A Hero In The Dark

Chapter 34: The Legacy Lives

When consciousness fades in, it takes a moment to realize where I am.

There is a bright white light staring down on me, making it difficult to focus. I'm lying on a table. It is cold and hard against my skin; made out of some kind of metal I assume. I can't move. My arms and legs restrained shoulder length apart with thick leather straps.

I try to look around the room but can't strain my neck to see anything else. My whole body feels numb and stiff, aching with fresh pain that wasn't there previously. I feel sick to my stomach.

A panic sweeps over me and I try to pull free from the restraints. The leather bonds hold me firmly. I can't move. That doesn't stop me from trying until I hear his voice from somewhere nearby.

"You're awake," Setrákus Ra says calmly before approaching my side. He looks down upon me with satisfaction.

Dread shoots through me in that instant where my eyes meet his.

I gulp and give one solid tug on the restraints at my wrists. Nothing. They do not give. What is this?

He then proceeds to place a hand on my stomach and gently presses down until I feel something vicious and alive spreading to various other parts to my body. I try not to vomit even while I can taste bile creep up my throat.

He must see the unpleasant expression on my face because he takes his hand away.

There's a moment of relief in me, but that doesn't last for long. He rests the palm of his hand on my forehead, as if checking me for a fever.

Tears sit behind my eyes, ready to be released. I do everything I can to hold them back.

"Are you feeling alright child?" he asks with an odd sense of care.

"Why do you care?" I reply hatefully, struggling to keep my voice stable.

"You are my most important guest. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you," he answers.

"You mean most important prisoner," I correct.

"Nonsense. After everything I have witnessed, I believe there is more value to you than I originally thought. There is no need for me to kill you. You shouldn't worry," he says steadily.

"Go to hell," I say, though I would love to yell those words at him, but I just don't feel I have the energy with whatever poison I feel inside me.

"Now. Now. There is no need for that. If you would only assist me in accomplishing my goals, your time here would be much more pleasant," he continues, not even the slightest amount offended.

There is a note of patience in his tone. Apart from our last encounter when anger fueled his system, now he is a man of patience. It both surprises me and frustrates me.

"I told you; you are not getting anything," I say harshly.

He chuckles at that.

"Oh, dear. If only you knew. While it is true you have refused to be of much use, there is nothing stopping me from finding out the truth through science," he says. "It is all in the name of Mogadorian Progress."

"Fuck that," I say instantly and he immediately grows tense. "You destroyed an entire planet and killed thousands of people. I know you plan on doing the same to Earth. You tricked the FBI, government, and media about why you're here. If they knew the truth, you'd be dead in a heartbeat."

He takes a deep sigh, but otherwise continues unnerved.

"The Loric refused to accept Progress. The humans are different. I have not tricked them. I simply offered them Progress," he explains patiently.