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Melbine Space Shuttle Base
The hover finally came to a halt in front of a parking meter in a reserved for government vehicles only spot. A light started flashing from the parking meter as its sensor registered the hover craft. There was a soft tone followed by a whir, a page was expelled from a slot on the hover's dash with a photograph of Kennedy clutching the steering yoke at the bottom of the page. Three more pages were expelled before the printer stopped.
"Well Mr. Kennedy it appears you now have your first 75 traffic citations." Ezra smirked as he read the printout over the Aide's shoulder. "And your driver's license has been revoked."
A clang and the parking meter opened, a clamp appeared and locked onto the undercarriage of the hover tethering it in place.
"And you got the boot," Yeager growled in satisfaction.
It took the concentrated efforts of Josiah and Buck on the inside and two uniformed police officers on the outside to pry one of the hover doors open enough so that they could get out. Relieved sighs filled the air as they once more stood on solid ground. There was a flurry of motion as Larabee lunged for Kennedy, who had shoved his way past the security officers and was now standing in the doorway to the hover craft.
"NO, Chris!" Buck and Josiah pinned the furious Larabee between them.
Smirks appeared as one of Yeager's men tried to get past Kennedy, only to get pushed back by the fuming man. The green-faced soldier promptly returned the favor and spewed all down Kennedy's back.
"Larabee, bathroom now," Vin demanded sharply.
"Not you, you're under arrest." A large hand clamped down on Kennedy's shoulder.
"I'm an Aide to the Council, unhand me at once," Kennedy ordered.
"Mister, you could be a council member and I'd arrest you right now," The police officer growled.
"Capt. Yeager, your team is still assigned to guard duty, fall in," Chris chuckled and squatted down letting Tanner climb onto his back. Walking off, they left Kennedy protesting his arrest while he was cuffed and stuffed into a squad hover.
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Yeager and his team didn't make a big deal of guarding the group, simply making it appear as if they were seeing friends off.
"Nathan's here," Vin announced upon entering the shuttle port. The human pushed himself up higher on Larabee's back trying to locate the medic. "There." Vin gently turned Chris' head in the proper direction.
"Here?" Josiah and Buck blurted.
"What's he doing here?" Larabee demanded.
"You never call, you never write. Tsk, tsk, and you wonder why mother worries," Ezra sniffed.
"Brother Nathan!" Josiah called and waved an arm to get the other man's attention. Wide smiles greeted the medic as he hurriedly made his way through the crowd to join the pack.
"I caught the first transport back when they lost contact with you." Nathan glared at his sheepish teammates. They look like ten miles of bad road as my Granny would say. How'd they get this wore down in just a few days? They all look awful but Vin and Chris look like they should be in the hospital. His lips tightened as he made note of Vin being carried piggy back by Larabee and the bandaged foot. "I can't let you out of my sight before you tear yourself up."
"Ya can look at it in a minute Nate," Vin snapped. "Giddy-up Larabee, my bladder ain't gettin' any emptier."
"Ask nicely, I don't take orders very well." Chris reminded evilly.
"YOU best 'member where I am right now." Vin's voice was smug. "Iffen I was to have an acci-dent yer gonna be a might miserable too."
"Point made." Chris immediately headed toward the bathrooms with several of the security team trailing behind, most of whom seemed more interested in the facilities than guarding the pair.
Glancing around to make certain that none of the others were hurt Nathan looked torn.
"Go check on the boy," Josiah laughed.
Without a word Nathan headed after Larabee and Tanner.
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Once Vin had taken care of his pressing business Nathan swooped down on him plopping him onto the bathroom counter.
"Where are your shoes?" Nathan growled.
"Mother hen?" Jonesy looked over at his sergeant and grinned.
"Siah tossed 'em," Vin muttered, an embarrassed flush caressing his cheek bones as he was subjected to assorted looks by strangers using the facilities. He began to scoot to the edge of the counter and slid to the floor pressing close to Larabee.
Nathan picked Vin up and sat him firmly back in place. "You sit there or I'll paddle your scrawny ass. Now let me see what you've done," Jackson ordered. His hands were gentle as he picked up the injured foot.
"He picked up a piece of glass. Ezra cut it out and Buck made sure he got it all. Never saw anything like it. Standish used a needle and a strand of hair to sew it up." Chris reported keeping a calming hand on Tanner's leg.
"SEW?" Nathan frowned. "Didn't you have a medical kit?"
"It wasn't Hunter friendly," Chris answered.
"Supply," Nathan huffed. "Medical has complained time and time again about that stupidity. Good thing you checked before using the wound seal. Could have put Vin in the hospital if you had used it."
"First let's get the dirt off and see what we're dealing with," Nathan soothed as he began removing the bandages. "You sure all the glass is out?" Vin nodded. "Once I get my kit and put a dab of wound seal on this you'll be good as new." Need to find out how bad things are. The way Vin's shaking he must be having sensory spikes.
"I called Travis when I got to the space station and he told me you all were shipping out. I went out to the cabin and picked up the gear, while Travis got our stuff out of storage. Once the travel plans were finally made, we came to meet you here." The medic gave a rundown on his recent duties not really expecting the men to pay attention but he dropped his voice into a soothing purr. Nathan's hands were gentle as he washed the human's feet in the sink.
"Good job," Chris acknowledged. Where'd he learn to use his voice like that. Vin's just letting it settle him like one of Ezra's lullabies. Nathan seems different.
"Thanks Nate." Vin kept his head down and turtled up, wrapping his arms around his legs making himself small. He avoided the strangers' eyes as they washed their hands. Most simply stared, a few made rude remarks before hurrying off followed by a semi-lethal Larabee glare. "Rekin we need ta clear out so's other folks can get in?"
Nate frowned thoughtfully as he stared at the two neat stitches. I'll have to remember this. Hope I never need to use it but . . . what is it about the looks of this that bother me so much?
"Want out of here," Vin snarled, shifting uncomfortably.
"It's getting too crowded for him," Chris growled as he tried to calm the human.
"Then let's go join the rest of the boys. Vin'll settle better with all his pack." Nate swung the slender human into his arms and strode out of the bathroom with Larabee staying close to his side. Yeager' men still trailed behind.
"Nate . . .," Vin flushed a bit glancing around. He shifted miserably but said nothing else with the security team in such close attendance.
"That foot isn't going to touch the ground until I get it sealed," Jackson said firmly. "Now a man as smart as you might take advantage of being held this way to 'reacquaint' himself with a clan member. Nettie Wells, gave me a crash course in Hunter behavior while I was on Quantico," Nathan added in a soothing whisper.
Vin smiled shyly and relaxed against Nathan's chest, wrapping his arms around Jackson's neck he lay his head down on the broad shoulder and happily snuffled the other man's neck to his heart's content. "Yah smell happy."
"Raine and I did a lot of talking. I think we're back on track. She's willing to meet you once we get to Quantico. Once I found out the bunch of you were alright . . . well I'm a happy man," Nathan said cheerfully. Glancing back making sure the security men were out of hearing range and none of them were wearing a Hunter flash he demanded softly. "Where'd you get the girl and am I suppose to know her?"
"Her name's Cassey, she followed Buck back to camp." Chris grinned ruefully.
"Why am I not surprised," Nathan snorted.
"Until somebody asks about her we're not saying anything," Chris explained.
"She's clan now," Vin said seriously.
"We're going to have to figure out someplace for her to stay while we're going through boot camp," Nathan said thoughtfully. "Pretty little thing isn't she. What in the world was she doing in Sydni?" Tanner stiffened and Nathan looked in to the sad eyes. "One of them things I'm gonna get sick about?" Nathan asked.
"Ugly," Chris growled furiously.
"You get a doctor to look at her?" Nathan demanded.
"Dr. Abbott scanned her. Said we'd be better off letting Nettie Wells take care of her," Chris answered.
"Don' crowd her Nate. She's hidin' it but she's scairt as hell," Vin warned.
"Alright Vin," Nathan agreed gently. Not the only one 'scarit' of us. Nathan gently hugged the human tighter. Vin snuffled under Nathan's ear and settled comfortably.
Once they rejoined the rest of the team Nathan sat down with Vin still in his arms and smiled warmly at Cassey. Vin caught the girl's eyes, then openly scented Nathan. Cassey smiled shyly peeking out from behind Buck.
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"Chris, boys," Travis greeted the special operations team. Yeager and his men stood back allowing the group some privacy. Orrin blinked as the newest member of the group registered and looked at Larabee questioningly. Why did I think this was going to be easy?
"Unca Chris," Billy threw himself into Larabee's arms. "All the kids at school wanted to meet the humans after my report. They even had a bunch of clips of you, Buck, Vin and JD on the news looking for the trapped people."
No wonder Council is trying to get us off planet. "You don't say," Chris winced.
"Uh huh, do you have to leave so soon?" Billy asked hopefully.
"Council wants us on Quantico for training," Chris explained.
"When will you be back?" the little boy demanded.
"I don't know, Billy," Chris sighed.
"Grandpa got you a four bedroom suite on the Star Seeker. He said with Hunters on the team you would need the privacy," Billy rambled on.
"The Star Seeker? Man are we're traveling in style," Buck chuckled.
"It's the only thing leaving for Quantico for the next two days," Orrin said seriously. The General's dancing eyes revealed his mirth at the situation. They deserve to be pampered. I wonder how much rest they got during all this mess?
Chris hugged Billy and passed him over to Buck so the boy could say good-bye to the rest of the team.
"Is there something you want to tell me Chris?" Orrin growled softly so as not to be overheard.
"Her name's Cassey. She found us during the search. No papers on her at all. She doesn't exist. You might want to find out why," Chris suggested bitterly. "Talk to Dr. Abbott, he knows as much as I do about her. Orrin, she's clan now."
"I'll see about getting her legal status taken care of," Orrin sighed. "Are you through shaking things up yet?"
"I think this is going to be what passes for 'normal' for a long time," Chris admitted ruefully. "Oh I'm going to be in trouble with the Council. We pissed off an Aide by the name of Kennedy. Make sure Yeager and his team don't get blamed for the hover damage. Kennedy was the one driving." Larabee nodded toward the security team that had trailed them through the space port but now hung back at a respectful distance.
"Any thing to do with that mess?" Orrin indicated the over head screens showing recent news bites. Replays of the recent traffic pile up filled the screens.
"Only 37 hovers involved? I'm surprised I'd have thought there would be more," Larabee admitted with a wince.
"Your gear is already loaded." Travis reported as he led the team to the boarding area. "Why is Jackson carrying Tanner? Where are his shoes?"
"Vin cut his foot and he doesn't have any. The shoes didn't make it through the search aftermath," Larabee said innocently.
"Hmmmph," Orrin looked over at the bare little feet and smiled ruefully. Extra toes too? No wonder Chris is having trouble getting anything that will fit him.
"Oh I forgot," Billy pulled away from Josiah and hurriedly dug through his backpack. "These are for Vin. Unca Aggie said to make sure he got them right away." The boy proudly held out a pair of strange boots made from a very soft animal hide, a pair of socks poked up from one of the boot tops.
"Moccasins." Vin reached out with a pleased grin. "Didn't figure Centurions would even know what a pair looked like.
"Let me seal your foot, then you can try them on." Nathan slid Vin into one of the nearby chairs and took his medical kit from Orrin.
Billy walked over curiously. "Neat, didn't that hurt?" he asked showing a typical little boy fascination with gore.
"Yeah," Vin answered cheerfully. "Yah shoulda seen the looks on them grown-ups faces when Ez comenced ta sewing."
"Kids!"Shaking his head Nathan clipped the stitches and pulled them free once the wound was sealed. It's going to leave a funny looking scar but who's going to notice on the bottom of a foot anyway.
Vin pulled on the socks and wiggled his toes before tugging on the 'moccasins'. Standing up he walked several paces one direction then back.
"How do they feel?" Chris asked. At least these shouldn't rub his feet raw.
"Good, they feel good," Vin answered happily.
"I was able to recover most of your gear from Hunter Center including your weapons. I have to admit to be interested in seeing how that long . . . gun of Tanner's works." Orrin spoke directly to the humans.
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The guides flinched as a unit of young soldiers stalked over led by a furious private. Rage and hate seemed to pour off the younger men.
"Damned human trash," the youngster snarled drawing back his hand to strike Vin.
"PRIVATE!" Orrin Travis barked grabbing the young man's arm. "Just what do you think you're doing?"
"That piece of scum killed my father," the boy hissed.
"There are lots of humans, son," Josiah reminded calmly holding firmly to the private's other arm.
"But only one Falcon. I saw his picture when they captured him!" the boy yelled trying once more to reach Vin.
An angry crowd began to gather. Yeager's team circled the group protectively, exchanging worried looks. The guides grimaced trying to increase their shields to keep the 'angry' emotions at a safe distance. Chris paled and shivered as his shields began to crumble under the onslaught, exhaustion sapping his strength. Vin stepped closer, increasing his shields to cover the weakening guides, pushing down his own emotions in an effort to protect the guides.
"Do you know who I am PRIVATE?" Travis shook the boy.
"I don't really give a damn, grandpa," the private snarled.
"General Travis, do you want me to call in peacekeepers, Sir?" Yeager asked sharply his worried eyes lingered on the growing mob. Travis nodded.
"A General!" The young private's cronies drew back as they realized not only did the human have security around him but a high ranking officer was present. The human wasn't as easy a mark as they had considered there might be serious reprecussions if things went too far.
"But he KILLED my father," the boy protested.
"I'm sorry your father was . . . ," Travis began only to be cut off.
"What was his name?" Vin asked softly.
"What?" The cadet demanded turning to glare at Tanner.
"Your father's name. I've killed many men," the sentinel said calmly.
Chris growled faintly and a furious murmur raced through the crowd. Just has to be honest doesn't he.
Ezra cursed softly under his breath. "Now is not the most auspicious time for honesty, Mr. Tanner," he hissed.
"Capt. Benjamin Matthews. Is that all you have to say?" the furious young man demanded hoarsely.
"Our peoples are at war. You kill us, we kill you, what more is there to say?" Vin asked curiously.
"You MURDERED him in June," The boy spluttered. He knocked Travis down when he jerked his arm free of Orrin's hold. The private swung a fist toward Tanner. Vin didn't even blink as Chris' hand lashed out clamping down on the private's wrist brutally. The angry mob pushed closer only to be driven back by Yeager's men.
"Murdering humans." "Should kill them all." Angry voices lifted from the safety of the crowd.
"In June, I was on Friendship," Vin said gently.
"Stupid, Mr. Tanner, very stupid," Ezra hissed.
"I terminated my target on 11 June. Made my pick up point 10 days later." Vin reported calmly.
Ezra grimaced and exchanged a dismayed look with JD. It wouldn't take very much research on the Centurions parts to come up with the name of that particular target now.
"You couldn't have killed him. You were on different planets," Matthew's finally allowed.
The private tossed his bag to the floor and turned to face Travis. His fists clenched at his sides he leaned into the general's personal zone. "He's the FALCON, an assassin. Why's he still alive?" The boy demanded glaring at Travis. "He should have been executed."
"Falcon!" "An assassin." "Murdering animal." "What's the Military thinking?" "Kill him!" The crowd surged forward only to get pushed back. Things were going to get out of hand in a hurry the way the crowds rage began to escalate.
Buck picked Billy up and swung him into Jonesy's arms getting the child out of the danger zone and wordlessly making Jonesy responsible for the boy's well being. Jonesy received a nod from Yeager and slipped quietly away from the confrontation.
Orrin stiffened. "Pvt. Matthews, that was a Council decision I suggest you take it up with them. Boy I'm making allowances for your grief but don't disrespect my rank again."
Larabee gasped as a killing rage began to press in on him. Vin must be weakening for his shields to slip bad enough to . . . Hell this isn't from Centurions this is human emotion. Chris followed Vin's gaze trying to locate what had triggered such a intense reaction. All four of the humans were staring at Pvt. Matthews' bag with hate filled eyes.
Vin darted forward and grabbed the bag, upending it he dumped Matthew's belongs onto he floor.
"Give that back it was my father's," the private demanded pushing forward only to be pushed back roughly by Josiah.
"Rekin it's what got him dead," Tanner snarled.
"You dare to accuse Vin Tanner of murder? While your . . . father carried the blood of thousands on his hands." Ezra's drawl was icy as he confronted the angry private.
"My father was a hero. He received the Council Medal of Honor," Matthew swung at Ezra only to have Josiah wrap his powerful arms around him and squeeze.
"Ez, it's his pa. A man wants ta take pride in his family," Vin sighed.
"He was carrying that, that . . . abomination," Ezra thundered furiously.
"Ez, he don' know what it is. Stupid kid would have carried that damn thing around and got hisself kilt over it, never knowing why," Vin growled.
"Can you be certain of that Mr. Tanner? Perhaps our young innocent is well aware of that bag's origins," Ezra snarled back bitterly.
"My gut says different," Vin replied softly.
"What unit are you assigned to?" Buck snapped.
"Col. John M. Chivington, the same as my dad. I'm going to take up where he left off," Matthews straightened proudly, shaking Josiah off.
"Sand Creek, such a wonderful legacy," Ezra drawled bitterly. "There were no heroes among those bloody handed animals."
Matthews lunged at the human only to fall on his face as he 'tripped' over Vin's foot. Buck pressed him down to the floor with a foot in the middle of his back. "You just stay down there till we get this worked out boy. You're beginning to bother me."
Cassey's soft sobs caught the pack's attention. She sat on the floor and rocked, holding the bag in her arms tightly. Ezra wrapped his arms around her loosely and began to croon in a human dialect.
Protectively Vin stalked around the pair making it plain no one was to approach them.
"I want my bag back," Matthews protested. "Those humans can't steal it."
Angry murmurs filled the air as Matthew's teammates and the crowd pressed closer. Ezra protested softly as Cassey pulled away and came to her feet.
Cassey snarled dangerously, a shaking hand stroked the bag. "It is the McCrae clan mark."
"Cassey's, MacLeod clan, they're kin to the McCrae's," JD explained sadly. "She'd have known the woman that belonged to." Dunne patted Buck's arm before joining Ezra in trying to comfort the girl.
Larabee's gaze lingered on the simple bag that had triggered such dangerous emotion in the humans. He studied the patterned covering flap then stared at Vin in disbelief. Chris' stomach rolled as the truth sank home, spinning away he began vomiting weakly into a nearby garbage can.
"It was my father's," Matthew's snapped.
"See that the boy gets another bag. He cain't have this one." Vin said in a low growl. The Sentinel's body language screamed predator as he stalked between his suffering guide and the distraught Cassey obviously unhappy about the group being separated.
"Diego, go get a new bag," Yeager ordered one of his team.
"Mister, you don't want any part of this bag or any man that'll carry it," JD said coldly.
The air filled with heated whispers and loud protests from the crowd.
I should have never gotten out of bed this morning. Travis's thoughts wandered off on a tangent as he tried to wrap his mind around the humans' behavior. Was Capt. Soule telling the truth about what happened? Travis sighed in relief as peace officers arrived and began to disperse the crowd.
"Sand Creek? Wasn't that the battle that Captain Soule, and Lt. Cannon tried to get Col. Chivington court-martialed over?" Buck demanded.
"Nothing ever came of it," Yeager's sergeant reminded.
"Except that both of them received death threats for testifying. Soule was shot in the back of the head during the hearings, rendering his testimony inadmissible since he couldn't be cross examined. Cannon was poisoned shortly there after," Josiah revealed quietly.
"Be some where else, Private. NOW," Chris growled furiously as he rejoined his sentinel. Vin seemed to sigh in relief as Larabee's hand settled on his shoulder. The guide would stand with his sentinel on this, even against his own people.
Matthews snarled glaring at the group but stalked off with his friends. The crowd dispersed under the determined urging of the peace keepers.
"Gun!" Tanner yelled knocking Chris and as many of his team down as he could. The peacekeepers piled onto a struggling figure. Finally securing the man they took him into custody. Luckily the weapon wasn't fired during the struggle.
"One might assume that the authorities of Novas Mehix still have not rescinded the bounty on Mr. Tanner's scruffy hide," Ezra sighed.
"Let's get you out of here before things get completely out of hand," Orrin ordered. "Matthews and his cronies are getting transferred to separate units. That kid isn't going into human territories with the grudge he's carrying." A bounty? I need to check into that too.
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Jonesy returned with Billy now that the situation seemed to be under control. Gently he sat the boy on his feet and backed away as Team 7 pulled the boy into their midst checking to make certain the child was uninjured.
"Vin, did you really kill Centurions?" Billy asked.
"Yes," Vin sighed deeply and knelt down in front of the boy.
"Doesn't it bother you?" Billy demanded.
"Billy." Vin gently brushed the boy's hair back out of his eyes. "I 'member every one of their faces. They visit in my dreams most nights. It does something inside yah when you kill another man. Even knowing they needed killin' . . . it makes you . . . less than yah should be," Tanner said sadly. "You 'member what I'm telling you now. Centurion, human they ain't no difference, dead is dead and killin' burdens a man somethin' fierce."
Billy nodded seriously, a small hand came to rest over Vin's heart. "Why kill then?"
"If I kill the right person . . . how many folks won't die, do yah wonder?" Vin asked sadly.
"Oh," Billy chewed his lip. "Does your God think it's alright . . . to kill, I mean?"
Vin sucked in a pained breath. "No, God don' think it's alright ta kill. God's law says 'Thou shalt not murder.' I kin only pray fer his forgiveness." Vin's eyes were filled with pain.
Chris reached out and laid a supporting hand on Vin's bent head.
"Col. Larabee a moment of your time," Orrin growled. Once Chris had joined him Orrin demanded softly, "What in blue blazes was that trouble over that bag about? We're going to have Council down on us and I want to know why?"
"Vin has a tattoo on his left shoulder. He told me it was a clan mark," Larabee sighed. "The bag is made out of a human skin."
"Skin . . ." Travis stared his mind refusing to accept the idea. Orrin's horror filled eyes lingered on the 'clan mark' on the bag.
Diego walked up, a brand new bag hung from his hands. None of his team mates' eyes would meet his. What happened?
"I'll take that," Cassey took the bag and began to pack it neatly with Pvt Matthew's belongings. "Can you see that . . . Matthews gets this?" Cassey held the bag out to Diego.
"Sure thing, Miss." Diego trotted off in the direction she pointed still trying to figure out what had occurred in his absence.
Cassey gently folded the McCrae bag and held it to her chest tightly.
The uncomfortable silence was finally broken when Vin spoke. "Need ta git someplace quiet." The exhaustion seemed to pour off the slender human now that the danger seemed over.
"We need some down time," Larabee agreed. My barriers are gone and Vin's on his last legs. Buck, JD and Ezra are damn near as bad. Chris worriedly studied his team.
Sand Creek was a incident in U.S. History. Black Kettle and his people had earlier surrendered to authorities. An American flag was being flown over the Indian camp when the attack occurred neither it or the white flag run up once the shooting began stopped the attack. Capt Silas Soule protested the attack and later moved his own troops between the Cheyenne and the Chivington's men thereby allowing the remnant of the tribe to flee. Indians killed - 53 men, 110 women and children. Soldiers -15 most of whom died by 'friendly' fire. Scalps, body parts including male and female genitalia and human fetuses were displayed as 'Battle' trophies in the Apollo Theater and saloons of Denver, Colorado. Chivington was never disciplined for his actions.
Capt. Soule was lured into a barn and shot in the head while the investigation was still underway. Lt Cannon hunted down and returned the killer to custody in Denver shortly after which he died in his hotel room of poison. Capt. Soule's killer 'escaped' and lived undisturbed in California the rest of his life.