Chapter Two Davix
It is hard to know how long we have been imprisoned in this nightmare.
The perpetual twilight of our prison offers no hint as to the passing of days or nights.
We sleep and eat when we can, but those opportunities are unpredictable and do nothing to mark time.
We get barely enough food to survive and far too little to prevent eventual starvation.
In short, we are slowly dying and I do not know how long we can continue.
In addition to the physical toll, I know that Zann blames himself for our capture though Krish and I try to assure him that there is no fault on his part.
If anything, Zann’s strength has helped sustain Krish and me, and there have been times when he has foregone even his meager portion of food so that Krish or I could eat another mouthful.
It is hard to not lose hope as the days and nights run together.
Thoughts of vengeance on the one called Lianov help fuel me in my darkest moments.
In brief moments of hope, the companionship of my brood brothers sustains me.
If nothing else, we are still together and still alive even if it is unclear how much longer we can last.
We learn that we have been captured by creatures called humans and are sealed in a spaceworthy craft.
The one called Alek, who first spoke to Zann, is a male of the species as are the rest of the crew of this vessel.
Alek does what he can to sneak us edible food and clean water, but his help is limited and cannot sustain us long-term.
I cannot fault him for it. Though Alek is unchained and on the other side of the bars from us, he is no less a prisoner than we are.
The bruises, scars, and cuts that appear on his pale skin are reminiscent of our own.
I do not know how or why, but Alek is trapped much as we are.
There is no escape from this vessel, except for a quick death in the cold of space.
After a particularly brutal day, I collapse against the bars of our cage.
A new collection of rarities – creatures and treasures from a variety of planets – has been loaded onto the ship.
Lianov, who is careful to always stay out of reach of me and my brood brothers, is in a rare good mood, but his happiness does not mean better treatment or food.
At best, the amount of work to be done means he is more likely to use the whip than the motivators.
After all, the pain of the motivators incapacitates us, while the whip merely inflicts pain.
Krish collapses beside me, and I tuck his head against my shoulder.
My eyes drift closed as I let sleep claim me.
What feels like moments later, I awaken to the sound of alarms. I have heard many sounds and many alarms since our capture, but these alarms are different.
Louder. More persistent. And these alarms seem to be echoing throughout the entire ship.
“What is happening?” I sign to Zann, but he shakes his head to indicate that he knows no more than I.
A moment later, there is a screeching of metal against metal that rocks the ship.
We are thrown against the bars of our enclosure and the sounds of shouting echoes from elsewhere.
All at once, there is another crash, and everything goes completely dark.
There is more shouting and the sounds of weapons being used.
In one of the enclosures around us, some of the beasts begin to wail and bellow, adding to the chaos.
Several moments later, a beam of light cuts through the darkness, and a group of figures moves slowly into the cargo area where we are trapped.
I hear chattering and glance to Zann again, but he shakes his head.
Whatever language they are speaking, it is not something he can understand with the thing they put in his head.
Human-like figures move amongst the cages, chattering and shining lights on the cage occupants.
I bare my teeth and hiss silently as the bright light passes over my face and moves on swiftly.
The lights come back on, and the figures gesture at the various cages.
They seem particularly interested in me and my brood brothers, pausing frequently outside the cage and pointing.
I wonder if we have traded one master for another when the cage is unlocked and one of the figures gestures for us to come out.
They stand far away with weapons aimed at us, but they do not attack.
Instead, we are herded like animals down the hallway and into a part of the ship I have never seen.
Our hands and feet are still chained as we are guided down hallways and into a large, open space.
I blink as my eyes adjust to the bright light of the space.
I recognize the faces of some of our captors and realize with surprise that they are chained and guarded by the newcomers.
These newcomers, though they appear to be the same as or similar species as our human captors, are all outfitted in the same pale gray and dark blue coverings.
And then I hear a painfully familiar sound.
My eyes narrow as I spot Lianov. He is sitting at a table chattering angrily at the newcomers who seem to be ignoring him.
He wears no chains, though several of the newcomers stand close by.
Most importantly, the controller for the motivators, which usually decorates his arm, lies on a different table far out of Lianov’s reach.
A thrill of hope and excitement shoots through me, and I am moving before I hear Zann’s warning bark.
The newcomers step back in surprise as I leap through the air, and then I am digging my claws into Lianov’s soft flesh and rejoicing in the sound of his screams.