NationStates Jolt Archive

An old army vehicle went across the road calmly and without concern while its occupants, that is, three schoolgirls were sleeping soundly with makeshift blankets covering them as they were only in their pajamas. They had been captured by the Puritanians as slaves during the surrender along with many other people. The Myakkan Government was looking into the slave issue albeit many of the people imprisoned were already feeling a craving for freedom. No food could diminish that craving. The schoolgirls had been praying that they would one day return to Myakka and had decided to hold out hope no matter what the situation would be. They woke up quietly to see that the vehicle had stopped. They were here....in Osric.

The vehicle had stopped at a roadblock about 5 kilometers from the airbase they were headed to. One of the Imperial Guard troopers shouted. "Everyone out of the trucks! Form a line!" He walked along the line the slaves had formed and stopped at the girls. "Well well, what do we have here? Maybe I should arrange work for you at the officer's brothel at the base?"

All the girls were nervous even though they looked relatively calm in the presence of the soldiers. Iona looked at the soldier with nervousness in her eyes before she spoke to him. "Sir, do not send my friends to the brothel but let me go instead.....let them do other things while I work for the officers. Please.....don't send them to the brothel with me. Let me bear their crosses."

Hm. We'll see about that." he said and lit a cigarette. He continued his inspection and when he was done, he went back into the guard booth. After an hour of standing in the desert sun the slaves were allowed to go back into the trucks. The trucks passed the roadblock and soon arrived at the base and the slaves were unloaded from the trucks and told to form a line again. An officer inspected the slaves again. "I am Major Paul Bielert. First of all, welcome to Osric. Here you will pay for your crimes, whatever they may be. You'll be given proper clothing for your tasks after you've all washed up."

Everyone was then taken to the showers. It was just an empty room with a few hoses. The Major was smoking and said "Everyone remove your clothes and put them in the plastic bags over there. If you fail to comply, you will have to be assisted." while the soldiers straightened up the hoses.

ooc: Bump.

The schoolgirls did as they were told as they put their ragged and dirty clothes into the bags that they were given whilst they mentally wept and dreamt of returning home to their beloved nation. They stuck together as they went to their own hoses because they did not want to separate. They all wanted to be together and help each other during these times. Iona looked at the nearby slaves and was distressed. Why was she even here? She and the others committed no crimes whatsoever! Did the Puritanians honestly think a politically apathetic schoolgirl could really be a Communist spy? That was hard to accept but yet, in Iona's mind, entirely possible. The shower did allow her to cool down from that hour in the sun. She tried to cover her body up so that people would not get any ideas. After all, some people were just tempting to others and could be ravished without even knowing about it. While waiting for the water to come, Iona just stood under the hose and prayed for her safety and that of her friends.

No one got any ideas, yet. Icy cold water started to come out of the hoses and the soldiers had lots of fun while some of the slaves fell down on the slippery floor. After the hosing, everyone was taken to a room, still naked, where there were piles of old slave uniforms. The ones the girls were given had blood stains on them, and Iona's even had a bullet hole at the heart, meaning that its previous owner was executed. While the slaves were getting dressed, a few soldiers wandered around the room, giving some slave a kick or a punch every now and then. It was then when the few soldiers got 'ideas'.

Outside Captain Augsberg signed a few papers and talked to the newly received slaves. "I am Captain Augsberg. Welcome to Osric. This is the place where you will pay for your crimes and serve our great Emperor, who in his wisdom has decided not to take your lives along with your freedom. If anyone has anything to say or ask, do it now."

No one got any ideas, yet. Icy cold water started to come out of the hoses and the soldiers had lots of fun while some of the slaves fell down on the slippery floor. After the hosing, everyone was taken to a room, still naked, where there were piles of old slave uniforms. The ones the girls were given had blood stains on them, and Iona's even had a bullet hole at the heart, meaning that its previous owner was executed. While the slaves were getting dressed, a few soldiers wandered around the room, giving some slave a kick or a punch every now and then. It was then when the few soldiers got 'ideas'.

Iona and the others silently got into their slave clothes while watching the soldiers abusing some of the other slaves and luckily, they all thought, the soldiers were not harming them but Iona felt that they could at any time. She eyed the blood stains and the bullet hole on her outfit and was horrified but calmly put it on as if it were a new dress. Iona led the others to follow the other slaves and she told them, in Myakkan, to just listen to the soldiers.

Outside Captain Augsberg signed a few papers and talked to the newly received slaves. "I am Captain Augsberg. Welcome to Osric. This is the place where you will pay for your crimes and serve our great Emperor, who in his wisdom has decided not to take your lives along with your freedom. If anyone has anything to say or ask, do it now."

Iona did not whether or not she should speak lest she get whacked or beaten by one of the soldiers for her supposed insolence but she had not even done anything to become a slave. What crime did she commit? In her mind, she screamed that she committed no crimes but she could not bear herself to say anything now except for some uttered words in Myakkan in a soft tone. "I...did nothing....did nothing wrong..."

The other girls stood silently beside Iona and prayed for their health and wellbeing and for their emancipation and return to Myakka where they could put all of this behind them.

A young Ganosian boy, around Iona's age who'd been taken as a slave for stealing food from an army supply depot, did speak. "Death to the Emperor! Long live the free nation of Ganos Lao!" The Captain sighed. "What a waste, losing a slave before he even got to work." he thought to himself. He nodded to a few soldiers, who dragged the boy to a wall after beating him with their steel batons. He was shot to the back of his neck with an assault rifle, after which the soldiers gave his corpse a few last kicks. Augsberg then pointed at Iona. "You there, choose a volunteer and get that corpse out of the way."

Hastily choosing someone she did not know to help her with the corpse, Iona and the stranger went to take the body and move it out of the way although she really was horrified. Could she be next? What about her friends? Heaven forbid if they should be harmed or worse. As they were carrying the corpse, Iona wondered what would have happened if she had spoke out. She'd most likely be the corpse here. She looked at her helper and smiled a little. She was calm on the outside but distraught on the inside. Eventually they disposed of the body and Iona returned to the other slaves. She looked at some of the soldiers and only prayed that they would not hurt her or her friends. She could only hope.

A few hours and several beatings later it was time for dinner. The slaves were told to form a line at the kitchen. The chef spat on every plate before and after putting food on it. The food was something that could vaguely be called vegetable soup. A soldier kicked the plate out of one of Iona's friend's hands and said with a smile: "Lick it from the ground like the dog you are."

A few hours and several beatings later it was time for dinner. The slaves were told to form a line at the kitchen. The chef spat on every plate before and after putting food on it. The food was something that could vaguely be called vegetable soup. A soldier kicked the plate out of one of Iona's friend's hands and said with a smile: "Lick it from the ground like the dog you are."

Elizabeth bent down reluctantly and began licking the soup from the ground as if she were a dog while her friends watched in horror but they did not seem to intervene. She kept on licking the soup like a dog for about several minutes before she rose from the ground with the food all eaten up. She looked at the soldier and then looked down on the ground while wondering if she would have to do anything else.

"That's a good doggie. You two, pour your food on the ground and lick it aswell."

"That's a good doggie. You two, pour your food on the ground and lick it aswell."

Mary and Iona reluctantly poured their food on the ground and began to lick it from the ground while an emotionless Elizabeth watched before she went back to her table but with her eyes still on her friends. This could not be real, she thought, it must be a nightmare.....

As soon as Elizabeth sat down, she was hit with a steel baton. "Did I say you could sit down?"

As soon as Elizabeth sat down, she was hit with a steel baton. "Did I say you could sit down?"

"I'm sorry, sir.....very sorry. I'll stand."

The soldier laughed. "That's good, but you still need to learn to behave." He continued beating her with a sadistic smile on his face.

Elizabeth felt pain shoot all over her body as the man began to beat her without relent while the other slaves watched in stoic amazement. She tried to fight back but it looked like she was not going to fare so well. Suddenly, the soldier felt a foot kick his family jewels. An angry and outraged Iona kicked him with full force in the most sensitive area known to a man and began trying to get Elizabeth out of the way while attacking the soldier. The battered Elizabeth was on her knees as she watched Iona claw at the soldier as if she were some enraged bear defending her child. Sure, she knew that she could be beaten severly for doing this, but she would never let someone beat up one of her best friends. Mary just looked in emotionless awe from her table and hoped she would not be next.

Two soldiers dragged Iona off of the other soldier, who immediately got up and started beating her instead while the other two held her in place. One more soldier joined in, continuing Elizabeth's beating. Later on, the soldiers carried Iona's and Elizabeth's unconcsious bodies into a holding cell.

Iona awoke in the bleak and dreary cell with an unconcious Elizabeth slumped over her lap while her eyes scanned the environment around her to see that they were in some dilapidated and overall horrid cell. What was happening to Mary? Iona shuddered at the thought of one of her best friends being abused by the Puritanians but there was nothing she could do save for pray for Mary's safety and that of her own and Elizabeth who awoke from her own unconciousness to see that she was with Mary in a cell. All she could remember was being whacked over and over again and then blacking out. That's all that came to poor Lizzie's mind. Iona began talking to Elizabeth in the Myakkan language while uttering her prayers for Mary's safety since she knew nothing about where Mary was at the moment. All she could do was just hope.

Mary, meanwhile, was wandering around in the slave camps while walking towards the place set aside for her to sleep in because she just wanted to know the other slaves better than she did. She did see some of the soldiers watching her but did not feel totally wary of continuing to walk. She just went on walking while trying to make herself feel like she was back in Myakka. That's all she could do. Imagine herself in her own happy place.

The warden appeared at Elizabeth's and Iona's cell. He smiled. "So, you've finally woken up. I hear you're in a whole lot of trouble" He was one of the few, if the only, soldier at the base who actually felt sorry for the slaves there. "I'm guessing you" - he pointed at Iona - "are going to get shock treatment." He then pointed at Elizabeth. "And about you I'm not sure. They might send you down to the mines in the south. For your sake I hope that won't happen."

A Ganosian slave came up to Mary. "Hey.. I heard your friends tried to beat one of the soldiers. Is that true?"

The warden appeared at Elizabeth's and Iona's cell. He smiled. "So, you've finally woken up. I hear you're in a whole lot of trouble" He was one of the few, if the only, soldier at the base who actually felt sorry for the slaves there. "I'm guessing you" - he pointed at Iona - "are going to get shock treatment." He then pointed at Elizabeth. "And about you I'm not sure. They might send you down to the mines in the south. For your sake I hope that won't happen."

Iona sighed. "I could not allow one of my best friends to be beaten so I had to jump in and save her.....I really don't even know why I am even here since I committed no crimes. I'm just a schoolgirl....not some Communist spy."

Elizabeth felt saddened at the prospect of working down in the mines to the south. She prayed that she could stay with her friends until they were all emancipated. "I hope that I'll be able to stay here with my friends....I can only hope though."

A Ganosian slave came up to Mary. "Hey.. I heard your friends tried to beat one of the soldiers. Is that true?"

Mary looked at the Ganosian and nodded her head affirmatively. "The soldier was beating one of my friends so my other friend try to save her. That's what happened. I'm shocked that it all happened and I do hope my friends are alright."

"Well, there must be something you guys did wrong or else you wouldn't be here." He reached into his pocket and took out something that looked like a pack of cigarettes. He handed it over to Iona through the bars. "It's opium, perfectly legal. Smoke it by the window there. And if anyone catches you with them, I don't anything about it." He lit one himself. "They'll come get you in 15 minutes."

The Ganosian slave laughed. "It was brave, but stupid. If you see them again, tell them that they should do it when they see one of the soldiers alone somewhere."

Well, there must be something you guys did wrong or else you wouldn't be here." He reached into his pocket and took out something that looked like a pack of cigarettes. He handed it over to Iona through the bars. "It's opium, perfectly legal. Smoke it by the window there. And if anyone catches you with them, I don't anything about it." He lit one himself. "They'll come get you in 15 minutes."

Elizabeth decided that she did not want to partake in the smoking of the opium since she was wary of what its effects could be. Iona, however, took one of the cigarettes and smoked it reluctantly; Elizabeth watched as she coughed for a while before her friend seemed relaxed. "Thank you, sir, for this gift of sorts. All I remember is that they took us along with many other Myakkans. I've never done anything wrong! Never!"

The Ganosian slave laughed. "It was brave, but stupid. If you see them again, tell them that they should do it when they see one of the soldiers alone somewhere."

"Logic would demand that action."

Mary giggled a little and then smiled at the slave; he seemed friendly enough. "What is your name? My name is Mary, one of the Myakkan slaves. I'm saddened heavily by these developments but can only keep on hoping for my eventual emancipation. I don't know why I'm even a slave since I did nothing wrong."

"Oh well. You confessed to whatever they were accusing you of, and you're a slave for the rest of your life." He then wandered off. Augsberg and a few others came into the cell. "Slave number 18651555 (ooc: Iona), come with us." Iona was taken into a room with a table in the middle of it. The table was stained with dried blood. "Will you lie down on the table on your own or do you need assistance?"

The Ganosian slave smiled. "My name is Jarno. I'm here for murder."

"Oh well. You confessed to whatever they were accusing you of, and you're a slave for the rest of your life." He then wandered off. Augsberg and a few others came into the cell. "Slave number 18651555 (ooc: Iona), come with us." Iona was taken into a room with a table in the middle of it. The table was stained with dried blood. "Will you lie down on the table on your own or do you need assistance?"

The Ganosian slave smiled. "My name is Jarno. I'm here for murder."

"I never confessed anything that would make me a criminal for I did nothing wrong at all."

Iona looked at Augsberg and the others who came into her cell and went with them into the room while Elizabeth sat alone in the cell with her hands fondling the opium cigarettes as she wondered what the men would do to her best friend. Iona did not want to get onto the table but she felt like they would have forced her onto the table regardless of what she did to stand up against them so she reluctantly laid down on the table and hoped that she would be able to withstand whatever they had in store for her; she looked at them emotionlessly and prayed for her eventual salvation from this nightmare while she was on the table.

Mary, meanwhile, was still talking to the Ganosian slave. "It's nice to meet you, Jarno, and who did you murder if I may ask? I don't know why I am here to be honest."

One of the soldiers strapped Iona to the table, while another one was attaching wires to her. Augsberg turned the machine on. It had seen a lot of use during electric shock therapy. "Understand that this has nothing to do with your performance in work. It's simply a disciplinary action." Augsberg clearly enjoyed Iona's screams of pain.

"I murdered a medic, apparently from this very base. You and your friends must have done SOMETHING to be here."

One of the soldiers strapped Iona to the table, while another one was attaching wires to her. Augsberg turned the machine on. It had seen a lot of use during electric shock therapy. "Understand that this has nothing to do with your performance in work. It's simply a disciplinary action." Augsberg clearly enjoyed Iona's screams of pain.

Iona felt the electric shocks rush through her bound body and screamed violently as a result but she was unable to get them to stop; she noticed how much Augsberg was enjoying her pain and it made her sad but sadness was shoved aside forcefully by the sheer pain of the so called therapy. Her screams echoed throughout the vicinity of the room and she could do nothing else but scream and scream.

"I murdered a medic, apparently from this very base. You and your friends must have done SOMETHING to be here."

"I suppose that us along with ALL the people from our village did something wrong then to be here? What could WE all have done?"

The 'therapy' continued for an hour or so, until Augsberg got bored. He left the room. One of the soldiers opened Iona's overalls and reached around. "Nice, nice. I never would have thought a Communist dog would be this firm." He also left the room. The remaining soldier opened the straps and dragger her back to the cell.

Jarno laughed inside at Mary's supposed stupidity. "Well, I guess not. Tell me your story. How did they treat you?"

The 'therapy' continued for an hour or so, until Augsberg got bored. He left the room. One of the soldiers opened Iona's overalls and reached around. "Nice, nice. I never would have thought a Communist dog would be this firm." He also left the room. The remaining soldier opened the straps and dragger her back to the cell.

Iona felt like she had been brutally murdered by these perverted Puritanians who not only tortured her with the so called therapy but who had actually sexually abused her without any concern. It was as if this was all a game to them and it made Iona feel horrible but it made her also pray that Mary and Elizabeth would not suffer the same fate even though she felt like saying that they probably would. She hated the Puritanians. She hated ever going outside that night. She hated the Communists. She hated her life but yet felt a desire not to lose it. When she was brought back to the cell, Elizabeth asked her what had happened to her but Iona said nothing. She sat in a corner rather stoically and was silent.

Jarno laughed inside at Mary's supposed stupidity. "Well, I guess not. Tell me your story. How did they treat you?"

"The Puritanians had liberated our village from the Communists who had been terrorizing us villagers for a long time ever since they took control from our local Monarchist militia. I remember that we had went out into the village one night to get some supplies when the Puritanians approached us and took us to an interrogation tent where we were left for six hours and accused of being spies. I could not believe it when I heard that I was accused of espionage! How could a schoolgirl possibly be a spy! How could a schoolgirl who doesn't care about ideologies be a spy? I had to endure the tyranny of the Reds for a long time, Jarno, and it was horrible to see how they treated people as if they were insects able to be smashed to bits with one stomp. They would take people away and shoot them, they closed down the churches, they took our food, they abused women, and they made us feel like nothing. When the Puritanians had arrived, I felt very happy that they had come but now I wish that they never had. They are just as bad as the Communists!"

Mary felt tears rolling down her eyes but continued to speak. "All I want, Jarno, is to return home and never have to remember my time here in Osric. It is horrible just to even think about it. I know that you, too, must feel like I do. I know that there are many here to feel like I do. I know this....we are trapped in a living nightmare."

Mary cried more and then looked away from Jarno. "Jarno......."

The warden appeared again and walked into the cell. He sat down next to Iona. "I know how you feel, my sister was convicted of treason and suffered the same fate as you. I'm not the same as the rest of the soldiers at this base are. Tell me what happened."

Jarno sighed. "This isn't too bad once you get used to it. I'd love to see the Emperor dead though. To me your story doesn't sound like anything special; that's what happened to countless villages in my country after they defeated our military and took over." He noticed that Mary was crying. He hugged her. "Don't cry... If they notice it they'll kick your face in."

The warden appeared again and walked into the cell. He sat down next to Iona. "I know how you feel, my sister was convicted of treason and suffered the same fate as you. I'm not the same as the rest of the soldiers at this base are. Tell me what happened."

Although she could not trust the man fully, his sincerity made Iona reluctantly tell him all about the electric shock "therapy" and the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of Augsburg and his men. "It was so horrible to experience....I recieved it only because I was trying to protect one of my friends. It was terrifying, warden, quite terrifying and I can only hope I'll be set free soon."

Iona sighed. "....Why did they have to take me as a slave? Don't they know how much people like me suffered at the hands of the Reds and how much we thought the Puritanians were liberators....it's really depressing to contemplate but yet I want to...."

Jarno sighed. "This isn't too bad once you get used to it. I'd love to see the Emperor dead though. To me your story doesn't sound like anything special; that's what happened to countless villages in my country after they defeated our military and took over." He noticed that Mary was crying. He hugged her. "Don't cry... If they notice it they'll kick your face in."

Mary stopped crying and looked up into Jarno's eyes for a brief moment. "This may not be too bad once I get use to it, as you say it, but I can never get used to be unjustly imprisoned and punished. I must, somehow, return home to Myakka but until then I must simply try to survive. Hopefully, I've made a new and good friend in you, Jarno. You really seem like a nice guy. Tell me about your nation."

"As much as I hate to say this, but you'll most likely never be free again, unless someone buys you from the government and gives you your freedom." He lit an opium cigarette. "I'd do it if I could afford a slave." After he had smoked his cigarette, Augsberg came into the cell. "Warden, what are you doing in here?" The warden went pale. "I... I was interrogating the prisoners, Captain." Augsberg pointed at the warden. "And for what, if I may ask?" Without waiting for a reply he continued. "Get out of my sight. Slave number 812746 (ooc: Elizabeth), come with me.

"It's beautiful, lush forests and mountains, crystal clear lakes... We were a constitutional monarchy, our king was Henrik IV. He was already executed during the battle for our capital, the rest of the royal family are slaves now... He was stripped naked, they sprayed 'Little piggy' to his chest and hung him to a light pole." He sat down in the sand and took a worn out cigarette pack out of his pocket and offered one to Mary. "We were free. Of course there were people who wanted to be a part of this country. I blame them for our country's annexation."

As much as I hate to say this, but you'll most likely never be free again, unless someone buys you from the government and gives you your freedom." He lit an opium cigarette. "I'd do it if I could afford a slave." After he had smoked his cigarette, Augsberg came into the cell. "Warden, what are you doing in here?" The warden went pale. "I... I was interrogating the prisoners, Captain." Augsberg pointed at the warden. "And for what, if I may ask?" Without waiting for a reply he continued. "Get out of my sight. Slave number 812746 (ooc: Elizabeth), come with me.

Before Iona could even respond, she noticed that Augsberg had returned and she felt like she was going to be taken away again for some more torture and abuse but instead she had heard him desire to take away Elizabeth. She felt like trying to pull Elizabeth to her and hold her tightly so that Augsberg would not be able to take her away but she did nothing as Elizabeth walked away with Augsberg. Elizabeth did not know what was going to happen but she felt it could be another beating and/or her own taste of what they had done to Iona. She considered trying to run away but she doubted it would work and knew it would probably only increase the suffering they had planned for her to recieve. It was heartbreaking to be here and more so when it made you feel like you were worthless.

"It's beautiful, lush forests and mountains, crystal clear lakes... We were a constitutional monarchy, our king was Henrik IV. He was already executed during the battle for our capital, the rest of the royal family are slaves now... He was stripped naked, they sprayed 'Little piggy' to his chest and hung him to a light pole." He sat down in the sand and took a worn out cigarette pack out of his pocket and offered one to Mary. "We were free. Of course there were people who wanted to be a part of this country. I blame them for our country's annexation."

Mary refused to take the cigarette as she listened to Jarno talk about his nation and the heroism of its monarch that resembled the heroic courage of Gaspard XIX of Myakka, now considered a martyr, who had succumbed to death only after a long battle with the Reds. After Jarno had finished, Mary began to speak. "In Myakka, we had a beautiful country as well with clear rivers and many valleys and we lived in peace for many years until the Reds came and took it all away from us. They closed down churches, abused women and make us feel like insignificant villagers. It was a blessing, the villagers thought, that the Puritanians came. The village still stands with many people living there but some people ended up vanishing and so did I and my friends. I can only hope that I'll return to Myakka one day....I just want to go home."

Mary sighed. "Jarno, do you ever dream of going home? Has anyone tried to....escape from here? How can one become free?"

Elizabeth was taken to the same room as Iona. She wasn't going to be given the same therapy as Iona was given, though. Augsberg had planned a nice session of waterboarding for her. She was tied face down on the table, while Augsberg readied a hose. "I hear that you have some issues with obeying. Hopefully after this you won't do anything without a permission." Water started coming from the hose while Augsberg smiled sadistically.

"Yeah, I do, although there's nothing there anymore; they burned the whole city because it had refused to surrender after a long siege... If we're ever free, and that's a big if, I'd like to show you my country." He spat at a passing soldier who went by without noticing. "Escaping? I'm sure someone has tried to do it. I'm not going to though, there's nowhere to escape; we're in the middle of the desert. The city is 40 kilometers to the south, and even if you manage to get there, the Imperial Guard will find you and return you back here. After that they'll most likely treat you even worse than now."

Another bump. -.-

Elizabeth was taken to the same room as Iona. She wasn't going to be given the same therapy as Iona was given, though. Augsberg had planned a nice session of waterboarding for her. She was tied face down on the table, while Augsberg readied a hose. "I hear that you have some issues with obeying. Hopefully after this you won't do anything without a permission." Water started coming from the hose while Augsberg smiled sadistically.

Elizabeth felt the water charging at her face while she tried to maintain her composure despite this harsh treatment she was recieving from her captors. She felt as if she was being charged at by waves of water but looked interestingly calm. She just tried to endure it all; feeling rather courageous. Mentally, she prayed for her eventual emancipation. She wanted to just go home and never look back nor even think about these days. She had not been in Osric for too long but it was getting to her nonetheless.

"Yeah, I do, although there's nothing there anymore; they burned the whole city because it had refused to surrender after a long siege... If we're ever free, and that's a big if, I'd like to show you my country." He spat at a passing soldier who went by without noticing. "Escaping? I'm sure someone has tried to do it. I'm not going to though, there's nowhere to escape; we're in the middle of the desert. The city is 40 kilometers to the south, and even if you manage to get there, the Imperial Guard will find you and return you back here. After that they'll most likely treat you even worse than now."

"It would be a pleasure to see your beloved nation, Jarno, and I do not know if I would try....and I think that escapees who vainly try to flee will most likely be just killed as a deterrant to further plots. I just cannot believe that I am even here....I just cannot believe it, Jarno. Jarno...do you think it's worthless to pray for emancipation or try to escape? Should I just...accept being a slave?"

Augsberg was disappointed with Elizabeth's reaction to waterboarding. "Meh. I suppose she needs the same therapy as the last one." They dried Elizabeth well before starting with the therapy; even though she was a slave there would be tons of paperwork to do if she would die. "Now. Lets get this over with, gentlemen. We've got other things to do as well."

Jarno sighed. "Yeah, they'll most likely kill the one who tried to escape, and maybe a few others. I think you should accept being a slave. The Puritanian government isn't going to send anyone home unless it gets payed well enough, and I guess it's better for us bear the cross for the rest of the people in any Puritanian occupied areas." He stood up and gestured for Mary to follow him. "I suppose you're hungry? I've been stealing food along with a few others from the warehouses."

Augsberg was disappointed with Elizabeth's reaction to waterboarding. "Meh. I suppose she needs the same therapy as the last one." They dried Elizabeth well before starting with the therapy; even though she was a slave there would be tons of paperwork to do if she would die. "Now. Lets get this over with, gentlemen. We've got other things to do as well."

Elizabeth felt immense pain throughout her body as she screamed for the men to stop the barbaric therapy mixed with statements that she would try to be more obedient to her captors. "Stop! Please stop!"

Jarno sighed. "Yeah, they'll most likely kill the one who tried to escape, and maybe a few others. I think you should accept being a slave. The Puritanian government isn't going to send anyone home unless it gets payed well enough, and I guess it's better for us bear the cross for the rest of the people in any Puritanian occupied areas." He stood up and gestured for Mary to follow him. "I suppose you're hungry? I've been stealing food along with a few others from the warehouses."

"I am quite hungry, Jarno, and I would not mind coming along with you to get some of that food. As for being a slave...I just hope that if I am to be a slave from now on...I hope, at least, that I get a benevolent master."

Augsberg laughed, almost maniacally. "Stop? Oh no, we're only just getting started." The therapy continued for several hours, until Augsberg got bored and decided it was time go to the officer's club. He order his men to take Elizabeth and Iona to a tent, along with some others.

Jarno took Mary into a rather large tent. There was another slave in the tent, he was from Shanestan. He was just putting a few jars of pickles into a hole in the ground when Jarno and Mary came in. "Jarno, who's this? How many times do I have to tell you not to bring anyone here.. If the soldiers find out about this they're gonna kill everyone here." Jarno laughed. "Relax, Oswald. The idiots guarding the warehouses won't notice a thing, and even if they do they won't report it; they don't want to lose their comfy jobs... Anyway, this is Mary."

Elizabeth felt worthless. She felt like she was drowning in a sea in which the Puritanians pissed and shat and laughed as she suffered. The series of unfortunate events just kept going on and on like some worn out television or animated series that was past its prime. Elizabeth felt as if she was nothing more than garbage which could be thrown out at any given time without anyone asking for it not to be done. She wasn't Elizabeth. She was but some bundle of numbers. The ideal slave was soon to be made. Elizabeth told Iona about the treatment she suffered softly in the Myakkan language which was impossible for the Puritanians to hear and comprehend. They both knew they would be going to the officer's club as they marched together with some other slaves. Elizabeth still felt worthless while Iona felt like she was still worth while. The difference between them here was just like others; Elizabeth always looked up to Iona ever since they were little girls in Easter bonnets and dainty shoes and when Mary came into the picture, they all grouped up into a trinity of metaphorical sisters bound by the ties of friendship which made them slaves of the idea that all three would stick together no matter what happened. None of them, in the days of Easter bonnets and dainty shoes, expected to be slaves of foreign men after being victimized by the unexpected rise of Communist hypocrisy. They all were frightened young women torn apart by the on-going series of unfortunate events. To describe these young women as slaves, one may rely on a rather pessimistic author who called three orphans "magnets of misfortune" but they may also say that Iona, in particular, still held out hope in the ideal of an eventual emancipation. Eventually, they saw the silhouette of the officer's club and cringed. Further torture was in store for them.

Mary, the fortunate one so far in this litany of woe, had been rather nervous while walking to the tent with Jarno since she did not know what to expect. It could have been a trick and Jarno could have been a Puritanian agent disguised in the attire of a humble slave so as not to arouse suspicion. She may end up captured, along with Jarno and anyone else, and sentenced to death. Her story would end much more quicker than she would have expected and her parents would never know that their child was made into a slave and killed. They did know that their child disappeared sometime after the Puritanians left the village and many were suspecting that the Puritanians were involved in the multitude of disappearances but, then again, nothing is certain. Mary looked to see Oswald horribly concerned for his safety and looking at her as if she was a threat. Maybe he felt she was a government agent herself disguised as a slave. Mary eventually smiled at him and looked at Oswald. "Its....nice to meet you, Oswald. I'm Mary, as Jarno said."

Mary remembered, just then, the first day she met Elizabeth and Iona when she had felt so nervous that it felt hard to introduce herself to them as they all stood in the plains of the village green in nothing but cute little dresses given to them by elderly relatives. She would remember how the words were struggling to come out of her mouth and how her eyes bulged out but yet, despite this, she remembered as well how Elizabeth and Iona seemed to understand how she was feeling and how Iona simply said: "Take your time." Hearing that trinity of words pushed the words right out of her and made her all the more comfortable when speaking; pretty soon they had formed a small gang composed of three young women whose motto was simply: "We stick together."

Mary looked around in the tent and smiled. "I suppose this is where slaves congregate when they want to get away from those horrid brutes?"

At the doorstep of the officers' club, Augsberg turned to Iona and Elizabeth. "Thought you were going in, didn't you?" He told a soldier to take the girls to the slave camps.

Oswald relax a bit. "Well, yes. That is, on the rare occasion that we don't have to work. We used to have a TV here, but they took it away to the guard house at the gate. He took a bottle of water and one of the pickle jars he'd just hidden. He opened the jar and passed everyone a pickle. "I wish we'd have more."

At the doorstep of the officers' club, Augsberg turned to Iona and Elizabeth. "Thought you were going in, didn't you?" He told a soldier to take the girls to the slave camps.

Oswald relax a bit. "Well, yes. That is, on the rare occasion that we don't have to work. We used to have a TV here, but they took it away to the guard house at the gate. He took a bottle of water and one of the pickle jars he'd just hidden. He opened the jar and passed everyone a pickle. "I wish we'd have more."

The two girls looked at Augsburg with calm faces plastered over their nervous frames although Iona wasn't really nervous or, if she was, wasn't as much as Elizabeth was. Iona always seemed to be confident even in situations like this one. As they walked back to the slave camps, Elizabeth wondered if the soldier would try to hurt her or Iona. It was entirely possible but she prayed that nothing would happen to either of them.

Mary took the pickle and ate some of it with a smile that suggested she was content and quite glad to have something to eat other than dried up mush. "Thank you, Oswald....I'm thankful for this gift. Tell me...how did you end up here?"

The soldier spoke to Iona. "I heard what you did earlier. Do that again and you'll have less than 5 minutes to live." He pointed at a crowded tent. "You'll be sleeping in there."

"Well, our government had collapsed and rebels pretty much ran the country. That is, until the Puritanians and others came. They defeated the rebels quickly and took them as slaves. I was in a prison at the time because I didn't agree with the rebels' ideals. The Puritanians emptied every prison in the area they colonized and sent the prisoners here along with the rebels."

The soldier spoke to Iona. "I heard what you did earlier. Do that again and you'll have less than 5 minutes to live." He pointed at a crowded tent. "You'll be sleeping in there."

Iona stayed silent but thought to herself: "I was only trying to protect my friend...we shouldn't be here anyway since we are innocent people. How would you feel if you were me?"

Iona and Elizabeth got into the tent and looked at the people around them before they found some beds for themselves, thankfully, both next to each other; they just laid on their beds and looked around. This couldn't be real but, sure enough, it was. They spent their time talking about how much they were still amazed to even be here in Osric, as slaves, as alleged spies.

"Well, our government had collapsed and rebels pretty much ran the country. That is, until the Puritanians and others came. They defeated the rebels quickly and took them as slaves. I was in a prison at the time because I didn't agree with the rebels' ideals. The Puritanians emptied every prison in the area they colonized and sent the prisoners here along with the rebels."

"The Puritanians came to my nation as liberators, so we thought, against the Communist rebels who had mistreated us; I lived in one of the villages with my two friends, who I don't know where they are, and we three along with others, but not the entirety of the village, were taken away as slaves. I still can't believe it....why would Puritania do that to us? They thought my friends and I were spies....but we were not. I didn't like the Communists back then and I sure as don't now...I just want to go home but I don't know if I ever will. I don't even know what's going on back in Myakka."

A few days later, Augsberg found Iona, Elizabeth and Mary. He told them to get into a truck with 12 soldiers and a fourth slave. 15 minutes later the truck left the base. After an hour of driving, the truck stopped at a gas station. The girls and the fourth slave were left with 2 guards while the other 10 soldiers went into to the store.

The soldiers spoke to Iona. "One of you isn't coming back." The other one stood up and came up to Iona. He put his finger through the bullet hole in Iona's slave uniform. "You already have a bullet hole, and it'd be a shame to make one into one that's in good shape. So why don't we shoot you?"

A few days later, Augsberg found Iona, Elizabeth and Mary. He told them to get into a truck with 12 soldiers and a fourth slave. 15 minutes later the truck left the base. After an hour of driving, the truck stopped at a gas station. The girls and the fourth slave were left with 2 guards while the other 10 soldiers went into to the store.

The soldiers spoke to Iona. "One of you isn't coming back." The other one stood up and came up to Iona. He put his finger through the bullet hole in Iona's slave uniform. "You already have a bullet hole, and it'd be a shame to make one into one that's in good shape. So why don't we shoot you?"

The three girls had been horribly nervous ever since they had been taken from the camp in a rusty old truck with Augsberg and some other soldiers whom looked coldhearted and brutish in their eyes. At the gas station, Iona felt the man put his finger through the hole in her uniform and felt horrified. Was this when she would be dispatched? Was this when she would go to Heaven or nowhere? Was this the end? She kept silent for a while until she finally decided to speak. "....I...don't know...I just hope you will spare my life....please."

Elizabeth and Mary looked at their comrade with nervous looks but Iona's next words shocked them. "...I would take the bullet for my two friends....or, if I was to be shot...I'd do anything to keep myself alive...anything."

The soldiers laughed. "Anything? I'm sure we can work something out." The other soldiers returned, their hands full of bottles of vodka. As the truck left the gas station, the soldiers started drinking. Augsberg opened the little hatch between the cabin and the back space. "Just make sure you're not too drunk when we get there." The soldiers got a little drunk, and forced the girls and the other slave, an old man, to drink as well. The old man refused at first, but the soldiers held him in place and poured the vodka down his throat.

The girls drunk the vodka and tried to restrain themselves from spitting it out lest they suffer the punishments intended for their disobedience and they focused on trying to sip the vodka instead of gulping it so they would not get drunk. They said nothing when the old man was forced to drink the vodka but they did watch and it made them want to drink it so that they would not suffer the same fate. Once they were finished, all three felt the effects of the vodka in various ways but none of them appeared drunk. They just looked at the empty bottles and at the cruel soldiers.

bumped.

After 3 hours, the truck stopped and the soldiers hopped out. The slaves were tied to poles. Augsberg handed some papers to another officer, who nodded and shook his hand. He returned to his men. The soldiers aimed at the old man, waiting for order to fire their weapons. Augsberg gave the order, and a few seconds later the old man was dead. The soldiers untied the girls. "Get him out of his uniform and bury him. I don't want to miss lunch, so hurry up."

It looked like the end for the three girls as they were tied to poles firmly planted in the soil while Augsburg and his men prepared for what looked like their execution. They watched as the old man was killed in a hail of bullets from the shoulders and they began to fear that this truly was the end so they focused their minds on good memories but, to their surprise, they were simply untied by the soldiers and told to bury the corpse. Without hesitation, they immediately went to work in burying the old man. They gave him a hasty burial, said a few words, and then rushed back to Augsberg.

Augsberg slapped the nearest girl. "A piece of crap like him doesn't deserve a fancy burial like you just gave him, and you don't either when the time comes. Get into the truck." The truck left the execution site, and after an hour of driving, it broke down. Augsberg hopped out and threatened the driver with the court marshal, slavery and execution. After 30 minutes, he noticed another army vehicle passing by and stopped it. He got in and left. While the driver and a few other soldiers were trying to fix the engine, the rest of the soldiers started drinking again. They suddenly remembered the girls. They took them into the bushes not far from the road.

Bumpty bump.

Augsberg slapped the nearest girl. "A piece of crap like him doesn't deserve a fancy burial like you just gave him, and you don't either when the time comes. Get into the truck." The truck left the execution site, and after an hour of driving, it broke down. Augsberg hopped out and threatened the driver with the court marshal, slavery and execution. After 30 minutes, he noticed another army vehicle passing by and stopped it. He got in and left. While the driver and a few other soldiers were trying to fix the engine, the rest of the soldiers started drinking again. They suddenly remembered the girls. They took them into the bushes not far from the road.

"...We weren't giving him a fancy burial; we were only following orders."

The girls sat in the truck with sullen faces that were the reflection of their blossoming depression and disconnection with their once lovely lives that they had back in Myakka long before the Communists arose in the spirit of their Revolution. All three of them were also silent with their minds thinking about different topics but usually they all unwittingly were unanimously thinking about the good old years of their so far short lives in the world. They eventually got out of the truck and noticed that they were being taken to some bushes which frightened them and caused them to be all icky and skeevy as they stood in the bushes. "....Please...don't hurt us...." Elizabeth uttered softly and in deep fright. "...Please....don't....please..."

"Oh, no, we're just going to have fun." 3 soldiers started tearing the slave uniforms off, while the rest of the soldiers kept watch.

Bumped.

Bumped.

OOC PPP don't worry about this no more read link
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14058324&postcount=239