Blood Donation

[Thexare]

A young Maltese woman with long black hair paced back and forth, observing the prisoners arranged in front of her, bound to the wall by a series of ropes. Chains were too expensive, and everything in the hangar - indeed, even the hangar itself - was a rental.

Some of the prisoners were obviously intellectuals, visibly weaker than even she was. Others looked like strong, thuggish sorts with less brain cells than fingers. Pathetic, the lot of them; even the so-called tough guys were scared. The fact that they were all completely unarmed and surrounded by five of Tiana's hand-picked guards, each carrying a Samura-manufactured Micro Sunfury rifle along with Tiana constantly tossing her dagger into the air certainly didn't lighten the mood any, either.

"You have been brought here for a special reason, it appears my father has a special purpose in mind for you all," she said coldly, scanning the lineup for any possible attempt at escape. "One of our pilots, a woman far more capable than any of you ever will be, was injured in an assault by someone we thought was an ally. Despicable backstabbing Rheinlandic..." She shook her head before continuing, her dagger sailing over her head and embedding itself in the table behind her. "She needs blood. You have been tested, and apparently you're suitable donors. Probably the only thing you're good for, really. Those of you who donate will be taken to Freeport 6 afterward on the transport Charity."

"And if we refuse?" one of the thugs challenged, a defiant look on his face.

"You don't really have a choice," Tiana replied calmly, wrenching her blade free from the wooden desk. "You don't have to comply. We'll simply take however much blood we want and force you to work in the fields for the rest of your life." She reached for a jar from the desk while waiting for his response.

"I'd like to see you try it, bitch!" Just what she had been hoping for. She hadn't cut enough arteries lately. With a quick flick of her wrist, the dagger in her hand sailed across the room and cut into the throat of the foolish prisoner. She walked over and clamped the jar against the prisoner's neck.

"Does anyone else object?" she asked as the jar slowly filled.

No one else dared. The other prisoners were marched out by four of the guards, and the last one stopped to ask a simple question as Tiana closed the jar.

"Ma'am, I don't mean to argue, but... that can't possibly be sanitary."

"Of course it isn't. We can get enough from the rest of them, but this proved my point."