Maybe One Day You'll Understand Why (Cody)

[Madeline Kahoshi]

It was a good fifteen or twenty minutes before Madeline began to stir even a little. The pain was what came to her first, the ache in her throat, her arm and shoulder, which was bruising badly already from where the door had been slammed against it. There was pain in her ribs, from being rammed into the door, each breath hurting. Then a groan as she started to lift her head, eyes blinking, but finding no light. It was then that she noticed the stifling cloth over her head.

That single fact, quickly brought on a panic attack on its own. No other factors involved. Within seconds she was panting for air, frightened beyond belief. Now coming around to the fact she was bound and in a chair, she started to pull hard, struggling with everything she had against to try and free her hands. Twisting, pulling harder, she was already rapidly rubbing the skin raw. No doubts if she was allowed to continue she would soon be bleeding into the rope. Maybe if she was lucky, she knew she could dislocate a thumb and pull a hand free. It would hurt like hell and make that hand pretty useless, but it would give her a small shot at getting free. It might just free her other hand which was what she really needed.

Every second was getting worse for Madeline, more frightened, pains growing in already sore regions and no her wrists and ankles. The panic, steadily growing. She knew this wasn't random at this point. If he'd wanted her to rape her, or steal from her, it would already have been done and he would be gone. The simple fact that she was still here meant in all likelihood Atrisian. A thought that chilled her to the bone.

 

[Madeline Kahoshi]

Cody Weadge


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Posted 22 September 2013 - 10:23 PM

It was not unusual for captives to have a panic attack when they awoke bound and hooded, it took a lot of training to overcome base fears like darkness and being unable to move. That fear could be used against them, but it could just as easily make them useless. Balancing the fear was something of an imperfect art, especially when calming down a captive who was going to far off could often be extremely difficult. What calmed one person could cause another to hyperventilate into a stupor. Something Miss Kahoshi already seemed well on her way to.

At this point he doubted someone as intelligent as her had not already figured out who he worked for, and while confirming her fears might make things worse it at least took the element of the unknown away. All about the balance. "Do not bother trying to free your hands Doctor Kahoshi," Cody said in a perfect Atrisian accent, accompanied by a dull lifeless voice completely different from before. "They are tight enough that your hand cannot fit through without breaking bone, and you won't be able to generate enough force at that angle to do so. All you will accomplish is tearing skin."

Standing up from his chair, he began to walk slowly around the bound woman his voice drifting as he did. "You know why I am here, you stole something that belongs to the government. I am here to collect. There are only two ways this will end: my way, or the hard way. Either way Atrisia gets what it wants. I know your work is in that safe under the floorboards, just as I know only you can open it. Now, will you cooperate or will I have to...persuade you?"

 

[Madeline Kahoshi]

Certainly didn't help that she was prone to panic attacks even before Cody had gotten his paws on her. She was still hyperventilating, and badly so. To the point she was already feeling lightheaded and weak. Hearing him speak, only worsened matters. He had confirmed her worst fears. That alone elicited a scream of agony from her. Being caught meant it was all over. Her life was over, but knew too well that if she could fight, keep her head at least she would remain alive for a little while longer. She shook her head quickly from side to side, angry that she couldn't escape but the fear in her mind and body wasn't allowing her to stop. That fight or flight instinct still working and every part of her was flight. She just wanted out and away.

As he moved she tried to follow him with her head, though her head bobbed forward from time to time. The lack of oxygen clearly getting to her. Tears had started again, and even between panicked breaths an occasional sob and whimper broke through the noise. She cried out again, hearing he had found the safe. Leaning her head down she slowly moved her head from side to side. It was a simple no. "Mine..." She managed, her voice cracking badly. "My .. ... Work. ....." For a few moments nothing else was coming out, she was trying to speak but it wasn't happening. "...Mine." She repeated.


There was more she was trying hard to say, anything to get a word out but the panic truly was consuming her. "Won't ...." She gasped, struggling even harder against her bonds, the first signs of blood started to show on the ropes. Even her ankles were getting rather raw. "... Help .... You. ... Mine." Again, she cried out, frustrated even more by every passing second that she could not get free, could not breathe, and could not calm herself. She was supposed to be in control after all. "Too .. dangerous.... too.... cruel." She did lift her head, looking to the last place she hear movement from, her ears incredibly keen to the softest of sounds. "No." She said firmly. Even with all that was going on, she was so sure of herself, so positive that she would not help him. Ever.

 

[Madeline Kahoshi]

Cody Weadge


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Posted 23 September 2013 - 07:26 PM

"While you might have created it Doctor, it was never yours," Cody said as he returned to stand in front of her. "The content of the work matters little to me, only that Moff Shu wants it back. Which means he will have it back."

It was a good thing she was hooded, because he had the feeling his words would be a lot less menacing in the local's clothing he still wore. On the brightside, it was a lot easier to hide various objects in its baggy rolls. A knife, remarkable only in its incredible sharpness. To emphasise his point, he walked around behind her and pressed the blade lightly against her skin drawing blood with almost no pain.

"The hand reader is obvious enough," he said speaking of the safe, "but what I need from you is the password, the question is how long until you tell it to me. The hand... well that I can have any time I wish, should you choose not to cooperate."

 

[Madeline Kahoshi]

Madeline, still was panicking, unable to calm down. "You ... Don't ... Understand." She wanted desperately to explain it all to him. But the dizziness growing steadily in her body from the lack of oxygen. Her head kept bobbing forward, nearly throwing her into unconsciousness each time. Those three words the last she could speak. Beneath the hood, she could be heard gasping, trying so badly to speak, but couldn't. Frightened beyond belief, which was unlikely to get any better over time with Cody pressing her further.

She shook her head slowly as he started to move behind her. The second he touched the metal to her skin, she froze. Her fingers spread out, all extended fully and quite tense, nearly shaking with the strain. Likely some type of scalpel given it's sharpness. But the cold metal on her skin, the slightest of pressures and the woman screamed loudly. Despite being nothing, a scratch. Her voice carried loud enough for anyone on either side of her home was likely to hear. It was the fear of what was to come that drew the scream, not the cut inflicted upon her delicate skin.

The scream swiftly melted back into muffled cries and desperate gasps of air, trying to breathe, trying to bring herself under control. However, the simple fact was the more he was with her, the more he spoke, the more done to her, the worse her fears as well as her panic became. More than anything she didn't want to lose her hand. But it was not a thought she could process. Her brain going a million miles an hour just trying to handle what was happening. Little other thoughts were able to break through that mess inside.

 

[Madeline Kahoshi]

Cody Weadge


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Posted 26 September 2013 - 06:46 PM

This was why he hated working with civilians. They were easy enough to scare, but they also panicked far to easy. A professional was harder, but they always cracked eventually. And they never panicked. Stripping off his native jacket and shirt, leaving the undershirt that was his own. It at least made him feel less ridiculous looking. Moving around to the front, he yanked off the black hood and crouched down to look her in the eyes.

"I don't want to kill you. In the end you're worth more to me alive. Simple pragmatic fact. However for that I need you to give me what I want. Which means I need you to take a deep breathe, and calm down."

 

[Madeline Kahoshi]

A raspy gasp came as the hood was pulled away, almost shocked that she was still in the house. The simple fact it was no scream, a sign of how bad it was inside her mind, her body not allowing her to take the breaths she needed so badly. The fear was so clear in her eyes, terror even. It was well beyond fear. Her entire body was shaking, trembling her fingers with a hint of blue in them from the strain, the lack of true air. Even if she did get free, she would be completely unable to move, paralyzed as she was by fear.

It took a while but finally she met his gaze, almost now too frightened to look away. She wanted to know what he'd do, what his plan was, how far he'd take this. Dizziness, nearly overwhelmed her as her head bobbed forward again. Her eyes bright red, swollen with tears that still fell.

She tried hard to take that breath, but her body was fighting her ever inch of the way. Still she was getting more air than she had been in the last few minutes. "Medicine ... bag... " She managed, her voice even weaker than it had been. Simple fact was she was prone to the attacks, too much stress, too much pressure and it left her racing to her office to lock the door, lay on the floor and put a tiny pill under her tongue to relax. "Bed... room."

There was only a single bottle of pills in there, only a quarter of the allotted amount gone. With this level of attack, she needed that medication to calm herself. He might not have known that but she certainly did. Far from the only scientist who had this type of anxiety. Oddly enough more common place at the upper levels of her field. Sadly if she did not get the medication, it was unlikely she would be able to retain any form of control . Likely leading to her passing out. It wouldn't have been the first time, and unlikely to be the last either. "Please!" She begged, her voice softer, but still just as much pleading and wanting in that single word.

In her eyes, there was not the slightest sign of deception or lying only fear, panic, terror and a need. She still struggling hard within herself to get control. Needing control. There would be one more thing she'd need from him after the medicine. But it all depended if he was willing to help her that much, to get her to calm down and come off the ceiling.

"Need ................................ to .......................... lay ..." She struggled harder, not at her bounds, that had almost stopped completely, hardly able to move now. "....Down." Knew what she needed but the question was, would he give it to her?

 

[Madeline Kahoshi]

Cody Weadge


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Posted 01 October 2013 - 04:12 PM

Medicine for anxiety attacks. Somehow he did not remember that little detail showing up in her ISB profile. Damn amateurs. It was mistakes like this that jeopardized missions and got good agents killed in the field. No wonder they had never managed to rid Atrisia of the Reki, if they could not never put together a proper field report. It was a miracle they caught anyone at all.

Going to the room, he found the pills and read the label. He knew well that any drug could kill a person in to much of an amount, and he was not about to accidently OD the scientist. Still, he needed her back in action quick. Heading to the kitchen, he crushed up the required dosage into a cup and filled it with water. Once it was properly diluted he returned to Madeline and pressed the cup against her lips. Careful not to spill any, he poured the drug laced water down her throat.

He considered her last barely uttered comment, there was no way he was undoing her bindings just yet but there might be a compromise. Once he was sure the water would not surge back up from the movement, he leaned the chair back onto its back. It would be highly uncomfortable, especially with her hands pinned under her, but it at least counted as "lying down."

Now he waited for the medication to kick in.

 

[Madeline Kahoshi]

Her sobs and desperate gasps for air could be heard still as he left the room. Her eyes followed as he soon returned the drugs in hand and heading for the kitchen. Hearing the noises she had an idea of what he was doing, the doctor in her knowing it would be quicker introduced into her blood stream that way. Once he returned with the laced water the look in her eyes a softer though still panicked but thankful one. Opening her mouth, still gasping, she managed to push that aside for a moment to drink the water.

She gave a groan, wincing heavily as he laid her back in the chair upon the floor. It hurt, a lot more than she imagined. All of her weight pressing down on her hands. They were already sore enough from the ropes, and what she'd done in the process of trying to escape them. For a good five minutes she closed her eyes, still gasping, panting ... trying to breathe as even she waited for the medication to help calm her down. "Thank .... you..." She managed between harsh breaths, still struggling to get herself under control. Slowly, very slowly, her rapid breaths were calming, becoming less and less labored as time passed by. A calmness spreading through her body and gradually easing her mind. The only downside to the drugs, they did make her tired, exhausted really.

Finally as she laid there, eyes closed her breathing had returned to normal and now she was boarding on sleep. Inching closer to that wonderful, truly peaceful state where none of this would matter. Atrisia wouldn't have her. She wouldn't have to make terrible things, and her mind could just play out its wildest fantasies with no restrictions. A few more calmer, peaceful breaths and her head drifted to the side, just barely asleep on the floor. Despite the discomfort and pains she still felt, that kind of panic attack took so much from her. The medicine, just made it easier to deal with, easier to relax and be comfortable when she should have been fearing for her life and safety.

 

[Madeline Kahoshi]

Cody Weadge


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Posted 01 October 2013 - 04:39 PM

"Don't thank me yet Madeline," he said tonelessly. This mercy was only a means to an end, he was incapable of carrying about her well being at the moment beyond what his orders dictated. And his orders dictated he gain access to what was in the safe, it would save a lot of time and effort if he was able to get Madeline to open it for him.

He watched from his chair as she began to fall asleep, no doubt an effect of whatever drug he had given her. That was not what he wanted. Getting up he stepped to the chair and in a rough movement yanked the chair back to its upright position. "It's not bedtime yet Doctor. There is still something I need from you, and for that I need you to focus on me."

Returning to his chair, he began to fiddle with the razor sharp knife he had sliced her with earlier. "This has already taken far to much of my valuable time. There are much more interesting things I could be doing right now, but alas here I am."

Looking up, he stared into her blue eyes with his own. Hers bright and full of fear, his appearing dead and lifeless. "As I said before, you will give me the code I need. The question is, how much do I need to cut off before you give it out? I happen to know for a fact that certain body parts are not needed for those in your field. Ears for example. Certain toes. Well any but the big toe really. Where should I start?"

 

[Madeline Kahoshi]

Yanking her from the floor, brought a harsh gasp as she woke from her slumber. Her body once more began to tremble as he spoke, but for the moment she wasn't panicking. The medications keeping her calm, sedate for the time being. Tears returned to those vivid blue eyes. "Please ... I can't give you what you want." She shook her head sadly as she let it drop forward, not wanting to look at him. "I can't do this." She said firmly.

"You have to understand what I made, was never meant to be. It shouldn't be. I made something that makes what the Sith do look like a nice hot bath, and a massage to follow. Kindness." She shuddered just thinking back to the first tests. The first time she watched a force user melt into a puddle of sludge on the floor. "Have you ever watched someone melt away? Cell by cell break apart in front of you?" She shook her head again, sadly, sobs shaking her for a moment. "I did what he asked, Shu ... But you have to understand this stuff doesn't decide between good and bad force users. Anyone ... with a strong sensitivity this stuff will kill. Anyone!" She stopped talking, tears taking over again. And for a moment she seemed content to just sit and sob. "A few drops ... its all it takes. A few drops, and there is nothing that can stop it. No antidote, it works too fast. It works too well. The person will melt away into a pile of sludge. Please ...." A sigh came, more tears but she wasn't looking up. "Just let me go, let this disappear. This isn't something that should have ever been made. Please, understand. Please!"

She finally looked up in time to see the knife, that alone enough to make her shrink down in the chair. Trying to become as small as possible, no longer wanting to be here. Slowly again she shook her head. "I can't give you the code. I can't do it." She shuddered at the mention of loosing an ear ... toes... not something she wanted to happen. "Just kill me. Be done with it. It's better that way."

 

[Madeline Kahoshi]

Cody Weadge


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Posted 01 October 2013 - 05:09 PM

"What does it matter how a person dies?" he asked with a shrug. "Dead is dead, and a weapon never distinguishes its targets. Only the person using it can do that. It is not my place to question such things, and it is not yours either. It is a bit to late to try and play the heroine in this tale Doctor Kahoshi. You are already living among the monsters like me."

Standing up, he again began to walk around the immobilized woman. He ran the blunt edge of the knife along her shoulders, pressing just hard enough for her to feel it. "But it seems I will have to change tactics. As it seems death is not motivation, I will simply have to remove it from the equation. It is lucky for me then that I am well skilled in the tolerance of the human body."

Returning to the front of the woman, he held the blade out and touched a barely visible switch on its hilt. Quickly the blade heated, until it glowed red. "I will just have to make sure you do not lose any blood as I remove parts."

 

[Madeline Kahoshi]

She shook her head. "You don't get it, do you?! The weapon is made for mass distribution. I worked the chemical. Someone else made the bomb for it. This is meant to murder millions if not BILLIONS! I never ... never knew the true application. Figured it was an execution substance. Something to be made for single target use, it's NOT! I ran with it all when I found out." It could have referred to the work itself, or the actual product, which was something he was bound to discover sooner or later. Someone on Atrisia was bound to contact him and let him know the vile substance was missing. "He wants to wipe ALL force users from the galaxy, don't you understand?! Simple weapons one thing, but a tragedy of this magnitude! The galaxy would never recover!"

Eyes moved as he did, following with him as he moved around her. She winced each time the blade came in contact with her bare shoulders, the camisole offered no protection here. Leaning forward as far as her restraints would allow, she ducked her head down, curled up her toes, terrified of what was to come. His words ... made the trembling in her body grow. A glance up as he came to her front, saw the heated blade. "Please! Don't do this! PLEASE!" She begged, pleaded, not wanting to know that kind of pain, unsure of what she could handle before she'd pass out. Fearful of what she'd have to lose before it was over. "I can't ... I can't give you what you want."

"Let the work die with me! Let it die!" Her breathing, increasing quickly but not to the point of a panic attack. If not for the drug in her system forcing calmness upon her, the situation would be a lot worse. She ripped hard against the ropes, pulling, struggling now. She needed free. With the right motion, the right movements, and a bit of lubrication, even if it was her own blood, she figured there was a small chance she could get a hand free. She had to do something. No longer could she just sit and take this.

 

[Madeline Kahoshi]

Cody Weadge


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Posted 01 October 2013 - 05:49 PM

"As I said, death is no longer part of the equation," he replied calmly. If the idea of genocide bothered him, well he certainly did not show it. Though even if he had not sealed away such useless things like empathy or emotions, he knew things about Atrisia she did not. Things that if she ever learned, it would only be after they had been put into play.

Reaching out he grabbed her hair and held her still as he brought the super heated blade to rest close enough to her throat to feel the blistering heat. "Try not to struggle to much, it will just make things worse."

Moving down, he pressed the flat of the blade against her leg moving it down quick enough that it would not burn her severely. When he reached her foot, he pulled off her shoe and the sock underneath to reveal a bare foot. Pressing down on it with one hand so she could not try and flex it, he brought the razor sharp ever closer to her toes.

 

[Madeline Kahoshi]

Her entirely body was trembling as she heard those cold words. At this point she wanted it to end, to die and let all her work end with her. But it was becoming clear that wasn't going to be an option. A muffled cry came as he grabbed her hair and forced her to hold still. The heat against her neck, brought more tears, she knew it was going to be bad, and likely get worse before it was over. Before she could bring herself to give in. "Please! Please, I beg you, don't do this." She said quietly, trying to hold still and stay away from the super heated blade. "Can't we talk about this like civilized human beings? Please!"

The second the blade touched her leg, she screamed loudly, it echoed through the entire home, as he drug the blade down her leg. Her whole body shaking from the strain, trying hard to pull away from the heat. "STOP!" More screams followed and she tried harder to pull free. Blood now dripping from her wrists, a small pool slowly developing on the floor. Her feet, unmarred, completely unscarred in any way .. highly sensitive to the heat as he moved the blade ever closer. Now she was watching, knowing how close he was, the blistering heat alone hurting her. She tried hard to squirm, but he had her foot pinned down well. She was panting hard, yanking on her wrists, desperate to get a hand free. "Please! Please stop!" Her voice softer but no less strained and fearful. "Please .... don't do this. Don't!" She just wasn't willing to give it up just yet. He'd proven just how much he'd hurt her if need be but she couldn't give it up yet.

 

[Madeline Kahoshi]

Cody Weadge


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Posted 01 October 2013 - 06:42 PM

It was clear that Cody had no intention of stopping as the blade grew closer. Just as he was about to cut into the flesh, he heard a banging against the door. Either a neighbor home from work had finally gotten bold enough to do something, or she had been expecting company. Of course he had no way of knowing that she had hired a guide, and the guide had finally arrived.

Moving quickly, Cody grabbed his discarded shirt just as the door burst open and Madeline's guide entered wielding a blaster. The Imperial agent's training kicked in, and even as the guide surveyed the scene looking where to shoot, Cody had drawn and aimed the hold out blaster inside the shirt. As the guide began to turn his arm toward Cody, the agent fired hitting him in the chest.

The guide fell to his knees, looked down at the burnt hole in his chest, then fell forward. Walking over, Cody put a shot in his head and another in his back at about where his heart would be just to make sure the man was dead. Then he closed the door, noting that the locks were broken from the entrance. Returning, he holstered the blaster into the back of his pants and once again brandishing the knife, placed his hand on her foot.

"My apologies for the interruption, I believe I was about to remove your small toe?"

 

[Madeline Kahoshi]

Maddie had tried hard to yank her foot back and away from him feeling the heat of the blade grow closer when the banging on the door came. For a brief moment Madeline had hope in her eyes that things might turn out better. That she might get taken away from this mess. But alas it wasn't meant to be. A shriek came as the first shot punched a hole through the being's chest. And twice she jumped unable to look away as the last two shots were taken. For a moment she hadn't heard Cody, didn't move, scarcely breathed. She didn't even respond as he brought the blade back to her foot.

Sure she may have been an actually physician, many times in residency she had seen trauma patients come in like this badly shot up, seen the light fade from their eyes but never once had she been there when it happened. Turning her head to the side, the young woman promptly vomited and gasped for air, the shell shocked look still in her eyes. She hadn't quite snapped out of it.


Finally she blinked a few times, eyes still on the body on the floor. It had happened so fast, so coldly. Like nothing she'd ever seen or experienced in her lifetime. It was one thing when she was doing the killing, using test subjects but ... like this. No, the guide was merely doing his job. A hired gun to protect Maddie and get her to safety in the Unknown regions. He hadn't asked to die today, to be treated in such a manner. "You... you...." Words just weren't quite forming. Not getting through her mind.


Shaking her head quickly she seemed to finally come out of it. Still feeling ill, hurting more than she wanted to admit to. Her leg, her hands, her ankles. Her shoulders slumped, the light fell away from her eyes, utterly defeated, her voice so soft, so quiet as she spoke. "Take me to the safe. .... ... ........." A long pause followed. "I'll open it." No more fighting. She was done. Completely utterly done. The last thing she wanted was to be the guide on the floor and knew if she pressed matters, kept fighting she'd be just like him, dead. "You know they'll likely kill me anyway..... Doesn't matter here. Doesn't matter at all."

 

[Madeline Kahoshi]

Cody Weadge


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Posted 01 October 2013 - 07:11 PM

"I am glad you have finally seen reason," Cody said as he removed the blade and released her foot. Though he sounded more like it would have been fine with cutting off the toe as well. "It is not my place to say what will happen to you once we have returned to Atrisia, but do not think you have completely outlived your usefulness. There are greater powers in this universe than you or I."

While it might sound like he was being religious, he was simply referring to those that had orchestrated this whole event. If Shu really wanted her dead, she very well could die. However there were many more reasons to keep her alive, and at least one person that had other ideas. Otherwise Cody would not have treated her as gently as he had so far.

Deactivating the blade, he slipped it into its heat proof sheath to cool. Then he grabbed more rope, and made some new knots. First he ran a line between her legs, allowing her to walk but not run. He then ran one around her upper arms, looping it under her armpits so she could not push it up. This measures in place, he undid her binding to the chair, focing her hands to the front so he could rebind them together.

"Stand up," he commanded.

 

[Madeline Kahoshi]

Her eyes never moved from the body on the floor. Not once. She still seemed as shocked as she had been when it happened. She didn't move or struggle as he rebound her legs, arms, hands. There was a wince as he touched her left upper arm, bruised badly from the door, earlier. That still hurt like hell and then some. It was only as he ordered her to stand that she finally moved her gaze away from the body. Eyes moved over to him, slowly blinking. "I highly doubt that. With what I was told when I was recruited, I just have a feeling this is the end of my road."

Slowly she started to stand from the chair but her legs buckled beneath her. She ended right back on the chair. Frightened, out of her mind, she still tried again, not wanting to piss him off anymore and once more and managed to take a small step forward, her knees shaking threatening still to give way beneath her. Maddie seemed to freeze there, waiting for Cody to move, not wanting to do anything that would get her hurt. At least not any more than she already was.

 

[Madeline Kahoshi]

Cody Weadge


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Posted 01 October 2013 - 08:31 PM

Seeing her struggle, he reached out and grabbed her arm to steady her. Once she was on her feet, he slowly lead her to the safe making sure she did not fall. At this point it would just take more time if he did not help her move. Once she reached the safe, he helped her down to her knees so that she could place her hand in front of the scanner.