A contingent of military police met the Lukon PT22 when it arrived at Miramoor. They took all the prisoners, except for Lucinda, to their headquarters and put them in holding cells where they were to undergo intense interrogation before they were shipped off to Shisk for public execution. Lucinda, however, was immediately taken to special quarters where she was to await transport to Shisk where Videl Lai planned to show her off as his first trophy of the war. Lt. Muri was given the task of meeting her and escorting her back to Shisk. Several kyloons later Lt. Muri arrived and went straight to Lucinda’s temporary quarters where she found her sitting on the floor in the corner of the tiny room, eyes swollen, and a look of terror on her face.
“Hi. Lucinda,” she said softly. “I’m Lt. Muri,”
Lucinda nodded but didn’t respond.
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to hurt you. I’m here to make sure you are comfortable and have all that you need.”
Lucinda didn’t know whether to believe the Lieutenant or not, but she decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. “That’s very kind of you.”
“I’m sure you’re scared and have a lot of questions, but you needn’t be frightened. As long as you do as you are told nobody will hurt you.”
“What are you going to do with me?”
Lt. Muri sighed. “I know you probably think Videl Lai is a monster.”
Luci didn’t say anything.
“Well, the truth is he’s just a very determined man who will do anything to get what he wants. If you cooperate with him and do as he says, he will treat you with great respect and generosity. But if you fight him or defy him he will make your life a living Hell!”
Luci swallowed hard.
“I’m going to tell you a secret if you promise to keep it to yourself.”
Luci shrugged but said nothing.
“It’s a secret that could get me killed if you told it to anyone.”
Luci frowned. “Then why would you tell me?”
“Because I want you to trust me. It’s critical that you do exactly what I tell you.”
“Okay. I’ll keep your secret.”
“I’m Videl’s lover, not by choice, but because he selected me for that role. As long as I obey him and do exactly what he says I am treated like a queen. But if I ever refused to go to his bed he’d be humiliated and forced to kill me or send me to prison for treason.”
“So, you’re his sex slave?”
“Sex is just part of it, but you are getting the idea.”
“So, you want me to be his sex slave as well?”
“No. He wouldn’t have sex with you as long as I am with him. He’s quite intoxicated with me. In fact, I’m surprised he sent me here to get you. He usually doesn’t let me leave his side for more than a few kyloons.”
“So, what do I have to do?”
“He wants to parade you around as a trophy of war. It will give him great pleasure to have you at his side to show the world that he is in control and that the Liberator cannot even protect his own mate.”
“What if I refuse?’
“Then he will send you to prison where you will suffer unbearable pain and agony.”
“What about the baby?”
“I could lie to you, but he has said if you don’t cooperate he plans to take your baby and raise him as his own.”
Luci gasped in horror. “No!”
“Like I said, you must cooperate. You must protect yourself and the baby until you are rescued.”
“Rescued?”
“Well, I would assume the Liberator would not abandon you. Don’t you think he will try to rescue you?”
“I don’t know. I would hope so, but how could he possibly do it. It would be suicide.”
“If he truly loves you, he’ll find a way.”
Luci didn’t know what to make of Lt. Muri. She seemed sincere but she knew it all could be an act designed to make her cooperate and do Videl’s bidding. If it hadn’t been for the fact that she was pregnant, she probably would have refused to cooperate, but she couldn’t do anything to jeopardize her son. She had no choice but to follows Lt. Muri’s advice and hope she was telling the truth.