A Moment
Whoever this 'Scorpio' person was, they were rapidly getting on her last nerve. Attacking the idiots who she was recruiting to get into that supermax wing, by all means; she could pacify them without really worrying about it. Truth be told, she wasn't too terribly attached to their lives; she wasn't getting them off Belsavis when the job was done, and honestly thought that it might just be better to shoot them one by one as their usefulness ended.
It was almost funny how that idea might once have been a dilemma, and now was just a matter of recourse. What did that say about her own mental state?
No, what upset her was that both Vector and Torian had gotten caught up in the mess. Her own immunity wasn't too shocking; nothing and no one could control her again after what she'd done to earn her freedom from the brainwashing. Asking Modiri later was definitely in the cards for both her and Blizz...
So was breaking whatever this Scorpio was using to get access to the labs.
Modiri held the four bleeding but alive conscripts at gunpoint, while Torian and Vector both lay stunned on the metal flooring. 'The Night Herald!' he'd shouted. Given that Vector's own title was Dawn Herald... well...
Toni kept her face professionally blank as she hit the keys that activated the ventilation system, sucking out the gas that had caused all the problems.
"You are immune to mind control technologies, yet those defenses should be unavailable to the wider galaxy. Interesting," Scorpio said, their voice coming from what looked to be a nearby odd camera system. "We will continue this discussion later."
Privately, Toni decided that she was going to feed this person her blaster. Or maybe a grenade. Possibly both. Messing with her was one thing, but the more vulnerable members of the crew?
Not. Okay.
"The air has cleared," Blizz reported in his native language, holding up a small monitoring device. "All problems gone away now!"
Modiri looked over, and only when Toni nodded did she stand down from her aggressive stance towards the four convicts. As they slowly got to their feet, she went over to check on Torian, who muttered something about a charging wampa. Toni glanced over at Vector, who was only just starting to sit up, and wondered if she'd thrown him a little too hard.
She couldn't worry about that now; as much as she wanted to help him, she didn't dare show weakness in front of this lot. They were a pack of womp rats, and they'd take advantage of even the hint that she might be nice.
"That is one nasty security system," Kenjon grumbled, "but I think we're all in one piece."
"You had better be," Toni said in her clipped, Republic voice. "We don't have time to sit around and nurse neurosis from being shot."
"We're not even in the Megasecurity ward yet," Chaney muttered, not quite glaring.
"And the longer we wait, the more time there is to screw it up," Toni snapped. "Move it."
"You got it... boss," Kenjon said. It almost sounded like respect in his tone.
Almost.
"I... I'll slice into the computer," Chaney volunteered, shaking her head a little. "See if I can't get an equipment list."
Toni nodded, watching as Chaney, followed by Kenjon headed back to the large computer that took up half the wall.
"Yes, yes... no," Chaney mumbled as she rapidly tapped at the consles. "It's almost all here. Stupid equipment isn't listed, but it looks like there's some pieces that aren't stored here in the labs. I can pinpoint the locations, though."
"Good. Tell me."
"Carbonite trap is in the armory..."
"If you need carbonite, I have a gun," Modiri volunteered from across the room.
"Got enough shots for all of us?" Kenjon asked shortly.
"Probably."
"Why do we need a carbonite trap?" Toni interrupted, forestalling a disagreement.
"Hides your lifesigns from the Megasecuriy ward sensors. Only way to get in," Kenjon replied.
"Hmmm... I'll take it under advisement."
"Spent maranium power battery. Hazardous waste containment," Chaney continued.
Toni gave Kenjon a raised eyebrow for that one.
"Radiation'll weaken the door seals. Old Black Sun trick."
"I don't have radiation blocking gear," Toni pointed out dryly.
"Anti-radiation serum. Water filters," Chaney interrupted.
"To survive the battery," Kenjon smirked a little. "Still, if that's all we're missing, we can count ourselves lucky."
She noticed he didn't offer an explanation for the water filters, and filed it away to ask about later.
"We can pack up here, start creeping to the next security zone. Assuming..."
"Yes, I can get those pieces," Toni interrupted. "Just keep your heads down; don't want any of you dead at the hands of the Republic."
"I can handle the Republic," Ohta snarled slightly.
"That'll take care of that, then. Watch yourself," Kenjon said.
Toni nodded a little, then turned away; Modiri and Torian had gotten Vector to his feet, and the five of them headed out of the labs. Only when she felt they were a safe distance away did she signal for a stop.
"Vector-"
"We know a formal apology should come with a gift," he said, interrupting her for what seemed like the first time ever. Which was surprising enough in and of itself. "But for the moment, we are... sorry..."
Toni sighed a little, and shook her head.
"That wasn't your fault. That wasn't anyone's fault except for this Scorpio person."
"I'm feeding them a missile when I see them, just so you know," Modiri growled as she let Vector stand on his own. "Maybe two."
Vector staggered a little, and actually pulled away when Toni moved in to offer support. It stung, but she allowed him to stand on his own, even if he didn't seem ready for it. Instead of focusing on that, she turned to the Mirialan bounty hunter and raised an eyebrow.
"Speaking of, why on earth weren't you affected?"
"Has there ever been a time when I've not been pissed off?" Modiri countered.
Torian and Blizz both laughed.
"She's got you with that one, agent," Torian snickered.
"That is true, she does," Toni sighed a lttle. "I apologize for getting you all involved in this..."
"Don't sweat it. It's not like we weren't prepared for something to go down," Torian said, waving a hand slightly.
"Agreed," Blizz nodded. "Plus, interesting things!"
"...Blizz what did you get your hands on this time?" Modiri asked, sounding more resigned than anything else.
"Useful things! You see!"
"Just don't blow us up, all right?"
Blizz only snickered, which wasn't even slightly comforting. Toni just shook her head a little, and glanced again at Vector. He was standing straight again, and looked calmer; when she inclined her head slightly, he hesitated only a moment before falling in at the proper spot. She was going to have to properly talk to him later, reassure him that he wasn't in any sort of trouble, but right now it was time to get moving.
"So, where's your next bounty target, Mo?"
