Ferri Emlott - Happy Place Pt. 4
Arys Trovek
((Somewhere on Cardassia Prime))
((Time Index: four years prior))
A chair, a desk, a bed. A toilet. That was all there was to the room that Ferri found herself in, and it was that sparsity that told her that she wouldn't remain here for long.
She was surrounded by windowless, pitted concrete walls that swallowed the sound of her footsteps as Ferri walked to the bed to sit down. The mattress was thin and saggy, but to her relief, it was clean. Cleanliness was a virtue taught to her from a young age on, to be maintained even when they had nothing. It showed that you valued yourself, and whatever happened, Ferri wanted to make a good impression once got out of here.
If only she knew where 'here' was.
The memory of how she had come here, sitting for hours in a darkened skimmer, unable to detect if they were moving at all, was terrifying, and she tried not to think about it at all. Instead, she focussed on moving forward.
What would she confess during the interrogation that would surely follow?
Ferri was guilty, she knew that. Even if she hadn't meant to cause the two men's death, she felt no regret for what she had done. But would she tell them that?
Despite the mattress being hard and uncomfortable, Ferri lay down and closed her eyes for just a moment.
Day Two. Probably.
Ferri hadn't wanted to fall asleep, and when she woke, she wasn't sure how long it was that she had slept. If she had dreamed, she didn't remember, and she didn't feel rested enough to have slept for long.
She sat up and spotted a change in the room - the table was no longer empty, but contained a tray with a glass of water on it. Ferri hadn't noticed how thirsty she was until she crossed the few feet of distance between the bed and the desk, and gulped down
most of the cold liquid. Only when she sat down the glass did she notice a small capsule on the tray.
Odd, she thought. Perhaps a nutritional supplement? Ferri did not mind the idea of that, she was far too nauseous to feel hungry. She swallowed the capsule reluctantly but obediently. She was careful not to break the rules - even if she did not know what the rules were.
Ferri proceeded to make her bed, and then, without a mirror available, did her best to clean her face with the remaining water. She combed her fingers through her hair, and eventually sat down by the desk to wait.
The room was chilly. Not cold, but too cool for comfort, and she found herself wishing she had been wearing different clothes. Something a little warmer than a summer dress, which was slightly wrinkled because she had slept in it. Hopefully they wouldn't think badly of her for it.
She wasn't sure for how long she waited, but no one came. Ferri just about managed to not give in to the impulse of trying to find someone to ask.
It wouldn't be polite.
Day Three
oO if only the lights would dim a little... Oo
Ferri wasn't sure how long she had waited, but eventually, she had given up and returned to the bed, trying her best to find comfort despite the thin sheets. Waking up again, Ferri was somewhat sure that it was the next day, but there was no way to tell for sure.
One more she got up, made her bed, and sat down by the desk, waiting. She planned what she would say, played possible conversations through in her head, tried to predict questions and estimate outcomes.
Again, no one came. Had they forgotten about her? Slowly she made her way to the door, and for the lack of a better alternative, knocked on it. Surely there were guards. Surely they would hear her.
But there was no answer, and eventually, Ferri returned to the chair to wait.
Still day Three?
Either Ferri's internal crono was off, or meals came in irregular intervals, and only when she was asleep.
If one could call them meals. They were a glass of water and a capsule, and neither quenched hunger nor thirst. And still no one had come for her.
oO They must have surveillance here... Oo
Maybe if she asked for someone to tell her what was happening someone could come to get her?
Emlott: ... Hi.. I... can someone please tell me where I am?
No response. Ferri tried again, and again, but as soon as she stopped talking, silence once more spread through the room. Ferri didn't like the silence. Maybe it was best if she just kept talking? But about what?
Emlott: Well, there was a hound, and his name was Mitakut...
A children's tale of a hybrid dog.
Kara had loved those stories.
Day Four. I'm sure of that.
She was so hungry, freezing, and her head was pounding.
Ferri had long given up keeping her hair combed and had opted to braid it instead. Without a mirror it wasn't a neat braid, but it was better than letting the greasy strands fall into her face. She was also painfully aware that her clothes smelled, but with the little water she was getting, thirst won over the need to wash.
She had kept the capsule, opened it, and counted the little pellets inside. Then she had arranged them to form the shape of a hound. Then she had squished them one by one.
Day Seven?
Why did no one come?
Ferri didn't know how much time had passed. The lights were always on.
Where was she?
She had attempted, several times, to make contact with... anyone, really. She had knocked at the door, she had spoken to whoever was surely surveilling her cell. No one had answered.
Ferri tried to keep talking, keep the silence at bay, keep the walls from closing in around her, but talking was difficult. Breathing was difficult.
Emlott: Please..
Her voice was hoarse and quiet. If only someone would talk to her. That would be enough. No one did.
Ferri raised her voice, screaming. Pleading. Begging.
No response. No one cared.
Day ??
Maybe if she stopped taking the capsule, from which she was sure that it was a nutritional supplement. Then they would surely come, even if it was to punish her. Everything was better than this.
Disregarding the water was more difficult. She was so thirsty. Whenever the glass appeared, she rushed over to drink, and sometimes she just waited, staring at the spot where it would materialize.
Four capsules lay neatly on the table, as if to say 'look, I am not taking them'.
Day ??
No one would come. Ferri knew that. It was why she wasn't talking to them anymore. Sometimes she took the capsules, sometimes she did not. it didn't matter. She had tried to smash the glass, but it hadn't worked.
Ferri lay down on the floor, barely feeling the cold stone against her cheek, her mind too tired to form any coherent thoughts.
Day ??
Ezak: Emlott, on your feet!
Ferri had barely noticed the door opening, and a man in uniform entering the room, until he stood right in front of her. He leaned down with an expression that conveyed utter disgust, grabbing her arm, and pulling her up. Ferri's legs barely carried her, and the man's loud voice barely rang through to her.
Ezak: Move it!
Ferri's arm felt sore, and despite her fatigue, her heartbeat began to thrash in her ears. Where was he bringing her?
He sneered and pushed her into the corridor, onwards, through a maze of hallways, his grip firm as he dragged her with him until they stood in front of a door and opened it.
Even in her dazed state, Ferri noticed that the room behind it was very different, and reminded her of a teacher's office, kept in warm natural colours. There was a desk, a shelf of PADDs, and two sofa's facing each other, with a table in between. The large window allowed a view into a luscious garden, and bathed the room in sunlight. It was comfortably warm here, and the scent of freshly brewed redleaf tea filled the room.
"Ezak. Unhand her."
Ferri had been so taken in by the room that she hadn't noticed the man who had sat by the sofa, and was now making his way towards them. He was tall, dressed in a neat and expensive-looking tunic, and wore a frown of disapproval. But this was aimed at the other man, Ezak, and not Ferri.
Ezak nodded and let go off her, and a moment later he had left through the door that had brought them here.
The man's sharp gaze softened as he regarded Ferri, his voice soft as he spoke.
"Ferri, is it? Come on, have a seat. ::he motioned towards the sofa:: My name is Garo."
TBC
Ferri Emlott
Cardassian Visitor
Starbase 118 Ops
J239809TA4