A/N: Short interlude/flashback!


Rain hammered the dig site, turning dirt into rivers of mud, and rock into slick black slippery patches of certain doom. Sara had lost her footing more than once while traversing the uneven terrain from the main dig to the research centre (a name that suggested a much more extravagant building than the large trailer it actually was) and various other areas on site, and almost broken an ankle several times. Once it was in front of Theron, who had been laughing too much to help her back onto her feet, much to Sara's chagrin.

She currently sat on a crate beneath a waterproof awning with Theron, sipping hot coffee from a flask. A small heat lamp sat on a third crate between them both as they watched over the dig site, Theron on duty and Sara keeping her company. Machinery loomed dark and silent in the pit below them, crouched like great beasts in the night time shadows as rain plinked softly from metal casing and pattered against the waterproof tarps that had been pulled over trenches. Water pooled in the hollows of the fabric, shimmering in the bright white illumination of flood lights.

Thunder rumbled overhead and the world was lit briefly by a blinding white flash of lightning. Machinery and trailers stood out in sharp contrast to the shadows beyond them. Theron sighed wearily and shoved one palm straight up against their awning as it began to sag dangerously low. Water gushed off to the side, splashing against Sara's boots and rushing away to merge with the multitude of puddles that surrounded them.

"So, this is fun," Theron announced, rubbing a splatter of mud from the armour covering one knee. She inspected the dirt on her glove, then looked sideways at Sara.

Sara snorted. "Yeah. I could be in bed right now, but instead I somehow let you talk me into sitting out here with you," she teased, resting her flask against her thigh. White steam curled up from the open top, carrying the scent of coffee into the chill air.

"You love it." Theron winked at her. Sara could only grin. Ever since the pirate attack she and Theron had become thick as thieves. Which was kind of ironic considering the higher-ups' current line of investigation… Sara's smile faltered as she remembered that awkward conversation; her alone facing the site manager, lead researchers, and head of security as they fired question after question and scrutinised her answers.

Theron's playful smile dropped and her brow knit in concern, her own flask of coffee pausing halfway to her mouth as she caught the change in Sara's expression. "What's wrong?"

Sara shook her head and glanced away from her to hide her face, looking back over the dig site as she gathered her thoughts.

"We're friends, right?" She asked after a moment.

"Sure," Theron replied, lowering her flask without drinking anything. "I mean…I think so?" Sara's demeanour was making her second guess though.

"Yeah, we are," Sara said softly. "Stupid question, sorry."

"Ryder…Are you gonna declare your undying love to me?" Theron elbowed her in the ribs and bounced her eyebrows suggestively. Sara laughed and shoved her hard enough to knock her from her crate. Theron quickly braced with one leg against the ground and righted herself, giving her a cheeky grin and pressing a hand to her heart. "Awww, Ryder…I'm flattered!"

"Oh, shut up, you idiot," Sara said, rolling her eyes. Her good humour vanished quickly and she heaved a sigh. "It's just, some of the researchers' finds have been going missing lately," she kept her gaze fixed on the dig site while carefully studying Theron out of the corner of one eye.

"No…?" The mercenary replied slowly in disbelief, grey eyes wide and innocent as she watched Sara through the steam coiling from the neck of her own flask. "So that's what you Alliance guys have been looking into?"

Sara nodded her head gravely, turning to look at Theron properly. Theron and her troupe of mercs had been left in the dark about the whole thing, for obvious reasons. "Yeah. Someone's stealing and…maybe selling stuff on. To collectors or the black market. We're not sure yet, but…" she hesitated. Theron's eyebrows twitched upward slightly, waiting for the rest of the statement. Sara forged on, "but we think we know who it is. It's only a matter of time."

"For real?" Theron asked, voice going high with shock. Sara had to commend her. She gave nothing away in her expression. "Damn." A pause as she sipped at her coffee, then looked away to regard the dig site. "Shit weather, huh?"

The next day Theron was gone without a trace.