The Competition, Ch.8

Gabby ran down the stairs after Jack and watched her hammered her fists into to wall.

"Stop!"

Jack's fists kept swinging into the metal panels, leaving an imprint of red.

"Stop!" Gabby shouted again.

She pulled Jack away from the wall. Jack fell loosely backwards and collapsed into Gabby's arms. Jack's tears dripped onto Gabby's shoulders as the blood from her hands stained Gabby's back.

"I did it," Jack said.

"What?"

"Miranda."

Gabby ran a consoling hand down Miranda's back.

"I'm sure you did all you could," she said.

"You don't understand. I killed her."

"You… on purpose?"

Jack pulled a knife from her pocket and held it to her throat, eyes wild and watery, staring at Gabby.

"No!" Gabby shouted.

She jerked her hand out to Jack's wrist and wrestled the knife away, kicking it towards the door as it hit the floor.

Jack sighed and sat down on her bench, landing hard.

"Liara asked me to. She said if I killed Miranda for her, she'd give me these files on the people who used to torture me at Teltin."

Jack started to slap her palms against the side of her head. Gabby grabbed at her arms and held them away.

"Don't!"

Gabby leaned in and kissed her. Jack pulled Gabby on top of her as she lay down, wrapping her legs around her. Jack kissed back hard and tried to unzip Gabby's trousers but Gabby moved away. Jack sat up and pushed Gabby firmly in the chest.

"What? Can't bear to fuck me now that I'm a killer? You're such a bitch, Daniels."

Gabby's hand shot out and slapped Jack across the cheek, leaving a red raw imprint.

"I like you! I don't just want to fuck you and forget about you. I want to help you," Gabby said.

"Like a charity case?"

"Like a friend."

Jack stepped towards her and Gabby raised her arms cautiously. Jack kissed her cheek tenderly.

"I like you too. But hit me again and I'll hit back, deal?" she said.

Gabby smiled.

They sat back down on the bench and Jack rested her head on Gabby's shoulder.

"You know, I could get those files for you," Gabby said.

"Liara's?" Jack said, sitting up to attention.

Gabby nodded and smiled. Jack sighed and leaned back onto her.

"Nah, Liara said they were code locked, plus her terminal will be evidence now, even if it hasn't already been wiped or destroyed. I'm never going to find those names."

"You don't need them," Gabby said.

Jack ground her teeth together.

"They haunt me, Gabby. I need them dead," she said.

Gabby got her Omni-tool out and keyed into it. There was an electronic whirr that Jack found relaxing. She closed her eyes and started to go to sleep.

Gabby jostled and woke Jack.

"Got them," she said.

She held out the Omni-tool for Jack to see. It was a list of names and last known locations.

"What's this?" Jack said sleepily.

"Liara's data."

Jack kissed her.

"How did you get this?"

"Haven't you ever wondered how Liara gets all her intel? She has agents all over the galaxy," Gabby said with a wry smile.

"You work for Liara?"

"Yep. I couldn't get anywhere near most of her data, but yours had pretty low level decryption. She obviously wasn't too worried that you'd try and hack them."

"I love you! Send them to me."

"You love me?" Gabby said.

"You know what I mean, Gabby. Send me the files."

Jack opened her Omni-tool and stared at it in anticipation.

"Wait, did you feel better when you killed Miranda? You won't be killing your memories, Jack."

"It'll help."

"Will it? Like it did when you blew Teltin up?"

"You don't understand, okay? You want to help me or not?" Jack said.

"I want to help you make new memories."

Gabby kissed her again, pulling Jack towards her.

The two of them lay on the bench together. Jack slid her trousers down as Gabby lifted her shirt over her head. When they were done, Jack watched Gabby breathing as she slept. She fought the urge to steal her Omni-tool and download the files.