Seasons

The fog was finally beginning to clear when K'tch slowly opened his eyes. His limbs were like sandbags and he suppressed a growl of frustration, instead turning his head a little as his eyes tried to adjust.

What the hell had happened. Was this a dream? No, it had to be nightmare. He had fallen asleep on the ship and this was all just some sick subconscious joke.

He wouldn't be laughing when he finally awoke, that would be for sure.

He brushed the thought aside almost immediately, hardening his reserve and accepting that this really was reality. It took him all of one minute to realize he was lying on his back. Another minute and he determined that he was pretty much cuffed to a long flat surface. His armor had better still be there... He twitched, affirming that he was still sporting his net suit and loin. He was barred from reaching up to grasp the small necklace he wanted to caress to reassure himself.

His eyes widened when he looked down at his partially bare chest.

Oh no they didn't...

A pincher-like mandible twitched. There would be hell to pay if he didn't get that thing back. Suddenly realizing how flat he was against this table, he came to the conclusion that his new trophy had been confiscated as well.

He sneered, nostrils flaring.

His vision was hampered and it occured to him that his mask was missing.

Naturally.

He looked to his shoulder, realizing with a sudden sense of horror that his gun too was unaccounted for. His eyes darted to his right arm, finding relief. At least he still had his wrist blade.

Regardless, he was stretched out vulnerable along a metal table, weak as hell, no vision, no trophies, no cloaking... no gun...no hostage.
No clue...

Could it get any damn worse.

And where the hell was his human female? Probably off somewhere with the rest of her kind weaving an elaborate captivity narrative to dazzle them.

He grunted, the action startling the woman in a full white-suit who turned to face him quickly from her corner. His eyes narrowed in an attempt to get a better look at the creature he hadn't noticed until her startled motion.

She was holding something in her hand, something flat and small, other hand grasping a small little stick. The stick came down upon the board, scribbling across the surface.

So she was writing something... Didn't matter what she thought she was doing, her knowledge wouldn't be here for long, he'd make sure of that.

She suddenly walked up to him, eyes curious over her mask.

"So you're awake?" she concluded. There was a rustle from the corner opposite and his eyes immediately darted over the area to note two other human figures sporting something from head to toe.

This was insane. How had he not picked up their presence, their aura, their god-damn scent or somethin'. It must have had to do with whatever they'd drugged him with in order to capture him.

At any rate, there was no way he was just going to sit there and let them prod and poke at him like some helpless little specimen. He wanted out and he wanted his human female back.

The woman taking notes was very close to him now, leaning over him carefully to peer into his eyes, one of the guys in the corner coming closer to protect her if need be.

To his surprise, she smiled.

"So, how are we feeling?"

His eyes widened as he was unsure how to react.

Did she just ask him how he felt?

Lucky these straps were holdin' him. He'd show her how god-damn pissed he was if they weren't.

He grunted in annoyance as she placed a gloved hand on his arm gently.

"I know you might not understand me, but I'm not here to hurt you. I just need measurements is all, alright? Don't be angry with me..."

The male figure on the other side laughed and K'tch sneered at the sound.

"Carla, do you really think it gives a shit at this point? Do you even think it knows what the hell you're saying?"

She shrugged her shoulders.

"Maybe..."

The man raised a brow.

"I doubt it... I doubt it even knows about half the stuff its wearin..."

The woman looked up to him quickly.

"Matt, just what the hell are you trying to say?"

He smirked.

"I seriously think that this is just some creature that goes by instinct that happened across some really good weapons."

She sighed. "So are you tryina tell me you don't think its very smart?"

"Pretty much..."

K'tch cursed whatever power that influenced him that those straps were doing a very good job of holding him down now...or this so-called, Matt... would be a smear on the floor and his skull mounted on a wall.

The woman continued to take measurements, K'tch tolerating her cold gloved hands until they settled over the very definition of his gender.

His eyes widened.

They weren't going there.

He didn't have to explain this, even to himself.

They just weren't going there.

He let loose a viscious growl, everyone in the room jumping back away from him and flattening themselves against the wall in the farthest corner, guards aiming through the door.

There was an uncomfortable silence as everyone waited for someone else to make the first move, Carla taking the responsibility. It would have been deemed safe to approach once more had not K'tch emitted a low dangerous growl.

Carla swallowed.

"Y-Y-know... we just want to take measurements right now, that's all. I promise not to hurt you."
He rolled his eyes.

Why trust a human's empty promise. He wanted to see how his human hostage was doing. His eyes narrowed upon Carla's and he opened his mouth, startling everyone with the deep voice.

"I want out... or I find a way. Give me my necklace...and Sharon back... Now."

A dull thud from across the room caught the woman's attention and she looked up.
Someone wasn't used to being wrong, she noted, motioning for the other man to help their fainted co-worker. .

____________

After being questioned for little more than five hours she found herself walking down a long white hall with the man who had shaken her hand back at her house. She squinted at the bright light, eyes adjusting from the rather dim interrogation room.

Her dark clothing in stark contrast with the bright surroundings, she walked a little closer to the man at her side, avoiding the stares of the random personnel clutching their clip-boards and shiny little pens. Some were suited in medical attire, gaze burning into her from over white masks.

She wouldn't be satisfied until she knew that that creature was within their control, demanding that the man that had introduced himself as Jones assure her.

Jones smiled his genuinely archaic smile as he led the young dark-haired woman down the hall. "As you can see, we've gotten everything under control..." he motioned to the guard at each door.

"Are you guys sure you know what you're doing?" she questioned, looking a bit skeptical. Sharon frowned as she surveyed the guards, somehow doubting that they would be enough.

The all-too familiar continental ring-tone sounded for the umpteenth time during her little tour and she frowned as Jones quickly answered, planting her gaze along the tile as their pace slowed. She rolled her eyes as she found herself listening to his obnoxiously calm tone.

Within seconds he was done, flipping the device closed and turning to the quiet woman.

"A few more guards will be joining us. It would appear he's actually conscious," he smiled. He would have to talk to Corriano about making those tranquilizers more potent seeing they hadn't been quite as quick in bringing this thing down as everyone had assumed they would be. As if on cue two guards complete with big guns and threatening stares closed in from God-knows-where, startling her.

She turned to both sides in slight panic as they took a place on either side of them.

Jone's phone suddenly rang again and Sharon paused in mid-step this time, arms folded as she watched him answer it. The conversation was brief once more and before she could start getting impatient, he turned to her.

"Well now, you wont believe this..." he shook his head, slipping the phone back into his pocket.

"W-What?" she asked quickly.

His tone became more serious. "Do you have some special connection to this creature?" he questioned.

The small woman shook her head, brows drawn down. "Good GOD no..."

"Have something that he wants?"

She shook her head once more. "Not to my knowledge..." she raised a brow. "I told you everything I knew. Why?"

Jones sifted a hand through his hair, other hand resting in his pocket.

"Because he asked for you..."