Garrix went down the cargo bay that had been converted to a workout area.
She was trying to put the punching bag into the next compartment over. She
was mumbling to herself, "Stupid, stupid. You let him bait you. You fell
for it. Stupid." She gave it an extra hard whack to accentuate the last
one. She prided herself on being able to remain calm and rational, even
under the worst circumstances. What happened to cause her to lose control?
Surely not Crais. She had known him for cycles.
Crais remained in command after she left. He was trying to determine if he should apologize. No. I will not apologize. She deserved that. After all the ribbing she has given me over the cycles. Then why did it hurt so much? After a quarter arn, he decided to go find her. He would do it the 'normal' way. Stark and Zhaan were still in the galley. Crais did not disturb them. She wasn't in her quarters. Crais realized a tier by tier search could take a while. He was just about to ask Talyn when the idea came to him to check the cargo bay. He stood outside the door. He didn't hear anything, which he took as a good sign. If she was there, he assumed she had progressed beyond the hitting phase. He entered and saw her doing martial arts exercises. "Madina, we need to talk," he tried to sound calm and rational.
"Come to insult me some more?" she did not turn to look at him.
He stepped further into the room. "No."
"You couldn't possibly have come to apologize. The great Bialar Crais doesn't make mistakes," she retorted bitterly.
"As a matter of fact, I have," he stood behind with his hands clasped behind his back. He ensured he was not close enough for her to grab.
She stopped and turned to face him, a look of disbelief on her face. "You've come to what?"
"I have come to apologize. I should not have been suspicious of you and Stark. I should not have 'spied' on you. And I should not have made that last remark. You have good reason to be angry with me. I hope you will accept my apologies. I would hate to lose your friendship." He sounded very sincere.
She considered him for a moment, circling around him, still shocked he was apologizing. "Very well. Apologies accepted. Just don't let it happen again." She had a serious look on her face.
He didn't know how serious she was. She liked to joke with him. "Do you really see me as that much Peacekeeper?"
"Bialar, that is how we were both raised. You just seem to have adapted more completely. I think you were compensating for the fact that you had been conscripted rather than born into service. I always tried to treat both equally, but I saw the bias that was shown to conscripts. I was glad every day that I had been born into service and would not have to prove myself. I was accepted for who I was. You always had to be more. There were times I wondered if I had contributed to the ruthlessness that you adopted."
"How could you have contributed? Each person makes their own decisions."
"Yes, but when I selected you as my assistant, and then later when I pushed for your promotion to Senior Officer, I wonder if you were pushed too far too fast. You were quite young for the level of responsibility I gave you. You so completely immersed yourself in being the best possible Peacekeeper that bit by bit you lost yourself. I saw it happening on Xerrin, but knew of no way to stop it. After I left I followed your career. At one point I had considered getting you transferred as my second. I read through your evaluations. I knew that you would not be right for that post. You had changed too much," she finished quietly and looked away.
This revelation hit Crais hard. "I did not realize you carried that guilt with you," Crais said compassionately.
She sat down cross-legged on the mat and Crais sat across from her. "There's no reason anyone should have. When you went missing in the Uncharted Territories I found myself wondering if things might have gone differently if I had taken you on as my second. Perhaps I could have tempered you."
He grabbed her hands, "Madina, I chose my own path. I knew I wanted to command a carrier. I would do anything to achieve that goal. On Xerrin I saw my opportunity. Captain Tainor was very influential. If I could gain his favor, I knew I could advance quickly. You had nothing to with it. I would have become the ruthless Peacekeeper captain even had I not known you. I became what I had to in order to achieve my goals."
"But you're not that anymore?"
"I think that you have come to know the answer to that question. If you have not made a determination by now, I don't know that I could change your mind." He smiled.
"That's not fair. You're using your secret weapon."
"What secret weapon would that be?"
She reached up to brush his cheek. "Your smile. You're so handsome when you smile. I always had a hard time resisting that smile." She smiled back at him.
He leaned forward to brush a wayward lock of hair behind her ear, "Yours is equally irresistible." He continued forward until his lips met hers. She wrapped her arms around him. He reached back and released her hair, "I always thought you had such beautiful hair." He ran his fingers gently through her hair before kissing her again. He gently laid her down on the mat, straddling her. She reached up to unfasten his jacket and stroked his chest. He released her long enough to take off his jacket and boots. He caressed her shoulders working his way down to her breasts. She moaned with desire and began unfastening his trousers. She could feel his need.
Talyn chirped. Crais ignored him and continued kissing her. Talyn chirped more insistently. "Not now Talyn," Crais told him gruffly. Talyn continued to chirp. Crais reached back for the transponder, "What is it?" Crais immediately became alert. He reached for his boots and refastened his trousers. Garrix put her boots on and grabbed her jacket on the way out. They sped toward command. Zhaan and Stark were already there. Stark had pulled up an unknown ship on the holo-display.
Zhaan voiced the question first, "What is that?"
"There is no record of it in Talyn's database," responded Crais.
"Talyn, plot a course away from it top speed. We have to starburst." Garrix had slipped into command mode and was giving orders. Talyn responded instinctively.
Crais looked over at her, "What is it?"
"A Vigilante. Can we starburst or not?"
"Theoretically, yes. What is a Vigilante?"
"A new high-speed, well armed pursuit ship. Their top speed is greater than ours. We are still outside their sensor range. If we can starburst they won't know we're here. If not, we need a new plan."
"Talyn, starburst." Nothing happened. "Talyn's starburst system has obviously not completely healed. It seems we are in need of an alternate plan."
Garrix was looking at the tactical display watching the Vigilante's approach. She was lost in contemplation while the others were arguing. "Quiet! Here's what we are going to do. It will require everyone's assistance, including Talyn's. Scarrans did not destroy my transport ship; it came upon a wounded Talyn that had Bialar, Stark and Zhaan onboard. Talyn's higher functions are still off line. My transport detail and I were able to overpower the three of you, though we did suffer losses. This will require the three of you to be imprisoned, at least temporarily. I know how to sabotage the Vigilante. I will need Talyn to jam their long-range communications. I will explain that as something Crais did before he was overpowered. Since I have limited knowledge of leviathans I have not been able to shut off the jamming. When I have earned their trust enough to gain access to the Vigilante, I will sabotage it. I will then release Crais so we can take out any remaining commandos."
"This plan is familiar. The last time it released an intellent virus on Moya and we were discovered to not be a ship under Peacekeeper control. It almost cost us our lives," responded Zhann.
"I am open to suggestions, but it will be about a hundred microts before we are in sensor range. At that point I will have to contact them so they don't fire on us."
The other three quietly conferred for a few microts. Crais spoke up, "It appears we have no choice. If anything goes wrong Talyn still has his self- defense cannons. He has agreed to this ruse. Stark, Zhaan if you will come with me I will lock us up." Crais gave Garrix the 'I hope you know what you're doing look.' She also picked up on his thinly veiled threat.
Garrix braided her hair and ensured her uniform was straight. She activated comms, "Vigilante, this ship is under Peacekeeper control. Stand down your weapons."
Leviathan, this is Lt. Reston on board the Vigilante. Identify yourself.
"This is Captain Garrix. I will speak with you here Lieutenant. I will meet you in the hammond side hangar." She secured comms before he could respond. She stopped by her quarters to pick up her pulse pistol. She then went by the holding cells. "The lieutenant is on his way over. There are probably only eight commandos on board. I don't anticipate it should take more than few arns to take care of business. When I come back I need all of you to act as though you are imprisoned against your will. They should be arriving soon. I have to get to the hangar."
Zhaan called down the passageway to Crais, "Are you sure we can trust her?"
"I am sure. This is the best chance we have. Talyn is defenseless against the Vigilante."
"Will she destroy the Vigilante?"
"Of that, I have no doubt. She would like the Peacekeepers to continue to believe she is dead."
"I wish we did not have to resort to violence, but I can think of no other option."
Crais hoped he was correct in his assessment of Garrix. She had learned enough about Talyn to shut down his higher functions in short order.
Crais remained in command after she left. He was trying to determine if he should apologize. No. I will not apologize. She deserved that. After all the ribbing she has given me over the cycles. Then why did it hurt so much? After a quarter arn, he decided to go find her. He would do it the 'normal' way. Stark and Zhaan were still in the galley. Crais did not disturb them. She wasn't in her quarters. Crais realized a tier by tier search could take a while. He was just about to ask Talyn when the idea came to him to check the cargo bay. He stood outside the door. He didn't hear anything, which he took as a good sign. If she was there, he assumed she had progressed beyond the hitting phase. He entered and saw her doing martial arts exercises. "Madina, we need to talk," he tried to sound calm and rational.
"Come to insult me some more?" she did not turn to look at him.
He stepped further into the room. "No."
"You couldn't possibly have come to apologize. The great Bialar Crais doesn't make mistakes," she retorted bitterly.
"As a matter of fact, I have," he stood behind with his hands clasped behind his back. He ensured he was not close enough for her to grab.
She stopped and turned to face him, a look of disbelief on her face. "You've come to what?"
"I have come to apologize. I should not have been suspicious of you and Stark. I should not have 'spied' on you. And I should not have made that last remark. You have good reason to be angry with me. I hope you will accept my apologies. I would hate to lose your friendship." He sounded very sincere.
She considered him for a moment, circling around him, still shocked he was apologizing. "Very well. Apologies accepted. Just don't let it happen again." She had a serious look on her face.
He didn't know how serious she was. She liked to joke with him. "Do you really see me as that much Peacekeeper?"
"Bialar, that is how we were both raised. You just seem to have adapted more completely. I think you were compensating for the fact that you had been conscripted rather than born into service. I always tried to treat both equally, but I saw the bias that was shown to conscripts. I was glad every day that I had been born into service and would not have to prove myself. I was accepted for who I was. You always had to be more. There were times I wondered if I had contributed to the ruthlessness that you adopted."
"How could you have contributed? Each person makes their own decisions."
"Yes, but when I selected you as my assistant, and then later when I pushed for your promotion to Senior Officer, I wonder if you were pushed too far too fast. You were quite young for the level of responsibility I gave you. You so completely immersed yourself in being the best possible Peacekeeper that bit by bit you lost yourself. I saw it happening on Xerrin, but knew of no way to stop it. After I left I followed your career. At one point I had considered getting you transferred as my second. I read through your evaluations. I knew that you would not be right for that post. You had changed too much," she finished quietly and looked away.
This revelation hit Crais hard. "I did not realize you carried that guilt with you," Crais said compassionately.
She sat down cross-legged on the mat and Crais sat across from her. "There's no reason anyone should have. When you went missing in the Uncharted Territories I found myself wondering if things might have gone differently if I had taken you on as my second. Perhaps I could have tempered you."
He grabbed her hands, "Madina, I chose my own path. I knew I wanted to command a carrier. I would do anything to achieve that goal. On Xerrin I saw my opportunity. Captain Tainor was very influential. If I could gain his favor, I knew I could advance quickly. You had nothing to with it. I would have become the ruthless Peacekeeper captain even had I not known you. I became what I had to in order to achieve my goals."
"But you're not that anymore?"
"I think that you have come to know the answer to that question. If you have not made a determination by now, I don't know that I could change your mind." He smiled.
"That's not fair. You're using your secret weapon."
"What secret weapon would that be?"
She reached up to brush his cheek. "Your smile. You're so handsome when you smile. I always had a hard time resisting that smile." She smiled back at him.
He leaned forward to brush a wayward lock of hair behind her ear, "Yours is equally irresistible." He continued forward until his lips met hers. She wrapped her arms around him. He reached back and released her hair, "I always thought you had such beautiful hair." He ran his fingers gently through her hair before kissing her again. He gently laid her down on the mat, straddling her. She reached up to unfasten his jacket and stroked his chest. He released her long enough to take off his jacket and boots. He caressed her shoulders working his way down to her breasts. She moaned with desire and began unfastening his trousers. She could feel his need.
Talyn chirped. Crais ignored him and continued kissing her. Talyn chirped more insistently. "Not now Talyn," Crais told him gruffly. Talyn continued to chirp. Crais reached back for the transponder, "What is it?" Crais immediately became alert. He reached for his boots and refastened his trousers. Garrix put her boots on and grabbed her jacket on the way out. They sped toward command. Zhaan and Stark were already there. Stark had pulled up an unknown ship on the holo-display.
Zhaan voiced the question first, "What is that?"
"There is no record of it in Talyn's database," responded Crais.
"Talyn, plot a course away from it top speed. We have to starburst." Garrix had slipped into command mode and was giving orders. Talyn responded instinctively.
Crais looked over at her, "What is it?"
"A Vigilante. Can we starburst or not?"
"Theoretically, yes. What is a Vigilante?"
"A new high-speed, well armed pursuit ship. Their top speed is greater than ours. We are still outside their sensor range. If we can starburst they won't know we're here. If not, we need a new plan."
"Talyn, starburst." Nothing happened. "Talyn's starburst system has obviously not completely healed. It seems we are in need of an alternate plan."
Garrix was looking at the tactical display watching the Vigilante's approach. She was lost in contemplation while the others were arguing. "Quiet! Here's what we are going to do. It will require everyone's assistance, including Talyn's. Scarrans did not destroy my transport ship; it came upon a wounded Talyn that had Bialar, Stark and Zhaan onboard. Talyn's higher functions are still off line. My transport detail and I were able to overpower the three of you, though we did suffer losses. This will require the three of you to be imprisoned, at least temporarily. I know how to sabotage the Vigilante. I will need Talyn to jam their long-range communications. I will explain that as something Crais did before he was overpowered. Since I have limited knowledge of leviathans I have not been able to shut off the jamming. When I have earned their trust enough to gain access to the Vigilante, I will sabotage it. I will then release Crais so we can take out any remaining commandos."
"This plan is familiar. The last time it released an intellent virus on Moya and we were discovered to not be a ship under Peacekeeper control. It almost cost us our lives," responded Zhann.
"I am open to suggestions, but it will be about a hundred microts before we are in sensor range. At that point I will have to contact them so they don't fire on us."
The other three quietly conferred for a few microts. Crais spoke up, "It appears we have no choice. If anything goes wrong Talyn still has his self- defense cannons. He has agreed to this ruse. Stark, Zhaan if you will come with me I will lock us up." Crais gave Garrix the 'I hope you know what you're doing look.' She also picked up on his thinly veiled threat.
Garrix braided her hair and ensured her uniform was straight. She activated comms, "Vigilante, this ship is under Peacekeeper control. Stand down your weapons."
Leviathan, this is Lt. Reston on board the Vigilante. Identify yourself.
"This is Captain Garrix. I will speak with you here Lieutenant. I will meet you in the hammond side hangar." She secured comms before he could respond. She stopped by her quarters to pick up her pulse pistol. She then went by the holding cells. "The lieutenant is on his way over. There are probably only eight commandos on board. I don't anticipate it should take more than few arns to take care of business. When I come back I need all of you to act as though you are imprisoned against your will. They should be arriving soon. I have to get to the hangar."
Zhaan called down the passageway to Crais, "Are you sure we can trust her?"
"I am sure. This is the best chance we have. Talyn is defenseless against the Vigilante."
"Will she destroy the Vigilante?"
"Of that, I have no doubt. She would like the Peacekeepers to continue to believe she is dead."
"I wish we did not have to resort to violence, but I can think of no other option."
Crais hoped he was correct in his assessment of Garrix. She had learned enough about Talyn to shut down his higher functions in short order.