Author's Note – Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.
Kate waited until everyone had filed out of the room before closing the door.
"Do you have something to add?" Nathan asked her.
"I have an idea," Kate stated coolly, "But I have a feeling you're not going to like it."
"What is it?" Nathan demanded.
"That you send me in," she told them smiling slightly as Nathan frowned, "I told you that you wouldn't like it."
Ford bit back a smile, "Then why make the suggestion?"
"Because it's better than sending Hitchcock in," Kate replied in a matter of fact tone, "I'm able to blend a little better in these types of places."
Nathan frowned, "Broken Ridge is not safe."
Kate let out a harsh chuckle, "Then it's no different from where I lived up until two years ago."
"We can't ask you to put yourself in danger," Ford stated.
Kate shrugged.
"Stop," Nathan said before the conversation went any further, "You actually want me to send you in?"
Kate smiled, "I actually want you send in 'Kitten'."
"No."
"Nathan," Kate folded her arms, "It's the best idea you have."
He frowned at her, "Actually we have a plan using a trained UEO officer."
"I am trained," Kate reminded him amused, "Better than she is for this."
"Kate…"
"Cobb owes me a favour," Kate cut him off, "So I have a way in."
Nathan and Ford shared a worried look, Kate waited as Nathan began to pace worry covering his face before he asked, "What kind of favour?"
Kate rolled her eyes, "I helped him evade arrest once. It was only to make sure I wasn't arrested but it still means he owes me."
Ford frowned, "Explain to me how it would help us having you there?"
"Commander, you saw what I did back on Culver," Kate reminded him.
"You started a bar fight," he retorted.
Kate chuckled, "You're focussing on what happened later. Mash owed me a favour and you saw him."
Ford nodded amused, "She's got a point."
"Jonathan?" Nathan asked.
Ford leaned back and stared at Kate for a moment, "Can you do this?"
"I was the best," she replied without a trace of arrogance, "I have a reputation, he won't think it's unusual if I need a place to lie low for a while."
The two men frowned before Jonathan shrugged, "It's your call, Captain. But based on what I saw her do on Culver, I have a feeling she can pull it off."
"What would your cover be?" Nathan asked.
"I don't need to have one," she reminded him, "But if I need papers put waitress or bar staff."
"Can you do either of them?" Ford questioned.
"Did both when we lived in Darrow," she shrugged.
Nathan shook his head in bemusement, "How old were you then?"
"Thirteen," she replied with a smile.
Nathan looked at Jonathan again who shrugged before sighing, "Fine, you can go just be careful."
"I'll be better," Kate tossed her hair, "I'll be Kitten."
x
Kate sat at the back of the transport making sure Hitchcock couldn't see her. Nathan didn't have any way to explain the change in plan so they decided to use both. As far as the crew were aware Kate was at a course for the next week which meant she just had to make sure Hitchcock did not know she was there.
She watched, smiling slightly as Hitchcock made contact with Cobb. He was as lecherous as Kate remembered him.
Carefully she followed them through the corridors of the colony towards the bar. It felt odd being back as Kitten; she slid inside the bar making sure neither Hitchcock nor Cobb saw her and she chuckled as the other woman completely cut Cobb down.
"That obviously went well for you," Kate said as she walked over to him once Hitchcock was gone.
Cobb stared at her, "Kitten?"
"Hello, Cobb," she smiled down at him smugly before she took the seat across from him.
"I heard you were dead," he said studying her.
Kate smirked, "A rumour I actively encourage."
"What do you want?" he demanded annoyed.
Kate smiled again, the same smug irritating smile that would drive Nathan crazy whenever she used to pop up in his life before she'd ended up on the island that day.
"I just need to spend a little time," she shrugged slightly dramatically, "In a small community."
"No…"
"You owe me," she cut him off.
Cobb grimaced, "Kitten…"
"I," Kate cut him off again, "Can make your life very, very difficult in certain circles. Which I'm sure you know. And considering what seems to be going on here I'm sure you don't want that."
He glared at her but stayed silent.
"I just have to lie low for about a week," Kate told him, "And then I'm gone along with the favour you once owed me."
He glowered at her for several minutes, "Fine," Cobb glared at her, "One week and I want no trouble."
"I'll live up to my name and curl in a corner," Kate patted his cheek, "Like a kitten."
Kate slid through the ventilation shafts towards Cobb's office while he was in the bar sleazing over one of the waitresses. Hitchcock was supposedly settling in but Kate had spotted her with the Sutter family. It had been a long time since she'd had to move around places like this, it was strange how comfortable she felt being in here.
"Don't mention that to Nathan," she murmured as she crawled, "That would lead to a lecture."
Kate smiled in thought, wondering if the system on Seaquest would be as easy to get through. Reaching the office Kate dropped down and pulled out her kit. She rolled her eyes in annoyance that Cobb's filing cabinet wasn't even locked.
"Oh you idiot," she grimaced; she still had her professional pride even if she wasn't really that person any more.
Opening the file she started flipping through the files to see what was going on in this place. Finding the deeds to Broken Ridge Kate shook her head as she read through the information.
"Cobb, you slime," Kate quickly took a picture of the deed before pulling herself back into the ventilation system.
x
"Nathan, Cobb is not going to give up this place easily," Kate reported, "You're going to have to find a way to force him out."
"Force him?"
Kate rolled her eyes, "Cobb is good at talking people into things. It's his gift. You have to make sure he has no choice but to leave."
"So turn the rest of the people in Broken Ridge against him?" Nathan asked.
"Precisely."
"Any idea how?" she could see Nathan rolling his eyes.
Kate chewed her lip, "The Sutters own this place and they're the only ones who can sell the gold. I'm guessing he persuaded everyone that he'd give them a better cut, which trust me is a huge lie."
"Good," Nathan told her, "We're going to get them out in a few hours. Stay safe."
"Don't worry," Kate assured him, "I'll be in shafts watching making sure everything goes according to plan. Even if I'm sure my plan would have been better."
"Stay safe," he ordered again before cutting communication.
x
Kate listened to Hitchcock sing, quite impressed especially as she had Cobb's full attention. She caught Krieg's entry and moved back slightly into the crowd so that he didn't see her.
Being seen here was not a good idea.
She chuckled as Hitchcock left with Krieg while Cobb stared after her stunned for several minutes before he realised.
"Duke," he yelled, "They're getting away."
Kate quickly left the canteen and climbed back up into the ventilation shafts. She followed it as far as she could; all she could do was watch as they grabbed Ford. Kate turned away as the guy Cobb called Duke kicked the Commander.
"They should have let me do this," she sighed to herself before crawling back through the shafts.
x
Jonathan grunted as he was thrown into a chair.
"You know I came here for a peaceful relaxing getaway," Kate strolled across the floor to him, "Should I be worried?"
"No," Cobb snapped at her.
She let out a quick chuckle as she walked around the chair pretending to study him.
"Kitten," Cobb snarled, "Go away."
Jonathan snorted giving her the opening she needed, "Kitten?"
"You know my name," she said softly, "What's yours?"
"Commander Jonathan Ford," he spat out, "UEO Seaquest."
Kate spun to Cobb, "UEO? You brought the UEO here? Cobb, you are an idiot."
"Shut up," he snarled.
Kate rolled her eyes, "When has that ever happened?"
Cobb grabbed her shoulder, "Get lost. I have this under control."
"I see that," grabbing his hand Kate twisted it pulling his arm up his back, "And if you ever touch me again," she pulled the knife out she had hidden on her and pressed it to his neck, "I'll bring out my claws."
Letting him go she sheathed the knife again. Turning to Jonathan she saw the surprise in his eyes at how ruthless she'd appeared.
"Nice to meet you, Commander" Kate gave him a sweet smile before she left.
x
"Is Ford okay?" Nathan asked the moment Kate contacted him.
"For the moment," Kate assured him.
He paused, "We're coming for him. You should come back with us."
"Nathan," she grimaced, "That's a very bad idea. I can make it out of here by myself."
"Are you sure?"
Kate smiled to herself, "Nathan, I have a reputation that I would really like to maintain."
"I thought you'd put that behind you?" he accused.
"And I have," she assured him, "But it will be useful if I can keep Kitten out there. Just in case."
She heard him sigh knowing that he was thinking it over.
"Fine," he sighed annoyance filling his voice, "Be careful."
"You too," Kate replied, "Ford may not be in good shape when you get him back. I had no way to stop it."
"Alright, Kate," Nathan told her, "We'll catch up with you in a few days."
"Welcome back," Crocker greeted as Kate entered the launch bay.
"Thanks, Chief," she grinned at him.
"Captain asked to see you the moment you'd drop your bag off," Crocker told her, "He's in the conference room."
Kate nodded, "No problem. Tell him I'll be there in about ten minutes."
He smiled at her as she headed out. Walking through the corridors people greeted her and to her surprise Kate suddenly realised how much she'd missed being here.
Dropping her bag off, she headed up to the conference room. Knocking she smiled hello finding Nathan and Ford sitting there.
"Oh," she winced seeing the fading bruises on Ford's face, "That has to hurt."
"It does," Ford replied with a slight half-grimace, half-smile.
"And how are you?" Nathan asked pointedly.
Kate gave a slight nod smiling, "Happy to be home."
"And Kitten?"
Kate stared at him for a moment, "She's back in her box."
Nathan returned the stare, "For how long?"
"Are you asking me if I'm heading back to my old life?" Kate challenged before shaking her head, "As I said, I'm happy to be home. But if you need her, Kitten can be brought back out again."
Nathan groaned as Kate smiled at him with Ford chuckling quietly to himself.