Chrysalis To A Butterfly [Kiana Kaslana X Male OC]

Interlude: Crime And Punishment

Before Sal could enter Hangar Number Nine, Fai held his arm and dragged him away from the pressurized airlock. Audrey, who was supposedly his partner for the upcoming operation, gave her senior colleague a sharp glare as her rosy lips curled into a scowl.

"We need him for interrogating, Maximilius," replied Fai nonchalantly.

"Oh," Audrey nodded, slightly surprised but not really. She wasn't going to follow him further. After all, this was also part of their job.

Fai gave the girl a quick nod and then turned around, still holding Sal.

"We will be back in about an hour," Fai added. "And if we are lucky, even early." His tone was low. "Though as things stand, I don't think the Monarch would open his mouth."

Audrey took a deep breath and gave Sal a glance of assurance as she walked away towards the airlock.

"I will inform the captain," She said without looking back. "You guys get the asshole to speak."

Fai didn't reply and continued to drag Sal, who was quiet. He was no longer complaining as his sparkling sea-green irises were now dark and devoid of emotion. His mind felt numb as every emotion within him withered away.

He was no longer human; instead, he ceased to exist as human. After all, those who belonged to the Lilith Squadron were children of the devil.

Fai strode down the tiny corridor on the fifth floor before turning right towards the holding quarters of sector six. Unlike the rest of the ship, this sector was dark, with a faint red light illuminating the rust-coated wall—a deliberate design to invoke a sense of neglect towards the prisoner. As they neared the cell, the air became damp, mixed with the stench of mould and dried urine.

Two years ago, when Sal had set foot in this place, he had thrown up. He couldn't believe how one could survive in conditions like these. But now he knew better. For the people who were currently resting behind the iron-clad door, even these cells were a mercy.

"Have you tried electrocuting him?" Sal asked in a whisper.

"Ten times," answered Fai. His gaze never leaving the path ahead. "Along with waterboarding." He added with a defeated tone. "The monarch is adamant on not admitting to his crimes."

"What is he confessing?" Sal asked as he ran his fingers through his messy hair.

"The same old," replied Fai. "I did what was needed to save my people. If I hadn't acted, everyone would have died."

"Hypocrite."

"They all are." Fail touched the rim of his specs as he gave Sal a dry smile. "Their entire family believes his lies. His daughter even called the Monarch's decision to be heroic."

"Genocide in the name of false purification." Sal clenched his fist as he suppressed the urge to punch the prison walls. "Very heroic of him."

"The usual Republic shit," Fai shrugged as he stopped in front of Quarter twenty-seven, code-named: Asphodel. "At least this time, we can make them pay."

"Yeah," Sal took a deep breath as he removed his black-military jacket and passed it to Fai. He didn't want any blood stains on them. Ideally, he didn't want any on his uniform either, but one can't get the job done without getting dirty in his line of work.

"Commander has given you free rein," Fai said as he punched the passcode on the panel next to the door. "She specifically said to tell Sal to give him hell."

"I am not sure about hell," Sal nodded to the older officer. "But I will get the job done."

"Don't push yourself too much." Fai smiled and gave him a light pat.

Sal didn't reply as the metal door creaked loudly before opening. And then he stepped into the Asphodel.

The quarter was designed to kill. It had near-zero ventilation; the air was damper, and the mixed stench of blood, urine, and faeces permeated from every corner. The lighting was purposefully dimmed to regulate the chilling temperature inside the room. Sal could have sworn it was colder than the temperature outside—it was minus four outside.

"If it isn't for the Golden child of Lilith Squadron." The old man draped in a brown-tattered blanket spoke coarsely."Is Lilith out of the option that they had to send a literal child to make me talk?"

He sat at the centre with his arms, leg and neck all chained together with rusty iron. He wore nothing except a tattered shorts. His saggy skin was filled with fresh wounds, and there were also black burn marks all over his chest and even his neck—a sign of electrocution. His eyes were sunken and lips purple; there was a swelling over his right ankle, too.

Fai really did a number on him.

"What are the others doing?" Sal remarked as he slid his hand into the back pocket of his trousers. His finger grabbed the hilt of his issued pocket knife. "If you can still make sarcastic remarks like these, they have clearly not done their job."

"Oh really?" The Monarch replied.

"Yes." Sal started walking towards the man.

"I beg to differ." The Monarch shook his head as his cyan eyes gazed at Sal as if cockily trying to say, 'I am innocent, and you can't prove otherwise.'

"Maximilius Pontifix Aurum," Sal announced, his fingers tightening their grip around the hidden pocket knife. "Do you accept your crimes committed against humanity?"

The Monarch sighed and shook his head. His wrinkled eyes were annoyed as he had been asked this same question multiple times.

"I haven't done any such crime," He replied. "I am innocent-"

His plead was cut short as Sal impaled his pocket knife on his right shoulder blade. He had aimed for where the Monarh had surgery a year prior. It was all done to maximize the pain.

The Monarch screamed in pain, his eyes bulging as tears erupted. His right arm spasmed as blood trickled out of the newly made wound. Sal's olive fingers were stained, too; a few droplets were searing his cheeks and even his hair.

"Wrong answer, Maximilius," said Sal, with his voice frighteningly quiet. "Let's try this again. Did you not order the mass killing of your people?"

"No..." The Monarch replied, his jaws clenched as he tried to fight back the pain. "I did no such-"

He was once again cut off as Sal slowly turned the dagger, increasing the wound size.

"Do you really think you will get away with this?!" The Monarch screamed at him through the pain.

"No," Sal replied as he retracted his pocket knife and sat before him. His sea-green eyes are menacing as he gazed at the old man with a strained look. As if he was in pain. "I don't think I will get away with all the hurt I have spread, but I am prepared for it.-" He paused and brought extra significance to his next words. "-After all, the only ones who should kill are those who are prepared to be killed. And the same goes for you, too, Monarch."

*****

A/N Hey everyone it has been a very long time;-;, I am so sorry for the sudden disappearance. Life had been a bit too stressful plus my mental state for the past few days hasn't been the best. But tonight I was feeling so down I had to do something that I enjoyed and thus the new chapter was realized. After the tone change from Sophia's Back story chapter, I didn't want to hold back and write more wholesome interactions between the team members of Lilith Squadron. And thus I decided to show an interrogation scene. It is a very common practice within espionage organizations. Of course, there will be a lot of creative liberty in my scene as I am not well versed with interrogation but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless.

This chapter also shows you how Honkai Beast along with Otto messed up Sal's childhood. This is just one of the many reasons for the behaviour patterns that we see during his time with Kiana. Also, we might be seeing some KiaSal-centric chapters soon. Though no promises yet but there's a high chance.

Anyways Happy Reading!!