it out, Athos came to stand in front of her. He reached a hand out not to strike her but to make sure her gag was even more secure as he tightened the gag even more. Stepping back, he looked into her angry eyes. "Perhaps this will help you to be more cooperative." He commented.

As the chimp left, her gaze fell upon Athos. He knew immediately that her words may be prophetic, she was one to be mindful of regarding her threatening words. He walked over to Jon, "Now perhaps we can talk."

Jon turned his head as best he could to glance at Ayana who now was not only nude and bound but also gagged and staring daggers at Athos. It was quite clear Ayana was not a happy camper. "General, you've made enemies today. Dangerous enemies. I don't know what we have to talk about."

"Well, to begin with you and your companion's situation. You both will remain without clothes and bound. Your companion will also remain gagged to help with her attitude and be more cooperative."

Jon gave a bitter, humorless laugh. "Are you serious Athos? You strip us and bind us in an effort the break us and now you've gagged Ayana. This not the way to start a conversation and build a rapport."

Athos knew what Jon was saying was true, but he didn't have much choice. He had never dealt with humans like Jon and Ayana before, never dealt with anyone quite so intelligent and yet defiant. If other humans were like them, he'd have legitimate concerns for his people. As it were, his main concern was gaining information and insight before Zaius arrived. Athos understood Zaius better than most, knew he was a far shrewder and more dangerous ape than others gave him credit for. Athos needed as much information as possible to give him any advantage over the religious leader.

"You will tell me what I want to know. I may not like Thade's methods, but if I cannot get you to see reason, then you'll leave me with little choice" Athos said as diplomatically as he could.

Jon didn't reply immediately. Athos wasn't stupid. Jon could tell he struck a nerve saying what he had to the ape military leader, he glanced at Ayana who was still staring daggers at Athos despite her current situation. "Athos, Thade is a psychopath. He hates humans and him coming in and either beating me up or cutting me or groping Ayana isn't going to make us tell you anything. If the situation was reversed and what you have done to us was done to you, how would you feel? Furthermore, I am being reasonable Ayana and I both were being reasonable and look what it has gotten us." Jon sighed. "Ayana spoke her mind and look at her. She's securely bound nude and gagged. You haven't made a friend there Athos yet you want us to be reasonable." Jon paused and he swore he could hear Ayana growling lowly through her gag. She was well and truly pissed.

Athos seemed to ignore most of what Jon had said, wanting to press the matter at hand. "Where do you come from? What tribe? How are you able to articulate as well as an ape? How were you able to defeat so many of my men in combat?" His voice was level, but desperation could be heard.

Jon sighed; Athos was persistent he would grant the gorilla that. He decided to answer the gorilla's questions at least this batch to show he was being reasonable and perhaps improve both his and Ayana's situation.

"Athos, General." He replied deciding to use the ape's rank. "We share the same planet, a planet called Earth. You and your kind were aboard a ship that came from there. That is the home of both Ayana and me. As far as articulating, all humans can speak. I went to school as did Ayana to learn tactics and hand to hand combat. If I wasn't injured, I would have defeated Thade," He paused as his throat grew weak. he looked at Athos, "Some water please Athos."

Athos didn't answer but he moved away and went to the door and called to someone. A moment later he was back with a canteen. He held it to Jon's lips so Jon could drink. After a few sips Jon nodded. "Thank you. What I said is true Athos. You must believe me. If Ayana wasn't gagged, she would tell you the same thing." Jon's eyes went to his bound friend and companion. Judging by the look in Ayana's eyes it was evident she was still outraged by her situation, and it didn't appear it was going to change anytime soon.

Athos had hidden reactions to Jon's answers well. He had been astonished at what Jon had said. Only 12 apes in all of their society knew certain details about their origins, including the planet called Earth that Caesar had come from. He was uncertain how Jon knew of the planet, or if he were telling him the truth about being from there. Could humans and apes have a common ancestry? He would probe Jon further, see if he could confirm any more information. "Tell me more about this Earth. You said my kind was aboard a ship, I assume that travelled from this Earth; what was the name of this ship?"

"Earth is ours and your people's home Athos. We both come from there." Jon nodded, "Yes your kind and humans traveled together on a ship called the Rudin. It crashed landed here. Many years ago. If you venture to the holy site, you will see I am telling the truth."

While Jon and Athos talked, Ayana was quietly trying to free herself. The manacles were tight, but not without a flaw. Finally she thought of something that would help. She had hairpins in her hair, and with one, she could pick the lock and free herself. It would have to wait until they were alone.

Athos didn't answer Jon, he was watching Ayana struggle with her manacles. He addressed her. "You appear to be smart, so heed my warning. If you should free yourself, the soldiers have orders to shoot on sight and I would prefer that they didn't have to do that."

Ayana stared at Athos defiantly. Being restrained and gagged had disadvantages, but she was looking forward to freeing herself. She wasn't afraid of the apes; she was single-minded about exacting revenge.

Jon spared a quick glance in Ayana's direction. If he knew the sec/tac officer, she wasn't going to let her present situation stop her from working on a plan to escape. He turned back to Athos. "Have you any other questions general?"

"Why are you here? Are you some military scout determining potential targets? And why are you so different from the other humans here?" Athos questioned.

Jon gave a humorless chuckle. "Typical military question of the military mind. Nothing of the sort General. I'm here completely by accident. The ship I was piloting crashed here with my wife and myself aboard. She was able to return to our mother ship. As for being different, humans where Ayana and I are from are intelligent and capable of speech."

"And what of the apes on your planet? Are they like you, like us, or something different?" Athos questioned, his demeanor beginning to show cracks in his regimented military persona.

Jon gave another glance at Ayana who was bound to the post like he was and naked just as he was. He saw her lips fighting the gag in her mouth to no avail. He looked back to Athos and replied. "The apes on our planet are not like us general nor are they like you. They are something different. They are incapable of speech. Some can communicate through sign language after being taught it but nothing more."

Athos looked dejected with what Jon said. He didn't speak, he simply turned and walked out of the room. With the door still open he spoke to the guards outside, "Ungag the female, clothe them in slave garb and provide them food and water. I'll return soon with Zaius."

The guards nodded in understanding and waited for Athos to leave. They entered the cell and removed the gag from Ayana. She was breathing heavily as they left and then returned a few moments later with simple looking attire, little more than what appeared to be a burlap sack with holes cut for their head and arms, and rope to function as a belt. Jon was dressed first, then Ayana. The restraints were loosened so that they could at least sit and small cups of water were brought in along with pears. The guards then exited and closed the cell door.

Ayana looked to Jon, "At least we aren't nude."

Jon nodded, "That is true," He agreed but raised a cuffed hand. "We are still restrained however, but maybe this is a good sign, a step in the right direction." As he bit a pear. He took a sip of water. "Athos listened now we'll what happens when Zaius arrives."

"I think you told him something that made him question what they believe. Athos doesn't strike me as a zealot. He may want to understand us better, perhaps understand the technology we possess, but I think he ultimately is looking for ways to improve his position amongst his people. Zaius will be a different story I think" Ayana replied before sipping her water.

"I think you are spot on about Athos. He wants to gain favor with Zaius and maybe even freeze Salos out. Zaius, I believe knows much more than he lets on. I believe he is a shrewd character. He lets others talk and he sits backs and takes notes." Jon answered. "I'm sorry they gagged you and the way you have been treated Ayana. Very sorry. I don't know if having your gag out is just for this or they will gag you when Athos comes back with Zaius. Hell, we may be chained back the way we were."

"Everything is fine sir. We are at the mercy of these apes for the time being. I do agree Athos is clever, perhaps overly so. He may be playing himself. Zaius is a question mark, as is how Thade plays into all of this. We will learn a lot when we meet Zaius I think" Ayana replied, sipping her water.

"It isn't fine Ayana." Jon countered and started coughing again. flecks of blood were on his mouth. "However, you are correct, we are at the mercy of the apes. We'll know more when Zaius arrives. Thade, is the wild card. I think he has his own agenda."

"I'll deal with Thade myself" Ayana said firmly. "I have found a means to free myself and you." She reached up to her head and pulled a bobby pin from her hair. "I can pick the locks easily with this. I suppose we should wait until a more opportune time before attempting escape."

"You can have him, Ayana. I think you deserve to take him down a few pegs. You owe him some payback." Jon replied, He smiled as Ayana showed him a bobby pin. "Very nice Ayana. Very nice indeed and you are correct we need to wait for a more opportune time to make our escape. I hope the ship has figured out a way to get an away team down here and they are looking for us."