DISCLAIMER: I am not the owner of nor wish to appear to be the owner of FAKE and all related merchandise thereof.
WARNINGS: Formal Diana. Calmer J.J. With sprinklings of Lime here and there. The chapter(s) with Lemon will be labeled. This warning applies to the entire story not just this chapter!
Given that Captain Rose was on the ship everyone had the forethought to change into their uniforms before boarding the Bridge. Everyone took their seats, Adams and Parker on Navagation. Cassidy at Communications and Lars on Information. Maclean stood at Spacey's side while Rose paced the floor.
" What is the problem?" Rose's voice held a level of command that made Ryo wish the Captain was a better man.
Lars, who was from Nevada and held no accent, spoke, " It is a fire in the Storage Deck and it is slowly making it's way to the Quarters Area."
" What!" Ryo looked over at Lars horrified, " In the same place as before?"
Captain Rose cleared his throat, " Never mind that, Fire Safety will see to it."
" No not good enough," Commander Spacey glared at Rose, " It is a fire in the same area as before and I want to know why," when she noticed Rose opening his mouth to deny her she turned away from him and spoke, " Parker. Adams. Go to the Storage Deck and see what you can find out."
" Yes Ma'am," Parker was up and grabbing Adams, dragging him along and ignoring Rose's repeated attempts to get them to come back.
Captain Rose looked over at Diana through narrowed eyes, " Don't you ever give orders on my ship again," she rolled her eyes and turned her back to him again and it took all of Rose's will power not to smack her on the back of the head.
Ryo took a seat at Navigations listening as Cassidy spoke, " Captain, there is a visitor at the front of the ship. However, he is not responding to my hails."
Just then Bikky stepped into the room. Rose looked over and waving his hand shouted, "No children allowed on Deck!"
Bikky scowled then raising his right hand and the middle finger on it, he spat, " Screw you!"
Ryo turned in his seat and glared at the teen, " Bikky."
" What? They are evacuating Quarters, where else can I go?"
Cassidy sighed, " He's still not answering Sir."
Rose rubbed his temples, " Commander Spacey, go see what the gentleman wants."
Diana groaned then made her way off the Deck and toward the front of the ship.
Fire Safety was trying in vain to put out the fire. It wasn't that it was large it just seemed not to want to go away, like it had an endless source of fuel. When J.J. and Drake arrived most of Fire Safety was sitting on boxes and crates wiping sweat and frowning.
" What's going on guys?" Drake asked no one in particular.
Two of the men looked up from their places on crates, but is was the woman, Mary, who answered, " Damn fire won't go out. Had this problem the last time we were in here," she pointed to the two men who were still working on it, " Not spreading though."
" Well, that's good to know," J.J. sat next to a man, and the man got up grumbling something about "flamers". J.J. ignored it, but the man got a death glare from Parker.
" You know what guys," one of the men working on the fire stopped and stepped back, " I have to take a break, it's too damn hot."
" Yeah, both of you sit down," the Fire Chief pointed to two others, " Take their spots."
So as the four men prepared to swap places, no one tending the fire, nothing trying to quench the flames, the hot spot suddenly died. Every conversation ceased as everyone in the room looked over at where the fire once was. The only thing there now was a wisp of smoke.
Every looked over at the area shocked, but it was Drake who voiced everyone's thoughts, " What the fuck!"
" Still not answering Sir," Cassidy was continuing trying to hail the man at 'Glorious' front door, as ordered, to no avail.
Rose sighed, " On screen, I want to see this man."
Cassidy opened the view screen and everyone looked up to see who this man was. The man was looking to his right, body turned in such a way so all you could see was his profile. He was wearing a black business suit and he looked rather handsome from this angle. Rose gave the order to open a channel so he could talk to the man. Cassidy looked at him and nodded when the deed was done. Rose was about to open his mouth to speak when the man turned around fully and his entire face could be seen by the crew.
Over the gasp given by Cassidy and Lars, Bikky yelled, " It's a split-faced dude!" and before Rose could stop him Ryo was out of his seat and sprinting toward the front of the ship, toward Diana. He wouldn't have her face a G'nar alone.
" Wow, this is some set up," Drake had all of Fire Safety as well as J.J. looking over his shoulder, " Only someone with extensive knowledge of the ship as well as advance knowledge of electronics could do this."
The crew of 'Glorious' was looking at some sort of device, rather large, it was made of circular metal with evenly spaced pin holes. The holes, Parker assumed, was were fuel for the fire was released and it was obviously placed on a timer or was being used by remote control to control the flame. However, they wouldn't know more until Tech Support arrived.
" How and when could something this big come onto the ship and no one notice?" J.J. was whispering his words, " This is crazy..."
The Fire Chief spoke, " I only need two of you to stay so, Hammons and Solus stay behind and assist Tech. Everyone else, let's go!"
There were a few grumbles and groans, but everyone obeyed and as they left two of Tech's finest arrived. The beautiful Crystal White and the genius Christopher Meyers.
" Thanks for calling us," Crystal began to pull her dark hair up in a bun, " what's up?"
Drake pointed at the device, " I think it should be disconnected and removed before you guys start analyzing it. This is where the fire originated from."
" In that case," Christopher waved at the firemen and they understood, taking their places to the side of the two Tech experts to extinguish any fires that may arise, " I think that would be the most logical step."
Hair up Crystal knelt beside Christopher, who was also her husband, and the two began the process of dismantling the mechanism.
Ryo caught up to Diana just as the hatch to the ship slid open. She froze at the sight of the G'nar and was relieved when Ryo made his way to her side.
" How may I help you?" Diana sounded calm and commanding as she made her way out to meet the man.
The G'nar smiled, " I am Cladious. Are you the Commander of this ship?"
Diana ran the question through her mind. If she were to tell the truth then it was possible that this man, this enemy, would want to talk to the Captain. Even though she couldn't stand Rose she was first and foremost a member of this crew and her loyalty lied with the ship and therefore it's commander. She would lie to protect the Captain.
" Yes I am. What is your business here?"
Cladious was quick, so quick that Ryo didn't realize he actually heard a gun shot until Diana fell back onto his chest. He held her upright and began to drag her back inside the ship. Cladious continued to fire, striking Diana's shoulder and leg. Ryo turned himself and Diana, now with their backs to the G'nar Ryo was shielding Diana. Once inside Ryo dropped Diana to the floor and turned to the keypad to shut the door. Just as Ryo's fingers entered the last number and the hatch began to close he was struck in the chest. Ryo fell and landed painfully on his back, his head striking the floor with such force that he was instantly knocked unconscious.
" Shit!" Dee looked at his finger and watched as the blood beaded on the tip, " how the hell?"
Leslie looked up from his place on the other side of the chess board, " That's odd, I've had this for years and nothing like that has happened before," he frowned, he was rather fond of his glass chess set.
Dee sucked on the finger then pulling it out with a pop, asked, " Must be a bad omen or something..."
" Must be," Leslie nodded his head in agreement, then looking up smiled, " Check mate."