Sophia
Chapter eight
Disclaimer: I claim nothing but the plot.
Susan became a wild woman. She screamed and pushed herself up. Stephen and Marcus held her back, terrified she would tear her stitches. " Sophia, Sophia." she kept crying.
" We'll get her." Michael promised, who had already called Security. His teams were searching as they spoke. He was rushing out the door to join them. John nodded, he had just talked to Corwin to have the station quarantined. No one got on or off the station without his consent. They couldn't leave.
Marcus just held her. To his and everyone's surprise she allowed it. The sedatives were kicking in again. Her sobs for her daughter faded as she fell into a deep sleep. Marcus slowly lay her down. Without saying a word he left.
As second in command of the Rangers there was a lot he could do. But what good would it be. Could they get to her in time? He informed a few Rangers under his direct command who spread the word. Within half an hour, every ranger on the station was looking for the little girl. Marcus himself began raking Down Below.
Twelve hours later he came up exhausted and empty handed. On his way to Medlab he bought a dozen roses. Placing them on Susan's bedside he kissed her forehead as John, Michael and Stephen entered. They looked as exhausted as he did. They tacitly ignored his last action. The rangers, station security and many other volunteers, including many of the crew and Alliance, were starting from the upper levels of Down Below down. They each reported what news they had. They knew they were getting into the worse areas of Down Below, the longer Sophia was there, the more dangerous. And the deeper in she was, the more dangerous the rescue.
Sophia looked around the small room. She was cold and scared. Bester and Goldburg were with her. They were not in a good mood. She could hear their whispers about the " quarantine." They blamed " that bastard," and his " Russian whore." She wasn't old enough to under stand they were talking about her mother and Uncle John.
They were ignoring her. She started to cry. She wanted her mother. Her sobs became louder. The woman turned towards her and made as if to slap her when she was stopped by a loud noise and an announcement made by Michael, " Come out Bester and Goldburg with your hands on your head, let the girl come out and no one gets hurt."
" Damn." Bester swore loudly in a voice unlike his usually well oiled one. They could hear people getting in place. Sophia sobbed harder.
" Shut up you little brat." the blonde snapped. Bester hushed her grabbing a weapon and pulling her down. When the search teams heard this and saw no attempt on their part to come out, they counted to ten and burst in lead by Marcus who was followed directly by Michael. The Rangers and Security teams poured in as Bester started shooting. Marcus lurched himself at Sophia and pulled himself and her to safety. The fight was short but intense. Bester lost and was injured, refusing to go down without a fight. His assistant was comprehended and taken to a cell. He was taken to medlab. Sophia, back in loving hands was bathed, changed, fed and taken to her mother.