Ekos 4 - das Gefängnis

Posted on Monday, 12 April 2021 - 5:31pm by Crewman Leopold Eberhardt & Lieutenant JG Adrianna Eberhardt
Edited on on Monday, 12 April 2021 - 5:32pm

Mission: Operation: Neu Reich
Location: Ekosian Prison

The trip through the Ekosian villages and into the larger cities had given Leopold unsettling reminders of how his planet was and provided Adrianna a glimpse of just how much of a stronghold the Nazi influence the Ekosian government and its people had fallen into, from the salutes to the colors of clothing, the uniforms on individuals nearly on every corner. There were a plethora of 'Browncoats' as they traversed through the city and headed to the prison. Once they arrived; however, more official-looking uniforms were evident, and the muted dull green uniforms of the Ordungspolizei became apparent.

Exiting the vehicle, Leopold opened the door for Adrianna and took his hand to help her out as though she were incapable of exiting the vehicle unassisted. He knew better and he knew she knew that he did too. It was entirely for societal appearances, and it was unsettling for him to have to do that. He pulled her closer to him as they walked towards the entrance of the prison. "The browncoats are not as well organized, but these ones are our standard police. They have more structure to them."

Adrianna had braced herself for a few days, maybe weeks of being treated as a humble, traditional woman, however habits of opening her own door, we're difficult to break. Thankfully, he got there first. It made her a little queasy but she knew how to play the part. Infact, she would play the part but only for her fiancé-- a man she would, and did, trust with her life.

Adrianna walked close to him. She looked around taking in her surroundings and the change in uniform. "You're not going to get arrested, forcing me to be your sisters keeper, are you?" she half teased, in a whisper, trying to ease her nerves. Not only were they in dangerous territory, but for her, it was new territory in meeting someone's parents.

"You'll be fine," he replied. "At least we should be. I was able to arrange a visit with my family, but they denied access to see my father." Leopold rolled his eyes. "My mother is considered less a threat because she's a woman. Unfortunately, I can't see her. They will let you see her though."

"You're not coming with me?" Adrianna had a little panic in her voice and whispered with quite some bite, "are you out of your mind?" Her fingers dug a little into Leopold's arm, frustrated but trying to keep subtlety for appearance sake.

Leopold hushed her. "If I could, I would. They are not convinced of my innocence, but you are not blood, not Ekosian nor Zeon. You are also a woman, and they don't find you capable of plotting anything by yourself."

Adrianna started cussing and cursing their situation and location under her breath in her native tongue. After what sounded like an essay that would make a confessional and its priest engulf in flames and need exororsising and re-baptising, she took a breath. She looked to Leopold, "fine. Just fine."

"I know," he said squeezing her hand. "This would be a lovely place for our honeymoon," he added teasingly. The two moved forward and were met with a guard in uniform.

Extending his arm the guard gave a Nazi salute.

Leopold looked at Adrianna and nodded. He then extended his arm at the guard. "Sieg Heil!" shouted Leopold.

Adrianna flinch at the greeting and held her tongue at more than just the honeymoon comment. The greeting itself was one that had such images in its association from earth's history, that even the strongest of people could feel nervous. Adrianna simply offered a small smile of greeting, in the hopes that it would suffice. She looked to Leopold to do the talking, she wasn't about to say something that would make this worse.

The guard studied the woman. "State your business."

Leopold cleared his throat. "We have official documents," he said and retrieved the paperwork. "This is my fiancé, Adrianna Baciami of Earth. She's here to meet with my mother, who was taken in...innocently swept up in this matter by my treacherous father. He brings shame to my family."

Adrianna heard the words, but didn't believe them. That said, she nodded in agreement. She softly put her hand on Leopold's arm as if trying to console him, "it was such a shame, but we'll get through it."

"Your papers look in order," the guard said. "You," he said to Leopold. "You will wait in the lobby." The guard then stepped closer to Adrianna and placed his hand on her buttocks. "Ill take you to the women's wing myself. Once we make sure you are not carrying any contraband."

Adrianna instinctively swatted at his hand. She looked back to Leopold a moment before following the guard, silently. The Italian knew her temper, and she sensed this guard was about to test her patience.

The guard paused and looked to Leopold, "Earth woman." He was almost questioning, intrigue in his voice.

He walked the woman to a holding area and began patting her down, "you know, a woman that looks like you would be better off with a man with a family that they aren't disappointed with."

Adrianna simply replied, not moving much, "I'm marrying him, not his family."

The guard stood up stepping close to Ade, putting his hand on the wall behind her, giving her very little personal space. With his other hand he ran his fingers up her waist, lifting her shirt a little, touching her cool skin below. "Surely, you want to be with a real man," He whispered near her ear, intent hidden in his hungry eyes.

Adrianna didn't flinch, instead she looked to his eyes, with slight flirtation in her tone. She knew the type of man, she'd lived with the sexism for years whilst working under her father and even a little during training. It was a rude, primal stupidity that some men seemed to possess and she took pleasure in breaking their pride, "you don't know much about earth women, do you?"

"I only need to know one thing," he teased, his fingers now trailing down.

Adrianna smiled, "you should know one thing."

"Mmm?" He queried, though more focused on the curves of her body, "what's that?"

***

A man, though in a not so masculine way, could be heard screaming in agony, echoing from a neighbouring room. The guard soon appeared in the lobby, his shoulder completely limp. He was hunched over as if something more precious had also been injured.

Leopold smiled at the guard who had previously been escorting Adrianna. "You should be so lucky," Leopold said. "That's first base with her. I do not think you could handle third."

The guard simply glared at the cocky man, spitting in frustration, trying to control his fury and pain as he headed to a medic, "she needs to be shown her place."

***

Adrianna waited in what may have been an interrogation room. She noted she'd chipped a nail and sighed a little. It was worth it, she thought to herself, grinning a little. She wondered if the other guard was now scared of her. He'd witnessed it from a window, after all and now he was stood in the corner behind her. It took her mind off of her anxiety of meeting Leopold's mother.

Soon, another woman with short brown hair in a bit of a bob cut was led into the room and had taken a seat. Guards were clearly watching her and waiting for the two women to begin conversing. "Ad-" the woman seemed to be struggling for a moment to remember. "Adrianna?"

Adrianna nodded, with a warm smile offering her hand, "Si, yes, it's a pleasure to finally meet you, Mrs Eberhardt."

"Henrietta," the older woman replied. "You can just call me Henrietta, dear, or Mom at some point hopefully." She maintained a smile even though she had clearly been broken down emotionally. "How is Leopold? Wait..why are you here?! Oh no, he came here."

Adrianna saw the emotion unfold and understood the concern. "Henrietta, and yes, perhaps mum one day," Adrianna offered a comforting smile, "he's in the lobby. They wouldn't allow him to see you, but yes, we are both here on Ekos. He's well. He's also a little upset that they wouldn't let him in to see you though. Your daughter, Emilia, is well too. She's very independent and an amazing hostess." The Italian opted to appeal to the maternal instinct to try and cheer up the woman.

"My husband is trying to get them to let me go in exchange for him," she said shaking her head. "I can't let him, but I do not want us to suffer here, they will execute us both. It is only a matter of time."

"He would allow his only son to suffer at the hands of some nazi wannabes for the sake of a deal whereby he doesn't even see freedom?" Adrianna asked flatly, trying not to get angry. Her gut turned a little, though she held a poker face. This sounded like something her family would do.

The guard that had shown her to the room was offended and stepped forward, putting a hand on her shoulder. Adrianna put up her hand, as if to say one more minute, rather quickly. She knew she had crossed a line with that one. The guard flinched and returned to his post, without further question or comment, though remained glaring at the Earth woman. He didn't want the same fate as his comrade, though would risk it, should she step out of line again.

"A good parent is willing to sacrifice themselves for their family. You understand my feelings towards this and to Leopold's father would not be the most positive," Adrianna continued with a little anger to her tone. She paused though and took a breath, resigning. She muttered something in her native tongue, rubbing the bridge of her nose, thinking. After a moment, she sighed, "I'll talk to Leopold. I'll see if I can get him back off world. He won't leave though, you know this. The message to you, was my idea and the trip to attempt reconsilliation, also mine. I will not be forced into a position where I regret this even more than I already do."

Leopold's mother reached across to take Adrianna's hands. "Please do whatever you can to keep Leopold safe. I know that he won't give up, he won't turn back." What Henrietta was doing was more than having a heart to heart with Adrianna.

"Nein!" Shouted a guard over the women touching. "No contact," he reprimanded, and yanked them apart. Henrietta had managed to pass over an isoliner chip.

Adrianna felt the chip and slipped it subtly onto her person. "Look, I'll do what I can, but I'm in no position to make promises I cannot keep. At the least, I will ensure that both your children are fed well." Adrianna offered a smile and stood up, looking to the guard that had brought her in, "I'm ready to go, sir."

A guard came to her side to escort her. "Come on, I'll take you back." The guard glared at Henrietta.

Upon seeing Leopold again Adrianna offered a smile, "didn't mean to keep you waiting." Adrianna then switched to Italian so the guard couldn't understand, though her tone made it sound like she was flirting with Leopold, "we need to leave. Now. There's a bit more to the story about your paternal visiting rights."

Leopold nodded, curious to know what was going on. "We can go back home," he said plainly. "Perhaps, we will have a nice meal with my sister."

Adrianna nodded and took his hand, "maybe I'll even cook." She couldn't get out of there quick enough.