Her pale cheeks were brushed with a light sheen of freckles, and her large,
startlingly blue were locked upon him.
For a long moment, Elim Garak coldly held her gaze. Her confidence seemed to
waver, and she looked down at her hands.
Sensing his first victory, an expressionless Garak slid out his chair and slowly sank
into it, never ripping his gaze from her. He allowed a tiny smile to brush his lips, and
intoned, Are you enjoying your stay with us, Ensign?
The Terran girl looked up uncertainly, as if surprised by his mild tone. Cautiously,
she replied, Not really.
He chuckled dryly. That surprises me. Is it the food, or perhaps the living
accommodations? A pause. Then, You look awfully pale, my dear. Cardassian food
must not agree with you.
I haven't been given any food. Her eyes flew up to his, and she added boldly,
But I imagine I'd find it repellent, as I find everything else about Cardassians.
Again, he chuckled.
She seemed to gain a little more confidence, as if emboldened by her own daring.
She sat up straighter, tilted her chin up. Where's the Admiral?
Garak's head caulked to the side. Your superior? Why, he's here. Where
else?
She hesitated. I just hadn't... received any sign that he was still alive. Not
since... Her voice faded off.
Since he stopped screaming? Garak finished for her. She looked flustered, but
held her tongue. Garak allowed his smile to grow slightly, though it still didn't reach his
eyes. He had a remarkably low pain threshold for a man of his position. You wouldn't
think Starfleet would give such a weak man access to confidential materials... He paused
to read her expression. Her features were schooled to careful neutrality. Garak
continued, However, in my line of work, we discover daily just how much we've
overestimated Starfleet.
We're sorry to disappoint you. Her words dripped with venom. Garak began
to enjoy himself. This would be all too easy.
I'm hoping you'll prove more of a challenge.
Go to hell, she shot back, eyes glittering.
Such base insults, ensign. Can't you think up any witty repartee? I'd certainly
enjoy myself more.
Her mouth bobbed open a few times as if she was trying futilely to come up with a
return. Finally, she settled with, I don't care if you enjoy yourself. Her eyes shot to
the floor, sparkling with impotent fury.
Garak felt a tingle of amusement, but kept his voice neutral as he inquired, Just
how old are you, ensign?
Don't you know it's rude to ask someone's age? She grumbled.
Voice hard. How old?
Twenty-one. Her voice was almost a whisper.
Ah. Twenty-one. Quite young. His chair slid back across the floor, and he
circled slowly behind her chair. She strained to see him, but the restraints held her locked
in place. She settled nervously with gazing at the bare metal tabletop directly in front of
her.
She could hear his clothing rustle as he knelt down behind her, and felt the light
tickle of his breath upon her neck.
Are you sure you won't cooperate with us, my dear? A cold finger snaked out
and tickled along her jaw. I' d hate to see this lovely form of yours marred.
She felt her eyes sting with helpless tears. She didn't understand what game he
was playing. Would he torture her or not? This prolonged wait was the worst
part.
I won't betray the Federation.
A pity, he breathed, his fingertip tracing an intricate pattern across her skin.
A great pity, indeed.
She shuddered.
You're not frightened, are you? he inquired softly.
Are you going to get on with it and torture me, or what? she
demanded.
You are frightened.
I'm not scared of you.
What's your name?
You already know.
I want to hear you say it.
She shook her head.
You're afraid to say it. Very well. I'll say it for you-- Kathryn
Janeway.
She hated hearing her name from his lips, in that sultry, calculated voice of
his.
What do they call you? Kathy? Katie?
Kathryn.
You strike me as a Katie, he noted softly. You have that... air of
innocence.
It's Kathryn, she shot back. I'm called Kathryn.
Tell me something, Katie-- do you enjoy music? he asked abruptly.
Music? Her brow furrowed, startled at the abrupt change of subject, wary of
his meaning. I suppose.
I enjoy it as well. There's nothing better in this galaxy... Some say music is a
form of art-- an extension of the soul.
Kathryn didn't reply. She didn't know where this was going, and she had a feeling
she didn't want to know.
He chuckled dryly from behind her. Yes, let's have some music.
A moment of silence followed, then just as suddenly, the air was pierced with shrill
screams. Many of them. She froze, transfixed in horror as she heard the unearthly
wails.
Beautiful, isn't it? Like a chorus of Angels. His voice was just loud enough to
be heard over the screams.
She began to tremble. Stop it. Are you torturing them? Stop it.
You didn't say the magic word, Katie.
Please stop hurting them, she pleaded.
But I was just beginning to enjoy myself.
You're a beast! She yelled. A monster! An angry sob ripped from her lips.
She doubled over in her chair as if in pain.
So I've been told, he drawled.
Her shoulders shook violently as she wept, even while she was struggling to rein in
her emotions.
His gazed coldly at her as she cried, inching slightly to the side so she'd be
uncomfortably aware of his scrutiny. The girl tried to tilt her head away from him, but he
simply moved over more so as to be in her line of vision. This one had insurmountable
pride. An approach was forming in his mind.
There is a way you can help them, he said slowly, then added, And
yourself.
She peered over at him, suspicion written on her features. Her eyes were red, her
cheeks flushed. How?
The truth is, Garak said casually, That your superior blurted everything
about your 'secret' mission while he was being... questioned. We really don't require any
information of you. However, as far as matters of protocol go, you have to be broken by
torture by the end of the day.
Her eyes glazed over. He continued, However, I might be able to slip this by,
and give those prisoners up there a break. On one condition.
Her expression seemed to harden, her voice strong as she said, Name
it.
A lazy smile crept across his lips, and he pointedly raked her body with his eyes.
He noted with amusement how she flinched back away from his gaze, repulsion and fear
flickering briefly across her face. Great pride, indeed. This was the last thing she'd want.
But he knew that classic, self-sacrificing, Starfleet tendency would take over, and sure
enough, she straightened up. Holding herself like a martyr, she said, If that's what it
takes.
His eyes glittered, and he reached under the metal table and pressed a button.
Restraints popped up at the four corners. She eyed them fearfully, even as the metal
restraints biting her wrists slowly slid off of her.
Garak backed off a few paces, gestured gracefully towards the table. You know
what to do. Remember: this is your decision. I'm not forcing you to do anything. She
hesitated a moment, and he warned her, And don't try any heroics. Those people up
there won't appreciate it if you fail.
Kathryn rose onto two shaky legs, rubbing her wrists. She wished she could stop
the trembling of her hands as she slowly unzipped her uniform. Her skin prickled as it met
the cold air of the interrogation room.
She blushed as she stepped away from her uniform. She reached out hesitantly to
the cold metal of the interrogation table. Kathryn hesitated again, only to be spurred on by
the dangerous glint in the Cardassian's eyes and the sound of the cries of the poor souls
above her. She pushed herself up onto the table, took a deep breath to steel herself, and
lay down, positioning her wrists and ankles at the metal lockets. They abruptly snapped
closed, ice cold around her skin.
He slowly approached her, and she closed her eyes, tears once again threatening
her. His footsteps were right in front of her now, right near her ankles. Cold fingers
lightly brushed her sex, withdrew, then probed it more insistently.
What are you doing? she demanded, keeping her eyes closed. Why don't you
just get on with it and fuck me?
All in good time, he replied softly.
His hands slowly traveled over her body, paused to lightly cup her breasts. His
thumbs rubbed her nipples, rolling them. She felt them suddenly pinched between his
fingers. Kathryn balked at the strange rush of pleasure she felt. She attributed it to nerves
amd began struggling with the restraints. This couldn't happen. This wasn't right. If
Admiral Paris knew about this... Or, dear God, her father...
I hate you, she hissed, her eyes slinking open. His face was expressionless,
only the barest whisper of a smile pulling at his lips.
I know.
A hand slipped back down her body to her sex, one finger gently brushing her cilt.
He bent over, his tongue snaking out to circle her hardened nipple. She was mortified at
the moan that escaped her lips, and his amused chuckle. She gasped when he suddenly
grasped her nipple between his wet lips, and slipped a finger inside of her vagina. He
suckled lightly on her breast, and Kathryn felt a strange burning sensation down below,
pleasurable, but alien to her.
He looked up to meet her eyes, and pointedly thrust his finger into her vagina.
Kathryn gasped, her cheeks heated. He looked up, his eyes glittering in
amusement.
You're quite wet, my dear. I take it you're enjoying yourself?
I hate you! She gasped back, her breath abruptly cut off when he thrust in
harder. His other hand toyed with one of her nipples.
And tight. You can't be a virgin, can you?
She blanched, answering his question. His smile widened.
I wouldn't dream of deflowering a virgin, he drawled. For a second, she
thought he meant it.
He suddenly slid down her body, as if he was going to leave. He was still fully
dressed. Her sex throbbed as his hand withdrew, and she felt an absurd need to have him
back.
She was startled when his mouth descended between her legs, his tongue rubbing
against her clit.
I... thought... you said--
He paused. I said I wouldn't take your virginity. And I meant it.
But-- Her protests droned off as his tongue dipped into her wet crevice. Her
head arched back; she found herself helpless to fight the pleasurable sensations. A small
part of her being registered her mortification as she struggled against the restraints again--
this time to try to get closer to his mouth. Her hips bucked beneath his ministrations, and
for a moment, she seemed on the edge of a precipice...
He withdrew from between her legs. A disappointed cry
escaped her lips, and she realized her cheeks were wet with tears.
I wouldn't dream of forcing you into anything. Garak told her.
The ensign, cheeks flushed, arms and legs pinned helplessly away from her
exposed, sweaty body, her long, reddish hair spread in a cape about her head, gaped at
him incredulously.
What..? she breathed.
I'm against non-consensual sexual activity of any kind. He said firmly.
Kathryn realized what he was getting at. Her entire body was tingling, her senses
heightened. He couldn't leave her like this. It was unbearable.
He wanted her to ask him to continue. Every shred of pride in her being screamed
at her to leave it at this. But she couldn't possibly.
Forcing back her pride, her shame, she pleaded quietly, Please finish
it.
His uncertainty mocked her. Oh, I don't know...
To hell with pride. Please... I'm--begging you...
Very well, he said, as if still uncertain. And he knelt back between her legs.
Kathryn hated herself as the burning built up, hated the cries of pleasure that escaped her
lips, and the muscles that contracted as a giant explosion of pleasure rolled through her
body.
When the climax passed, she collapsed back down onto the table, trembling, her
breath coming in small gasps. The metal was cold and slick against her sweaty body. The
Cardassian withdrew and calmly wiped his lips. He gazed at her serenely for a moment,
then paced back away from her.
Kathryn felt vaguely confused. She had expected him to rape her, take some
pleasure of his own. That was the way with captors, wasn't it?
Oh, God, I can't believe I did that... She thought, ashamed. Here she was, playing
whore to this Cardassian, when he didn't even do it for his own pleasure. This entire thing
had been to demean her. She was going to be sick.
He started to walk towards the door. The girl was gazing after him in confusion
and Garak offered her a plaster smile. I will be going now. I'll send your superior down
here to undo your restraints. Her face reddened. He watched with amusement as she
struggled to look angry rather than show her embarrassment, her realization that he'd
simply wanted to humiliate her.
What about the people being tortured? You said you'd stop it. she accused
him.
I did, didn't I? He paused thoughtfully, then smiled. I guess I lied.
She gaped after him, stunned, as he disappeared out the
doorway.
