The Broken Cage

Posted on Sat Jun 23rd, 2018 @ 9:00am by Mazzin Vayri

Mission: Mission 7 - Sabotage
Location: Gruseb, Xifits estate
Timeline: Six years ago - backpost
1301 words - 2.6 OF Standard Post Measure

Mazzin cracked her eyes open as fear and anger filled her mind. She knew the sensations were coming from Xifit. She shifted under the sheets of her bed, “Xifit?” she asked, reaching out in the darkness. Her fingers made contact with her masters back as she sat up, “What is it?”

Xifit pushed her hand away as he stood up and walked over to the chair where his clothes had been carefully folded several hours earlier. “Silence” he commanded.

Mazzin pulled a robe around her as she slipped out of bed, and tried to look outside towards the beach. A place she'd been allowed to go only recently with Xifit.

“stay put, and stay quiet.” Xifits voice rumbled in the darkness.

A mild protest rose in Mazzin and she felt his strong hand curl around her arm and he jerked her close. “don't distract me Mazzin, keep your mind quiet too, or I'll silence it for you.” his voice growled in her ear. The sound calmed Mazzin instantly. How strange she found that his threats calmed her mind so deep was her fear of his reprisal of she disobeyed. “That's my girl…. Not a sound, I'll be back for you.” he said then in his customary way he ran his finger along her jawline then moved away. In seconds he was out of the room, leaving her in her cage.

Her room had every comfort she needed, but she was fully trapped in the room, and as the silence fell again over the night her fear rose again. It seemed that even the insects outside her window had been silenced and it was near deafening.

When the shooting began Mazzin ran behind her bed and crouched down, knowing it would be what Xifit wanted of her. The sounds of the fight seemed to last forever, the house Guards were not going to give up quickly. One sound caught her attention as the sun began to rise over the water, sending golden light in to her room. Slowly she crept towards her window, and looked up. As she had suspected a shuttle rose from the landing pad on the roof. Her mouth went dry as it shot forward, the door still open. Aboard Xifit was leaning out, shooting back towards the roof.

Sudden panic washed over Mazzin as she pressed against the window, Xifit was abandoning her. A lucky shot caught her vision, connecting with Xifit. She covered her mouth and gasped as tears sprang to her eyes. The shuttle was too far away now, and she had no idea if her Master was dead or alive, either way, he'd left her. The overwhelming sense of loss washed over the Orion and she pounded on the window, begging him to come back to no avail.

An hour later, trapped, afraid and tears spent, Mazzin was slumped against her window when the frosted wall on the other side turned clear. Realizing that Xifits office was invaded she pulled her curtain around herself hoping these intruders didn't see her. It would mean death or a new master, and she had spent the last hour convincing herself that Xifit would find a way to get her again. She was all that brought him enjoyment, and after the years she knew nothing else but his mind games.

The figures in the office turned with surprise as the wall changed. “what did you touch?” a woman demanded.

“nothin! I swear!” a male voice said as his hands flew off the desk and he looked innocent. “damn… Nice room, hey… “ he paused. “someone's in there. Hey you! I can see your foot! Come on out, we don't bite.”

“i might. No funny business, hands first!” the woman said before she muttered in to a comm.

Mazzin kept her eyes down, as she slowly emerged from behind the curtain. “please.” she said softly “I am just a slave, I do not know anything.” she said making her voice tremble. Giving in a little to her fear, she hoped would be disarming to the intruders.

What she heard next surprised her, both figures let out a string of swears. “sicko, slaving, scum…” the woman finished out. “he's gone, and you're coming with us.”she said as she walked to the door and popped the Panel to hack in to the Control.

“he said he would return for me.” Mazzin said.

“yeah well, that asshole said a lot of things. He wasn't well known for keeping his word, and if he survived that shot we'll be long gone and this house blown to hell before he can get back here. You stay here, you blow with the house.” the male said.

“this isn't a time to teach about choices Chark.” the woman said while holding a thing tool between her lips.

The guy shrugged and watched Mazzin intently, “you got anything you want to keep, get it now, you have less than five minutes,”

Mazzin hesitated, but she could see the pair were acting with urgency and were clear that she was not getting a choice in leaving. She’d die or she’d go. She turned and grabbed a basket and gathered a few items, jewelry, pictures, and a few trinkets, and books. It was just a handful of things, but they had memories.

The door slid open and the woman held her hand out to her, “Lets go.” she said tightly.

“What if he comes back?” Mazzin asked.

“Then he’ll come back to a pile of ashes, you don’t belong to him any more. Now move.” the woman commanded. Her voice was stern enough to make Mazzin comply. The woman grasped her hand and pulled her out of the room. “You got the files?”

The male nodded and grabbed his backpack, “Everything is backed up, let’s move.” he said.

They started to pull her out of the office and through the house. Bloody streaks marred the previously glistening floors, the bodies of the house guards were shoved against the walls, discarded as nothing. Explosives were scattered about, and time was running down. A few more of their crew appeared in the lobby, finishing to gather what they needed to keep.

As they pulled her towards the front door Mazzin dug her heels in. “I can’t!” she cried and fought against them. The pair of them were strong as they picked her up. She barely managed to let out another protest before they dragged her across the invisible barrier that contained Mazzin.

The pain was blinding as the chip activated against her nervous system. The deterrent worked to keep her with in the house even if she managed to escape her room. She screamed and collapsed, writing in pain.

“You didn’t check her for a chip?” the male voice growled.

“We don’t have time!” the woman said as they dragged Mazzin towards a shuttle in the front. “We’ll have to scan for it in the….” Mazzin passed out quickly unable to endure the pain.

When Mazzin came to she was in a bed with a salt and pepper haired woman standing over her. She had soft laugh lines, but looked well kept, she moved with grace as she helped her sit up. The room was open and airy, with the scent of a forest on the air. Birds chirped and a breeze fluffed Mazzins hair. “Good morning dear. What is your name?” the woman asked.

“Mazzin…” she croaked out. “Where am I?” she asked.

The woman smiled, “We’ll get to that…. My Name is Lindsey, Mazzin, And you’re free now. No more chips, no more masters… I will teach you how choose for yourself, and help you find real work. Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life.”