"Thank you for coming." Tharcourt said professionally. Across from him at the front of his desk was Agent Veruna. She sat with one leg crossed over the other, her closed right hand on her cheek as if she were highly interested in this meeting. The pink highlights in her black hair hung over her left eye as she sat like a teenager watching a holovid. The ISB Major smiled slyly.
"Don't thank me just yet, commander." The diminutive intelligence operative said with a spark of playfulness in her russet-colored eyes. She took out a communication scrambler, turned it on, and placed it conspicuously on his desk "I'm still curious as to know...what you've gotten yourself into...that you needed to call on someone like me."
"Well…like I said, I have a problem that only someone with your…position may be able to help with…" He began. Veruna rubbed her forehead, taking care not to smudge her thick black eyeliner.
"Please don't dilly-dally with me." She sighed. "I get enough of that from suspects…"
"Alright." Drakken sighed. "There's this officer…she's become a danger to a colleague of mine, and a vexation to me." He stated. "I need something done, or a way to take care of the problem." The ISB agent gave him a thin-lipped stare.
"You're seriously going after her aren't you?" Major Veruna said stoically. "When you mentioned this had something to do with Ensign Thorne, I had hoped that wasn't what you were talking about, but…" She flipped her hand dismissively. "You know how to pick your battles, Tharcourt."
"Tell me about it." He grumbled. "I know what I'm getting into. I'm too far in to quit now." Veruna sat her elbows on his desk, interlaced her fingers and propped her chin on them.
"Is she worth it, commander?" She asked mockingly.
"Yes." Tharcourt stated in a low voice. "She needs out. I can't have anything bad happen to her."
"Damn, man." Veruna commented. "You're a noble sort, aren't you?" She sighed. "You two do make a cute couple. All those dinners together…"
"Are you my handler or something?!" Tharcourt shot in exasperation. "The ISB have a thing for me or what?"
"The ISB has a file on every officer." Veruna answered truthfully, examining her pink nails nonchalantly as she spoke. "I just happen to be in charge of yours. It's not my fault you're just so damned interesting that I pay extra-special attention to your doings."
"Oh for kriff's sake…" Drakken groaned. The ISB Agent grinned smugly.
"So, you want to jet in, save the girl from whatever Captain Raliss is up to, and make a clean getaway."
"In a word? Yes."
"What is it you want me to do?"
"What can you do?" Drakken asked back. Veruna gave him a disappointed look.
"You really don't know how this quid-pro-quo favor thing works, do you?" She asked. "You could just ask me to kill her."
"What?!" Drakken choked out. "I couldn't…"
"I mean, you probably could if you tried." Agent Veruna contemplated. "You have a sniper, a death trooper…of course if I did it, you wouldn't be suspect at all. Amazing what a little mycotoxin in someone's drink can do. A slight doctoring of the security footage…" She ticked off the scheme like she was composing a grocery list.
"Zala, no." Drakken stated. "I'm not going to up and murder someone."
"I know. You're not like other officers." Veruna smiled. "I'm going to give you this one. I'll pull some footage and look it over, study the captain, you know? I'll let you know what I find, and advise you on what you can do from there." Tharcourt nodded. "A lot of work for just one favor. I wish you'd just asked me to kill her."
"I try to avoid that whenever possible." Tharcourt stated dryly.
"If only it were on the battlefield, huh?"
"Sometimes it's simpler there." The commander said wearily. She nodded sympathetically.
"Give me about 48 hours. I'll bring you what I get."
"You think somebody might get suspicious of you coming here?" Tharcourt asked.
"Hm. You know…we at the ISB really appreciate your theories on what the rebels might be up to. You are a regular font of knowledge, commander." Veruna said cunningly. She winked. "It's your first game, not mine." She stood, and snatched the scrambler off the desk. "Try and stay out of trouble till I get back, sweetie." He gave her a half-hearted smile and a lazy salute from his chair, and the ISB agent left the office.
"I'm going to get spaced for this…" He mumbled to himself, staring at the ceiling. The door to his office opened, and Sergeant Felian stepped in. The scout closed the door, took off his helmet and looked around the small room cautiously.
"Sir?" Felian asked in a hushed tone. The scout glanced around the room nervously.
"You alright, Felian?" Tharcourt asked curiously.
"Yes sir." The sergeant replied. "Just…why was ISB in here?"
"Nothing major." The commander answered. "Just a little…quid-pro-quo."
"Oh." Felian sat down. "I thought I should tell you sir, I found out a little about Captain Raliss."
"Do tell." Tharcourt said, lighting a cigarra.
"You sure Thorne is under her command?"
"I'm fairly certain at this point." Drakken returned dryly. "Why?" Felian scoffed.
"They're night and day, commander." The scout stated. "I talked up a sergeant down in detention. We had a few drinks, and started gossiping about our superiors. That sort of thing." He shook his head. "I've heard of gundarks less terrifying than that captain."
"Yeah…I've heard she can be brutal with prisoners…"
"Brutal? Sir…Sergeant Keen said she cut a prisoner's throat in front of another to get information." That tidbit didn't surprise Tharcourt at all. "She put a twelve-year-old prisoner in an airlock, and dumped all the O2 out and watched him suffocate."
"Okay…that's grotesque." Tharcourt said. Felian's face twisted into a disgusted expression.
"You know that Twi'lek pilot we apprehended?" The sergeant began.
"Yes…I do…" Drakken breathed. He didn't want to hear this, but it was like watching a ship crash. Felian held a hand to his mouth for a few moments.
"Sir, she cut off that reb's head-tails. Broke every bone in her hands…" He paused and shook his head. "She blinded that poor rebel girl, sir. Then she…" Felian cut himself off. "Commander…sir, I can't even tell you the rest. Keen and his men had to clean it up. He said, and I quote him…she hates the rebels, but she can't stand other species. Apparently, she always does things like that to them. Every last man-jack in the detention block acts like they're scared of the woman."
"I get that feeling myself."
"Sir, I don't think Ensign Thorne should be under somebody like that." Felian added. Tharcourt decided to test the waters a bit.
"You like the ensign, do you, sergeant?" He asked as lightly as he could.
"Well, yes. She's a hell of a fighter, and a good officer in the making." Felian answered. "If she had someone like you to teach her some sense, and not that…thing."
"You tell it like it is, Felian." Tharcourt muttered, and rubbed his face unceremoniously.
"I'm a sergeant sir." He shrugged. "Comes with the job." Tharcourt scoffed a laugh, and tapped his fingers against his desk a few moments.
"What all does come with the job, Felian?" He finally spoke.
"Sir?"
"You ever um…go around behind another officer's back? Do things that were out of line or underhanded?"
"No…I don't think so." Felian answered. "I know some soldiers and officers…they do things like that, but I just always kept my head down and did my duty."
"So have I." The commander nodded. "Would you ever though? Sabotage someone or do something morally reprehensible to another soldier?"
"I…I don't know, sir." The sergeant replied. "If I did, it would have to be for a damned good reason, I think."
"A damned good reason…" Tharcourt repeated.
"This uh…this have something to do with Ensign Thorne, sir?" Felian asked. "And with that ISB officer?"
"No sergeant." Tharcourt stated matter-of-factly. "Just a mental exercise. That is all." Felian exhaled and nodded.
"Yes sir." He said. He knew there was more to the story than the commander was letting on, but he was also smart enough to know that nothing good could come from prying into it further at the moment. "So, what's on the schedule, commander?"
"First things first, I'm going to get some breakfast." Drakken grumbled. It's ten-fifty-five, and I've already met with an overly-flirtatious ISB major and had a crisis of conscience. Need some hardtack and gruel to wash it all down." Felian snickered.
"Don't forget the caf, sir." He added. Thacourt chuckled himself.
"Alright, when I get back, I want to do a drill. See how fast everyone can get their kit together and be on the shuttle from here. Don't tell them though. I want it to be a surprise."
"Understood." Felian returned. "Credits are on Daraay being first in the ship." Tharcourt stared at him a moment an let out a disappointed grunt. He opened the door and walked out of the office.
"Five on Gallen being last." He muttered before walking off.
The day was spent exactly as Tharcourt had said. As soon as he returned from his meal, he had burst into the barracks of Delta-7 and started barking orders to 'get booted and suited', 'pirate vessel off the port bow' and 'skids up in five', watching amused as the team struggled and fought to get their gear on and their weapons loaded. They ran purposefully down the corridor, much to the chagrin of the stormtroopers and deck officers who had to leap out of their way, and boarded The Huntsman. Instead of ordering Ekks to take off, Tharcourt simply checked his timer and sighed.
"And time. Seven minutes." He said in a lackluster tone. "And here I said 'Skids up in five'."
"Sorry sir." A couple of the men returned.
"I think we can do better, what about you men?" He proposed.
"Yes sir!" They all called back.
"Then back to the office and divest. We'll try it again." The commander ordered. The troopers shuffled off of the shuttle. "Oh, Felian…"
"Yessir?"
"You owe me five credits." Tharcourt grinned. The scout sergeant took off his helmet and gave an irritated expression to the officer.
"But Daraay was first on the ship." He countered. "We're even."
"She's always first on the ship." The commander explained. "That's cheating. It's like betting on the color the next star destroyer is going to be."
"I'll give you that one." Felian grumbled. "Alright. Double or nothing?" Tharcourt thought for a moment.
"Hm. Gallen has a fire lit under him now. I'll say…Lago will be last this time. You?"
"Ten on Gallen again."
The training went on for the next two hours, the team getting prepped and boarding the shuttle as quickly as possible, only to return to their quarters and stow their weapons and gear, only to do the whole thing again. And again. Finally, once they had managed to get in the routine of getting kitted up and being onboard the ship in five minutes or less, he called an end to the exercise. Commander Tharcourt was satisfied that his quick reaction force could actually react in an instant if need be.
The team then ventured to the onboard training compound. There, Tharcourt had them all practice hand-to-hand combat, with Daraay as the instructor. Interestingly, Ekks was the only one out of the unit who could somewhat hold his own against her. He attributed it to his upbringing on the streets of Corellia, where as he put it: 'You either learn to fight dirty or you end up a greasy spot in some alley'. His technique was quite a bit different from the martial arts that Daraay had been taught. His was geared toward sneak attacks and quick but brutal punches, in contrast with the fast takedowns and blaster strikes used by the death trooper. Tharcourt allowed The Corellian to step in and teach a few techniques to the rest of the team.
That evening, Thorne didn't visit after her shift was over. An hour past, then two. Then three. Tharcourt was worried at first, until he finally called her in her room about twenty hundred. She sounded worn to tatters when she answered. She was alright, but said that she had a terrible day, and didn't want to come bother Drakken with the details. He finally got it out of her that she had been forced to watch Raliss torture another prisoner, and from what he could glean, she had been sickened by the experience, and emotionally drained when the captain had bullied her afterwards. He invited her down to spend the night, but she declined.
"Tatties o'wer the side…" She breathed wearily. "I mean…it's just all sorts of a mess, an' I'm pure done in, Drakken. I jes' want t' sleep."
"Okay, Freya." He said sympathetically. "But I would like very much to see you again. Tomorrow, maybe?" He heard either a light scoff or a sob, he couldn't tell which.
"Aye. I'll be down there fer sure." She returned.
"Good." He stated. "What do you want to do? You can train with us again if you'd like. Might help get some pent-up hostility out, as long as you don't break any of my troopers." He heard her snicker a little.
"Yeah…that sounds lovely." She answered. "As long as we can have a bite together after."
"Of course." Drakken agreed readily. "It's a consistent motif at this point." She chuckled a little again.
"Yeah. Ne'er get tired of it though." She said, then sighed. "Sorreh I dinnae call earlier. I jes…"
"It's alright." Tharcourt assured her. "I was just worried, that's all. Kind of used to seeing you here every evening. You're regular as the watch."
"Aw…I know ye missed me, ye big girl's blouse." She said, finally sounding a little more like herself. "I'm…I'm glad ye called though. I should a'…just bein' stubborn."
"You can come to me with anything, always, my friend." Drakken stated.
"I know." She breathed. "I will." There was a long silence. "I'll see ye tomorrow, Drakken."
"You too. Try and get some rest. If you need me, I'm here."
"Thank ye, I will." She said tiredly. "G'night, Drakken."
"Good night, Freya." He said. The receiver clicked. He reclined back in his chair and stared at the gray ceiling of his office. It felt like time was getting short, that if he were going to act on helping Freya out of this mess, something had to be done quickly. Hopefully, Agent Veruna would come through with some information or a plan of action, or anything he could use. All the planning, the resource allocation, the scope…this was all beginning to resemble a guerilla operation to Tharcourt. And the strangest feeling of all was that he was once again playing the insurgent. An unsettling thought, broken by his office door opening. Ekks stepped in and the door closed shut.
"You wanted to see me, sir?" The tough Corellian asked. His helmet was off, and he wore only the black bodysuit of a stormtrooper now that he was off the clock.
"Yes…Ekks…" The commander mumbled. "Have a seat, I wanted to ask you something." Ekks nodded and sat across the desk from Tharcourt, who drummed his fingers on the desk top a few moments before finally speaking again.
"I just wanted to ask," He began. "Why did you join the military, son?"
"I wanted to serve the Emperor and protect the…"
"Cut the patriotic rigamarole, Ekks…" Tharcourt interjected. "Really. Be honest. You're not on trial."
"Well…" Ekks hesitated a second. "Corellia's a rough place unless you're a boss, legit or otherwise. See this scar?" He drew his right index finger down the long scar on his face. "A weequay got me with a vibroblade over a dice game when I was 19. Got him better. Hell of thing, huh?" He exhaled sharply. "I somehow found myself in trouble on both sides of the law, sir. I was wanted by the police on Corellia, and I owed money to the Chirqs and the Pikes at the same time. It was a mess I landed myself in. I mean farkle, I ran spice, gambled, I stole from one gang to pay off another…never made it to the big leagues, and it looked sure as Hell that I was gonna get scrubbed before I did."
"You needed a new game." The commander commented. Ekks shrugged.
"I saw the recruiter at the spaceport, and there was this poster of a stormtrooper with a blaster…It seemed like a good idea at the time, and at least a way out of that damn carbon flush I was in. I signed up under an assumed name, and got off that rock."
"You happy in the service?" Tharcourt asked. "I mean given your record, you don't seem like you really want to go straight."
"You got me there." Ekks confessed. "I mean, I like serving under you, but you ain't a normal officer, you know what I mean? You're a good one." Tharcourt simply nodded. "Still, I only want to pull a couple of terms, save my credits and get out. I'm buying a ship of my own, a nice fast freighter with lots of guns. Going straight? No, I plan on finally being self-employed." The commander chuckled.
"It's good to have goals, I guess." He said. "But uh…say you had to do something, Ekks…something wrong…" He thought about his audience. "I'm not talking about stealing some tech or selling a little spice here. I mean something high-stakes and illegal as Hell. You knew it was for a good reason…a cause you believed in. Would you do it?"
"Hands down sir, yes." Ekks stated. "Sometimes the law ain't what's right, and what's right ain't the law." He pursed his lips in thought. "What I mean sir, is if the rules stand in the way of doing what's right, kriff the rules. A man's got to have his own code." He scoffed. "Probably sounds borderline treasonous for a trooper to be saying that, doesn't it?"
"Probably." Tharcourt replied dismissively. "But I think I understand it. Especially the code part." Ekks narrowed his eyes a bit.
"This doesn't have anything to do with that smokin' hot ISB agent that was in here this morning, does it, sir?" He asked.
"Not at all." Tharcourt lied. "Just a mental exercise is all. You can go now. I don't want to keep you from anything." Ekks nodded and stood.
"Well…thanks for the…mental exercise…sir?" The trooper remarked, slightly confused. Tharcourt gave a forced smile and a nod, and watched Ekks leave. He at least knew that whatever he would have to do, this one would probably be on board.
The next day, Commander Tharcourt had an early breakfast in the mess hall, followed by a meeting he had been ordered to attend. Arriving at the conference room, he found out from Firmus that the meeting was for 'all ship and unit commanders currently acting under Lord Vader'. This meant that the room was sparsely occupied, with only Tharcourt, Piett and two others. Firstly was Major Haut Lenatus, the commander of all stormtroopers aboard the ISD Accuser. Sitting directly across from Tharcourt was Commander Felix Costa, the young and energetic commander of the star destroyer's TIE fighter wing. Supposedly, this briefing was being conducted on dozens of ships and a couple of bases simultaneously.
"Know what this is about?" Tharcourt asked Captain Piett.
"No, I just heard that we are all going to be briefed on some greatly important matter." The captain answered. Lenatus just shrugged. At precisely eleven-hundred, the holographic display in the center of the table lit up, showing a small image of Lord Vader standing with his hands on his hips, and the sound of his mechanical breathing filled the now silent room.
"I have called this meeting to issue new orders to every unit and ship under my command." The dark lord began, getting straight to the point. "The destruction of the Death Star at the hands of the rebels was a blow to the Empire, but I am determined to make it their last." The black-clad being was silent a moment. "I am assembling a new fleet, which is to be called…Death Squadron. The flag ship will be the Imperial Super Star Destroyer Executor. The ship and the fleet is now under the command of Admiral Ozzel, and I will personally oversee all operations. Ground forces of Death Squadron…will be commanded by General Veers. Special Forces Units will consist of Inferno Squad and Delta-7. A unit of ISB agents will be on board my flagship as well."
"If you are receiving this communication…" Vader went on, "…and are currently commanding an Imperial Vessel, you, your ship, and all personnel are now under the command of Death Squadron. Report to The Executor immediately after this briefing." Vader paused a few moments, then continued his speech. "Your primary tasks now are the destruction of the remaining rebels, and to identify and capture the lone rebel pilot who destroyed the Death Star. You are not to kill him." Vader pointed a finger out at everyone watching. "I will deal with him personally." He breathed a few times. "The emperor has entrusted me with this, and I will not accept failure from any of you. We will find where they are hiding and destroy them. The rebels will not escape this time." With that, the transmission was ended.
"You men may go." Piett stated. The stormtrooper and TIE wing commanders saluted and left the room. Piett immediately turned to Tharcourt.
"Well old man, it looks like we've been reassigned." The captain commented dryly. "Admiral Kendal Ozzel…there's a title that doesn't go with a name."
"You know him?" Drakken asked.
"Yes, he's…a bit incompetent at times." Piett answered. "And when he's not, he's toadying up to someone."
"Oh…that kind…" Drakken grumbled. "Good luck with that, Firmus." Piett gave a knowing cock of his head.
"And good luck with being a special unit under Vader." Firmus stated with a sigh of apprehension. "Who knows what you'll be ordered into."
"Yeah…" Drakken murmured, standing from his chair. "I got a bad feeling about this."
"Don't let it get to you too badly." Piett advised, standing as well. "I don't." The two officers exited the room and walked side-by side down the corridor. "You have enough on your plate as is." He shot Drakken a knowing smirk. "How is your dangerous little pet project coming along?"
"Slowly." Tharcourt answered. "Waiting on intel currently. I may need your help." Firmus shot his friend an irritated frown. "Low-key, Firmus…if you have to do anything at all. Don't worry." Piett huffed.
"You really are fixated on this thing, aren't you?" The captain voiced crossly. "Oh, very well. As long as my head isn't going to roll and I can deny everything, I will help if I can." He caught Tharcourt opening his mouth and cut him off. "And I mean it, Drakken. You're playing with fire. I will help you, but only if you don't get both of us incinerated." Tharcourt halted the pair.
"I know, Firmus." Drakken stated in a low voice. "And I don't plan on failing. I wouldn't get you spaced for my screwup either. Not for anything." He clapped his old colleague on the shoulder. "Hell, you're the successful one." Piett gave the smallest hint of a smile.
"And you the brash one…still." Firmus returned. "Just let me know what you need me to do."
"Thanks, Firmus." Drakken said sincerely.
"Just remember, Drakken. You keep putting all your credits on the table, one day I may not have anyone to race to the top." They shook hands. "Good luck, old man."
"And you." The two parted ways, Tharcourt returning to his team's headquarters aboard the ship. He stopped by the commissary along the way to buy a box of cigarras and a canister of caf, and couldn't help but feel like he was running chiefly on those two particular substances lately. Upon entering the team's commons area, he found the room completely empty, save for Mets on guard outside the door. He placed the canister of caf beside the percolator, tossing the empty one into a bin. He turned to see Sergeant Daraay standing at ease behind him.
"Jeez sergeant. Didn't hear you coming there." He commented. She smiled as if it were a joke.
"Exactly sir." She stated. "You had a call while you were out. An ISB Major Veruna."
"Oh?" Tharcourt asked with peaked interest. "What did she have to say?"
"Well, she commended me for being a 'girl death trooper' and ordered me to take care of you. I told her it was my duty to do so, and she seemed pleased." Tharcourt raised an eyebrow. "She wished for me to inform you the following; Intel is nearly gathered. Will meet with you tomorrow morning at ten-hundred in private. That is all.
"Oh. Thank you, Daraay." Drakken said, turning toward his office. "Aren't you going to ask what this was about?"
"No sir." Daraay answered. "If you wanted me to know, you would tell me." She perked an eyebrow up. "Though I have to conclude that it involves Ensign Thorne and my recent espionage assignment." Tharcourt figured that she was make the same assumption as everyone else. He motioned for her to join him in his office. She stood as he sat behind his desk.
"What do you think is going on?" Tharcourt asked.
"Well sir, from what I can tell, your friend Ensign Thorne is suffering physically and mentally under the command of Captain Raliss." Daraay began. "You are in the process of attempting to either find a means to have the ensign transferred here, or to in some way terminate the captain's command on this vessel. And your involvement with ISB Agent Veruna says that you have begun a deep and elaborate scheme to do one of those things. Major Veruna is attracted to you. I could tell by her body language when she spoke about you. Her feelings toward you have led her to want to help you, and if I am to guess, you likely have other acquaintances you have brought into the plot as well."
"Damn." Tharcourt blurted out. "You picked up on all of that, huh?"
"My job is to pay close attention to my surroundings and read people, sir." Daraay explained. "Not to mention that you've had me in on this from the start."
"Anyone else know?"
"Felian I think has an idea of what you are doing, but he is loyal and will not divulge anything you don't want him to." Daraay said. "Gallen and Lago are still under the impression that you and Ensign Thorne are involved in a secret and illicit but intense love affair. The others tend to agree with them, but don't care very much. Ekks is a rogue, and detests rules and authority."
"Think he'll be a problem?" Drakken asked.
"No sir. Just the opposite. He respects you, but no other officer. I think he'll support whatever you do."
"Good." Tharcourt mused. "I just needed to know…"
"Who you could trust?" Daraay offered. The commander nodded. "As I said sir, I would want to be here even without orders. You can count on me to do what is needed."
"I know, Meeka." Tharcourt said, not noticing her blinking several times as he used her first name. "Only I don't know what is needed yet myself. I'm hoping to work that out soon. In the meantime…" He needed a respite from everything that had already happened today. "I'm going to order some food and do some research. I'll be in my office the rest of the afternoon."
"Yes sir." Daraay nodded.
"Ensign Thorne should be coming down after five. If you're hanging around the place, let her know I'm in here."
"I will. Anything else, sir?"
"Yeah…tell Gallen to bring me some music. Something to help me relax."
He spent the next four hours reading a novel he had always wanted to start. It was about a young man who joined a ship's crew to find the vessel captained by a man obsessed with hunting down a pure white purrgil. After sorting through what he considered some of the most awful and uncreative music he had ever heard, Tharcourt settled on an album by a soft-rock band called 'The Tooka Dolls' and fell into a relaxed state of mind. For the next little bit, all he had in his head were images of the old captain, descending into madness as he pursued his nemesis across wildspace. Finally at eighteen hundred, the door to his office opened.
"Hello, Drakken." Freya said with a small, forced smile. He sat the datapad down and walked around the desk to his friend.
"Freya." Tharcourt greeted softly. "You alright?"
"Aye…I think so." She returned. Drakken put a hand on her shoulder, and Freya wrapped her arms around him.
"You…"
"Jes…shut it." She whispered, and held him for a long while in silence. She finally pulled away. "I jes needed a spot o' pleasantness there. Ol' Raliss is tryin' t' get me t' start torturin' prisoners now. She makes me watch…I don't wanna do it. I won't, Drakken."
"I know." He said gently. "I'm working on this thing. I just need a little more time. I promise I'll get you out."
"I know ye will." Freya nodded. She sighed heavily. "Fer kriff's sake, Drakken…I'd interrogate a rebel if they was a right nasty extremist an' a killer. She likes doin' the scared ones…women…crinkin' kids, Drakken. An' she don't even care about information. I think she jes' likes causin' 'em pain. She's sick in the 'ead."
"Yeah…she is." Drakken whispered angrily. He growled a little under his breath. "I think we both need to get some anger out in the training hall." To Freya's surprise, Drakken pulled her in, wrapping his right arm around her in a semblance of a hug. "Then we'll get some chow, alright? Don't you worry, my friend. I'll take care of this mess." She felt herself smile, and her cheeks grow warm. Drakken didn't hug as a rule, she knew that. If felt so comforting and lovely, and she felt guilty for wishing he'd do it more often. She hugged him back. It had been a miserable couple of days. At least now she could unwind a little and enjoy the company of her best friend and his team.
So as the chapter's name suggests, a conspiracy has begun. What grave plan will Drakken come up with to save Freya? And will it be in time? Well, what did you all think about this one? And what do you think about Agent Veruna? Will she make for a good ally, or should she be trusted? Send me your Reviews, loyal readers. I'll have another chapter up soon. Till then, Cheerio! -Drake