Kowalsk's Crazy Challenge

Sergeant Dugger was eager to arrest Kowalsk; after all, he was the only one who could bring bad luck to his plans, which had been made months in advance. This was certainly something he would never accept: a complete stranger showing up, who knows where, and disrupting his plans for command, conquest, and a lot of fun with the ladies.

He and his subordinates were looking forward to the next batch of slaves they would soon collect, and nothing and no one would interfere with that. It took so long to gain the trust of that old fool, Colonel Cleaner, to entrust the entire responsibility of the base to him, and it would not be a mere pair of desert rats that would disrupt either his reign or his trades.

Fortunately, he had always kept those devices running, and thanks to that, his opportunity to use them had arrived.

"Cell phones are mostly incapacitated, as there is no signal at the distant antennas for us to use them effectively. But, by coincidence, I have one here in which I recorded the conversation between Mr. Kowalsk and me a few moments ago. Just listen to what he's saying."

Then, Colonel Cleaner heard each threat from Kowalsk to his subordinate, and even though it was a recording, Colonel Cleaner could feel the hatred in Kowalsk's words.

"So, this is how you want to form an alliance with me, wanting to destroy those around me?"

Still sore from the beatings and with no patience left, Kowalsk stared firmly at Colonel Cleaner and threatened, "I give you half an hour to change your mind and I also give you the opportunity to resolve this situation in a mano-a-mano fight with me. After half an hour, the only thing I will accept from you, Colonel Cleaner, is your complete and unconditional surrender."

Colonel Cleaner's eyes reddened. Never in his entire life, not even when he was not a soldier, had he been threatened in such a manner.

"I have exclusive tactical training, equipment, and countless ways to teach all of you how to survive this chaos caused by the dragons. But instead of accepting my help, you prefer to experience my methods. Personally, I won't complain. After all, we are both having a rare opportunity. My opportunity is to show how I can be superior to this army, and your opportunity will come with the surrender of everyone. Fight me, Colonel Cleaner, and only by the result will we decide who will stay in command of this place or who is more capable of leading."

Snarling with rage, Colonel Cleaner ordered, "Take him back to his cell, and when you get there, don't forget to teach him some manners."

Not wanting to miss the opportunity, Sergeant Dugger asked, "Colonel Cleaner, what are we going to do with those who are with him?"

"That is no longer my problem. From the moment he threatened me and threatened to take my authority in this place, not only his life but the lives of those who accompany him are in your hands. So, do as you see fit."

Hearing these words, Kowalsk, after being handcuffed, turned around and said to Colonel Cleaner, "Thank you, Colonel. That's exactly what I needed to hear. Don't forget your decision and prepare to lose half of your forces to my companions and the other half to me. For they will no longer serve under your orders. Be well aware of that. Your pride will be your downfall."

Unable to tolerate Kowalsk's insolence any longer, Colonel Cleaner decided to punish the old soldier himself. With his fists, he advanced on the crowd of soldiers holding him and, wrenching him from their hands, began to beat him severely until Kowalsk lost consciousness from the relentless beating.

Inside his cell, still dazed, Kowalsk heard what seemed like Thilláila's gentle voice in his mind, "Mr. Kowalsk, what will we do now?"

Kowalsk thought for a moment longer before responding; he didn't want to regret his decision. "Unfortunately, Thilláila, I see no other way. You may start our plan."

Then, the plan began. While Kowalsk was recovering in his cell, young Thilláila noticed the movement of several soldiers around her, and their intentions did not seem good at all. Some began touching her feet, others her hands, checking if she was conscious. They seemed to be organizing some fun prank, but not for her. And that was more than enough for her powers to manifest with full force.

Realizing that the soldiers wanted to harm her, Thilláila abruptly opened her eyes and made a point of touching her hands to the hands of the soldiers who were touching her.

The result was immediate: lack of motor coordination, followed by mental confusion with spasms and, finally, fainting. Four of the five guards were out of action, and the last one, realizing that Thilláila's touch was dangerous, tried to avoid touching her, but it was too late.

He was close enough that, in a single blink, something like an electromagnetic pulse hit his brain, knocking him out immediately.

Calmly, Thilláila got up and realized she was in minimal clothing. Now, she was concerned with finding something to cover her body. She searched for the cell key among the unconscious guards but found nothing. It was probably a security rule in case something went wrong.

And that something would have no way of getting out of there, except with external help.

"Help! Please, someone help me!"

Thilláila shouted to attract the attention of any guard who did not know what had happened to their companions. There wasn't a third time because, as soon as she finished shouting, two sentinel soldiers appeared. Seeing that their friends were down, they drew their weapons and pointed them at Thilláila, asking, "What happened to them? Tell us quickly."

And, acting like an actress, Thilláila replied, "Please, I wanted to help them, and suddenly they looked at my body and started convulsing and falling one by one. Maybe it's because none of you have seen a woman in some time. So, this reaction might be normal."

The two sentinels looked at each other, staring unblinkingly at Thilláila's beautiful semi-naked body, and concluded that it might indeed be the case.

"Guys, I don't know what's happening. It could be this or something else, but please help me! Don't leave me here. I also don't know what it is; it could be something they ate, I don't know."

"Well, we're not going to get you out of there until we're sure of what happened. But we'll test your initial theory. We assure you right now that we are more resistant than these recruits who have never even seen a naked woman," said one of the guards, full of malice.

Thilláila wanted to knock them out mentally as quickly as possible, but her mental power was limited, and she needed to use the little she had left wisely.

"Gentlemen, please, I am a doctor. If you get me out of here and provide the right medication, I can help you resist me as well. What do you think of my offer?"