TITLE: When Adventures Begin.
CHAPTER: Six AUTHOR: The Chronicler UNIVERSE: M7 Aurora Adventures RATING: PG-13 ARCHIVE: Yes FEEDBACK: Pretty Please! EMAIL:

When Adventures Begin.
By The Chronicler

Chapter Six

The lift settled effortlessly on the deck of the Prometheus. Instantly two gray clad men rushed forward to open the gate for the passengers to disembark.

The lady Standish practically fluttered out, fanning her face with a hankie at a near hysterical pace. "My, my, what a fantastic view." she purred, hurrying to the rail and peering over.

"Yes, it is." General Coal answered in a monotone. He watched as the man servants followed the Standishes out of the lift and across the deck. The slightest shift of his gray eye gave a silent order to his men, before he, too, stepped out of the lift.

Ezra Standish hesitated. His trained eye picked up the signal, saw the ever so slight change in the men. He knew these people, seen them in action often enough. And he knew what it meant.

The gambler glanced back at Josiah who still stood just behind him. "Take care." he warned in a whisper. Then stepped away to join his mother. "Impressive, indeed."

Maude glanced up at him sharply, her eyes narrowing. With an evil smirk that made Ezra gut twist, Maude standish turned to face Coal. "Now, General, in the sanctuary of your strong hold, I give you these... traitors, these loathsome trespassers are actually the retarded fists of the ever so great, pompous, imperious President of these fine United States of America." She glared at the two agents with such venom she could of killed them right then and there. But she preferred to watch the General do it.

Coal sighed, annoyed that she had wasted so many words to say what he had already known. "I am aware of that fact, Mrs Standish. Now, if you would please quiet yourself...." He glanced sharply at the two Standishs. "I may yet discover how involved the two of you are."

Grinding his teeth, Chris Larabee started forward with every intent of killing every man he could lay his hands on... and then do something about that bitch Standish! But Josiah was quick to stop him, grabbing his arm with a strong, almost painful, grip. The Captain glanced at him sharply, ready to start on his own man if that's what it took. Then stopped himself when he noticed that the big man wasn't looking at him, but was glancing about at their surroundings. Following his gaze, Chris suddenly understood.

They were surrounded by several, well armed and ready soldiers. They didn't have a chance.

Maude quickly stepped forward. "I am not, by any means, a part of the treachery!" she insisted. "My pathetic excuse for a son brought this down on us. It is his doing."

Coal discovered a whole new distaste for the woman, a mother who would turn on her own son... even if it was in the process of being loyal to the League of Darkness. But she was beneath him and he had no desire to fall to her level. Her son, on the other hand, was a smart bastard, tricky, even ingenious. If he betrayed the League, then he could be an enemy of significance. But, if he hadn't betrayed them, than he was an asset they would be wise to keep. "Mr. Standish, would you care to explain this?" he offered, actually curiose as to what excuse the boy might come up with.

Ezra smirked. "What did you expect me to do?" he challenged. Turning about, he waved an arm at the Aurora. "The Aurora. That was all I was told. I was supposed to bring back the Aurora!" He turned hard emerald eyes on the General. "I didn't know that it was a ship... much less an air ship... and one guarded by a trifle of brutes who had the thought capacity for one, and only one, simple thought: finding their litter mate!" He put his hands on his hips. "Since their focus was on their.. otherwise preoccupied companion... my assumption being that you are the one he was preoccupied with... they were not taken with the cover you had supplied."

"Damn straight!" Chris snarled.

Ezra glanced at him, but then returned his gaze to Coal. "Thus I took the only path opened to me: I fabricated a cover. Considering that I have delivered both the Aurora and these agents to you all in fine condition, I would of thought praise, and not suspicion, would of been the award. But, alas, that would require the presence of at least one gentleman."

The General raised one eye brow. "You would?" he returned, not in the least bit impressed with what sounded more like bragging than explanation. But, as Ezra had talked, he had watched Larabee.

The Captain had become so ridged with rage, that he was trembling. And his eyes were locked on the boy Standish.

Ezra Standish could lie to the four winds and convince them there was nothing to blow at. But Chris Larabee wasn't a lier and his reaction told the General what he wanted to know about the story. Larabee believed that he had just been betrayed.

General Coal turned his back purposefully on the government agents, and faced Ezra directly. "Alright, Mr. Standish, I will give you an opportunity to prove your loyalty to the League of darkness and our Lord, the Count Gregory."

"Oh?" Ezra face went completely blank, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Whatever may I do to please our Lord, the great, magnificent, godly Count Gregory?"

Though his men shifted and growled at the tone, Coal simple ignored it as part of the boy's over abundance of character. "You will lead a troop to the Aurora to seize her in the name of the League. You will open the doors for our men, pointing out the dangers and disarming any of the enemy that may still be aboard. You will make sure that not one of my men is unnecessarily wounded in the seizure. Is that understood?"

The boy seemed to hesitate. He started to glance at Larabee, but stopped, as if realizing it might have been a mistake. He quickly turned his eyes to his mother, trying to hide his first reaction.

But Coal had seen it. And would not forget that Ezra Standish nearly looked to the enemy for instruction. Perhaps added encouragement was needed. "Mrs. Standish will remain with us... for her safety, of course." he offered, his tone low and meaningful.

As he predicted, Ezra's eyes snapped up at him. After a moment, his eyes adjusted to something Coal did not recognized, a soft smile curling his lips. "Of course. I... appreciate the concern for my mother's safety." His back stiff, he turned back to the lift. When no troop seemed to be ready, he cast his eyes back. "At your connivance, of course."

Coal's one eye narrowed. Then it shifted to one of his officers. With a nod, he sent the man off to gather his troops. Then he turned his attention once more to the captives. "Captain Larabee... forgive my distraction." He smiled a soft, friendly smile. "You have come along way to seek your friend. Accept my assurances that he is, if not well, at least alive." He paused to frown, blinking his one eye. "Well, he was the last time I saw him. In the not so deligate hands of our sweet Lady Margurita, his condition could have changed drastically in a very short time."

"Where the hell is he?" Chris demanded in a low, snarl.

So menacing was his tone, that the men nearest stiffened, their weapons coming up slightly.

Coal sighed. "Interesting that you mentioned hell."
J.D. paced nervously, his arms wrapped around himself so tight, he bruised himself. His eyes kept drifting to the dead woman on the floor, and he kept ripping his eyes away, trying to block out the memory, the knowledge that he, John Daniels Dunne, had killed her.

"J.D." Buck breathed from where he sat, leaning against the bars of his cell, washing his wounds in a bucket the kid had brought him. "You keep pacin' like that an' I'm just gonna throw up again."

Instantly, the boy stopped, his big, frightened eyes locking on him. "Are you sick again? Do you still need time? More water?" he asked hurriedly.

Buck smiled up at him, wondering for a moment if his concern was just for him or for their yet to get on with escape. "J.D.... come here." he ordered.

The boy obeyed without hesitation, offering his arm when Buck reached up.

With a grunt, the agent pulled himself to his feet. As if sitting didn't hurt enough, actually standing screamed agony through his torn, burned, and abused body. With a gasp, he gripped J.D.'s arm, squeazing his eyes closed.

Quickly, J.D. wrapped an arm around his new friend's waist. "Sit down again. You're not ready."

But Buck's free hand grabbed the cell bars, keeping himself up. "No." He forced a smile for the boy. "Staying won't do anything but get us both chained to the ceiling." He glanced down at the dead woman. "Maybe worse."

J.D. followed his gaze and shivered.

A loud clank sounded as the hall door was unlatched.

J.D.'s jaw dropped.

"Shit!" Buck hissed. He pushed the boy away from him and into the shadowy corner of his cell. "Stay! Hide!" he snapped.

J.D. hesitated. "But you're hurt..."

"Now!"

The boy dropped back into the shadows, crouching down, doing his very best to become invisible.

Six gray clad soldiers entered the dungeon, shoving and pulling between them two men, both with their hands cuffed in front of them. They were laughing and threatening their prisoners, telling them of all the many "wonders" their Lady had in store for them.

But then the one in the lead stopped, his eyes locking on the open door of the cell. "What the hell..." he started, then stopped again when he saw the body laying beyond the door. His jaw dropped open.

His companions stopped behind him, not immediately seeing what he had. But then they followed his gaze.

"Lady Margurita!" one cried, rushing into the cell and dropping down beside their commanding officer. He reached for her, but hesitated, his hand hanging over the body. After a few deep breaths, he looked up at his colleagues with big eyes. "She's dead." he confirmed what they already knew.

The six men stared at each other in shock, unsure of what they should do.

Chris raised on eye brow. "My condolences." he offered.

Instantly, the man closest swung about, slamming the back of his fist across the agent's jaw.

Expecting the blow coming, Chris planted his feet and, though his head snapped back, he did not stumble. He spat out blood from his split lip before turning his cold, hard eyes on the guard.

Before he could say anything further, a chuckle finally drew everyone's attention to the occupant of the cell.

"Well, damn, Chris, I thought you had gone and retired."

Chris smirked at his long time friend. Despite obviously being in bad shape, Buck was alive! And Chris couldn't help but feel his heart pound, over joyed to see him. "Well, damn, Buck, I thought you were gonna behave yourself." he returned.

Buck started to laugh, but stopped short, coughing, an arm wrapping around his ribs.

"Bastard!" hissed the soldier in the cell. Rising to his feet, he reached for his belt and slowly, dramatically, drew his long, 12" dagger. "I'm gonna slit you open from hip to hip." He took a step toward the wounded man.

"No!" came a yell from the shadows.

The soldier spun about, searching for the source.

Forgetting their previous assignment, three of the soldiers started for the cell, leaving only two at close hand to the captured agents.

It was the chance Josiah had been waiting for.

Lowering his left shoulder, he slammed to the side, smashing the nearest soldier against the wall with such force, the soldier grunted only once before falling to the floor, unconscious. Before the other could react, the big man swung his cuffed hands around and up, catching the other soldier under the chin, snapping his head up and back.

The soldier stumbled back only to be followed by another sledge hammer of a blow that dropped him like a sack of rocks.

The three who had been moving away, started to turn at the sounds behind them.

But Chris took a running leap at them, turning his body in mid air, and slamming into all three. He fell to the floor with two of them and Instantly began to kick his sharp toed riding boots and swinging his cuffed hands like a mad man.

Josiah was quick to follow his commander, lifting a big foot and kicking the third man in the gut.

The soldier in the cell looked back at the fight, enraged that these.... bugs dared to challenge them. Not only challenged them... but killed their Lady! "Die!" he snarled. "You all gonna die!" While the two agents were busy with his comrades, he turned to glare at the man hanging on the bars. He pointed his dagger at him. "Starting with you, you slimy bastard!"

"Stay where you are!" Buck warned, but he wasn't looking at the man threatening him. He was looking at the shadows beyond.

"Stay?" the soldier laughed. "Why the hell would I stay?" He continued forward, swirling the sharp point of his weapon at the prisoner.

Suddenly there was a boy standing in front of him.

The guard stopped, staring down at him. "What the hell are you doing here? Your the General's wonder boy." he mumbled his confusion.

J.D. swallowed hard, but doubled up his fists and stood as tall as he could. "How brave you must be to try and murder some beat up and hurt...."

He waved the dagger in the air. "What's wrong with you? You're wearing the same uniform I am. You're one of us! You're..."

"I killed her!" J.D. screamed at him, nodding his head toward the woman's body.

The guard's eyes narrowed. "What?" he hissed. His eyes shifted sharply at the wounded man behind the boy as it suddenly became obvious.

In his condition, Wilmington wouldn't have had the strength to kill his lady. She was too strong! Too brilliant! Too cruel! He had to have had help... he had to have had the boy!

"Your treacherous, little bastard!" The soldier took a step toward the boy.

Chris slammed his cuffed fists against the back of the man's head.

Hurt and dazed, he dropped to his knees at J.D.'s feet.

Instantly, the boy reacted, punching him right in the nose.

The soldier fell back, this time landing at Chris' feet.

The agent finished the fight with a solid kick, knocking him unconscious.

Then it was quiet. So quiet, J.D. had to wonder if they had really won or not.

Chris glanced around, his own rage desperate to keep on fighting. But all six of their guards now laid on the floor in some disarray of unconsciousness. There was no one else to fight! His eyes found the gray uniformed boy still standing between him and his friend.

"Chris!" Buck yelled, seeing his friend take a step forward, the same step the soldier had taken.

J.D.'s eyes went big. He stepped back.

"Chris, leave him alone!" Buck snapped. "He isn't with them!"

Josiah came over to stand beside Chris. Though he eyed the boy suspiciously, he leaned in front of Chris, stopping him. "Just who, Brother Bucklin, is he with?" he wanted to know.

"Me." Buck answered without hesitation. He reached out to grab J.D.'s arm to steady himself. "The kid's with me. He saved my life. An' I'm gettin' him out of here."

"What's he doing here in the first place?" Chris demanded.

Buck matched him, glare for glare. "Saving my life!" He titled his head to one side. "Which you shoulda been doin' if you had gotten here in time. But, noooo, you took your own sweet time gettin' here. So the kid had to step up and do the deed."

Chris's jaw dropped.