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Chapter the Second
Shaidyna
The shriek of weapons fire echoed through the cramped corridor moments before a slender brunette careened past, firing ceaselessly behind her. Shaidyna assessed her surroundings with a flit of dark eyes and kicked down a nearby door. Barely registering the room's occupant, she tossed a badge in his general direction as she explained her intrusion. All this she accomplished without a break in her fire. "I'm with hotel security, and those," she gestured with her firearm to the open door as she continued to shoot through it, "are part of an intergalactic crime syndicate, specializing in assassination and narcotics. Very friendly bunch." A switch on her weapon flipped, a surprisingly powerful fling out the door, and a small explosion made short work of the woman's pursuers. She tapped a communicator affixed to her shoulder and requested a team to drag the now- unconscious criminals away and lock them up. "Three Nietzscheans, two Ogami, and a Nightsider, to top it off," she said idly as she gingerly probed a gash on her upper arm. Only when she glanced up did she catch a good look at the customer into whose suite she's so rudely barged. And that makes Nietzschean number four, she thought dryly. This one was very well- muscled, with a smooth bronze complexion and long hair twisted into braids or dreadlocks. Quite an impressive sight, Shaidyna admitted to herself. Especially the unmistakable resemblance to a certain...
"What the hell is going on out there?!" a female voice demanded from the bedroom.
The Nietzschean kept his eyes on the newcomer as he replied, "I believe our...guest was about to answer that."
Shaidyna noted his gaze as it traveled to her forearms, then back to her face. She couldn't help smiling inwardly. Moments later, a lovely blonde woman emerged, towelling her short tresses. A luxurious silk robe, the exact shade of her cerulean eyes, moulded itself very faithfully to her form. Every so often, she would glance down, and her lips would tighten. Apparently, the expensive-looking article of clothing irritated her. A glimpse at her pale forearms revealed the woman's human heritage. "Huh... so explain." Not Nietzschean but definitely full of attitude.
Shaidyna nodded coolly. "There's really not much to say. I've been tracking these people for awhile now, as they came and went. They didn't suspect me until-" she cut off. With an apologetic smile, she spoke again. "There are some things you can't hide from scans." And let them make of that what they would. "Uh, anyway, I can send someone up here to repair the damage and give you credit for a free stay or you can move to a different room and stay as long as you like, for free."
"Apparently," the man began, "she put up quite a fight. Two Ogami, a Nightsider, and three Nietzscheans?"
The blonde reconsidered her. "Ogami and... and Nietzscheans?" And Ubers, Shaidyna guesses she'd been about to say. Very odd, being married to one, that she should almost let such a slur slip. "I don't know many who could have pulled that off. What did you say your name was?"
Shaidyna indicated the man. "Your husband has my badge. I am Shaidyna Ar'Semir." The Nietzschean's deep, penetrating eyes sparked at the name, but otherwise, he showed no signs of recognition.
His wife's eyes cut to the man when Shaidyna named him as her husband. Perhaps they were arguing. "We'll move." The jagged scarlet line that marred Shaidyna's bicep caught her attention. "Do you want a towel for that?"
The bleeding had already stopped, but... "That is very kind of you; I'd be happy for one."
She sat beside her spouse and cocked her head expectantly. "Sweetheart?"
'Sweetheart' gave her a flat look but stood and disappeared into the next room. His wife followed him with her glacially azure gaze, grinning faintly. "He's good for some things." Shaidyna doubted she was supposed to her that. "Outrunning and outgunning six Dherans?" She shook her head in disbelief and she bent over Shaidyna's wound.
The other woman's concern for her welfare confused Shaidyna, but she didn't object. "Why do you say they were Dherans? They're the type to avoid public channels; if they were, they wouldn't like you knowing, and if not, they'd be insulted."
Nodding, she dabbed the gash with the damp towel she'd used to dry her hair. "My beloved husband and I aren't exactly advertising ourselves on the 'public channels'."
Shaidyna thought she understood. Supposedly, the Tiradisene government was hosting some diplomatic affair. In general, such happenings were open to all, or at least not secret, but the... extremely persuasive Dheran organization had infiltrated the administration, and the Tiradisene beauracracy was even rumored to be a mere pawn for the crime lords. Few knew this for a fact, and attendees of any Tiradisene official function like that would either have to be investigating the Dherans undercover or employees for the syndicate. She wondered which category this couple fell under. In any case, it would be best for both of them if she dropped the subject. "That's a beautiful helix."
Her desire to change the topic of conversation was justified when the Nietzschean re-entered, holding a pristine cloth and a spray designed to minimize infection. "Most likely, the wound has cauterized itself, but I wouldn't leave a hangnail untreated in a place like this." His velvety baritone was tinged with disdain. He handed both items to his wife, who applied first the spray, then the towel to the angry-looking slash with a soft touch. She seemed surprise at Shaidyan's lack of expression as she applied the stinging mist. The man ran his eyes over her again but still, kept his thoughts to himself.
"And you're done." She smiled warmly at Shaidyna, who couldn't help returning it.
"You've both been exceptionally accomodating. Now, I need your names, so I can record the change of rooms as well as the credit for the visit. Then I must be sure that my employer is not in service of that...charming club." The last part she said sarcastically but with a ring of truth. She'd hate to imagine what that would mean for her.
"Actually..." Shaidyna raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Actually, we would, uh, prefer if you didn't write anything down about us." The words came out slowly. The woman seemed to be trying to communicate something to Shaidyna that she wasn't willing to say aloud. Of course, the Dherans. Those working both for and against them would want as little possible trace of their passing.
"Of course," she conceded with a short nod. Upon inspection, she found the gash to be a shallow one and nearly healed. "Thank you both, for your hospitality. I'll return when we have your room." She casually deposited the stained cloth on the arm of an over-stuffed chair as she stepped through the ruined doorway.
Her ears caught a faint noise from the suite when she was a few feet away. "You were certainly friendly with the total and complete stranger." Doubtless she was imagined to be out of earshot.
"Well," she told the empty hallway. "I may not be able to fool the scanners, but it looks like I still got it with everyone else." The tune she whistled as she descended a flight of stairs was a jaunty one, the words somehow eluding her.
Chapter the Second
Shaidyna
The shriek of weapons fire echoed through the cramped corridor moments before a slender brunette careened past, firing ceaselessly behind her. Shaidyna assessed her surroundings with a flit of dark eyes and kicked down a nearby door. Barely registering the room's occupant, she tossed a badge in his general direction as she explained her intrusion. All this she accomplished without a break in her fire. "I'm with hotel security, and those," she gestured with her firearm to the open door as she continued to shoot through it, "are part of an intergalactic crime syndicate, specializing in assassination and narcotics. Very friendly bunch." A switch on her weapon flipped, a surprisingly powerful fling out the door, and a small explosion made short work of the woman's pursuers. She tapped a communicator affixed to her shoulder and requested a team to drag the now- unconscious criminals away and lock them up. "Three Nietzscheans, two Ogami, and a Nightsider, to top it off," she said idly as she gingerly probed a gash on her upper arm. Only when she glanced up did she catch a good look at the customer into whose suite she's so rudely barged. And that makes Nietzschean number four, she thought dryly. This one was very well- muscled, with a smooth bronze complexion and long hair twisted into braids or dreadlocks. Quite an impressive sight, Shaidyna admitted to herself. Especially the unmistakable resemblance to a certain...
"What the hell is going on out there?!" a female voice demanded from the bedroom.
The Nietzschean kept his eyes on the newcomer as he replied, "I believe our...guest was about to answer that."
Shaidyna noted his gaze as it traveled to her forearms, then back to her face. She couldn't help smiling inwardly. Moments later, a lovely blonde woman emerged, towelling her short tresses. A luxurious silk robe, the exact shade of her cerulean eyes, moulded itself very faithfully to her form. Every so often, she would glance down, and her lips would tighten. Apparently, the expensive-looking article of clothing irritated her. A glimpse at her pale forearms revealed the woman's human heritage. "Huh... so explain." Not Nietzschean but definitely full of attitude.
Shaidyna nodded coolly. "There's really not much to say. I've been tracking these people for awhile now, as they came and went. They didn't suspect me until-" she cut off. With an apologetic smile, she spoke again. "There are some things you can't hide from scans." And let them make of that what they would. "Uh, anyway, I can send someone up here to repair the damage and give you credit for a free stay or you can move to a different room and stay as long as you like, for free."
"Apparently," the man began, "she put up quite a fight. Two Ogami, a Nightsider, and three Nietzscheans?"
The blonde reconsidered her. "Ogami and... and Nietzscheans?" And Ubers, Shaidyna guesses she'd been about to say. Very odd, being married to one, that she should almost let such a slur slip. "I don't know many who could have pulled that off. What did you say your name was?"
Shaidyna indicated the man. "Your husband has my badge. I am Shaidyna Ar'Semir." The Nietzschean's deep, penetrating eyes sparked at the name, but otherwise, he showed no signs of recognition.
His wife's eyes cut to the man when Shaidyna named him as her husband. Perhaps they were arguing. "We'll move." The jagged scarlet line that marred Shaidyna's bicep caught her attention. "Do you want a towel for that?"
The bleeding had already stopped, but... "That is very kind of you; I'd be happy for one."
She sat beside her spouse and cocked her head expectantly. "Sweetheart?"
'Sweetheart' gave her a flat look but stood and disappeared into the next room. His wife followed him with her glacially azure gaze, grinning faintly. "He's good for some things." Shaidyna doubted she was supposed to her that. "Outrunning and outgunning six Dherans?" She shook her head in disbelief and she bent over Shaidyna's wound.
The other woman's concern for her welfare confused Shaidyna, but she didn't object. "Why do you say they were Dherans? They're the type to avoid public channels; if they were, they wouldn't like you knowing, and if not, they'd be insulted."
Nodding, she dabbed the gash with the damp towel she'd used to dry her hair. "My beloved husband and I aren't exactly advertising ourselves on the 'public channels'."
Shaidyna thought she understood. Supposedly, the Tiradisene government was hosting some diplomatic affair. In general, such happenings were open to all, or at least not secret, but the... extremely persuasive Dheran organization had infiltrated the administration, and the Tiradisene beauracracy was even rumored to be a mere pawn for the crime lords. Few knew this for a fact, and attendees of any Tiradisene official function like that would either have to be investigating the Dherans undercover or employees for the syndicate. She wondered which category this couple fell under. In any case, it would be best for both of them if she dropped the subject. "That's a beautiful helix."
Her desire to change the topic of conversation was justified when the Nietzschean re-entered, holding a pristine cloth and a spray designed to minimize infection. "Most likely, the wound has cauterized itself, but I wouldn't leave a hangnail untreated in a place like this." His velvety baritone was tinged with disdain. He handed both items to his wife, who applied first the spray, then the towel to the angry-looking slash with a soft touch. She seemed surprise at Shaidyan's lack of expression as she applied the stinging mist. The man ran his eyes over her again but still, kept his thoughts to himself.
"And you're done." She smiled warmly at Shaidyna, who couldn't help returning it.
"You've both been exceptionally accomodating. Now, I need your names, so I can record the change of rooms as well as the credit for the visit. Then I must be sure that my employer is not in service of that...charming club." The last part she said sarcastically but with a ring of truth. She'd hate to imagine what that would mean for her.
"Actually..." Shaidyna raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Actually, we would, uh, prefer if you didn't write anything down about us." The words came out slowly. The woman seemed to be trying to communicate something to Shaidyna that she wasn't willing to say aloud. Of course, the Dherans. Those working both for and against them would want as little possible trace of their passing.
"Of course," she conceded with a short nod. Upon inspection, she found the gash to be a shallow one and nearly healed. "Thank you both, for your hospitality. I'll return when we have your room." She casually deposited the stained cloth on the arm of an over-stuffed chair as she stepped through the ruined doorway.
Her ears caught a faint noise from the suite when she was a few feet away. "You were certainly friendly with the total and complete stranger." Doubtless she was imagined to be out of earshot.
"Well," she told the empty hallway. "I may not be able to fool the scanners, but it looks like I still got it with everyone else." The tune she whistled as she descended a flight of stairs was a jaunty one, the words somehow eluding her.