Board Thread:The Company/@comment-24930445-20140615054833/@comment-24930445-20140704070415

Midnight Angel

Ben opened his eyes and glanced around the room. He felt better than he had for several days. His headache wasn’t quite gone, but it had faded to a dull rumble. He cautiously reached up and felt his nose, surprised to find it was straight, and no longer swollen. He could breath through it without the difficulty he had experienced before.

He could breath, he realized. His ribs were still a bit sore, but there was no stabbing pain with every breath he took. The miracles of modern medicine, he thought to himself with a chuckle.

“You’re awake,” Xyastia, said from the chair next to his bed. He glanced over at her, just realizing he wasn’t alone. On her other side was Kat, unconscious in the room’s other bed.

“What happened to her?” he asked.

“Apparently she thought it would be a good idea to get into a knife fight with one of the ship’s security guards,” she told him. “And I thought men were bad.” She shook her head.

“Ye’ should see th’ other guy.” Kat murmured. Wincing, she rolled over to grin slightly at Ben. “Y’look better…”

“You look worse,” he answered.

Xyastia jumped to her feet and started checking Kat’s vitals. Apparently Kat had been in more danger than Ben had, judging by the way the nurse mother-henned over her. “You’re damn lucky, you know. If Mack hadn’t gotten you back when he did…”

Kat rolled her eye at Ben and sighed heavily, but, surprisingly, did nothing more. “Where is Mack?”

“He said something about fulfilling a promise you made and headed out again. About thirty minutes ago.” Vee was leaning against the door jam, arms folded over his chest, his jaw set in anger. “What the fuck, Kat?”

She had nothing to say. It had been stupid and she knew it.

Ben tsked at him though. “Respect your elders, kid. No matter how stupid they act.” He smirked at Kat.

“Fuck that shit. She could have gotten killed! Then where would we have been? Where would I have been?” They could see the tears shining in his eyes before he turned and stormed out the door.

Kat sat up to go after him, but was firmly pushed back into place by Xyastia‘s hand. “Lay down or you’ll pull the mending. You can talk to him later.”

Ben took advantage of Xy’s distraction and pushed back his sheets, standing up before he noticed the draft. “Damn backless… Where are my pants?” He spied his clothes folded on a chair nearby and quickly covered himself. “Nice. They’re clean,” he observed.

Mack chose that moment to step through the door, glancing at everyone in the room before settling on Kat and nodding.

“His weapons?” Kat asked.

Mack stepped to her bed and laid the three knives and the oversized crossbow next to her.

“What about his body?”

“In the hangar bay waiting for us to leave. I’ll make sure its loaded.”

Kat laid her head back and closed her eye, sighing heavily. The loss still bothered her even though she knew that if the situation had been reversed, Tomlinson would not have had the same regrets.

“What’s it look like out there?” Ben asked, discarding his hospital gown and pulling on his shirt.

“Chaos,” Mack’s near white eyes shifted as he answered Ben. “Seems security is falling apart. No leaders. The drones are organized and they’re taking out any opposing force they come up against. There are bodies everywhere…” he glanced back at Kat. “Which is why I left him where I did. No one will bother him.”

“Are our people safe?” Ben pressed.

“I checked with the pocket groups. They’re fine. Afraid, but no one has accosted them yet so they’re holding together. The attackers seem focused on armed individuals.”

As if on cue, Axin strode into the room. “Are they ready to go Doc? We gotta get these people out of here and I need my answers.”

Xyastia scowled at him. “If I had my way I’d keep them both overnight, but under the circumstances…”

“Lets go then.” As if expecting everyone to jump and follow, Axin turned and strode out the door.

Kat had her own hospital gown to worry about so Ben and Mack followed Axin out to let her change.

Not wanting to let the enemy know they were there, Krita dropped out of hyperspace about half an AU from the moon base and immediately cloaked. Dropping out of hyperspace that far into the system was a risk, but Travers wasn’t in the mood to waste any time. Andrea was a good pilot. He knew she’d bring them out in one piece.

“Gypsy, you set?” Alex was intent on his comm. He knew the shit was about to hit the fan and his focus was intense.

“Gypsy ready. All clear to launch, Krita?” Jack’s voice seemed distracted.

“Give them the ‘Go’ Alex.” Travers was wound tight. He knew he needed to be with his ship, but he couldn’t help thinking that he should be on Gypsy with Jack and Joke. There was no telling what they would find on the other end. No one had said it, but given the situation Kat had put herself in, it was very likely Jack would only find a body… if he was lucky.

“Gypsy, you have the Go. Safe journey and bring them home safe.” Alex flipped his comm off then flopped back in his chair and whispered. “Just bring them home.”

“Andy, as soon as they’re clear we need to change locations. We don’t want them to find us by tracing Gypsy’s path back to us.” Travers ordered. “Alex, keep an eye on the cloak too.”

On the overhead, Travers watched the Porter Mark XI’s lead Gypsy from the Krita, escorting her to the moon base at a limp. They had wanted to give the impression that Gypsy and the escorts had been in a fierce battle so they kept the speed down. “Go ahead and move us Andy. They’re clear.”

“Cloak at full, Travers. Running smooth.” Alex shifted to watch the ships grow smaller in the distance.

Axin’s comm beeped and he growled into it. “What?!”

“Sir, I’m sorry to disturb you, but I can’t find Lantis or Commander Tomlinson. We have a strange freighter being escorted in by our fighters. She’s requesting permission to land. Says she’s on a recovery mission and has bodies of our some of our security forces lost in the battle on Nash Station.”

“Why the hell would I care about that?” Axin glared at Kat as she put her hand on his arm to shut him up.

“Ask fer th’ reg numbers.”

His frown darkened.

“Ask him, Axin!” She met his glare with one of her own and he sighed heavily. Until recently, he couldn’t really intimidate Jos either.

“What the hell’s the reg numbers on the freighter, command?” He watched as a slow smile played across Kat’s lips. She knew the numbers. They had bothered her once before.

“Bring her in, Axin. Its their ride home.” She turned and made her way to one of the small groups huddled the tables in the cafe.

“What does she mean ‘their’ ride. Isn’t she coming with us?” Vee had heard the entire conversation from his seat nearby. Axin’s shrug as he turned to confirm the freighter’s docking was the only answer he received.

Ben drifted over from Vee and Tarrin’s table in the little restaurant they had taken over as a refuge from the mess outside. Jos's ship was a small city and there were numerous little store fronts in this area. Members of their group were all within sight of each other in the shops nearby. “What hangar are they landing in?” he asked Axin.

“Two, just on the other side of the shopping platform. They’ll be here in about thirty minutes.” Axin stared through the window at the people rushing past. What would happen when he brought Kat to Jos had been playing on his mind for the past few hours and he wasn’t sure it was such a good idea after all. He had seen Kat fight and he knew Jos's hatred. It was very possible they would kill each other before he found out what the hell was going on.

“We should get them going in small groups like before, but everyone keep in sight.” Ben glanced around the room as he spoke. “Vee, Tarrin, Doc, go let the other groups know where we’re heading. Be careful.”

They nodded, then made their way to the exit and spread out, strolling casually, but quickly to the three nearest groups of their people. Ben stood next to the door, watching the traffic outside closely, waiting for a safe point to start moving. Eventually he waived everyone towards the door before stepping out and tapping Mack, standing guard outside, on the shoulder. The group moved quickly, blending into the rush. As they passed the other groups began leaving their refuges.

Axin took the lead as they left the plaza and returned to the corridors of the ship. The hangar was conveniently located close to the shopping plaza so they didn’t have far to go. The proximity probably helped with keeping the shops well supplied.

As they entered the hangar, Mack peeled off and disappeared down a short corridor. Kat saw him go and sighed softly before returning her attention to the hanger. They had got there just in time. She chuckled as she watched the battered freighter sputter into the bay looking worse than the last time she had seen it. Knowing Jack, it was all paint.

She turned and crouched in front of Aerli, taking her hands. “Ya need ta go wi’ Vee an’ Tarrin, honey. Daddy will b’waitin on th’ other end. Tell him mom had ta take care o’ sumthin and I’ll catch up t’ya in the second chorus, aye?”

“This is seriously fucked up. You’re going to get yourself killed!” Vee’s anger and pain was still fresh and Kat stood to face it.

“I need ya ta keep her safe Vee. To keep all of them safe. I’ll see ya on th’ other end.” She reached up to brush the hair from his eyes, and he jerked away, the tears shimmering.

“Vee. Yer m’son. May nae hae birthed ya, but yer mine as much as Aerli, Ilrea… Brandy even. I’ll do all I can ta keep ye safe, even ifin tha’ means….” She sighed as he spun and strode away, dragging Aerli along with him.

“I’ll watch them, Ms. Morghan.” Stephan Mentieth said at her shoulder. His assurance didn’t ease her pain at Vee’s rejection and she felt her own tears threaten.

Clearing her throat, she turned from her children and laid her hand on Stephan’s shoulder. “Aye. Keep ‘em safe an’ see them t’ their father. When y’ git ta Vextis, talk ta Devlin, head o’ security. I’m sure he kin find a space fer ya if yer willin.”

“Yes ma’am. Thank you.” She left him in the middle of his gratitude.

Gypsy had landed and Jack and Joke were currently ushering people on board when he caught sight of Kat turning and heading deeper into the Angel. “What th’ fuck. Where’s she going? Where are *they* going?” Ben and Axin all followed behind her.

“They’re heading to Ms. ZyThyrn’s office. Will you see to this body please? It needs to be taken to the morgue until she gets back.” Jack gaped as a man he didn’t recognize gently laid the body of an Angel security agent on the deck of the Gypsy then turn to trot across the bay in the direction Kat had disappeared to.

“Wait.. what… “ Jack cursed as Joke looked up.

“What’s going on? Where’s Kat? Thought… Jack!”

Their conversation was cut short as a squad of black clothed security guards burst in through the other entrance. They looked around for half a second before leveling their crossbows in the Gypsy’s direction.

Some of the crew had been straggling towards Gypsy. Jack yelled to them. “All aboard, we’re leaving NOW!”

Stephan had seen the other agents enter from his place at the back of the stragglers and he considered his options. Some of the people in this group were unable to move as quickly and they needed a distraction. Peeling off from the group, he strode towards his ex-comrades. “Lower your weapons! Lantis wanted these prisoners transferred to the Moon Base so we’ve commandeered this freighter. I’m sure he would be very unhappy if the… “volunteers” arrived in less than poor condition. Ms. ZyThyrn would be most displeased with his report and you know it’ll come down on your heads.”

One of the black suited agents stepped forward, a captain by his rank insignia. “Mantieth, who authorized this transfer? Lantis has been missing for hours, and I’ve got a report that these prisoners escaped the holding area.”

“All I know is what I’ve been told.” Another step closer. “Tomlinson came to me and said they were destined to be used.” Another step.

The captain’s suspicion didn’t decrease at the second name dropped by the young agent. “Tomlinson has been reported missing as well,” the man growled, peering into the dark bay of the freighter.

Mantieth followed his line of sight and seriously hoped he didn’t notice the dark uniform lying in the shadow a few feet from the ramp. “Tomlinson is aboard if you’d like to question him yourself,” he bluffed. He took a few steps back towards the ship, gesturing to the captain to follow along.

Jack and Joke watched the exchange tensely. “Damn kid’s gonna get himself killed.”

“Yep. Wanna prevent it?” Jack smirked.

“Ah hell, why not. Ain’t had my exercise yet taday.” Joke sighed heavily then turned his back to the situation, slowly pulling the blasters from his waist.

The two men took a few steps towards the ship, Mantieth in the lead. The captain was watching the two freighter crewmen all the way there, and must have noticed the prone form of Tomlinson just as they pulled their weapons from their holsters. He quickly grabbed Mantieth’s uniform jacket, pulling the younger man back in front of him and drawing a knife from the sheath at his waist and pressing it to Stephan's ribs. His men reacted just as quickly, firing their crossbows over their captain and his prisoner at the freighter. Their bolts were never going to be powerful enough to damage the freighter but Jack and Joke were forced to dodge back behind the only cover available to them, the ramp.

“Freighter crewmen, surrender now and I’ll spare this one’s life!” the captain yelled.

“Ya gotta be kiddin me. He’s one of yours! What do we care if you kill him?” Jack yelled.

Joke frowned at Jack and his partner smirked and shrugged back. Joke only rolled his eyes and shook his head in reply.

“How about you let the kid go and I won’t mow you down with my ship’s blasters?” Jack called out.

Joke face palmed.

The captain laughed, his blade still jammed into Mantieth’s ribs. "Blasters won't work here, you fools. The entire ship is protected! You think we're carrying crossbows for the fun of it?"

Jack glanced at Joke and they both looked down at their weapons. Jack poked his head out over the ramp and sent an experimental shot past the captain at his troops. One man fell in agony as the beam tore into his leg.

"Seems to work okay," Joke yelled.

His men stopped their shoot and reload routine as they suddenly realized they were the ones at a disadvantage. Three or four of them took hesitant steps backwards. “Hold your ground, you cowards!” the captain yelled back at them.

“Yeah.. hold your ground. Ya make better targets that way!” Joke yelled.

The captain’s men broke at that point, dashing back for the safety of the corridor. The captain himself kept Mantieth between him and the ship, backing away step by step.

Jack frowned and looked up as he actually heard the gun turrets over his head move, the gears grinding faintly. “Told ya it needed grease. Who th…?”

Joke shrugged, also glancing up. “Ain’t me.”

Jack growled and rolled his eyes, then shrugged and peeked around the ramp at the captain. “Give it up. You won’t make it.”

“DOWN!” The Gypsy’s external speaker cracked as the voice boomed through the hangar. Mantieth dropped, but not fast enough as the captain plunged the blade into his side, stabbing under the right arm and into his chest. In the same instant, the guns over Jack’s head discharged, causing the two men below to duck instinctively.

“Stephen!” Vee was down the ramp as Jack and Joke spun into the open intent on firing on the captain. They stopped when they noticed that whomever had been behind the controls was a pretty decent shot. The captain was missing a head.

Vee was kneeling next to the young security officer, calling his name softly before looking up at Jack and Joke. “He’s still alive. Help me get him on board.”

The two larger men rushed to Vee’s side, Joke grabbing the wounded man and flinging him over his shoulder even as Vee yelled for him to be careful. The three men raced back to the Gypsy and up the ramp, Jack rushing to the cockpit, raising an eyebrow as he noticed Tarrin at the gun controls. Joke stopped to gently deposit the kid onto the floor. He then nodding to Vee and Xyastia who had rushed to assist then turned and closed the ramp before racing for the co pilot’s seat. “Hit it.”

“What are you going to do when you get there Katrylle?” Axin kept pace with her as the rapidly made their way through the Angel’s innards to Jos’s office.

“Depends on her, don’t it? She’s th’ one who spent years tryin ta kill me for no reason.” She was angry again and her anger made her very determined.

“No reason? How many of her people have you killed in your raids? Most of them didn’t have to die. They were willing to hand the cargo over to you without a fight. Most of them *did*, yet you still blew them out of the sky. For what purpose, Katrylle?!” His own anger was rising so he didn’t notice when she stopped dead and just stared at him.

It took him a few steps of walking alone to realize he had outdistanced her. Stopping, he turned to face her, hands on his hips. “What? You didn’t think we’d find out?”

She slowly shook her head, expression amused boredom. “Nope. I hae no friggin idea wha’ th’ hell yer talkin aboot, Axin. There hae only been two ships I’ve blown up on purpose an’ only one o’ those was a freighter haulin goods. Th’ other was a New… Nae mind. I hae no clue who’s been feedin ya crap, but it musta tasted good, seein how quick y’swallowed.”

Axin laughed. “Your lying skills need improvement. We have the reports.”

“Yeah. Like reports cannae be falsified.” She shook her head, and moved past him. Neither of them had noticed Ben and Mack exchange curious looks, though Ben had the better idea of what they had been discussing. Kat had outdistanced him when Axin rushed past, regaining the lead. Seeing as she didn’t know where she was going, she let him. She felt the tug on her sleeve as Ben caught up, slowing her to put space between them and Axin.

“What are you planning to do?” he asked. “Why not just go get the device and go? I don’t think anything is going to get resolved by confronting her.”

Axin called over his shoulder. “Its in her office. She’s in her office. There will be confrontation. Anyone wanna place bets now, cause I ain’t stoppin it when it starts.”

The four of them walked in silence the rest of the way to Jos’s office, Kat and Axin fuming, Ben exasperated and Mack serene. As Axin stormed through the door, he called for Jos then stopped suddenly.

Kat barely avoided crashing into his back. “Wha’s wrong?”

The office was empty and dark. It was a long oval, sunken seating on either side of a raised central area leading to a desk on the far side. The big bay window behind her desk looked down on the bull pen below.

“It’s gone,” Axin said, springing forward and hurrying to the door to Joslynne’s private chamber. He opened it and dashed in, leaving the three of them looking at the empty room. A moment later he came back, a scowl on his face, his teeth showing. “She’s gone. Her emergency bag is gone too. The device should be right there,” he pointed at the center of the raised area.

“She took it and ran?!” Kat cursed.

“No chance,” Axin growled. He moved behind the desk and activated the console, cussing as he realize the data had been wiped.. He stopped and frowned as he looked down at the floor behind the desk. He bent over and stood with her discarded black silk robe. He looked at the desk and frowned at the smudges he saw there. They almost appeared to be the outline of her naked body. “Something is not right,” he announced.

“That’s how I’ve felt for the last two days,” Ben quipped.

Kat shook her head. “Where would she hae’ gone?”

“I think the question is, where would she have been taken?” Mack said. “I smell two men. One smells… metallic.”

Axin bared his teeth. “Darrak. Her private hangar isn’t far from here. Whether someone took her or she fled, that’s where we should look.” He strode over to the wall and punched a series of codes. Silently a portal appeared and he stepped through without stopping to see if the others would follow.

Kat looked at Ben and Mack then shrugged and made her way to the opening. Several turns later, the hallway dumped them into Jos’s hangar.

“Its gone. Her shuttle’s gone.” Axin stood in the middle of the hangar, hands on his hips.

Mack growled and made his way around the room to a stack of crates. “Body.”

Axin rushed over only to discover the shuttle pilot dead at his feet. His head had been twisted almost one hundred and eighty degrees. His own growl filtered through the room as Mack stated the obvious. “I doubt she’d kill her own pilot. I doubt she could kill him like this. I’d say its a pretty safe bet she and the item were taken.”

“Alright so, where would they go then?” Kat had been strolling casually around the hanger.

“I don’t know.” Axin snapped, then suddenly laughed. “But I can damn well find out.” He sprinted back through the doorway and up to Jos’s office followed closely by the others.