UOW North Korean Chronicles Chapter 1.3 Abbigail Dresden

Abbigail watched carefully as the North Korean woman and her guards finished up with Valora. The end coming as the guards dragged Valora out of the room, ensuring Abbigail got a look at the bloodied and beaten back of the Mexican-American fighter, her mentor. The door closed behind them and Kim Ji-Min sat down and smirked. “That shouldn’t scare you. What should scare you is that, cruel as I am, I am the only ally you have in this place.” Abbigail took a breath, mustered up her courage and spat on the polished boot of the North Korean. “Lady… if you’re a friend.. Then your country sucks even worse than I thought it did. Fuck you.”

Kim Ji-Min tilted her head to the side and paused for a moment before scoffing. “Pointless American Defiance. False Bravado to cover the fear that grips every nerve of your body. But you Americans are cowards. Always have been. You’re afraid of people who look different. People like your friend, Valora can tell you what that’s like. Black people can tell you the same or more, I suspect. You let Corporations and the rich, run your lives because you’re afraid to ask for more than the scraps they brush off their table. You go to war because you’re afraid of the boogeyman you government uses to scare you. My Emperor wants only one thing.. A united Korea. How is that any threat to the Great and Powwerful United States? Ohhh.. a United Korea might not need the United States. Those troops would have to leave and without that, the U.S. can not bully Japan and China and Asia might be able to determine it’s own destiny. Yes, you’re right we’re totally evil, aren’t we? Have you ever thought, Abbigail Dresden, that maybe you are the villain in this story? I doubt it.. After all, you Americans aren’t allowed to think anymore, are you?”

Abbigail narrowed her eyes. “Untie me, bitch and I’ll show you fear..” Kim smirked. “Threats. Violence. How typically American. If something challenges your narrow minded view of the world you must smash and destroy it.” Abbigail nods. “And Good guys torture?” Kim shrugs. “You Americans do. Would you prefer I give you truth serum? Deprive you of sleep? Waterboard you? Those are acceptable interrogation tactics, yes?”

Abbigail smirks. “Interrogation has a point. Is there something you’d like to know?” Kim leans back in her chair and nods. “There are some things I would like to know. Other things I need...confirmed. But first.. There is the issue that you have dirtied my boot. You will remedy that situation.” Abbigail nods. “Right… and if I tell you to take a long walk off a short pier?” Kim leans forward, saying nothing at first, leaning forward and looking over the girl in front of her. “Well then, I’d have to decide what would make a more effective lesson for you. Letting you spend some time with my friend, or showing you the truly wonderful advances Warhammer has made in the realm of prisoner control. That collar you’re wearing.. What would you say if I told you that all I have to do is push a button and you would gladly do anything, believe anything I told you? Or by pushing another button, I could make it impossible for you to move? Still another button and I can end your life. Yes.. perhaps a demonstration. Clean my boot now or I will demonstrate the control collar’s uses by having you march out for your match, kneel and declare yourself the Emperor’s loyal servant. I wonder what your friends would think of such a display?”

Abbigail nodded. “Bullshit. If you could do that, you wouldn’t be wasting time with torture.” Kim nods. “Perhaps.. Or perhaps it might be a case of not all minds can handle the strain. Let’s see if yours can.” She said before pressing the button. Abbigail felt her hands freed from their cuffs. A split second later, she felt spikes enter her neck from the collar and inject her with a collar. A split second later her mind literally burned as she felt the effects of the drug and she instinctively fought back. Kim watched as the girl grabbed her head, as if trying to stop her mind from being torn in two and for the briefest moment, she thought she saw Abbigail’s eyes glow. But whether that was further confirmation of her suspicions, or a reaction of the chemicals and collar was open for debate. Kim decided to proceed with her test and tapped her foot on the ground as she stood up. “Crawl over here and clean my boot.” Abbigail, still fighting the collar, did as she was told reaching out with her hand but Kim stopped her. “No.. it came from your mouth.. Put it back there.” Abbigail’s hand paused and she slowly, but surely bent forward and licked up her own spit from Kim’s boot, causing the North Korean woman to nod in satisfaction and end the collar’s control function. “That was enlightening. For both of us, I believe. Are you ready to cooperate willingly? Or do I need to give you further lessons?”

Abbigail thought for a moment. “For the record.. No, there’s a difference between us.. I don’t always think my country or government are the good guys.. And not thinking.. You’re the expert there… tell me something.. Have you ever had a thought of your own that wasn’t pre-approved by your Emperor? As for your question.. Define cooperate and I can give you an answer?”

Kim was tempted to give her another lesson but instead she sat down and nodded. “I had your blood tested. There are abnormalities in your blood that we’ve never seen before. At first I thought you were some type of new super soldier project but you lack military training and discipline. What are you? What is different about you?”

Abbigail smirks and shakes her head. “Sorry, even if I wanted to, I have rules.. I’m not allowed to say anything about what I may or may not be. Maybe I’m a mutant.. Maybe your lab botched the result. Could be anything really. Maybe you’re just paranoid.” Kim Ji-Min smirked and held up her controller. “Shall I force you to tell me?” Abbigail sighs and looks at her. “You can try but it won’t end well for you.. Even if you succeed.. Look.. you’re military right? You understand rules and such?” Kim considered this for a moment. This was dangerous, she was risking giving up some of her control that was vital for her success.. Yet in doing so, she might get more cooperation in the future. “Confirm then. I have intel reports that you and your cohorts were sent here by the American President to assassinate our Emperor as a prelude to invasion. Is this true?” Abbigail shrugs. “Well if that was the plan no one told me. Might have been those orders were given while I was in jail on bullshit charges.”

Kim Ji-Min studied the woman before her intently, looking for any sign of deception and leaned back in her seat as she considered this. She had studied the girl both as this conversation went on and while Valora was in here as well. She also knew Americans had no honor.. Appeal to their greed and willingness to do anything to survive to get them to do what you wanted. And Abbigail had made what she wanted plain as day. Kim made her move. “I see.. And does your partner know you are in love with her?” Abbigail gave exactly the type of reaction Kim Ji-Min was looking for. The question shook and surprised the young woman in front of Kim Ji-Min. She then immediately defended her position. “I respect her. I’m grateful that she’s decided to take me under her wing and help mentor me. Our relationship simple and professional. We are professional fighters and we are friends. I think we’re both happy. Why don’t you just cut the crap and tell me what you want?”

Kim Ji-Min was surprised, but showed no sign of it as she studied her prey. The woman had recovered quickly and was going on the attack Kim would let her believe she had the advantage for the moment but would continue to set the trap and wait to spring it on her. “Well for right now, the Emperor wants a show. I’m quite sure the Emperor would enjoy watching you dismantle your opponent.” Abbigail rolled her eyes. “Well he should prepare for disappointment. Last time I fought Gabrielle, it didn’t work so well for me.” Kim nodded. “Your life wasn’t on the line. Now it is… because believe me when I say if the Emperor is not entertained by your fight, one or both of you will die. I would suggest you use that as motivation and fight for your life. You do want to keep living, yes?” Abbigail smirked. “I’ve been thrown in jail because the fascist dictator of my country doesn’t like me. Now I’ve been sent here so your dictator can indulge in some sick Roman Gladiator fetish? I think Gabrielle is going to be more accommodating than me. Not knocking what she does for a living but her range of fetishes is likely to be bigger than mine.” Kim responds by pushing a button on the controller, sending pain firing through the nerves of Abbigail as she nods. “Do not insult the Emperor again.” Kim leans forward. “We will continue our talks later… but for now, think about what you have seen. I could, with the push of a button, have you walk out there, kneel down and pledge your allegiance to the Emperor and declare your intention to defect to our country. By the same token, a push of a button could get you what you want. Or, think about this.. You want Gabrielle Montgomery dead.” Abbigail rolls her eyes. “I don’t want anyone dead.”

Kim leans forward and pushes a button. A TV screen replays Gabrielle beating Abbigail. Abbigail narrows her eyes as she watches and Kim nods. “Valora must have been so disappointed.. You, training under her to be a warrior,.. Defeated by some common whore… you know the type of person Valora is. How many losses before she begins to see you as a liability, not an asset? You need to win.. And here, in this tournament, winning means your opponent stops breathing.” Abbigail decided to switch tactics here a bit and nodded. “Say I play along, what do I get?” Kim raised an eyebrow and leaned forward. “What do you want?” Abbigail nods. “Well some time not being tortured might be nice.” Kim smirks. “You want the pain to stop, you must show me you can be useful. Right now, all the evidence says you can’t even beat a common whore. Prove me wrong and we’ll see about improving your treatment.” Abbigail frowned and nodded. “Fine. I’ll beat her.. But no promises on my killing her.”