The troops secured the prisoners in The Schengen’s Hope‘s brig. Pollock went to the brig himself to personally oversee the transfer. He found the leathery, reptilian Ishvalty all unconscious. The Ishvalty were taller than Pollock expected, just over seven feet. They were all physical specimens, and Pollock could see why the skirmish had been so difficult for his men.
He asked the jailer droid to wake the Ishvalty prince. The prince groggily got to his feet after the application of some potent smelling salts. The general looked decidedly different than the Ishvalty Pollock had seen in person in the past. Usually Ishvalty skin was pale yellow, but the General Drok’Thal had a blue-green skin tone. Like most Ishvalty, he couldn’t contain his hate for humans when seeing the commander. The prince glared in fury at Pollock from behind the brig’s shield.
“Enable translation,” Pollock said. “Greetings, honored General of Ishval. Welcome aboard my ship, The Schengen’s Hope. There will be no chance of escape for you here, I assure you.”
“I have never laid eyes on a more foul creature in my life.” The computer translated the General’s reply. Pollock’s picture-perfect uniform clearly didn’t impress the Ishvalty. Pollock was taller than most but still had to look up to meet eyes with the Ishvalty. Pollock felt a flood of anger. He still had not forgiven the Ishvalty for what they did at the Battle of Earth. His wife and parents had been among the casualties, and his son might never recover.
“I must thank you for being so resourceful in your escape. Your presence here will be a great boon to my career,” Pollock said.
Stolen story; please report.
“Your pathetic prisons can’t hold me,” the Ishalty spat. “I am among God’s most favored sons. The man I killed today was just a start. I will claim many more before this war is over.”
The bastard must think he’s some kind of God, Pollock thought. “Your God has no power here,” Pollock said. “Your life will buy the freedom of many humans, and that is the only thing keeping you alive.”
“God has delivered me a way out from one of your pathetic prisons once, and he will do so again,” Drok’Thal replied.
“There is no chance you escape from this cell, and even if you do, there will be armed guards waiting for you outside. The only way out of here is in exchange for human lives,” Pollock said. He hoped to change the Ishvalty’s mind about his chances of escape.
“There is no amount of humans that are equal to my worth,” the Ishvalty said. “I will escape and kill all the men you have outside as I do so.”
There truly is no hope in reasoning with an Ishvalty, Pollock thought. The only thing they respect is violence.
“You are wrong,” Pollock said. “Your emperor has already agreed on your worth.”
“Then God does favor me, and I will soon be free once again.” The murderous general smiled.
“Your God has a strange way of showing favoritism,” the commander said, pointing out his current predicament by tapping the shield. Drok’Thal punched the shield, already trying to get out. It didn’t bend an inch.
“Your shield will not hold me,” the general said. “This cell is even less sophisticated than the last. Not even the emperor himself could imprison me.”
Pollock had heard enough. He turned off the translator and exited the room. I’ll have to have the guards doubled, he thought. With his beliefs, there’s a chance he will escape again.