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Burwell stopped himself from laughing only with the discipline instilled by military training. "If all you wanted was a lift, you could have avoided the suspense. When and where for the pickup, and what is the specific destination?"
"Odia M-14 in three hours. The drop off point will be Geira Rutilus O-4. I'll meet you in the docking bay." And with that I closed off the com channel.
"To much time us gave him."
"No need for him to feel rushed, besides we can't have him backing out on use because he feels like he's not in control."
"Surly he will betray we."
"If he does that will only get us that more closer to the end goal."
"And make it that much harder."
"I've done harder things."
Ignoring the protesting voices I walked to the lower dock area in-order to make some purchases before my trip.
"To much time us gave him."
"No need for him to feel rushed, besides we can't have him backing out on use because he feels like he's not in control."
"Surly he will betray we."
"If he does that will only get us that more closer to the end goal."
"And make it that much harder."
"I've done harder things."
Ignoring the protesting voices I walked to the lower dock area in-order to make some purchases before my trip.
Odia came and went, as did Sedina and Latos. Neither warrior broke the silence of the Orion hornet’s cockpit. Ukari got a bit more interesting.
“They say you talk to yourself.. as if you hear voices or something.”
A blink. “They’re on drugs.” Uncomfortable shifting in a seat.
“Right, they lied about that. Leadership has time to be stupid in the face of a technologically superior enemy, my superiors care nothing for their subordinates, and they dispose of us at their earliest convienience at the expense of mission accomplishment if necessary.”
If the cockpit had mice, they'd have been drowning in a full cubic unit of purified sarcasm. Borb Sarken turned his head to get a better look at his pilot.
“Good, you’re listening. That means you’ve figured out that I am neither insubordinate, nor a traitor, and most assuredly a patriot. But enough about what I am and am not, and we certainly don't need to chat about why I've made the decisions that I have. I think you are a better topic. Objections?"
Sarken didn't even twitch in way of reply.
"Outstanding. You, Mr. Sarken, seem to pull the strings. I'm told people's lives rest in your palm, as if you are in some way, commanding. But there is a problem... you don't. Commanders derive their power from those they command, and their power multiplies if subordinates approve of the way they are led. The most dangerous armies in history were those who loved their leader as they'd love a father." Burwell Everson paused to drink some of the water he kept nearby.
"So my question for you is, why do you come so close to being a great leader of the Serco, only to stop dead in your tracks and play the role of self-serving warrior? I've studied your father, he is the same. Both of you have all the potential in the galaxy to become leaders, and you've even been handed rank for your exploits, but neither of you know the first thing about using it. It is as if you both think you can do more as an individual than as the inspiration of millions... As if all the war heroes we raise up prefer that, as well. I'd wager every Itani to take up arms against us would have been swept away by now if we had some inspiring leadership."
"You don't sound like a diplomat." Borb chose to shoot for the heart rather than answer Burwell's question.
"Because I have no way to lead. No birthright, no deeds, no rank. Without these things, all I can do is put myself in a position to do something one day in the future. In the present, I've got to be the very best at what I am. A warrior. And warriors desire nothing more dearly than great leadership."
"You are no warrior. You are a fool who has spent too much time reading."
"Maybe. But who ever said a warrior isn't allowed to prize knowledge?"
Burwell was done talking. He didn't have anything more to say, and repeating himself had never proved effective. Sarken was all but covering his ears to keep the dissension inside his mind from coming out audibly. Soon, the Betheshee/Geira Rutilus wormhole was visible on the HUD of Everson's hornet.
"Orders are not always easy, but I do believe that more often than not they are for the best. So long as they come from well meaning commanders, you understand."
Borb Sarken did not believe in a great deal of coincidence. Yes, Burwell looked perfectly calm, but he'd already proven to be a poker player. He began to agree with his voice, for once, and drew his blaster. "You've brought me a long way to get stupid now."
Burwell replied by turning to look at his passenger and letting the vessel drift. "Listen to me very closely. Your trial will be a mockup. You will be released into your father's custody, which is really what everyone upstairs wants anyway. However, this will take time. In the immediate future, you have to make a choice. I can carry on and finish what you're coming here to start, but only if you'll trust me with what to do."
"You're out of your mind. Not only would I never trust you again, but I'm the one holding the weap-" Sarken stopped short as Burwell's proximity warning sounded. Half a dozen radar contacts including the Nemesis jumped into the sector right on top of Burwell's hornet. A single, bulky asteroid floated nearby making a quick jump out of the question. Even if he wanted to run for it, the Serco-built vessels, vultures and likely more than one prometheus, were far too close now. Burwell had heavy rockets equipped, so acceleration would be agonizingly slow. But surely they would not fire if Burwell were his hostage...
A channel opened to Burwell's vessel without him pressing anything to receive it. The officer on the line stated something official sounding from a military handbook regarding Borb's arrest, but neither Sarken nor Everson was listening. Burwell pointed at his console, with a look on his face that absolutely didn't seem appropriate to the moment.
His gut told him to look, the man was communicating something that didn't fit, so Borb did so. The indicator for the hornet's audio showed that it had been deactivated. Burwell leaned back in his seat just enough, then spoke. "They can't hear us, and if you sit like this they won't see us either. Following orders is always the best policy, but a little thinking goes a long way. So again, please listen closely. You have no way out, and I've gone to a lot of effort to make sure you can tell me what you're planning to do. On my honor, I will complete your task for you if it is in our best interest."
Borb hesitated as his mind erupted with differing advice. The voice that demanded his weapon be used was winning, and his knuckles showed it. Burwell recognized the hesitation from minutes earlier, and seized the opportunity. A needle found its way into Borb's flesh and his weapon was wrenched free by Everson's other hand. Trained and drilled, Borb caught hold of the younger man's arm and would have broken it easily- he was a far better combatant- but the contents of the needle took charge. All it was meant to do was disable his implants.. and the nanites did their job like an ion storm on radar. The shock of losing contact with most of his mass stunned Borb, giving Burwell all the time he needed to expertly execute a calculated break of Sarken's spine.
Lying on the floor and drifting out of consciousness, Borb took Everson's words with him into the dark. "I will visit you tomorrow, consider my offer comrade."
***
Borb Sarken awoke, not knowing where or when, pointlessly restrained to a bed in the medical wing of some Secro brig. The paralysis would be repaired, but not immediately. Reviewing the recent events was really just frustrating, as Burwell Everson seemed to be waiting at every corner, having planned and thought out every scenario. For solace, Sarken turned to imagining his revenge some day. Then his thoughts were interrupted as a shadow appeared above him.
"Looks like they made you comfortable, Sarken. The guards stepped out as a favor, having heard of my 'heroic' status. Pfft. But it does give you time to fill me in. Why did you come to Geira?" The circumstances were as awkward as possible, but Burwell had done all he could, and waited to see if Borb recognized that.
“They say you talk to yourself.. as if you hear voices or something.”
A blink. “They’re on drugs.” Uncomfortable shifting in a seat.
“Right, they lied about that. Leadership has time to be stupid in the face of a technologically superior enemy, my superiors care nothing for their subordinates, and they dispose of us at their earliest convienience at the expense of mission accomplishment if necessary.”
If the cockpit had mice, they'd have been drowning in a full cubic unit of purified sarcasm. Borb Sarken turned his head to get a better look at his pilot.
“Good, you’re listening. That means you’ve figured out that I am neither insubordinate, nor a traitor, and most assuredly a patriot. But enough about what I am and am not, and we certainly don't need to chat about why I've made the decisions that I have. I think you are a better topic. Objections?"
Sarken didn't even twitch in way of reply.
"Outstanding. You, Mr. Sarken, seem to pull the strings. I'm told people's lives rest in your palm, as if you are in some way, commanding. But there is a problem... you don't. Commanders derive their power from those they command, and their power multiplies if subordinates approve of the way they are led. The most dangerous armies in history were those who loved their leader as they'd love a father." Burwell Everson paused to drink some of the water he kept nearby.
"So my question for you is, why do you come so close to being a great leader of the Serco, only to stop dead in your tracks and play the role of self-serving warrior? I've studied your father, he is the same. Both of you have all the potential in the galaxy to become leaders, and you've even been handed rank for your exploits, but neither of you know the first thing about using it. It is as if you both think you can do more as an individual than as the inspiration of millions... As if all the war heroes we raise up prefer that, as well. I'd wager every Itani to take up arms against us would have been swept away by now if we had some inspiring leadership."
"You don't sound like a diplomat." Borb chose to shoot for the heart rather than answer Burwell's question.
"Because I have no way to lead. No birthright, no deeds, no rank. Without these things, all I can do is put myself in a position to do something one day in the future. In the present, I've got to be the very best at what I am. A warrior. And warriors desire nothing more dearly than great leadership."
"You are no warrior. You are a fool who has spent too much time reading."
"Maybe. But who ever said a warrior isn't allowed to prize knowledge?"
Burwell was done talking. He didn't have anything more to say, and repeating himself had never proved effective. Sarken was all but covering his ears to keep the dissension inside his mind from coming out audibly. Soon, the Betheshee/Geira Rutilus wormhole was visible on the HUD of Everson's hornet.
"Orders are not always easy, but I do believe that more often than not they are for the best. So long as they come from well meaning commanders, you understand."
Borb Sarken did not believe in a great deal of coincidence. Yes, Burwell looked perfectly calm, but he'd already proven to be a poker player. He began to agree with his voice, for once, and drew his blaster. "You've brought me a long way to get stupid now."
Burwell replied by turning to look at his passenger and letting the vessel drift. "Listen to me very closely. Your trial will be a mockup. You will be released into your father's custody, which is really what everyone upstairs wants anyway. However, this will take time. In the immediate future, you have to make a choice. I can carry on and finish what you're coming here to start, but only if you'll trust me with what to do."
"You're out of your mind. Not only would I never trust you again, but I'm the one holding the weap-" Sarken stopped short as Burwell's proximity warning sounded. Half a dozen radar contacts including the Nemesis jumped into the sector right on top of Burwell's hornet. A single, bulky asteroid floated nearby making a quick jump out of the question. Even if he wanted to run for it, the Serco-built vessels, vultures and likely more than one prometheus, were far too close now. Burwell had heavy rockets equipped, so acceleration would be agonizingly slow. But surely they would not fire if Burwell were his hostage...
A channel opened to Burwell's vessel without him pressing anything to receive it. The officer on the line stated something official sounding from a military handbook regarding Borb's arrest, but neither Sarken nor Everson was listening. Burwell pointed at his console, with a look on his face that absolutely didn't seem appropriate to the moment.
His gut told him to look, the man was communicating something that didn't fit, so Borb did so. The indicator for the hornet's audio showed that it had been deactivated. Burwell leaned back in his seat just enough, then spoke. "They can't hear us, and if you sit like this they won't see us either. Following orders is always the best policy, but a little thinking goes a long way. So again, please listen closely. You have no way out, and I've gone to a lot of effort to make sure you can tell me what you're planning to do. On my honor, I will complete your task for you if it is in our best interest."
Borb hesitated as his mind erupted with differing advice. The voice that demanded his weapon be used was winning, and his knuckles showed it. Burwell recognized the hesitation from minutes earlier, and seized the opportunity. A needle found its way into Borb's flesh and his weapon was wrenched free by Everson's other hand. Trained and drilled, Borb caught hold of the younger man's arm and would have broken it easily- he was a far better combatant- but the contents of the needle took charge. All it was meant to do was disable his implants.. and the nanites did their job like an ion storm on radar. The shock of losing contact with most of his mass stunned Borb, giving Burwell all the time he needed to expertly execute a calculated break of Sarken's spine.
Lying on the floor and drifting out of consciousness, Borb took Everson's words with him into the dark. "I will visit you tomorrow, consider my offer comrade."
***
Borb Sarken awoke, not knowing where or when, pointlessly restrained to a bed in the medical wing of some Secro brig. The paralysis would be repaired, but not immediately. Reviewing the recent events was really just frustrating, as Burwell Everson seemed to be waiting at every corner, having planned and thought out every scenario. For solace, Sarken turned to imagining his revenge some day. Then his thoughts were interrupted as a shadow appeared above him.
"Looks like they made you comfortable, Sarken. The guards stepped out as a favor, having heard of my 'heroic' status. Pfft. But it does give you time to fill me in. Why did you come to Geira?" The circumstances were as awkward as possible, but Burwell had done all he could, and waited to see if Borb recognized that.
I stared up at the young Serco standing above me as I ran numerous calculations through my throbbing head. I was no doubt under heavy guard and heavily restrained, Burwell has chosen to betray me as the voices had said he would.
He was a highly intelligent man the reason I had picked him to do this job, he no doubt had meticulously planed every detail of this out, the second he unexpectedly injected me and my body shut down I knew what I was up against.
I knew he had to believe him self in control to even be talking to me, for some reason he felt the need to engage me on a personal level, perhaps in an attempt to figure me out. Regardless he was here and it seemed he had the power to help me escape. What he how ever did not realize was what he was up against.
"How long have I been shut down?"
"Fifteen hours give or take."
I could feel the nanites clouding my thoughts, the voices we're silent for the first time as my body attempted to drift back in to unconscious state, I knew time was not on my side.
"Then you've got 9 hours give or take."
I could feel the icy cold grip of slowly tightening around the base of my skull as I closed my heavy eye lids.
"Nine hours for what?"
"9 hours till 3 million UiT will be killed by Serco military weapons in what will be seen as an act of war."
I couldn't see him but even in my groggy state I could tell by the tone in his next question that Burwell was taken aback. The power he had seconds before, the out come he had predicted I would or would not give him had all quickly changed.
Burwell's mind raced for a moment. Get the necessary information.. "Who is behind it?"
"Me. Activate my implants or the bombs wi..."
I tried moving my mouth forcing the words to come but my body had once again betrayed me. They must have called him in at the first sign of consciousness in me, but the nanites had far from worn off. Slowly my body once again shut down as bitter blackness enveloped me.
He was a highly intelligent man the reason I had picked him to do this job, he no doubt had meticulously planed every detail of this out, the second he unexpectedly injected me and my body shut down I knew what I was up against.
I knew he had to believe him self in control to even be talking to me, for some reason he felt the need to engage me on a personal level, perhaps in an attempt to figure me out. Regardless he was here and it seemed he had the power to help me escape. What he how ever did not realize was what he was up against.
"How long have I been shut down?"
"Fifteen hours give or take."
I could feel the nanites clouding my thoughts, the voices we're silent for the first time as my body attempted to drift back in to unconscious state, I knew time was not on my side.
"Then you've got 9 hours give or take."
I could feel the icy cold grip of slowly tightening around the base of my skull as I closed my heavy eye lids.
"Nine hours for what?"
"9 hours till 3 million UiT will be killed by Serco military weapons in what will be seen as an act of war."
I couldn't see him but even in my groggy state I could tell by the tone in his next question that Burwell was taken aback. The power he had seconds before, the out come he had predicted I would or would not give him had all quickly changed.
Burwell's mind raced for a moment. Get the necessary information.. "Who is behind it?"
"Me. Activate my implants or the bombs wi..."
I tried moving my mouth forcing the words to come but my body had once again betrayed me. They must have called him in at the first sign of consciousness in me, but the nanites had far from worn off. Slowly my body once again shut down as bitter blackness enveloped me.
Burwell angrily shook Borb awake, there was no time for losing consciousness. As soon as his eyes opened again, Burwell drove a stimulant into his arm to keep him awake. "Hey, whack-job, look at me. Do you want to deal with me, or do I need to make both of us unhappy and make some calls?"
"What do you want?"
"I want you to leave the bombs and civilians out of this and deal directly with me."
"I think we're past dealing with one another one on one unless you know something I don't."
"The fleet wasn't my idea, nothing I said to you was a lie. If you are serious about this bomb threat..."
"I've had the bombs ready to go for some time now, so far my current needs have prevented me from using them. I needed a layer of security should something like this ever happen. It would seem I prepared well."
"Great, just outstanding. So you're holding the entire UIT hostage until what? What are your demands?"
"My demands for now are that I be set free, when this happens we can work something else out."
"Why do people in your shoes always demand the ONE thing nobody can grant? WHY?" Burwell balled his fists in frustration. "Look, if you have some agenda, I've offered. I told you more than you should know, that you'll be freed after a mock trial. All you need to do is relax. I can handle this 'business' in Geira. Just drop the bomb threat."
"Good you're already breaking rules then, let's not stop. Trust me it's fun. Break some more, get me out of here and let's go take care of Geira."
"You're going to give me something, do you understand that? I am not going to be the one taking all the hits here."
"How's this then: there are five UIT systems, there are also five bombs in UIT space, three of them are nuclear you with me so far? Good, you get me out and I give you the location for one of the nukes. You give some I give some, nice and fair."
"Okay, you're gonna need to stop proposing the deals because you suck at it. Try this one on for size. You tell me where one of them is. I call a buddy to verify you aren't bluffing your ass off. Then you and I negotiate the rest. If you keep wasting our time here I'll just walk out that door as if I never came. Your life will be forfeit."
"Either you help me or those deaths are on your hands."
"Bullshit. Nevermind. Here is what is going to happen. The bomb thing is not even slightly my problem. You have business in Geira which you will not accomplish due to your arrest. Either I complete it for you, or it goes unfinished. How does that sound? This bomb thing, goes to decisionmakers. Not assault pilots." Burwell drew his comm to send a high priority message to SCAR intelligence.
"Wait! One bomb?"
"Strike one, you said the magic word. I said no more bomb business for Burwell. Do you want Geira to happen or not?"
"Maybe, maybe it was all a ploy to get you to entrap me here. What do you think I was heading to Geira for?"
"I can only guess. But your name was mentioned in reference to Geira recently. By Lexicon, who you claim to not know."
"Let's pretend I know what your talking about, what did he say concerning me?"
"He wondered aloud where the heck you were, like he was waiting for you."
"You know what, I'll tell you what I'm doing. I'm going to Geira because Lexicon is a mistake on my part that our government is misusing. I plan to blow up or other wise destroy government property, and then kill my way out leaving Serco space with a trail of bodies in my wake."
"What a beautiful world you live in. Unfortunately, I've seen Lexicon's actions enough to agree with you. Tell me how to fix him."
"You've got to blow up a mind control device in such a way that it can't be rebuilt. Then you have to go to what will be a guarded respawn chamber, then some how save the person that the guards will by now have been ordered to kill"
"Believe it or not, what you describe sounds easier than getting you out of here. Is that fair?"
"You do what you must. Because I, like you, have to do what I must for the greater good. I'm sure we'll be in touch." Borb Sarken's tone communicated far more than his empty words, he had every intention of using his bombs one way or another.
"Dammit Sarken."
Borb just grinned.
"Why can't you just let it slide? What do you have to fear from a trial that will not convict and a visit to your father?"
"I have my reasons."
"Okay, here is your final offer. I have here a single-use communicator. It self-destructs after you hang up. All nice and voice activated for you, since you can't move. You may call anyone you wish, after I leave. I don't know anything about you since your arrest. I will leave this here, on the condition that you take no action regarding the bombs. That means pretend that they do not exist. Your implants will be back on in time to stop it, but you aren't scheduled to have your paralysis fixed for a day or two."
Borb considered for a moment. As much as he wanted to manipulate his way out, Burwell Everson was simply the wrong target. The man was clever... he offered a means of escape in such a way to keep himself completely clean. The bomb threat was a powerful tool, but it was single use. Once a blockheaded Serco officer decided enough was enough, Borb would simply be killed, heedless of the consequences. Everson's offer was literally the best he would get.
"Very well Everson. You better be right about the time frame."
Burwell set a small device on the table beside the bed, and left without a word. Just outside the door, he placed a call to a trustworthy friend from flight school. Finding all the bombs was unlikely, but even one would be enough for political maneuvering.
"What do you want?"
"I want you to leave the bombs and civilians out of this and deal directly with me."
"I think we're past dealing with one another one on one unless you know something I don't."
"The fleet wasn't my idea, nothing I said to you was a lie. If you are serious about this bomb threat..."
"I've had the bombs ready to go for some time now, so far my current needs have prevented me from using them. I needed a layer of security should something like this ever happen. It would seem I prepared well."
"Great, just outstanding. So you're holding the entire UIT hostage until what? What are your demands?"
"My demands for now are that I be set free, when this happens we can work something else out."
"Why do people in your shoes always demand the ONE thing nobody can grant? WHY?" Burwell balled his fists in frustration. "Look, if you have some agenda, I've offered. I told you more than you should know, that you'll be freed after a mock trial. All you need to do is relax. I can handle this 'business' in Geira. Just drop the bomb threat."
"Good you're already breaking rules then, let's not stop. Trust me it's fun. Break some more, get me out of here and let's go take care of Geira."
"You're going to give me something, do you understand that? I am not going to be the one taking all the hits here."
"How's this then: there are five UIT systems, there are also five bombs in UIT space, three of them are nuclear you with me so far? Good, you get me out and I give you the location for one of the nukes. You give some I give some, nice and fair."
"Okay, you're gonna need to stop proposing the deals because you suck at it. Try this one on for size. You tell me where one of them is. I call a buddy to verify you aren't bluffing your ass off. Then you and I negotiate the rest. If you keep wasting our time here I'll just walk out that door as if I never came. Your life will be forfeit."
"Either you help me or those deaths are on your hands."
"Bullshit. Nevermind. Here is what is going to happen. The bomb thing is not even slightly my problem. You have business in Geira which you will not accomplish due to your arrest. Either I complete it for you, or it goes unfinished. How does that sound? This bomb thing, goes to decisionmakers. Not assault pilots." Burwell drew his comm to send a high priority message to SCAR intelligence.
"Wait! One bomb?"
"Strike one, you said the magic word. I said no more bomb business for Burwell. Do you want Geira to happen or not?"
"Maybe, maybe it was all a ploy to get you to entrap me here. What do you think I was heading to Geira for?"
"I can only guess. But your name was mentioned in reference to Geira recently. By Lexicon, who you claim to not know."
"Let's pretend I know what your talking about, what did he say concerning me?"
"He wondered aloud where the heck you were, like he was waiting for you."
"You know what, I'll tell you what I'm doing. I'm going to Geira because Lexicon is a mistake on my part that our government is misusing. I plan to blow up or other wise destroy government property, and then kill my way out leaving Serco space with a trail of bodies in my wake."
"What a beautiful world you live in. Unfortunately, I've seen Lexicon's actions enough to agree with you. Tell me how to fix him."
"You've got to blow up a mind control device in such a way that it can't be rebuilt. Then you have to go to what will be a guarded respawn chamber, then some how save the person that the guards will by now have been ordered to kill"
"Believe it or not, what you describe sounds easier than getting you out of here. Is that fair?"
"You do what you must. Because I, like you, have to do what I must for the greater good. I'm sure we'll be in touch." Borb Sarken's tone communicated far more than his empty words, he had every intention of using his bombs one way or another.
"Dammit Sarken."
Borb just grinned.
"Why can't you just let it slide? What do you have to fear from a trial that will not convict and a visit to your father?"
"I have my reasons."
"Okay, here is your final offer. I have here a single-use communicator. It self-destructs after you hang up. All nice and voice activated for you, since you can't move. You may call anyone you wish, after I leave. I don't know anything about you since your arrest. I will leave this here, on the condition that you take no action regarding the bombs. That means pretend that they do not exist. Your implants will be back on in time to stop it, but you aren't scheduled to have your paralysis fixed for a day or two."
Borb considered for a moment. As much as he wanted to manipulate his way out, Burwell Everson was simply the wrong target. The man was clever... he offered a means of escape in such a way to keep himself completely clean. The bomb threat was a powerful tool, but it was single use. Once a blockheaded Serco officer decided enough was enough, Borb would simply be killed, heedless of the consequences. Everson's offer was literally the best he would get.
"Very well Everson. You better be right about the time frame."
Burwell set a small device on the table beside the bed, and left without a word. Just outside the door, he placed a call to a trustworthy friend from flight school. Finding all the bombs was unlikely, but even one would be enough for political maneuvering.
I waited as Burwell left the room before closing my eyes one more in the bed.
"That son of a bitch."
I waited knowing some thing was not quite normal. Then it hit me, the silence. I was for the first time in months all alone, my implants shut down, most of my body below my head shut down, and the voices, some how shut down.
I slowly and painfully tilted my head to look at the communicator Burwell had left. A voice activated Star Corp XS-15 Com with built in detonator. It was a military device used on operations where a call needed to never have happened, most nations banned the sell of these devices to any one with out the mandatory clearance and over priced licenses. Burwell must have gotten it during his trip in grey I guessed, but in all reality how he got it was irrelevant what was important is that I had it.
Due to the way it was made I knew my call would not be monitored, at least not by the phone it's self. While I doubted I could trust Burwell I knew at least by this point I had few options.
"Activate, com number 22538716490 activate beacon function."
The small device beeped acknowledging my command, and I waited till the line clicked on.
"It's Sarken, I'm on a XS-15 but I don't know if I'm being monitored. If you don't hear from me in 12 hours I want you to go ahead with your date, I'm sure you'll have a blast. Now I need you to transfer me to the following number with out ending my call. Number is 19765286438."
I waited as the line slowly rang.
"Hello I'm currently unavaila..."
"Bullshit honey, I know this line is an implant, quite screening my calls."
A playful female voice picked up on the other end of the line instantly.
"Borb! How come you never call to talk with me on happy days?"
"Because I'm always in trouble girl."
Her sweet laughter filled the the room.
"What do you need this time sweetie?"
"Uh, it's a long story, my com unit is sending out a locator beacon. I'm some where in Serco space I believe Geira being held in a high security prison with my implants shut down and it feels like some thing is screwed up in my neck, it maybe broken. All I know right now for sure is that I'm gonna need guns an a beer."
"You know normal guys just call me up for a date at some local bar when they wanna have a drink with me."
"And that's why you don't date normal guys." I said with a chuckle. "How long do you think it will take you to get here.
"Not long, I'll see you when I get there."
"Ah I love you, your awesome."
"Course I am."
And with that the line went dead, four seconds later the com unit disintegrated into a black powder. I leaned back all I had to do was wait, the situation was well in hand, and soon I would deal with Everson on my own terms.
"That son of a bitch."
I waited knowing some thing was not quite normal. Then it hit me, the silence. I was for the first time in months all alone, my implants shut down, most of my body below my head shut down, and the voices, some how shut down.
I slowly and painfully tilted my head to look at the communicator Burwell had left. A voice activated Star Corp XS-15 Com with built in detonator. It was a military device used on operations where a call needed to never have happened, most nations banned the sell of these devices to any one with out the mandatory clearance and over priced licenses. Burwell must have gotten it during his trip in grey I guessed, but in all reality how he got it was irrelevant what was important is that I had it.
Due to the way it was made I knew my call would not be monitored, at least not by the phone it's self. While I doubted I could trust Burwell I knew at least by this point I had few options.
"Activate, com number 22538716490 activate beacon function."
The small device beeped acknowledging my command, and I waited till the line clicked on.
"It's Sarken, I'm on a XS-15 but I don't know if I'm being monitored. If you don't hear from me in 12 hours I want you to go ahead with your date, I'm sure you'll have a blast. Now I need you to transfer me to the following number with out ending my call. Number is 19765286438."
I waited as the line slowly rang.
"Hello I'm currently unavaila..."
"Bullshit honey, I know this line is an implant, quite screening my calls."
A playful female voice picked up on the other end of the line instantly.
"Borb! How come you never call to talk with me on happy days?"
"Because I'm always in trouble girl."
Her sweet laughter filled the the room.
"What do you need this time sweetie?"
"Uh, it's a long story, my com unit is sending out a locator beacon. I'm some where in Serco space I believe Geira being held in a high security prison with my implants shut down and it feels like some thing is screwed up in my neck, it maybe broken. All I know right now for sure is that I'm gonna need guns an a beer."
"You know normal guys just call me up for a date at some local bar when they wanna have a drink with me."
"And that's why you don't date normal guys." I said with a chuckle. "How long do you think it will take you to get here.
"Not long, I'll see you when I get there."
"Ah I love you, your awesome."
"Course I am."
And with that the line went dead, four seconds later the com unit disintegrated into a black powder. I leaned back all I had to do was wait, the situation was well in hand, and soon I would deal with Everson on my own terms.
Observable in every direction was the flowing movement of men. Some were repacking bags, while others apprehensively rechecked tools that they knew were working already. When the next word came they hustled out the hatch and toward an Atlas with a nondescript paint job, bound for they knew not where. Watching just an individual made all his movements look slow, but that was intended. In every aspect of their lives, slow was smooth, and smooth was fast.
This was a platoon of Serco infantry. These were warriors of a specialty always growing more obsolete, but never, ever able to be done without. All of human history had them, and now was no different. And if there was just one field in which no one questioned the superiority of the Serco, this was it. Conservative estimations of their equivalency to any other identically equipped unit in combat put a Serco unit like this one at a 3 to 1 advantage. They had scented aggression from the moment of their births, and it was often measurable in their blood.
In an office one deck above, overlooking the troops as they embarked, was a Serco infantry officer. Through Benen Harolus's mind ran the real story of where he and his men were headed, but on the official reports in front of him it read 'Surprise Training Exercise.'
Actually, the platoon commander admitted to himself, that might be all this is if that nutcase was trying to bluff Everson. Lady Serco, Everson! There is a man I need to catch up with. Haven't seen him since training..
"Sir, with your permission, we are ready to depart."
The young officer nodded to his seasoned ranking NCO. "Very well. I wouldn't want to keep your boys waiting."
Neither man spoke again until they were inside the vessel and out of the station. "What is our objective sir? You've even kept me salivating."
Harolus allowed himself a smile. "The short notice isn't my doing. I'd have preferred you knew more too. But now that we've got all the idle time in the world, here is the mission." Over the course of the trip to Union space, all the details were ironed out. The unit would need to break up into squads. Each squad would be assigned a station. With as little visibility as possible, the stations of Union space would be swept: three squads, so three at a time. All the out of the way areas, the hidden places, the mysteriously authorized blocking off of anything at all, would be searched until a Serco-made explosive device was found. If and when that happened, the fun part would begin.
Only Benen Harolus knew the operation was taking place. The friendship he had with Burwell Everson was enough for him to risk an international incident- and his career- by 'training' his troops across the border on a hunch. His superiors would overlook his absence immediately after reading his reports. Keeping superiors in the dark always was the best way to lose your job in the military, though.
This was a platoon of Serco infantry. These were warriors of a specialty always growing more obsolete, but never, ever able to be done without. All of human history had them, and now was no different. And if there was just one field in which no one questioned the superiority of the Serco, this was it. Conservative estimations of their equivalency to any other identically equipped unit in combat put a Serco unit like this one at a 3 to 1 advantage. They had scented aggression from the moment of their births, and it was often measurable in their blood.
In an office one deck above, overlooking the troops as they embarked, was a Serco infantry officer. Through Benen Harolus's mind ran the real story of where he and his men were headed, but on the official reports in front of him it read 'Surprise Training Exercise.'
Actually, the platoon commander admitted to himself, that might be all this is if that nutcase was trying to bluff Everson. Lady Serco, Everson! There is a man I need to catch up with. Haven't seen him since training..
"Sir, with your permission, we are ready to depart."
The young officer nodded to his seasoned ranking NCO. "Very well. I wouldn't want to keep your boys waiting."
Neither man spoke again until they were inside the vessel and out of the station. "What is our objective sir? You've even kept me salivating."
Harolus allowed himself a smile. "The short notice isn't my doing. I'd have preferred you knew more too. But now that we've got all the idle time in the world, here is the mission." Over the course of the trip to Union space, all the details were ironed out. The unit would need to break up into squads. Each squad would be assigned a station. With as little visibility as possible, the stations of Union space would be swept: three squads, so three at a time. All the out of the way areas, the hidden places, the mysteriously authorized blocking off of anything at all, would be searched until a Serco-made explosive device was found. If and when that happened, the fun part would begin.
Only Benen Harolus knew the operation was taking place. The friendship he had with Burwell Everson was enough for him to risk an international incident- and his career- by 'training' his troops across the border on a hunch. His superiors would overlook his absence immediately after reading his reports. Keeping superiors in the dark always was the best way to lose your job in the military, though.
"Ah I love you, your awesome."
"Course I am."
Mystic shut off the com with a grim look on her face...guns and beer, sounded easy enough but she knew better. Ah well a nice trip to serco territory might be just what she needed. Setting her mind to it, she went to the lock box of her apartment and withdrew a large knapsack. "Always pack for special occasions" she told Pagan who was following her as usual. The cat looked at her quizzically and sniffed as if none of this was worth her time. "Its Borby girl, you know I have to go and I don't have time to fight with you over it, so deal with it til I get back" With a quick scratch to the cat's ears Mystic was out the door, headed to her office. Here she grabbed a few more supplies, left a memo that she might be out of reach for a short while and sent some codes to her ship. She would use the special one for this, it was already setup for just such. In less than 15 mins she was undocking and headed toward Borb's signal and whatever lay ahead....
The trail was as Borb surmised, taking her straight to Geira, which could be good or bad, if he was at Geira Watch it would be a bit easier than Home Guard Station, because if she could get him out, they could jump to Itani space and be safe enough as long as it didn't become obvious who she had in her ship. Too many possible scenarios until she had more information.
Soon enough she was thru the wormhole and watching the beacon flash more rapidly. "Should have known it wouldn't be a cake walk, oh well, lets get this party started." she said aloud as she moved her ship into a docking port as close to the barracks section as she dared.
"Course I am."
Mystic shut off the com with a grim look on her face...guns and beer, sounded easy enough but she knew better. Ah well a nice trip to serco territory might be just what she needed. Setting her mind to it, she went to the lock box of her apartment and withdrew a large knapsack. "Always pack for special occasions" she told Pagan who was following her as usual. The cat looked at her quizzically and sniffed as if none of this was worth her time. "Its Borby girl, you know I have to go and I don't have time to fight with you over it, so deal with it til I get back" With a quick scratch to the cat's ears Mystic was out the door, headed to her office. Here she grabbed a few more supplies, left a memo that she might be out of reach for a short while and sent some codes to her ship. She would use the special one for this, it was already setup for just such. In less than 15 mins she was undocking and headed toward Borb's signal and whatever lay ahead....
The trail was as Borb surmised, taking her straight to Geira, which could be good or bad, if he was at Geira Watch it would be a bit easier than Home Guard Station, because if she could get him out, they could jump to Itani space and be safe enough as long as it didn't become obvious who she had in her ship. Too many possible scenarios until she had more information.
Soon enough she was thru the wormhole and watching the beacon flash more rapidly. "Should have known it wouldn't be a cake walk, oh well, lets get this party started." she said aloud as she moved her ship into a docking port as close to the barracks section as she dared.
Without any of my implants working it was hard to tell precisely how long I lay there waiting in the stark room. I figured after Burwell left they either monitored my call, or for some odd reason didn't, but the end result would be a flurry of communication from one peon to the next all the way up the chain until they could get approval to use what ever force they deemed necessary to stop me.
"Five months of planing, won't be undone so easily." I said confidently as I waited.
It was still odd not having the voices around, I wasn't sure if I liked it or not at this point. Sitting around for an hour had how ever given me plenty of time to think about it. I assumed that because I could not longer hear them at this point they we're either some how intwined with my implants some how, or when Burwell roughed me up he had possibly damaged some thing that was allowing them to communicate with me.
The peace how ever was relaxing.
It was with this thought in my mind that the doors to my cell burst open and three medical officers rushed in followed closely by two heavily armed guards. Quickly they activated the lift boosters on my gurney and unlocked it from the supporting wall.
I wanted to ask where I was being taken but at the same time I refused to show any sign that I was worried what so ever about my well being. So I was content to lay still while they pushed me around for what I could only guess was approximately fifteen more minutes. When I stopped I was surprised by my location.
Geira Rutilus one of the biggest hot spots in the current war, as such the system needed to provided some of the best medical services the Serco nation could offer, as a by product of fighting happens to be injuries. Geira Watch in sector O-4 was originally picked to be the location of this hospital at the time how ever the frequent fighting on the border and back then the widely believed rumor about an Akanese fleet ready to invade Serco space caused the final location to be Ballam Stronghold in sector J-5. I was in that hospital.
"Your lawyer is on his way in, after he advises you, the doctor will start the operation to help fix your neck Mr. Sarken."
I refused to let my face register the surprise I felt as the young nurses left the room and my fathers personal lawyer one of the best in Serco space stepped into the room. I opted to play this one by ear instead of going on the defensive right away and possibly giving any thing away.
"They're going to have you fixed up very soon Mr. Sarken, and I want you to know I will personally be taking care of any thing that comes up while your out. Your in good hands."
"Mr. Orloav, what are the charges against me?"
"Right now nothing more then circumstantial evidence that you may have been buying and distributing large military stockpiles, and that you are mentally unstable for your job. But I'm sure as some one in your line of work must use under the table means to secure our nation, and I'm sure the jury will see it our way, as for the insanity, they lack any solid proof."
"That's it?"
"Yes sir, when this is all over you'll be a free man with even more money due to you for the damages they caused to your home, your body, and your emotional health as well as the slander they spread about your good name."
"I see, is there any thing you need me to do for you now then?"
"No not at all sir, I just wanted you to know that every thing would be taken care of before you went into your operation, also I wanted to make sure you didn't talk to any one with out me around. You know how some people can be."
And with that Gregory Orloav left my room and the two guards stepped back into place beside the only exit. A few seconds later the nurses stepped back in and hooked up an IV to one of my preexisting implants designed for such use.
"Excuse me, do you know how long it will take before I move again?"
"No sir, the operation should only take a few hours but after that you will need to rest for a few days while your body slowly heals every thing back up until your fully able to regain your old range of movement."
"And my implants, when will they be functional again?"
"I'm sorry sir I don't know, we're under orders not to turn them on again."
I closed my eyes as the drugs slowly knocked me out and numbed my body, life sure had a way of getting interesting when you least expected I thought as I drifted off.
"Five months of planing, won't be undone so easily." I said confidently as I waited.
It was still odd not having the voices around, I wasn't sure if I liked it or not at this point. Sitting around for an hour had how ever given me plenty of time to think about it. I assumed that because I could not longer hear them at this point they we're either some how intwined with my implants some how, or when Burwell roughed me up he had possibly damaged some thing that was allowing them to communicate with me.
The peace how ever was relaxing.
It was with this thought in my mind that the doors to my cell burst open and three medical officers rushed in followed closely by two heavily armed guards. Quickly they activated the lift boosters on my gurney and unlocked it from the supporting wall.
I wanted to ask where I was being taken but at the same time I refused to show any sign that I was worried what so ever about my well being. So I was content to lay still while they pushed me around for what I could only guess was approximately fifteen more minutes. When I stopped I was surprised by my location.
Geira Rutilus one of the biggest hot spots in the current war, as such the system needed to provided some of the best medical services the Serco nation could offer, as a by product of fighting happens to be injuries. Geira Watch in sector O-4 was originally picked to be the location of this hospital at the time how ever the frequent fighting on the border and back then the widely believed rumor about an Akanese fleet ready to invade Serco space caused the final location to be Ballam Stronghold in sector J-5. I was in that hospital.
"Your lawyer is on his way in, after he advises you, the doctor will start the operation to help fix your neck Mr. Sarken."
I refused to let my face register the surprise I felt as the young nurses left the room and my fathers personal lawyer one of the best in Serco space stepped into the room. I opted to play this one by ear instead of going on the defensive right away and possibly giving any thing away.
"They're going to have you fixed up very soon Mr. Sarken, and I want you to know I will personally be taking care of any thing that comes up while your out. Your in good hands."
"Mr. Orloav, what are the charges against me?"
"Right now nothing more then circumstantial evidence that you may have been buying and distributing large military stockpiles, and that you are mentally unstable for your job. But I'm sure as some one in your line of work must use under the table means to secure our nation, and I'm sure the jury will see it our way, as for the insanity, they lack any solid proof."
"That's it?"
"Yes sir, when this is all over you'll be a free man with even more money due to you for the damages they caused to your home, your body, and your emotional health as well as the slander they spread about your good name."
"I see, is there any thing you need me to do for you now then?"
"No not at all sir, I just wanted you to know that every thing would be taken care of before you went into your operation, also I wanted to make sure you didn't talk to any one with out me around. You know how some people can be."
And with that Gregory Orloav left my room and the two guards stepped back into place beside the only exit. A few seconds later the nurses stepped back in and hooked up an IV to one of my preexisting implants designed for such use.
"Excuse me, do you know how long it will take before I move again?"
"No sir, the operation should only take a few hours but after that you will need to rest for a few days while your body slowly heals every thing back up until your fully able to regain your old range of movement."
"And my implants, when will they be functional again?"
"I'm sorry sir I don't know, we're under orders not to turn them on again."
I closed my eyes as the drugs slowly knocked me out and numbed my body, life sure had a way of getting interesting when you least expected I thought as I drifted off.
I'm told being under the knife is different for every one, though most non-Serco will hopefully never have to be put into a drug induced sleep in-order to preform a medical operation those that do will tell many different stories. Some will say they felt pain, others will say it was the best sleep of their life, and still more will talk about strange dreams. For me I always fit into the dreamer group, and this operation was no different.
I saw my self what seemed like a life time ago sitting around in the bar of Initros Border Guard, I had after months of work gotten not only my pilots license but also combat level two. I was elated at my good luck after so much hard work and had decided to spend my hard earned money on a drink some CtC vet had told me about. Some thing called a Roid Rammer.
On the other side of the bar my present self lay strapped down to a hovering gurney, two years older then the young Serco buying his first Roid Rammer. My younger self saw me laying in the corner and as is common in dreams I knew he was perplexed by a wounded man on a gurney being in a bar so he walked over.
"Are you for real or are these drinks that powerful?" He asked looking over my broken body.
In two years time I had lost the joy and innocence that was evident on his youthful face. My body lay in a small surgical gown covered in scars and grey space augmentation, while our faces still looked the same, my hair would never grow like his. My head had been burned, blown up, beaten, and other wise abused, not to mention the stress I'm told attributes to hair loss.
His eyes we're happy, and full of wonder and this new world his was just discovering, while mine would distant and bitter at a world I wanted out of. While I'm sure he thought he was tough, having ran away from home and his powerful father, after serving a few years in the Serco Marines he had up to this point only killed bots in training and provided cover fire for his unit when they boarded a disabled Itani ship that had gotten in to Geira. He had never kill a human, much less an innocent, he had never gotten revenge, or been hurt enough to even need revenge. He had never held his friends as they bleed, he had never loved, nor had he really ever hated.
"Sir are you ok?" I looked back up at him, while I was lost in memory he was still wanting to know about his beer.
"The beer is good, but I'm real. Borb, I'm you in two years."
His eyes widened as I began to answer his questions about what he would do and what would land him in a gurney in a bar two years from that time.
"So your saying I become a pirate and an Akanese?"
"Among other things, you become loved by few, hated by many, and misunderstood by the rest."
"And also melodramatic?"
"If you say so."
"Well I'm not going to be like you, I'm going to help my nation and end the war. I'm going to become a hero, and live in a better world then you. In two years I'll be doing all I can to save life's and bring glory to the Serco nation, not sitting in a gurney in a bar."
I smiled thinking back to when I had such noble goals, and high hopes.
"I'm sure you'll try, you'll give every thing you have for your nation, and then when you need them they'll turn you into a criminal label you as crazy and shoot at you in your own house."
He just stared at me as I lay my head back down.
"I messed up when I started pouring my self into some thing that couldn't be done. I was doing well, I had become well known on the CtC routes, then I got invited to join BLAK. Oh we we're pirates sure but our main goal was helping those that couldn't help them self's, our only problem was we helped them pay us for our good works which got us the label. Then I started to get into politics and next thing I know I've got people sticking needles in me and breaking my neck all the while I've got voices trying to tell me how to run my life..."
I trailed off as I looked up at my younger self, wondering if maybe he could offer me some advice, maybe some of his confidence, but all he did was collapse when some thing out of my field of view hit him. The bar slowly blurred out as I felt some thing stroking my face.
Slowly I felt reality sinking in. My neck was on fire, and my whole body tingled, my eyes felt like some one had glued them together so I tried to bring my hand up to help pry them open. I could feel my fingers move and even my hand lift off the bed but the rest of my arm felt like some one had stuck it in a lead block.
Then I remembered where I was as I forced one eye open.
"Hey silly quit playing around. We've got work to do."
I saw my self what seemed like a life time ago sitting around in the bar of Initros Border Guard, I had after months of work gotten not only my pilots license but also combat level two. I was elated at my good luck after so much hard work and had decided to spend my hard earned money on a drink some CtC vet had told me about. Some thing called a Roid Rammer.
On the other side of the bar my present self lay strapped down to a hovering gurney, two years older then the young Serco buying his first Roid Rammer. My younger self saw me laying in the corner and as is common in dreams I knew he was perplexed by a wounded man on a gurney being in a bar so he walked over.
"Are you for real or are these drinks that powerful?" He asked looking over my broken body.
In two years time I had lost the joy and innocence that was evident on his youthful face. My body lay in a small surgical gown covered in scars and grey space augmentation, while our faces still looked the same, my hair would never grow like his. My head had been burned, blown up, beaten, and other wise abused, not to mention the stress I'm told attributes to hair loss.
His eyes we're happy, and full of wonder and this new world his was just discovering, while mine would distant and bitter at a world I wanted out of. While I'm sure he thought he was tough, having ran away from home and his powerful father, after serving a few years in the Serco Marines he had up to this point only killed bots in training and provided cover fire for his unit when they boarded a disabled Itani ship that had gotten in to Geira. He had never kill a human, much less an innocent, he had never gotten revenge, or been hurt enough to even need revenge. He had never held his friends as they bleed, he had never loved, nor had he really ever hated.
"Sir are you ok?" I looked back up at him, while I was lost in memory he was still wanting to know about his beer.
"The beer is good, but I'm real. Borb, I'm you in two years."
His eyes widened as I began to answer his questions about what he would do and what would land him in a gurney in a bar two years from that time.
"So your saying I become a pirate and an Akanese?"
"Among other things, you become loved by few, hated by many, and misunderstood by the rest."
"And also melodramatic?"
"If you say so."
"Well I'm not going to be like you, I'm going to help my nation and end the war. I'm going to become a hero, and live in a better world then you. In two years I'll be doing all I can to save life's and bring glory to the Serco nation, not sitting in a gurney in a bar."
I smiled thinking back to when I had such noble goals, and high hopes.
"I'm sure you'll try, you'll give every thing you have for your nation, and then when you need them they'll turn you into a criminal label you as crazy and shoot at you in your own house."
He just stared at me as I lay my head back down.
"I messed up when I started pouring my self into some thing that couldn't be done. I was doing well, I had become well known on the CtC routes, then I got invited to join BLAK. Oh we we're pirates sure but our main goal was helping those that couldn't help them self's, our only problem was we helped them pay us for our good works which got us the label. Then I started to get into politics and next thing I know I've got people sticking needles in me and breaking my neck all the while I've got voices trying to tell me how to run my life..."
I trailed off as I looked up at my younger self, wondering if maybe he could offer me some advice, maybe some of his confidence, but all he did was collapse when some thing out of my field of view hit him. The bar slowly blurred out as I felt some thing stroking my face.
Slowly I felt reality sinking in. My neck was on fire, and my whole body tingled, my eyes felt like some one had glued them together so I tried to bring my hand up to help pry them open. I could feel my fingers move and even my hand lift off the bed but the rest of my arm felt like some one had stuck it in a lead block.
Then I remembered where I was as I forced one eye open.
"Hey silly quit playing around. We've got work to do."
Mystic had what she needed, information and some additional supplies. It wasn't hard to follow the gossip and it was amazing how much information you could get by just listening. A quick stop by the Outpost picked up a couple able bodies just looking to make a credit. She had worked with these two before, they would do what they were told for a few credits and fear of reprisal if they didn't. Mystic didn't really expect to need any help but they were in the hold of her ship awaiting orders, just in case.
While she was in the station she heard some more gossip, seemed there was some top secret shenanigans going on at Balam. Some interns had been abruptly dismissed due to a "priority" patient. Something about a dangerous person due to the guards that filed in, even though the person couldn't walk they had two guards stationed at the patients door and several more covering the main exits.
Mystic left a large credit chip with the bartender to buy the "poor guys" drinks after she left. She wanted to hug them for helping her out so much but didn't want to be obvious. So she had a couple hours to kill, this would give her time enough to know exactly what was going on.
Docking at Balam you wouldn't know anything was amiss, people were coming and going as usual, at least to an untrained eye. She noticed the extra guards with a slight difference to the uniforms. Not the normal station guards at all, but from SkyCommand, Borby was really rating this time.
Time had elapsed at a decent pace, a nice casual stroll had found out most of what she needed to know, chatty clerks had filled in the rest. Now was the time to move, she had rented a small room at the station for a couple days, had an extra ship of hers brought from a nearby station. That would cover her presence here.
Using the room to make a few changes to her appearance, she was ready. Gone were the obvious weapons and the bandanna she always wore. She could almost pass for a standard station worker...almost.
Slipping into the medical wing through an unmonitored door, it was easy til she got to the corridor where Borb was, two guards were outside his room, armed well. Putting on her brightest smile she strolled down the corridor picking up a clipboard from a desk as she passed.
"Hold on there miss, your not one of the regulars" the largest of the guards spoke. "You are quiet correct, I am not here normally, but neither is this a normal patient, with this type of procedure there are details that must be attended to by someone with the proper expertise. Now you can allow me entrance to Mr Sarken now, or you can explain to his father later why his son wasn't properly taken care of ." The matter of fact tone of her voice seemed to get the point across.
"Very well my partner here will escort you inside while I go check this out."
"Do what you must, but if your gone and your partner is with me, who is going to be standing watch?" Mystic smiled sweetly at this point. "I tell you what, I can call Mr Sarken's father right now from my comm and we will both talk to him hmmm? Of course he will probably be upset at the useless interruption but..." She knew she had gotten to him at the look on his face, she had won.
"Well..no need to do that," he said "I will wait here and my partner can escort you inside. You don't look very dangerous anyway, maybe dinner after my shift ends?" A leering smile found its way to the previously stern face.
"Who knows, I may still be around," she forced the smile to stay on her face as she put her hand on his bare hand, then headed inside followed by his partner who wasn't looking none to happy to be used as an errand boy.
Inside the room strapped to a gurney was Borby, he looked weary, but still her Borby. Mystic walked over to a machine that held the IV, good she thought, just saline to keep it open. Shutting that off wouldn't be a problem, she definitely didn't want to hurt him.
Her escort was standing over Borb when a noise outside caught his attention. As he turned towards the door it was the last thing he saw before a silenced blaster hit him squarely in the back, dropping him as his partner had dropped outside from the injection she had slipped him.
Hurrying now, she knew she had to re-activate Borbs implants. Stroking his face with her hand, he looked different in sleep than any other time, Mystic had seen him unconscious many times but this was different, she needed him to help her help him.
He started moving slightly as his implants slowly started to respond. Attempting to lift his arm unsuccessfully he did manage to wiggle his fingers. "Come on Borby, you know its kind of insulting when I'm here all dressed up special and your not paying attention" Finally one eye opened and stared up at her.
"Hey silly quit playing around. We've got work to do."
"Where's my beer?"
While she was in the station she heard some more gossip, seemed there was some top secret shenanigans going on at Balam. Some interns had been abruptly dismissed due to a "priority" patient. Something about a dangerous person due to the guards that filed in, even though the person couldn't walk they had two guards stationed at the patients door and several more covering the main exits.
Mystic left a large credit chip with the bartender to buy the "poor guys" drinks after she left. She wanted to hug them for helping her out so much but didn't want to be obvious. So she had a couple hours to kill, this would give her time enough to know exactly what was going on.
Docking at Balam you wouldn't know anything was amiss, people were coming and going as usual, at least to an untrained eye. She noticed the extra guards with a slight difference to the uniforms. Not the normal station guards at all, but from SkyCommand, Borby was really rating this time.
Time had elapsed at a decent pace, a nice casual stroll had found out most of what she needed to know, chatty clerks had filled in the rest. Now was the time to move, she had rented a small room at the station for a couple days, had an extra ship of hers brought from a nearby station. That would cover her presence here.
Using the room to make a few changes to her appearance, she was ready. Gone were the obvious weapons and the bandanna she always wore. She could almost pass for a standard station worker...almost.
Slipping into the medical wing through an unmonitored door, it was easy til she got to the corridor where Borb was, two guards were outside his room, armed well. Putting on her brightest smile she strolled down the corridor picking up a clipboard from a desk as she passed.
"Hold on there miss, your not one of the regulars" the largest of the guards spoke. "You are quiet correct, I am not here normally, but neither is this a normal patient, with this type of procedure there are details that must be attended to by someone with the proper expertise. Now you can allow me entrance to Mr Sarken now, or you can explain to his father later why his son wasn't properly taken care of ." The matter of fact tone of her voice seemed to get the point across.
"Very well my partner here will escort you inside while I go check this out."
"Do what you must, but if your gone and your partner is with me, who is going to be standing watch?" Mystic smiled sweetly at this point. "I tell you what, I can call Mr Sarken's father right now from my comm and we will both talk to him hmmm? Of course he will probably be upset at the useless interruption but..." She knew she had gotten to him at the look on his face, she had won.
"Well..no need to do that," he said "I will wait here and my partner can escort you inside. You don't look very dangerous anyway, maybe dinner after my shift ends?" A leering smile found its way to the previously stern face.
"Who knows, I may still be around," she forced the smile to stay on her face as she put her hand on his bare hand, then headed inside followed by his partner who wasn't looking none to happy to be used as an errand boy.
Inside the room strapped to a gurney was Borby, he looked weary, but still her Borby. Mystic walked over to a machine that held the IV, good she thought, just saline to keep it open. Shutting that off wouldn't be a problem, she definitely didn't want to hurt him.
Her escort was standing over Borb when a noise outside caught his attention. As he turned towards the door it was the last thing he saw before a silenced blaster hit him squarely in the back, dropping him as his partner had dropped outside from the injection she had slipped him.
Hurrying now, she knew she had to re-activate Borbs implants. Stroking his face with her hand, he looked different in sleep than any other time, Mystic had seen him unconscious many times but this was different, she needed him to help her help him.
He started moving slightly as his implants slowly started to respond. Attempting to lift his arm unsuccessfully he did manage to wiggle his fingers. "Come on Borby, you know its kind of insulting when I'm here all dressed up special and your not paying attention" Finally one eye opened and stared up at her.
"Hey silly quit playing around. We've got work to do."
"Where's my beer?"
I the words left my mouth I felt my implants all slowly powering on, what ever she had stuck in the IV had just entered my body and it felt great.
"It's back in the ship, you can't get drunk just yet." Mystic said smiling sweetly.
*Time, 0307 Serco Standard Time.*
*Power 100%.*
*Data feeds establishing.*
*Complete date streaming.*
On and on the information was relayed to my brain, as a large smile spread across my face.
*OXG 145.3b Skeleton powering up. Durasteel at 98% integrity, range of movement at 100%, power 100%.*
This was the implant I was waiting for, who really needs a functional body in a war environment when they could get a mechanical frame that would run as it should under almost any condition. Those we're my exact thoughts when I had the experimental Skeleton implanted in an operation that lasted over two weeks.
As I felt my hand clench in a tightly balled fist I knew the implant was well worth the fifteen million credit price tag. And as my arms ripped the restraining straps from the gurney it was all I could do not to order another one just to have a spare.
"I take it your feeling better then?" A bemused Mystic asked as I swung my legs off the gurney.
"I'm sorry I'm high on the pain killers I think, so I won't be able to make passionate love to you like normal." I said with a look of sorrow in my eyes as I stood up.
Mystic threw her head back as she started laughing uncontrollably. "Honey, I've never let you make passionate love to me."
"Oh, well we should some time it sounds fun."
At this Mystic burst out laughing again. As I bent down and picked up the guards Phase battle rifle. My mind automatically remembered the make Rhamus Arms model 48 Military, capable of simi, burst, and full auto firing modes, with a detectable battery that powered the weapon for 250 comfortable low recoil shots. This model lacked the normally issued plasma launcher under the barrel and looked almost unused.
Mystic saw me staring at the gun and chuckled. "Look I love you but I didn't come all the way up here for more gun history so don't even start."
I smiled as I checked the status of the battery. "Ready?"
"You gonna run around fighting evil in your little gown there solder boy?"
I couldn't help but blush as I looked down at what I was wearing.
"Here I got you some stuff in here, don't worry it's all your size." Mystic said as she handed me a small brief case.
I couldn't stop the look of murder in my eyes as I looked back up at her after opening the case.
"It's pink. I know I'm high, but that's pink. I didn't even know they made mens pink combat boots."
"It's back in the ship, you can't get drunk just yet." Mystic said smiling sweetly.
*Time, 0307 Serco Standard Time.*
*Power 100%.*
*Data feeds establishing.*
*Complete date streaming.*
On and on the information was relayed to my brain, as a large smile spread across my face.
*OXG 145.3b Skeleton powering up. Durasteel at 98% integrity, range of movement at 100%, power 100%.*
This was the implant I was waiting for, who really needs a functional body in a war environment when they could get a mechanical frame that would run as it should under almost any condition. Those we're my exact thoughts when I had the experimental Skeleton implanted in an operation that lasted over two weeks.
As I felt my hand clench in a tightly balled fist I knew the implant was well worth the fifteen million credit price tag. And as my arms ripped the restraining straps from the gurney it was all I could do not to order another one just to have a spare.
"I take it your feeling better then?" A bemused Mystic asked as I swung my legs off the gurney.
"I'm sorry I'm high on the pain killers I think, so I won't be able to make passionate love to you like normal." I said with a look of sorrow in my eyes as I stood up.
Mystic threw her head back as she started laughing uncontrollably. "Honey, I've never let you make passionate love to me."
"Oh, well we should some time it sounds fun."
At this Mystic burst out laughing again. As I bent down and picked up the guards Phase battle rifle. My mind automatically remembered the make Rhamus Arms model 48 Military, capable of simi, burst, and full auto firing modes, with a detectable battery that powered the weapon for 250 comfortable low recoil shots. This model lacked the normally issued plasma launcher under the barrel and looked almost unused.
Mystic saw me staring at the gun and chuckled. "Look I love you but I didn't come all the way up here for more gun history so don't even start."
I smiled as I checked the status of the battery. "Ready?"
"You gonna run around fighting evil in your little gown there solder boy?"
I couldn't help but blush as I looked down at what I was wearing.
"Here I got you some stuff in here, don't worry it's all your size." Mystic said as she handed me a small brief case.
I couldn't stop the look of murder in my eyes as I looked back up at her after opening the case.
"It's pink. I know I'm high, but that's pink. I didn't even know they made mens pink combat boots."
good read so far. Most people don't know of durasteel yet i believe its still a restricted material or at least very hard to get.
Burwell roused unwillingly, as his vulture's computer demanded his attention.
"Everson, there you are. I've been instructed to warn you."
"Warn me about what?" Burwell rubbed his eyes, hoping it would help him actually see who was addressing him.
"Borb Sarken is missing. We thought you might want to know, since he might come after you. Report in regularly, just in case."
"Aye sir. Out." Burwell closed the channel. You had to know that was coming. You HAD to. "Well now what," the Serco asked the emptiness of a sector in Jallik.
In a moment he remembered. Everson set course for Geira Rutilus. Today was the day to visit Lexicon's respawn chamber on Deck 13 of Geira Watch.
"Everson, there you are. I've been instructed to warn you."
"Warn me about what?" Burwell rubbed his eyes, hoping it would help him actually see who was addressing him.
"Borb Sarken is missing. We thought you might want to know, since he might come after you. Report in regularly, just in case."
"Aye sir. Out." Burwell closed the channel. You had to know that was coming. You HAD to. "Well now what," the Serco asked the emptiness of a sector in Jallik.
In a moment he remembered. Everson set course for Geira Rutilus. Today was the day to visit Lexicon's respawn chamber on Deck 13 of Geira Watch.
Mystic couldn't help but giggle a bit at the look she got from Borb when he saw the clothes she picked up for him.
"It's pink. I know I'm high, but that's pink. I didn't even know they made mens pink combat boots."
"Look darlin, you have to look different in order for us to make it off this station with as little damage as possible, plus I think you will look cute" Mystic managed to get out between giggles. "Besides I have regular clothes for you in my ship, but this will definitely make you NOT look like the dangerous man they are looking for." She didn't tell him that she didn't have any more boots, but he would forgive her...eventually.
"Now hurry up and get dressed and lets get out of here, I don't relish having to fight all of the station guards which will happen if anyone notices these guys."
She held her breath to keep from laughing out loud again as he stepped from behind the screen wearing the pink flight suit. He definitely did not look like the dangerous man they would be looking for.
"Ok lets go, and you owe me for this girl" He said gruffly as he headed for the door. Mystic couldn't keep the laughter out of her voice as she said, "Follow me, I found the easiest route to my ship while I was waiting for you" With this she took the lead.
Three downed guards later they made it to her ship. "Not too bad,' Mystic said " I told you that flight suit would make it easier"
Borb scowled at her, "If this were to ever get around, my reputation would be ruined. Now get us out of here while I change into normal clothing please."
She had managed to get undocked and jumped to an empty sector when she heard him yell.."Mystiiicccc!!" as he came walking out in a normal flight suit and the pink boots. " I swear you are trying to drive me insane girl"
It was all she could do to not burst out laughing at the sight of him standing there in an all black flight suit and pink combat boots. "Will you forget about the boots and tell me what our destination is? I really don't want to sit still too long darlin" She told him as she tossed him a beer, "Now calm down and bring your pretty feet over here and lets get going." Mystic laughed at the murderous look he gave her as he took the beer and sat down beside her.
"We are headed here"
"It's pink. I know I'm high, but that's pink. I didn't even know they made mens pink combat boots."
"Look darlin, you have to look different in order for us to make it off this station with as little damage as possible, plus I think you will look cute" Mystic managed to get out between giggles. "Besides I have regular clothes for you in my ship, but this will definitely make you NOT look like the dangerous man they are looking for." She didn't tell him that she didn't have any more boots, but he would forgive her...eventually.
"Now hurry up and get dressed and lets get out of here, I don't relish having to fight all of the station guards which will happen if anyone notices these guys."
She held her breath to keep from laughing out loud again as he stepped from behind the screen wearing the pink flight suit. He definitely did not look like the dangerous man they would be looking for.
"Ok lets go, and you owe me for this girl" He said gruffly as he headed for the door. Mystic couldn't keep the laughter out of her voice as she said, "Follow me, I found the easiest route to my ship while I was waiting for you" With this she took the lead.
Three downed guards later they made it to her ship. "Not too bad,' Mystic said " I told you that flight suit would make it easier"
Borb scowled at her, "If this were to ever get around, my reputation would be ruined. Now get us out of here while I change into normal clothing please."
She had managed to get undocked and jumped to an empty sector when she heard him yell.."Mystiiicccc!!" as he came walking out in a normal flight suit and the pink boots. " I swear you are trying to drive me insane girl"
It was all she could do to not burst out laughing at the sight of him standing there in an all black flight suit and pink combat boots. "Will you forget about the boots and tell me what our destination is? I really don't want to sit still too long darlin" She told him as she tossed him a beer, "Now calm down and bring your pretty feet over here and lets get going." Mystic laughed at the murderous look he gave her as he took the beer and sat down beside her.
"We are headed here"
"Sol II?" She asked quizzically. "Wouldn't I donno Dau, or some place in grey be better for a wanted man?"
I ignored her last question as I attempted to explain my self.
"Vichama Orbital, to be precise. It's a small mining station that supplies the war effort. I used the station to house my bombs which I labeled as prototype laser relay systems."
"Your bombs?"
I took a long drink from the beer in my hand, the liquid burning as it went down quickly drawing me into reality and away from the pain killers that were still numbing my body.
"Not as nice as your bomb, but good none the less. Two large conventional explosive loads and three nuclear loads all clearly Serco manufactured, I planed to use them all on UiT stations, I knew the investigation would quickly prove the Serco guilty and the UiT would side with the Itani in the war.
I then planed to use my grey space contacts to keep up the pressure on the yellows while the full power of the Serco military was sent to deal with the UiT once and for all. With pressure from all sides I doubt they would last long, then the Serco with the resources of the UiT systems would easily crush the Itani from two sides, starving out any thing they could not kill. And then finally peace would ensue."
Mystic laughed through out my entire speech and not just at my suggestive joke. Finally after what was becoming an awkwardly long time, she composed her self.
"Oh Borby at least no one will ever say you didn't dream big, if you had stuck with me we'd be ruling grey space by now!"
And with that she went into another fit of laughter as I plotted the nav points on her
computer and hit the jump button. I waited till she started to calm down a little bit more before I went on.
"Unfortunately the Serco raided my house and forced me to flee Serco space before I could get all of the bombs planted which has up to this point drastically delayed my plans. In all honesty after the last few hours I'm not sure if my plans will see completion, I can't help but feel as if every thing is going to easy all things considered, and there are some things that just don't match up..." My voice trailed off as I slowly got lost in my thoughts.
"So this fifth bomb is still in Vichama Orbital?"
"Yeah, we're gonna pick it up and take it to Geira Watch, that is of course if it's still there."
"The bomb or GW?"
I couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of Geira Watch being destroyed, and yet I found humor in the fact that it very well could be in the time it would take for me to discover the fate of my remaining bomb.
"I think the reason my house was raided had some thing to do with my bomb buying getting found out, which was naturally bound to happen. What I hope is that the government did not find the location of my bombs. But we won't know that till we get there."
"So after we find your bomb, and take it north then what?"
"Then we deal with Everson."
"The one that hurt you?"
"Yes the one that back stabbed me."
I ignored her last question as I attempted to explain my self.
"Vichama Orbital, to be precise. It's a small mining station that supplies the war effort. I used the station to house my bombs which I labeled as prototype laser relay systems."
"Your bombs?"
I took a long drink from the beer in my hand, the liquid burning as it went down quickly drawing me into reality and away from the pain killers that were still numbing my body.
"Not as nice as your bomb, but good none the less. Two large conventional explosive loads and three nuclear loads all clearly Serco manufactured, I planed to use them all on UiT stations, I knew the investigation would quickly prove the Serco guilty and the UiT would side with the Itani in the war.
I then planed to use my grey space contacts to keep up the pressure on the yellows while the full power of the Serco military was sent to deal with the UiT once and for all. With pressure from all sides I doubt they would last long, then the Serco with the resources of the UiT systems would easily crush the Itani from two sides, starving out any thing they could not kill. And then finally peace would ensue."
Mystic laughed through out my entire speech and not just at my suggestive joke. Finally after what was becoming an awkwardly long time, she composed her self.
"Oh Borby at least no one will ever say you didn't dream big, if you had stuck with me we'd be ruling grey space by now!"
And with that she went into another fit of laughter as I plotted the nav points on her
computer and hit the jump button. I waited till she started to calm down a little bit more before I went on.
"Unfortunately the Serco raided my house and forced me to flee Serco space before I could get all of the bombs planted which has up to this point drastically delayed my plans. In all honesty after the last few hours I'm not sure if my plans will see completion, I can't help but feel as if every thing is going to easy all things considered, and there are some things that just don't match up..." My voice trailed off as I slowly got lost in my thoughts.
"So this fifth bomb is still in Vichama Orbital?"
"Yeah, we're gonna pick it up and take it to Geira Watch, that is of course if it's still there."
"The bomb or GW?"
I couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of Geira Watch being destroyed, and yet I found humor in the fact that it very well could be in the time it would take for me to discover the fate of my remaining bomb.
"I think the reason my house was raided had some thing to do with my bomb buying getting found out, which was naturally bound to happen. What I hope is that the government did not find the location of my bombs. But we won't know that till we get there."
"So after we find your bomb, and take it north then what?"
"Then we deal with Everson."
"The one that hurt you?"
"Yes the one that back stabbed me."
"Dealing with him will be a pleasure, no one hurts my friends and gets away with it" Mystic stated, all traces of her previous humor gone.
"Easy girl, I need you to focus on this part with me first, then we will track down the next target." Borb couldn't help smiling at how fiercely protective she felt about those close to her.
Mystic went to grab a couple more rammers for herself and Borb, thinking of bombs and just how the hell they were going to get one off a station without being noticed was anyones guess.
But she had faith her friend had a plan, which would probably entail more than a few dead bodies...it always did.
The trip was uneventful for the most part, no strike forces chasing or anything which led Mystic to believe that, at least so far, no one had connected her to Borb vanishing. This was very much in their favor as she had decent standing with the Serco and would sorta like to keep it that way.
Finally they arrived, one jump from Vichama Orbital, in a empty area, as the ship settled from the jump she turned to him...
"Ok we're here, mind telling me just how you plan for us to get a bomb off the station unnoticed??"
"Easy girl, I need you to focus on this part with me first, then we will track down the next target." Borb couldn't help smiling at how fiercely protective she felt about those close to her.
Mystic went to grab a couple more rammers for herself and Borb, thinking of bombs and just how the hell they were going to get one off a station without being noticed was anyones guess.
But she had faith her friend had a plan, which would probably entail more than a few dead bodies...it always did.
The trip was uneventful for the most part, no strike forces chasing or anything which led Mystic to believe that, at least so far, no one had connected her to Borb vanishing. This was very much in their favor as she had decent standing with the Serco and would sorta like to keep it that way.
Finally they arrived, one jump from Vichama Orbital, in a empty area, as the ship settled from the jump she turned to him...
"Ok we're here, mind telling me just how you plan for us to get a bomb off the station unnoticed??"
Wave after wave of rockets hit the station. In the corridors, normal lighting was no longer in use; instead, red emergency lighting was the only illumination. Handrails were the only way to walk at this point. It took everything in Burwell Everson to keep from flying into the thick of the attackers. He promised himself that he would do some extra combat action to try and counter the fact that... he was their plan.
No one else knew this much, and Burwell didn't lie to himself that he should either. Over the past few weeks he had made contact with members of all sides. Lexicon, Borb Sarken, and uppercase were all on the list. Everson had become an enabler for all sides, his true allegiance known only to himself. Burwell was not dishonest by nature. To keep his actions from eating away his mind, he would need a distraction. For the moment, nothing could be done. There was no time.
*** ooc: post splits at this point, depending upon the thread.
Package delivered. Burwell turned to leave Deck 13, with the world making a bit more sense. Camilla was in the hands of the Itani. Lexicon would never threaten the Serco's honor again. Next up, Borb and those bombs. I wonder if they've found any yet.
The hatch to the elevator tube opened. Burwell froze. Into the room stepped Borb Sarken, followed closely by a lady who Burwell cursed himself for not recognizing. Okay plan B. "Sarken! Burnwalls is dead. How does your new spine feel, they do a good job?"
No one else knew this much, and Burwell didn't lie to himself that he should either. Over the past few weeks he had made contact with members of all sides. Lexicon, Borb Sarken, and uppercase were all on the list. Everson had become an enabler for all sides, his true allegiance known only to himself. Burwell was not dishonest by nature. To keep his actions from eating away his mind, he would need a distraction. For the moment, nothing could be done. There was no time.
*** ooc: post splits at this point, depending upon the thread.
Package delivered. Burwell turned to leave Deck 13, with the world making a bit more sense. Camilla was in the hands of the Itani. Lexicon would never threaten the Serco's honor again. Next up, Borb and those bombs. I wonder if they've found any yet.
The hatch to the elevator tube opened. Burwell froze. Into the room stepped Borb Sarken, followed closely by a lady who Burwell cursed himself for not recognizing. Okay plan B. "Sarken! Burnwalls is dead. How does your new spine feel, they do a good job?"
"The bombs? Well now you and I both know nukes are illegal to transport in Serco space unless I take the time to file vast amounts of paper work, pay large fees, and of course am part of the Serco military with orders from the top."
Mystic looked at me with a sparkle in her eye as she awaited finding out my plans, like a child waits for their parent to tell them a good bed time story.
I grinned as I went on.
"So we're moving mining equitment, 48 tons of it. Course if a bomb some how fell into one of those cargo boxes I'm sure no one would notice at this low security station in the Serco heart land."
"Honey I hate to tell you this but my ship won't hold 48 tons."
"Don't worry, I've got a Taur waiting for us at the dock, your ship will be well taken care of until you get back." I said tipping my beer back as I winked at her.
Five hours, several beers, thousands of corny pick up lines and suggestive remarks later we docked at Geira Watch.
"What now Borb?"
"Now we wait for revenge, and I get a new pair of boots."
I knew things we're going to all happen soon I had set them in motion to do so. I just didn't quite know when or how, though I could have made a few educated guesses. The good news was that this gave me ample time to make calls and set up my long range plans into motion. And of course time to get new boots, there was no way in hell I was going to do the level of ass kicking I had planed with pink boots, no way in hell.
I lost track of time after a while, I guess I should have paid better attention to my implants then I did. Mystic kept her self amused in many interesting ways though I will admit that by the time things started picking up around the station I was getting some what tired of pink fuzzy handcuffs.
At this point I had enough intel to know thing we're going almost exactly as I had planed, Burwell was being a good little bad good Serco type person, Lexicon was pretending to be Lecter for a bit, and the Itani we're pissed off. All I had to do was get in position and wait to end this all.
Three hours later I waited as two audible shots rang from behind the blast hatch. I winked at Mystic as I over rode the locks and the elevator tube opened. Burwell froze and stared with what seemed to be a mixture of shock and surprise as he saw me and Mystic walk into the room.
"Now the fun starts." I mumbled to Mystic under my breath as I raised my gun.
"Sarken! Burnwalls is dead. How does your new spine feel, they do a good job?"
"Drop the..." Mystic's words became inaudible as a large old earth .45 caliber bullet exited an antique firearm quickly racing through the air and impacting with the small blaster in Burwell's hand, it's hollow point contorting and expanding as it passed through the grip and into the battery pack causing the battery to explode vaporizing the bullet and Burwell's hand up to his mid-forearm.
"Happy to see me Everson?" I asked rhetorically impressed that he did not make a single sound despite the pain and obvious surprise. Mystic quickly walked over and sent her foot into his unsuspecting chest as he stood staring at his stump of an arm sending him sprawling on his back.
"Sarken!"
"Can it shit face!" I commanded while I walked over to where he lay standing above him as Mystic rested her foot on his neck.
"The longer you take to kill me the more..."
"That's where your wrong, I'm not going to kill you and for now I'm even done hurting you."
He stared up at me waiting to find out what my game was his disciplined face displaying no emotion as I looked up at Mystic and nodded that she could remove her foot from it's imposing position on his throat.
"You've done well Everson, better then I thought you would much better. I didn't want to leave with out squaring things up with you. Now we're even for the needle and spine thing. Here how ever is your problem, the Serco government is aware of your role at the least in helping me which I'm sure will lead to an uncomfortable investigation into your actions as of late.
At this current time there are five bombs in UiT space. I can list for you where four are, and I would recommend using these bombs as the reason you "seemed" to have assisted me. I'm sure the Serco nation will be grateful. You may even get a promotion and we'll be even for you helping me out."
Burwell attempted to say some thing as he slowly got to his feet but I held up my hand and went on.
"The nanites in your arm seem to have mostly stopped the bleeding which means you will be able to do one last favor for me with out much difficulty.
This lovely lady has a ship she needs to pick up at Vichama Orbital, she will also need to be discreetly helped out of Serco space so her diplomatic standing does not suffer. When this happens she will tell you the location of a final bomb inside of Serco space, so we'll be even for you helping her out. Any questions?"
I watched as Burwell's mind raced while he tried to categorized all of his questions and find the most important one to ask first.
"Why?" He finally said.
"Why do all of this? Revenge, honor, duty, boredom, many reasons exist for that question. Why give you the bombs? Easy, I never planed to use them. Why didn't I plan to use them? They we're never my idea, but I didn't figure that out till later on and by then going back was not an option. Why contact you in the first place? I knew you would do what was best for the greater good, of all the people that didn't know me well enough to be an ass kiss you we're the only one with the moral fiber I needed."
I looked at him as he planned his next move trying to process all of the information I was spewing, then I looked over at Mystic.
"Sorry I have to leave like this girl after what a big help you've been, I'm also sorry I had to leave grey and not be around for y'all after BLAK dissolved, I should have stuck with my mates."
She slowly took a step forward and wrapped her arms around me in a final good bye hug.
"I suck at good byes" I said, "right now I'd like nothing more then to make hot passionate love to you all night long but if I did that then I'd have nothing to look forward to when I get back."
I looked over at Burwell who was purposefully ignoring us as I slowly unwrapped my arms from around Mystic.
"Now Borby you know I only love pirates. I never went for those military leader types."
"I'll keep that in mind." I said grinning mischievously.
"You're puzzling Sarken. If you put even half of your energy into reasoning that made sense.." Burwell finally said.
I turned my gaze to him as I lowered my voice.
"For the same reason we're here tonight, for the same reason you murdered a Serco General, for the same reason you gave up an Itani POW a few weeks back, for the same reason a little girl and her mom we're forced to change their names and go into hiding, for the same reason a great man gave up his life trying to sever a worm hole months ago.
Maybe some day when we have peace an killers like me are relics of the past I'll sit down and write about it all."
And with that I quickly turned and left before any thing else could be said. Fifteen minutes later I was racing past Itani strike forces. An hour later I docked my ship on a remote landing strip and deactivated my communication implants. Three hours later I removed the implanted homing beacon from the Serco nation and with it the small experimental chip that had been interfacing with the Spike remnant in my brain for the past few months with out my knowledge happy that finally I had gotten the last laugh.
Mystic looked at me with a sparkle in her eye as she awaited finding out my plans, like a child waits for their parent to tell them a good bed time story.
I grinned as I went on.
"So we're moving mining equitment, 48 tons of it. Course if a bomb some how fell into one of those cargo boxes I'm sure no one would notice at this low security station in the Serco heart land."
"Honey I hate to tell you this but my ship won't hold 48 tons."
"Don't worry, I've got a Taur waiting for us at the dock, your ship will be well taken care of until you get back." I said tipping my beer back as I winked at her.
Five hours, several beers, thousands of corny pick up lines and suggestive remarks later we docked at Geira Watch.
"What now Borb?"
"Now we wait for revenge, and I get a new pair of boots."
I knew things we're going to all happen soon I had set them in motion to do so. I just didn't quite know when or how, though I could have made a few educated guesses. The good news was that this gave me ample time to make calls and set up my long range plans into motion. And of course time to get new boots, there was no way in hell I was going to do the level of ass kicking I had planed with pink boots, no way in hell.
I lost track of time after a while, I guess I should have paid better attention to my implants then I did. Mystic kept her self amused in many interesting ways though I will admit that by the time things started picking up around the station I was getting some what tired of pink fuzzy handcuffs.
At this point I had enough intel to know thing we're going almost exactly as I had planed, Burwell was being a good little bad good Serco type person, Lexicon was pretending to be Lecter for a bit, and the Itani we're pissed off. All I had to do was get in position and wait to end this all.
Three hours later I waited as two audible shots rang from behind the blast hatch. I winked at Mystic as I over rode the locks and the elevator tube opened. Burwell froze and stared with what seemed to be a mixture of shock and surprise as he saw me and Mystic walk into the room.
"Now the fun starts." I mumbled to Mystic under my breath as I raised my gun.
"Sarken! Burnwalls is dead. How does your new spine feel, they do a good job?"
"Drop the..." Mystic's words became inaudible as a large old earth .45 caliber bullet exited an antique firearm quickly racing through the air and impacting with the small blaster in Burwell's hand, it's hollow point contorting and expanding as it passed through the grip and into the battery pack causing the battery to explode vaporizing the bullet and Burwell's hand up to his mid-forearm.
"Happy to see me Everson?" I asked rhetorically impressed that he did not make a single sound despite the pain and obvious surprise. Mystic quickly walked over and sent her foot into his unsuspecting chest as he stood staring at his stump of an arm sending him sprawling on his back.
"Sarken!"
"Can it shit face!" I commanded while I walked over to where he lay standing above him as Mystic rested her foot on his neck.
"The longer you take to kill me the more..."
"That's where your wrong, I'm not going to kill you and for now I'm even done hurting you."
He stared up at me waiting to find out what my game was his disciplined face displaying no emotion as I looked up at Mystic and nodded that she could remove her foot from it's imposing position on his throat.
"You've done well Everson, better then I thought you would much better. I didn't want to leave with out squaring things up with you. Now we're even for the needle and spine thing. Here how ever is your problem, the Serco government is aware of your role at the least in helping me which I'm sure will lead to an uncomfortable investigation into your actions as of late.
At this current time there are five bombs in UiT space. I can list for you where four are, and I would recommend using these bombs as the reason you "seemed" to have assisted me. I'm sure the Serco nation will be grateful. You may even get a promotion and we'll be even for you helping me out."
Burwell attempted to say some thing as he slowly got to his feet but I held up my hand and went on.
"The nanites in your arm seem to have mostly stopped the bleeding which means you will be able to do one last favor for me with out much difficulty.
This lovely lady has a ship she needs to pick up at Vichama Orbital, she will also need to be discreetly helped out of Serco space so her diplomatic standing does not suffer. When this happens she will tell you the location of a final bomb inside of Serco space, so we'll be even for you helping her out. Any questions?"
I watched as Burwell's mind raced while he tried to categorized all of his questions and find the most important one to ask first.
"Why?" He finally said.
"Why do all of this? Revenge, honor, duty, boredom, many reasons exist for that question. Why give you the bombs? Easy, I never planed to use them. Why didn't I plan to use them? They we're never my idea, but I didn't figure that out till later on and by then going back was not an option. Why contact you in the first place? I knew you would do what was best for the greater good, of all the people that didn't know me well enough to be an ass kiss you we're the only one with the moral fiber I needed."
I looked at him as he planned his next move trying to process all of the information I was spewing, then I looked over at Mystic.
"Sorry I have to leave like this girl after what a big help you've been, I'm also sorry I had to leave grey and not be around for y'all after BLAK dissolved, I should have stuck with my mates."
She slowly took a step forward and wrapped her arms around me in a final good bye hug.
"I suck at good byes" I said, "right now I'd like nothing more then to make hot passionate love to you all night long but if I did that then I'd have nothing to look forward to when I get back."
I looked over at Burwell who was purposefully ignoring us as I slowly unwrapped my arms from around Mystic.
"Now Borby you know I only love pirates. I never went for those military leader types."
"I'll keep that in mind." I said grinning mischievously.
"You're puzzling Sarken. If you put even half of your energy into reasoning that made sense.." Burwell finally said.
I turned my gaze to him as I lowered my voice.
"For the same reason we're here tonight, for the same reason you murdered a Serco General, for the same reason you gave up an Itani POW a few weeks back, for the same reason a little girl and her mom we're forced to change their names and go into hiding, for the same reason a great man gave up his life trying to sever a worm hole months ago.
Maybe some day when we have peace an killers like me are relics of the past I'll sit down and write about it all."
And with that I quickly turned and left before any thing else could be said. Fifteen minutes later I was racing past Itani strike forces. An hour later I docked my ship on a remote landing strip and deactivated my communication implants. Three hours later I removed the implanted homing beacon from the Serco nation and with it the small experimental chip that had been interfacing with the Spike remnant in my brain for the past few months with out my knowledge happy that finally I had gotten the last laugh.
After Borb finished detailing where four of the bombs were, Burwell lead Mystic to his ship. Despite missing one hand, he leapt up into his vulture easily, and offered a hand to the lady.
She refused the offered hand promptly. "I only accept chivalry from those I trust, sorry."
"Suit yourself, miss. Name's Everson by the way. Whom do I have the pleasure of flying today?"
"MysticRogue, Commander of CLM."
"Seriously? That's.. wow." Burwell looked less surprised than he sounded, but his back was turned as he ran over an abbreviated preflight checklist. The station was still receiving rocket hits. "Well strap in. I'm no racer, but I do so love my turbo. How did you and Borb meet?"
"We pirated together quite a bit."
Everson grunts a few times with amusement. Mystic took the opportunity to check out her flight companion. "I say something amusing?"
"Borb the pirate. I told him he was selling himself short, and you just confirmed it." Burwell launched the craft just in time for another volley of rockets to shake the station. His afterburners roared to life as he shot clear of the sector's action. "He's lying through his teeth about getting in your pants, isn't he." It didn't sound like a question though.
"My personal life isn't up for discussion thanks."
"Well... you really went out on a limb for him here."
"You tend to become close to those you face death with on a regular basis, and Borb and I have covered each other on many occasions, back in the days of BLAK, after their dissolution. We all formed a bond that most will never understand."
Small talk of little consequence traded off with silence until Everson brought up a real topic. "I never meant to harm him, you know. This whole chain of events.. it seems like he demanded it from me."
"Well you may not have meant to, but you did, and its hard to believe you didn't set all this up, at least to me, Borb thinks you are useful and I will trust his judgement, but until its proven to me, I wont be turning my back on you."
"I can see why you wouldn't understand. Your time is spent in lawless space. I received orders and I followed them to the best of my ability. They wanted Borb, so I thought up the most airtight way to provide him that I could."
"Grey space may not have conventional laws as you know them, but we do adhere to a code, and you broke that code, he trusted you and you broke his neck and handed him over to the very people that tried to kill him."
"Do those you break your grey space code still expect everyone around them to pretend nothing happened? Borb broke our laws. You seriously expect me to respect his wishes more than those of my commanders? That is like.. if I told you that you were a horrible person for not cooperating with a CDC pilot."
"Look you give your word, you keep your word, no matter who you give it to."
"I did keep my word. Even Borb knows that. It doesn't surprise me that he told you otherwise, though."
"Do you deny breaking his spine? Deny rendering him completely helpless?" Mystic felt her anger rising again, but she needed to stay calm, Borb had trusted this person and ended up in surgery. She intended to take him out first if necessary. Her hand slid closer to her blaster of its own accord.
"If we're counting, he broke our agreement as much as I supposedly did. I didn't get him to O-4, and he didn't pay me. He DID however make it to O-4, and only because I provided him with a communicator, which he apparently used to call you. THUS, I kept my word to my superiors by following orders, kept my word to him by getting him to Geira indirectly, and now I'm keeping my word again by taking you safely to your ship." Burwell navigated a wormhole having lost his motivation to talk. He really wanted Mystic to understand how hard he tried, but it wasn't necessary in the end.
Mystic broke the silence a minute later. "For the comm you left him I do thank you."
"You know I would have had his back, if he wasn't in the process of betraying the Dominion. He was the sort all of us looked up to, until recently. I even told him so. He could have been one of the greatest, most inspiring leaders we've ever had. But he chooses to serve himself instead of the whole."
"He was betrayed before he did any type of betraying, he gave up a happy life in grey space to return to help the Serco, and what do they do? They blow up his house and would have happily killed him."
"They didn't blow up his house, HE did that. They showed up to arrest him for stockpiling weapons without a permit."
"Borb has always had the best interest of the Serco people at heart, sure he does things differently, but that is what makes great leaders, not following some rote set up by a bunch of pencil pushers." Mystic's defiant tone was full of emotion, if lacking in persuasion.
"You're wrong. Leaders inspire their subordinates to greatness. He not only lacks subordinates, but he kills our own at his whim. He is an icon, not a leader. And sadly, he isn't looked up to anymore, through his own actions."
Mystic had a great urge to blast Everson on pure principle, but decided against it. "No you're the one that is wrong Everson, I know Borb and he may have internal conflicts but he has always been a nationalist at his core. He may not do things people would call normal, but he gets results nonetheless."
"Being a nationalist does not make you a leader. I didn't claim he was not a patriot, even though I doubt that greatly." Burwell adds in a tone that sounds hurt slightly, "So now I'm 'wrong' for things I'm not even saying."
Mystic couldn't believe her ears, he actually sounded as if she had wounded him with her words. "I really shouldn't blame you, you have had all of this drilled into you over and over again, it just saddens me that so many people don't try to think for themselves, if they did this war would have been long over by now."
"This isn't about scripting lives or losing freedom of thought miss. This is about the fact that he sacrifices our own for goals we don't understand. You can't kill your own and expect people to respect you. If I didn't think for myself, Borb would be dead right now. How can you accuse me of that?"
"Serco kill their own all the time," Mystic snapped, but then reconsidered, "I will admit that showed a great deal of fortitude, and from what I have learned of you, you aren't the typical Serco, you have done things quite out of the norm, especially recently." Mystic softened her tone a bit. This guy had aided those that needed it, even though it could have led to his own incarceration.
"If I ever get the kind of power Borb used to have, I'll end this war. And I'll do it without pulling the trigger at my comrades. But such is just a dream far in the future. I command no one." The rest of the trip passed by in silence until Vichama Orbital came into view. "So where is that last bomb?"
Mystic gave him the coordinates just as Borb had instructed her. Everson wasted no time noting it in his PDA. "I appreciate the ride, but weren't you supposed to see me safely out of Serco space? Don't tell me that your chivalry has ended just because we don't agree in our estimation of Borby." Mystic couldn't help the smile that played across her face as she said it.
"You thought I was going to abandon you? Heck, I was even planning on trying to offer you a hand climbing out of this thing."
Mystic gave a genuine smile. "This time I just might take that hand."
"Oh the suspense." At that Mystic couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her throat. Burwell docked flawlessly, down to leaving equal distance on all sides of the vulture. Military training was good for some things, at least. As he set the ship down, before even popping the canopy, he started trying to guess which ship belonged to the lady. "That one looks like a Corvult.. is that yours?"
Mystic tried to look insulted. "Nope, I fly only one ship, see the maud over there with the rose wrapped around the sword painted on it?" Mystic slipped her jacket down to show him her matching tattoo.
"You're kidding.. you fly a triple dammed marauder?" Burwell made a show of gagging. "Ugly as sin, girl." Burwell opened the canopy and stood, leaping out. As promised, he held out a hand to her, which only reminded him of how much he missed the other. Mystic didn't hesitate to accept his hand, and the pair joked with one another all the way to the Serco border. Eventually it was time to say goodbye. "You'll stay in touch, right? And maybe I can meet some of your peers. I need all the contacts I can get."
"Sure thing, one day I may need a favor or something." Then Mystic activated the wormhole to Ukari and was gone.
She refused the offered hand promptly. "I only accept chivalry from those I trust, sorry."
"Suit yourself, miss. Name's Everson by the way. Whom do I have the pleasure of flying today?"
"MysticRogue, Commander of CLM."
"Seriously? That's.. wow." Burwell looked less surprised than he sounded, but his back was turned as he ran over an abbreviated preflight checklist. The station was still receiving rocket hits. "Well strap in. I'm no racer, but I do so love my turbo. How did you and Borb meet?"
"We pirated together quite a bit."
Everson grunts a few times with amusement. Mystic took the opportunity to check out her flight companion. "I say something amusing?"
"Borb the pirate. I told him he was selling himself short, and you just confirmed it." Burwell launched the craft just in time for another volley of rockets to shake the station. His afterburners roared to life as he shot clear of the sector's action. "He's lying through his teeth about getting in your pants, isn't he." It didn't sound like a question though.
"My personal life isn't up for discussion thanks."
"Well... you really went out on a limb for him here."
"You tend to become close to those you face death with on a regular basis, and Borb and I have covered each other on many occasions, back in the days of BLAK, after their dissolution. We all formed a bond that most will never understand."
Small talk of little consequence traded off with silence until Everson brought up a real topic. "I never meant to harm him, you know. This whole chain of events.. it seems like he demanded it from me."
"Well you may not have meant to, but you did, and its hard to believe you didn't set all this up, at least to me, Borb thinks you are useful and I will trust his judgement, but until its proven to me, I wont be turning my back on you."
"I can see why you wouldn't understand. Your time is spent in lawless space. I received orders and I followed them to the best of my ability. They wanted Borb, so I thought up the most airtight way to provide him that I could."
"Grey space may not have conventional laws as you know them, but we do adhere to a code, and you broke that code, he trusted you and you broke his neck and handed him over to the very people that tried to kill him."
"Do those you break your grey space code still expect everyone around them to pretend nothing happened? Borb broke our laws. You seriously expect me to respect his wishes more than those of my commanders? That is like.. if I told you that you were a horrible person for not cooperating with a CDC pilot."
"Look you give your word, you keep your word, no matter who you give it to."
"I did keep my word. Even Borb knows that. It doesn't surprise me that he told you otherwise, though."
"Do you deny breaking his spine? Deny rendering him completely helpless?" Mystic felt her anger rising again, but she needed to stay calm, Borb had trusted this person and ended up in surgery. She intended to take him out first if necessary. Her hand slid closer to her blaster of its own accord.
"If we're counting, he broke our agreement as much as I supposedly did. I didn't get him to O-4, and he didn't pay me. He DID however make it to O-4, and only because I provided him with a communicator, which he apparently used to call you. THUS, I kept my word to my superiors by following orders, kept my word to him by getting him to Geira indirectly, and now I'm keeping my word again by taking you safely to your ship." Burwell navigated a wormhole having lost his motivation to talk. He really wanted Mystic to understand how hard he tried, but it wasn't necessary in the end.
Mystic broke the silence a minute later. "For the comm you left him I do thank you."
"You know I would have had his back, if he wasn't in the process of betraying the Dominion. He was the sort all of us looked up to, until recently. I even told him so. He could have been one of the greatest, most inspiring leaders we've ever had. But he chooses to serve himself instead of the whole."
"He was betrayed before he did any type of betraying, he gave up a happy life in grey space to return to help the Serco, and what do they do? They blow up his house and would have happily killed him."
"They didn't blow up his house, HE did that. They showed up to arrest him for stockpiling weapons without a permit."
"Borb has always had the best interest of the Serco people at heart, sure he does things differently, but that is what makes great leaders, not following some rote set up by a bunch of pencil pushers." Mystic's defiant tone was full of emotion, if lacking in persuasion.
"You're wrong. Leaders inspire their subordinates to greatness. He not only lacks subordinates, but he kills our own at his whim. He is an icon, not a leader. And sadly, he isn't looked up to anymore, through his own actions."
Mystic had a great urge to blast Everson on pure principle, but decided against it. "No you're the one that is wrong Everson, I know Borb and he may have internal conflicts but he has always been a nationalist at his core. He may not do things people would call normal, but he gets results nonetheless."
"Being a nationalist does not make you a leader. I didn't claim he was not a patriot, even though I doubt that greatly." Burwell adds in a tone that sounds hurt slightly, "So now I'm 'wrong' for things I'm not even saying."
Mystic couldn't believe her ears, he actually sounded as if she had wounded him with her words. "I really shouldn't blame you, you have had all of this drilled into you over and over again, it just saddens me that so many people don't try to think for themselves, if they did this war would have been long over by now."
"This isn't about scripting lives or losing freedom of thought miss. This is about the fact that he sacrifices our own for goals we don't understand. You can't kill your own and expect people to respect you. If I didn't think for myself, Borb would be dead right now. How can you accuse me of that?"
"Serco kill their own all the time," Mystic snapped, but then reconsidered, "I will admit that showed a great deal of fortitude, and from what I have learned of you, you aren't the typical Serco, you have done things quite out of the norm, especially recently." Mystic softened her tone a bit. This guy had aided those that needed it, even though it could have led to his own incarceration.
"If I ever get the kind of power Borb used to have, I'll end this war. And I'll do it without pulling the trigger at my comrades. But such is just a dream far in the future. I command no one." The rest of the trip passed by in silence until Vichama Orbital came into view. "So where is that last bomb?"
Mystic gave him the coordinates just as Borb had instructed her. Everson wasted no time noting it in his PDA. "I appreciate the ride, but weren't you supposed to see me safely out of Serco space? Don't tell me that your chivalry has ended just because we don't agree in our estimation of Borby." Mystic couldn't help the smile that played across her face as she said it.
"You thought I was going to abandon you? Heck, I was even planning on trying to offer you a hand climbing out of this thing."
Mystic gave a genuine smile. "This time I just might take that hand."
"Oh the suspense." At that Mystic couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her throat. Burwell docked flawlessly, down to leaving equal distance on all sides of the vulture. Military training was good for some things, at least. As he set the ship down, before even popping the canopy, he started trying to guess which ship belonged to the lady. "That one looks like a Corvult.. is that yours?"
Mystic tried to look insulted. "Nope, I fly only one ship, see the maud over there with the rose wrapped around the sword painted on it?" Mystic slipped her jacket down to show him her matching tattoo.
"You're kidding.. you fly a triple dammed marauder?" Burwell made a show of gagging. "Ugly as sin, girl." Burwell opened the canopy and stood, leaping out. As promised, he held out a hand to her, which only reminded him of how much he missed the other. Mystic didn't hesitate to accept his hand, and the pair joked with one another all the way to the Serco border. Eventually it was time to say goodbye. "You'll stay in touch, right? And maybe I can meet some of your peers. I need all the contacts I can get."
"Sure thing, one day I may need a favor or something." Then Mystic activated the wormhole to Ukari and was gone.