Qualin
The blinding pain from the collar was suddenly offset by a relieving warmth. It still felt like my life was being ripped away from me, and a part of me wondered if this sweet relief was death taking hold. But no, the pain in my chest eased as my heart began to beat again and I was able to take a breath and my head stopped splitting. This was life, not death.
Eventually, the pain stopped completely and I was able to open my eyes. I didn't know what to expect, and what I saw made no sense.
Someone was kneeling in front of me. I was still slumped against the wall, with my legs sprawled in front of me. Practically sitting in my lap leaning against my chest, was a creature like nothing I'd ever seen. They were glowing, or more accurately, an immense amount of energy was gently radiating from their body. It took a moment for my eyes to focus on their form.
They were solid. I could feel their weight on me, their touch had substance, and I could clearly see their features. But they looked like light...a solid bluish-white light.
I couldn't resist reaching up and touching their face. It was soft and warm like it was covered in the finest fur. Their facial features were a slightly stronger mix of humanoid and beast than my own. Their face was somewhat shaped like a large feline, though it was subtle. their ears were large and pointed on the side of their head. They had short hair almost like a mane that seemed to reach all the way down their back and to a long furry tail that wasn't quite canine-like.
From this position I couldn't tell if they were bipedal or quadrupedal, but they did reach up and touch my wrist with a paw-like hand as they pressed their cheek against my palm. Their large, pupil-less, almond shaped eyes closed for a moment before meeting mine again. Then a voice pure as a bell asked, "Are you alright?"
"Minor?"
"Yeah." He looked away with a shy expression. "This is what I really look like."
"Wow." I was stunned. He was stunning, and easily the most beautiful creature I'd ever seen.
"Are alright, son?"
"Yeah, Dad. I'm fine. Just a little tired." He turned and looked at his father, who's expression was a mixture of concern and anger.
"You should transform back to conserve your energy."
"Alright."
I watched as his features shifted back to the form I recognized, and then the light faded and he again looked like an ordinary LaMihinnian. He looked tired, but glanced back at me with a weak but reassuring smile.
"Go get some rest."
"I'm alright, Dad."
"I'm not asking."
Minor nodded as his father ran a hand through his hair, and with one last glance my way, he vanished into thin air.
"Sorry about that. I should have realized that he could still activate the collar, and that he'd try to kill you. I apologize." Minor's dad looked sincere as he spoke to me, which was surprising.
He stood and looked towards boss man's cell and a low growl emanated from his chest. Then he vanished.
"What the hell!?" Boss man exclaimed as a vicious snarl rang out from his cell. Then there was the loud dull crash of a body hitting a wall and a cry of pain.
"I don't like it when someone attempts to commit murder in front me, especially, when that attempt hurts one of my kids!" There was an angry roar as boss man yelled out again as his body was slammed against another wall with incredible force.
"Draco, that's enough. We need him alive. Besides, you're not supposed to kill people, remember?" The LaMihinnian man spoke calmly, still standing outside the holding cells.
"I know. I won't kill him. But, I could try to find and rip out whatever tech is blocking my telepathy. Then we can find out who hired them to go after your son and why, and take care of them."
"You try and take this tech out and it'll shut down our neural network. If we die, you won't find out shit."
"If you die, I'll just revive you." There was a vindictive tone in Draco's voice.
"If they were willing to implant tech that can kill them, they may be willing to die. You can't revive them if they aren't willing." The other man, who was presumably the King of LaMihinnia, continued to speak calmly.
"Fine. But he doesn't have to be willing for me to heal him, so as long as doesn't die, it'll be fine."
"Do whatever you want, you damn freak. you ain't gettin' nothin' outta me!" His voice called out again with another slam.
"That's enough. There must be a way to safely remove the tech. If not, we'll just have to get the information the old fashion way. We have experts for that. No reason for you to get your hands dirty."
"Humph." Draco suddenly appeared next to the King.
"Besides, we also have this one." The king looked towards me. "Now that you don't have that collar on anymore, perhaps you'd be more willing to tell us whatever you do know."
At his words, I reached up and touched my bare neck. I hadn't even noticed. My collar really was gone. How many years had I lived with that thing around my throat? A small chuckle escaped me.
"Hey! You better remember I still own your ass! Don't forget, I could have sold you to that meat farm-"
"Are you kidding me? I don't owe you shit!" I shouted towards the adjacent cell. "Go fuck yourself, you fucking asshole!" I jumped to my feet and crossed my cell, placing my hands on the wall and kicking it, wishing I could reach him.
Since that was out of the question, I turned to the two men outside my cell. "Hey, I'll tell you whatever you want to know. Read my mind, whatever you want. I'll do whatever you want, just don't... don't put another fucking collar on my neck...please." I couldn't help fearing this freedom might be short lived.
"Fucking bastard, if I get my hands on you...I should have killed you the day I caught you trying to steal our merch-"
"Oh please! You were thrilled to reprogram my collar so you could control me. And without it, you know you'd be pissing your pants if we were face to face."
"You fu-"
"Enough! Guards, take those three to be examined and see if their implants can be safely removed. If not, I'm sure one of them will break, eventually."
Several guards walked passed my cell and I heard the forcefields deactivate and Murkoross, Orash, and Suriah were all lead past me in single file with their hands secured behind their backs. It was so satisfying to see my former master bloody and bound.
Suriah called out to me, looking to me with an expression of fear and desperation. Tears started to spill from her eyes. It was a pretty believable act.
"Qualin, please, tell me I-"
"Save it, you sadistic bitch. Or did you forget that I know what you're really like?" I glanced at the guard holding her. He seemed uncomfortable restraining a crying woman. "Watch it, she's a pro con-artist, but will smile while she cuts your throat with those tears still staining her face."
He didn't look at me, but gave her a push forward to continue walking. I turned and took a few steps further into my cell, glad to finally put them behind me.
"I'm sorry. I understand that you didn't have a choice working with them, and I promise that will be taken into consideration. However, that doesn't mean we can just release you either."
I turned back to look at the LaMihinnian king. It was hard to believe this was a monarch and the leader of the Alawayia alliance. He spoke with authority, but overall looked far too gentle.
"Don't worry about it." I waved him off. "I could talk all night about how I didn't have a choice. How I didn't want to do it or that I minimized damage when I could. But that fact is, I did whatever they told me to. Whether it was stealing, killing, or...even kidnapping a kid. I've always done whatever I had to to save my own skin." I inhaled slowly and released it. "So I'll take my punishment, whatever it is."
"An honorable attitude." He nodded his head and began to walk away. "You'll stay here for now. Draco, do you mind if I leave him to you for the moment?"
"Sure. Call if you need me for anything." The two exchanged a look and then everyone but Minor's father, Draco, left.