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One day, a group of people surrounded and separated Carla and Ted. The group split, half chasing her and the others stayed to bind Ted. In her hand, Carla carried a long, hollow bamboo bo staff which stood almost as tall as she. It was her only weapon and she carried it wherever she went, using it whenever she was attacked, which was getting to be more and more often. Now, she clung to it, half wanting to keep it and half wanting to throw it away to go faster. She came to a hill and looked back. The group now surrounded her on all sides and was now making their way up. Carla put her staff in both hands and tried to push her way through, but she was soon on the ground bound. Pulling her up, they had her face Ted. He was bound in shackles and an iron rod held his arms away from his body. His face was bloody and he was unconscious. They'd used her staff on her instead of a rod and was left unbloodied. The group forced her to walk as they went through the woods. After what seemed like hours, they stood in front of a mansion. Her feet ached and she was exhausted, but her captors pushed her on. In one room, they stopped and she finally collapsed onto the floor. Ted awoke then to find himself in a large room, filled with people he didn't know. The atmosphere however, told him where he was. I'm in the hands of my enemy. Ted spotted Carla on the floor and tried to get to her, but a firm hand rested itself on his sore shoulder.
"Well, well, well," a woman's voice came. He turned and saw his archenemy, Tamra. "It seems I've finally got a prisoner. A good-looking one at that," she laughed. He scowled. "Fine. If you don't want to play, I'll get right to business. You, Ted of Lhaam, will tell me everything I wish to know."
"You know I'd never do that."
"That's what you think, but I hope you realize that you are responsible for what happens to this girl," she said as someone roughly stood Carla up who gave a weak moan.
Tamra walked over and slapped Carla. Her head snapped back and a small trickle of blood oozed out of her mouth as a small whimper escaped her. Tamra got a knife. Ted's stomach lurched at the thought of Carla hurt. "Wait! I'll do as you say. Just don't hurt her!"
Tamra smiled sweetly. "Oh, don't worry. I won't hurt her. She's far too valuable for that." A man carried Carla's body away. In the next room, he laid her on a couch and left her there. Carla awoke with a dizzying headache. Uncertain, she sat up. The doorknob turned and she looked up. Unaware, she put herself on her guard for she didn't have a weapon with her. "Carla, my name is Tamra. I am of Nica. I hear that you are an excellent warrior with the bo staff. My people would like you to help us."
Not swayed by Tamra's sweet words, Carla demanded, "What kind of set up is this? Why am I here? Where is Ted?"
"For you to understand will take awhile, but I can spare the time." Tamra told the story of her people. A people long time ago had a disagreement on the concept of Balance and a split was made to form the Nica and the Lhaam. To this day, the battle continued. Tamra continued. "Your husband, Ted, is of Lhaam."
By then, Carla's mind was swayed and she sympathized with Tamra. Her eyes widened. "No, he can't be! The Nica are right! He shouldn't be on their side!"
"I couldn't agree with you more. That's why we need your help. Will you contribute your services to our cause?"
"Of course. I can't let anything like this go on without my being part of it. I shall join the Nica."
"We're grateful." Tamra brought in Carla's bo staff. "Now, you see how it's hollow? It's no good. You need a solid staff."
"If' it's solid though, it'd be too heavy for me to use."
"Here. Let me show you a trick." Tamra retrieved a long, solid bamboo shoot. "Stand up so that I may cut it according to your height." After she had cut it down to size, Tamra whittled the ends so that each end had a point. "Try it now." Carla lifted it and to her surprise, it was almost as light as the hollow one she'd been carrying.
"How'd you do that?" Carla asked incredulously as she effortlessly maneuvered her new weapon. Tamra gave a smug smile and continued to train her for the many days.
Finally, it was culmination day. Ted had no idea what was going on. He was puzzled why he stayed on as their captive; they'd gotten what they wanted from him. As he was brought out to the celebration, a cry started out. Ted followed everyone's gaze and felt his jaw drop as he watched Carla walk out, wearing the traditional Nica warrior outfit. Carla walked to Tamra and bowed. Tamra held a sword on Carla's shoulder and recited the orientation. With such a large distance between them, Ted was unable to catch much of what was being said. But all too quickly, the ceremony was over and Carla took her place at Tamra's right side as second in command. Ted's heart dropped even more. Only then, did Carla let her eyes wander and almost immediately, she spotted Ted across the way. Surprise flitted across her face before her eyes narrowed with hatred.
"What have they done to you?" Ted whispered to himself. As if she heard, she raised her eyebrows and shook her head slowly, her mouth giving a frown. Tamra was pleased. "Let the feast begin!"
The next day, Ted was released and he went home. At a council that night, it was ruled that they needed to capture a Nica to even the odds. The council went to the place where the two had been attacked. There, on a hunch, a deep hole was dug and the entire trail was covered.
The following day, it was entirely by chance that Ted ran into Carla. Uneasy at first, they talked, staying away from the subject that kept them apart. Suddenly a chill ran through Carla. They were at a hill and a flood of memories filled her head. "This place. I know it. Something happened here, but I can't remember…" She started to shake, but Ted comforted her, and they went on. At another point, she froze altogether. "People… Running… Something happened here!" Ted was frightened by her outburst but knew that all the images were running together in her mind. Taking the chance, Ted coaxed her to take one more step; she'd stopped right before the pit. Trusting him, she went on and screamed in fright as the footing gave way and she fell, landing hard on her left leg. She tried to get up, but her leg wouldn't support her and she crumbled to the ground. Carla looked up and saw Ted looking down at her, a clouded expression on his face. She felt naked and vulnerable. Carla looked away and started crying. A ladder was lowered and Ted climbed down to retrieve her. Carla recovered and put on a mask, refusing to show emotion. Only the slightest hint of fire and pain burned in her eyes. Ted carried her up from the pit and back home, leaving her in a transparent room in the middle of the complex. All day, people came to stare.
That night, council was held again. "What should we do?" Quinn paced in front of the seated council. "We must find out everything we can about the Nica before they attack and try to take Carla back. However, I do make it a wish of mine that torture be avoided if possible."
"Who cares? She's just a woman!" someone yelled from the back, but a glare from Quinn silenced the young one who had spoken out.
"We shall try talking to her in the morning. If that doesn't work, a whipping may take place, then the fieldwork, then starving, then, I don't know. Let's hope it won't have to go further than that." Poor Ted. He didn't want them to hurt her, yet he knew they had to, to ensure the safety of his people. "Ted, you shall be the one to talk to her in the morning. Council dismissed."
Ted went to his room to go over what he'd say the next morning. He couldn't concentrate though. All he thought about was her. How they'd loved each other before everything had happened. He didn't want to hurt her, but it was necessary. And all this for war.
In the morning, Carla sat up suddenly as she heard the door to her room be unlocked. Ted came in. No one else was up yet and they had privacy. "I want to talk to you. I don't know what Tamra told you, but I doubt it's the truth. Let me tell you the real story." Ted told the story and it was totally different form the one she'd learned before. Carla remained skeptical and didn't say a word. "Now you've heard the real story. Will you at least talk to me?" Carla looked at Ted's pleading eyes, noting how bloodshot they were from lack of sleep and she almost gave in. At the last moment though, she caught her composure and put on her mask, answering with a simple no. Ted was crushed. His shoulders sagged and he left the room. Carla wanted to call him back, take back that hurtful word, but it was too late. The rest of the household was waking up now and she was once again, the center of attention.
A man came in with a whip and attempted to get her to cry out. She never showed any emotion though. Only the faint fire stayed in her eyes and her mouth remained shut. The next day, she was forced to the plow the field using an old-fashioned plow that needed horses to pull it. She never complained. In fact, she rather liked it; it gave her a way to fan off her anger. The next couple of days, she was starved, but that proved futile as well.
Another meeting was held; they decided to rape her. In the afternoon, four people came in to the room. One tore off all her clothes. As she realized what was going on, she screamed and kicked but it was no use. Two others held her down while the last removed his pants. Carla couldn't believe what they were about to do. Outside, a huge crowd had gathered, all trying to get a good view. She was forced back onto the ground. As the alien flesh entered her, she screamed in pain. She struggled to be let free but all in vain. She cried. The crowd encouraged the man while he kept asking her to tell the secrets of the Nica. She refused, but at a great cost. He forced himself deeper and deeper until she begged for mercy and promised to tell. Swayed by her pleas, he got up and everyone saw her bathed in sweat, shaking so bad, and crying so hard that they left her alone while she rocked to comfort herself.
Ted had watched the whole thing and when everyone had gone, he went in to talk to her. "Carla…"
"Leave me alone," she whispered, avoiding his eyes.
"I can't. I don't want to leave you like this." He came over to give her a hug, and she finally gave in and relaxed.
"How can I go on like this? I can't betray the Nica. But if I don't tell…" She fell asleep in his arms.
For the next month and a half, they continued to rape her. Every time they finished, they'd feel sorry and leave her alone for another time. When they came back for answers though, she'd refuse to open her mouth and the whole process would repeat itself. The only one who didn't give in though, was the man who had raped her the first time. His name was Marvin. He'd stay within her until someone literally pulled him off of her. He had often come drunk and beat her while everyone watched.
Ted was finally able to convince Quinn and Carla soon found herself in a private room. It was simply furnished, with windows giving a beautiful view of the surrounding woods. By this time though, Carla realized that she was pregnant and told Ted one night. "What!?"
"It's true!" she answered unhappily. "I'm pregnant with someone else's child."
Ted looked stricken. After a few moments of shock, he said, "You know I'll have to tell the others about this."
"Yes, I do." The clouded look in her eyes never left.
Now that she was pregnant, everyone left her alone. All except Marvin. One night, Marvin banged on the door and let himself in. As usual, he was drunk. Carla quickly awoke from the light sleep and crouched in one corner of her bed. Marvin held out his arms and gently cooed to her, coming close to the bed. She scrambled out and the two circled each other around the room when Marvin grew angry. "Come here! Don't be scared. I'll be gentle!" He came toward her, quickly this time, and grabbed her wrist. "Listen to me when I talk to you, bitch. Obey!" He threw her against a drawer and she fell unconscious. As she lay on the floor, Marvin undressed himself and slept on her for the rest of the night. What he didn't count for was Ted watching outside from a nearby tree, trying to control his emotions.
In the morning, he came to Quinn. They went to her room and found the two still on the floor. "Marvin!" Quinn came over and saw that he was still under the influence. Together, Quinn and Ted carried Marvin back to his room and locked him there. Ted went back and found Carla trying to get up.
"What happened?" she asked, hoarsely.
He didn't answer as he checked her for any bruises and found a large bump on the back of her head. "We'll take care of you. Don't worry. Thank God you're okay." Carla was very confused and so Ted recounted the night for her.
Their relationship grew more until they were as comfortable around each other as on their wedding day long ago. One night, Ted came into her room and saw her asleep. Giving in to his urge, he climbed in next to her and pulled her close to him. Carla awoke and found herself staring right into Ted's eyes. Tentatively, she reached up to touch his face, unsure if this was a dream or not. Ted caught her hand midway to his face though and instead, brought it to his lips, gently kissing each finger. "Ted!" she whispered, a little scared.
"Shh…" He silenced her with a sweet kiss and she finally let her resolve go.
At the end of her term, Carla gave birth to her baby. Her screams were filled with pain and agony but no one paid any attention to her. The baby was born and they snatched him from her immediately. Carla collapsed and only Ted was there to tend to her. The rest went to look after the new addition to the Lhaam family.
After a week, Carla still had never caught a glimpse of the baby. Whenever she asked, everyone ignored her. When she realized she wasn't getting anywhere, she turned her thoughts inward and spent her time gazing out the window, her urge to be free growing once again, now that she was no longer bedridden. Ted noticed her faraway looks and obtained permission to take her on walks. One night, they decided to take another walk. At one point, Carla told Ted to stop. Thinking nothing of it, he let her go on. A few seconds later, a shot rang out. Ted raced toward the sound and came to the clearing. Carla lay on the ground, a pool of blood coming from her head. In her right hand, a gun was clutched tightly. Ted stood stunned before others came running. He thought she'd been happy. He didn't think she'd go this far. When they saw what had happened, they hurried to carry her back to the house.
The men took her body to prepare her for burial. Ted went to her room. On her bed was a letter for him. Shakily, he picked it up. My dear Ted, I guess you're wondering why I did this horrible thing to myself. Well, I just couldn't go on. Never seeing my baby, going back to being tortured, hardly ever seeing you… I couldn't find any point to my living anymore. I was just so depressed and well, I had nothing to look forward to anymore. I've also realized that you're right. Your people, the Lhaam, are far better than the Nica will ever be. It's taken me this long to realize it. Nica just wants wars and blood. Your tribe cares for the welfare of its people. Attached to this letter is a detailed description of everything I know about the Nica. I can only hope that it will be enough. Give it to Quinn. I'm sorry I never told before this, and I'm sorry for any trouble I've caused during my life, especially to you. I'll never forgive myself if you're so unhappy. Just please, watch over my baby. Raise it (I don't even know what it is) to follow your steps. Watch over yourself and the little one. I love you dearly. Now and forever yours, Carla
By the time he finished the letter, he was crying. The door opened and Quinn came in. Quinn saw the letter in his hand. Ted remembered the second part of the letter and handed it to him. He quickly glanced at it before looking back up to see another sheet of paper in Ted's hand. He gestured for it. "It's addressed to me." Ted left it at that and Quinn understood.
"Come on, then," Quinn indicated that they leave and they did just that, shutting the door behind them quietly.
With the help of Carla's letter, the Nica lost a number of the following battles. Ted was able to raise Carla's child, Robyn, through the lines and became the next Quinn. Both Ted and Robyn always felt the eyes of someone watching them. Only Ted knew it was Carla watching from the other side. One day, he'll tell Robyn who his mother was, the great warrior who gave herself up for her true people.