1x1 -- Curious and Stormy

[Curious]

Chyhir didn't reply to Darius when he spoke over the radio to him. He didn't feel like chatting with his captor. Who would, after what had just happened?
During the time they spent on the ship, Chyhir hardly did anything besides worry. He fretted and fretted and fretted about Scott and all the other crew members, who were no doubt back on board the Endeavor. He worried about whether they knew how to fix his shoulder and whether he felt alright. He worried about his emotional state and how he was coping with meeting Darius again. But most of all, he worried that he would come to rescue him. He felt it was more likely than not that his heroic captain would come for him, but that wasn't what he wanted. Chyhir didn't like the idea of being shoved into a cold cell, of course, but he didn't want Scott forced to be with the man he so dreaded.
The hybrid was so worried all the time, in fact, that he hardly ate, despite the food Darius provided. He was starving, yes, but he feared that he wouldn't be able to keep anything down. He had been slim before, but as the few days passed, the effects of barely consuming anything left a noticeable difference.

As Chyhir was lead through the prison hall, his legs quaked with each step he took. He was weak, unmotivated, and afraid, not to mention he didn't want to go where he was heading. He peeked into the cells that he was led past, growing more and more apprehensive with each captive he saw. Everyone was unsettlingly quiet. The hall was silent aside from their footsteps.
"Oi! You catch another innocent captive again, ya space slugs?"
He winced and jumped at the sudden noise. The voice echoing through the corridor from nearby felt like needles on Chyhir's strong ears. The guards led him to the cell from which the voice came. A small, scaled creature, perhaps a few inches shorter than Chyhir, sat slumped against the cell wall, lanky legs splayed across the floor. The elfish inmate bared his blunt fangs at the guards on either side of the doctor.
"What, so I've got another roomie, then?" He stood and faced the navy officers with a defiant gleam behind his oversized goggles. "What's he in for? Not smilin' when he said hi to ya fragile little snowflakes?"

[stormy tom]

"If you shut your mouth maybe you'll live long enough to find out," Darius replied calmly, placing Chyhir with his cell mate and locking the door. "Get cozy. You might be here a while depending on how quickly Sunshine can put one of his plans together."
He knew Scott would come. He was counting on it.

Of course Scott was coming.
"My arm is fine. Stop touching it." Scott batted Sam away. "I'm trying to think."
"Your arm might be fine but the rest of you isn't!"
"The rest of me is trying to think of a plan and the rest of you keeps distracting me! Get out." Scott growled.
Sam, understanding his friend was in a tough mood right now, got up and left the room. The crew were hesitant. Their captain was renowned for his plans. He'd probably rescued each of them at least once. He never left a member behind, risked everything just for one person. Scott would not rest until Chyhir was back on the Endeavour where he belonged. He just needed a little time.

But, the sooner the better.
Darius came to find Chyhir not long later, with food and water. "Come," he ordered, two guards on either side. "I have a few things I want to ask you."
The officer had set up the interrogation room. Questions first. Perhaps the doctor would answer honestly. Otherwise, he had another plan.
Darius switched on the lights and sat down at one side of the table, letting the doctor sit on the other, guards waiting at the door but Chyhir unrestrained.
"Now, we'll start easy," Darius began, fixing Chyhir with his chocolate brown stare. "I want to know the details of Scott's ship." Well, he wanted to know what his ex had been up to. And most of all, he wanted to show the doctor that Scott was no man to be involved with. It was jealousy, plain and simple. And also revenge.

[Curious]

"And good thing ya shut me in, because ya wouldn't live long with me out, pretty boy, I guarantee ya that. I would thank ya for the roomie but I don't uh...I don't like ya, so..." The inmate crossed his arms, his clawed fingers tapping on his elbows rhythmically. "Get outta here before this I throw up on ya through the forcefield and muss your perfect hair, your majesty."
Chyhir couldn't help but be in awe of how utterly fearless this guy was in the face of someone so powerful. He didn't look intimidated in the slightest. In fact, all he seemed to be was annoyed, his long ears pinned back and his big, brown eyes narrowed.
Chyhir stumbled into the cell and stood beside the stranger and immediately sank to the floor, his legs giving out beneath him. The reptilianesque stranger knelt before him, his previously irritated expression turning to one of concern.
"Hey, I'm Knuck. Ya look pretty shaken up, you alright, mate?"
Knuck. He doesn't exactly seem like the kind of person to be locked up for something illegal. From the way he was talking, I suppose he was locked up unjustly.
"Um...I think I'll be okay. I'm Chyhir."
"What're you in for? Ya look at a navy officer the wrong way?"
Wait...should I tell him where I'm really from? Would that put anyone in danger?
"No, I have a friend who Darius doesn't like, so he's...trying to make me bait, basically." He paused, blushing. "I mean...not friend, actually, he um...he's my boyfriend..." Saying he had a boyfriend to a complete stranger felt really strange, not to mention embarrassing.
"Ah, gosh, sorry to hear it." Surprisingly enough, Knuck did seem genuinely sympathetic. For someone so feisty, he was oddly...nice. "I suppose your lover is gonna take that bait, then?"
"I think so, but he knows what he'd be getting into if he came after me. But I truly hope he doesn't, for his sake."

The two inmates ended up settling into a corner of the cell and sharing their tales of capture. Knuck explained that he had been a weapons merchant, selling blasters of his own design. The navy had found out about his business and tried to force him to make weapons for them, but he had refused, and that's why he was being held captive. He also described where he came from and that he'd been an orphan as a "younglin'."
During the hours that the pair conversed, Chyhir found that he enjoyed his company more and more. Knuck certainly wasn't the type to beat around the bush, and his words were as blunt as his teeth. However, he was a genuinely nice guy, from what Chyhir could tell. He had even complimented his hair, saying he wished he had hair, too.

When Darius returned, Chyhir and Knuck raised their heads in unison. Knuck stood up, as though ready to pounce and pry the king's eyes out with his bare claws. Chyhir hurried to join Darius before his new roommate could do anything foolish.
Chyhir settled into his chair. He looked and felt terribly small.
"Please be more specific. I don't have anything to tell you that will help you make Scott more miserable, though, so if you're asking me where they're going or something like that, I can't tell you. I don't know, anyway."
Green eyes met brown. Chyhir's gaze was steady. Scared, yes, but steady.

[stormy tom]

Darius sighed. At least he would have a bit of time before Scott showed up. "You've been inside his ship, small man. But be my guest, don't answer. I can get something from you no matter what you choose to do. It really isn't in your hands at all. You know, I almost feel bad for you. You really had no idea how much your relationship with Scott would harm you. And that will in turn bring harm to Scott. He is terribly predictable. Made me sick listening to him talk sometimes. He allowed his feelings for his friends to hurt him, and that was his biggest weakness. It will be his biggest weakness now. It's for his own good, you know. I'm trying to help him understand that he can't get so attached. Especially not to weak people like you. He needs someone strong he doesn't have to worry about."
The human rose, smoothing out his naval uniform. "I'm going to give you a taste of what awaits you if you choose not to comply. I don't think you'll enjoy it, but Scott will enjoy the footage."
Darius summoned the guards and led the doctor through the hallways to a separate section of the naval base another floor down. They exited the lift and found themselves in the entrance to an arena. A circular metal-floored area stood in the middle of the room, surrounded by glass walls so hundreds of spectators could watch safely. Panels that were no doubt doors lined the high metal walls of the arena.
"You don't look like much of a fighter, but people can do surprising things with adrenaline on their side. We'll start you off easy." Darius clapped Chyhir on the back and led him to one of the prep rooms that led to the arena.

The crowds started pouring in, all of Darius' associates. It was a sort of game for the officers. The prisoners fought in the arena for their release. A prisoner had to win three fights in a row to be released, a reward for providing good entertainment. Otherwise, the criminal was returned to his cell.
Darius let Chyhir get ready in his small locked prep room, where he could choose weapons and equipment. The human himself went off to find a relatively easy opponent just to test the waters.
Then he lifted the doors and started the fight.

(you can do what you like if you want XD I don't mind if you want to choose the opponent and decide how the fight goes.)

[Curious]

Chyhir sighed back. A heavy frown rested on his lips.
"You sure talk a lot. I'm usually one for words, but I'd rather you just get to the point and tell me details of what's in store straight up instead of constantly whining. Uh..." As soon as the words left his mouth, his eyes widened in surprise at himself. He hadn't actually consciously chosen to say that out loud; it had slipped out of him before he knew what he was saying.
I guess I really am angry with this guy if I'm being so...sassy with him. Hopefully that doesn't backfire.
However, it wasn't his words that would cause him grief, rather his lack thereof of the ones Darius wanted. His reaction to the ring consisted of a gasp escaping his throat and a chill shooting down his spine.
Oh, no. No, no. I'm not doing this, I'm not fighting someone. No.

When he entered the ring, Chyhir wasn't holding a weapon. He was small, he was helpless, he was scared. Eyes were on him from all sides, so many eyes. He curled into a ball on the floor, huddling as close to the exit as he could. He didn't move a muscle when the door opposite of him slid open with the sound of metal scraping metal. A croaking voice reached his ears.
"Oh, hell yes, this'll be easy. Sorry, friend, but I've already won once, so after you I'm almost out of here. I've got a family to get back to."
Footsteps approached. Chyhir whimpered when he felt a boot on his shoulder. The pressure forced him to turn over on his back. Cold lights flooded his vision and the silhouette of a thin, lanky human hybrid of some sort leaned over him, wielding a thick sword that gleamed inches from the doctor's face.
"Please," Chyhir squeaked.
His tiny, pathetic plea was met with a sword through his shoulder. He let out a bloodcurdling scream.

[stormy tom]

"Scott... Scott let me in."
Scott sighed and unlocked the door, allowing Sam inside. His best friend sat next to him on his bed and patted his shoulder.
"You know... Darius really got inside your head," Sam began. "He's got you thinking you can't beat him."
"I can't." Scott replied quietly. "He was always stronger. I don't think I can stand up to him. He's too strong. Two seconds and he had me in an arm lock, Sam."
"You're focusing on one element," Sam replied softly. "That's so unlike you. You always see the big picture. That's what makes you such a terrifying opponent. You can make plans like nobody I've ever met. You might not be able to beat Darius in an arm wrestle, but you're smarter than he is. And you're faster. Not to mention you can shoot quicker and more accurately than anyone in the galaxy."
Scott sighed and held his head. "But I can't protect my friends. I can't keep the people I love from getting hurt, Sam. I thought I could protect Chyhir from Darius but the opposite happened. Now he had Chyhir, and he'll hurt him until he gets what he wants."
"You're not alone, Scott. We'll all fight for you. That's why you're so strong, Scott. You have loyal crew, because we all know you'd wrestle the jaws of death if it meant we could crawl out." Sam gave Scott a gentler than normal but still quite rough pat on the shoulder. "How's your arm?"
"Pretty good, actually. Halia did a really good job."
"That's good. She was really worried she would break something," Sam chuckled. "I told her she should get Chyhir to teach her a few things. She might make a good doctor someday."
"Let's hope we never need to replace our current doctor," Scott stood up.
"That's the Scott I knew in the academy," Sam grinned. "Now let's go get your boyfriend back!"

Darius returned Chyhir to the interrogation room when the fight was over and sat him down. "Well, doctor, have you had a change of heart? There's more where that came from."

[Curious]

Upon returning to the interrogation room, Chyhir was still bleeding heavily. He had clapped a hand to his shoulder in a lousy makeshift stopper. Pinkish blood left streaks of wetness on his right sleeve. As he sat there he faded in and out of consciousness, his body unable to decide whether to faint from the excruciating pain.
"I'm not gonna tell you anything," he rasped slowly with slurred words. "You may as well kill me now and satisfy your jealousy and childish rage." His eyes were hazy, but they burned with an unmistakable fire. He was so much more bold now that he was in pain, not to mention a bit too woozy to know what he was saying, exactly.
Scott. Scott, I love you. I love you so much, was all he could think. It lingered in his mind and echoed over and over like a prayer.

[stormy tom]

"Then you can return to your cell and think about the choice you're making. I will ask against when you've had some time to think and recover. The next fight will not be so easy." Darius indicated for the guards with his fingers, and they took Chyhir back to his cell while the human followed along behind.
His wrist beeped. Darius pressed the button and spoke. "Edgar here."
"Sir, we have a breach in security. Unidentified vessel approaching."
Darius smiled. "Ah, guests. Get the troupes ready, but don't kill them. I want them alive, and I want them to see what I've prepared for them."

He was paged again, later, in his office.
"Sir, we have captured the vessel. It was empty."

[Curious]

"I don't need to think about it," was all Chyhir responded with.
After he was transferred to his cell and Knuck realized he had arrived, the smaller male scrambled toward him and didn't waste any time in carrying him to a cell wall and leaning him against it. Chyhir accepted the help gratefully, sinking to the chilly floor.
"He sent you to the ring, huh? Geez, that's a nasty stab." As he spoke he pulled his scarf over his head and pressed it to the wound.
Chyhir nodded, too tired to reply verbally.
"Been there many times, myself. Never fun, not once. Let's get you fixed up for your boyfriend, then. Don't want you bleeding all over the place. Ah, man...you're bleeding right through my scarf, though. That's my only scarf, man."

[stormy tom]

The next day was the same. Answer questions, or go to the ring. Darius chose a harder opponent today.
In the week that followed he sent Chyhir into that ring twice more. The next, and final, time, the opponent that stepped out of the entrance doors was an armoured warrior with a big sword on his back and a shield in one hand. He wore a hood and a mask, and looked very, very dangerous. Although a bit smaller than the last warrior Darius had put Chyhir up against, he looked far more dangerous.

Meanwhile, Darius received another message.
"Sir, we have the Endeavour on our screens. It's firing! What do you want us to do?"
"Let them in," Darius ordered.