Author's Note: After this, only two more to go. Needless to say, I'm pleased, because I want this over and done with. I love it, but I have an original story to be getting on with.
Kind Word
Hawk couldn't stop thinking about everything Sabyne had told her the previous day. When Silverstone walked into her quarters, she didn't even look at him, but simply muttered, "Go away."
"Go away?" he repeated, stunned. "Go away? You're facing suspension, and you're telling me to go away?"
Hawk sat up sharply. "Suspension?"
"You sneaked out last night. Somebody saw you and reported you."
She hesitated. "You?"
He frowned at her. "No," he said, as though it should have been obvious. "You might be annoying-" this with a smile to show her he was teasing, "-but you're still my friend. Even if I had seen you, I wouldn't have reported you. And don't tell anybody that, I don't want to get in trouble for not following protocol. So, where did you go?"
Hawk looked down at her hands. "Back to Sabyne DeWynter's hotel room. She's innocent, Silverstone," she said at his outraged look. "I know she is, despite what Artemus insists."
"You're willing to believe a criminal over Artemus?" Silverstone asked.
Hawk glared at him. "At least she told me the truth. Artemus hasn't even bothered. And don't give me that look, I'm not going to tell you what I know. It wouldn't feel right."
"You can trust me," he urged.
"But Sabyne can't," Hawk said gently. Silverstone opened his mouth to retort, but before he could the door to Hawk's quarters opened and Artemus stepped in. He beckoned for Silverstone to leave, and the younger was more than happy to comply. "Going to tell me how disappointed you are?" Hawk asked sardonically. "I don't care, Artemus. I had good cause."
"You could have been killed, Hawkins, or kidnapped. Any number of things." She opened her mouth, but Artemus held up a hand. "Don't say a word right now. You'll get your chance when I'm finished. You don't seem to understand what's going on here, Hawkins, and you put yourself at an unnecessary risk. You think you know what's going on, you insist that you do, but you haven't a single clue. Now listen, Hawkins. I respect that you're trying to get the full story-"
"But it's not my place to deal with insane criminals who can infiltrate Mission Omega Matrix and give out its secrets to other criminals?" she asked, mimicking his tone. "Listen, Artemus, I know the full story."
"Do you?" he asked.
"She told me everything. Starting from when you two hated each other. She told me about Sphinx, and that you dated her."
"I would rather you not share that information," Artemus said gently.
"You still love her," Hawk told him. "And she still loves you, despite what you think."
"She and I were once good friends," Artemus snapped. "And now we are not. That is all that is important. Now, if you will allow me to continue with your lecture. We have all the proof we need to arrest her for infiltration and treason. Several senior officers are preparing to leave immediately to arrest her."
"Do you know what Silverstone told me earlier when I asked if he was the one who'd told everyone I had crept out? He said that I might have been wrong to sneak out like that, but he'd never tell anybody. Because he's my friend, because he cares about my privacy, he would never choose to betray me."
"That is the difference between Silverstone and Sabyne DeWynter. You will be suspended, placed under security, and confined to your quarters until further notice."
He headed out the door, and Hawk yelled to him, "True friends don't abandon and betray each other!"
Artemus froze, and without turning toward her, said coldly, "Tell that to the one who left."
As he strode from the room, two agents stepped in and took up a place by the doorway.
Sabyne jumped in surprise as there was a knock on her door. When she went to open it and saw Artemus standing there, she paused briefly, wondering if she should be preparing to fight or run.
"I almost had you arrested," he said flatly. "I gave the order for it."
She looked confused. "So you came to do it yourself?"
"Hawkins said something that changed my mind. She told me 'true friends don't abandon or betray each other.' We were true friends, weren't we?"
Sabyne smiled bitterly. "We were, once, a very long time ago." She stepped away from the door. "Come in."
"I'm sorry about breaking the door the other day. I hope it didn't cost you much."
"Not much," she murmured, rubbing her arms with nerves as she turned away from him. He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. She tried to pull away, but he held her fiercely, and eventually she turned to look up at him.
Her strong resolve had melted away, and there were tears streaming down her cheeks. He reached into his pocket and fumbled around for his handkerchief, then offered it to her nervously. She started to laugh, but half choked through her tears. "You've always been a gentleman."
"Not always," he said sadly, reaching up to wipe a tear from her eyes. "I'm not worth the tears."
"You're right," she agreed. "But since when has that ever stopped me from loving you?" He met her gaze for a moment, then she burst into genuine laughter and wiped her tears away. "Look at me, blubbering like a fool. Why you don't just up and leave now…"
"I don't want to lose you again," he whispered. She swallowed but said nothing, and he nodded slowly. "If you…if…if you want me to go, just say the word and I'll never bother you again."
"You idiot, of course I don't want you to go." She leaned her head against his chest and smiled faintly. "I just want you to stay here…forever."
He returned the smile. "Sadly, I have to return to Mission Omega Matrix some time. You're welcome to join me, of course. So we could still be together."
"I'd never truly be welcome back there," she said sorrowfully. "As much as I want to…"
"Are you certain? I have quite a bit of influence there, you know. We'd never be alone again. We'd always be together, always have each other."
From the doorway, a new voice joined the conversation. "Aw, isn't that sweet? Pledging undying love in a hotel room. How romantic." Sabyne stiffened; it was the man who had framed her.
"What would you know about romance?" she snarled, remind Artemus of a dog getting ready to fight.
"Not nearly as much as my master," the man said. "But he's taught me a great deal. He taught me that once your best friend meets a young woman, he's lost forever."
Sabyne stiffened. "Sphinx," she hissed.
The man was pushed aside, revealing Sphinx. He was wearing black leather, with his blonde, shoulder-length hair pulled neatly into a ponytail. "Good job. Then again, you always were rather clever." He was like some ancient Greek statue, almost godly beautiful, and his smile was off-putting. "So, Art…long time no see, friend. How've you been? Depressed, I bet. After all, you've just spent some time thinking that your ex sold you out for cash." He laughed.
"So you've set yourself out to destroy our relationship?" Artemus asked. "We hadn't had much of one, but now you've decided-"
"You two did a good job destroying the relationship yourselves. I was a little more than angry when you decided to stop hanging out with me, when you ditched me for this bitch, and I'm back for my revenge." He leaned in closer to Sabyne. "And I can't wait to see you writhing on the ground, screaming in agony while I…play…with my old friend Arty. And once he's dead, it'll be your turn, and your screams will be music to my ears."