Mask of Pain Ch. 01

The Sulai are a dying race, quickly becoming unable to reproduce with their own kind.

Supposedly the Sulai left their home world to scour the universe, looking for compatible species with which to breed and eventually fix the flaws in their own genetics that had led to the tragedy. In time their search brought them Earth.

The armies of Earth fell to the Sulai's superior weaponry within six months of the aliens' arrival. The Sulai troops swept through our cities, killing any who displeased them and captured select others for labor and breeding purposes.

As a result, a new generation of hybrids was born near the end of the very first year of their occupation and in rising numbers the two decades following.

Most Sulai hybrids could pass for human if it weren't for their rough textured skin. Full-blooded Sulai have thick, coarse, snowy white skin. The hybrids, however, can have a myriad of light colors to their skin, consistent with the blending with humans of differing Earth cultures.

The eyes of Sulai range in color from light brown to dark red, which was the color of the Sulai's eyes who tore me from my mother's arms at the slave camp when I was sixteen and threw me into the transport with nearly three dozen other crying girls.

Hardly considering myself pretty, I was surprised to find out that I and the others had been chosen as potential mistresses to Sulai still residing on the enormous mother ship in orbit around Earth. We were transported off planet to the ship where we were herded to a detention center. Then we were kept there, with little to keep us sane until we were chosen as potential mates.

Those who were most fertile and attractive were escorted away first, of course. I stood silent through many inspections, never to be chosen or given a second glance. I expected this because I knew I was plain in appearance.

As time passed, new girls were brought to join those who remained. I took it upon myself to look out for them and try to instill a sense of rebellion for our captors. Despite my well intentions, I often fell victim to the jokes and criticisms of the girls. They thought my attitude came purely from the shame of not being chosen as a mate after nearly three years of confinement. I hardened myself to their words and glances, glad that my fate had yet to include the forceful taking of my body for a Sulai's pleasure.

"But Isleen," Daphne said one morning as the familiar debate raged on, "I've heard the mistresses aboard the ships get so much more freedom than those on the planet. Why do you not wish for a mate? They don't all treat humans badly. Some women even acquire some affection for their masters."

I shook my head and dismissed her words with a wave of my hand. "I think too many of you have forgotten the stories about the way life was before the Sulai. It wasn't that long ago that human men and women could pick their own mates and live under their own rule. Now we are only slaves to the whims of our conquerors."

Sewing, singing and dancing were among the few activities available to us in the detention center. I'd quickly found myself wanting more and looked for materials to be used for writing and drawing. Once they were completed, I shared my stories and pictures with the others to lighten their moods. Many had never learned to read and knew little about art. I tried to teach those who were curious when the guards were not watching us too carefully.

In fact, I became well-versed in the habits of the guards, learning their routines and habits as well as a formidable vocabulary of the Sulai language, which sounded to me like a bad mix of some Nordic tongue and basset hound. Though I learned to understand many of their words, my few attempts to speak them quietly to myself sounded quite repulsive.

Through eavesdropping, I often heard interesting tidbits about the comings and goings around the mother ship. The leader of the Sulai was a pure-blood named Barev. He'd been one of the first to choose a human mate after the invasion and had a son named Solon who was supposed to be twenty years old. At that point, I'd never seen either of them, but heard plenty through the guards, who seemed obsessed with every move Solon made. As the stories went, Solon's human mother died in childbirth and the baby was so deformed, that Lord Barev ordered him covered from all eyes. He continued to raise the child, but never allowed anyone, say for a loyal doctor to see Solon's body.

Solon's black and gold uniforms and broad, metal mask were said to be as menacing in appearance as his nature. He was a well-trained warrior and general in his father's army, which continued to make war with small bands of resistance fighters on the planet. The guards said that he had no pity or mercy and would strike at any Sulai or human that dared to show him disrespect.

It was a few days after my nineteenth birthday when I got my first look at Solon. The guards stood a little straighter that morning and lowered their voices to whispers because Solon was making a surprise inspection. A noticeable wave of tension swept through the guards just before the gold and black-clad figure entered our domain. All went silent- even the girls, who knew little to nothing of this masked Sulai. The facilitator walked a full step behind Solon, calling for all of us to stand and move to the inspection lines, causing even more confusion among the women who were frightened of this imposing, masked figure.

I stepped to the line, knowing from the snatches of whispered conversation, that the guards doubted Solon was here for a mate. They believed that something had compelled him to look into the happenings at the detention center, which was not a good thing as far as the guards were concerned. Lord Solon started forward, walking along the line of women, his head turning from side to side as he evaluated the people and surroundings.

In turn, the women dropped their gazes to the floor, perhaps too fearful to look upon the sleek and faceless mask. I noted that the guards also looked away, but not as dramatically as the women. I could sense the rising fear in the room as he moved through it and couldn't help feeling affected...and intrigued.

I pondered the tension, wishing I had a piece of paper to capture my thoughts in writing. Perhaps I could remember the emotions and pen them later- even dare to compose a poem or short tale about a villain as imposing to his enemies as Lord Solon was to his Sulai guards.

"Isleen!" a frantic whisper called out from beside me and I blinked out of my distractions to find I was staring directly at the broad, black and gold mask. I felt a wave of cresting panic in my chest, but did not tear my eyes from the metal. There was a long pause, during which my stare did not falter.

"Remove eyes from Lord Solon!" the facilitator bellowed in shaky English. "You be respect." Then the facilitator switched to Sulai to speak urgently to Solon. "She is a troublemaker, my lord. I will have her beaten immediately."

My eyes went wide as the meaning of his alien words came clear in my mind. It had not occurred to me that they looked away from him as a show of respect. I would have thought it quite the opposite.

"My lord, please, I meant no disrespect." The words were barely out of my mouth and I knew I had made another mistake. The features of the facilitator flared with shock and anger. I assumed a similar look adorned the covered face of Solon.

"How dare you speak to Lord Solon!" the facilitator roared in Sulai, too angry to care that I shouldn't know what he was saying. "You will be beaten until your clothes are stained through with your own blood." He waved the nearest set of guards forward to grab me by the arms and long braid. I struggled uselessly against their combined strength.

"No, please!" I begged, training my eyes on the mask. "I didn't know."

The guards dragged me off the line and toward the doors which led to the containment chambers. They struck me about my head and upper body as I continued to fight the forward movement. Just before I was out of the room, I heard the gasps and fearful cries of the other girls and wondered if I would survive to return to them.

The guards beat me severely, causing me to pass out. From what the rumors said, they did not stop until I was on the brink of death. I awoke in the detention center's medical lab to find I'd lost nearly a week of time and sustained serious injuries that required surgery. I couldn't understand why they had put forth the effort to save my life. Wasn't it blatantly clear that no Sulai wanted my company?

I was eventually returned to my shared room where the other girls eagerly attended me. Their romantic notions of loving masters were shelved for the time being. We discussed topics of art and music instead while we scrounged up cloth to make me a new dress since the old one was too bloodied to be presentable. Daphne sat at my right, helping to pull my needle as my poor fingers were still sore and stiff. I know she happily would have taken the task from me all together, but I felt a sort of defiant dignity in my work.

An older Sulai dressed in the familiar, crisp, white tunic of a physician flanked by guards came into the commons area. He approached, gesturing me forward to be inspected. I stood in my borrowed dress and walked over to him, trying to keep any sign of discomfort or embarrassment clear of my bruised and scab-covered features while he poked and prodded many of my healing wounds.

"Are you certain this is the one he asked for?" one of the guards asked the doctor in Sulai, looking skeptical.

"Indeed she is," was the cool reply of the physician.

"There are much more attractive females to be had," the other guard said, seeing no reason to guard his words as they didn't know of my aptitude for understanding their language.

"Never mind that," the physician said sternly. "Lord Solon has chosen, with his father's approval, of course."

It was very difficult to keep my features neutral as I heard these words. Was he saying what I thought he was saying?

"What's going on?" I asked, forgetting to keep the contempt from my voice.

The guards glared as the doctor answered me in the clearest English I had ever heard spoken by a Sulai. "You will be serving Lord Solon."

"I don't understand. Why would he choose me?"

"It is not my place to ask such questions. Nor is it yours. You will do as you're told. Now tell me your name," he demanded.

"Isleen," I said, hardening my gaze to show my anger.

His dark eyes scrutinized my features, noting my defiant expression. "Come along," he ordered sternly, immediately turning away to leave the guards to make certain I obeyed.

With a last look over my shoulder at the wide-eyed girls collected around my new dress, I fell into step with the guards. We followed the doctor out of the detention center and to his private medical lab.

"You may go," the doctor quickly told the guards as they escorted me into the lab. He did not wait for any acknowledgment of their dismissal; the doctor began collecting instruments from various metal-covered drawers and cabinets and waved me toward the examination table.

"What's going on?" I asked again, moving slowly. The guards had gone and I was feeling a bit braver, with the exception of where I had been led.

"Lie down," he said shortly, not even looking my direction.

I stopped beside the table, examining the cool metal surface and restraints with disdain. I could tell that my attitude toward the Sulai had taken a darker turn. After all, it seemed the most I had to lose was my pitiful life. "No. Tell me what is going on."

The lab's doors opened. We both turned to look as the imposing figure of Lord Solon stepped into the room. Panic flared in my chest at the sight of the black and gold mask and I instantly froze in place.

The doctor greeted Lord Solon with a deep bow and averted gaze.

"Why isn't she ready?" Solon asked in a deep, authoritative voice. He used his native tongue, obviously directing the question to the doctor.

"She's being difficult," the doctor answered in Sulai, sounding irritated.

Lord Solon's tall figure stepped toward me. I backed away quickly, keeping a careful eye on both of them as I moved around the table. Either direction, I was blocked from reaching the door.

"You're only making this harder on yourself," the doctor said in English.

"Come here," Solon commanded in Sulai. The doctor was quick to translate the lord's words for me, but was cutoff. "No," Solon said instantly. "There's no need, Gahn. She understands the Sulai tongue."

The doctor's eyes grew big for a moment before realization set in. "I see."

I saw no way to effectively avoid capture, but wasn't about to willingly submit to them either. Lord Solon started around the table, moving with great speed despite his impressive size; and I retreated the other way, pushing forcefully past the doctor as he attempted to box me in with his smaller body. I dodged the doctor's grasp and ran to the door, realizing too late that I didn't know how to work the colored symbol buttons beside it.

Lord Solon was behind me instantly, seizing me roughly by the neck and arm with his large gloved hands. He lifted me off the floor and dropped me harshly onto the table, almost knocking the wind out of my lungs. Struggling for breath, I didn't put up much of a fight as the doctor swooped in to put the restraints around my wrists, ankles and midsection.

"I've seen her medical charts. They're a few years old, but adequate." The doctor headed away from the table to access his computer terminal. "The chances of her conceiving a hybrid child are low. So, I'm not sure why she's been kept on the ship so long. They should have sent her away right after she arrived."

"It doesn't matter, Gahn."

"Lord Barev requested I immediately sterilize whomever you chose."

A sound resembling a growl of displeasure came from behind the mask. Despite my predicament, I found myself staring at the shiny metal surface and wondering how he could see since there were no noticeable holes in the mask.

Doctor Gahn took a rather savage looking instrument from a nearby drawer and held it up. "I'll do it now then," he said, stepping toward me.

To my surprise, Solon voiced a "No," just as I did- only his voice was more authoritative while mine was panicked.

"Solon," Gahn said, with a sigh. "A man of your age has needs. Why not use her as everyone expects instead of putting up this charade?"

"I said no. Put it in your report that it was done. That will satisfy my father."

My confusion and curiosity were quickly overcoming my fear of the situation. With shakiness to my voice I asked softly, "Charade, my lord?" Solon turned back to me and I wondered how well he understood the human tongue.

"All must believe you are my mistress," he said in perfect English, lacking the lisps, slurring and phonetic omissions that plagued many Sulai who attempted to learn it.

"If I am not to be your mistress, then what is my purpose?"

"You will spy on my father's guards and concubines and report to me."

I stared at that mask while I pondered his words, wishing that I could see past it to read his eyes, but also hoping that I'd never see what sort of disfigurement was hidden beneath.

"My lord, I think this woman will only get you into trouble," Gahn interjected. "This plan will not work."

"It will have to work." Solon was back to speaking Sulai, exchanging words with Gahn.

"And if I refuse?" I asked with a fearful squeak.

Gahn spoke over the top of my words. "She is a troublemaker, my lord. She has no reason to trust you or be loyal."

"I said I'm not cooperating," I said angrily, but they continued to bark and bellow across the table as if I wasn't even strapped down there.

"She will follow my orders."

"Why should she?"

"Everyone follows my orders," Solon insisted.

Gahn laughed and shook his head. "You know very little about the rebellious human spirit- especially females. She'll stab you in your sleep the first chance she gets."

Silence filled the room. Solon's head lowered as if he was looking directly at me for the first time in several moments.

"You might want to try negotiating," Gahn said, finally dropping his tone to an almost whisper. "I can tell she's very willful."

I groaned with agitation. "Get me off this table," I said.

"Be quiet and listen," Lord Solon said, leaning over me to use his closeness as further intimidation. "You are only useful to me to a point. If you prove to not be useful, I will get rid of you. In fact, I think I will give you to my soldiers. They have very imaginative ways of sating their needs."

I did listen and a shiver coursed through me at his callous words. He had a reputation for being heartless. I couldn't help thinking that I had approached this situation in the wrong way. "Please let me up," I requested meekly.

"Not yet," he said flatly.

My fear erupted. "Why not? I'll agree to do your bidding."

Gahn suddenly held up another instrument, just as frightening in appearance as the last. "You realize this will be permanent. I won't be able to return her vision."

"I know."

As the purpose of the instrument became clear, I began to scream and pulled desperately at my restraints. I closed my eyes, clamping them tightly as I turned my head away from the doctor. "No! Please!" I begged. Not my sight, I thought. I'd never be able to write, draw or sew again. What happiness would the world hold for me if I was blind?

I heard and felt them close in on me; and suddenly the doctor was gripping my chin with his rough-textured hand. "Haven't I been punished enough?" I cried, trying to resist him. I was straining my neck muscles and scraping the top layer of flesh from my chin in the process.

"Hold her, Solon," Gahn said urgently.

I opened my eyes as Lord Solon reached out with both gloved hands to tightly grip my head. I looked up at the mask and its impenetrable surface and felt my heart seize in my chest. How could I reason with him when I couldn't see his expression? I let out a fearful bawl and thrashed against the restraints as the instrument was lowered closer to my face.

"I suggest you calm down," Lord Solon said.

Gahn suddenly swore. "I'm putting her out. I can't possibly work with all this carrying on."

Solon said nothing further. He continued to hold my head securely as Gahn moved away.

"Lord Solon, please," I begged, hoping he was hearing more than just my sobs and not ignoring me all together. "What good is a spy who cannot see? I'm sorry if I offended you..."

The doctor was filling a syringe from a small clear bottle, moving back toward the examination table; and Lord Solon's grip was painfully strong on the sides of my head.

"I'll wear a blindfold, if you wish," I promised, holding back the urge to thrash against the restraints only because I wanted to show him my sincerity. "Please...!"

Reaching my side, the doctor leaned forward and gripped my arm. My eyes locked on the syringe, watching it stab into my flesh with a twinge of pain. Just then, Lord Solon said something to Doctor Gahn in Sulai. I didn't catch much of it because my thoughts began to cloud. I fought to keep my eyes open, wanting to record the final moments of my sight into memory, but the drugs were too strong; and I could not make out the forms around me through the settling, numbing haze.

------

It was a distant, muffled sound that somehow snagged my mind from unconsciousness and reeled it to the surface. My head turned toward the sound, realizing that it was conversation that I was hearing. The inflections and rhythms of the words were of the Sulai language. Instinctively, my eyelids tried to open, but found resistance. I was startled by the continuing darkness that followed the action. My hands lifted to my face to find thick bandages wrapped over them. The fear-induced pain that burst forth in my chest did not stop me from investigating further. I pressed my fingertips against the bandages, applying pressure to test for injury. Through the thick material, I felt the bulge of my eyeballs, which moved as I willed, but did not ache as I expected.