Your Worst Nightmare

"Your Worst Nightmare" is a [SEASON NUMBER] thread started on [IRL DATE] and finished on [IRL DATE].
==Summary==
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==Full Text==
As soon as Juro left her, Grey was just about to go up to her office…when she stopped in her tracks. What the bookkeeper and she talked about didn’t leave her mind. It refused to. 
“A pirate of the Eastern archipelago, well off and well feared in their territory, travelling for weeks from one end of the continent to the other, directly for the Rebellion that is her opposition. Hmm…well, this is worth giving further attention to, I’m sure.”
These pirates were from the east. Yes, they were a faction of High Central, but…something had to have tipped Ai off as to where the Rebellion used to reside before moving to the Jaw. Perhaps, there was someone who knew about the Rebellion trying to send someone to bring down the Rebellion… Surely, there was more to the story, and perhaps, she could get more information out of Ai herself now that she was back in charge. 
The Chief took a deep breath and quickly changed direction as she made her way toward the prison, but not before taking a stop at her house and slipping a note under her front door telling Brandt to come find her at the prison as soon as he was awake and to bring Shadow. She also asked a nearby soldier to inform Lila that she was going to speak to Ai while on her way to the prison. 
As she neared the prison, two soldiers stood at attention. 
“Chief Grey, good morning,” one of the soldiers said. 
“Good morning, gentlemen,” Grey said. 
“What can we do for you?” the second solider asked. 
“I would like to speak to Ai Kauri,” Grey said. “Have her brought to the interrogation room. I’ll be there waiting.”
“Yes, Chief,” the guards said in unison opening the door allowing their Chief to enter. 
So, she went to the interrogation room and waited.
Apr 4, 2021
Ai was lead into the interrogation room and sat in a chair as they chained her to the table in front of her. The entire time she had the biggest smirk on her face. “Hey there Chief, miss me already?” She asks.
Apr 4, 2021
The Chief crossed her arms and leaned forward on the table as she sat across from Ai. “Well, let’s see, I missed my husband, my dragon, my mother…oh…any my children when I was your prisoner for two weeks,” Grey said with a glare on her face. “So…no…I didn’t miss you. In fact, I’m looking forward to when you’re finally off my island.”
Apr 4, 2021
She laughs. “And yet you just couldn’t wait to see me again, pulling me in here after what? Not even a full 24 hours has it been? I don’t know Chief, I think there’s an unspoken connection here.” She said with a wink.
Apr 4, 2021
The Chief rolled her eyes. “I came to get some information out of you,” she said leaning back in her chair. “Whether or not it goes smoothly is…completely up to you. Let’s start with the simple questions. What’s your name and where are you from?”
Apr 4, 2021
She laughs at that mockingly. “Oh please. Could you have asked something more pedestrian?” She asks as she leans back in her chair.
Apr 4, 2021
Grey raised an eyebrow. “Just answer the question,” she demanded. She already knew the answers from what Lila told her, but she needed to ease into it. That was what her father and the former Chief always taught her when it came to interrogating a criminal. 
Apr 4, 2021
She just smirks. “No.” She says firmly. “Try something else.”
Apr 4, 2021
Fury burned inside the Chief as she clenched her fist. “And this is coming from the same person who ordered my husband to be whipped in front of me to get me to talk,” Grey said. “Alright, you’re from Crestwill, correct? I mean…that’s in your name…the Crows of Crestwill. That’s on the east side of the continent…quite a long journey to get here.”
Apr 4, 2021
She chuckles seeing how she was getting under the chief’s skin. “Is there a question, or did you decide to abdicate your position as Chief and become a geographer?”
Apr 4, 2021
“Gods damn it…” Grey whispered under her breath. “Okay, fine, I’ll get to the point. How did you come to learn about the Rebellion? And where it was stationed?”
Apr 4, 2021
She laughs, truly laughs at that. “Are you joking? Honey, it’s not like you were keeping it secret. At least not a very good one. Besides even if you were, I can make an educated guess. The island had ties to the Rebellion long before now. The Gathering proved that much when you toasted their asses.”
Apr 4, 2021
Grey mentally kicked herself for not considering that. She initially assumed that as much, but she was wondering if maybe someone paid Ai to do so. “Okay,” she said, “I’ll give you that one. I just don’t understand something. You’re a Nix, and last I checked…the whole reason the Rebellion is fighting against High Central is because of their infamous treatment of half-breeds. Why side with them?”
Apr 4, 2021
She laughs again. “Man you guys just don’t get what the factions really are, do you? We aren’t part of the old High Central. We are just those who want it to be better than what it is. That means something different things to each. For me, it’s a pirates paradise. It’s big, it’s opulent, it has access to different waterways, it was practically made for it.”
Apr 4, 2021
“So…you just…saw it as a way to make slaves off the Rebellion?” Grey asked. 
Apr 4, 2021
“You really don’t listen do you?” She sighs sounding frustrated. “I told you when I came back that this was because you and your precious God had cut a deep gash into my profits with her little storm cloud routine and that you were going to pay me back.”
Apr 4, 2021
“Forgive me,” Grey said with sarcasm dripping in her voice, “it’s sort of hard to remember the fine details after everything you put my husband, my men, my children, and me through.”
Apr 4, 2021
“That or you’re just fucking dumb.”
Apr 4, 2021
The Chief refused to acknowledge that comment and focused on what she had Ai brought in here for. “Did your group have contact with the other factions? The Conclave? Any of those guys?”
She shrugs. “Sure, any of ‘em who traded in slaves I dealt with. Not that I can give you much more info than that.”
Apr 4, 2021
“Oh, why not?” Grey said. “Surely, you remember your–how did you put it–your contacts in High Central?”
Apr 4, 2021
“Just because I know who people are doesn’t mean I know the cracks in their fucking defenses.” She said shaking her head. “I don’t care who they are or what they do, just so long as they pay.”
Apr 4, 2021
“I’m not asking for cracks in their defenses,” Grey said narrowing her eyes. “All I’m asking for is the names of people you’ve sold slaves to.”
Apr 5, 2021
“Fine, get me a quill and some paper. Whole lot of good a list of names will do you.”
Apr 5, 2021
“That’s none of your concern,” Grey said as she did as Ai requested and gave her some paper and a quill.
Apr 5, 2021
Ai started to write down 10 names. One was Vidar, two others were recognizable. The rest were false names. “There you happy?”
Apr 5, 2021
Grey took the list and inspected it. “Very,” she said with a smirk as she placed it in her pocket. “Funny, maybe this should make you reconsider your interrogation methods.”
Apr 5, 2021
“And maybe I’ll give up my ‘evil’ ways and join you all in la la land.” She rolled her eyes and sat back in her chair.
Apr 5, 2021
Grey scoffed and shook her head. She couldn’t believe the lack of remorse in the captain’s voice…no guilt whatsoever. It was almost as if she was talking to Satine. She couldn’t help but remember when Brandt told her the truth about her father…the overwhelming guilt and shame and the complete relief in his voice when they agreed to work it out. Not just with her husband, any of her comrades…even Indigo expressed remorse. Sure, Dixie didn’t, but that was because he believed he was justified. Perhaps, she and Lila were wrong. Ai was just about as bad as Vidar. 
“You put my family and me through hell for 2 whole weeks,” she said in complete astonishment. “My kids had to be without their parents. My son was forced into acting Chief, a position he’s not fully ready for. You…whipped…my husband to get me to talk! Because of you…he’s going to have those scars for the rest of his life! You forced me to betray my niece! And you don’t even care.”
Apr 5, 2021
“Oh boo hoo your kids didn’t have a mommy or a daddy for two weeks.” She said with a bit more malice than she would have normally used. “Grow the fuck up. It’s not personal, it’s a fucking job.”
Apr 6, 2021
“A job that ruins other people’s lives!” Grey shouted in return. 
Apr 6, 2021
She sits there for a few moments silently. “You done with that little tantrum? Good. Because here is the thing. Everything has a price. Wood, dogs, dragons, Half-Breeds, humans. We are all worth something to someone, whether you admit it or not. The thing is, I don’t nit pick. Half-Breed, Human, Nix, I don’t care. They’re all worth something and that’s all that matters.
Apr 6, 2021
Grey stared at the Captain in complete disbelief. Sadness and pity crept into her heart…hearing Ai speak about life in this way. She was so convinced that all life was a commodity…that all life was worth something in terms of a price. The Chief took a deep breath and stared at the Captain. 
“That’s…a pretty sad way of looking at life,” she said. “Do you view yourself in such a way? Or your crew? Surely, they’re like a family to you, and you do anything for them.”
Apr 6, 2021
She scowled as she said that. “Just what the fuck are you hoping to achieve exactly? You think I’ll come to some kind of revelation and change the way I live or some stupid shit like that? I know who I am, and no matter what you do or say, nothing is going to change that.”
Apr 6, 2021
“What can I say?” Grey asked coolly. “It’s worked before. Usually when people do something horrible, some express remorse. Vidar didn’t, and you sure as hell did not. You just…” She scoffed and shook her head as she clenched her fist with fury returning slowly. 
Apr 7, 2021
“Oh wake up.” Ai said as she rolled her eyes. “This is the real world, not some story you tell your kids at bed time. No one’s going to just change their mind on something because you tell them you think they should.”
Apr 7, 2021
“No, but there are people out there who are strong enough to realize where they went wrong,” she immediately thought of Brandt after her father died, the Warden, Malak, and even Indigo. “I guess I raised my expectations too high, but despite that…I want you to know that…I forgive you for what you’ve done.”
Apr 7, 2021
There's a few seconds pause before she breaks out into loud laughter. "No you don't. I can see it every time you look at me. You hate me, you want to kill me, or at the very least hurt me. Hurt me like I hurt your weak little husband."
It was as if in that moment…fury exploded and shot into her right arm. It was a knee-jerk reaction to that comment about her husband…and the anger over everything the captain had done to them that sparked her right arm to suddenly to go back…only to come forward again and meet the side of Ai’s face. 
Apr 8, 2021
She grunted as her head turned with the impact. All was quiet for a few moments before Ai began laughing. She slowly turned her head back towards her with a grin on her face, her cheek bright red. “Please ma'am may I have another?”
Apr 8, 2021
The Chief completely ignored that question as she reached forward and grabbed Ai by the shirt glaring right at her. 
“Let’s one thing straight here, you bitch,” she said through clenched teeth. “Say anything like that…about my husband again…or anyone in my family for that matter, and I will make your life a living hell.”
Apr 8, 2021
She seemed unphased by this, grinning the entire time. “What you mean how your husband is a weak man who couldn’t protect you or this island? Or maybe your pathetic son? Barely even man and not fit to lick the dirt off my boot, let alone lead your pathetic people.”
Apr 9, 2021
The Chief clenched her teeth even more, and the fist clutching Ai’s shirt shook. She brought her foot up kicked the chair with Ai in it down to the floor. Grey didn’t even bother to wait until the captain got her bearings as she quickly got on her knees and brought her fist down on Ai’s face.
“SHUT!” Punch. “UP!” Punch. “YOU!” Punch. “BITCH!” Punch.
—-
As soon as Brandt woke up and saw the note from his wife, he immediately woke up Shadow and got dressed. Once he made sure Sven, Dagny, and Kari were okay, he and Shadow made their way to the prison. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Grey. He trusted Grey with his life, no question. It was the leader of their former captives that made him feel uneasy. She used him to get information out of Grey and separated them while imprisoning them for 2 weeks. There was no telling what she was capable of.
Apr 9, 2021
Ai sat up a little and spit some blood onto the floor before looking up at her, still grinning though she now sat bruised and bloody. “What, is that all you’ve got? I’ve gotten worse than this from my nan.”
Apr 9, 2021
Grey breathed very heavily as she stood up seething. 
Apr 9, 2021
She chuckles darkly. “And to think, where was this fire when you failed to protect your pitiful little island?” She asked at same cocky, taunting, cruel grin on her face.
Apr 9, 2021
“I didn’t fail,” Grey said through clenched teeth. “You didn’t give me a chance to use this fire. You threatened my husband and my dragon and my men. I had no choice.”
Apr 9, 2021
Her chuckle turns into a full blown laugh. “Please, you always have a choice. You just don’t have the will to do all that is necessary. You’re as weak as husband and unworthy of being chief.”
Apr 9, 2021
Grey’s fists shook at her, and her nails dug into her palms. She tried not to let it bother her…but hearing her former captor say all these things…what had been running through her head for the past 2 weeks…how she failed to protect her own home…how she couldn’t stand against Ai the first time…how she couldn’t protect her own husband…like she told her father’s spirit…she couldn’t do the job she agreed to do…made it impossible as tears formed in her eyes…a mixture of anger and sadness. Maybe she really was unworthy…but she didn’t need Ai pointing that out to her.
“SHUT UP!” Grey screamed as she got down on her knees again grabbing Ai by the shirt. “JUST SHUT UP!” She raised her fist and punched Ai again.
—–
“Sir Brandt,” one of the soldiers said. “Good morning.”
“Good morning,” he said nodding to them with a small smile. He looked around clearly looking for someone before turning back to the guards. “Have you seen Grey? She told me to meet her here.”
“Yes, she came here earlier to talk to Ai Kauri,” he said. “They’re in the interrogation room.”
“Thanks,” Brandt said before walking into the prison toward the interrogation room with Shadow in tow.
Apr 9, 2021
The Half-Nix grunt as her fist impacts her cheek, but the smile is still there, that wicked, hateful, rage inducing smirk sat on her face. “Pathetic. Just like the rest of your family.” With that she spit in her face, a mixture of saliva and blood landing smack on her cheek.
Apr 10, 2021
As soon as Ai spat on her face, she didn’t even try to wipe it off her cheek. Instead she pushed Al down and punched her in the face yet again. 
“STOP INSULTING MY FAMILY!” Grey shouted as she brought her fist down on Ai’s face yet. “WE ARE NOT PATHETIC!” She punched Ai again in the face as the rage and anger and sadness mixed altogether inside of her. “JUST STOP!”
—-
Shadow perked as she and Brandt walked toward the interrogation room. She could’ve sworn she heard Grey shouting, and the Night Fury looked at Brandt with concern on her face. 
“What’s wrong, girl?” Brandt asked. 
Shadow continued to walk ahead a little faster, and Brandt wasted no time in following. 
Apr 10, 2021
She grunts, her cheeks and eyes purple and swelling. “Maybe if your family wasn’t so shit I wouldn’t have such an easy time of it.” She smirks.
Apr 10, 2021
Grey growled in frustration and anger. No matter what Ai just wouldn’t stop insulting her family and their island. She was their prisoner. They arrested her, and unlike Grey, she was just insulting them like it was no big deal. She couldn’t stand it. She just wanted Ai to stop taunting her…to stop insulting her and her family–most of all her family. 
“JUST SHUT UP!” Grey shouted as she brought her fist back yet again. “I WANT YOU TO SHUT UP!” She punched Ai again. She barely heard the door open as she brought her fist up again…ready to do it again…when…
“GREY!” a familiar voice shouted. 
Before she even had a chance to react, she felt two strong arms wrap around her middle practically pulling her away from Ai, but she fought.
“Let me go!” she shouted. “Let me go!”
“Hey! Hey! It’s just me! It’s Brandt! You’re okay! You’re okay!” Brandt said refusing to let go of his wife. He had no clue as to what happened, but he quickly gathered the evidence seeing the spit on Grey’s face, Ai’s bruised face, Ai on the floor, and Grey’s knuckles bruised and scratched. 
Apr 10, 2021
Ai sits there and laughs. “Hello Brandt. It’s good to see you again. I must admit I’m surprised at the way the Rebellion treats their prisoners. It would be a shame if the world found out about it.”
Apr 10, 2021
Grey growled and moved to go in to punch Ai again, but Brandt was quick and held onto her tightly around her waist as Shadow got in between Grey and Brandt and Ai growling at the Half-Nix. 
The Chief’s husband could only glare at their former captor as she sat there. “What are you talking about?” he asked. 
Apr 10, 2021
"Oh come on, you're not so stupid as to not see the ramifications of the situation are you." She scoffs. "The Chief of Haligan, one of the key leaders of the rebellion, beating a prisoner of war senseless. Why, I can't imagine anyone wanting to work with someone like that." Her grin pulls back into a full blown smirk. "Oh wait, actually I can. High Central. After all your styles are so similar. It's like you're not so different from each other.
“We’re nothing like High Central!” Grey shouted. “You…” Grey stopped not even focusing on Brandt still holding onto her. She felt the cold realization slap her in the face. “You egged me on on purpose, didn’t you? Didn’t you?!”
“Grey…calm down,” Brandt said gently.
“DIDN’T YOU?!” Grey shouted.
Apr 10, 2021
“It doesn’t matter what I did or didn’t do in this particular scenario.” Ai said, still cocky as ever. “We’re all responsible for own actions. And to be honest Chief, from where I’m sitting, I’m seeing a lot in common right now.”
Apr 10, 2021
“You’re wrong!” Grey shouted struggling against her husband’s grip. “You’re wrong! We are nothing like High Central! We don’t imprison people for how they look or enslave them for that matter!”
Apr 10, 2021
“No, you just beat those you do imprison.” Ai replies with a chuckle.
Apr 10, 2021
“Alright, we’re done here,” Brandt said through clenched teeth. “Guys, bring her back to her cell!”
Apr 10, 2021
Ai stood and waited patiently to be dragged back to her cell. “Lovely talking to you chief.” She calls.
Apr 10, 2021
As soon as Ai left Grey, Brandt, and Shadow in the interrogation room, Grey felt the rage fading away...as she realized what happened. She just beat a prisoner...an unarmed prisoner...and cursed her out. 
“W-What did I just do?” Grey asked.
Brandt sighed wrapping an arm around his wife as Shadow looked on with concern. “It...It’s okay,” he said quietly. “We can fix this.”