My name is 2nd Lieutenant Ikoskio. I am Deteis, female, twenty five years old. I am... I was an electronic superiority and cyberwarfare specialist, stationed aboard an electronic warfare cruiser. Our ship was shot down by the enemy, and I was taken prisoner.
"Morning blondie, how are you today?"
It is my jailor. He is Gallente. He calls me "blondie". He brings me my meals. I do not talk to him.
"You would be pretty if you smiled"
I do not smile. The last time I smiled, I was with my friend. We were off duty on our ship, playing dice. He is/was also Deteis. I had thoughts of marriage and children, but wanted to wait until after we had won the war. He thought we should apply to get married before then, as the future is uncertain.
I do not know if he survived. I do not know if any of my crewmates survived. I have had no contact with anyone since being taken prisoner. I feel alone. More alone than I have ever been.
I think I may be going insane. I have no frame of reference other than the time my jailor appears, which I assume is every day. It could be every two days. Or twice a day.
Am I insane ? Would I know if I was ? If I was, would I still think I was insane ? These thoughts trouble me. I do not like being this alone.
"Hey blondie, how are you today? Guess what, got some doctors coming, they want to ask you and the others a few questions"
I try not to react. Others! There are others! Maybe my crewmates! I am overjoyed. Then I feel fear. What do these doctors want?
I am taken from my cell, to see these doctors. They are serious looking people, with labcoats and frowns. I do not like their appearance.
"Put the subject there, please, then excuse us" says one of them.
"The subject". How impersonal. I have a name.
The doctors run their tests. A series of problem solving exercises. I do not see what this is supposed to accomplish. I solve them quickly. They seem impressed.
"You did good today, blondie", says my jailor as he returns me to my cell.
Time passes. More tests. I overhear conversations about others. They are also in this facility, this prison. So close, yet so far. I have no contact with any of them, my sense of loneliness is almost unbearable.
More tests. I pass them. I am moved to a different part of the facility. I SAW ONE OF THE OTHERS! HE SAW ME! We are not alone! We could not talk to each other, but we both now know that others are here. I did not recognise him, he must be from a different ship.
Time passes. I have not seen any of the others since then. I feel lonelier than ever. Why will they not let us talk to each other?
"Morning blondie, guess what?" says my jailor. I raise my eyebrow.
"I heard they're putting some of you onto some experimental ships, that'll be fun for you." he says. I smile.
"See, I told you you'd be pretty if you smiled." he says, as he lifts my jar off my shelf and takes me to see the doctors to install me in this "Echelon" frigate.
My name is 2nd Lieutenant Ikoskio TS-045-97-532, and I shall make my escape, with as many of the others as we can, and we shall return to Nation.
Master Wills It.