Astray Among The Stars

Chapter 17: Broken Chains

The following chapter depicts sensitive topics of violence, rape, abuse, and torture. Reader discretion is advised.

Circa 2185

The harsh rain deformed the earth below. The muted marengo mud splattered as weathered raven boots marched towards the small burning village. Thunder bellowed, shearing the skies as lightning arched crooked paths across the raging dark storm clouds.

A young girl hid in the ruins of her home among the chaos, flames, and screams of torment surrounding her. A soldier smashed the wooden door, his polished asphalt armor reflecting the tangelo flames, the P'Shari's dark uniform stained with the grim of smoke, ash, and amber blood, partially washed from rain. He lunged forward, seizing the timid girl's arm with lustful glowing eyes. His iron grip crushed her bones as he yanked her out of the home. The girl screamed from pain. She struggled to free herself from his grasp, kicking and biting like a wild animal. Her efforts were all in vain. She could not escape.

He dragged the helpless child through the mud as she continued to rebel, clawing her fingers in the rain-soaked mud. He lugged her past the smoking bodies of her family and friends, past the charred and mangled remains of those who resisted. The Valmirian continue to claw the ground as they passed the splintered and charred remains of once tall trees. The soldier pushed onwards, his boots caked in a feldgrau mix of mud and ash. He marched to his superior, tossing the girl in front of him like a rag doll.

"Another slave for the empire."

The officer smiled, saluting him with a clenched fist against his chest. "Put her with the others."

* * *

The young girl awoke, dirty and beaten. Her cyan eyes bled with tears of sorrow and pain. She was unfortunate. She survived.

Tevra glanced around, seeing elder members of her village being led away in chains. They were selected for gruesome scientific testing. She, and the other children and teens were to be sold in slavery. She caught the glances of a few, their eyes just as hopeless as hers.

A figure approached her in the sunlight, the lime alien dressed in all obsidian, his uniform crisp and clean, his face obscured in a matching mask. She felt a cold hand grasp her back. Another soldier pulled her up, making sure she did not resist.

The P'Shari officer removed his mask, his face scarred, his eyes large, with sclerae as dark as night, surrounding a fierce scarlet irises that glowed menacingly.

Her eyes glowed marigold with rage, surrounded with a flaming vermilion ring. The officer reached forward, his hands covered in gunmetal gloves. He grabbed her jaw and tilted her face, inspecting the girl's youthful features. She spat, the golden fluid hitting his spotless raven uniform. She was met with a backhanded slap that rang through her jaw.

The officer harshly grabbed her by the chin, pulling her face close. "You're a feisty little one, but the first thing you need to learn is gratitude," he barked with a slight accent.

He released his gloved grip and gave the girl an uppercut, followed by a downward blow to the back. She slammed against the ground, covered in mud. The man grasped her multicolored hair, pulling fiercely. She screamed, retaliating with several kicks, but the muscular P'Shari stood firmly, unwavered by her assaults as he lifted her soley with one arm.

He glared back, enraged. "You dare defy me, Valmirian!"

He tossed her aside, signaling his soldiers to restrain her. Like lightning, four of them seized her, slamming her face to a wooden structure. They forced the Valmirian to a cross, yanking her arms out, her legs trampled. They tied her to the wooden post, tearing off her stained tunic, leaving her back bare and exposed.