The cell door slid shut with a barely audible whoosh, and Tavin's frustration was palpable as he paced back and forth. The dimly lit room felt suffocating, the fiber-plastic walls seemingly closing in on us. Beyond the transparent cell door, the chaos of the war-torn world raged on, barely visible through the see-through material that somehow remained unbreakable.
Occasionally, military personnel hurried by, their tense expressions mirroring the high-security nature of the facility.
"I've helped them, saved their necks countless times," Tavin muttered, anger seeping into his voice. "And this is how they repay me?"
The rest of the cell was sparsely furnished, containing only a bunk bed and a large display screen embedded in the wall, serving both as our means of communication with the outside world and the source of news and updates from higher authorities. The soft glow of the screen cast shifting shadows on our faces, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
I could feel the tension in the air, the weight of the situation pressing down on us. The others who had arrested us were all still military staff, following orders without question, and perhaps even afraid of facing severe repercussions if they didn't comply.
As Tavin's frustration intensified, he pounded his fists against the transparent cell door, but the fiber-plastic material refused to budge, almost mocking our attempts at escape. "This is ridiculous! We're being treated like criminals when all we were doing was working our asses off!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with anger and desperation.
I stepped closer to him, gently hugging him from behind, trying to offer some comfort amidst the chaos. The cell was cold and unwelcoming, but in Tavin's embrace, there was a glimmer of warmth.
"Tavin, I need to tell you something," I said, my voice trembling with guilt.
His eyes flickered with concern as he turned to face me, his expression softened by the soft glow of the display screen in the corner of the room. "What is it, Ernestine? What's going on?"
I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "It's my fault that we're in here," I admitted, my gaze dropping to the floor. "I was the one who kept protesting against Dr. Shackleford's idea. I couldn't stand the thought of using vulnerable people as test subjects, and I let my emotions get the best of me."
Tavin's brow furrowed, and he gently placed a hand on my shoulder. "Ernestine, don't blame yourself. You were just standing up for what you believed in," he said, his voice gentle. "We all have our principles, and we shouldn't compromise them just to please others."
I nodded, grateful for his understanding, but the weight of guilt still lingered. "I know, but now we're stuck in here, and I can't help but feel responsible for putting us in this situation," I replied, my voice wavering.
Tavin's gaze softened, and he pulled me closer, his arms wrapped protectively around me. "We're in this together, Ernestine. Whatever happens, we face it together," he said firmly. "And I know we'll find a way out of this mess. We always do."
Feeling a surge of love and relief, I held onto his hand, finding strength in his unwavering support. But there was something else that weighed heavily on my mind, something I needed to share with him.
"Before we were arrested, I found out something else," I said, my voice hesitant. The soft glow of the display screen illuminated the room, casting dancing shadows on our faces.
Tavin's eyes widened in surprise, his attention fully on me. "What is it, Ernestine?"
"I'm pregnant," I whispered, almost afraid to say the words out loud.
Tavin's stunned silence felt like an eternity, and I worried that I had overwhelmed him with too much information at once.
"You're... pregnant?" he stammered, his eyes wide with surprise.
I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest as I waited for his response. "Yes," I replied softly. "I found out just before all this happened."
Tavin's shock slowly gave way to a mix of emotions—concern, happiness, and perhaps even a hint of fear. "Ernestine, I... I don't know what to say," he admitted, his voice tinged with vulnerability.
I took a step closer, reaching out to hold his hand. "It's okay, Tavin. I understand if this is a lot to process," I said gently. "I didn't plan for this, but I know we'll figure it out together."
His grip on my hand tightened, and he looked into my eyes with a mixture of determination and uncertainty. "We will," he said firmly. "I'll be here for you, no matter what."
A sense of relief washed over me as I realized that Tavin wasn't pushing me away, but rather, he was willing to face whatever challenges lay ahead together. Our bond had always been strong, but in that moment, it felt unbreakable.
As we stood there, locked in each other's gaze, the reality of our situation began to sink in. We were stuck in a cell, facing uncertainty about our future, and I was carrying a life inside me—a life that deserved safety and security.
"We'll get out of here," Tavin said, his voice filled with determination. "And once we do, we'll make sure this child has a bright future."
A glimmer of hope stirred within me, knowing that Tavin's unwavering support would see us through even the darkest of times. Together, we would face whatever challenges came our way, as a team, as partners, and now, as parents.
Tavin's years of experience in navigating the complex world of hacking and cybersecurity proved invaluable in our current predicament. As we found ourselves locked in the cell, he wasted no time in assessing the computer's security system, searching for any vulnerabilities that could grant us access to the outside world.
His fingers moved with deftness and precision over the keyboard, exploiting weaknesses in the system's firewall. With a determined glint in his eyes, he skillfully bypassed layers of encryption, granting us access to the secure network.
"Come on, come on," Tavin muttered under his breath, his focus unwavering. "Almost there."
Finally, the connection was established, and he quickly accessed the encrypted messaging platform on the display screen. Tavin's hands moved rapidly as he composed a concise but urgent message to Professor Nincom, detailing our situation and pleading for his help.
"We're stuck. Arrested for opposing unethical experimentation. Need your assistance. Please help us resolve this misunderstanding and secure our release," he typed, his expression reflecting the gravity of the situation.
As he hit the send button, a sense of hope washed over me. With Tavin's skills and the display screen's unexpected utility, I knew that our message stood a good chance of reaching our ally and mentor.
"We've done what we can for now," Tavin said, his voice laced with a mix of determination and concern. "But we can't rely solely on Professor Nincom. We need to plan our escape as well."
With the uncertainty of our future still looming over us, I looked into Tavin's eyes and found solace in his unwavering determination and love. Together, we would face whatever challenges came our way, no matter how daunting, as we fought for our freedom and the safety of our unborn child.
Before we could delve deeper into our plans, the cell door opened again, this time with a gentle swish sound. The Marshall stood in the doorway, his presence commanding attention. He looked at us with a mix of annoyance and grudging respect.While both of us stood infront of the monitor still digging for information as we turned around the Marshall Punched Tavin with enough force to make him sway to the other side. "I should have known you'd find a way to inform the Professor," he said, addressing me while blatantly ignoring Tavin.
Tavin's jaw clenched, but he held his ground, clearly still recovering from the unexpected Punch he had received earlier. I could see his anger simmering beneath the surface, restrained only by the dire circumstances we found ourselves in.
"As much as it pains me to send a genius like you away, since we could really use your help here, we can't risk you alerting the news. Not yet. I know we don't agree with the methods we are using, but all I am doing is for the best of Europa and its citizens," the Marshall explained, trying to justify his actions. "Not wanting to waste your talent, we will send you with 100 other prisoners to the other side to build the base. Thanks to the pleas of the Professor, Tavin will be sent there too, instead of being locked away by Dr. Shackleford."
Tavin's eyes narrowed, and a spark of defiance ignited in him. The Marshall's words only fueled his determination to escape this cruel fate.
Before Tavin could respond, the Marshall swiftly delivered another blow, knocking the air out of him, leaving him coughing and on his knees. "Tavin, call yourself lucky again that a street rat like you managed to sway the heart of a genius. You are walking on thin ice," the Marshall warned coldly.
I couldn't bear to see Tavin in pain, but I knew provoking the Marshall further would only make things worse. The situation had taken a dangerous turn, and I feared for both of our lives.
The Marshall then turned his attention back to me, delivering his orders with a hint of authority and menace. "Ernestine, you will be the only one registered as staff, and Tavin will get one of the collars. You will find any information you need on the screen you so kindly used to inform the Professor. Departure will be in 3 days."
With that, the door closed again, leaving us in silence, the weight of the Marshall's words hanging heavily in the air.
Tavin struggled to catch his breath, and I rushed to his side, offering support. The anger in his eyes was mixed with pain and determination. "We'll get through this, Tavin," I said, trying to reassure him. "We'll find a way to survive and come back stronger than ever."
s Tavin's frustration erupted, I held onto him tighter, feeling the anger radiating from him like a fiery storm. His words cut deep, and I knew how much the recent events had hurt him. I wanted to offer comfort, to find the right words to ease his pain, but he continued, his voice filled with bitterness.
"Why am I only getting treated like trash?" he questioned, his eyes locking onto mine, searching for answers. "What can we do now, Ernestine? Even the Professor couldn't get us out. He only managed to make me into your pet."
As Tavin poured out his frustration and hurt, I couldn't help but feel a pang in my heart. His words stung, and a part of me felt hurt that he saw himself as inferior to me. But I knew that now wasn't the time to show my vulnerability. Instead, I masked my emotions and remained steadfast in my support for him.
"I never wanted this," I said, my voice tinged with a mix of sadness and determination. "You're not just my pet or anyone's pet. You're a person, and you deserve respect."
His eyes softened, and I could see the vulnerability in them. "Respect? It's hard to feel respected when everyone treats me like I'm nothing compared to you," he replied.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my emotions. "Tavin, you are not 'nothing.' You are intelligent, strong, and you have a heart that cares deeply for others," I said, trying to emphasize the truth of my words. "You've always been there for me, supporting me, and I couldn't have done any of this without you."
He seemed to wrestle with his feelings, and I could tell that my words were slowly breaking through the walls he had erected. "It's just... I've always felt like I had to prove myself, to be as good as you," he admitted, his voice vulnerable.
I resisted the urge to reach out and hold him, knowing that he needed to find his own strength. Instead, I offered my unwavering belief in him. "Tavin, you don't need to prove anything to anyone," I said sincerely. "You are more than capable, and your worth is not defined by anyone else's opinion."
He let out a sigh, and for a moment, I saw the pain in his eyes. "I wish I could believe that," he murmured.
"You can, Tavin. You just have to believe in yourself, like I believe in you," I said, hoping that my words would offer him some comfort.
His gaze locked onto mine, and I saw a glimmer of determination returning. "You're right," he said, his voice growing stronger. "We won't back down. We'll show them that we're more than just prisoners or pawns in their game."
My heart swelled with pride as I saw him finding his resolve once more. "Yes, we will," I affirmed. "We'll stand strong together and prove that we can't be underestimated."
As we embraced once more, I carefully concealed the hurt his words had caused me. Now wasn't the time to focus on my feelings; it was about supporting Tavin and showing him that we were a team, facing the challenges ahead hand in hand.
In the quiet moments that followed, I silently reflected on the depth of our connection. Our journey had been full of trials, but it had also strengthened the bond between us. While his words had momentarily hurt me, I understood that he was grappling with his own insecurities. I would be there for him, offering support and encouragement, just as he had always been there for me.