Location:Unknown:Java

[_into_the_fray_]

It had been a long week, dealing with Tai-San, with Java, helping Java every day after she'd been broken and ruined, watching the deterioration of a strong woman, tortured and left tied to a chair with various creepy crawlies as roommates, hard lessons to gain her loyalty enforced upon her to varying degrees. It was hard on him even, to not talk to

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[_into_the_fray_]

Mega's jaw twitched as she said his name, pursing his lips a bit and staring at her. He wasn't going to get close to her when she was this angry, and there wasn't any chance of him letting her go if she couldn't calm down. "That's right, Java," he said with a resigned sigh, moving closer to her, but circling around her instead, eyeing the wrists he'd meticulously smeared the healing cream on day after day, looking at her with her droopy ends of her braids, no longer curled, her smeared makeup, she was a mess, and he'd had this done to her. He motioned at the person carrying a tray of food, and they moved in and set the tray on the table in the corner then moved back out into the hallway, watching the scene with the three other people.

"I brought you some breakfast, are you hungry?" he asked softly, how he wished he'd been able to talk to her all week, caring and gentle. He moved back behind her and untied the blindfold for the first time, pulling it away from her head, there was no need for it any longer. He moved around and stood in front of her, arms crossed over his chest. "If you're hungry, I will feed you," he offered, waiting expectantly for a response.

[_java_]

Java's head snapped towards him the second her blindfold was removed, her eyes flashing with a kind of anger she hadn't believed she still possessed. He moved around so that he stood before her, still close enough for her to faintly smell his aftershave, and she remembered the long week he'd helped her through, remembered falling asleep against him, remembered his hands all over her... Her eyes narrowed, glittering hatefully as they followed him. It was a trick, it had all been a trick, and of -course- he'd been behind it; he was sick, it was all sick...

Ignoring his question, ignoring the offer to feed her, you sick bastard, Java glared up at him for a long moment. "Why?" she spat, even as the lessons Line had ingrained in her began to cycle back through her mind. I'm worthless, I have failed him. The anger boiled in her, consumed her, but there was suddenly a rush of weakness with it, of deeply ingrained subordination, as she kept her eyes trained on him. She hated him, God, she hated him, but she was also weak, she was worthless, and he.. he was in charge, and... and... Her voice waivered slightly, with fury and self-loathing. "Why are you doing this?"

[_into_the_fray_]

Mega watched with what looked like detached interest as she glared at him, as if it all bored him, when in reality, it hurt him. He'd taken care of her all week, he'd worked hard to clean her up and protect her from Line's creatures, though he had ordered Line to torture Java, this was true, but he'd had to do it, he couldn't risk her leaking vital information were he to let her go free. He sighed again, and eyed her passively, "Because, Ja-va," he said sternly, "I think you could be quite useful in my up and coming organization, and besides," he moved a little closer to her and bent down, eye to eye with her, mere inches from her face, "We had an agreement, or, have you forgotten?" He stood up and moved over to the corner, "Responsibilities can not be ignored," he reminded her, picking up the plate of toast and moving across the room, picking up a piece of toast and holding it out for her. "Come on now, you're going to need your strength today Java, you must eat so you don't get sick," he said gently, as if speaking to his sick wife, and though his eyes stayed distant behind his glasses, somewhere deep down inside was a tender look.

[_java_]

Useful? He thought Java might be useful? Her brows narrowed a bit, her eyes still furious; didn't Mega know that she was worthless? It had to be another trick, she thought; there couldn't be an organization, and he couldn't really expect her to be useful; it was all a trick. After all, hadn't he told her that they lacked the manpower to create the faction they'd planned on? Hadn't he told her that their plans were now worthless; hadn't he thrown her back into the street? She was furious with him, but also confused, now; it was certainly a trick, but she didn't understand... Responsibilities can not be ignored, chirped a voice in her head.

Java pointedly ignored the toast he offered her, though it smelled good; she'd be damned if she was going to take one more meal from his hands. She hated him, hated him for what he'd done to her, and yet... and yet he'd been so kind to her this week, she remembered, he'd been her caretaker, her salvation, her friend, and now he was offering her food, and she was starving and... Java met his eyes, his own still sparkling angrily, and was surprised to find something almost resembling kindness there. It wasn't right, she reminded herself, he was a monster, this was all his doing, and yet she was a whore, trash, and he'd still been so kind to her. None of it made sense, and Java's expression softened slightly, confused, as she held his gaze. Manners are extremely important, chirped the voice. Still ignoring the food, she felt her lower lip quiver slightly; she was so angry, and so hungry, and very, very confused. "Untie me," she said, never breaking eye contact. She had intended it to come out as an order, like the orders she had given once, in another lifetime, but her voice came out thin and fragile, the anger slowly giving way to everything that the week with Line had instilled in her, and her words sounded more like a question. She ran the tip of her tongue across her lower lip, squaring her shoulders and trying to be strong. "At least give me that much."

[_into_the_fray_]

Mega frowned, untie her? He closed his eyes and shook his head, looking back at her now, if she couldn't eat like a good girl, how could he trust her to do anything he asked of her? He couldn't untie her yet, not until she'd had a full meal, which would help her think a bit clearer, and not until she'd been properly talked to, to test her loyalty and to make sure the job had been done. Of course, there were other techniques he was going to employ today as well, a sort of blackmail, a few honestly threatening promises, but for now he wished for her to comply, the rest would come later. "Eat, Java, and then I will talk to you about untying you. Until then, you will do as I say, or you will live in that chair for the rest of your days," his voice was stern, and showed how serious he actually was. "Line has come up with a whole new, line, of substances, I'm sure he'd love to have a permanent test subject," he said a bit coolly, flicking the toast a bit and touching it to her lips, watching and waiting. "What's wrong? I've fed you all week, I won't hurt you," he said, though a thick yet hung silently in the air, and he looked at her with unwavering seriousness.

[_java_]

Java's eyes widened a bit as he spoke, his voice cold and unwaivering as always. A week ago, the speech wouldn't have phased her; a week ago she had been strong, had known that she could handle anything. Now, however... Now, things were different. She'd seen her failings, had come to understand that her strength was just an illusion, and as Java listened to Mega speak-- manners are extremely important-- she knew that he was the one in charge, that she herself was too weak to stop him, that he was fully capable of giving her to Line if he so chose. She hated him, more than she had ever hated anyone, and yet she knew that he was a better human than she was; she knew her place. Java nodded, slightly, her gaze falling in submission though she still fairly well shook with anger, and began to eat from his hand, hating herself as she did so, but knowing better than to refuse him. I'm weak, I'm worthless... She could feel the eyes of Mega's guards upon her as she ate, and the shame was overwhelming; she'd been a Queen once, and now everyone could see what a joke it had been, and how weak she really was. She couldn't bear it...

She ate delicately, minding her manners and keeping her eyes downcast. Mega had been gentle to her this week, she reminded herself; she should be grateful.

[_into_the_fray_]

Mega held onto the plate as she finished the last of the toast, moving across the room to pick up a strawberry muffin and a glass of milk with a straw, moving across the room and holding the muffin out at her. "Eat," he added softly, waiting for her to take a bite. He decided to talk to her as she ate, less chance of protestation that way. "Now, I want you to do a job for me, Java. You're going to be my little informant for my organization. I need you to keep tabs on our former boss, Ram," he said his name with resignation, as if the very thought of him bored him to tears. "He could be quite useful in this organization, as long as he is not planning a resurgence of our old outfit, and as long as he is in a good mental state. We both know he was quite insane when he put himself in stasis," Mega let a small smile push up the corners of his mouth at this thought, the stasis Ram had been left in had been the stinky wet muddy City dump, stuck in his wheelchair. Finding out that he'd not only survived but escaped, learning to walk again, and go around in the city, had worried Mega, and he needed to know what he was up to, where he was living, and what his ultimate goals were. Ram wasn't the type who could sit still for long and do nothing, he had to be up to something, the question was, what exactly? Only Java, his one remaining wife, could find this out, and she would, for now she belonged to Mega, and he had all kinds of ways to keep her his for a good long while.

[_java_]

Java's eyes darted up, once, as Mega began to speak again, but she quickly lowered her gaze back to the food he brought, barely tasting the muffin as he explained the situation to her. She swallowed, hard, at the mention of Ram, at Mega's statement that she was going to be spying on her husband, but her features did not betray her. No amount of brainwashing would strip Java of her ability to hide her feelings when Ram was involved, and she ate from the man's hand with unfaltering deference as he spoke to her. If Mega believed that Ram could be useful, Java thought, then perhaps there was still a future for her husband, in spite of all that her failings had done to undermine him; perhaps this was her chance to help Ram regain what she had cost him. Java nodded, almost imperceptibly, as she thought about the implications of Mega's words, the old fire in her beginning to spark back to life now that she saw the potential for an improved situation. If Mega did indeed have an organization, then it would be full of former Technos, she reasoned, some of whom would certainly still support Ram. For all of her husband's failings, he had still made significant improvements in the lives of many Technos; surely there were still some who would back him. And any organization Mega headed would have to have a fair bit of power; if Ram could be accepted as a member, especially with numerous supporters, then he could regain status, could once again have something to do with his life. Java had seen what Ram had been up to since the fall of the Technos; he was hiding away in an apartment, powerless, living like a virt... If she could help him regain prominence, help him find a new life, then surely that would atone for some of her mistakes. She smiled faintly. It didn't matter that he no longer loved her, that he'd moved on, that she herself had almost forgotten him in the tortures Line had put her through; Java knew that she owed Ram her life, and if she could help him, worthless as she was, she would. And if that was what Mega wanted anyway, then wouldn't it be best for all involved for her to cooperate?

Java finished the muffin and milk, the drink feeling calming to her parched palatte, and dared to glance up at Mega. "I can help you with that," she said, quietly, her voice soft and her expression submissive, trustworthy. "Ram trusts me... He always has." Java licked her lips, once, and put on a fragile smile. "What do you want to know?"

[_into_the_fray_]

Mega didn't flinch or show any kind of approval or dissatisfaction, just unnerving, uncaring indifference. He finally pursed his lips and moved back to the corner, picking up a napkin and setting the half full glass of milk down, wiping his hands on the napkin and coming back to dab at the corners of her mouth. "I need to know what Ram is doing, where he's living, what his ultimate goals are. Is he planning to rebuild the Techno's? Does he have a personal vendetta against anyone, and what? I need you to get any, and all, information on what he's doing now, what he's planning, what he's working on. If I find out all of that, no matter what the answer, he may come in handy around here," he told her as he motioned behind him, the man with the briefcase stepping forward and opening it. The third man stepped forward and took a syringe and vial out of the case, filling the needle with a bluish liquid, just enough, and replaced the vial, the second man closing the briefcase and stepping back again.

"Now," Mega said with a sigh, "this," he motioned at the needle in the mans hand, "Is one of Line's greatest creations ever," he smirked a bit, proud to have the genius chemist on his roster. The third man walked towards Java, cleaning the skin of her upper arm with an alcohol pad before gently sticking the needle into Java's arm and injecting the liquid. When he'd retracted his tool and stepped back amongst the other men, Mega crossed his arms over his chest and sighed. "That is a liquid tracking device. I will always be able to find you, no matter where you go in the city, in the country, anywhere Java, you can not escape me. However," he sighed, trying to remember how to describe this to her exactly. "There are side effects. You have to return within 24 hours to receive either a booster of the liquid, or the antidote, or you will die," he didn't blink when he said it, but telling her she'd die, it was horrible. Mega did care about her, in ways no one could know, but he mentally shook it off, pursing his lips a bit. "So you will report back here every day, at the same time," he checked his watch, "It is now 8am. You will be given a watched to keep track of time. It's probably best to come back every night before 8am, but if you want to play this dangerously," he said with a shrug. "I'm told the first symptom is a racing heart, then pain and discomfort. Then, cold sweats, and, something about discomfort in your extremities," he leaned down close to her face, "Don't mess this up Java, you will die, and it will be painful," he told her firmly before turning and walking away.

He turned back, circling her again and unlocking the pain bracelet, dropping the gooey mess onto the floor, then took out a sharp pocket knife and began carefully cutting at the rope. "If you don't comply, Java, your sister, Siva, and Ram, will both suffer at the hands of Line, just as you have, and you will have the pleasure of watching their untimely demise," he was leaning in close to her head as he said it, low and near her ear, watching as he cut at the rope.

[_java_]

Java allowed Mega to pat the corners of her lips clean with a napkin, trying not to notice the way his guards sneered at her, and focused her attention instead on Mega's words. "What Ram is doing, where he's living... Any and all information..." He wanted her to lead him to Ram, she thought, her mind slipping back into a hazy confusion; there was no organization, and Mega only wanted Ram dead... The guards' eyes felt obscene as they stared at her, as they watched the little girl tied up, helpless, and Java's mind began to lose its grip on her thoughts as another aftershock of Line's therapy took hold. I have failed him; I am worthless; Loyalty is the only thing worth dying for. One of the guards gave her an injection, but after her week with Line, Java barely felt it. Mega was still speaking, and she forced herself to focus; Ram's life, and her own, depended upon it. "You have to return within 24 hours... or you will die." Surely he wouldn't really kill her; if she was actually to be a pawn in his game, and not just a chemical test subject, then Line and the drugs they'd used on her had been costs of production; Mega would have had to have invested a good deal of money and resources into bringing her around to his way of thinking. Java forced herself to think through the string of phrases now running through her mind, realizing that, if the tracking device would in fact kill her, then she had another ace in her sleeve should the need arise. If it turned out that Mega was truly malevolent about all of this, then she could just leave, find and warn Ram, tell him good-bye, and then go somewhere quiet to die. It would be simple... But responsibilities cannot be ignored, and loyalty is the only thing worth dying for. She blinked.

The bracelet was removed, and Java twisted her wrist slightly, amazed at the feeling of exposed skin, as the device hit the floor with a muffled 'splat.' She felt a slight pull on the ropes, he was cutting them, and suddenly the actuality of it hit her-- They were going to let her go. It was only temporary, of course, but they were letting her go. She'd be able to see the sun again, able to eat and bathe and -move-... The haze in her head cleared a bit as a strong, primal desire for life surged through her; Java did -not- want to die down here, did not want to die at all; she was young, and beautiful, and she would live through this, somehow. She just needed to find a way to keep Ram safe, too... As she considered this, Line's phrases beginning to die down in her head again, Mega resumed speaking, and Java glanced back at him. "If you don't comply... Siva and Ram will both suffer." Her eyes narrowed very slightly; Java refused to put her sister or her husband in harm's way for anything, and she could only assume that her failure to return to the base would be seen as an act of non-compliance... The answer, then, was just as she had originally thought, Java realized: She needed to convince Mega that Ram was a valuable asset to his new organization; she needed to prove that Ram could be useful. Then, they would all be safe, and her husband would have a new future; it would be for the best that way.

The ropes around her wrists gave way, and Java gingerly pulled her hands around to her front, wincing as the muscles in her arms screamed at her. It had been too long since she'd been able to move... She placed her hands on her lap and glanced down at them for a quiet moment before looking up at Mega, twisting slightly in her chair to better see him. "I don't think non-compliance will be a concern," Java said, quietly, her eyes sparkling with a tiny glimmer of the strength and spirit they had once held. "You can be... rather persuasive." She gave him a tiny smile, fighting the urge to lash out at him, to catch him in her arm and pull him down to her level in a stranglehold, to force the guards to give her the antidote and release her. She could barely move, Java knew; while she could have bested Mega with no trouble a week ago, things had changed. Besides, pointed out a voice in her mind, that would be awfully rude of you.

She slowly leaned down, her body screaming in protest, to untie her ankles.

[_into_the_fray_]

Mega stood there, one arm crossed over his chest, the other kind of in the air, and he snapped before lowering it to fold with the other one. One of the men rushed forward and knelt down in front of Java, insisting that he untie her ankles by simply pushing her hands away. Mega knew that she was weak, she'd been tied to a chair for a week, no one could suffer that and be ok. He had to make sure she could walk, that she was able to get away. "One more little detail," he offered, "You are going to leave here today, go find Ram and begin your mission. You will, of course, figure out where you are. You are to reveal to no one our location, not Ram, not Siva, nobody. Am I making myself clear?" He didn't wait for her reaction, he just turned and walked from the room. "These two men will escort you to the front door. Please feel free to feed yourself what is left of the food on the tray before you go," he glanced over his shoulder at her, out of the corner of his eye, her blurry form behind him, "I had it made up especially for you," and with that he walked away with the man carrying the briefcase. For now, Java was free, and so long as she returned to him every day for her booster and to reveal her information, everyone would remain safe. He was glad to know she would comply and that she understood what she was doing for him. Mega now had the unfortunate duty of going to check on his girlfriend, she'd probably be waking soon, looking for her breakfast and then her fix. If only once he could get Tai-San to comply, to behave and be a good girlfriend. Of course, if he'd quit upping the addictive qualities on her program she'd probably have a chance to be normal, but how else would he keep her? And who else would he get as his own personal test subject?

[_java_]

Java waited until the guard had finished untying her before getting shakily to her feet, bracing herself with one hand on the back of the chair. It had been harder and harder to stand up for her five minutes each day, and she was disturbed to find that she could barely support herself now; her knuckles were white as her hand clenched around the back of the chair, and she devoted all of her strength to just keeping her knees from buckling beneath her. The guards were surprisingly patient, waiting until she was ready (and had made it clear that she would rather starve than eat anything else from the food tray) before taking one arm each, then walking her slowly out of the room she'd spent the last week in. The light in the hallway stung her eyes, and Java blinked, squinting as she looked around, recognizing the building as they entered the elevator. You kept me -here-? she thought, incredulous, even as she noticed with a certain degree of contempt that Mega had chosen to show off by basing himself in a building with a working elevator. It was hard to believe she'd spent the entire last week being tortured in a place she had once loved, had once looked forward to seeing, but then Java had always been a fan of irony.

The main entrance wasn't far from the elevator, and her steps were still shaky as the men opened the front doors and gently pushed her into the sunlight.