Chapter 26
Angseth navigated the darkened halls of the Outer Ring, drifting through Phazon haze until she couldn't stand it any longer. Her body ached; torn and complaining of healing wounds. Those two flat worms Weavel had given her earlier were the only things fending off the pain long enough for her to move. The com lines had exploded with news of the arrival of three Chozo vessels, and Admiral Arget'ni was beside herself. Their very presence was enough to give the troops hope, and from the sound of things the Kriken were no match for them. Normally she would be rejoicing along with them, ecstatic to assist in the final push to force the Kriken to leave their hard-won territory. But something was wrong. Her body felt distant, and unresponsive. She couldn't explain away the uneasiness that had settled into her bones. Something just felt off.
Vera leaned against a wall, and lowered the volume for the com unit in her helmet. Even though the shouts and laughter were what she wanted to hear, every last sound and vibration annoyed her to the point of violence. If she hadn't been so worn out by Kanden, she would have just started punching holes through walls until she reached her destination. Funny how one battle with Ridley had completely redefined her physical boundaries. She pulled the helmet off and let it drop to the floor. Heat rose from her body into the cold corridor, visible by the vapor trails as it left the collar of her suit. The cold air felt good on her skin. She felt hot enough to be sick.
At some point, Weavel had given a signal for the Siafu to retreat back to the Nightmare, and other vessels. Angseth felt guilty that she hadn't gone with them, instead she roamed the halls of the Outer Ring to ensure that everyone had been evacuated safely, and that all Kriken entry points had been sealed. This one hall still had air pressure and breathable atmosphere.
Vera slid down the wall, her shoulder plate grinding into the hard alloy and metal surface. She felt weaker than she had in a long time. Her body was trying to tell her that it needed something, but what she couldn't quite put her finger on.
Something cold hit her bare scalp, and Vera snapped her attention toward the source, her mind racing with thoughts of some unknown foe ready to devour her. She relaxed when she saw that the source was only water dripping from a pipe. Condensation on the cold exterior was making a mess in the hall. Her tongue darted over her lips and she suddenly knew what it was she craved.
Standing, she extended the Battlehammer to its full length, then stood on tiptoe and swung at the pipe on the ceiling. The first swipe only made a dent, the second created the gash she was going for. Water; cold, clear, and satisfying erupted from the pipe and raced down over her body, down the collar of her helmet, over the bare scalp on her head, and down her throat. She stood with her eyes closed, water running over her hot burnt skin, cooling her, pushing the Phazon back allowing her to think and focus on the more pressing matters at hand. She rolled her head to the left, then the right, feeling the gentle force of the water over what little skin was exposed on her neck. The suit had an air-tight seal around the inside, for the very purpose of keeping moisture out, and a regulated atmosphere in. Vera let her head drop forward, and felt the water pound against the back of her scalp.
What am I doing?
Better stop asking questions, it was bad to ask questions when there was still so much left to do.
Why am I making deals with Pirates and fully planning on disobeying every order given to me?
It had been ignored for so long, Angseth almost didn't know what this feeling was that was creeping up in her chest.
Briar…oh please forgive me!
Hot, guilty, and frightened tears soon joined the cold water running over her neck and cheeks. Vera lifted her left arm, and rested it against the wall, then leaned in, her burnt forehead rested against the back of her armored hand. Her teeth chattered together with suppressed sobs. God damn I hate crying! She inhaled deeply, gradually gaining control of herself. It was all part of the pattern. She would get pumped up, fight tooth and nail for her life, and then when things cooled down, she crashed, both emotionally and physically. Except the Phazon wasn't letting her body rest or relax, and now her mind was doing enough crashing to make up for it.
She focused on the water, on the sensation of the coldness running over her skin. Focus on something else, anything else to keep the tears and guilt at bay. Welcome the pain, welcome the anger and the fear, they kept her from thinking of anything else. Angseth drank her fill, and pulling her helmet on, continued on up the corridor. Even before the helmet had fully rested and locked into place, she could see messages scrolling across her HUD. Admiral Arget'ni was requesting Angseth's presence in the command center. The helmet hissed as it pressurized, locking Vera away from the outside world.
They hadn't expected such a large Confederation force to be present near the spacial fluctuation. The Ltaoclazeuq High Council had reviewed the information and dispatched three ships to scout the anomaly. Exactly thirty minutes after the readings had been received, the Aphelion, the Corona, and the Eolian had arrived to identify the source. Even with long-range scanners, Solstice couldn't have known that there was a battle occurring on the other side of their space-fold. All three ships were bound by numerous treaties to assist the Confederation in this military action. Although he personally felt that Kriken were a waste of perfectly good sub-matter rounds.
Once the main bulk of Kriken threat had been dealt with, Solstice gave orders to several entry teams to assist internal clean-up efforts within the Salem. However one of the teams had been given orders to locate the source of energy disturbance. That was the true nature of their visit here, the ongoing conflict and an opportunity to brown-nose the Confederation were just an added bonus. He kept in contact with Fleet Admiral Arget'ni. Yes they would assist with any medical emergencies, or help repair any ships or life support systems as needed. Within the space of ten minutes of arrival, the three Chozo vessels had effectively contained and nullified any and all threats. Even the Pirate ships packed up their troops and withdrew peacefully, with the exception of one battleship, the Behemoth.
Eventually the scouting party had reported the location of the spacial disturbance. The jump gate. Solstice gave orders for the scouts to proceed with caution. Not just anyone could activate a Space Bridge, especially not one this old and well-hidden. Solstice questioned the Admiral for information on the gate, which was currently being used to evacuate civilians from the station. There had to be some kind of greater intelligence at work here. Humans and most of the Confederation races lacked sufficient brainpower and comprehension skills required to operate a Space Bridge. It didn't set his mind at ease to know that contact had been lost with the main gate control room before the conflict began. The Kriken had been enough of a threat, but there was a short list of dangers that could possibly be contained in that engine room, and Solstice didn't want to think of the death toll that could result from the possibilities. Ltaoclazeuq migration routes could be compromised if the Space Bridge remained open.
Solstice gave the order to subdue, contain, or possibly kill any threat that could lurk within the gate control room.
It had been a while since Serec had this much fun. Working the gate reminded him of his first job so many years ago at one of the major Chozo observatories. Back then he had been hired on as an assistant air traffic controller, and it was watching all those ships come and go that finally inspired him to pursue a career in propulsion technologies. Even though the Salem had only one gate instead of the twelve that the observatory had boasted, he became completely lost in his role and nostalgia.
"Confirmed deportation of units, arrival status clear, ready for the next batch." Serec spoke into the audio-only com unit located on the computer terminal before him. He had long since deactivated the standard com unit issued to him. The chatting and bickering on the "party line" was distracting to his work. He wished that he could have seen the look on the faces of the space traffic controllers on the London when shuttles from the Salem started to appear out of their jump gate. Or at least Serec hoped they came out of the jump gate, or any of the surrounding area. He couldn't quite tell exactly where the exit point would lay in relation to the space station, but he still received confirmation energy ripples as each load was delivered. The Confederation didn't have sophisticated enough equipment to relay information this far so soon.
Fighters lined up to create a protective channel for the transport and drop ships to travel through until they encountered the protected space of the jump gate. Sacul had performed marvelously in keeping the Kriken away from the gate once the initial wave had been dealt with, and while scanners occasionally lit up, she dispatched them efficiently. Serec was so wrapped up in his work that he didn't notice the scans coming in from the Mabus. Instead he kept sending more ships through, determined to evacuate every last civilian soul onboard the Salem. He was happy, he was working, the tide of the battle had turned, and nothing could ruin his good mood.
Except the sound of a small explosion in the hall outside of the main engineering room.
Angry, Serec grabbed his com unit and hailed Sacul. "What the hell are you doing out there?"
"Fighting Kriken! Why?"
"Something is trying to get into my engineering bay, you had better get your ass
in here! I have no protection, and there are still several more ships that need to sent!"
"Alright, don't get your feathers ruffled, I'm on my way."
Serec slammed the com down, then gave the go-ahead for the last few ships. He heard the door to the engineering bay slam open, and he hissed. The air rushing over his beak created a satisfying sound that he hadn't the pleasure of making in some time. "Gods be damned Sacul-" Serec turned around, then felt every cell in his body freeze.
At the door stood ten Ltaoclazeuq. Each in heavy armor with weapons pointed at Serec. Slowly, Serec reached behind his back to steady himself against the computer consol. "It's not what you think," Serec breathed, fear had almost taken his voice completely. He immediately regretted opening his beak. It was considered an insult to use his vocal cords. He had become so comfortable with it that his had forgotten his Chozo manners completely. Speaking had become second nature. "Please, I'm not,"
They moved as one unit, rushing up and wrenching him away from the controls. Serec lost his footing and hit the floor. HUDs flickered with light and characters. He vaguely read the gist of them before an armored clawed foot came down on his head. Threat located and isolated. One enemy Acopiltaczet …Possible others in area…terminate?
Serec knew that fighting would only make them kill him sooner. Already his vision had gone blurry from the assault. The foot lifted and clawed armored hands grabbed the collar of his Confederation uniform. He could see fingers and claws move in patterns, and he struggled to remember what they meant. Who are you, and why are you here? One wearing red armor asked. They seemed to be young, and eager to prove themselves. Serec remembered those days.
"I'm a Confederation officer." Serec felt the words leave his throat and cursed his slip-up again.
Disgusting. You use your throat to growl like a beast. If you are a Confederation officer, then that makes you the worst kind of traitor. Not only to your nation, but also to your own race!
"I…" He closed his beak and corrected himself. His fingers clenched as he tried to remember how to make the symbols. He hadn't used his native tongue in so long it escaped him. Finally he opened his talons and clumsily signed. I request to meet with your superior.
Denied. May you serve as a warning to all Acopiltaczet who wish to trespass in Ltaoclazeuq territory! The red one dropped him and the others closed in. As per custom, they began removing and recalling their helmets. It was considered cowardly to conceal one's identity when making a deathblow. So many multi-colored faces and eyes. Their only unifying feature was the white mask around their eyes.
I am unarmed! Serec struggled to sign as fists and claws tore the clothing from him back and limbs. He kicked and grabbed at whatever hold his talons could find. The claws of his attackers grabbed and held tightly as fangs penetrated his skin and scales. Serec didn't scream, he shrieked when burning venom entered his body. More fangs parted his scales, and his voice left him, as did all sensation in his limbs. They kept biting, ripping, and pulling at his feathers.
The door slid open once more, and this time Sacul entered, armor bright pink and glossy hard black, with twin orbs hovering a foot from either shoulder. Serec didn't need to hear her voice, her body language and the sudden appearance of numerous missiles was enough to let everyone in the room understand her anger. The Ltaoclazeuq soldiers dropped Serec's body and leaped at this new threat. Serec almost felt sorry for them. Sacul was one of the best suit pilots and tactical minds the Acopiltaczet had before she fled prosecution. Obviously the many years she spent on Rovien only served to sharpen her skills.
Two bodies vaporized before Serec. Sacul flew through the charred ashes and grabbed Serec before the rest of the group knew what had happened. "Getting out of here bro. You okay?"
"No." He whispered.
Angseth limped up the hall toward the control room for the jump gate. Briar had said that Serec was there. If she knew Serec as well as she thought she did, that meant he would have a way to return to the Central Core. Vera hoped to catch a ride with him. Her mind drifted back and forth between keeping an eye out for danger, and trying to keep the nagging feeling in her stomach tolerable. The water she had drank earlier sat in her stomach like a rock, churning and rolling. Angseth prayed that she wouldn't puke. She hated puking. Water had never made her puke before, but then again, the past few days had revealed many different things she had never thought possible before. If she focused too much on her stomach, it would react. Instead she let her thoughts drift to the present. The halls around the engine room were relatively untouched, and the few Kriken bodies she encountered had been neatly piled in out of the way places. The lighting and panels in the hall changed as she entered the engineering sector.
She hadn't gone very far when a feather drifted up the hall, caught in the draft from some air vent. Angseth almost wrote it off as another trick the Phazon was playing on her mind and comprehension skills, but then she remembered that Briar had mentioned the Chozo were roaming the station with Marines looking for wayward Kriken. That might explain the source of the feather, and the piles of Kriken, but not why the feather would be floating freely. Angseth caught it mid-air and studied it. Brilliant green with an almost blue sheen to it. Much like a peacocks. She dropped it and moved further up the hall. Interesting, but not note worthy. She then rounded a corner that lead to the main engineering control room for the jump gate. Gravity was normal in this part of the station, but Angseth wasn't prepared for the sight that awaited her.
The floor had been almost completely covered in a thin layer of multicolored feathers. More downy pieces drifted down from the ceiling like fuzzy snow. What in the name of the Goddess happened in here? Vera knelt, and used her right hand to stir the feathers. Most of them had blood on them, or even chunks of skin still connected at the base. What disturbed her more about the whole scene was the kind of feathers that littered the ground here. While on Agartha, it wasn't uncommon to see feathers drifting around. Although the Chozo seemed to keep well groomed enough, they lost feathers the same way humans lost hair. But most of those feathers were of the undercoat variety. Colorful near the tip, while soft and fuzzy near the base. The feathers on the floor here were primary feathers, colorful all the way through and healthy enough to not come out on their own. Someone, or by the myriad of color before her, a few someones had gotten into a quite a fight. More importantly, where was her Chief Engineering Officer?
Angseth walked through the control room, finding only more feathers and scorch marks on the walls and floor. Even with her helmet on, she could make out the scent of burnt plasma and skin tissue. Several computer terminals had been demolished, yet scans indicated the damage wasn't caused by Kriken weaponry. Aside from the general disarray, and even more feathers, there was not a living soul in the room.
"Where is Serec?" she asked aloud. More annoyed at not finding what she was looking for, than the obvious signs of an intense battle. Vera picked up her pace, trotting through the halls and rooms, following the trail of feathers. Something was wrong, and the Phazon was drawing her closer to it much like the presence of a dead animal drew vultures. Ahead of her the hall ended in a "T" and continued to either her right or left. Angseth began to fully run when she saw a red and purple Morph Ball roll past the intersection. That was not a good sign. As she drew closer, she could hear sounds of fighting to her right. Vera held her hand out and grabbed the corner, using the momentum to gain speed as she sharply turned right, her Siafu-made cybernetics protested, and she stumbled. It wasn't like her to so blindly turn into hall, but the Phazon had done wonders to justify her own god-like prowess.
The hall ended in another large room, where no less than fifteen Chozo were engaged in the most quiet combat she had ever witnessed for such a large group. The only thing that really made any noises were the minor explosions and missiles fired from one individual in hot pink and black that the other entire multi-colored horde seemed to focus on. They bounced off the walls and flew around near the ceiling, almost if they were all bits of multi-colored paper. Their combat was both deadly and hypnotizing to watch. Angseth slowly entered the room, but the Chozo seemed to pay her no mind. No one answered her hails, they didn't respond to her requests for a status report. They just ignored her. As if this was personal business, and the Marine should just butt out of it. For the most Vera was willing to let them go about their squabbling, until she saw a bare clawed foot jutting out from behind a computer terminal. Why would a Chozo be out of armor? They usually wore so many clothes, that this was most she had ever had a chance to see of one. Curiosity drove her forward. Perhaps this one would be able to answer a few questions.
At first she only peeked, still aware that no Chozo she had ever encountered didn't carry at least some form of weaponry. This one had been injured severely. Most of its feathers had been pulled and ripped from it's crest, blood seeped from between its scales, and its clothing had been ripped and shredded. But still, something was off. Angseth knelt next to the body, and studied the clothing. It wasn't anything she had seen a Chozo wear, in fact it looked like a Confederation issue uniform. A missile exploded nearby, causing Vera to flinch, but not move. The Chozo before her gasped. Jade green scales rose and fell as it struggled to breathe. "Cap…tain?"
Angseth swore she had misheard the voice. For a moment she was convinced that it was Serec. But Chozo didn't normally speak, and why would this one call her "Captain?" Maybe it was mistaken. She scanned his face. Black mask around the eyes. Acopiltaczet, just like Sacul. She looked over her shoulder and saw the fifteen or so other birds teamed up against one.
"Captain…help…Sa…cul."
Serec's voice again. Angseth turned her attention back to the Chozo before her. It had dog tags around its neck, much like what the Confederation issued the Marines. Out of habit she checked the tags. "No way." She carefully grabbed either side of the bird's head and checked its eyes. Deep thoughtful brown accompanied by the smell of hydraulic fluid. "Serec?" Vera asked. The question sounded dumb. Serec was probably happily sitting on a transport on his way back to the Central Core, chatting with someone on his holo glasses…and what was this bird doing wearing a set of holo glasses anyway?
Vera felt the pieces click together in her mind, as much as she had fought the coming logic. For almost ten years, she had a Chozo as her Chief Engineering Officer, and didn't know it. Her mind steadily replayed the memory of Sacul removing her hair-tie and turning from human to Chozo, and on the end of that, another memory of Serec. She had gone to his room and pressed the door chime to summon him, and the man had answered the door wearing only a towel and a necklace with a pair of bolts threaded onto it…and a wet feather stuck to one shoulder. At the time she didn't think anything of it, she had just guessed that he had one of those really expensive feather pillows tucked away somewhere.
"How long Serec? What have you been hiding from me?"
"Talk…later…" His beak didn't move, the sounds appeared to have been made deeper in his throat, probably through intense manipulation of his vocal cords.
Angseth carefully rested his head back down on the floor. Serec had been as much of a part of her life as Briar. He knew too much about either of them, and he was someone she proudly called her friend. Chozo or not, he was hers. Serec was a part of her family, and no pre-existing feud with psychotic cockatoos was going to take him from her. The Phazon didn't really see it that way. What rose up in her this time was the insult. Serec was a possession, property that had been damaged, and these arguing foes before her needed to repay her for what they had damaged.
This man had put his life on the line for her many times in the past ten years. Angseth owed him. Chozo or not, Serec was Serec. Vera scanned his body, making sure she could move him safely without jostling any possibly broken bones. The scans weren't encouraging. He had many broken bones, but that wasn't her main concern. Serec was currently under the effect of no less than twenty different venoms. She knelt, carefully picking up his green scaly form. Moving him probably wasn't a good idea, but he couldn't stay here. Angseth rested his head on her shoulder and supported the rest of his body in her arms.
The Chozo were still arguing amongst themselves. Angseth paused for one moment to examine the room. It seemed to be a large cylinder with numerous levels and decks, each used to monitor a different area of the jump gate and possibly other energy outputs in the station. Occasionally a Chozo would tumble down, and spring off the ground as if they had negated all gravity, then return back to the battle. For a moment the Phazon flickered through her body, craving the bloodbath that a good all-out brawl would produce. However there was still something left of Vera's survival instincts. For the moment the Chozo were otherwise occupied, and Angseth didn't care how. Serec was her one and only worry. There would be time for questioning later, when all of them were back aboard the Mabus and had few sips of bourbon in them.
She moved quickly along the outside wall of the room, staying mostly out of the way and heading for the hall where she had entered. Serec shuddered, flinched and panted with her every step. If she turned her head just so, she could see his tongue flicker along the outer edge of his beak. "Keep it together soldier. The Mabus can't run without you."
"Yes…Sir…"
"Don't speak. For once in your career, I'm insisting you keep that damn mouth of yours shut." Angseth entered the hall, continuing her brisk walk, and checking her maps for the nearest docking bay. Maybe there would be a ship there she could hot-wire. Suddenly in the dim light, a figure literally stepped out of thin-air ten feet away from her. Instinctively, she activated the Battlehammer. The shape became solid, and stepped into the light.
"Please stay right there Captain Angseth." It spoke.
Vera tightened her grip on Serec. "Ryan?" Of all the surprises the day could throw at her. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I do not have time to explain. You are wanted in the Central Core." Ryan moved to step past her. Vera found it curious that Ryan wore no armor. She wore the same robes as on Agartha.
All the same, Angseth lifted the Battlehammer, blocking the avian's progress. "No. You have some explaining to do."
"There isn't enough time-"
"Then you had better make the god damn time to tell me why your troops invaded the engine room and tried to kill my Engineering Officer!"
Ryan grew impatient. "I can forgive this once Angseth, but my patience runs thin. I will admit that I did not know Serec was on your crew. If you do not get him to a med-bay immediately, he will die. I must go to my troops now and help them apprehend Sacul without killing him. My transport is waiting for you at the airlock down that hall. I swear to you, no more harm shall come to you or Serec as long as I am in charge. Now hurry Human!"
Angseth's trust in the Chozo had taken a beating, especially after her battle with Ridley. She didn't like Ryan's attitude either, but she would obey for the moment. If nothing else, Ryan had promised her a ride to the Central Core, and once Serec was safely in Sakari's hands, then Vera promised herself not to hesitate in the slightest when the opportunity to properly interrogate Ryan presented itself. She continued to the airlock, and as promised a Chozo vessel had been docked there, waiting for her arrival. A pair of Ltaoclazeuq stood guard on either side of the door, and while Vera could tell they weren't too happy to have Serec in their midst, they kept their distance. The transport was what she had come to expect of Chozo ships. Efficient but heavily decorated with symbols and what seemed to be precious metals. Angseth found herself a seat inside and sat down. As far as she could tell there were no medical facilities onboard, and no one offered to nurse Serec's wounds. As if it couldn't get any worse, sitting down reawakened her stomach cramps.
Tense moments ticked by, and eventually Ryan returned with three other troops, holding Sacul between them. Vera felt that she should have known that it Sacul had the one in pink and black. Sacul sputtered and hissed at the treatment, but the fight had gone from her for the moment. "Hey Captain." She mumbled as Ryan ordered the other three to set her down in an empty seat. Ryan then began to sign furiously, and the remaining three left the transport.
"What are they doing?" Angseth asked.
"Keeping an eye on the Outer Ring. I am personally delivering all three of you to the Central Core."
"My officer needs medical care."
"I know." Ryan sighed, and turned, locking green eyes on the fluffy jade green mass of scales next to Vera. Ryan's eyes took on a sadder expression. "Sacul, you killed a lot of my troops." Vera noticed that Sacul smelled like warped plasma and burnt ozone. She hoped the bird would change out of the damaged armor soon. Her stomach was already acting weird without the added stimulus.
"Serves 'em right Solstice. That's what you get for sending in a bunch of Hatchlings." Sacul mumbled again. "I surrendered, now do as you promised and help my brother."
"I will." Ryan, or as Angseth now confirmed, Solstice, sat down across from Vera as the transport began to move. "Please bring him to me Angseth."
Vera carefully collected Serec. Serec, Sacul, and Solstice. It seems the old crew is back together now. The only one missing is Siairus. She mused as she stepped forward and placed Serec into Solstice's waiting arms.
"What you are about to witness, you must never tell anyone." Solstice warned.
"My lips are sealed as long as Serec is returned to me in the condition I left him in. Safe and healthy." Angseth countered. She didn't know what kind of technological magic the avian had up her/its/his sleeve. "What are you doing anyway?"
Sacul spoke up from her corner. "There's so much you still don't know about us. All you need to know at the moment, is that all female Chozo are poisonous…with a few exceptions."
Poisonous? She could ask questions later. Serec first. "And I assume Solstice is one of those exceptions?"
"Yes, I am." Solstice lifted her hand and Serec's body hovered before her. Angseth watched, her mind consumed with both worry and fascination as Solstice carefully tilted Serec's head to the side, exposing the clean line of his neck. She lifted her head, and opened her beak wide. Twin fangs unfolded from the roof of her beak, slick with venom and saliva. She leaned over and sank her fangs deep into Serec's neck, parting his scales and feathers. Serec chirped plaintively. Vera stepped forward, and felt Sacul grab her arm to hold her back.
"Don't worry. Solstice has the unique ability to counter any venom with her own. Guess that's why Siairus chose her over me." Sacul's remark made Solstice's slit eyes shoot daggers at her.
Angseth was shooting daggers of her own. "Is this what happened to him down there?! In the engineering room?!" Angseth demanded. "Your troops weren't happy to just beat the shit out him, but they had to bite him too?! What kind of battle tactics do you teach these soldiers of yours?"
Solstice carefully withdrew her fangs and used the hem of her robe to stem the almost negligible flow of blood from Serec's neck. Her fangs folded neatly back under her beak, and she dabbed at the stray strings of venom with her other sleeve. "Captain. It seems as if the Phazon in your veins isn't helping your temper any. I promise you that I will not allow Serec to die, or Sacul for that matter. We are nearing the Central Core. I will leave Serec with your medical officer and escort you to the command room."
"And what about Sacul?"
"She will be returned to your crew as well. Its up to you to decide what to do with them after that. Both of them have been placed in our diplomatic protection programs. My crew or other members of the Ltaoclazeuq cannot touch them without express permission from the High Council."
Angseth collapsed back into her seat, thankful to get the weight off her cybernetic leg, and all the pain that came with it. She wasn't looking forward to meeting with Admiral Arget'ni. If she had the choice between fighting the Kriken all over again or sitting through another meeting, she would have gladly jumped into the first mess of insectine bodies that she could find.
This would be the first time that Angseth had stepped foot into the main command center of the Salem. If it weren't for the flow of other officers heading in the same direction, she wouldn't have found it. The Captains and commanding officers of the other vessels moved slowly, shuffling down the halls, some nursing wounds, but all held the same haunted expression in their eyes. They all silently pleaded to whatever gods they held dear that this would be the last assault, with the possibility of rest for their crews and supplies. To her surprise, Angseth was the only one in full armor. Even with her limp, she still moved faster than most of them. Fueled by frustration and adrenaline, her only goal was to get in and out of the meeting as soon as possible so she and Weavel could finally set aside all the detours and finish their mission. The other officers parted when they heard Vera clanking and dragging her leg up the hall, occasionally leaning on the wall for support, blue light flickering along the seams of her black armor. For a moment their faces registered fear, and on the more hardened officers, mild curiosity.
As she neared the meeting room, Admiral Arget'ni stepped out of a side office. "In here Captain."
The other officers in the hall gave questioning glances, but continued on their way to the main room. Angseth didn't break her stride and confidently stepped into the small office. From the décor and accolades on the wall, she could instantly tell that this was the Admiral Keeton of the Salem's office. He stood to the left of the door, his hands held behind his back. A large desk with a holo interface dominated the center of the room, bordered on all sides with smaller chairs. In the chair closest to the door, sat Weavel, on his left sat Solstice, her blue plumage contrasted against the mainly gray and metal colored walls and fabrics. Admiral Arget'ni took a seat next to Solstice, and beside her was a face Angseth didn't think she'd see this far out in the boonies, Mirson's assistant, Anderson.
What the hell is he doing here? Vera felt her jaw hit the bottom of her helmet when she recognized Admiral Mirson himself, calmly referencing a holoscreen and pulling a cigar out of a box. The lid read "Echo Valley" and some odd round graphic.
Not even a day out of stasis and already puffing away at the stogies eh?
Angseth walked up to the desk, and even though she wanted to take a seat, she knew that if she sat down, she wouldn't get back up. Climbing out of the transport and delivering Serec to Sakari had been enough of a feat.
Admiral Mirson swept his small beady-eyed gaze over the newcomer and exhaled a cloud of fragrant cigar smoke into the room. "You there, respect this gathering and remove your helmet."
All faces turned, focused on Vera. Angseth activated her external com and said, "Please forgive me Admiral, I refuse."
"I know that voice-Captain Angseth. I suppose much doesn't change in five years. This is not a request Captain. Show some respect and remove your helmet." Mirson held the cigar firmly between his fingers, his tiny brown eyes seemed to pierce through her visor.
"Admiral, I"
"Remove it Mervera Diane Angseth, or I will have you tossed into the brig!"
Faced with imprisonment, Angseth reluctantly complied. She reached up and depressurized the helmet. The clamps loosened under her touch, and it slowly pulled away from her burnt skin. Using both hands, she lifted it as carefully as she could. The inner padding scraped against the burns on her cheeks, ears, and her bare scalp. She hadn't thought to ask Weavel for a mirror before coming aboard the Salem, but she was sure that her scars and burns weren't a pretty sight. Her suspicions were confirmed when several of the officers before and around her winced or turned away. Even Admiral Mirson himself paused and seemed to hold his breath. Vera tucked her helmet under her arm and ran her cold dead gray eyes over those gathered. She felt something wiggle against the base of her scalp, then reached up and tucked one of those flat worms back under the collar of her armor before anyone else could see it. Her present condition was bad enough and didn't need to presence of an unidentified parasite. Those gathered got their eyeful then turned and gave their attention to the System Admiral.
But Mirson wasn't done with Angseth yet. No, for an old fart just out of stasis, he was still as much of a pain in the ass as ever. "Angseth, what happened to you?"
Vera answered curtly and in a tone that said the topic was not open for discussion. "Ridley and I got into a tiff."
Solstice's feathers noticeably shifted, and for a moment the Chozo seemed to lose her composure. She quickly smoothed her feathers back down and prepared for the meeting.
Still in love with him aren't you? Angseth observed. Can't say I blame you, if he hadn't been using me for a wrecking ball, I would've been flirting with him too.
"I suppose you know why I've called you here." Mirson began, exhaling another cloud of smoke.
Angseth resisted the urge to cough. "I have my suspicions sir, but I'll not jump to conclusions."
His eyes fixed on hers again, and it seemed as if all the others in the room ceased to exist. He was trying to read her, or cause her to glance away. Angseth allowed him neither. She was too tired to fight, but she wasn't going to take his bait either.
Admiral Arget'ni sensed the tension in the small room and spoke first. Always the diplomat. "Now that everyone is here. We can assess this information. We have all read the report you had given to Lieutenant Briar. Please expound if you can."
Vera shook her head. "All the information you need, can be provided by Solstice. There is nothing there that I haven't already documented several times over."
Ryan's feathers fluffed again. Even though Vera had forgotten the majority of Chozo expressions, she knew nervousness when she saw it.
Mirson exhaled and set his gaze on Weavel. Anderson coughed next to him. Mirson smiled, and barked out a chuckle, which led him to start coughing. It was the first time Angseth had ever heard such a sound come out of him. "I wish I knew how you did it Captain. I always knew that you were a feisty pain in the rear, but how you managed to get a Gamma Fleet Officer in my presence under his own free will is mind boggling. Might I have your name Sir?"
Weavel's servos whirred before he answered. "I am Weavel. Prince of the Siafu and Gamma Fleet Officer."
"I read your file. Lieutenant Briar filled in all the necessary information to request that the Siafu be recognized as a sentient species and nation." Mirson said. "And the two of you," He pointed to Angseth, "Met because both of you had been chasing what amounted to a distress call from Aran, correct?"
Both Weavel and Angseth nodded an affirmative. Angseth had to give the cyborg credit. He was probably scared out of his circuits. She didn't think that any member of Gamma Fleet had the opportunity to sit in the presence of so many enemies peacefully.
"So, what was so important that you would leave your post," He pointed to Angseth, "And you," He gestured to Weavel with the lit end of his cigar. "Would forsake all of your ties with Gamma Fleet to rescue a woman who has sworn to kill you?"
Both Weavel and Angseth turned and looked at Solstice. "Your turn feather brain." Angseth snapped.
Solstice paused, but as she opened her beak Admiral Keeton of the Salem spoke up. "Excuse me, I have just received word that the interstellar Coms have been repaired. There is something on the news feeds that we should see."
Mirson nodded. "Bring it up. Any news this far out is welcome," He then focused his eyes on Solstice. "You are not off the hook yet Ambassador."
Admiral Keeton activated one the central holo screens. The screen became fuzzy for a moment before an image stabilized. Angseth felt the Phazon surge through her veins and ignite her anger once more.
Captain, now Fleet Admiral Henry Thomas, stood on a raised dais before the senate of Syren 1. The crowd around him roared with cheers and applause as the announcer shouted above the chaos. "Fleet Admiral Henry Thomas is making a bold move before his official change of office in twenty four hours. The newly elected System Admiral has mobilized the remaining forces of the Syrese fleet to SR3-88 as part of his plan to eliminate the Pirate threat from Syrese space once and for all. Since word had been received of the loss of the deep space station known as the 'Salem' the public has demanded more security for the colonies and stations located in the Outer Reaches."
"What is the time stamp on this transmission?" Arget'ni asked.
Angseth stepped forward. She didn't know if anyone else in the room had been trained in coms, but she was curious as well as to how old this information was. After a few taps on the holo keys, she had her answer. "Eighteen hours ago."
Mirson chuckled again. It sounded unnerving this time. "Seems as if I have been out-maneuvered quite nicely. In six hours we will have a new System Admiral of Draco."
"No….No, I can't let that happen." Angseth shook her head. "Weavel, we gotta go. We need to get Samus now."
Weavel moved to stand. Mirson stopped him with a wave of his cigar. "I didn't dismiss either of you."
Angseth's hands clenched, and unclenched. "You know, you're right, you didn't dismiss us, but right now there are bigger things that need to be done. I'm sorry if I can't be more professional about it, but at the moment everything is painfully clear to me, and the only one who can set it all straight is Aran!"
"If you are withholding information, then you need to spill it now." Mirson said calmly, but his skin began to grow redder by the second. In that instant, Angseth decided to see if she could make it go straight to purple. He was just out of stasis, couldn't be that hard.
Angseth set her helmet down on the desk and leaned over into his reddened face. Later Weavel would tell her that the blacker streaks of Phazon across her cheeks had begun burning bright blue. "Now you listen to me you ungrateful dick-wrinkle. I just rescued your ass from the Seattle, and what may have been almost a certain death. A small thank you would be very much appreciated. The rest of you listen up and hit a record button somewhere because I'm only going to say this once. Henry Thomas is Ridley. Ridley is Siairus. No, I don't have any proof other than the burns all over my face and body. Weavel and I need to get Samus out of the Pentacle so she can prevent this stupid war the Chozo are about to undergo."
Ryan sighed. "Its too late for that."
Angseth snapped around. "Too late for what?!"
"Once our fleets are launched, there is no stopping them. As we speak, our forces are gathering. We were already on high alert after we discovered the Space Bridge became activated, and by an Acopiltaczet no less. I have already sent the information you had provided to the High Council. We may be able to stop a full-on military action if Aran is found. They will start by searching the Pentacle for Samus."
"The Pentacle is within the border of Acopiltaczet territory! If you go there, they will definitely attack, that will trigger the war we're trying to prevent!"
"Indeed. And now with this new information of Siairus, it would push both of our peoples over the edge. The Confederation will get caught in the middle. We knew that Siairus had been in hiding, we didn't imagine that his Variable-form technology could be used like this." Solstice stood, straightening out her feathers. "I didn't want to be the bearer of bad news Angseth, but it seems that you have failed in your mission."
"I have not failed yet!"
"Its too late. I am sorry, I had thought our gifts would have been enough to aid you, but I didn't consider Ridley interfering."
Before Angseth could erupt in avian-inspired insults, Mirson spoke calmly. "Sit down please Ambassador. I will not have any of you leaving this office before you have been dismissed properly."
For a moment Solstice seemed to consider her options, but she reluctantly sat down again.
"Now from the top ladies and gentlemen. First things first. Admiral Keeton, please shut down all com lines leading from this station, and only seek ambient signals. They want to think were are dead, then we will not try to change their minds. Now, before the two of you get into any more finger pointing, Weavel. I had read in your report that you had set up a refugee colony on SR3-88, correct?"
"Yes."
"Your people are in the direct line of fire, and you have kept the coolest head. For that I commend you. We can stand to believe that if Admiral Thomas had sent out a fleet, they would be nearing SR3-88 now. With the 'destruction' of the Salem, it would stop them from using this jump gate, thereby slowing them down. We still have a chance. As System Admiral, I accept your plea for Confederation assistance. I will send out forces to intercept the incoming fleet."
"Admiral, we barely have-"
"In a moment Arget'ni.—Angseth, you were sent on a special mission to recover Samus Aran, what is the status of that mission?"
Angseth still felt the Phazon course through her veins, but bit back her anger and frustration. She settled for entertaining thoughts of making a pillow stuffed with light blue feathers. "Using Weavel's help, we had deduced that Aran had been taken to one of two locations, Rovien, or the Pentacle. We uncovered a Metroid breeding program on Rovien, but not Aran herself." At least I hope "mother" wasn't Samus. Vera inhaled deeply. "That only leaves the Pentacle. Before we could leave for the Pentacle, Lieutenant Briar had assumed command of the Mabus, and we left to answer an SOS on the Salem. Now that the Salem is safe, we wish to continue on to the Pentacle."
"You suspect that she is there, yet you have no proof." Arget'ni asked.
"We have to go with what we have Sir."
Mirson looked at Solstice. "If Samus is found, Can she prevent this war?"
"Yes." Ryan said calmly. "But Angseth cannot make it there before the main Chozo force arrives. By your methods, travel to the Pentacle would take over a month from this location."
Angseth bit her bottom lip. In all of their planning, she hadn't thought about the time it would take to travel that distance. "By our methods."
Arget'ni caught on to the tone in Angseth's voice. "Ambassador. How long until the main Chozo force arrives at the Pentacle?"
"Three hours."
Weavel spoke up. "We can do it. I don't know much about Space Bridges, but I do know that they allow for instant transportation from one point to another. If the Chozo could help us configure the bridge, then Angseth and I can free Aran in three hours."
"A good plan, but this bridge has a set path, it cannot be done with this one."
Anderson coughed again. Angseth wondered if a lung or worse was going to end up on the desk.
Arget'ni then folded her hands across her knee. "Well then, Ambassador. Is there anything that can be done from this end of Confederate space?"
All eyes turned on Solstice. Vera believed that this would be the first time she had ever seen Ryan lose her composure. Her taloned fingers traced patterns against her robes, a Chozo version of mumbling to oneself. Her feathers slowly smoothed back against her skull and down her neck, making her appear much smaller and weaker than she had first let on. "I have no desire to witness the beginning of another war, which I believe may have been Siairus' intention in the first place. If war is waged between the two Chozo nations, then he will no longer be exiled from his home world. They will welcome him in with open arms."
"Do you have a solution?" Mirson asked.
"I will probably be in a lot of trouble for authorizing this," she sat up, her feathers gaining volume. "Our ships are equipped with a teleportation beam, designed for use with our telekenetics. It enables us to cross large distances in minutes. However, they can only move certain amounts of mass, which is why we use Morph Ball technology to minimize the volume of space the ships encompass. To teleport Angseth and Weavel such a long distance, you would need a very small craft."
"And then there is the matter of getting through the Umbra, the Pentacle's self-defense system." Anderson chipped in.
"You let me worry about that." Angseth breathed. "Weavel, your ship or mine?"
Weavel's external speak buzzed. "Yours of course. You think that a Pirate scout ship is going to stand a chance in Confederation space, especially near a heavily guarded compound like the Pentacle?"
"My fighter is only a one-seater."
"I would almost pay to see the internal monitor feed from that craft." Anderson sniggered.
"Then it looks like the two of you are sharing a fighter." Arget'ni smiled.
Solstice pulled up information on Angseth's fighter on the holo screen before her. "It will take an hour to prepare my telepaths."
"That only leaves us two hours to find her and get back out." Angseth took her helmet from the desk.
"At this rate, you have no choice but to complete this mission in two hours, or the Chozo will do it for you." Mirson scanned the faces of those around him. "Dismissed."
Immediately, Solstice, Weavel, and Angseth stood, discussing plans for their departure. Admiral Arget'ni leaned further back in her chair. "Admiral Mirson. Forgive me for stepping out of line, but have you thought this through? We are only sending two people, one of them a Pirate. Large scale armies couldn't break into the Pentacle."
"I need to make do with what I have. I didn't see you volunteering for the
mission. Although I wish I could be there when Mizzen's little pet finally turns on him."
"And SR3-88?"
"Gather up what little forces we have left. Meanwhile, I'm going to ride Solstice hard until he surrenders one of those battleships out there."
Vera limped slowly up the hall leading from the Salem's briefing room. Two hours was too little time to complete this mission, but she had to try, she had to do something to stop the Chozo from attacking. She would do it or die trying. If she did fail, Angseth didn't think that she would want to live to serve in the aftermath. She had been so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice a pair of booted feet pass her by.
"Angseth."
She struggled to lift her gaze from the metal corrugated floor to the source of the voice. First she noticed a pair of feet, covered in polished black leather boots. Her eyes traveled upward to a pair of black pants, and soon a black dress coat, silver studded buttons up the left side, a thick collar, and a name tag, along with a symbol she had become familiar with. This was another Battle Cruiser Captain. Vera paused when the shoulders came into view, and a pair of twin bars around each bicep. She quickly looked up and into Briar's eyes. His brows were set and hard, his ears pinned back. He looked very pissed…or very concerned. Even after all these years it was still difficult to read his feline features. He had been promoted, and she felt she knew exactly which Battle Cruiser he was the Captain of. Angseth steeled herself against what she knew would be a very long and drawn out battle, most likely ending in a pair of broken hearts. These last few months had taken their toll on him. Even with the good news of his promotion, his stance and distant expression masked the depth of his pain, and at the moment Vera didn't feel like testing those waters. She didn't think that her stance had become defensive, but as usual her emotions were plain to read from her body language.
Nevada seemed to deflate, he scanned and understand her emotions plainly. His shoulders dropped and his ears splayed to the sides. His eyes grew soft and weary. "Vera,"
That caught her off-guard. She had expected him to say "Captain" or "Commander." Calling her by name had been a surprise. Angseth still remained defensive, but now she leaned inward, hanging on his every breath. She loved him dearly, and like a teenager with her first crush, she gave him her full and undivided attention.
"I did some thinking."
Not a good start. Angseth drew in a breath. "And?" The word came out more harshly than she intended.
"I did some thinking, and," He ran his fingers through the short hair on his head, one of his biggest nervous tells. Dear Gods he looked handsome in a Captain's uniform. It looked…. appropriate on him.
"Spit it out Briar, I have very little time." She started off this conversation bitter, might as well stick with the theme.
"Vera I love you."
"But?"
"I love you, and I'll admit that I was seriously considering calling our engagement off." He winced, almost as if he expected her to explode. When she didn't react, he continued. "But I realized that I love you more than that. These are extreme conditions that we've been in, and if they had been different and not so dire, you would have been with me the entire time."
Angseth allowed herself to relax, but not fully. After that emotional bomb, she was skeptical and afraid, and the Phazon overdose wasn't helping her anxiety much.
"I love you, and want you to be my wife. What kind of mate would I be if I abandoned you in your moment of greatest need?" He reached out and took her hands, holding them tightly and tenderly, as if several inches of armor were not there. "I chose you, knowing full well what I was getting into. When I first met you, you had been rolled and folded up inside one of the worst wrecks I had ever seen anyone in. I had been amazed that you made it out with only one leg missing, hissing and spitting the entire time. I fell in love with you the moment your bruised and bloody face peeked out from behind all that twisted metal. Your strength and tenacity spurred me forward, and yes I was jealous of your candid nature, the ease of which you would brazenly command a platoon into almost certain death and back out again. I still am jealous. But I love you. As I've already said, I knew what I was getting into, and it would be stupid and hypercritical of me to cast you aside for being you."
Vera didn't know what to say, she had been expecting a battle, screaming and name-calling, capped off by slamming of equipment and doors. These words while very much welcome, and took her completely off-guard. She could only whisper his name. "Nevada…"
He kissed the back of her knuckles, bloodied and covered in Kriken juice. "I won't ask for your forgiveness. I know better than that. But I will ask you one more time." Briar looked up at her now, past the decayed blue-gray her eyes had turned, into the face of his mate. His pupils had become slitted once more, amber around the edge of his iris, and deep green toward the center. He drew in a soft breath and asked:
"Will you be my Wife?"
Tears pulled at Vera's eyes. She thought that her eyes couldn't create any more tears, the defiant little drops rolled over her cheeks and down her chin. Vera calmed herself, and gently held Briar's fingers in the cold grip of her gauntlets. "Yes Nevada. I will. I never stopped loving you, I never will. There is so mush that I need to do, so many lives are counting on me-"
"Shhhh…" Briar kissed her forehead, his whiskers and rough tongue caressed her burned skin. "I understand. Now, come back with your shield, or on it."
Angseth barked out a nervous laugh. "I'll do my best Kitty." She had to admit, that saying was very much unlike him, but it was what she needed right now. There was no other choice. Victory or Death were her only options. Vera held his hand for another moment, burning the image of his smile into her minds eye.
"I'll walk you to your ship." He held his arm out, and she looped hers through his, leaning on him for support and to take some weight off of her cybernetic leg. She had an extra spring in her step, and the euphoria that came only from having a cause to fight for. Her fighter was already fueled up and ready to go. Weavel poked his metallic head out as she came over.
"Cutting it close Private?"
"We'll be fine." She pulled her helmet on, forgetting to be careful of her burnt skin. A new wave of tears threatened as she jumped up into the cockpit. Before her heart had been heavy, her future bleak, but those few words of encouragement from Briar had done wonders for her. Her heart was light and now the passion for life had been reawakened in her. Her hands slipped into the grips, and she smiled.
"Weavel." Briar called. "Take care of my mate. If anything happens to her, I'm taking it out on your circuits." Briar locked his determined cold stare on the cyborg. He wasn't bluffing, and if anything did happen to Angseth, he would make good on his threat. Convinced that an understanding had been reached, the newly appointed Captain turned and strode out of the docking bay.
Weavel could hear Angseth giggle through the com-line, but it wasn't the cold Phazon induced cackle he had become familiar with. This was warmer and delightful. It melted the fear that had settled in his circuits. As the fighter left the docking bay and headed for the jump gate, Weavel secretly hoped that he would have the chance to savor her laugh again after all was said and done. He would do as Briar asked, and ensure that Angseth made it out alive.
The halls of the Outer Ring echoed with the sounds of marching Marines. The Admirals had ordered uninjured troops that were not currently involved in the repair process to examine the halls and locate possible structural threats. Commander Bearn had been placed under General Isoke's command. He and his small group of Marines scanned every hall and maintenance duct, simultaneously clearing dead Kriken or Siafu out of the way and into containment pods for later cremation. All was going well until they reached a system of halls where the main electrical grid had been disabled. Bearn's troops either activated their night vision or flashlights, and prepared for slow going.
This particular area had taken a beating, however it didn't seem to follow the same kind of damage pattern as the other areas of Kriken or Pirate intrusion. Bearn checked his maps against the station's database. This section of the Outer Ring, including four decks above and below, were sanctioned as an impound lot. The door to the impound area had been ripped cleanly from it's holdings, then twisted and tossed aside. Beyond the door was a long wide catwalk, with clear plasteel plating that allowed each bay to be monitored from this main walk. He ordered his troops to form up and then stepped cautiously onto the catwalk. The dark could hide anyone….
…except him.
Down at the other end of the hall, stood Kanden, glowing like a maggoty firefly. The Marine's night vision filters struggled with the brightness of his body. As if on cue, the now familiar com interference started up again, and Bearn felt more confident with a full complement of soldiers behind him.
Yes…Yes! Kanden can feel the presence of his beloved behind this door. This very door which has sat serenely and unnoticed for all this time. This very door that even the Kriken and the Pirates had not seen fit to destroy or even search! Yes, my dearest Penelope, this door has been your protector and your guardian during this insane siege! Hah! Even the Beast known as Ang-seth could not find you my love!—Hark! Kanden turns as he hears footsteps approach behind him. Even Kanden's newest protégé had come to witness your release my sweetness!—Kanden readies his most powerful of weapons! His love for his one and only! Brace yourself Penelope! Kanden is COOOOOMMMEEEEEIIIINNNNGGGG!
Bearn began to close in on Kanden.
Mysterious powers revealed them selves to Kanden the day he held aloft his mighty beam and shouted, "For the honor of Penelope!"
At this, Kanden's right fist began to glow, and he slammed it into the center of the huge door before him. The door buckled, cracked, and in some places rippled. The maggot man then reached with his left, grabbed the cracked seam in the middle of the blast door, and glowing even more fiercely than before, pulled, twisted, and ripped the blast door open, creating a Kanden-sized hole. He climbed through, and into a brightly lit docking bay.
Penelope!
Bearn followed as Kanden scampered across the catwalk toward a ship docked at the far end. He lifted his hand to halt the advance of the troops behind him. The ship was iridescent yellow green in color, and bore a striking resemblance to Kanden in his Sting-Larva form.
Oh Peneloope! Through darkest halls and Kriken guts, I have come to rescue you from this prison! Have they treated you well? Have you eaten today? Kanden was very rightly worried that you may have been used to make even more Kriken drones, perhaps even spare parts ripped from your body to clothe the filthy loins of some Pirate louse. Kanden knew that Penelope could care for herself! Penelope is a tough gal!
Bearn felt his arms weaken, and he resisted the urge to throw his rifle. "Penelope is a ship?!"
Not just a ship my esteemed Marinely sidekick! Penelope is Kanden's love! Kanden leveling traces her every curve and panel with his happy and contented gaze. From the bulge of her cockpit, to the streamlined fins along her back, to the large booster restraints on her backside—Booster restraints?! Penelope! They have bound you! They have used their foul restraints to hold back your indomitable spirit! Tell me Penelope, where have they touched you? In what other vile ways have they violated your innocence…No, Kanden cannot bear the thought!…Penelope…Kanden must know…were they….were they…inside you?
At that, the huge glowing bulk of maggot erupted into sobs, and began lovingly stroking the surface of the Penelope, his hunter-class gunship.
"Hey sir,"
Bearn turned at the voice. "What?"
"I was looking at the inventory list, and uh, that ship is just a ship, it doesn't even have an AI."
Bearn shook his head. "I am not in the least surprised." He walked up to Kanden. Who was still moaning and crying over his beloved. "Hey uh…Kanden."
Be gone! Kanden does not wish his weakness to be exposed so easily! Allow Kanden a moment to compose himself. Even Gods may weep!
Bearn didn't know what else to do. He knew that taking Kanden by force would be suicide, especially since the creature was already upset over his ship. Bearn took a moment to pull up Kanden's file from the detention center. After reading it carefully, he discussed his options with the Salem's Admiral Keeton. A few more minutes later, and Bearn closed down the com link in his HUD. He closed the distance between himself and Kanden.
Kanden will not go willingly! Kanden has smited much stronger men than you protégé! Do not test Kanden's patience any longer!
Bearn activated his external speaker. "I am not here to test you, I've already discussed it with my superior. The only reason you were imprisoned in the first place is because you became rowdy and hard to deal with when they came to you about a parking ticket. In light of the recent aid you had given us during the invasion, Admiral Keeton is willing to cut your fine in half. If you can give me one hundred and fifty Confederation Credits, I will personally remove the Booster Restraints on your ship and you can go on your way.
Kanden will do no such thing!
"Then I will have to take you back to the detention center."
Even Kanden must respect the whims of the laws of lesser beings. Kanden will pay the full amount. At that Kanden pulled a credit card out of …somewhere…and handed it to Bearn. Three Hundred Credits.
Bearn scanned the card, and handed it back. "Okay, free up his ship." He stood back and watched as the restraints were removed. Kanden triumphantly climbed up to the airlock on Penelope.
Farewell my protégé! Farewell to all of the Marines present! Kanden and Penelope ride forth to worlds unknown!
"Yeah, yeah, just...go." Bearn mumbled. "Alright, the rest of you form up! Lets go!"