The trio scrambles along at an odd stop and go pace as Stinger checks around each doorway and opening.
"Almost there," Bridget assures.
Night, crouching as he walks backwards, slides surprisingly easy into the military lingo. "Movement. Your 6 o'clock low."
Leading with his shield, Stinger switches places with Mr. Night just in time. He deflects a round of shots and returns the volley. Bridget is right behind him shooting from his left, with right hand on his side so she can try to move as much in sync with him as possible. Seeing the gun in the hand opposite his, he asks as he takes aim again, "Left handed?"
"Didn't you notice before?" She pops off a shot.
"You had me rather occupied." Tapping to open a channel with Captain Tsing, he reports, "Under fire in main corridor. Lone attacker two doors down." Then he issues an order, "Night double time. We need to get you two to safety. Can hunt the shooter later."
A message comes through the neural net and Stinger swears before relaying. "They have a situation. Titus is being held hostage. You two know any back doors?"
"Of course. Follow me." Mr. Night perks up. Being covert is much more his style.
Stinger sends a message to Caine that they're leaving the shooter, there's a bigger situation to deal with.
Night helps them find a secret passage to evade fire and leads them to a curtain covered back entrance.
Stinger scopes out the situation. It's a stand off. Tillan is using Titus as a shield, with a gun to his head. Famulus is in a heap on the ground. The Aegis contingent has their pistols aimed to hold a stalemate with Tillan. Titus's servants are taking cover, sitting on pins and needles.
Stinger opens a channel to Tsing, 'Keep looking forward for now. Does it look like an agreement can be reached? Blink twice for agreement. One for take a shot. Look at the ground for wait.'
The uncertainty and stress of the standoff shows in her face, and sweat is forming on her brow. But she stands determined and unshakable. She's as gutsy and amazing as the day he first met her. Staring as if she can make Tillan disappear, she slowly lets her lids close over her eyes conceding the action to Stinger. When her eyes open there's a look of pure hatred at the man holding the hostage, and a barely visible dark pleasure of knowing his time has come.
Then Stinger voice messages Bridget, 'Not quite a clean shot here. You guard Night - in case the shooter interferes.'
'Got it.'
He doesn't even remotely like Titus, but he takes a breath, saying a quick prayer to any deity that might listen, before fluidly moving from cover and popping off a shot.
Bridget scans the hallway as she hears a single shot, a hosts of screams - some random and some "Lord Titus!", two consecutive thuds, and many boots tromping to one area. A status from Stinger, 'Clean shot. Oxymoron to gruesome scene. Don't come in unless you can handle it. 'Lotta sick servants in the room.'
She relays the message to Mr. Night. While he doesn't like using weapons, he says he can handle any amount of gore, if she's up for it. Running a harvesting factory removed any sense of delicacy he had. She doesn't want to see the gore, but she can't just hide here. The need to see her boss alive and to find out Famulus's fate drives her. Chicanery volunteers to go first, and let her know where not to look if she squeezes his hand.
Upon entering she sees servants wiping the blood off Titus' face and out of his hair. Thankfully the medics attending Famulus block the worst of the gore for her. Her legs are wobbly as she makes her way over to Stinger and Captain Tsing.
"Is Famulus going to be ok?" she asks as she slips her hand into Stingers.
Tsing answers in her clear but weary voice, "Yes. Thankfully it ended in time." Stinger nods in agreement.
Relief fills her and she reflexively turns to look. Mistake. Her knees don't feel like they'll hold her. Stinger pulls her to him and tucks her head into his shoulder. "Don't look." It helps, but she hears the swish of that curtain.
She doesn't know why she cues into it - she wouldn't normally notice it. But she looks up with a rush of adrenaline. Shayla is emerging from the curtain, rifle in her hands lifting it to aim at Titus. 'FREEZE,' she commands Stinger via the open channel as lifts her pistol to fire three shots. Stinger jerks then freezes at the repeated deafening sound right behind his ear. Everyone around has weapons drawn. As she sees Shayla go down and the damage she inflicted - her own arms go limp and fall to her side. The pistol clatters to the floor.
Hearing movement in his one non-ringing ear and no more shots firing, he tucks her head back where it was and slowly turns her from the scene. She's shaking pretty badly.
He sees Bridget's other former teammate is lying dead on the floor, with two visible wounds. A crowd is forming around her.
"You saved lives today, Love," he tries to comfort. As her composure crumbles, he tightens his grip and kisses the top of her head. "First kills are hard. If you don't cry over it, something's very wrong."
Through her rapid breathing and sobs she manages, "But she was my friend!"
"She led you to believe that, yes. She and Tillan used you and were going to let you take the fall for them," he gives the truth as gently as he can. But he won't sugar coat it. He notices her skin feels clammy. "Can you walk?"
She gives a negative shake of her head then protests, "But she…"
"Shhh. Don't try to sort it out right now. Give it a few days' perspective. Let's get some air. You're in shock." He picks her up and carries her out of the room - away from the sight and smell of blood.
In the hallway, he sits and sets her curled up in his lap. She's not shaking anymore and her breathing is slowing.
Mr. Night appears with a glass of water and she gratefully accepts. "You did well Miss Thornton."
As she starts feeling more herself again, she starts to berate herself. "I don't feel like I did well at all! I fell apart and someone is dead because of me. It's so awful!"
"We're alive and only the perps are dead. Any day you can walk away from is a good one," Stinger repeats the age old Legion adage. "I've seen plenty of bad days too, some when only a complete recode would keep me among the living."
The door opens and very haggard Titus kneels to join their company. "Evidently I have you three to thank for another day of life and Famulus still being with us. I don't know what I'd do without her. She's in regeneration as we speak. Now, I try not to be indebted to anyone. Mr. Apini, I will let our by gones be by gones. Mr. Night would you like a promotion? And Miss Thornton you are released from your contract with me."
"Agreed," Stinger answers.
"Thank you, my Lord. Though, I may like to apply for head of security at Aegis. Their secure communication protocols are woefully lacking," Night responds.
"Understood Mr. Night. I'll look into it," Titus graciously offers.
"Thank you, Your Lordship. May I ask a personal question?" Bridget feels a little bolder with Titus's humility.
"Permission granted."
"Stuff like this happens to you all the time, doesn't it?" There's genuine concern in her face.
He sucks in his bottom lip as he considers his reply, allowing his unease to show before answering, "More than I care to admit. It hardens the soul."
Putting a hand on his shoulder, she sympathizes. "I don't know how you deal with it. But I'm glad we could be here for you and Famulus."
It catches him off guard and the silver tongued playboy is left at a loss for words for a fraction of a second. People don't just reach out and touch royalty without being invited. And yet he can't just quickly write off her sentiment. So, he gives a tired smile before making his exit, "I bid you all adieu. I'm off to see my dear head chamberlain. They should have her dressed, by now. She hates it when I walk in on her. I'll convey your regards."
When Titus is out of earshot, Stinger gazes at her with admiration and breaks the silence, "Love, I'm not the only one you have that unsettling effect on. Titus probably hasn't seen genuine compassion in several millennia."
"Still a WHOUR ih KEN?" She nuzzles into his chest.
With an amused chuckle at the mimic of his accent, he whispers, "Aye."