Chapter 21:
Angseth rattled through her toolbox again before selecting the proper wrench. She bent over the edge of her cockpit and leaned inside to tighten a bolt. Her new cybernetic leg was holding out just fine, and in the next week she would begin her officer training classes at Orion Central Command. Her brief career as a fighter pilot had ended with the loss of her leg and fighter during the accident. She had managed to salvage parts of her fighter, and convinced Command to allow her to rebuild it. Unfortunately most of the work now fell to her to fine-tune the craft. This was now officially her fighter, and she would be paying it off for the rest of her stay in the newly reformed Galactic Confederation.
She replaced the wrench, then reached over and grabbed the sealant to use on the bolts. Vera wiped her hand across her forehead, leaving a smear of grease. Her leg braced against the side of the craft. Someone suddenly breathed next to her ear.
Vera gasped and wheeled around, ready to deck anyone with the sealant tube. Instead she heard a chuckle as Medical Officer Nevada Briar stepped away.
"Urgh! Briar! You scared me!" Angseth dropped the tube into the interior of the fighter. Briar had been making a nuisance of himself lately, making sure that her new leg was holding up.
He chuckled low in his throat again, then stepped in closer. "I wanted to come and tell you the good news."
"Well, while you're tellin' make yourself useful and hand me those knuckle busters," Vera turned and bent back over the lip of the cockpit to retrieve the sealant. A smile spread across Nevada's features when he beheld the tight curved silhouette of Angseth's rump bent precariously over the rim of her fighter. He made a quick glance around the docking bay to ensure that they were alone. "So what news couldn't you wait to tell me?" she called.
"I've quit the medical core."
Those same cheeks flexed as she came back up for air. "What? Why?"
"I've transferred to the judicial sector. I'll be majoring in intergalactic and criminal law, with a side of conflict resolution."
"That's quite a shift," Angseth braced her hands on the rim of her fighter, then spun and sat on the edge. "What made you do it?"
"A couple of things. My family isn't going to be too pleased with my choice."
"Why not? Lawyers and legal counselors still make a good living in the Confederation."
"I guess I shouldn't expect you to understand, since you came from a mining colony," Briar tossed her a clean rag along with the tool. "My planet is new to the Confederation. My people spent a lot of money to get me here, under the belief that I would return with advanced medical technology and training."
"Yeah, I'd say that your new career move would piss me off if I were them," she caught the rag, and wiped her face with it. "Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why would you quit? You haven't answered my question."
Nevada grew quiet, his eyes scanned the wing of the fighter. He glanced up at her cybernetic leg. "How is it?"
"Answer me."
Briar traced his gaze up her boot, along her leg, and soon found his eyes locked on hers. Her hair had been cut short, a cowlick near the side of her head caused her jet black curls to stick up at a strange angle. Angseth's dark skin was slick with sweat and lubricants from her fighter. She suddenly smiled, her dark eyes alive and bright, a blush spread over her cheeks as she looked away. His one glance and expression in his eyes betrayed his thoughts. No matter what excuse fell from his lips, the true reason would always be that he had quit the medical core to be closer to her.
"That's a stupid reason to quit," she spat.
"I don't think so," Nevada answered truthfully.
"You should go back home to your planet, be the doctor your people need."
"No. I don't often make decisions like this, so I will stand behind it," Briar stood, straightening out his uniform and clearing his throat. "I would be honored, if you could accompany me to a celebratory dinner tonight."
"You're asking me out?"
"Yes."
Vera became suddenly still, her eyes wide. She had never been asked out by anyone before. One-night stands had been her forte. Dense world humans usually didn't appeal to "normal" humans. Cross-species relationships were equally frowned upon. Briar stepped forward, his hands met behind his back. His ears perked as he watched Angseth clean her face and hands with the cloth. She tossed the rag into the cockpit of the fighter and went searching for her coat. After a moment she returned, slipping it on.
Briar pulled a small navy blue handkerchief from his front pocket. "Missed a spot," he carefully reached forward and wiped a small bit of grease from her cheek. "I can pick you up later, perhaps around five?" he purred, letting go of the slip of fabric as she reached up to meet his hand.
Angseth dabbed at her cheek with her handkerchief, and slowly closed her eyes. "I haven't a damn thing to wear," she mumbled.
Captain Nevada Briar stood alongside Dr. Sakari Bearn in the medbay of the Mabus. For the moment they were quiet as Briar looked through the data before him. His uniform was crisp and clean, his nose and cheek swollen, and one arm in a sling. Seemed as if Weavel's attacks had caused a little more damage than he had thought. His arm wasn't broken, but the tendons and muscles had been hyper-extended to the point where they needed to be kept still until it could heal. He had been sworn in as Captain less than four hours ago, and his first duty had given orders to respond to an SOS call from the Salem, a deep-space station on the frontier. He hoped to end the Pirates raid on the boarder regions and establish a base of operations until the Confederate forces could get their shit straight.
"Do you want to speak with her?" Dr. Bearn asked.
"Not yet. Not until I have things under control," Briar said coldly. He loved Angseth more than anything else in this universe, and ever since they had left the safety of Syren I, he had been walking a very fine line between his love for his mate, and his duty as a Confederation officer. At the moment if he even so much as laid eyes on her, he knew that he would be shattered, and he couldn't lead the Mabus into battle in that state of mind.
Angseth had been moved to her room two hours ago. A pair of guards had been stationed at her door, and the sedatives were slated to wear off in eight hours. Sakari had requested that they keep her sedated, with regular shots every six hours to ensure she stayed unconscious. Their ETA at the Salem would be in just over forty-eight hours if Serec kept the ship cruising in high warp. Briar had also ordered the Mabus to request assistance from any available ships that may be in the area. He didn't want to believe that his headache was from the sudden weight on his shoulders, he wanted to believe that Weavel had caused it by the many blows dealt to his feline head.
Weavel and his accomplice, Sacul. Those two were a liability. He had them arrested and held in the brig on board the Mabus. When everything settled, then he would toss them both in the same room and find out exactly what had happened on Rovien. Until then he just needed everyone to stay put. Surprisingly, Weavel had come willingly, he didn't even so much as spit out a curse or insult to his captors. Sacul on the other hand, needed ten marines to pin her down and another five to apply her restraints. She refused to give up any information save for her name.
As Briar walked toward the bridge, once again to take up the Captain's chair in his mates absence, he ran over all the minute checks and balances in mind that kept the Mabus running. Everything had been done by the book. He responded to the SOS as per regulation, he had restrained the former Captain in a way to preserve her dignity and safety, the crew wasn't any worse off than they had been, and everything was going smoothly. This was the way a ship should be run. He tried not to think about Angseth's haphazard way of handling the ships affairs, how she even became a Captain was beyond all means of comprehension, yet not only was she a captain, but a highly decorated one at that. Why? What did she have all these years that he didn't? Briar had taken all of the courses, he had learned every last nuance of the ship, every chore, every station, if things ever became really bad, he could even get by in engineering. In essence, Briar knew enough and had enough skill and experience to run the Mabus single-handedly. So what did Angseth have that he didn't?
Not a word was said as he pulled himself into the floating Captains chair. Aside from the SOS, they hadn't received any other communication from the Salem. Briar kept an eye on the monitors surrounding the chair, and whatever was displayed on the main view screen. His body ached, his arm hurt, and given his current duties, he was just plain miserable. He didn't foresee encountering any difficulties until they reached the Salem. If he could just stick it out for another two hours, he could retire to his room and get some much-needed rest. Even as he opened holo windows, he could see the remnants of Angseth's presence. A random wallpaper here, a personal file there, a list of ship timetables overlapping her own schedule. Briar opened his personal settings files, sterile and lacking any of the character that Vera had dispersed amongst her own, he saw traces of Angseth all over the Mabus.
He had told Dr. Bearn that he didn't want to visit or speak to Vera. He didn't need to go to her, because traces of Vera would find him.
Vera wished that she could sleep. She wished that the drugs that Sakari had given her were strong enough to shut her mind down and not just her body. Dr. Bearn, the intelligent woman she was, had scheduled regular injections at six-hour intervals. If Angseth were not on the receiving end of the injections, she wouldn't argue the doctors logic. If the sedatives didn't cause her headache to get worse, then she wouldn't complain so much. The sedatives were supposed to wear off in eight hours, but when the four hour mark ticked by, Vera began to gain the ability to move her fingers and blink consciously. By fate or fortune, Dr. Bearn never factored in that Angseth's body would either adapt to the sedative, or metabolize the drug at the higher rate than a normal patient. Either way, Vera was thankful.
Once her body was placed onto her own bed, in her own quarters, it gave her the peace and quiet she needed to think. She needed to focus on the here, now, and possible future. If she tried to think too much about the past, she knew that she would feel over whelmed. Mother's features were still fresh in her mind, familiar blue eyes, and that sincere smile.
How can they be familiar if I've never met her outside of that one time on Aether?
She stopped that line of thought. It was easier to do now than before. Either the drugs or the Phazon made her thoughts slippery. Thankfully the sedative dulled the aches in her body. So, Briar had been made Captain. She could only dodge that bullet for so long. It was a miracle her crew put up with her "vacations" as much as they had. If Briar was heading for the Salem, chances were that it would be another Pirate assault. She had no doubt that he could handle himself, and the Mabus, but she still had her own mission to complete. Was that why Weavel came along quietly? Was he counting on her to come and save him? Or…
"He has my earrings," she suddenly said aloud. And in that moment she felt ashamed. She had become more concerned with the whereabouts of her next fix, than the fact that she had been kicked out of her place as Captain. This was bad, and in that case, she could understand why Briar and the crew reacted in the way that they had. She struggled to move her arm. Her cybernetic limbs would be a little easier to command around through the sedatives than her organic limbs. She smiled at the thought. She would have never guessed that she would place her arms and legs into one of two categories: real and fake.
I need to get out…I need to find Weavel and Sacul, and then find Aran, then…
Why? Why would she put her ass on the line for two, possibly three people that she had just met? Two were bounty hunters, and the other was a disgraced Chozo. It would be stupid of her to turn on her own crew. Why did she always insist on completing every mission she had solo? Try as she might, she wasn't Aran. She wasn't even Weavel. She was a Marine. She was born a Marine, and if luck would have it, she would die a Marine.
Her right arm lifted slowly, and reached for her dressing table. She never really had a need for a dressing table in the past, but it did add a nice touch of domestication to an otherwise sterile room. For the time being, she stored her formal dress blues and medals inside it. There was nothing there she could use, but if she could reach it, then she could drag herself out of bed at least. Her hand fell short of the top of her dressing table, and her fingers caught on the knob for the top drawer instead. She pulled, and the drawer opened, spilling the contents to the floor. Amongst the usual spill of baubles and decorative medals, an old datapad fell out, hitting the floor heavily. She stared at it dumbly for a moment, wondering why that would have been in there, then remembered. It was her old datapad, the one that had gotten her into so much trouble years ago on the Arcet. Why had she kept the damn thing?
Angseth pulled it toward her, sliding it over the carpet, and booted it up. The screen flickered, then displayed it's painfully outdated holo-interface. It was like she had stepped back in time twenty years.
First and foremost I am a Marine. Not a Phazon addict, I am a Marine. As long as I remember that, I'll be okay.
Vera leaned over, and placed all the little bits and pieces of useless junk back into the drawer, then carefully leaned over and replaced it. By her calculations, Dr. Bearn would return in two hours to give her the next injection. She needed to work quickly. Her crew didn't know that she could move, or was even conscious. She would rely heavily on this small fact. Angseth placed the datapad on the floor near the bed. She hit the appropriate icon to open a new file, and began to upload data stored within her cybernetic arm. Very slowly and deliberately she began to record everything that had happened to her since leaving Syren I, the Chozo data file given to her by Samus Aran, meeting with Weavel, and the data files he had given her. She even began the paperwork necessary to document the Siafu as an intelligent species in need of help from the Confederation. When the door to her quarters slid open, Angseth quickly slid the datapad underneath the bed, and did her best to play dead while Sakari gave her another injection. Within two hours, Angseth was back at the datapad, leaving nothing out of this telling. For the first time, the name Siairus, and Sacul would grace the Confederation data banks. At the six-hour mark, Angseth was up and walking around her room, reading back over the file, and changed into a new set of clothing. She supposed that it would do for a last will and testament.
Vera was drinking a glass of water when Sakari stepped into the room to give her the next injection. The black marks had faded from her skin, and her eyes had regained their pupils along with a new frost-blue iris. The Doctor took two steps into the room, then pulled her firearm and leveled it on Angseth.
"Relax Doc," Angseth tried to sound casual.
"Get back on the bed before I call those men in the hall to come and hold you down."
"I'm not getting back on the bed," Angseth set the glass down. "I realize how much I've hurt you, and that by now you probably have no reason to trust me. I understand my situation, and I will stay confined to my quarters until the Captain dictates otherwise. Under my own free will."
"Angseth, please lay down," Sakari's hands shook as she held the gun.
"Did the Captain order you to keep me sedated?"
"I had recommended,"
"Did he order you to keep me sedated?"
The gun rattled even more. "No."
Angseth took a step closer to the doctor. The woman was afraid, she could tell by the sweat on her skin, the way she held the gun, this wasn't like her at all. In one more step she closed the distance, and placed her left hand around the barrel of the pistol, turning it away. Sakari inhaled sharply, the air whistling over her teeth. Vera paused, realizing that she had moved very quickly, too quickly for comfort. Taking care to move more slowly this time, she pulled the clip from the pistol, and removed the round from the chamber, then gave it back to Sakari. "I'm sorry, I haven't quite gotten the hang of everything yet."
Dr. Bearn looked down at the pieces of the pistol in her hands, then pulled the syringe loaded with the sedative out of her coat and set it on the countertop. "I want to study you more closely. See what is happening to you."
"I already know what is happening. I guess, I'm formally requesting permission to visit the Captain. I have information for him, once he gets it, then it's up to him how he chooses to use it," Angseth sighed. She had never in the past, needed to request permission to see Briar. "I'll stay here, and I promise, I won't leave."
Dr. Bearn picked up the syringe again. "I'll talk to him, but if you betray me again Vera so help me, I will take whatever measures are necessary to protect this crew." The tears pulled at her eyes, but her gaze and voice remained steady.
"I understand," Angseth sat down in her living area. The thought that she had lost a good friend didn't escape her. Vera would wait until Nevada called for her. Sakari stepped backward through the door, her attention never swaying from Angseth until the door slid shut.
An hour later Angseth was escorted to Captain Briar's quarters under heavy guard. Four men that she had come to know very well were suddenly faceless and foreign to her. Out of respect, she wore casual clothing that didn't have any sign of rank on them, and under her arm she held the datapad. They stopped before the door to his office, and Vera held her breath as the door opened, part of her disbelieving that she needed an armed guard to visit her own Fiancé, and another part of her accepting that this was protocol, this is the way that Briar wanted things.
By the Book.
For the moment she both despised and praised his predictability. The door slid open and Briar sat behind his desk. Instantly Angseth's heart cried out to him. He was beaten, swollen, obviously in much pain, yet still tapping away reports at various holo screens. "Leave us," he sighed, not looking up. The guards left, and for a moment Angseth stood in silence, feeling more awkward and vulnerable than she had in years. Captain Briar closed the holo screens, and rubbed his shoulder. "Please sit down Vera. What could you possibly want to say to me?"
Those words cut deeper than any blade. She sat down quietly, then placed the datapad on his desk. "I want to come clean. Everything is in that datapad."
"Are you planning on leaving again? Tearing through your own ship to free Weavel and Sacul? Going off on your own?"
"No. I'm not."
"If you're planning on leaving again, let me know now because regardless of how important you may think your mission is, I cannot take it if you leave me again!"
Angseth winced, and looked away. His amber eyes were too harsh, too angry, too frustrated.
"If you're going to go, then go! Take your shit, pack up your weapons, take what you want and leave!" he glared from the other side of the desk.
"I'm not going anywhere," her voice sounded tiny and insecure.
"Oh that's a departure from the norm," he stood and circled around the desk. "I love you so much, but you have no idea what you have put me through. Don't you feel any remorse or guilt?"
"Briar, I didn't come here to get lectured,"
"That's Captain Nevada Briar," he hissed. He had her pinned, she was here, and by the smell of it, was very close to tears. She would tell him anything he wanted to know. She was here. For the moment she would not move. She was here.
"Nevada,"
"Angseth, the only reason I happened to be captain of this vessel right now is because the powers that be ultimately deemed you unworthy of that title. Our situation seemed to get worse every time you left us. You are this ships rightful captain! Our whole crew stands behind you, me, Dr. and Commander Bearn, we all care about you, our inspiration and…and you just take it all for granted!"
Angseth felt seriously that this lecture was unnecessary, especially from her mate, "With all due respect, Captain Briar, every single detail of my absence is documented in that datapad. My time off the ship wasn't just about some absurd flight of fancy after a galactic legend, not anymore! If you would just—"
Her sentence was cut short by an exasperated sigh from Briar as he paced tightly behind his desk, rubbing the lightly downed bridge of his muzzle. He precluded his next statement by resting his hand on the surface of his desk between the holo-projectors for support, his fine claw tips partially gracing the mahogany. "I'm not sure if I've…made myself completely clear, Angseth. We have all managed, during your off ship 'missions' and under my command as stand-in Captain to scrape through ordeal after ordeal by some stitch of luck, not my textbook strategies! Our primary inspiration for pulling through was to survive for our true captain to have a home to come back to. What if…what if something seriously bad had happened to you out there, huh? So you lost your arm? You can always buy a new one. What if you had died!? Don't you realize that it would be a number of months before we'd heard anything, sketchy details at best, while being utterly clueless? And," he exhaled sharply. "It's mere happenstance that I'm speaking with you face to face in my quarters right now! What if your contacts or the Confederation itself decided to keep you captive on court marshal, or torture or… I don't know what the hell else! We were completely in the dark, with only your memory to lead us!"
"The datapad has all of the reasons for my time away, B-, Captain," Angseth stated, with mixed emotion, as Briar paused to take a breath. She was about to proceed with what she believed was the assaulting of a dead horse to save Briar some grief, but hesitated again as Briar began to hang his head subtly lower, ears swept back. He was breaking, his noble exterior cracking in her eyes, and as much as she hated to see her mate, the new Captain of the Mabus, cave like this Angseth could not yet bring herself to voice her alibi again.
"No," Briar proclaimed, to no one in particular, it seemed, "There's no way. There…just isn't any way that we could go on, to keep fighting without you here, Angseth! There's no…possible way that I could keep it up, not alone. My linear, statistical thinking just doesn't make me a real ship Captain. Not with you gone, Vera. Don't you understand?" his voice, indiscernible to all but his mate and blood relatives, skipping for a brief moment in a feline quaver on the last note.
In all of her years, there was one thing that Angseth hated to see. She never liked to see a grown man cry, and certainly never on her account. Briar didn't make a sound or even have the ability to shed tears, but she knew his pain when she saw it. And he was right. He was damned right about everything. She had taken the support of her friends for granted, and been very foolish in the past few months. They needed her. For some stupid reason everyone on this vessel was counting on her.
Slowly she rose from her seat and approached him, fixing her blue-white eyes on his honey amber orbs. She drew closer, for a moment unsure, yet certain that he needed her now more than ever. "Nevada," she breathed, placing one hand softly on his chest, and gently urging him backward onto the surface of his desk. Nevada growled lowly at her, ears folded back and fangs bared. "Please, hear me out," she leaned in closely to him, her body craving his touch and presence even more than it craved Phazon. "At one time, I was a statistic, doomed to die and rot away on some foreign world. I lost my military family there, and ever since its been hard to pull other people to my inner circle. I have been blind to everyone's emotions and feelings as a defense. It's easier to deal with loss if you've never had a concern in the first place. Except you. You taught me how to live again, how to feel again," with smooth movement, she pulled herself up on the desk, her left knee on the outside, straddling him. "You do things by the book, all the time. I have no way to compete with that mindset," she rose over him, her eyes burning against her dark skin as she leaned forward. "You make me complete. And I've been a fool to not see it sooner," Vera leaned forward, placing her right palm near his head. "You are the best rule I have ever broken," her left hand grabbed a fistful of his uniform. Briar hissed, his lips folded over his teeth, and he began to pant. "I give you my word Briar. I am not ever going to leave, without my Captain's permission, if you command it, I will be by your side. I know it will take some time to regain your trust, but it's something I'm willing to fight for," she kissed his nose, and he began a low growl that turned into a purr. Her lips touched the cleft of his upper lip. His hand moved upward, clinging tightly to her waist, pulling her shirt up over her torso and finally her head. His anger had left, instead he gave into her attention, desperate for her touch for so long.
"Do you promise?" he purred.
"I promise."
"For real this time?" he nipped lightly at her exposed shoulder.
"Yes," she breathed. She had never been able to smell him before, smell his excitement. How sensitive had the Phazon made her senses?
"You mean it?"
"Yes…don't you believe me?"
"Not for a moment."
The irritation she normally would have felt at such a remark faded as his rough tongue ran over her cheek. He pulled her closer against his chest. "I love you," she sighed.
"I love you too Vera. Although I can't shake the feeling that once I close my eyes you'll vanish again," he licked her cheek once more. Nevada then playfully growled. "Now that you've got me pinned down to the desk, are you going to finish the job?"
"You know how much I love a challenge," she smiled. All the anger had left her, and by the softer expression in his eyes, he wasn't as angry anymore either. She supposed that was what had kept them together for so long. They didn't like to remain angry at each other, and most fights usually ended like this.
Briar traced his finger over the black marks along her face and neck. "Do they hurt?"
"No. I don't even know what it is. I guess just a display of the spread of the Phazon."
"And your eyes? Can you still see?"
"Yes. Although everything has a bit of a blue tint to it."
"I think it's sexy. Makes you look more bestial."
"These marks don't disturb you?"
"No. Nothing on your body could ever disturb me," his tongue ran over her lips. "As long as I breathe, you will always be the only woman I will ever love. Even when I'm angry, even when I'm upset with something you've done, even when you pull rank on me to get me out of your quarters. You are the only woman in this universe for me."
"Nevada,"
"I mean it. I can't give back your position as Captain, but I can definitely use you as a soldier, when we approach the Salem."
"Kitty," her eyes began to fill with tears.
"I know that the Mabus isn't the only thing depending on you. Your new arm and leg attest to that. When Weavel was apprehended, he willingly handed over his Battlehammer, I have it in my safe. What did you do to gain his trust?"
"We both share a common ally. He is a Prince among his people. And I promised that we would help him."
"Have you documented this?"
"I have his own report, there, in that datapad. Everything is in that datapad," she sighed, leaning into him, resting her head on his chest. "I love you. No matter what happens, I will always love you and I will come back to you."
System Admiral Leonisa sat in her temporary office uncomfortably. She was supposed to return to her own system after Mirson had officially handed in his resignation, but she found excuses to remain aboard the Paris, one of the capital stations of the Confederation. Other capital stations included, the New York, Rome, Cairo, London, Edo, and Moscow. A few things were bothering her. Admiral Mizzen had left the meeting rather quickly, and seemed to avoid her when she had asked questions about his decisions. That was to be expected. No one liked to have their choices dissected before them by their peers. She chose to stay aboard the Paris as a consultant and possible member of the Electoral College for the newest System Admiral.
Normally a System Admiral would be chosen from a pool of highly decorated candidates with exceptional military experience. The current Admirals would then place their recommendations. Then the central government of the System in question would then have the final vote for their Admiral. Never before had a System withdrawn, just to hold its own election. Leonisa could think of a few worthy candidates that would serve the System well if only Draco had bothered to go through proper channels. But Draco had decided to hold it's own pool of candidates, then vote. Admiral Leonisa didn't have much faith in the next Admiral of Draco, and knew that no matter what, they wouldn't hold office for long.
The candidates were a sad sight as well. Leonisa hoped that if she interfered enough Draco would come to its senses and go back to business as usual. Granted the candidates were the best Draco had to offer, but the more experienced ones had turned down a nomination, which left the pool inexperienced and very, painfully young. Most of the System Admirals had well over ten years worth of combined combat experience, ten more of officer experience, and had headed their own space stations for at least five years. At first glance it seemed as of Draco was about to shoot itself in the foot. Until she further scrutinized Draco's government.
It seemed as if Draco had been reforming its central government for the past ten years. Once this was taken into consideration, it seemed very likely that they would want to choose their own Admiral. System Admirals enjoyed many perks, including the ability to order military action without the blessing of the System's senate. With the way Draco had reformed, the Admiral would have their hands tied, and no action could be taken unless they had the approval of the central government. Normally it would be a formality to ask the central government of a sector for their blessing and permission to undertake a military action, however it would cripple Draco system in the event of a natural disaster. There had been a long-standing complaint within the central governments about the cost of military hardware, research, and troop salaries. Each System footed it's own bill for the troops and ships deployed in a sector. By gaining pre-approval of possible actions from the System's central government, it would help to control the cost of troop deployment.
In that case, it made sense that they would want to elect a young, inexperienced, and easily manipulated System Admiral. As she scanned through the candidates, she wondered which one would be the next puppet. The other System Admirals also would not like having a puppet in their meetings. Most of the meetings were confidential and candid. Laktelos had a raunchy sense of humor that didn't translate well to paper, or with some races. The last thing they needed was someone in their midst that would be required to report and record every minute of their meetings. In order to work as a team, they needed to trust each other. And she couldn't see herself trusting any of these young men and women.
"Admiral?"
"Yes?"
"Admiral Laktelos is on line three."
Well, speak of the devil. "I'll take it."
A holo image flickered to life on her desk top. She smiled when she saw Admiral Laktelos leaning back in a leather chair, collar loosened and craggy skin framing emerald eyes. "Good evening Leonisa, or is it morning on the Paris?"
"You were right the first time, evening. To what do I owe the honor of this call?"
"I'm not allowed a casual conversation? Did you get the cask of Narcusian wine I sent you?"
"Yes, although I've been saving it for a special occasion. How is life in the Cancer sector?"
"As well as it can be, and as much as I would love to speak with you, this is a business call."
"I thought as much."
"Have you seen the final candidates?"
"Hmm, well, I have the few bios here."
"They held clandestine primary elections today."
"How? I've been keeping an eye on them."
"Not as close as I've been keeping. They've narrowed it down to three candidates, although I already know who will win."
"Spill it."
"This very young kid, Uh…Henry Thomas."
"Henry…Thomas, you have got to be kidding me," Leonisa pushed holos aside until she had Thomas' bio before her. "I don't care what his test scores look like, he doesn't have the right credentials."
"According to Syrese officials he does."
"And what could those possibly be?"
"As of earlier this year, he is related by marriage to the ruling family of the Syrese Republic. By the time this farce of an election is over, the same clan will control or head every major government function within Draco."
"We have laws against that kind of thing."
"The Confederation does, but not the Syrese Republic."
"They can't be serious. The Confederation will not accept them back under those conditions."
"It gets better."
"What now?"
"Our good friend Mizzen appears to be amassing a small army."
"How do you find out these things?" she scanned the items on her desktop. "I don't see how you've drawn that conclusion, I don't see a surge in recruitment levels."
"That's what bothers me. I grew curious when he mentioned Angseth. Normally he wants that woman as close as possible, but now it seems that he's cast her away."
"I noticed that too."
"So I broke the seal on a few of her files. I think I know what he was up to with her."
"Do tell."
"She comes from the Isrec mining rings. A place that we now know was saturated with Phazon. I think he was trying to use her to resurrect the PED system."
"That's absurd."
"Is it? You know how much he loves all the new technology his beloved Pentacle churns out," he poured his own glass of wine. "Think about it, he purposely put her in high-stress situations with impossible odds, I think to get a rise out of her. And he could be there for her to study and enslave when the supposed Phazon abilities would arise."
"I think that's a bit of a stretch."
"But you wouldn't put it past him would you?"
"Not for a moment," she scanned Thomas' file once more. "So…what makes you think Mizzen is amassing an army?"
"The way he's acting, mainly. Either he's gotten what he wants from Angseth, or he's found something else. Either way, once this election is over, I think its going to surface," he chuckled. "And here I thought he shared a desire for dense-world flesh."
Leonisa rubbed her temple. "I didn't need that visual."
Laktelos laughed more deeply. "I'll keep you posted, but just in case, keep your engines hot,"
"And my guns oiled," she finished. "I understand, thank you Laktelos."
"We'll make it out of this. I'll see you soon."
As his holo vanished, she stood and went over to her cabinet, pulled out a bottle of wine, and poured herself a glass. She took once sip, then pressed the com button on her desk. "Lieutenant Talas?" she called to her second in command.
"Yes Admiral?"
"I want you to relay an order. All ships and troops on standby, tell them to be prepared to advance on the Draco sector."
She didn't want to move. She was warm, safe, and happy. The pillow under her cheek smelled of sweat and musk, and against her back Vera could feel the gentle press of the soft fur on Nevada's chest and stomach, one arm-the good one, curled around her waist protectively. His legs were tucked in tightly against hers, their feet entwined. At some point in the night she had pulled the covers tightly in toward her chest. Her back ached from the Phazon withdraw symptoms, but his warmth was enough to ease her discomfort. Her legs were another type of soreness altogether, one that brought a smile to her lips. His head rested near her shoulder, his breath rhythmically caressing her cheek. She listened to his respiration letting her eyes close, savoring the moment.
How long will this last? Will this be the last time I'm in his arms?
Her fingers clenched the sheets tightly. What will happen when we get to the Salem? What will I do once we're there? Will I be confined to my quarters until things get really bad? How will Nevada handle this? For the first time in years, she felt unsure, questioning the judgment of those around her. Angseth was accustomed to being in charge, when she was in charge she knew what to do, and how to react. Briar would respond in the way the book told him to. Great for routine missions, but not necessarily the best course in real combat. Ever since leaving Syren I, their trip had been anything but routine.
You're acting like you were there every step of the way. If you counted up all the hours you actually spent on the Mabus since leaving the Seattle, I doubt they would tally more than a week. Yet Nevada had managed quite well in your absence, why would this mission be any different? The voice of higher reasoning asked. As much as she hated to admit it, the voice was right.
"You're thinking too loudly," Nevada purred. "What is it?"
"I'm worried."
"That's apparent," He licked the back of her neck, extending to her shoulder. "After last night, I had hoped you wouldn't keep anymore secrets."
Vera sighed. "I don't know what will happen to me, once we reach the Salem. I try not to think about the future, I try not to think too far ahead because then I will have time to doubt. And now that I'm no longer in control of the Mabus, what will you do with me?"
To her surprise, he began to chuckle, punctuated by purring. "I have already thought all of that through, and cleared it with Sakari and Zaine. I had all of the pieces in place before I accepted your request to see me."
"I don't understand,"
"Vera, you're not the only one who can be stubborn. Many of the things that you've done, I've been a few steps ahead of you, clearing the red tape and just waiting for you to make the final push," he nibbled on the back of her neck and shoulder. "I've assigned you to head the fighter squadrons. Serec should have your fighter loaded up and ready to go for air support. Bearn doesn't want you on the ground providing a possible hazard to his men. Sakari agrees that the contained environment that your fighter provides would be best to keep potential radiation at bay. I feel that your fighter would make you feel more comfortable. All three agree that in the event you go rouge, it will be easier to deal with you."
Angseth listened with her breath held. She didn't like to hear him speak of her in such an analytical manner, but in the end she couldn't disagree. If she were in the same position, she would have made the same choice. She lay in silence as he licked at her shoulder. His teeth dug in and she gasped. "One thing has been bothering me. Why did you go after Weavel on Rovien, instead of helping me apprehend Svenson?"
Briar's teeth sank a little deeper, almost to the point of breaking skin, Vera winced yet remained still. He slowly let go, then licked the place he had bitten. "I heard how you said his name. I saw it in your body language. You knew him somehow. Since you had been gone for so long, I had been…uncertain. I grew jealous. I didn't know that he was a contact of yours."
Angseth thought it over, then suddenly sat up in bed. "You mean to tell me, that for the first time in your life, you acted out of passion instead of what regulations stipulate?"
"No. Not the first time in my life. This was the second. The first time was when I quit Med School to be with you."
"Captain, we're nearing the Salem."
"I'll take it up here," Briar examined the read-outs as they began to fill the holo screens around his desk. The station had been under heavy fire, and the outer hull was damaged. For the moment the fighting had let up. From this distance, they could get an accurate count of the Pirate vessels that surrounded the station. Near the eastern hemisphere, he could make out the remains of a jump-gate. It seemed as if the first wave of Pirate fighters had been focused on destroying the gate, and now that their main source of Confederate re-enforcements had been destroyed, a second wave of Pirates were moving in.
"We're getting a hail sir."
"From the Salem?"
"No, from the Petraeus. A deep space exploratory vessel," Bagra called out. "Fleet Admiral Arget'ni is responding to our request for assistance. She has several other smaller fleet vessels with her. Their estimated time of arrival is eight hours and ten minutes."
"And our distance from the Salem?"
"Estimated contact is in four hours."
"Looks like we will be the first ones to the party. Give the order to our fighter wings and tell Bearn to keep his troops ready. We can clear out the few Pirate stragglers from this wave and help the Salem bolster it's defense systems before the next one hits." He hit his com button. "Serec."
"Yo!" The engineer's holo popped up, along with another.
"Permission to speak freely Sir?" Angseth's voice along with a small holo window appeared at Briar's side.
"Granted," Briar growled Angseth wasn't the one he wanted to speak to, but since she had already spoken he may as well hear her out.
"Since we still have four hours until contact with Salem air space, I would like to lead a small scout mission to verify if there is an incoming Pirate force. We need more information."
"And how do you propose to do that Commander?"
"Well, Captain, you had been generous enough to arrest a former Pirate. I suggest asking Weavel what his feelings are, and if he wouldn't mind tagging along."
"Do you think he can be trusted?"
"Yes, and if he can't be, you won't waste many fighters. I don't require much, just myself, Weavel, and two escorts. Sacul could also be of some assistance. If you ask her nicely, she might be willing to forgive the intrusion and help us." Angseth's eyes were set and serious. "Please allow me to take a chance."
Briar looked between Angseth's holo and Serec's holo. He checked the current scans of Salem airspace, and had to admit that they were going into this battle blind. "Serec,"
"Yes Captain?"
"Get a few teams of engineers ready for transport aboard the Salem. We have a very small window to pull off this mission." He then turned to Angseth. "Keep your nose clean Commander. You have my permission."
"Thank you, I won't let you down!"
Weavel glanced up from the floor of his cell as the door opened. There were enough comforts in the cell by human means, but the bounty hunter preferred the floor. To their credit, his captors had regulated the atmosphere in his cell to be more adequate for his cyborg body, and his was permitted to tap into the energy grid for a much-needed recharge. Aside from the fact that he wasn't allowed to go anywhere, he might as well had been staying in a nice hotel.
The main door opened, but the observation force field still remained in place. Two power suited marines stepped through, one he recognized as Angseth, and the other he supposed was a random grunt. The grunt stood to the side as Angseth removed her helmet. Weavel stood, then walked to the field to greet her. "Nice accommodations Private."
"If I could put you in a state room I would. That's up to the current Captain of this vessel."
"You are no longer Captain?"
"No. You should be able to draw your own conclusions on that."
"Seems as if your little secret is out."
"And I'm better for it. I came to ask for your advice."
"This is very bad for business Angseth. It's one thing to take me into custody, but to go back on your word and apprehend Sacul as well?"
"I had no say in the matter. If it were me, I would have just given her the bounty as soon as I had the chance. Unfortunately, Briar doesn't see it that way."
"So, Goody-Good is running the ship."
"Yes. Weavel, I don't have much time. We are approaching the Salem, it has been under Pirate attack. With so many other stations and colonies lost, we cannot afford to loose this one. We think that this was only a first wave, they took out the jump gate. We think that there may be a second wave, that will then complete the job on the station."
"What are you saying?"
"I want your help to defeat Gamma Fleet."
"You're asking me to turn against my own people?!"
"No,"
"Yes you are! You want me to help you kill my own people!"
"Shut up for one goddamn minute and hear me out! I am tired of everyone second-guessing me now! This is all I have left in my life, and I'll be dammed if I won't use every last card I have in the deck to win!"
"You stupid bit-"
"SHUT UP!" Angseth noted that her marine escort had backed out the door. Between her withdraw symptoms and her current frustrations it was going to be harder to keep her anger in check. "Too much blood has already been spilled. You killed my people, and I've been killing yours. Figuratively speaking we have been killing each other for a long time. I want it to stop. Aran was in the process of helping you to save your people when she was taken by mine. With your help, I can ensure that this action will have minimal casualties."
"Why should I help you?"
"Because the Siafu are not my enemy. Whoever is giving them orders, is." She ran her hand back through her hair. "I should be angry with you. But you at least gave me some closure on what happened to my parents, which is more than what the Confederation ever did, regardless of how many inquires I wrote. The hate has to stop somewhere, and I've decided that it stops with me first."
Weavel sat in awe of this angry glowing creature. For the moment he was happy that she was on the other side of the field. At some point the tide did need to be turned, and if they did so now, even if their efforts came to nothing, at least they could say that they had tried. He scanned his memories, to a time before he had been confined to the metal body.
"You're partly right. A first wave is typically sent out to both scout and destroy what they can. Information is then relayed back to the main force, and then Ridley will make the final decision. In the case of a jump gate, the gate is to be disabled, but not destroyed. Gates have essential components that we can use. Since this is a deep space station, it has many useful components. We've gotten really good at raiding, and stripping a station down of its resources. One of the greatest risks we take in assaulting stations on the periphery, are roving bands of competing Pirates from other empires. Most of them don't bother to cross the void. However once a station sends out a distress signal, it's like ringing a dinner bell.
"The second wave is a much larger fleet, followed closely by a third. The second wave has all of the heavy artillery used to secure the station and subdue the inhabitants. The third wave is comprised of our chop-shops, and resource engineers, with minimal defensive capabilities. They go in, strip what they can, and get out before the other scavengers arrive. The second wave then provides cover for the third as they escape." Weavel leaned against the wall, folding his arms. "Lately I have heard from those that I still call allies within Gamma Fleet, that a group of Kriken warriors have been catching us in mid-assault, and foiling some of our efforts. That can only mean that this attack will be desperate. The Kriken will close in more quickly since they are already in the area."
"What can we do to prevent this?"
"Since the first wave has already made contact, the dinner bell is ringing. Stalling any longer would be bad for both of our peoples. This one battleship will not be enough to defeat the second wave, and will only give false hope to the inhabitants of the Salem."
"Then we need to disarm that fleet somehow." She leaned on the opposite wall from Weavel, examining him through the green haze of the field. "How?"
"We need to overtake or destroy the command vessel of the second wave. The entire mission is orchestrated from the command ship."
"If we can knock out central command, then the other ships won't attack? And the third wave won't move in unless Command gives the order. Is there any other chain of command in place?"
"It's usually not necessary." He mumbled. "If, and only if, the Kriken appear, then Gamma Fleet will defend their prize, the Salem."
"Then that will leave us fighting a war on two fronts, Gamma and the Kriken. And they the same."
"I will assume command of Gamma Fleet." Weavel said solemnly.
"Will they listen to you, after all that has happened?"
"I am their Prince. If they choose to disobey me, then they are no longer my people."
The other Marine stepped into the doorway, and stood across from Angseth, and slowly removed his helmet. Vera smiled. "Nice of you to finally join us Captain." Weavel stood from the wall, his body language showing agitation.
Briar tucked the helmet under his arm. "Weavel, am I right in assuming that you would not have given her all this information if you knew I were here?"
"You would be right." The cybrog glared at Angseth. "You tricked me?"
"No. I meant every word I said." Angseth sighed. "Captain, may I have permission to allow Weavel to join my fighter wing?"
"Permission granted." Briar deactivated the force field. "I believe this is yours." He passed over the activation unit for Weavels Battlehammer.
Weavel stood frozen in place as the field dropped. "Why?" He directed to Briar.
"Because my Fiancé may be crazy, but I trust her judgment more than most sane people." Briar said smugly. "You will be paid, but we can work that out after the Salem is safe. Vera, you may show your new recruit the ropes."
"Aye Captain."
Briar watched quietly as Angseth and Weavel walked swiftly up the hall toward the express lift. So he never took chances as a Captain huh? How was this for a chance? A bounty hunter and a highly unstable Phazon addict were about to launch a scout mission to gather information on a Pirate fleet. Well, these were desperate times. Shortly after Angseth and Weavel had left, Serec rounded the corner, heavy boots rhythmically pounding the floor.
"You wanted to see me Captain?" He chirped.
"Yes, I was thinking about releasing our other captive. Angseth says that she's an engineer. If she agrees to play nice, then you're in charge of her."
"I don't know if that's a good idea considering how much she struggled when they brought her in. Engineers are dangerous people when they want something." Serec followed Briar to the last cell at the end of the hall.
Sacul sat on the small bed frame, picking at her fingernails. Her PLASMA hadn't been removed, if they had tried to pull it away, Nevada was sure that she would have killed someone. He didn't care what secret she had. If Angseth vouched for her, it was enough for him. When the door opened the thin human woman jumped up screaming. "YOU BETTER HAVE A REAL GOOD LAWYER YOU ASSHOLE! WHEN I GET DONE WITH YOU, I'M GONNA OWN YOUR ASS!"
"Nice to see you're doing well." Briar commented. "I've come here to make you an offer."
"Go to hell!"
Serec rounded the corner, then stopped in the doorway. His normally cheerful expression melted off his face, replaced with recognition and dread. This change in attitude didn't escape Briar. "Do you know her?" The Captain asked.
After a moment Serec breathed one word. "Yeah."
Sacul stopped her screaming for a moment, her gaze fixed on Serec. "Holy shit!" She exclaimed.
Serec took off his glasses, pulling a rag from his pocket, cleaning them. Nevada knew it as one of his few nervous gestures. "She's my older sister." He said flatly. "I'll keep an eye on her. She will behave."
"Serec, you're kidding! Serec!" Sacul shouted, standing up on the bed.
"Sacul. If you want out of there, I suggest you listen." Serec said coldly.
For a moment Briar was taken aback by his old friend's sudden change in appearance. "I didn't know you had any relatives."
"We studied together. I majored in propulsion technologies, and she took up biomechanics."
Sacul stood on the other side, arms folded. "I thought you were dead."
"And right now I wish I were." Serec said, his smile returning.
Angseth led Weavel away from the lock-up, and into one of the many express lifts in the Mabus. She tucked her helmet under her arm and reached forward to press the appropriate button for the fighter bay. As the door closed, she exhaled heavily.
"Please tell me you have my earrings."
Weavel's speaker emitted a noise that could only be a chuckle. "I was wondering when you would ask Commander."
"Shut up. I don't have much time, Briar is very rightly watching my every move. The jam I placed on the Com in this elevator won't last forever."
"Then speak quickly."
"My body is falling apart. I've been noticing weird things, the least of which are my eyes."
"You're fully addicted now. You will need regular doses to maintain."
"Shit."
"I have more Phazon on my ship. Did they bring that too?"
"Yes, everything in Sacul's shop was taken. Serec is keeping an eye on it."
"Good, I have enough to keep you happy for a small amount of time. But it will soon take more than I have to keep you feeling sane and sober."
"My body hasn't stopped aching since we left Rovien." Angseth breathed. "I want to get this military maneuver out of the way soon. We need to find Aran. We need to hurry before my body gives out."
"So that explains your desperation." He folded his arms. "Why not tell your mate about this?"
"Because the minute anyone else on this ship gets word of exactly how I'm feeling, my ass will be in the brig, and possibly heavily sedated. I love Briar, but right now I'm torn between him and my mission from the Chozo."
"He's the Captain of this vessel now, right?"
"Yes."
"Then why would he care if you went AWOL again?"
"Because I promised him that I wouldn't."
"I am not going to interfere between two lovers. What you have got going is between you and him. I am your dealer, that is all."
"Dealer?"
"You didn't think I was going to give you any of that Phazon for free did you?"
Vera locked her eyes on him. "I am not an addict."
"Oh?" He held aloft one of her earrings. "You're not?"
Without thinking, she reached for the small shiny object, he jerked it away quickly, holding it just out of her grasp. "Give it to me!"
"You're further off than I thought." He chuckled.
"Weavel!"
"Just look at you Captain, no, not even Captain anymore are you? You're just a hyped-up Phazon addict with nothing left but her word."
Angseth paused in the pursuit of her earring. She expected anger, shame, but at the moment nothing else mattered except the earring.
"Do you want this?" Weavel asked, dangling it once more in front of her face. Her eyes followed it's movements as it swayed. She suddenly grabbed his arm with both hands, and pinned it against the back wall of the elevator. Before Weavel could react, her neck seemed to stretch, then lips and teeth closed around the gemstone. "Angseth, don't!"
She bit down, snapping the thin wires holding the stone. With one more movement, she backed away from Weavel, letting go of his arm. Vera dropped the stone from her teeth into her palm. "I'm sorry." She mumbled, as if it would fix what had happened.
Weavel only had himself to blame. He should have known that she would have done something desperate. "Listen. When we get to the fighter bay, find a place to lie down, or sit or something. The Phazon is going to hit you hard and it would be best if you were alone and stationary when it does." He spat.
"You hate me. I know that tone of voice, even if it is digital. You're so accustomed to mistrusting everyone in your life, that you'll turn against me one day."
"Never. And I don't hate you."
Vera slid down the side of the elevator, until her butt hit the floor. She wiped at her eyes with the heel of her hand. "I don't know what is going to happen. You're right, I've lost everything, and I'm close to losing Briar too."
"Private." Weavel called.
For the first time in years, she felt like a stranger. This was no longer her ship, even though she knew every last inch of it, her security and sanity had been destroyed. Is this what she really wanted?
Hard yet warm fingers firmly gripped her chin. Weavel tilted her head up until he could look her in the eye. Her formerly warm brown orbs were now cold and hard, ethereal blue almost blending seamlessly into white. "Let this be the end of the tears. Don't lose your shit around me. I need your help to find Aran. She is the only thing that matters to me right now. I too have lost everything, but I still fight to help those who had cast me out. Because it's the right thing to do."
Angseth tilted her head to the side. "I can't believe that I didn't see it before. You're in love with her."
"And so are you." He let go and stepped back. "We are warriors. Some of us lead, some of us follow, but we are still warriors. She helped me to remember that." Weavel held the door until Angseth could pick herself up from the floor. "You have a choice to make. You can either stay here with your ship, or you can come with me to free Aran."
Angseth slowly made her way to the fighter bay. "I need to think."