Unimaginable pain gripped the man’s body, every single nerve ending on his body was on fire and he let out a deep, piercing, drawn out intense scream as the liquid covering him was absorbed into his body. Then, as quickly as it started, it was over again. He fell silent and his eyes rolled into the back of his head, his tongue lolling out of his mouth.
The man stood over him and gave him a long, deep look. He pushed the man’s tongue back inside his head and lifted it from its pillow. He stared into the eyes of the prisoner and he stared back. The man spoke, in a deep, resounding and powerful voice.
“Number 014385, you have been granted an extra week of solitude before your execution. Consider yourself lucky. You shall receive no food during the duration of this week, however, we shall supply you with enough water to quench your thirst over the period of this week. You are to remain still.” He pushed the man’s motionless head back onto the pillow and punched him in the stomach. The man gave a deep groan and, with a small splutter, coughed up blood.
“Disgusting filth.” The guard spat, before turning on his heel and leaving the cell, closing the door behind him, covering the room with darkness yet again.
Another guard, shorter and more smug than the other one, was leaning on the wall outside the cell, chewing on a stick of gum, watching as the other turned the enormous key in the lock.
“That all of them?” One asked the other, through a thick Australian accent.
“Affirmative, comrade.” The other replied, in the same expressionless monotone as he had retained throughout all his adulthood.
“Awww, come on mate, lighten up, “ One said, resting his hand on the others shoulder. “You only live once, why spend that time wallowing in misery, eh?” he nudged the other jokily.
The other quickly retracted from the his grip, and drew an automatic pistol from his belt, holding at the Australian’s forehead.
“You shall refer to me as Captain Madigan, and shall refrain from such light-hearted attitudes whilst in the presence of your commanding officer.” He said, spitting every word he spoke. ”Remember, Corporal, you are not only serving in the Superior Empirical Army, but have been stationed in the Mothership! One of the greatest space station ships ever to have been built! Remember your place.” The Corporal gave a worrying glance at his Captain’s hands, his fingers gripped around the trigger, shaking with anger.
“Whoa, Whoa!” said the Corporal, his hands in the air, pleading innocence. “No need to get so het up, Captain, I’m doing my job, and I’m doing it well.”
“We’ll soon see.” Captain Madigan said, his hands lowering. “But for now, especially during the higher order inspection, you are on impeccable behaviour and you do exactly as I told you. Understood, Corporal?”
“Yes Captain” The Corporal replied, clicking his heels together.
“No Salute?” Captain Madigan enquired, gently, with a silent kind of forcefulness.
“Not necessary Captain,” The Aussie replied smugly, quoting directly from The Order Under The Imperial Banner, “A soldier in the ranks need only salute when faced with a fellow comrade higher up in the imperial order than a Staff Seargent, Captain, of which you are not.” There was a short pause, before the Captain gave a slight harrumph and walked off in the opposite direction, his cape swinging back and forth gently with every step he took.
“Hey- hey!” The Corporal shouted, running up behind him. “Hey, mate, where do you think you’re going?”
Madigan stopped.
“That’s the way to the cargo bay, mate. The inspection is on Level 112. It’s that way.” He indicated down the corridor, in the opposite direction.
Madigan turned to the Corporal and gave him a strange look.
“Only if you want to spend the next five days of your life climbing down stairs, Corporal Terriford. We here in the 23rd century use the transmat.” He said, before turning around with a swoosh as his weighted cape swung through the air. Terriford began to follow him, keeping a couple of feet behind to make sure they didn’t get transported together. That would be a messy business that would be better off avoided altogether.
They reached the end of the corridor. There was a short pause before the air-sealed doors depressurised and opened, then Captain Madigan entered and was bathed in a glorious blue-white light. His voice, when It spoke, echoed within the chamber, even though it was less than three feet wide. And with a flash of violet light, he was gone.
**
“Level One hundred and twelve.” The male computerised voice said as Terriford stepped out of the capsule. The irritating female voice which usually spoke when something came to an end was abolished and destroyed when the Prime Leader came to power in Britain, and then in the world. It was replaced by the first chord of the Universal Anthem and a strong, assertive manly voice which subconsciously suggested the strength of the empire, which played a large part in their brainwashing. Terriford thought it unnecessary, but he did dare not ask questions of his superiors.
Agh, headache. Though Terriford, clutching his bulging temples. The headaches were the mildest of side effects of using the transmat, amnesia and depression soon following.
“Ah! Corporal Terriford, you’re here finally.” Boomed the intercom as he stepped into the room, dazing him. Terriford searched the area blankly until he came across a man in white with a clipboard at the far end of the inspection room. Beside him stood Captain Madigan and… oh God.
“Approach.” Said the voice of the tormentor through the speakers. He had to obey. He walked up the hall, noting the dozens and dozens of seated warriors all staring at him. “Good morning, Corporal Terriford.” The man said as Terriford drew near. He had a slight smile on his face, running over how powerful he was in his head, keeping his eyes fixed on the Corporal’s as he gave a small nod of the head. The imperial creed dictated he respond.
“I salute you, Staff Sergeant Rimmer,” he responded through an obnoxious grin, clicking his heels together. He lowered his hand from his forehead and leaned forward, enquiring gently, “Are there any more to come?”
“Only a few, Corporal. You may sit.” He said, indicating to an empty chair on the front seat. Terriford looked at Madigan for support, but he had his eyes fixed on Rimmer. They had hated each other since the moment they had met, all those years ago.
Terriford took a seat next to a Lance Corporal nicknamed “Lumberjack” because of his quaint, camp way of speaking and his reluctance to go out onto the field. This was a major drawback for the platoon, not because he was a homosexual, they were not under discrimination currently, but his sheer lack of enthusiasm for missions didn’t grant him many favours with the Generals, who had given his particular group of soldiers the codename “Canadian Wildflowers”, instead of the usual “P0124” and “SP3459” etc. It was a miracle he had made it up to a Lance Corporal.
“Gave the Generals a few favours if you know what I mean.” The other soldiers had whispered to him quietly, behind the LC’s back. Terriford’s trail of thought was broken by the loud, piercing voice of St Sg Rimmer.
“Attenshon!” He roared, and the ranks fell into order.
“Thank you.” He said, looking around the large lobby room, giving small nods to individuals, of whom had to stifle their laughter. “You are here today to bear witness to another brilliant scheme envisioned by his imperial highness, a perfect example of the mass organisation developed by him when he took power.” He paused for suspense. “An inspection!” He said, proudly, his chest thrust forward, still smiling. A few weak cheers came from various members of the crowd, but soon died away. “But first, comrades, we have a message to give to you!” He paused again. “Live from our great leader direct!” He said, with great enthusiasm, swelling with pride, and to this news instead of silence he got a great roar of excitement from the crowd as they all stood up in unison shouting the emperor’s name and preaching the Imperial creed, demanding an audience with each and every one of their heroes, the great Lord Benal Jebri and his master, the Archlord, founders of the Great Imperial sect and forgers of a new universal order. It knocked Rimmer off his feet and caused him to crack his head on the stage.
“SILENCE!” shouted Captain Madigan, indeed silencing the entire assembly instantly.
“You are to return to your seats and remain perfectly still or I shall shoot you.” He said, quietier but with none the less vigour. “I may be only filling in for Staff Sergeant Enmalon but that does not take away my right to be rid of the lot of you with one single sweep.” Everyone returned to their seats. “There are plenty more recruits out there and if you are too rowdy for the emperor then you are not necessary.” He finished, before turning to Rimmer. “Open the damn line now, Rimmer, won’t you.” He said, as the noise and clamour of people moving chairs and talking filled the air. Rimmer stared up at him, gave a small snort and scrabbled to his feet.
“You don’t have the right to demand of me, Madigan, especially not in that tone.” He sneered, looking at Madigan disdainfully. “I will open the link when I please.”
“When you please, Staff Seargent Rimmer?” Came a deep, powerful unknown voice, echoing around the room, immediately rendering all in the vicinity quiet.
“Wha – Who’s there?” He said. Looking around quickly and sharply.
“Wasting my precious time, Rimmer?” Said the voice of a man who had just materialised on the stage. Well, it looked like he had materialised, but he had actually just been brought to the room via the Holoform network, he was a hologram.
“My-my lord…. I… “ Rimmer stuttered in the presence of him, clutching his cap so hard it was breaking.
“Quiet. You do not even bow to me.” Lord Jebri said, with contempt, immediately making the entire assembly sink to their knees hurriedly.
“Thorry, darling,” Lumberjack said to Terriford as he hit him in the eye with the feather balanced in his hat as they scrabbled to the floor in the Lord’s wake. “Only one must look his best at all times and without this feather I would be soooo unfabulous.”
“Right, I’ll keep note of that.” Terriford muttered under his breath.
“No need to talk, Rimmer, you are not needed here.” Jebri said to Rimmer, who was now precariously balanced on his knees on the floor, sobbing profusely. The hologram that was the Emperor turned to the audience and spoke.
“Welcome, people of my empire. I am not personally speaking to you nor is this a pre-recorded message. I envision every single section and regiment that I am talking to now at the same time. I am, as you would say, in two places at once.” He said, causing the entire crew of the Mothership to break out into spontaneous laughter and applause, cheering and calling his name. “Quiet, quiet,” he said, indicating to the people, who immediately fell silent. “I have very little time and so cannot grace you with my usual ceremonious speeches.” This was greeted with a massive groan from all audiences. “Yes, quite. So I am going to get straight to the point. This inspection will catalogued along with every single aspect of your body, spirit and mind for comparison in the labs, and you will obey without question. I hope you understand.” This was greeted by vigorous nodding all over the space station. “As you all know, we have just conquered and destroyed the Mho-Xbectan Solar system via the Mothership which was a strong rebel hideaway and safe planet. We need to conduct-“ But his sentence was broken short as his hologram suddenly disappeared, much to the displeasure of the crowd.
“Where did’e go?”
“We want the Emperor!”
“All hail Lord Jebri!”
“Get ‘im back!”
Rimmer tried to intercept the crowd.
“The transmission seems to have broken up, if we can be allowed a few moments to-“ But he was too cut short when a retriever was thrown at his head, knocking him out cold.
“RIGHT!” Madigan yelled, drawing his pistol from its hold. “Everybody d-“
But his voice was masked by the low rumbling sound which could not mean good. The scientist next to Madigan tapped him on the back.
“What?” he asked, pointing the gun in the scientist’s face.
“Er, nothing, Captain, only we’re under attack.”
“By whom? Who would dare attack the Mothership?”
“The Rebel ship, Captain Madigan.” And so it was. A ship twice as large as even the Mothership, painted a dazzling white and circular like a Sun, the Rebel ship was here.
