Stolen!

Stolen! Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Jessica was plagued with strange dreams and couldn’t wake herself up. No matter how hard she fought to claw her way out of the blackness accompanying vivid dreams, she found herself trapped. She continued to fight through the fog and darkness until consciousness was within her grasp. Slowly the darkness left her brain and she was aware of her body once more. She started to move her arms and legs to gauge if there were any wounds. Jess also became aware that she was nude and inside of some type of medical bed with wires attached to her head, arms and chest. There was a type of shield covering her in the bed, she was thankful she wasn’t claustrophobic, but it was still very unsettling. Upon hearing a whooshing sound, like an electric door sliding open, she closed her eyes and feigned sleep. Lying perfectly still she used every sense to track the person as they moved around the room. The person would stop ever few feet and tap on what sounded like a screen. After listening to the mumbling of the person she soon discovered that it was a male and some kind of science or medical person. She heard him mumble about oxygen saturation rates, heart rate and other organ functions being within normal ranges. Jess caught the slightest hint of sound that registered as sliding. Not sure what it was, she lay perfectly still and continued to feign sleep.

Just as she was about to start moving to get the male technician to come over to her, the sound of the electric door whooshing open stopped her cold. Another individual had entered the room, she lay still and listened. “How are our guests faring,” asked the one individual. “All in perfect health and no abnormalities,” stated the second male. Jess cracked an eye open to try to see where they were in comparison to her bed. In her mind she gauged they were about 3 feet to her right and if they were anything like her captors, they would be quick and hard to beat. She chose to lay still, listening and observing to learn all she could before escaping. “Yes, they all seem perfect except for a few scars here and there.” Stated the second male. “Your report stated that one seemed to have a larger amount of scars then most,” asked the first male. “Yes, this one here,” replied the second male and she could hear them moving towards her. “Where,” asked the first male, “she appears in perfect condition with no disfiguring marks.” Jess smirked internally while keeping herself immobile, she knew the technician would be referring to her scars from the last war zone she had been assigned to. She had shrapnel scarring along her left shoulder blade from an IED blast and some small scars along her legs and lower back that had healed rather well. Her Flak jacket had taken the brunt of most of the blast. The two males discussed her scarring and assumed it was from a car crash but then her blood went cold when they mentioned the amount of scar tissue hiding the tracker inside of her. “I’m not sure what this little clump of scar tissue is inside this one’s arm,” stated the technician. “Can it be removed safely and then analyzed?” Asked the first male. “Yes, I believe so,” replied the technician. “Then do so before we wake them from stasis,” instructed the first male, “no need to cause undue stress with such a procedure.” The technician seemed to grunt in acknowledgement. “I will see to it myself before the next cycle,” stated the technician. “Keep me apprised,” stated the first male. “Of course Commander,” was the technicians reply.

Jess had to revise her escape plan as the two males moved away continuing their conversation. She had gathered that there were others in the same position as herself and her thoughts automatically went to how to free them all and get them out there. She didn’t know what a cycle was but assumed it was a shift change or something of that nature. She wanted to get out of there with as little fuss as possible. So maybe during a shift change would be the best plan. She laid there continuing to feign sleep when she heard the the technician move back to her bed. She heard the sliding sound once more and realized it came from right above her. She felt rather than heard the technician right next to her bed. When she cracked an eyelid she saw a male with a small tray to her right and he was holding what appeared to be a small scanner in his hand. As he lifted her arm and placed the scanner against her skin, she felt a burning sensation. It took everything she had to not scream as the burning continued in her arm. “There we go, you won’t even have a mark to mar your lovely skin once this heals.” The technician seemed to be speaking to her but didn’t expect an answer. He spoke as one does to a pet or an infant. This didn’t sit right with her but she didn’t move. He seemed to noticed the tightening of her muscles and clucked his tongue. “A little bit more of the healing sedative will help with that, don’t want you having dreams of pain while you’re in stasis pretty Marion.” He knew her name, or at least the name of her cover persona. That meant they had no idea she was a plant and she had to get out of there. With her tracker removed her uncle would never find her which meant she had to reach out to him the standard way. Her mind flew a thousand mile a second with revisions to her original escape plan. The adrenaline was starting to kick through her body and as the technician was a few steps away from her bed she leapt up and her knees buckled as she landed on the floor. Her head was swimming but she forced herself up on shaky legs and moved toward the door.

“No!” Cried out the technician, “that’s impossible!” He was stunned that she was awake so early and ready to run. She should have been asleep for another week and would be awakened gently as they reached orbit around Aeridia. Jess crouched down and looked around her, trying to find something to cover herself with and make it out of there. “Marion,” said the technician softly, “don’t be afraid you won’t be harmed.” He slowly approached her with his hand held out to her as if she were a cornered puppy. This just irritated Jess to the core! She was no pet and was getting out of there. She saw a sheet and grabbed it. Quickly wrapping it around her she backed away from the technician and looked about for something to use as a weapon. She saw the tray and quickly picked it up. He pressed something on his arm and said, “Commander we have a problem!” A voice sounded back, “What’s wrong Hunai?” “One of our guests is awake!” He stated emphatically. “I’m on my way, keep her there but don’t harm her!” Came the order over the link on Hunai’s arm.

Hunai picked up a sedative ampule and loaded it into an injector. He had to get her back under control and unharmed. He knew an escape attempt could result in female before him, looking like a caged animal, getting severely injured. That was unacceptable by the Aeridian’s moral and ethical code. Females were to be protected and revered at all costs. The sound of whooshing brought Jessica’s attention to the door as the Commander stepped through. She caught a glimpse of several large bodies behind him and her eyes narrowed. He motioned for the other males to stay outside of the room and the door closed behind him as he slowly stepped forward. Jess took in a sharp breath as she assessed the new male. He was massive, at least 6’5” and every part of him was covered in tightly packed muscles. He was dressed in a vest and tight trousers that were tucked into his boots. A set of bracers on his wrists had several buttons on them, she quickly surmised that they held the communication devise that the technician had used. As her eyesight and head cleared she took in the technician and realized he was almost as massive. Did these guys advertise this body type for their gang advertisements or something? She quickly realized she wasn’t getting out of there but refused to give up on the chance of fleeing. There had to be a way out of there. She scanned the room as both males slowly approached. She was momentarily stunned as she took in the 25 sleeping forms in the other beds. “What the bloody hell!” She exclaimed as she took a step back from the approaching males.

Anger filled her eyes and she glared at the Commander. “What is all of this?” She demanded. “Everything will be explained,” said the Commander soothingly. “Unfortunately you woke up too early,” he stated. “Too early for what exactly?” Jessica said wryly. “I’m not getting back into that bed and you’re not putting me out again!” “It would be in your best interest if you allowed us to put you back into stasis, it will make the rest of the trip easier for you.” Said the technician. “I’m not some weak little flower that needs protecting or coddling,” stated Jessica. The Commander smiled, this female had fire in her veins. He admired such strength in his warriors and definitely found this alluring in the female before him. But she needed to be brought to heel, he couldn’t have a loose cannon on board his ship. The mere presence of an awake female might cause havoc among his warriors. She needed to know that he was in charge and she had to learn to comply.

“Let me make your position clear,” he straightened up and his air took on one of authority. “Do you feel that lump just past your hair line on the right?” He tapped his own spot to show her, and her hand went up to it feeling the small bump under her light brown hair. “That is a communicator but it will also render you unconscious if I find that your behavior is a danger to yourself or others. If I find it necessary to control you in this manner, you will spend the rest of the trip in stasis and you will be briefed with the rest of the females upon arrival to Aeridia.” She swallowed at the thought of this, they could do anything to her if she was rendered unconscious. Fear and outrage snaked through her belly. With narrowed eyes she asked, “what do I need to do to remain awake and in control of my own person?” “That’s better,” he replied with confidence, “simply do as you’re told and you will remain relatively free and awake.” “No one will demand s****l favors?” She asked with her eyes still narrowed and untrusting. “Of course not!” Scoffed the Commander and the technician simultaneously. “We value and revere our women! No harm will come to you as long as you follow our instructions. We do so to keep you safe.” Jessica snorted in disbelief. “Yeah,” she muttered, “says the guy who has kidnapped scores of women and is probably a trafficker!” The Commander glared at her and moved to the door, “Hunai, I trust you will handle this and get her some clothes to wear. The sheet may be appealing but hardly appropriate. Then put her into a berth and I’ll assign a guard.” “Yes Commander,” replied Hunai.