Chapter 9
Loose Ends
By Trynia Merin
Disclaimer: Excalibur and its characters are property of XMEN. This is a work of fiction, and is not meant
for profit or to demean the characters. The events here take place after my first story Dreams Nailed.
Please R and R. This part has no R rated stuff, but I'd put it a PG for language and some tense situations.
As for adult material, they'll be marked in upcoming individual chapters.
Chapter 9
"Commander Cerise!" D'marran's voice cut through the darkness. Cerise sat bold upright, her Grand Jhar
conditioning in full effect. She momentarily panicked at the feel of strong arms enclosing her, but the
moonstone eyes that sleepily met hers were filled with only concern and love.
"Cerise here, what is this untold interruption?" she stammered, looking at Khaos with an apology in her
dark eyes.
"Forgive me Commander, but you asked me to inform you if there were any activities…" D'marran said.
"Our long range sensors have detected battle craft…"
"I will be right there," Cerise mumbled, slowly squirming. Khaos released her, and she scrambled out of
bed, struggling to find her uniform. She rushed into the chamber, quickly rushing through the fresher to
clean her body of the juices of her activities before.
"Despite our efforts to conceal ourselves we have been detected…" D'marran's voice answered in a panic.
Khaos slowly shook off his own sleep, gesturing as his swords flew across the chamber, and he quickly
followed.
*****
Pryde and Wisdom stirred in their bed, as the klaxon bonged, and Kitty snapped to alertness. Wisdom felt
her instinctively phase from his grip and cursed as he blinked awake in the flashing red lights invading their
cabin. "Bloody hell what the frick is it?" he complained.
"Nothing good I think, lover," she said, glancing at him with an apologetic look as she scrambled into her
suit again. Wisdom grumbled as he rubbed his eyes and stirred in the silvery sheets. He grabbed his
underwear and pants, hastily dressing and almost tripping as he tried to stumble over to grab his shirt. Kitty
slid into her costume quickly, and shoved her hands into the gloves, and her feet into the boots by the time
Wisdom was buttoning his shirt and tucking the tails of it into his pants and hunting for his limp tie. Kitty
tossed it and his jacket at him, and he muttered his thanks.
"All hands alert… enemy vessel detected… take combat measures…"
"Mind telling me what that means like?" wisdom asked. "WE gotta put on those ruddy space suits?"
"I think that would be the best," Kitty said as she phased into hers, and Wisdom wandered over to put his
suit on also. He hated looking like a bug, but he had to admit the Shi'ar armor was a good augmentation for
his powers. He could use his hotknives with no fear of burning the suit out. When he had scrambled into
it, Kitty moved over to check the seals at the throat and hip to make sure they were fastened right. Grabbing
the helmets, she tossed one to him, and hurried him out the door, which appeared in the wall with a wave of
her hand. Crewmembers were rushing out of their cabins, struggling to get on their space gear as the ship
moved into battle readiness. From down the hall they saw Rahne struggling into her suit, half in lupine
form as Douglock quickly helped her along with it. Kurt was already in his armor, rushing out with
Amanda Sefton close behind him.
"What's goin on?" Rahne asked, her eyes wide with panic.
"Likely probability indicates we have located the enemy," said Douglock, helping her fasten the last suit
seal.
"Thank ye Dougie," she glanced back. "Kurt…"
"Excalibur, there you are, thank Sharra and Kythree," D'marran gasped as he rushed up. "Commander
Cerise needs you on the battle bridge, pronto…"
"Where is Khaos?" asked Kitty.
"He's already there… follow me," D'marran said, and they rushed after him, their space boots pounding on
the green organic steel deck.
The sounds of explosions and the vibration o the ship told them they were already engaged in a long-range
battle by the time they reached the command deck. Cerise occupied the middle chair, which swiveled onto
the members of Excalibur.
"Cerise," Kurt said. "What's going on?"
"They have detected us… we are in battle by several of Sat-yr-9's light cruisers. They are more primitive,
but their particle beam cannons as you say… pack a wallop…"
"What should we do?" asked Kitty.
"I need you to take the battle to them. They won't be expecting you onboard. WE can use the transport to
beam each of you onto the ships…"
"No ruddy way, why should WE be yer operatives?" Wisdom asked angrily.
"Because, Sat-yr=9 won't be expecting your powers… or you," said Cerise. "And we will divide into
teams. We aren't' going to ENGAGE the ships, merely get onto them. And hide till each takes it back to
the base. D'marran, be ready to assume command in my absence…"
"What's the plan?" asked Wisdom.
"You will be in teams of two. Douglock and Wisdom you're team alpha, Nightcrawler and Wolvesbane,
you are team beta, Amanda and Khaos team gamma, and Kitty you and me are team delta…" Cerise said.
"Any reason for this?" Amanda asked.
"Each of you will end up in a different part of the base. These schematics will enable you to use your
various abilities to the best. Douglock, wisdom, you will knock out the shield generator and weaponry.
Nightcrawler and Wolfsbane, you will locate Brian and Meggan with your abilities and spy on Saturnine
and try to determine her plans, and report back if you are not successful in freeing them. Daytripper and
Khaos will be on hand to provide backup for freeing them and teleporting them off. I and Kitty will draw
off the bulk of their forces in battle as a main diversion. They will think we are their main threat while the
others do their part.
"Why?" Kitty asked.
"You and I are the deadliest of warriors," she answered. "Nightcrawer's stealth and Wolfsbane's enhanced
senses are perfect to locate Meggan and Brian. Douglock's techno organic power can log him into the
base's computer. Wisdom will give him cover so he can work from any interruptions. Khaos and
Daytripper are well suited for evacuation, and will move into position if help is needed."
"Fine, put US out of the way so we don't' flub up,' Amanda gritted.
"No, we need you as our secret weapon," Cerise said. "You and Khaos must capture Saturnine. And we
must bring her to judgement under Shi'ar law…"
"How?" Amanda asked.
"that is up to YOU and Khaos. She will not be expecting your unconventional power signature. She will
expect me. And she will GET what she wants, me in the form of a captive. Kitty will be on hand to free me
while I case as MUCH damage to her forces a possible…"
"Cerise," Kurt said. "Surely…"
"You have your instructions," Cerise said with a look of steel. "Don't you want to free your friends?"
"We'll do things HER way for now," Amanda said.
"We don't' have time to argue, let's get you to the transporters," said D'marran.
"Won't they detect us?" asked Kitty.
"Not if we give THEM something to chew on first," said D'marran.
"Follow me please," said Cerise. The members of Excalibur raced after her, and into the transporter room.
Shakarr operated the device, and the six people felt a blinding flash as their molecules were disassembled
and flung across space to their unknown destination.
***
Wisdom felt himself tingling when the flash dulled, and he felt solid deck under his feet. Grabbing
Douglock, he pulled his companion out of the way behind a pillar as a rank of tight suited females marched
by. Their insignia was the four-part dagger of Saturnine, and Wisdom mumbled under his breath. He had
seen it before, for Black Air had a few missions trying to stop Vixen and her commandos. They had found
out that Courtney Ross had been secretly connected to Vixen's operations, and he recalled one mission
where they were to capture the British banker.
However they had discovered that she was not the spirited banker they had anticipated. Three broken ribs
and a few other sundry injuries and he and Culley had brought back a disc file filled with inconsistencies
about Courtney Ross. A few DNA samples from strands of her platinum hair had revealed some anomalies
from their other bio extracts. Differences that Scicluna had determined proved that she was in fact an
imposter. Not a clone, but a clever imposter.
"This woman is NOT Courtney Ross," she had said. "And that explains recent activities…"
"Does it?" Wisdom had said, glancing into his boss's sardonic face.
"Courtney Ross had backbone, but she was never RUTHLESS like our current 'Ross'…"
"A mate of yours?" Culley had joked.
"Courtney Ross and I attended the SAME boarding School, years ago," Sciluna had said. "I know her
personally. And while she HAS been known to be harsh, she has never been a sadist…"
"You sound ALMOST like you admire this imposter, if I didn't know ya better like,' Wisdom had smirked.
A twist of Sciluna's lips was all that answered him. His stomach churned, and he saw the true nature of her
beast reveal itself. "I can ADMIRE her results. She is in TOTAL control of her forcers, acquired by vixen,
from the data you have discovered. And Vixen is NOWHERE to be found. This file ALSO indicates
technology of a MUCH higher level then even current black AIR is capable of. An alternate universe
version of Courtney Ross is the only logical explanation…"
"What made YE come to that conclusion…"
"Our scientists were well appraised of the existence of parallel dimensions when Dr. Moira MacTaggert
and her bodyguard Callisto were inexplicably replaced by Naziesque duplicates. Also was the appearance
of the Reichsmen, alternates of Excalibur's then current roster. Back then, our operatives in RCX and
WHO had kept their files meticulously. Dr. Rabrash who now works in OUR division was correct when he
took the necessary energy readings. Their molecules vibrated at a SLIGHTLY different frequency,
indicating parallel transit."
"In other words, they were outa sync with us?" Wisdom smirked.
"To put it in layman's terms yes. And the subsequent arrival of the 'train' proved that cross time travel was
possible, also cross referenced with our findings regarding the 'warpies' project being developed by
Orpington Smythe," said Sciluna. "It wraps it all into a neat little package, and this disc file is the bow…"
"So NOW what?" Wisdom asked.
"we file this for future reference. We don't' have the resources YET to combat her but we CAN keep tabs
on her. IT seems that she in recent months has kept out of trouble… but we are currently working on
OTHER ways of keeping her under submission…"
"And like usually you cant' tell us?" asked Culley.
"correct," she smiled, and Wisdom thought he saw certain smugness.
"Query, what are you thinking about Wisdom?" Douglock asked.
"How the hell we stay quiet, and out of their hair. Something's rotten about this whole thing, and I have a
few loose ends I wanna tie up…"
"What loose ends?" Douglock asked.
"Old history, and a nasty hunch. This Saturnine was a dead ringer for Courtney Ross, like…"
"Subject was once Brian Braddock's lover…"
" Yep. And I have a HUNCH that she wasn't alone in her operation. Not just with VIXEN, but someone
ELSE who I figured knew her from long ago…"
"Query?"
"When we get to their base, we'll find out, locked in the damn computer," said Wisdom grimly. Douglock
followed the erstwhile operative as he sought a place to hide in the ship. What nagged at Wisdom's brain
was the fact that Sciluna had a sick admiration for Saturnine, who had adopted Courtney Ross's identity for
a while. And he couldn't help but wonder if Sciluna and Saturnine were strange bedfellows… and in fact
allies. Some of the metal on the ship and the patterns of it reminded him of what he had seen in Dream
Nails. Not the uncreated. From the design of the hallway, which was techno/organic and strangely familiar.
The uncreated had no need of such technologies, but he remembered Kitty saying that she had seen Phalanx
samples. And the walls looked suspiciously like what she had described.
"Query, these ships are not composed of Earth alloys, but something similar to my own matrix… techno
organic…"
"Yep, you noticed too, huh?" Pete asked, as Douglock scanned the walls that they moved along.
"Connection between Saturnine and the Phalanx… illogical…"
"Not so illogical. Just a hunch like… wot we people call intuition or a GUT feeling. And this one's making
me sick…"
"Explain…"
"There's a reason. Black Air had access to all sorts of weird alien technology," said Wisdom. "And my ex
boss knew Courtney Ross like from ages ago… so put that together an wot have we got?"
"Courtney Ross, AKA Satynyne and Sciluna… were allies?" asked Douglock, putting it all together.
"Bingo mate. Black Air' sup to naughty games and they didn't' want their pants down around their ankles,
so that's probably WHY she's up here…" said Wisdom.
***
Loose Ends
By Trynia Merin
Disclaimer: Excalibur and its characters are property of XMEN. This is a work of fiction, and is not meant
for profit or to demean the characters. The events here take place after my first story Dreams Nailed.
Please R and R. This part has no R rated stuff, but I'd put it a PG for language and some tense situations.
As for adult material, they'll be marked in upcoming individual chapters.
Chapter 9
"Commander Cerise!" D'marran's voice cut through the darkness. Cerise sat bold upright, her Grand Jhar
conditioning in full effect. She momentarily panicked at the feel of strong arms enclosing her, but the
moonstone eyes that sleepily met hers were filled with only concern and love.
"Cerise here, what is this untold interruption?" she stammered, looking at Khaos with an apology in her
dark eyes.
"Forgive me Commander, but you asked me to inform you if there were any activities…" D'marran said.
"Our long range sensors have detected battle craft…"
"I will be right there," Cerise mumbled, slowly squirming. Khaos released her, and she scrambled out of
bed, struggling to find her uniform. She rushed into the chamber, quickly rushing through the fresher to
clean her body of the juices of her activities before.
"Despite our efforts to conceal ourselves we have been detected…" D'marran's voice answered in a panic.
Khaos slowly shook off his own sleep, gesturing as his swords flew across the chamber, and he quickly
followed.
*****
Pryde and Wisdom stirred in their bed, as the klaxon bonged, and Kitty snapped to alertness. Wisdom felt
her instinctively phase from his grip and cursed as he blinked awake in the flashing red lights invading their
cabin. "Bloody hell what the frick is it?" he complained.
"Nothing good I think, lover," she said, glancing at him with an apologetic look as she scrambled into her
suit again. Wisdom grumbled as he rubbed his eyes and stirred in the silvery sheets. He grabbed his
underwear and pants, hastily dressing and almost tripping as he tried to stumble over to grab his shirt. Kitty
slid into her costume quickly, and shoved her hands into the gloves, and her feet into the boots by the time
Wisdom was buttoning his shirt and tucking the tails of it into his pants and hunting for his limp tie. Kitty
tossed it and his jacket at him, and he muttered his thanks.
"All hands alert… enemy vessel detected… take combat measures…"
"Mind telling me what that means like?" wisdom asked. "WE gotta put on those ruddy space suits?"
"I think that would be the best," Kitty said as she phased into hers, and Wisdom wandered over to put his
suit on also. He hated looking like a bug, but he had to admit the Shi'ar armor was a good augmentation for
his powers. He could use his hotknives with no fear of burning the suit out. When he had scrambled into
it, Kitty moved over to check the seals at the throat and hip to make sure they were fastened right. Grabbing
the helmets, she tossed one to him, and hurried him out the door, which appeared in the wall with a wave of
her hand. Crewmembers were rushing out of their cabins, struggling to get on their space gear as the ship
moved into battle readiness. From down the hall they saw Rahne struggling into her suit, half in lupine
form as Douglock quickly helped her along with it. Kurt was already in his armor, rushing out with
Amanda Sefton close behind him.
"What's goin on?" Rahne asked, her eyes wide with panic.
"Likely probability indicates we have located the enemy," said Douglock, helping her fasten the last suit
seal.
"Thank ye Dougie," she glanced back. "Kurt…"
"Excalibur, there you are, thank Sharra and Kythree," D'marran gasped as he rushed up. "Commander
Cerise needs you on the battle bridge, pronto…"
"Where is Khaos?" asked Kitty.
"He's already there… follow me," D'marran said, and they rushed after him, their space boots pounding on
the green organic steel deck.
The sounds of explosions and the vibration o the ship told them they were already engaged in a long-range
battle by the time they reached the command deck. Cerise occupied the middle chair, which swiveled onto
the members of Excalibur.
"Cerise," Kurt said. "What's going on?"
"They have detected us… we are in battle by several of Sat-yr-9's light cruisers. They are more primitive,
but their particle beam cannons as you say… pack a wallop…"
"What should we do?" asked Kitty.
"I need you to take the battle to them. They won't be expecting you onboard. WE can use the transport to
beam each of you onto the ships…"
"No ruddy way, why should WE be yer operatives?" Wisdom asked angrily.
"Because, Sat-yr=9 won't be expecting your powers… or you," said Cerise. "And we will divide into
teams. We aren't' going to ENGAGE the ships, merely get onto them. And hide till each takes it back to
the base. D'marran, be ready to assume command in my absence…"
"What's the plan?" asked Wisdom.
"You will be in teams of two. Douglock and Wisdom you're team alpha, Nightcrawler and Wolvesbane,
you are team beta, Amanda and Khaos team gamma, and Kitty you and me are team delta…" Cerise said.
"Any reason for this?" Amanda asked.
"Each of you will end up in a different part of the base. These schematics will enable you to use your
various abilities to the best. Douglock, wisdom, you will knock out the shield generator and weaponry.
Nightcrawler and Wolfsbane, you will locate Brian and Meggan with your abilities and spy on Saturnine
and try to determine her plans, and report back if you are not successful in freeing them. Daytripper and
Khaos will be on hand to provide backup for freeing them and teleporting them off. I and Kitty will draw
off the bulk of their forces in battle as a main diversion. They will think we are their main threat while the
others do their part.
"Why?" Kitty asked.
"You and I are the deadliest of warriors," she answered. "Nightcrawer's stealth and Wolfsbane's enhanced
senses are perfect to locate Meggan and Brian. Douglock's techno organic power can log him into the
base's computer. Wisdom will give him cover so he can work from any interruptions. Khaos and
Daytripper are well suited for evacuation, and will move into position if help is needed."
"Fine, put US out of the way so we don't' flub up,' Amanda gritted.
"No, we need you as our secret weapon," Cerise said. "You and Khaos must capture Saturnine. And we
must bring her to judgement under Shi'ar law…"
"How?" Amanda asked.
"that is up to YOU and Khaos. She will not be expecting your unconventional power signature. She will
expect me. And she will GET what she wants, me in the form of a captive. Kitty will be on hand to free me
while I case as MUCH damage to her forces a possible…"
"Cerise," Kurt said. "Surely…"
"You have your instructions," Cerise said with a look of steel. "Don't you want to free your friends?"
"We'll do things HER way for now," Amanda said.
"We don't' have time to argue, let's get you to the transporters," said D'marran.
"Won't they detect us?" asked Kitty.
"Not if we give THEM something to chew on first," said D'marran.
"Follow me please," said Cerise. The members of Excalibur raced after her, and into the transporter room.
Shakarr operated the device, and the six people felt a blinding flash as their molecules were disassembled
and flung across space to their unknown destination.
***
Wisdom felt himself tingling when the flash dulled, and he felt solid deck under his feet. Grabbing
Douglock, he pulled his companion out of the way behind a pillar as a rank of tight suited females marched
by. Their insignia was the four-part dagger of Saturnine, and Wisdom mumbled under his breath. He had
seen it before, for Black Air had a few missions trying to stop Vixen and her commandos. They had found
out that Courtney Ross had been secretly connected to Vixen's operations, and he recalled one mission
where they were to capture the British banker.
However they had discovered that she was not the spirited banker they had anticipated. Three broken ribs
and a few other sundry injuries and he and Culley had brought back a disc file filled with inconsistencies
about Courtney Ross. A few DNA samples from strands of her platinum hair had revealed some anomalies
from their other bio extracts. Differences that Scicluna had determined proved that she was in fact an
imposter. Not a clone, but a clever imposter.
"This woman is NOT Courtney Ross," she had said. "And that explains recent activities…"
"Does it?" Wisdom had said, glancing into his boss's sardonic face.
"Courtney Ross had backbone, but she was never RUTHLESS like our current 'Ross'…"
"A mate of yours?" Culley had joked.
"Courtney Ross and I attended the SAME boarding School, years ago," Sciluna had said. "I know her
personally. And while she HAS been known to be harsh, she has never been a sadist…"
"You sound ALMOST like you admire this imposter, if I didn't know ya better like,' Wisdom had smirked.
A twist of Sciluna's lips was all that answered him. His stomach churned, and he saw the true nature of her
beast reveal itself. "I can ADMIRE her results. She is in TOTAL control of her forcers, acquired by vixen,
from the data you have discovered. And Vixen is NOWHERE to be found. This file ALSO indicates
technology of a MUCH higher level then even current black AIR is capable of. An alternate universe
version of Courtney Ross is the only logical explanation…"
"What made YE come to that conclusion…"
"Our scientists were well appraised of the existence of parallel dimensions when Dr. Moira MacTaggert
and her bodyguard Callisto were inexplicably replaced by Naziesque duplicates. Also was the appearance
of the Reichsmen, alternates of Excalibur's then current roster. Back then, our operatives in RCX and
WHO had kept their files meticulously. Dr. Rabrash who now works in OUR division was correct when he
took the necessary energy readings. Their molecules vibrated at a SLIGHTLY different frequency,
indicating parallel transit."
"In other words, they were outa sync with us?" Wisdom smirked.
"To put it in layman's terms yes. And the subsequent arrival of the 'train' proved that cross time travel was
possible, also cross referenced with our findings regarding the 'warpies' project being developed by
Orpington Smythe," said Sciluna. "It wraps it all into a neat little package, and this disc file is the bow…"
"So NOW what?" Wisdom asked.
"we file this for future reference. We don't' have the resources YET to combat her but we CAN keep tabs
on her. IT seems that she in recent months has kept out of trouble… but we are currently working on
OTHER ways of keeping her under submission…"
"And like usually you cant' tell us?" asked Culley.
"correct," she smiled, and Wisdom thought he saw certain smugness.
"Query, what are you thinking about Wisdom?" Douglock asked.
"How the hell we stay quiet, and out of their hair. Something's rotten about this whole thing, and I have a
few loose ends I wanna tie up…"
"What loose ends?" Douglock asked.
"Old history, and a nasty hunch. This Saturnine was a dead ringer for Courtney Ross, like…"
"Subject was once Brian Braddock's lover…"
" Yep. And I have a HUNCH that she wasn't alone in her operation. Not just with VIXEN, but someone
ELSE who I figured knew her from long ago…"
"Query?"
"When we get to their base, we'll find out, locked in the damn computer," said Wisdom grimly. Douglock
followed the erstwhile operative as he sought a place to hide in the ship. What nagged at Wisdom's brain
was the fact that Sciluna had a sick admiration for Saturnine, who had adopted Courtney Ross's identity for
a while. And he couldn't help but wonder if Sciluna and Saturnine were strange bedfellows… and in fact
allies. Some of the metal on the ship and the patterns of it reminded him of what he had seen in Dream
Nails. Not the uncreated. From the design of the hallway, which was techno/organic and strangely familiar.
The uncreated had no need of such technologies, but he remembered Kitty saying that she had seen Phalanx
samples. And the walls looked suspiciously like what she had described.
"Query, these ships are not composed of Earth alloys, but something similar to my own matrix… techno
organic…"
"Yep, you noticed too, huh?" Pete asked, as Douglock scanned the walls that they moved along.
"Connection between Saturnine and the Phalanx… illogical…"
"Not so illogical. Just a hunch like… wot we people call intuition or a GUT feeling. And this one's making
me sick…"
"Explain…"
"There's a reason. Black Air had access to all sorts of weird alien technology," said Wisdom. "And my ex
boss knew Courtney Ross like from ages ago… so put that together an wot have we got?"
"Courtney Ross, AKA Satynyne and Sciluna… were allies?" asked Douglock, putting it all together.
"Bingo mate. Black Air' sup to naughty games and they didn't' want their pants down around their ankles,
so that's probably WHY she's up here…" said Wisdom.
***