Taking advantage of the situation, Captain Tsing gives Stinger a shove forward as he's led with hands cuffed behind him.
Stinger grits his teeth and mumbles out of the side of his mouth, "You're enjoying this aren't you?"
There's a nasty little glint of pleasure in her eyes as she replies, "It's not every day that I get to push you around old man. But I like that it's happening with increasing frequency."
"Enjoy it while you can Mika," he says flatly, only remembering to use her title as Captain too late and Famulus appears around the corner.
It earns him a slap up the back of the head. "You don't have the right to call me that anymore. You'll refer to me only as Captain. Do you understand?"
Stinger shakes it off and mutters a grudging, "Yes, Captain."
"Mr. Apini, it warms my heart to see you in cuffs again and as humble as ever. How charming.," Famulus quips at his expense, "We can take him from here Captain Tsing."
"The prisoner - annoying as he is - is under my care, and will remain so. He's just being loaned to you for questioning. He says he has information that may be of value." Tsing sternly reminds the head steward.
"It will be a while until His Lordship and I finish going through the data," Famulus warns.
Stinger pipes up, "You'll want the info I have before you make your decisions. I know who the spy is."
Primly and deliberately, the deer splice stops and turns in place to accent her words, "Do tell, Mr. Apini. The clock is ticking."
"I'll tell you if you let Bridget go. I can prove her innocence and reveal the id of the culprit," Stinger offers the tidbit.
"What of her involvement with Mr. Night? That's hard implication to refute." Famulus probes.
"The rat is innocent too, as loathed as I am to say it." Stinger face is painted with shades of disgust.
"Tell me what you know and we'll do what we can." Famulus tests the waters.
"Like hell, I will. Not after our last deal," his words are spit at her feet.
"I'm unsure His Lordship can trust you either, Mr. Apini. You're just making it harder on yourself." She shrugs dispassionately and continues leading them down the passage. "It will be extracted."
"No. It won't. He voluntarily gave me access to the entirety of his files. I personally copied the relevant ones. Upon release of Miss Thornton and Mr. Night, they will be handed over to you," Tsing insists and it stops Famulus in her tracks. "His neural net will not be compromised. We need him fit for trial."
"Miss Thornton and Mr. Night will be released upon proof of innocence. No sooner." Famulus crosses her arms and purses her lips.
"Is she ok?" Stinger asks with desperation in his voice.
"She is alive." Famulus lets her annoyance show by giving as little info as possible. "That is all you need know."
Stinger lunges at the nimble deer splice and demands, "What have you done with her?! I won't talk until I see her!" Without making it even a foot, he's tackled and shoved to the ground by Captain Tsing and her guards before Famulus can order him shot by the company of sims surrounding them.
Tsing moves to be almost nose to nose with him as she says. "Old man, you're really NOT helping."
They carry him face down, by the arms and legs. Not fighting the guards physically, he pants with the exertion as he screams, "She's in danger!"
"Bring him." Famulus commands tersely. She carries herself with an air of self satisfaction as she hears him being dragged along behind her.
Previously on Captain Tsing's ship:
When the transmission with Famulus ends, Tsing uncuffs Stinger as she expresses her concern. He'd contacted her and Caine for help as soon as the message from Bridget arrived. She verifies, "Are you absolutely sure of her innocence, old man?"
"Positive." Stinger stands his ground.
"I shouldn't be placing trust in you again…" she grumbles. "What is she? Your latest conquest?"
Caine, via vid screen, crosses his arms and leans back in his chair to listen. These two are always entertaining.
"No. I didn't run fast enough," Stinger admits sheepishly, then gains a bit of his old bravado again. "Why Mika, you aren't jealous are you?"
Captain Tsing pshaws him. "Got over you nigh on a century ago, old man. She has no idea how much trouble you are."
"That's the funny thing. SHE'S the trouble between us. She's damned hard to keep up with, even for this old hand." He fiddles with the cuff of his sleeve and kicks the ground.
"Introduce me to her, then. She doesn't know our past." Diomika is intrigued. "A girl that keeps Stinger Apini on his toes is worth meeting."
"Uh, she knows some of it…" Stinger bites his lip and feels Captain Tsing towering over him.
"And how long have you known this girl?" Diomika demands.
"A little over a week. Had two and a half bloody amazing days with her."
"Impetuous idiot." Her eyes go heavenward. Patience for Stinger needs to be eternal, and hers is not today.
"What?! She's a hurricane and I was in her path." Now he's downright indignant.
Caine pipes in for his commanding officer, "I met her briefly. She's a real spitfire."
"Watch your tongue boy." Stinger growls in a low rumble.
"Stinger, to put up with you she has to be," Caine grins and he prods his CO just to rile him up.
"Fat lot of respect you have…" Stinger has turned to grouching loudly since threatening didn't get his way. His eyes are flashing gold again. His accent increases with his temper and he demands of Diomika. " 're we goin' t' git 'er, er wha'?"
Captain Tsing arches an eyebrow and narrows her eyes in a gonna-make-you-back-down look that he's been on the wrong end of a few too many times. "Save the 'tude for the rescue, Sting. I'm still put out with you over the Jupiter incident."
He leans back on the console behind him and bites his tongue. Everything inside him wants to lash out right now, but he's got to cap it for when it's needed. "Hear you loud and clear, Captain."
"Mr. Percadium, open a portal to the Clipper D-Gamma 9's last known coordinates." She finally issues the command he was waiting for.
Caine says he'll see them on the other side.
"Thank you," he says under his breath to Tsing as he looks the floor.
"You WILL introduce me to her." She books no disappointment.
"She wants to meet you too." The twinkle has returned to his eyes again.
"Find a sit before portal." She slaps his arm as she re-claims her captain's chair. "You do realize she and I will gang up on you."
"Aww, shit."
In the cell block, Stinger is set kneeling before the grate looking into Mr. Night and Bridget's cell.
"Bridget!" Stinger howls and struggles against his bonds, upset by the scene below him.
"Mr. Apini!" Mr. Night looks up from dabbing Bridget's face with lacy handkerchief. "Rest assured. She will be right as rain soon." Bridget is unconscious and there's bruising on her arms and hand marks on her neck near the implant.
Captain Tsing kneels beside Stinger and puts a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Calm yourself, old man."
"But…" he rasps helplessly still struggling and his eyes are pleading.
"Sting, we'll get her outta there." She gives a squeeze before standing again. "Famulus, you and I both know the only way we'll get him to calm down is to let him in there."
The head steward rolls her eyes. "He's pathetically predictable. The only thing exciting today was seeing him hauled in." She motions downward for a guard to open the grate.
As soon as it's open enough he jumps to his feet and the guards grab his arms while Tsing undoes his cuffs. Stepping voluntarily out into the nothingness, he lands in a crouch as the grate closes above him.
Mr. Night moves gingerly out of the way as he informs Stinger, "She put up quite the fight. Tillan thought he could hold her down himself, but it took two sims in addition. She was out for the extraction, so there will be no lasting damage."
Only then does Stinger see similar marks on the rat splice, who remarks, "My pale skin bruises easily. I didn't struggle."
"Still..." Stinger's brows furrow as offers with a tad of sympathy. Scooping Bridget up, he leans against the wall cradling her in his lap. Securing her with one arm, he holds one hand out, "May I?"
Without a word, Night passes his handkerchief. Stinger tenderly brushes the hair out of her eyes with it, then folds it over and goes lightly over the bruises - hoping to wipe the ugly marks away. Finally, he checks her implant for signs of damage, running his fingers over it and laying the cloth over it and the worst of the marks. "Damned implants."
Hesitantly, he offers his hand, "Thank you for watching over her."
Night acknowledges the gesture with the merest nod and accepts the proffered hand, a little surprised at first at the shake. "It was the least I could do. She stood up for me to that vile traitor, even before we were working together."
He as tactfully as possible he pulls out another kerchief and dabs at his neck then looks a little abashed as he wipes the hand that shook Stinger's own.
"Cripes sake, man. It's just sweat." Stinger glowers and the rat splice shrinks. He places his lips on Bridget's forehead for a moment before breaking the uneasy silence. "How long do you think she'll be out? Would it hurt to wake her?"
Mr. Night brings a finger to his mouth in thought. "I am unsure of when she would naturally. But a simple stimulant should do the trick. They used a nerve pinch to knock her out."
Not moving his head but glancing in his peripheral vision and seeing those above are busy discussing the legalities of handing over the info, he mouths a single word to Night. "Installed?"
Motionless he responds, "Yes. I believe Captain Tsing could ask for a stimulant for her." His clever cover earns him a small one sided grin from Stinger.
When he hears Captain Tsing mention that the culprit is not in custody yet, Famulus actually shows a little temper and stomps her foot. "That's what I told you! Everyone has been waiting on lockdown while Mr. Apini has a tearful reunion."
Directing her attention to Stinger once again, Tsing asks, "Stinger, now that you've seen Miss Thornton, are you ready to give your information?"
He gives a clear, "Yes, Captain. I'd like to ask for a gentle stimulant to wake her up though, first."
Looking to her medical officer, Tsing nods in the direction of the holding cell.
After it's administered, Stinger finally says, "It's Tillan Montaine. He works for your nearest competitor outside of Titus's family. Mr. Night sent me copies of his transmissions."
Tsing adds as she hands a small sheave to Famulus. "Contact your Lord and tell him to prepare for a neural net freeze. You won't want Montaine to do a memory wipe. Lieutenant Wise will intercept if anyone tries to leave."
Bridget starts to stir and Stinger runs his thumb over her cheekbone, as he whispers "Hey, sleepy head."
"Stinger? How'd you get here?" She blinks at the light streaming into the cell and he shades her eyes for her with his hand, before she hugs him fiercely.
"That's not important right now. The three of us will be out of here soon. How you feelin'?"
"A nasty headache, but otherwise OK I think."
"The stimulant should help with that in a few ticks."
Mr. Night can't help but butt in. "Miss Bridget, he was positively rabid upon seeing you in an unconscious state. The memory of him being carried in like that, will stay with me for a long time. I'm honestly surprised even you with your charm could affect such a callused old soldier so in such a short time."
"Shut your gob, rat."
Night silently chuckles to himself.
She chides him affectionately, "My dear cantankerous old codger, do be nice to my friend. If it wasn't for him, we would have no proof and no way out of this."
"He was shittin' me." Stinger is appalled. The rat started it.
Her eyebrow lifts in his direction, but she speaks to the rat splice, "Mr. Night, if you would refrain from baiting my boyfriend, I would appreciate it."
"As you wish Miss." Chicanery suppresses a smirk.
Stinger switches the subject before the rat can find a way around that request. "This is even bigger than you two were able to dig up. There's a conglomeration working against Titus to stop him from fully developing this new process. There's another spy working with him, but ID unknown at this point."
"What did you just say?" Famulus looks down at Stinger both literally and figuratively.
"You heard. It's on that sheave. Don't lose it." Stinger ignores her after that.
Tsing taps her neck upon receipt of a message, "It's time ladies and gentlemen. Activate your neural net block inhibitors." Stinger looks up at her with a nod and taps his neck. None of the crew does - they already had theirs activated.
The sims around slump powerless and Famulus motions for Tsing and crew to follow. She wants to be at her Lord's side through his vulnerable moments to protect him.
When the coast is clear he helps Bridget up, then unfastens and removes his jacket - handing it to Bridget. She gives him a funny look until she sees the three pistols strapped around him and his wing tips already sticking out of the shirt's wing slits.
"A break out?" Mr. Night is not amused. Firefights are not his thing. He truly hopes there won't be one.
"Would you rather wait here like a sitting duck? As soon as that net blocker went into effect, the mystery perp will be on the run and may want to shut us up permanently," Stinger reasons as Bridget helps herself to his portable armory.
"I assume you received the code for the cell from Captain Tsing. You could have just asked me," Night shares.
Stinger taps the back of his neck to open the cell. "Night, you first. I can't lift the both of you."
Putting on Stinger's Aegis jacket, she watches as Stinger interlaces his fingers and Chicanery Night gingerly puts his foot there to be hoisted. She calls up, "Nice ass, Mr. Night!" It derails him for a second, "Madam!" but then he manages to scramble out more quickly.
Stinger glowers, then rebounds, "Are you suggesting we become a threesome? 'Cause I don't think I can share you."
She sees Night fanning himself above as she zings, "It would be me having to share I suspect, and I don't think I can either my dear old codger. But never fear. Mr. Night seems to have plenty of prospects, don't you Night?"
"That is true, Miss. One of the perks in working for Lord Titus instead of Balem." Night gives a considering expression.
Stuffing the pistol in her back pocket, then she leans into him and tucks her chin in the crook of his neck. "God, I missed you."
He lets his wings unfurl and snap as he embraces her too. "Me too." Bending his knees for a little extra boost, his wings hum and send the air swirling around them, before they rocket out of the cell.
"You missed yourself?" she quips as he lets her down.
"You know what I meant, woman." Exasperation tints his voice as he holds a pistol out to Chicanery. "Now do both of you know how to use these?"
Mr. Night holds up his hands, "I would prefer not to carry one."
Shrugging as he returns the pistol to its holster, he focuses on Bridget. He hears the familiar whine of the weapon charging as it's taken off safety. "Good girl."
"What should I expect for recoil and how many shots in a cartridge?" she inquires as she tests the aim at the wall across from them.
"Minimal. Fifty shots. More cartridges in my jacket. How's your aim?" he responds as he charges his own weapon.
"Acceptable. I was on a paintball team a few years ago and my son loves laser tag. So I can handle rudimentary tactics too."
His appreciative one sided grin lasts for a moment, before he remembers the urgency. "If we had time, I'd snap a picture of you looking so badass." He sighs and activates his mag shield, "Take us to Titus. Night, at least carry a shield so we can't be flanked so easily." He pulls up his pant leg and removes an additional wristband. Night reluctantly holds out his arm and Stinger slaps it on. "You're flank. Bridget is your cover. I'll lead."