Riveting tale, Chap

[Yaoquizque]

The whip lacerated the skin of the man. His back was starting to take that characteristic red shade.
"Seven."
A grunt passed through the man's lips as he was whipped again.
"Height."
Bryan Miller was vaguely gazing at the man, looking quite bored. He was actually thinking about his quota. He was far from it.
"Nine." Another yell followed...
Those punishments were boring as hell, but he couldn't avoid them nor take the liberty to not assist personally to them.
"Ten!" The man cried and finally sighed of relief.

"Good. We're done with you." said quietly Bryan, staring at the crew member who was being freed.
"Remember, Natanael... Next time you are caught violating my orders, you will be thrown in space... And i will be the one pushing the button of the airlock..."
The crew member mumbled something indistincly, massaging his back.

Bryan frowned at this answer - or absence of answer.
"Ohhh?" He started with a soft-spoken voice "Do you even know what happens when you end up in space without a spacesuit?"

He stood slowly and walked to the man while the others were keeping a respectable distance from the object of his attention.
"First... You will feel how cold it is. You will desperately try to breath, doing your best to fill up your lungs with void. Your eyes will freeze and finally explode. Your heart will beat at an incredible rate first, because of the fear... But don't worry, my friend... It will soon decrease its pace... Little by little..."

Bryan made a pause, obviously savoring the effects of his little speech.
"I heard some men were able to stay alive during several minutes, crying all they could... Or trying to at least. Because there was no air.
Alone, gesticulating like a puppet, with no one to hear your pathetic yells for help."

He was smiling now, staring at the crew member.
"Think about it Natanael... That's probably the funniest way to die, don't you think?"
As the crew member was remaining silent, he chuckled and tapped his back rudely, making him grunt in pain.
"Glad you agree."

He was exaggerating of course. Nobody thrown outside of a ship survived to tell how it was. A lot of versions were circulating...
Bryan was personally thinking one couldn't survive more than a few seconds outside... But it was better for Natanael to think otherwise...

He looked at his men, studying them quickly, his merciless expression back.
"Enough. Back to the maneuver places."
The men quickly left the room, leaving him alone. Bryan whistled carelessly, walking to the command room of his ship.

---