Although this is atypical in a story, let us take a hard look at the Hunters through the eyes of one of their kind. This story is a Hunter story and how one Hunter became a hero and a villain to an entire Galaxy. Our story begins on a different planet than Jack and Jasper; it begins on a planet millions of miles away - on planet named Freeloader.
A fist stormed into his lips, spewing blood. It gushed across his chin and down his throat, choking him. One of his torturers yanked his head forward and slapped him on the back.
"Now do you want to answer?"
It was the head interrogator, Major Redvins Treodon, speaking. He was a tiny man, a Ruddy Hunter, with dark black hair and a face like a rodent. His voice was high-pitched and harsh. The prisoner lifted his face toward him.
"My name is Sayer Ersk, aid to Governor Galen of Freeloader. As a civilian, I protest these proceedings," stated the prisoner, weariness hanging on each word.
"We know that already!" The Major's hands swept at the air. Sayer glanced about the large, brightly lit office, desperately hoping to wake from this nightmare. But the nightmare remained, as well as the five men surrounding him. To keep his mind alert and the tears of despair at bay, he tried to remember how many days of captivity he had endured.
He could not remember. The days and nights had blended into one another; all filled with nightmarish pain. Consciousness was slipping away. He dropped his chin to his chest and closed his swollen eyes, listening to the men around him.
"You are not getting anywhere, Major," stated Colonel Nyle, the Provisional Military Governor of Laldan. Sayer pictured the man in his mind. His head was completely devoid of hair, except for ugly, red eyebrows that resembled tiny bits of fire. Nyle's nose was long and curved downward, reminding Sayer of a hawk's bill. Like Sayer and everyone else in the room, he was a Ruddy Hunter.
"Now wait a minute, Governor," stated Captain Kirton, "that's not true. We know that his name is Sayer Ersk and he objects to everything. We also know that we are wasting time. We need that information soon." Sayer almost laughed. Kirton tried to keep the mood light, but Sayer could hear the frustration in his voice. He tried to picture the Captain as well, but could only remember an average face and blond hair.
"Don't worry, I'll break him and we'll have that information," hissed Major Treodon. Sayer felt the Major's hot breath in his ear. "Isn't that right, Sayer?"
Despair blended with anger. Anger blended with fear. Sayer wanted to weep and attack and beg, all at the same time. Swallowing the knot in his throat, he lifted his head and glared at the Major. "My name is Sayer Ersk, aid to Governor Galen of Freeloader. As a civilian - "
Topa, the enforcer of the group, smashed his fist against Sayer's jaw, cutting off his words. Of all his captors, Sayer hated Topa the most. He was a behemoth with a bushy black beard and seemed to revel in causing Sayer pain.
Sayer ignored the pain. "As a civilian, I - "
Topa struck again.
Sayer bit into his tongue. "I protest these - "
Growling like a beast in fury, Topa drove his fist into Sayer's eye.
Sayer heard himself cry out. Colors swirled in intricate patterns and his head throbbed with the beat of his heart. He attempted to speak but his mouth failed him. He hung his head and remained silent, hoping he would disappear.
"Let's call it a day, guys. He won't be able to tell us anything if he can't talk." The voice came from the back of the room. It was laced with genuine concern and with something else Sayer could not recognize. Pity, perhaps.
Sayer forced himself to lift his head and looked at the speaker. He was a handsome man with brown hair, a muscular body, and depthless gray eyes. His name was Noah DeMara, but mostly everyone called him Buck. Something about the man seemed familiar, but Sayer didn't know exactly what. Buck seemed uneasy with the interrogation, and had only spoken when Sayer needed rest or water.
When Sayer looked into Buck's eyes, a strange and inexplicable sense of hope swelled his chest. But that hope vanished quickly as Nyle's shadow fell over him.
Noah DeMara winced when Topa's fist slammed into Sayer's eye. It was not the violence or the blood that caused his discomfort, for he was no stranger to either, but it was guilt and shame. He quickly pushed the negative emotions aside and walked over to Nyle and the prisoner.
"We have gone to a lot of trouble to bring you here, Mister Ersk. Now please cooperate. We don't want to hurt you," stated Nyle to the prisoner.
Sayer glared at Nyle and spat blood in his face. Bad move, thought Buck.
Topa's massive fist smashed against the prisoner's jaw.
Buck quickly stepped in between Sayer and Topa, placing a steady hand on the prisoner's shoulder. "I think he's had enough," said Buck, speaking to Nyle but looking at Topa.
Topa glared down at him and slowly turned away.
Buck handed Nyle a handkerchief, amazed that the Colonel had stayed so calm.
Nyle wiped the bloody spit and glared at Sayer. "Get him out of here. We do this again tomorrow morning."
Buck escorted Sayer from the room to a large hallway
then into an elevator. Buck felt Sayer's eyes burning into him, renewing the feelings of guilt and shame. He hardened himself and stared at the blinking floor numbers above the door. "Thanks for getting me out of there," whispered Sayer.
Buck shifted uncomfortably. It was ironic that this man should be thanking him. Me of all people, thought Buck. He tried to keep his voice indifferent, almost harsh. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"You're different than those other guys. Are you a Network officer?" His words were laced with pain.
"No. I'm an ex-cop, who somehow got mixed up in this crazy war." He wished Sayer would be quiet. Each word the prisoner spoke only added to Buck's own inner pain.
Sayer faced Buck and looked directly into his eyes. "Let me go. Just let me walk out of here."
The request was so heartfelt and unexpected that Buck almost agreed. He wished he could, but things were beyond his control. "I don't think that will be happening."
"Please! Help me. I have a family, a wife and daughter! Let me go home to them." Tears filled Sayer's eyes. "It's obvious you don't want me tortured, and that you don't want to have anything to with this. Please let me go!"
Buck felt anger crawl up his spine. It was as if Sayer had looked into his soul and had read it like pages in a book. And for a brief moment, he wondered if he knew about - he cut the thought off quickly. No one knew, and he promised himself to keep it that way.
The doors opened. Buck and the prisoner exited, and entered a bathroom. He handed Sayer a towel and told him to clean himself.
"You won't help me will you?" asked the prisoner. "Are you too scared to stand up for what is right?"
The fuse had been lit; his temper flared. It was Buck's biggest weakness. Once ignited, it was like a raging fire, hard to quench, quick, and sometimes deadly. "Can I ask you something?"
Sayer nodded.
"How were you captured?" His voice hissed.
The prisoner wet the towel and dabbed at his wounds. "I was on my homeworld of Freeloader when three guys broke into my house, stuffed me in a bag, and beat me into unconsciousness. When I woke up, I was in a brig aboard a transport headed for Laldan. Now answer my question, are you too gutless to stand up for your beliefs?"
The flames of his temper erupted. Buck snatched the towel out of Sayer's hands and grasped the front of his shirt. "You have no idea what my beliefs are! So don't think you're talking to some bleeding heart who'll open the door and let you walk free. You are here because you have information we need. You are here because I brought you here." Buck released his shirt with a shove.
"You brought me?" Anger and astonishment laced Sayer's voice.
The fire raged and Buck's hands curled into tight fists. "That's right! I led the team that kidnapped you. So I suggest if you want to stay healthy, you answer the Colonel's questions. Let's go."
Buck brought his prisoner to the detention cells and left without a word.
WC: 1475 
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