Whumpee watches through blurred, rapidly darkening vision as a new person pushes Whumper out of the way.
Even from their position on the floor, Whumpee can identify the newcomer is wearing the same uniform colors as their torturer. Different clothes, but…the same colors, Whumpee was sure of it. They moaned quietly—were they changing shifts?
The voices were distant. They bounced around Whumpee’s head like an echo along cave walls.
“Whumper. What have you done?”
“I…was questioning the detainee, Commander.”
“Questioning?” The newcomer’s voice rose a little. Whumpee half registered them looking down at them. “They’re half dead!”
“Well, they wouldn’t answer my question—“
“They can’t answer any questions, not like that.” They dropped to one knee, ignoring Whumpee’s mumbles of protest as they shined a flashlight across both of their eyes.
“You’re lucky you didn’t kill them, Whumper.”
“What does it matter? They’ll probably be executed, anyway—“
“This prisoner is under my authority, do you understand? It will cost all of us if they die, but especially me. Which means you will be the one paying for it. You won’t be questioning them again.”
A long, uncomfortable silence enveloped the cell as the commander pulled Whumpee up to sit against the wall. Whumpee was silent and pliant, their entire body still aching from earlier.
“What did you do to them?”
“Standard procedures…blunt force, electric shocks—“
“Back to back, clearly. And why is there blood on the wall?”
“I…may have thrown them against it.”
“Whumper, you’re dismissed.”
Whumper left without another word, feeling a burning sensation from their commander’s harsh tone.
Whumpee closed their eyes, finally losing themselves to exhaustion as Commander sighed and spoke into their radio.
“Prisoner was injured during questioning. May be a concussion—“ They tapped Whumpee’s jaw. “Hey, stay awake. Stay awake.”
“May be a concussion, prep a medical bed. I’m taking them in myself, Whumper is no longer authorized to deal with this one.”
The words were starting to blur and mush together, Whumpee couldn’t make sense of them anymore. They weakly attempted to squirm, shifting away from the high ranking official looming over them.
“Stop moving.” Their voice wasn’t exactly gentle, but it wasn’t quite harsh either. Whumpee found themselves obeying, despite their fear and the increasing haze in their mind.
“I’m not hurting you. Do you understand me?”
Whumpee managed a weak nod.
“Good. You will be questioned again, but not now. Now, you’re receiving medical attention. I’m telling you not to fight us, it will not help you whatsoever. Do you understand?”
“Good. Let’s go, before you actually pass out on me.”
