Chapter VIII
"Alright folks." The Captain's voice calls through the cargo bay. "Time for the next job. We've got ourselves a pick up. I've got the location we just need to go out and dig for it. Now if only it were that simple. The management here don't really like sightseers, which is why we're goin' to be posin' as buyers. An' there ain't any one of us who looks the part more than the good doctor over here. I mean, the pretty fits, soft hands, so he's definitely a moneyed individual. All rich and pasty white all over—" As she speaks she picks up my hands to inspect them with a humored glint and a sly smile. I interrupt, "All right! Fine, I'll go. Just... stop describing me." With that she drops my hand and snickers. The warmth and tingles is immediately missed.
"Like I was sayin' the doctor is going to be posin' as a buyer, as a distraction. Gale and I will go with him as backup. Annie you stay here with Rue and Thresh. Don't let anybody on the ship. Don't want them learnin' of our fugitive friends. Jo and Finnick will go and dig up the goods. If all goes well we should be out of here by tomorrow mornin'. Clove it's my understanding that you are otherwise engaged?"
"Yes Captain. I have an appointment with one of the magistrates on the north side of this moon. I'll be back in time. Don't you worry."
"Alright. Get to it then. I don't want to stay here any longer than I have to." Everyone disperses. Clove to her shuttle, which takes of, Rue and Thresh back to the more confined areas of the ship, and the rest of us to gather the needed supplies.
"Doctor. I'm gonna need you to dress in some finery. Is that alright?" I nod, "Alright then would you please go and change. We've got places to be."
…:::…
Dressed in a fine silk shirt, and a well tailored suit I head out of my bunk and into the cargo bay. Everyone is waiting, Finnick and Johanna jokingly whistle as I walk in. "My my doctor…lookin' good." Johanna's voice is flirtatious but I can tell it is simply meant in a teasing manner. But Gale immediately stiffens and shoots me a glare. The Captain lets her eyes roam over my body and I feel a shiver build as her eyes study me.
"Looks just about right. Well done doctor." With that she turns and addresses the group. "Alright let's move out. Remember…we want this to go smooth. Let's go."
The Captain strides purposefully off the ship and into the humid heat of the awaiting planet. She stops and waits, we crowd around.
"Alright Doc. Time to take the lead. The rest of ya, get to yer jobs." The Captain says loudly enough for only us to hear. The others break off and go to their assignments. Surely my face betrays my bewilderment because the Captain rolls her eyes, and gestures to the right. So I attempt to put on a confidant façade and stride in that general direction.
Upon entering what I can only assume is the town square we are met by the manager. I play my part as the buyer and he begins his tour. He presents his product in all the finest light. I listen intently and do my best to act interested. The entire day we follow him about, through the plant and fields. The conditions of the workers is horrible, it disgusts and shocks me. But the Captain elbows me harshly in the side and silently communicates that I must keep my mouth shut.
Ahead the manager talks animatedly, Katniss sidles up beside me, and whispers, "the watch is about to change. The other will move the cargo during the watch change so as to best conceal themselves. We need to keep him occupied for just a tad bit longer." I nod my understanding.
"Well that's the tour!" The manager proclaims. "How's bout we head on back and we can talk business?"
"No!" I exclaim a little to quickly. He turns to me with a quizzical brow. "Would you be able to show us a good tavern, or bar? We could talk business over drinks?" I stammer out.
His face visibly brightens. "I like the way you think sir!" He claps me on the back, nearly knocking the wind right out of me.
He leads us to the nearest…bar…if you could even call it that. This rundown shack with bottles made of clay, and furniture made of rotting wood. It is a very different atmosphere than the bars I am used to.
This impression is only furthered upon first taste of what they call drinks. It tastes strongly of alcohol mixed with a very thick, and strange tasting creams. The combination is beyond unpleasant and it takes every bit of strength I have to force it down. Katniss and Gale appear to be having better luck; they must be previously acquainted with it.
The drinking continues and once I begin to feel its affects I cease drinking this strange concoction. Gale drinks a few more glasses, a hazy glaze takes over his eyes and he begins to slur. The manager drinks the safe and remains unaffected. Katniss drinks the same amount and still her words are sure and eyes are clear. She holds her drink far better than someone her size should be able to.
Katniss gives me a meaningful glance, "Well good sir. It's been wonderful talking business with you. How about we reconvene tomorrow to finish up this little transaction?" I do my best to put on the pompous buyer's façade, however the alcohol does make it a little more difficult. He agrees and leads us back to the square.
Once we are back on the ship, Katniss and I had to practically carry Gale the entire way, we see that the rest of the crew is assembled and the goods are safely stowed upon the ship. Katniss releases Gale, whose drunken weight is a bit to much for me, and he crashes to the ground.
"It's bout damn time somethin' went smooth on this boat." She sounds pleased. Her hands rest triumphantly on her hips as she surveys the cargo. Her eyes lit up with satisfaction. "Yupp, this is a good day." She mutters and begins walking out of the cargo bay.
"Captain?" I call out. She turns, eyebrows raised questioningly.
"What should we do about Gale?" Should we move him from the floor, or something.
"Leave 'im." She states simply. "Idiot got himself all kinds of drunk and he ain't my responsibility." With that she turns and walks away. I look over to Finnick, Annie and Johanna. Annie chuckles softly.
"Cap'n and Gale go way back. He'd probably do the same to 'er." Johanna and Finnick laugh with her.
"Come on there Doctor. Let's get him to the common room." Finnick says as he bends down to pick up Gale's right side. I grab his left and we bring him to the couches, lying him down before leaving him.
…:::…
"I don't like that we're gonna be dealin' with Cato again real soon. Cap'n don't see it but…" Finnick pauses. "I'm just afraid that one of these times no ain't gonna be right answer." Finnick's has been a little on edge the closer we get to Saphir.
"Do you really think that he'd do that?" I ask with anger rising inside me.
"I sure think he'd try. Cap'n's a highly desirable woman, and a challenge at that. Cato likes himself a bit of both. One of these days I think he's gonna find himself unable to resist." Finnick looks a bit distraught. "You come with us for the drop and you'll see."
"Landing in bout three hours." Annie's voice calls over the intercom.
…:::…
"Shit." Finnick mutters, only loud enough for me to hear. "Keep a sharp eye out Peeta. I'm havin' all kinds of bad feelings bout this."
Gale and Katniss walk ahead of us, carrying the front half of the giant crate of morphling while Finnick and I take up the rear. Katniss is much stronger than her smaller size would lead you to believe.
Finally we enter the warehouse where Cato is supposedly meeting us. We set down the crate and wait.
"Captain Everdeen!" A deep velvet voice rumbles from behind us. "Even more beautiful than the last time I saw you." His eyes roam shamelessly over her body, lingering on her every curve. Lust and desire fill his eyes. Yet the Captain doesn't seem to notice at all. "And I see you got my package. Well…one of them at least." He winks along with his obvious innuendo. It flies right over the Captain's head.
"Cato you only sent us out for the one crate." She says, slight confusion in her tone.
"I know." He says, his voice oozing with attempted seduction.
"I know." He says, his voice oozing with attempted seduction.
"Alright enough of this silly talk. We got the goods, now pay up. We've got places to be Cato. I'm sure you understand." Her tone is terse and all business.
…:::…
"Come now Miss. Everdeen. Or can I call you Katniss." He hisses my name as he steps forward to whisper in my ear. "I think it's about time we stop playing this little game. I know you want me Katniss." His breath is hot against my neck. "You should know I want you too. How's about we get out of here…find a place much more private. After all there is a package of mine that you have yet to get hold of."
Oh god…could he seriously be any more ridiculous. "Thanks, but no thanks. I never mix business with pleasure. Not that I would find any pleasure in this. Also, don't call me Katniss. Now if you'll just pay us that money you owe us, we'll be right on our way."
"Verdammt!" He curses loudly. Grabbing my arm roughly. I'm startin' think I shoulda paid more attention to what Gale and Finn were talkin' bout. Damn I hate that I'm gonna have to let them say I told you so.
"I don't much like being played, Katniss." He places cruel emphasis on my name. "Now I'm real tired of this act you have going. I suggest that you give me what I want, or I'll just have to kill your friends over there." He turns me around to see that numerous men have surround Gale, Finnick and the doctor with guns aimed at their temples.
This has escalated far to quickly for my tastes. "I'd be lettin' go of me if I was you." I warn harshly. Slowly begin to slide the knife I had hidden in my sleeve into the hand he has hidden behind my back. He stands close behind me, but not close enough to see my hands or feel their movement. His mistake. A rookie mistake too.
"And why would I do that?" His voice is seething and his grip is tight. I turn the blade towards him and press it softly against his flesh.
"Let me go Cato or I swear I'll run it through you. Judging by my calculations you wouldn't live more than five minutes. Not enough to get medical attention, nor would you have any good explanations as to what was goin' on out here anyway. Seems you're in a bit of a jam here Cato." I push the blade just a little harder, no doubt cutting into his flesh a bit.
"Now I ain't kiddin' here. Let us go and we'll all leave in one piece." I can tell Cato knows he's got himself trapped. Either he dies or he's got to explain to the feds al about his illegal smugglin' business. If he don't let us go he's hooped and he knows it.
"You stupid bitch." He shoves me harshly to the ground. I land on my knees and he takes a swift kick at my gut. It lands, breaking a few ribs judgin' by the sound of it. A small and involuntary groan escapes my throat. I can hear Peeta and Gale engaged in fights of their own, grunts and the sound of bodies colliding fill the air.
"You see Miss. Everdeen," Cato snarls, "I'm really tired of this game. Now if I'm not going to get what I want…" he trails off, never finishing that sentence. I turn myself over and he's standin' above me. He's got a murderous glare and his lips are turned up in a nasty smirk. In his hands he's holdin' a sword.
"A sword?" I ask mockingly. "To proper for a pistol there Cato?" Probably not the smartest thing to say…especially since he's got himself pretty riled up.
"A sword is all I need for this." He draws is swiftly and puts the blade under my chin. The metal is cool on my skin, and it certainly ain't in a pleasant kind of way. "I can't kill you…I'd get caught for sure. But a serious wound will be satisfactory enough.
The blade quickly flicks out, cutting my cheek. I release a sharp hiss. Warm blood runs off my face.
Another flick and I can feel my shirt fall open. He appraises me with a lustful gaze. It makes me sick.
Again the blade swings out and the warmth of blood starts at my collarbone.
Again, this time my left arm.
Again, just below my right breast.
He looks down at me and I do my best to keep a blank stare. My shirt is in shreds
He presses the blade against my hip, just above the bone. "Bitch." He mutters under his breath. A sharp searing pain comes as he pushes the blade through my skin. This time I can't even hope to quiet my scream.