April Fool's Day Massacre
By Harris, Mitch, Shaine, and Shatterclaw. Individual rating:
PG-13.
Crimson seemed to be in a good mood despite the past few hectic days. "Jim, you in here?"
Harris looked up from the TV, then turned it down. "Yes."
"I've found the pattern to Luna's book and cracked it." He stepped into the room, sidestepping an April Fool's Day trap left by Belladonna, and handed Harris a computer printout:
Caesar Luna, third cousin to mob boss Antony Luna
Lieutenant to Luna, running the mob while Luna is on vacation
Meeting place: Home Run Inn on Alquinqune Rd., Alrenton Heights III
All contacts are to order a drink at the bar at 1:23pm, Coke and red wine
Harris turned the TV off, tossing the remote aside and studying the paper carefully.
"It was set up so that anyone in the organization would know how and where to talk to the others via bars and restaurants. They'd meet there, talk shop, and then go back to their lives. Pick a team, and see what you can get from good old Caesar."
"Pick a team?"
"Yes. He's been known to have bodyguards, and unlike most members of the mob he's been seen in a Boomer shop lately...and even in a private meeting with Carter."
"Then I take it I have to take someone this time."
"Good. Now if you'd excuse me, I have a Raven whose rear needs some kicking..." He collected the trap from the doorway and walked out of the room.
Harris sighed and pulled himself up to go get ready. When he arrived at his room, there was a brown box lying by the door. He looked down at it, then scooped it up and took it inside.
He sat down on the bed and opened the box. Fake, spring-mounted rattlesnakes popped up and a camera mounted inside the lid flashed.
"Funny..." He shook his head.
"Thank you!" the box chirped in a high-pitched, synthetic voice. Harris tossed it to the floor and stepped on it, crashing the camera. It sparked and sputtered, then the snakes stopped moving.
Just then there was a knock on the door.
"Come in."
Saki stood in the doorway, her face far from unreadable. "I want to be on your team."
"You do."
"Yes." A hard, determined look burned in her eyes.
"Why is that?"
"I failed. I've never failed before..."
"And you want to turn this into a chance for redemtion, I take it?"
"There is retitution to be made."
"Very simple, then. If you come, you're support. That's it. No orders...no more mistakes."
She nodded curtly.
///
"Yeah, who is it?" Shaine scowled. "This is the third time this episode, and we're not even halfway through!" She paused the DVD and got up.
"So in the regular Star Trek universe, Kyria is a title?"
She glanced back at Rai. "It wasn't meant as a name even in Ghidorah. It means 'outcast' or something like that, in one of the Ai'ani diale-- Agh!"
She ducked just in time to miss the black blur. "Whatinhell was that?"
A toy raven hovered by the doorway.
"Hah. Very funny."
///
"You're the leader," Saki said forcefully. "I'll follow your orders."
Loud music suddenly filled the room: I'm a Barbie girl in a Barbie world/Life in plastic; it's fantastic...
"The child must die..." Saki intoned.
Harris pulled out his DE and left the room.
///
"Damn it, damnit, dammit..." Shaine could almost feel her blood pressure rise. "Got to turn this off..." If Harris finds out my computer is where that garbage is coming from, I'm dead...
Theeere. Hah. "You know that D- you mentioned, Rai? I think it's time to remind Bell of the importance of studying."
"Oh, yeah...and past time for her mother to find out. Maybe her father, too."
"No one touches my rig and lives."
"Don't think it's just yours. It might be Raven and our whole audio system."
"Maybe not...but no one touches my rig and lives..."
"You know she got everyone, not just you and me - oh, wait. I haven't been to my room yet...but in theory she nailed each of us."
Shaine nodded glumly. "Maybe I should just let Harris handle this."
"I'll get Crim to turn over her life insurance. ...I wonder how I should dress for her funeral..."
"Wear comfortable shoes; we'll be dancing on her grave."
///
Harris knocked gently on the door to Belladonna's room.
No answer. He glanced at the manual override next to the door, then thought better of it and simply shot out the hinges. He kicked it open as it started to give way.
The next thing he saw was whipped cream.
The pie missed his face, but slid down the front of his shirt. Without a word, he wiped away as much of it as he could then scanned the room.
A second pie flew toward him from one side of the room; he dodged and fired toward the source of the pies. A pie catapult stood near the wall, but the room was otherwise empty. Even her bed was gone.
"Damnit..."
He left the room and continued on down the hall. The command center was clear of traps until he hit the kitchen. Belladonna sat at the table, a box of cereal beside her and her back to the doorway. Harris fired a shot just above her head.
She didn't even flinch.
He fired again, this time at the cereal box. Still no reaction. He aimed carefully at the back legs of her chair, firing a shot into one. The leg splintered apart and the chair tipped over. "Belladonna's" head fell off and hit the floor, revealing a tube sticking up out of the false torso.
Underneath the table and behind the Bell doll's chair he could see a compressor. It came to life, spraying foam out over the room. Harris sighed heavily and, not bothering to wipe the foam away, continued out into the hall.
The labs seemed to be deserted. The first was clean, and the second held a set of fake skeletons playing poker. One was cheating. In lab three was a note to Jinks:
Mom, went to Deis's for the weekend. Will be back on Monday.
Talk to Lark about the mess.
Love, Annibell
Harris sighed again and took the note, heading for Shaine's room.
///
"Think we should see how much damage has been done?"
Shaine made a face. "Ugh...I don't even want to think about what else she might have waiting for us."
"Bean burrito fed birds..."
"Yeah, I heard about that one before."
"...All kinds of traps. And heard is not the word. You should have smelled it!"
"Yeah, think I'd rather pass on that."
"Luckily, she only got a few of them to eat it...and luckily, she won't do any major damage to anything we use. Just these mindless pranks. Like this one time...she fed the panther rubber steaks."
"Panther?"
"Yeah, we had a smart panther as a pet."
"Shit!" She shook her head.
"Darien had the damned thing trained to drink beer and eat steaks. Lucky you never had to wake up to it."
"That sounds like something out of Blade Runner..." Bioengineered, or synth? I can't believe Crimson would ever let anything Boomer-based run free in here...!
"Hell, it was better than Blade Runner! You'd get up in the middle of the night and it knew where you were and how to get you to feed it..."
"Shit," she repeated reverently. "And I thought my snake was an exotic pet."
"Naw, snakes her nothing. There was one time it managed to open the icebox by itself...but then, pets don't last long around here."
"Oh, really?"
"Yup. The raven spy birds are the longest-living animals we've had."
Shaine squirmed nervously. Maybe Mojo would have actually been better off getting left with Val... "Well, what happened to the rest?"
"The panther was killed...one base was blown up..."
Just then, Harris stepped into the room slowly, not bothering to knock. He was covered in foam and whipped cream, with a gun in one hand and the note from Bell in the other.
"What in hell...?" Shaine moved ever so slightly away from Rai.
"Ahhh, the Prima Donna strikes!"
Harris handed Shaine the note. "The little bitch!" She threw it down on the couch.
"What, she holding us for ransom?" Rai picked it up and read it. "Figures. She's gotten smarter!"
"No. Where is that Deis's house at?"
"I think I can get there. Crim and I dropped Deis off once." Rai looked at Shaine, worried. "Not too far from the mall..."
"Then let's go get her."
"Hold on! There's a fine line here. We can't go busting into a civilian's house, just to get her..."
"I know Deis. And if we say Jinks wants her home, well..."
He glanced at Shaine again. "What did you have in mind?"
Shaine said nothing. The evil grin on her face was enough.
"I'll tell Crim to transfer her life insurance," Rai said weakly.
"Come on. We still have a mission to complete after this." Harris turned around and walked back to the door.
"A mission? Really?" Shaine grabbed her jacket.
"Imagine that. A mission. Can I tag along?"
"Shut up, Chewie."
Rai held out his arms and roared like a Wookiee. Shaine just shook her head, trying not to grin.
Then she saw Saki.
"Shall I go as well?"
"The mission is after we take care of Bell," Harris said firmly. "But we have plenty of time anyways."
"Oh...hi..."
"Hello."
Shaine hurriedly tugged the jacket into place. "Well, let's get going then."
"I'll pull the van around."
"Come on, Saki. Want to help take care of Bell?"
"It would be an honor to deal with the child," she said reverently.
"Just leave some for the rest of us!" Shaine laughed nervously.
Saki held up a rubber ice cube. "I found this in my bed - along with a number of real ones."
"Oh, um...well, let's go find the van...?"
///
"That's it, over there." Shaine pointed to a grey house with a large window and a beaten-up old car in front.
"Which one?"
"Over there, the grey one."
"Got it. Should I pull into the driveway, or the street?"
"Mmmm...driveway."
Shaine popped her seatbelt and hopped out swiftly, followed by Rai and Harris, who had his gun in hand.
"Perhaps it would be advisable not to have that showing...?" Saki hinted.
He hid it under his coat. "Just get her out here."
"By your command," Saki whispered as Shaine knocked on the door.
It flew open to reveal a large, portly man holding a beer can. "Whaddayawan'?"
"Hi...is Anni visiting Deis today?"
"Deis? Whaddabou' her?"
"We came to get Anni. Her mom needs her back home."
"OH, yeah...hang on, I'll see if they're around." He turned and went to the stairwell, shouting Deis's name. A few seconds later he yelled again, then walked back to the door. "No, not here."
"Well...thanks." Shaine smiled nervously.
"Probably went to the damned mall with her no-good friends."
"If she shows up, could you tell her Lore Mueller came looking?"
Harris sighed and headed for the van.
"Lore Mulder? Yeah, sure. No problem."
"Um...thank you, sir..." She tactfully retreated as the door slammed shut.
"Okay, that was fricking fun," Rai muttered.
///
"I got a bad feeling about this," Rai said as they pulled into the mall parking lot.
"We can't fail, Rai. We're on a mission from God."
"And may he have mercy on us all..."
Shaine nodded solemnly.
Rai turned to Harris. "Okay, bro, you're in charge. How are we gonna find the Little Girl Lost?"
Shaine's head jerked up suddenly. "There they are! Come on!" She grabbed Rai's arm and started dragging him toward entrance number two.
"Yeow! Easy on the arm!"
"Sorry..."
Inside there was a massive herd of people, all of whom seemed to be moving at a pace suited to molasses flowing uphill. Harris saw Belladonna off to the left and began following her.
Shaine headed off to the right, where she was convinced Bell was only a few feet ahead. She noticed Harris going into Abercrombie and Fitch, but kept going toward Belladonna.
Inside Abercrombie, Bell seemed to be talking to a young boy in the back. Sending an immovable customer flying into a rack of overpriced clothes, he crept up behind her and seized the back of her shirt. "Hi there...long time no see."
A girl with braces and hair the exact same color as Bell's stared up into Harris's face and screamed.
///
Shaine watched Bell stop at the food court, then redoubled her pace. She stopped right behind the girl and put a hand on her shoulder. "Hi there. Miss me, Anni?"
She was met by a blank stare. Damn! "Sorry. Wrong person."
...
Ought to check the comic book store. They're probably over there...
///
Harris ducked out of the store quickly, finding Saki outside. "Where is the girl?"
"I think I see her over there..."
Another young girl with neon hair was headed down the hall toward the center of the building. That one has got to be her.
///
If Belladonna was inside the comic book store, Shaine might never have been able to tell. The entire area was roped off and there were about a hundred people outside, talking excitedly. Omar was one of them.
"Hey, Omar! You seen Deis lately?"
"Yeah. She and Mav and um...Bell...are around here somewhere."
"Sweet. I've been looking for Bell."
"Really? She said you might be..."
"Yeah, well...her mom kind of needs her back home..."
"Not the way she told it...but...she said she'd be at the arcade."
"All right. If she shows up here, could you tell her to call me? She should have my cell phone number."
"Will do!"
"Thanks! And oh--tell her Han wants to see her too. It's important."
"But hey...did you hear what's going on today?"
"No, what?"
"The tinheads from Star Trek are here!"
"Tinheads?"
"You know, Boomers. They have Data..."
"No fucking way!" Shaine's eyes lit up. "The one time I can't stop..."
"...and Lore, and a few others doing signings."
Shaine whimpered softly.
"Yeah," Omar said.
"Damn iiiitt..."
"Seems the guy that owns the place knows them pretty good. We've got a spare ticket if you want to get in...?"
"YES! Don't even ask me..."
"Cool. Come on."
"Just...just...ohhhhhh..." Is that Rai over there? Shit. Now what... "Rai, over here!"
"There you are! You find her yet? ...What the hell is going on here?"
"Ratboy?" Omar asked.
"Rai...oh... No, no, this is my friend Rai. Rai, youwillnotbelievewhathejustsaid!"
"And who are you?"
"I," Omar replied, "Am the Gatekeeper."
Rai looked at him, puzzled. "Computer, translation please?"
"Rai...just cover for me...please?"
"Cover for you?"
Her voice was trembling. "I'll make it up to you..."
"Well, sure."
"Thank you..."
"Whatever it is, get me one, okay?"
"Not sure if I can...but I'll have something special for you later on." She grinned slyly. If they won't do more than one each I am going to find a way to hack into them and make them...
"Just like that?" Omar shook his head. "How about giving her some money, huh? Or at least a credit card?"
"Huh?" Shaine frowned.
"He should give you money, this is just epic!"
"He knows Bell, doesn't he?" Rai asked dryly.
"Yeah."
"Bell? Never heard of her." Omar smiled innocently.
Rai fished a credit card out of his pocket. "Here. Treat the kid to a muzzle as well."
"Nah, don't worry."
"Just take it."
"Well..." Shaine bit her lip. "All right." She put it in her back pocket and resolved to forget about it.
"All right. I'll meet you by the ice cream shop after I get what we came here for."
"Sweet."
"I know I am." Rai walked off down the hall, Shaine staring after him like a woman in love.
"Man."
"You said it! Where did you find him?" Omar shook his head. "He is so fossil..."
"Actually," Shaine said softly, "He fell from the sky."
Omar stared at her, then shook his head again.
///
"I just wish I could have seen it!" Bell gasped out, unable to stop laughing. Poe was also laughing uncontrollably, and Mav was desperately trying to catch her breath.
None of them saw Harris until he was right next to them.
Bell looked up...and suddenly froze.
"Hey, there you are, Bell! I've been looking all over for you." He held her shoulder tightly. She paled, and dove off to the right, but was quickly stopped by Harris's firm grip. "What's the matter, Bell? We've got some 'things' to talk about..."
"Er, hi... How are you today?"
"Oh, my day has been just grand - and I guarantee that yours is about to get much better." He started pulling her toward an exit. "You're wanted back at the base."
"Excuse me, sir! Unhand the fair maiden Anni!"
"Ixnay on asebay..." Bell whispered tensely. Then, louder, "That's great...but you know, Mom said to meet her later."
"I do not think so," Poe continued. "You will unhand her this moment!"
"Poe, don't. I got it..."
"Fear not, for I know I am In The Just!"
"Don't kill him...please?"
Harris's eyes turned cold and emotionless. "I won't kill him...but it is in his own best interest to leave. Now."
"Oh, yeah, I believe you now...really."
Poe slipped a wooden practice sword out of his shoulder bag. Holding the boken like a Highlander, he cried, "Honor would demand you face me, sir. Let her go, and have at it!"
This little puppy wants to be killed, doesn't he? "Don't worry. We'll talk later, Bell...I promise." She ran into a store as Harris let go and turned toward the gawky teenager. "Okay, Poe. Let's see what you've got."
"I'll be having your head if you'll let me!" He stepped forward and brought the sword down to Harris's left. Harris turned his body, holding his left hand out, and easily caught the sword.
He yanked it away from Poe's hand, bringing his knee up and snapping the sword in two across his leg.
"Whoa," Poe gasped.
Harris looked up at him and tossed the broken sword down. "Let's just say that never happened. Come on...hit me."
Poe went into a karate stance and attacked again. Harris came at him from the left, catching Poe's fist and then kicking him in the stomach. He went flying to the ground, spreadeagled.
"Hey, that's my boyfriend!" Mav rushed to his side.
Harris shook his head. "Still wishing to hurt me?"
Poe groaned. "Death before dishonor, my foe..."
"Then get up and die." Poe stood shakily.
Harris felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned, keeping one eye on Poe, and saw that there were four BUE-45 mannequin Boomers standing behind him.
"Poe, Mav, get out of here!" Belladonna yelled as the Boomers brought their arms up, trying to grab Harris. He could see her moving out of the corner of his eye, and the Boomers mirrored her.
He slammed the hilt of his DE into the side of one Boomer's head; a deep crack appeared in its face. Pulling back, he aimed for its chest and fired a round. Pieces of Boomer "skin" flew off as it pushed him forward, both arms reaching for the gun. He fired twice more, sending fuel spilling from its body, but the Boomer still held on tight.
Grabbing it with his free hand, he spun around to face the other Boomers. The one holding him brought its leg up feebly, trying to kick him with its high-heeled boots. It tripped, sliding halfway to the ground.
Another Boomer rushed him, and the last tried for a jump kick
at his head. He shot the former, sending it flying backward into
a storefront, and dove to the right to evade the second. Firing
again, he downed the latter, but more kept coming.
As Harris pulled himself back up, he saw another Boomer coming at him wielding a piece of railing from a nearby staircase. It hit his shoulder and he winced in pain. The shoulder went numb and he lost his grip on the laser sword, which went sliding across the floor as he reached for the Glock on his right leg, pulling it free and then aiming at the Boomer as it brought the railing up to attack again.
He hit with most of the shots, and it recoiled, dropping the railing. He saw Belladonna drop something and run...
...Right into Saki.
With some effort, he reached behind his back for his SOCOM, and fired one last shot. The Boomers stopped, and one took it in the head.
"Thank you, sir," it said in a perky synthetic voice as it toppled over. "Please come again."
By this time a crowd had gathered. Ignoring it, Harris stumbled to his feet, holstering the Glock and walking over to pick up his sword.
A rent-a-cop walked up to him. "Freeze!"
He stared at the cop, laser sword in one hand and still ignited, his SOCOM in the other hand.
"Er...please freeze, and walk to mall entrance number one?"
Harris shook his head and walked past the cop toward Bell and Saki.
"We should go." Saki stared off into the crowd nervously.
"Um, I take the Fifth...and I want to see Crim!" Bell said hurriedly as Carter and Cinocard walked by.
Harris stared after the couple, shaking his head. "All right. First off, you all need to get out of here now." Saki nodded. "I've probably got cops waiting at the front gate for me."
"There is another way out of here."
"You find Shaine and Rai and get out."
"Come." Saki led him to a door marked Employees Only. "Do you have your cell phone?"
"Of course."
"Call the others."
///
"Did you have to recite the whole first season to him?" Omar asked incredulously.
"Yeah, pretty much. But it was worth it to see the look on his face!"
"Man. I thought doing 'The Best of Both Worlds' was overkill..."
"Yeah, the first season was pretty intense, I'll give you that." She seemed to be staring off at some point in the middle distance.
"I mean, his Picard is good, but...you need help."
"Hm?"
"I said, you need help."
"Yeah, I hear that."
Omar grinned. "Let's go see if Bell is around."
"I'd better get go - oh, all right."
"Well...she said she was going to make sure no one found her...especially some madman she kept calling the Slinger."
"Slinger?"
"Yeah, some old fossil thinks he's a gunman. One of her uncles or something."
"I know who that is... You met Han, right? We've also got Boba Fett and Mara Jade."
"Great, so does this mean that they're going to try and kill me soon?"
"No, no...just make sure you stay on their good side."
"They have a good side? Which, the one that fires the bullet?"
"Well...not really a good side so much as a not-so-bad side." She shook her head.
"Uh huh, thought so."
"Let's make this quick. Rai probably thinks I'm dead by now!"
"No, not dead per se..."
She spun around. "Rai! You'll never guess what I got for you!"
"I just wondered if you'd stolen Data!"
Shaine laughed. "Oh, I would have...there were too many witnesses!"
Rai turned to Omar. "Kid, you checked to make sure she doesn't have him on her?"
Shaine's grin widened. "Remember Aellera? That cute little Ai'ani from the Alliance Council?"
"You got her autograph?"
"Check this."
Rai stopped and faked a faint. He landed face first on the floor.
"Doesn't quite show how far down the scales go, but you can guess..."
"This is great... But we'd better hide these: Harris is not in a good mood."
"Oh...?"
"He had a run-in with Bell."
"Oh, man...how much blood we have to clean up?"
"No blood, just a few Boomers."
Shaine looked panic-stricken. "They didn't get Data...did they?" she asked in a tiny voice.
Rai burst out laughing.
"Shut up, man, this is serious!"
"Okay, back to Earth... No, no Datas were harmed in the making of this Apocalypse."
"Thank Dani. ...What about Lore?"
"Bell had some Boomers come to her rescue, then told the mall cops he was trying to kidnap her. Harris just shot them up."
"What was she doing with Boomers anyway? Where did she get them?"
"From the mall...."
"Aw, shit."
"..They were sales clerks."
"Aw, shiiit..."
"You don't know the half of it! Carter was here too, and she had some man hanging on her."
"Dani's tits! What else, a family reunion?"
"Don't know...probably an invite waiting for you back home."
Shaine groaned.
"Um..." Omar looked nervous. "Who's Carter?"
Rai looked at Shaine.
"A friend," she said quickly. "You know...me, Mulder, and Carter?"
"Oh, great."
Her tone turned hostile. "I just hope the Smoking Man knows enough not to show his face around here."
"No, no one's seen him around..."
She moved closer to Rai. Drugged, threatened, shot at, drugged again...what in hell did I do wrong? "You know...I never asked for this."
"No one does, not even Satan."
Shaine managed a weak laugh.
"Hey, Omar...I'm going to take her home. Get yourself a cab." He handed Omar some money.
"Thanks. I'll see you later, Scully."
"Bye, Luke."
He stopped. "May the Force be with you always!"
"N'jai sanat," Shaine added.
"Live long and don't drink cheap Romulan Ale," Rai called after him. "You got to live, Kirk!"
///
Outside, Harris was standing by the van and smoking. Once he saw Rai and Shaine he climbed back inside.
Shaine touched Rai's arm gently, whispering, "N'jai sadal, Rai."
"N'jai sadal, Shaine..."
///
Crimson's office was packed. Crim was at his desk, looking a bit pale, with Jinks at his side. Shaine hadn't seen Mitch or Hugo in several days, yet both were there...along with Harris, Alex, Kit, and a few others. Lark walked in, Belladonna at her side, and Bell sat down in front of Crimson's desk.
"Help me? ...Please?"
Mitch responded with a harsh spattering of Gaelic which undoubtedly would have been vulgar if said in English. Shaine simply smiled and began humming. As sometimes it may happen that a victim must be found/I've got a little list, I've got a little list/Of society offenders who all might well be underground/They never would be missed, they never would be missed!...
"Order!" Crimson snapped. She stopped sharply, lifting her eyes and gazing coldly but calmly at him. "Belladonna, you have disrupted base operations and placed members of your team in danger, over a stupid joke that you carried too far. As of this moment, you are on Level 9 clearance and suspended from all Ravens activities for one month unless otherwise stated.
"From here on out, you will need another member to be with you at all times when you are at the Nest--"
"Crimson, may I say something?" Mitch asked.
"Speak!"
He took a labored breath to calm his temper. "Bell, you are like a little sister to me..."
"Great, the little sister," Belladonna mumbled.
"But...there are things you don't touch in other people's lives...are you listening to me?!"
"She didn't hack your computer, Mitch!"
"That wasn't me, Shaine, it was R-A-V-E-N!"
"Bullshit!"
"I only mention it to..."
Shaine snarled at her. Bell held her tongue and looked away, a tear rolling down her cheek.
"Then who replaced my Guinness stouts with Bud, put a snake in my sock drawer, and recorded 'Barbie Girl' on my bagpipe tapes?"
"And what about the Beck's in my fridge? Huh? And where did you put the Erdinger?"
"Guinness and Erdinger was me...snake in socks was me..."
"You're just lucky you didn't try to give us Canadian beer..."
"I didn't know you had bagpipe music, so there!"
"Order! Mitch, bring it to a point now."
"If you had said you were sorry I would have forgiven you. But I don't like that attitude. That's all I had to say."
"I'm sorry, Mitch. I thought you would laugh at it...well, not the beer; I knew you'd be ticked about that. But I got carried away!"
"Welllll...I forgive you. I can't stay mad at you for too long."
"Thank you, Mitch. ...And Shaine, I couldn't hack your computer alone...I'd need Level 1 for that. Or Raven's help... I swear I didn't do it!"
Mitch looked at Shaine, and Crimson looked at both of them. "...You're right, Bell. You're just a luser. But that really scares me...because I would like to know exactly how this happened."
"Crimson..."
"Yes, Mitch?"
"I have a job that would keep her out of trouble and put her to good use."
"What is that?"
"I have five hundred case files which need to be organized. You know how long that takes." He grinned at Crimson knowingly.
Shaine smiled. "Mmm...make her do it without recursive algorithms or pointers; that would be fun..."
"Nothing but hours of electronic paperwork."
"Done, and done."
"Follow me, lass. I'll introduce you to the wonderful world of police work..."
"Erk," Belladonna replied.
"Now, as for Saki...your job will be overseeing Bell at the base, and outside of operations, while not at Starbright. And while at Starbright, or not with Mitch or at school, Belladonna will take over all filing duties.
"Saki, due to your status, you will not lead any missions until such time as I see fit, and until then you will be Belladonna's watchdog. Neither of you will be allowed into a hardsuit unless need be, and on my orders only.
"Furthermore, both of you will clean the Nest room by room, and each Raven's room, until they all shine...and get Bell's junk out of my supply room!"
"Ahhh...Crim, just a note here... It might be wisest to leave the equipment in my office alone, regardless of appearance..."
"So noted. At such time, you can have full command over both."
Shaine raised an eyebrow, then slowly grinned.
"May I have Bell now?"
"Request granted, Mitch. She's all yours. --Oh, and Bell...after this, report to Harris."
"Thanks, Crim. Come along, Bell...plenty of work to do!"
"The rest of you are dismissed. ...Having fun, Shaine?"
"Oh, yes..."
"One day it could be you at the wrong end."
"I don't think so. I don't pull pranks like that."
"Not under the same circumstances, no...but for now, enjoy it. Belladonna earned it this time."
Rai was waiting for her outside Crimson's office, and she barely took three steps before he swung her off of her feet. I guess he did understand me! She grinned.
"Just want to be rid of any trouble," he whispered, heading toward his room.
She trailed a few kisses up and down his neck, and got a rather emphatic response. Walk faster, Rai? Please?
"It should be quiet here." The room was rather plain, from what Shaine noticed of it - admittedly not much - as he placed her on the bed.
He rested his hand upon her cheek, and she looked up at him silently. Then he leaned in and kissed her, pulling her close. She kissed him back enthusiastically, but held back once the kiss was over, waiting for a response.
"I know nothing...I will never talk!"
She chuckled. "Just don't tell me it didn't happen..."
"It happened. This is as real as either of us are."