This is actually the fourth scene I sketched out in my head yesterday. I haven't written the others down yet because I wanted to hurry up and write this down first. It's based on this fairly random idea I had of Oliver Queen playing the role of Captain Pike the original Series. In the two parter episode "Menagerie" they look back on the unaired pilot in which 12 years prior Captain Pike met super-powerful aliens called the Talosians who put him in a cage with a human woman named Vina. You can guess what thier intent was.
“Now that the female has been properly conditioned..” The White Martian began.
“You mean properly punished.” Oliver countered. “I'm the one who's not cooperating; why don't you punish me?” the intonation struck Armek as odd. An essence not so much of 'don't hold my sins against her' as 'why are you holding my sins against her?'.
“Would you prefer that?” Armek stated coolly.
Oliver didn't turn his head. “It would make a HELL of a lot more sense than this.”
“The next time she makes any overtures, you will accept the. Or you will find yourself on the receiving end of our corrections. Sarrin needs companionship.” Armek and his aide turned to walk out of the room.
“Wait, why do you say that?” Oliver demanded. Armek turned back around and glared at the man with a look of sarcastic superiority. “Not the part about correction. This is the first time I've heard any of you call her by her name. You usually just say 'the female' or 'the girl'. Now that you know what race she is...you call her by her name? It doesn't really...”
And only now is he beginning to suspect the truth.” Armek's aide said telepathically.
“I knew you wanted me specifically for something. And you were using her to get it. I know it was to give me a mate and perpetuate the species; I've figured that out. But it's more than that isn't it?” Armek gave a 'go on' look with his eyes. “You didn't call em her companion. You said she needed companionship.” Suddenly Oliver was struck with a new consideration. “You CARE for her.”
“We have been her keepers for over 4 decades, human.” A third, slightly more feminine voice intoned. “When it became necessary to attract a mate we selected one she would be attracted to. Is it really so difficult to believe?”
“ 'we wish our specimens to be happy in our new life'.”
“ 'We wish our specimens to be happy in our new life'.” Olive recited. “I thought you meant you wanted me to be happy as your specimen and so put her in my cage with me. I...”
“Typical egotistical human-male reaction.” Armek intoned.
“Until last night I though we were lab rats being studied so you could understand our respective species, or we were pets in a zoo performing for their supper.” Oliver pushed back. “It's obvious now that we were breeding specimens. But if that's all we were, which of us 'wanted' this, or if eitehr of us did, was kind of a non-factor.”
“And how do you judge the situation now?” The female voice echoed. Oliver couldn't see who spoke.
“She's not an innocent thrown in with me for me to protect. Though I wasn't far off with that.” A memory passed in front of Oliver's mind of his last question and answer session with his keepers. “I'm the food to the hungry lion. Or rather lioness: Her. But she's too....” Oliver fell silent, unwilling to finish the thought.
“Too ashamed of what is expected of you to proceed in her role." The female voice finished for him. “You are correct; Sarrin's feelings for you are genuine. Let us leave it there.”
“You can read my thoughts as easily as you read hers right? You know I'm attracted to her. Put me back with her. Promise you'll draw the curtain and leave us to ourselves. I won't misbehave again. ”
“A curious change in attitude.” Armek commented.
“But not unexpected if one is paying attention.” The female voice responded.
“Your collaborator is right. “ Oliver said blandly. “I don't want anyone watching how this specimen performs. But if it will keep her safe – and if she chooses it – I'll play the role you expect me to play.”
Armek looked surprised. And somehow this made Oliver snort with laughter. “You should know I will do anything to keep her safe. You've given me plenty of encouragement in that direction.”
“I believe our human test subject has surpassed all of your expectations Armek.” A third and rather lanky-looking alien said as she walked into the room.
“I assume you are the one I've been hearing in my head without a clue who is there?”
“I am. My name is Me'gann. I had an 'intuition' of sorts that you would make this decision. That even after such a betrayal you would choose to protect your friend.”
“SHE didn't betray anyone.” Oliver insisted, passionately. “And yes, I would do anything for her. If that's what you wanted out of this, then you've succeeded. Understand one thing. It is as much to keep her safe from your 'corrections' as to warm her heart with my own that I agree to this. But I will stay here with her...if she genuinely chooses me.”
“I do not foresee any complications in that regard.” Armek said mildly.
“You think I'm her perfect mate?”
“Why else would we have chosen such a headstrong human male.”
“What have you been doing to her this whole time?” Oliver asked, struck by a sudden realization. “Is she alright, is she safe? I'm not pretending my feelings for her you know that. Where IS she?!”
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