"Bad to Worse"
written by Cyndi Fryar
Commander Rhea Kennit


Rhea didn't know how long Degan kept her there on the interrogation device, screaming mindlessly from the pain which coursed through her body. Over and over she was asked the same questions, and each time Rhea answered that she didn't know.. the pain was increased until it left her unable even to speak at all.. so consumed with pain she could no longer respond.

Face twisted with hatred and disgust, Degan ordered that Kennit be returned to her cell and then stalked from the room. The guards released the restraints and then roughly jerked Rhea up from the torture device and shoved her towards the door. Muscles still spasming in pain, Rhea's legs wouldn't support her weight and she collapsed with a cry. One of the guards released a string of furious curses at her, kicking her brutally in the ribs then grabbing her by the hair and jerking her roughly to her feet. Stumbling forward, gasping in pain she staggered through the door and down the corridor with the ever vigilant guards ready with fist and boots to spur her back to her feet when she fell.

At last, they reached the cell and after opening the door the taller of the two guards shoved Rhea inside with a hard shove to the small of her back. She stumbled, tried to catch herself and then fell again as her still weak and pain racked body refused to respond properly.

Marisa was in the cell, rising to move towards the XO as Rhea pulled herself to a sitting position. The Counselor looked about like Rhea felt, and Kennit wondered if they'd tortured her as well. At least Marisa could stand up and walk. From how bad her body was shaking, and the way every motion screamed pain through her tormented nerves Rhea didn't think she could get up again anytime soon no matter how hard someone hit her..

Slowly, she unzipped her duty jacket, then removed it. Running her fingers along the inner surface, she began to tear the jacket apart at the seams to remove small components from their hiding places. “You’re going to love this,” she told the Counselor, peering at her as she began to assemble the object that had been carefully concealed with her uniform.

As quickly as her shaking fingers would allow, Rhea worked on assembling the tiny device. "Its an emergency location transmitter, sends out a signal which any Federation ship in two sectors range will pickup and focus on. If the Victory is anywhere close, they'll know where we are.." Attaching the last part of the device, she triggered the control switch and the device began to transmit a powerful signal telling the Victory where the two hostages where being held.

Unfortuately, Krannik chose that moment to return to Torme's consciousness. Realizing what Rhea had done, Torme's face shifted instantly from hopefulness to blind rage.

Rhea realized what had happened almost instantly, knowing that Krannik had taken control of the Counselor again. She didn't have a chance to even move away or try to defend herself. Already weak and in pain, Torme's first blow struck Kennit across the side of her temple sending her sprawling stunned to the stone floor. In a rage, Krannik/Torme cursed at her then destroyed the transmitter before kicking Kennit savagely several times in rapid succession in the ribs and head.

By the time Krannik withdrew from Marisa's mind once more, Kennit lay unconscious and bleeding from from the nose and mouth on the stone floor. Meanwhile, aware that a signal had been sent and in all likelyhood receieved, Degan and the rest of the Vaiul prepared to intercept any ships which may come to try and rescue the hostages..