2014-12-21 01:22![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
lux_mariko
lux_marikoStory: Safe
Year: 2989
Word Count: 616
Rating: R
Characters: Lux, Simon
Warnings: Torture, references to war.
Mariko had promised to remove their problem, but that had been weeks ago, and the closest she had gotten had been a tense encounter with Dr. Lobell. And neither of them could afford to wait any longer, so Lux decided to take matters into her own hands.
Lux waited by the door until the doctor was out of sight and hearing, then worked it open with a barest hint of effort. She was screened against human perception, of course, but it might not be enough for him. Even he couldn't see her, but vision was not the only method of perception, and he might be able to detect her. Especially after she undid whatever Michaela had done to his brain. She knew him well enough to guess how he would react once she did. He would leave on his own. All she had to do was clear a path.
Killing him would, of course, be safer, but she could not do that discreetly. So she would do the next best thing, to get him far away from her and Mariko--take down the screens on his mind, hopefully find out why Michaela wanted him here, and then send him off on his merry way.
He was asleep. Good. That lessened the risk considerably. She covered the room in simple perception filters--there was no telling how much of a disturbance this would cause.
She rested her fingertips on his forehead, feeling the uncertain terror writhing underneath. For a moment, she allowed herself a stab of pity--Lobell was cruel enough to leave a lasting impression, even on her--but only for a moment. She then drove her fingers through his skull, burying them in the swirling lights of his mind.
He screamed.
She ignored it.
Lux's hand passed through what felt like waterfalls, misting over what Michaela wanted secret. She noted, somewhere in the back of her own mind, that he'd stopped screaming, and was whimpering faintly.
It'll hurt less if you relax, she assured him. Buried in his mind as she was, she knew he would understand.
Stop, please, stop...
I'm going to turn off the waterfalls. You'll remember everything. That will hurt even worse.
He just whimpered again. Why does everything have to hurt?
Lux sighed. Because everything comes with a price. I promise you, I'm nearly done. All she had to do was find the order, and--there!
Suddenly, everything was clear. Suddenly, she knew.
She froze, her fingers still buried in the problem's brain. What they took from her--the role she has to play--who she is...I never had a chance, it started before I was raised.
Lux felt a stab of rage, and tapped it down with a Herculean effort before she shattered his mind.
And because she kept her promises, and because, despite her reputation, she was only half as cruel as Michaela, she shut down the waterfalls.
Breathe, she told him. You've done this before. It will pass. All you have to do is remember.
He sobbed, and buried his face in his hands. She withdrew her fingers with care, again feeling that nagging stab of pity.
Run. I will guide you out. Nothing but pain waits for you here.
He didn't move.
You have to run.
Finally, finally, he got to his feet, staggering like a drunken marionette.
Lux rested a hand on his shoulder, and steered him towards the door. You helped me, and you've suffered enough. He was still a threat, but if she could win him over, he wouldn't threaten her anymore. And the stakes were far too high, even if she had never wanted this.
She hesitated, then squeezed his shoulder slightly. I promise, I will keep you safe.
Year: 2989
Word Count: 616
Rating: R
Characters: Lux, Simon
Warnings: Torture, references to war.
Mariko had promised to remove their problem, but that had been weeks ago, and the closest she had gotten had been a tense encounter with Dr. Lobell. And neither of them could afford to wait any longer, so Lux decided to take matters into her own hands.
Lux waited by the door until the doctor was out of sight and hearing, then worked it open with a barest hint of effort. She was screened against human perception, of course, but it might not be enough for him. Even he couldn't see her, but vision was not the only method of perception, and he might be able to detect her. Especially after she undid whatever Michaela had done to his brain. She knew him well enough to guess how he would react once she did. He would leave on his own. All she had to do was clear a path.
Killing him would, of course, be safer, but she could not do that discreetly. So she would do the next best thing, to get him far away from her and Mariko--take down the screens on his mind, hopefully find out why Michaela wanted him here, and then send him off on his merry way.
He was asleep. Good. That lessened the risk considerably. She covered the room in simple perception filters--there was no telling how much of a disturbance this would cause.
She rested her fingertips on his forehead, feeling the uncertain terror writhing underneath. For a moment, she allowed herself a stab of pity--Lobell was cruel enough to leave a lasting impression, even on her--but only for a moment. She then drove her fingers through his skull, burying them in the swirling lights of his mind.
He screamed.
She ignored it.
Lux's hand passed through what felt like waterfalls, misting over what Michaela wanted secret. She noted, somewhere in the back of her own mind, that he'd stopped screaming, and was whimpering faintly.
It'll hurt less if you relax, she assured him. Buried in his mind as she was, she knew he would understand.
Stop, please, stop...
I'm going to turn off the waterfalls. You'll remember everything. That will hurt even worse.
He just whimpered again. Why does everything have to hurt?
Lux sighed. Because everything comes with a price. I promise you, I'm nearly done. All she had to do was find the order, and--there!
Suddenly, everything was clear. Suddenly, she knew.
She froze, her fingers still buried in the problem's brain. What they took from her--the role she has to play--who she is...I never had a chance, it started before I was raised.
Lux felt a stab of rage, and tapped it down with a Herculean effort before she shattered his mind.
And because she kept her promises, and because, despite her reputation, she was only half as cruel as Michaela, she shut down the waterfalls.
Breathe, she told him. You've done this before. It will pass. All you have to do is remember.
He sobbed, and buried his face in his hands. She withdrew her fingers with care, again feeling that nagging stab of pity.
Run. I will guide you out. Nothing but pain waits for you here.
He didn't move.
You have to run.
Finally, finally, he got to his feet, staggering like a drunken marionette.
Lux rested a hand on his shoulder, and steered him towards the door. You helped me, and you've suffered enough. He was still a threat, but if she could win him over, he wouldn't threaten her anymore. And the stakes were far too high, even if she had never wanted this.
She hesitated, then squeezed his shoulder slightly. I promise, I will keep you safe.
