The Traitor, The Avenger, And The Killer

The Execution Will Be Televised

For a couple days after K had killed the Kree interrogator, the three prisoners had a bit of a reprieve — and on top of that, it seemed some of the guards were outright nervous to be anywhere near K after seeing what she was capable of. Except for the occasional gloating over another Earth ship shot down, another failed rescue attempt, or something along those lines, the three heroes of Earth heard very little from their captors.

The rest was short-lived, however — though Noh somehow wasn't surprised that the next time he was taken out of his cell, he arrived alone. The last time all three had been in one place hadn't gone well for the Kree.

He wasn't expecting the man who joined him to be the guard captain, however, or for the captain to casually take a seat and regard Noh for a moment — and strike up a conversation. "You know, the flight from Hala all the way out here is a long one," he said. "Half the soldiers who make it are antsy and ready to fight by the time they arrive."

"I've traveled longer distances with better control of my own facilities. But my homeworld was more disciplined than this one," Noh said coolly.

"Doubtful." The captain tipped his head Noh's way for a second. "We just had some replacements come in — after the mess your Terran friend made of things for us."

"That mess was entirely your own doing."

"Perhaps." The captain shrugged. "Perhaps it was our mistake to use the lieutenant we did. I assure you his replacement has plans already. We expect results within the Terran day cycle."

"Then you have not learned from your mistakes at all. Your pride continues — you have learned nothing of the strength of the Terrans. They will not betray their homes."

"Your faith in them is admirable, if not misplaced," the captain replied. "I certainly have no desire to be around when Zarek begins with them."

Noh's eyes flashed at that one. "You call me traitor — but you let that heretic and renegade lose in your ranks?"

"He's been pardoned by the emperor, and as I understand it, his forced exile has left him... itching to get to work," the captain said with heat in his own gaze. "Of course, if you find him so distasteful, we can always find other subjects for him. You only have to say the word, and I'll have the interrogation halted — after I've confirmed any information you give me, of course."

Noh gaped at him for a moment. "You cannot expect me to betray my friends on Earth to save the two that are here."

The captain shrugged lightly. "I thought I might extend the hand of mercy to a fellow Kree — even one from a different universe. But if you'd rather allow Zarek free hand, you can join the other two." He didn't give Noh much leeway to answer as he got up and headed for the door. "They're just next door," the captain added. "If I'm not mistaken, those genetic enhancements of yours affect your sense of hearing. I think Zarek wanted to get to work in, oh, five of your Terran minutes."

With that, the captain left Noh alone, the silence somehow more oppressive than the conversation had been as he simply waited with baited breath. Four minutes and forty seconds — by his count — later, the first of the screams started.

In the next room over, it hadn't taken either K or Clint very long to decide that this new guy had bumped himself right to the top of their list of people to kill as soon as they got out — when they got out. Especially because, for a substantial period of time, the guy didn't even ask them anything. He simply decided to amuse himself trying to get them to scream.

"Look, if you're shy about talking out loud in front of the lady, just sign it out," Clint spit out at last, tired of the silence from the Kree. "I can translate."