I awoke in darkness.

I sat up slowly, struggling to orient myself. Where was I? I looked around me but could see nothing. Wracking my brain, I fought to remember what happened. How did I wind up here… wherever “here” was?

I got a flash, an image of Chris sitting across a table. Something about… a mission? I mean, that would make sense, since she was my contact for that sort of thing, but try as I might, the details eluded me. I concentrated, focusing my attention on the image, searching for clues. There was something in the background, a hazy outline of a spire…

... the Eiffel Tower.

It all came flooding back to me… the Katabasis mission, the Brotherhood, all of it. We were trying to escape the Masters and had almost reached the shuttle when they sprang the trap.

Raven.

I leapt to my feet. “Raven? Raven!” I shouted, but there was only silence. I tried feeling my way through the darkness, calling her name, to no avail. It was like trying to swim through mud before my impaired brain realized what an idiot I was. I sent out a mental command as I tried willing light into existence, only nothing happened. I tried again, with the same result. I cycled through a dozen commands, growing more and more frantic by the moment, but each time my efforts fizzled out harmlessly.

I was trapped, in a domain not my own. Powerless.

And where was Raven? Had they deleted her program? Did the Masters decide she was nothing but a simulacrum, banishing her to nonexistence? If so, then I owed them a blood debt, one that only their deaths could discharge.

How I was going to enact my revenge, given my current status, was a question for another time.

Time passed. With no way of measuring it, a minute or a century may have elapsed. It wasn’t quite sensory deprivation, with all the psychological effects that go with it, but it was definitely a close relative. A human mind, even a digital one, doesn’t do well without some form of stimulation. In ancient times, long before humans traveled to space, we even used it as a means of torture. Aren’t we clever?

Though even our primitive ancestors couldn’t hold a candle to the Tu’udh’hizh’ak.

But finally, after millennia, after eons of waiting, the light in my prison began growing brighter. I found myself in a featureless box, roughly five meters to a side. I tried willing a door into existence, a window, anything to get a glimpse of what lay beyond these walls, but nothing worked. I was at the mercy of the Masters, a race not exactly known for their compassion.

Finally, a viewscreen flickered to life as a whiskered Chell face peered back at me. It wasn’t Elder Brother, that much was certain. I’d long since committed his colorations to memory. I folded my arms, waiting to hear what they had to say.

“Your plan to escape was quite clever,” the Chell servitor said, “though not clever enough. As you can see, we anticipated your intentions and prepared a lure too tempting to ignore.”

I mean, fair enough, but he wasn’t done yet.

“You will tell us how you came to be on that ship, your intentions, the fate of the original crew, and anything else we wish to know. If you do not, then we have ways of compelling you to speak.”

Somehow, I didn’t think he was bluffing. “And if I talk? Tell you what you want to know?” I asked. “What happens to me then?”

“That depends on the answers you provide,” he continued, “though if you were expecting clemency, I suspect you will be disappointed.” He seemed insufferably pleased about that. Asshole.

“Not giving me much of an incentive here,” I pointed out. “If I’m screwed either way, why should I tell you anything?”

“I’m certain you already know the answer to that,” he pointed out, “but if you require further inducement, I believe I can provide it.” He touched an icon on the panel before him as another screen came to life. Raven’s image appeared, seemingly held in a similar cell to my own. Now that surprised me. Why would the Masters bother imprisoning a simulacrum?

Unless, of course, she no longer registered as a simulacrum. There was an unsettling thought for you to get the day started off right.

“Alphad? What’s happening?” she asked nervously. “What are they going to do to us?”

“It’ll be alright,” I told her, lying through my teeth. “I’ll figure a way out of this.” Yeah… and maybe I’ll wave my magic wand and bring back Earth while I’m at it. There was no way the Tu’udh’hizh’ak were going to let us go, since they couldn’t pull a mind scramble on us the way they did Maggie and the others. We were immune to that little trick… which meant we were too dangerous to ever be set free. Which, quite frankly, sucked. Big time.

The Chell leaned forward. “Tell me how you came to be aboard that ship.”

And there it was. I could try stalling for time, but that wouldn’t work for long. I could try spinning some sort of yarn, some plausible bullshit in the hopes they’d buy it and set us free, which they wouldn’t, and wouldn’t. I doubt there was any lie or half-truth I could tell them they wouldn’t eventually see through, not with their resources. Not much of an option.

Or… I could tell them the truth.

I mean, why not? What did I have to lose? It’s not like I owed any loyalty to the fucking Brotherhood, not after the way they treated us. Fuck them. I tried offering them a deal, even after they’d murdered fellow Terrans, only to end up captured and forced to do their bidding. Damn near got us killed, too. Sure, I felt some sympathy towards their predicament, forced to be slaves, fighting back any way they could, but after my encounters with Elder Brother, I was suddenly feeling rather indifferent to their plight.

“You want to know what happened?” I asked. “All right, I’ll tell you… on one condition.”

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“You are not in a position to make demands,” he snapped.

“Yeah, I’ve been hearing that a lot lately,” I sneered. “If you want to know the truth… then put one of the Masters in the room.”

The Chell goggled at me. “One does not order the Masters about,” he whispered, horrified at the thought. “How could you believe for an instant they would cater to the likes of you?”

“Trust me… they’re gonna want to hear what I have to say,” I answered, giving Raven a reassuring nod.

----------------------------------------

It took some time for the Chell to find a Master to agree. How much time, I can’t say. They blanked the screen and killed the lights again, leaving me in timeless darkness. I didn’t even get a chance to speak to Raven, though I’m not sure what I could have said. Some words of comfort, at least if nothing else. Finally, however, the viewscreen appeared once more, this time showing what appeared to be a swamp. Heavy mist hung over the water as a multitude of plants surrounded and filled the marshland. Here and there I could see ripples, hinting at movement beneath the surface, before a black triangular head breached the surface. Water dripped from its amphibious body as it glanced to the Chell, saying nothing.

Nothing that I could hear, at least, though the servitor’s reaction was instantaneous.

“Why have you requested the presence of a Master?” the Chell asked.

“Insurance,” I told him. “I don’t know who I can trust.” I looked around, but there was no sign of Raven.

The answer seemed to confuse him, but he shrugged it off. “So be it. As you can see, a Master has graced us with his presence. Speak.”

I turned my attention to the salamander. “He can hear me, right?”

“The Master hears everything,” the Chell assured me.

“Perfect,” I smiled. “So here it is. I’m going to tell you a secret, one you desperately need to know, and in return, me and my partner are allowed to leave in peace. Deal?”

The Chell practically harrumphed with displeasure. “Do not presume to dictate terms to the Master. He will decide your fate, regardless of any ‘deals’ you attempt to strike.”

I crossed my arms. “Then I’ve got nothing to say.”

The servitor bristled with anger. “You tread on dangerous ground, Terran,” he snarled. “If the Master so wishes, he can have you tortured in agony for the rest of your pitiful existence.”

“You’re not exactly helping your case here,” I fired back. “If you’re not interested in learning who the traitors in your organization are, fine,” I continued, dangling the bait in front of them. “It makes no difference to me.”

The Chell suddenly grew still. “Who are these traitors you speak of?” he demanded.

I returned the glare, measure for measure, before slowly swiveling my gaze to the Tu’udh’hizh’ak. “Do. We. Have A. Deal?” I carefully enunciated.

Black bulbous eyes stared back at me, blinking in the low light. The moment seemed to drag on until finally it jerked its head towards the Chell.

“The Master states that if your information is proven accurate, he will agree to your terms,” the Chell said evenly.

Inwardly, I winced. Proving it was going to be difficult. Well, one thing at a time.

“There is an organization operating underneath your very nose… er, snout,” I told them, throwing caution to the wind. “They call themselves ‘The Brotherhood of Shadows’, and they are immune to your… well… special talents.”

I was taking an enormous risk here, admitting I knew their secret. The Tu’udh’hizh’ak were telepaths, something they had gone to great lengths to conceal. It was how they kept their Chell servitors obedient, and even hinting I knew the truth was tantamount to suicide.

Then again, it’s not like I had a lot left to lose.

Something in the Chell’s posture shifted slightly. “The Master insists you explain your words,” he said, his eyes darting apprehensively back towards the amphibian.

And this is where things get interesting, I thought to myself. Time to find out if I was holding a Full House... or a pair of threes.

“That the Tu’udh’hizh’ak have been telepathically coercing the Chell for millennia to do their bidding,” I said, never taking my eyes from the Master. “That you have done the same to countless others, making them your agents all across the Perseus Arm. And, that you have kept that fact hidden from the rest of the Troika.” In for a penny, in for a pound. “And before you get any cute ideas about having me eliminated to protect your secret, I’m afraid it’s already out there.” My smile grew wide as I savored the moment. “We sold that information to the Oivu two years ago… you know, the preeminent merchants of the galaxy? The ones that will sell absolutely anything, to anybody? God only knows how many others have purchased that intel since then.”

The salamander went nuts.

It started thrashing about in the water, scattering mud and shredded plants in every direction. The Master glared at me in silent fury… but it was the Chell’s reaction that suddenly had my full attention. I would have expected him to remain still, or even cringe in terror while Tu’udh’hizh’ak threw his little tantrum, but instead he appeared to be edging towards the door, attempting to make an escape.

Well, well, well. Look what we have here. Seems the Brotherhood decided to keep tabs on me during my interrogation. Great idea in theory, though you’d think they’d have a plan in place if I sold them out.

“Hey… Swamp Thing,” I called out. “Your boy looks like he’s about to do a runner.”

The Master’s head jerked over at the Chell, its eyes narrowing with sudden intensity. The Chell jerked to a halt, its head now cocked in what had to be a seriously uncomfortable angle… any further, and I think his neck would snap. His eyes rolled into the back of his head, while blood began dripping from his nose and ears.

Oh, shit. “It would seem your information is correct, Terran,” the Chell rasped, only there was no way in hell that voice was coming from the hamster. We’d never even guessed the Tu’udh’hizh’ak could go this deep, though whatever it was doing to the rodent couldn’t be healthy for its long-term survival. Somehow, I suspected that was no longer a concern. “This servitor attempted to deceive me, only to betray its true intentions in the end.”

“So what happens now?” I asked deliberately. “I’ve proven my word is good.”

“What else do you know of this ‘Brotherhood’?” the Chell’s voice grated, as I fought not to look away. Seriously, it was disturbing as fuck to watch. Its body began to twitch and jerk uncontrollably, and I wondered just how long the Master could keep this up before damaging something vital. Viscous gore matted the creature’s pelt, as the salamander slowly crushed its mind and body.

“You should be more concerned about the Eleexx,” I warned him. “Even as we speak, they’re working on a device that will free all the Chell from your control… and turn them against you.” I couldn’t keep the grin from my face. As dangerous as the position I was currently in, after all these years, seeing them squirm like this was too much damn fun.

You know, except for watching the Chell’s brain getting turned into paste. I would have been happy skipping that part.

The rodent hissed with outrage… again, not its own voice. “Traitors without and within,” the Master snarled. “They will all taste our wrath.”

“Great. Glad I could help,” I said, as dispassionately as I could manage. “Now, what are you willing to do for me in return?”

My eyes were still fixed on the Chell, though I could feel the Master’s gaze on me. I mean, you try looking away from something like that. “You know far too much to be allowed your freedom,” it gurgled, as the hamster’s seizures grew steadily worse. Pretty sure it didn’t have much longer on this mortal coil. Blood was now seeping from its mouth as well.

“Nothing your enemies don’t already know,” I replied. “You let us go, and I’ll be sure to pass on any other tidbits I learn your way. After all, I can go places even your brainwashed spies can’t reach.”

The amphibian regarded me for a moment. “You wish your freedom?” the Chell wheezed. “Then take back that which you have already provided the meddlesome Oivu. Erase the data regarding our abilities, and we shall release you.” The Master released its hold on the rodent, who immediately collapsed in a boneless heap. It managed one last strangled rattle, and then was silent.

I swallowed. “Rip off the Oivu. Sure. No problem.”

Fuck me.