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Mystic drifted in and out of reality it seemed, one minute Everson was talking to her and then some strange woman was making her drink, she vaguely remembered Everson saying it was his wife. She also remembered hearing Az's voice, she shared her news, but why hadn't yoda came for her yet? Surely it had to be a dream, yoda wouldn't send someone else for her...would he? A moan escaped, and something cool gently touched her forehead, she needed to get home, but couldn't seem to move.
“Shh relax Mystic, you will be ok, I promise” This seemed to soothe her somewhat and she drifted back into a dreamless sleep.
**
While Mystic's fevered mind couldn't seem to grasp anything, yoda's on the other hand was going in a million directions at once. The monitor he had showed Mystic was still alive, but very weak. He needed to find her and the only clue he had was that Everson/Vehement had called Azumi to pick up a crate. While he was still worried, he knew that the snake would take care of Mystic, not that yoda believed for a minute that the guy was anything other than the reptile, whose tag he once wore, but Mystic, she could see the good in anyone and pull it out into the open.
Waiting around for information was not his strong suit so yoda started his search in Pelatus, Mystic's hideaway. Finding nothing there but the guard who doubled as a manager of sorts, he went straight to Mystic's computer system, she had had a nice setup installed, and it didn't take long to find out what she had done. Routing everything here first, she had assured no one could trace her.....unless they knew how to access her system, and yoda knew how.
Working as quickly and as thoroughly as possible, the pirate managed to trace every communication Mystic had sent and received since she had left him standing on the dock in Latos over a month ago.
He thought back:
“I will be back...I don't know where I'm going, I just need to get away ok? Please trust me....just a little?”
“Go, but we WILL discuss you not following orders when you get back”
“Thanks and yes we will talk, I promise” And she had given him a small smile, but he knew there was more to it when he watched her walk away, disheartened and almost frantic.
“I never should have let you take off, and we WILL discuss it all,' He said aloud, bringing himself back to the present, “If I ....no...WHEN I find you and I will find you Red, I have to” Yoda knew Mystic needed him and it was driving him insane not being able to find her. They had been wingmates too long, and friends, he guessed ever since he pirated her so long ago in Odia. The memory of that brought a smile to his face, she had given in just long enough to be sure she was safe, then she had actually had the nerve to promise to blast his ship to bits one day, and she had eventually done it too.
“Bout damn time you fraggin machine,” he said as the machine finished, after what was actually only a few minutes. Yoda could saw where she had been the longest, a backwater station just inside itani space. Just before that, she had spent a couple of hours at Tung in Edras, and no communication at all before that, which would have put it about the time she left Latos. “So to Edras it is, and if I don't find what I want there, I will tear every damn station apart until I find her...”
It didn't take long in Edras to find the “Fatal Beauty”, Mystic's ship, she had stored it here and bought a nondescript hog. “Must be the one 'zumi found the crate on” he mused. Paying a hefty fee, yoda had someone take the maud she prized so much back to Latos. “Twill make her feel better when she gets home to know its there, safe and sound”
His next stop was the station Mystic had spent so much time in, seemed to have been some excitement recently. Keeping to the shadows, he learned that someone had been shot there recently. Seeing a couple of dockworkers nearby, yoda showed them a large credstick and then casually asked what had happened. As he had figured they were more than happy to tell the tale.
“This brown haired wench...”
“She weren't no wench, not sure exactly what type of lady she was, but she was a lady right enuff”
“Yeah I meant no disrespect to be sure...”
“Gentlemen if you please, I'm sorta in a hurry here” yoda used a tone that would make brighter individuals cringe.
“Yeah sorry mate, but she was as spit-fire, shoulda been a redhead the way she carried herself, nice as she could be, til someone crossed her..”
“And I take it this person who was shot crossed her?” yoda was a bit more patient as the tale seemed to be moving along.
“He 'ad been accostin' her on and off since she first showed up...but she tweren't having none of his kind. Anyways, the night she went to leave me an Earl here were pullin' graveyard...thats the overnight shift ye know”
“Aye I have been known to pull a few graveyards in my time” yoda smirked a bit,
“Wells, me and Earl were pullin' graveyard and nothing was going on, twas pretty late, wee hours of the morning, traffic slows down, makes it worth while for the monies we get.”
“To keep it simple mate, as you seem in a bit of a rush here,” the one called Earl took over, eyeing the credstick yoda was twirling in his fingers. “The lady had been coming and going a lot, but never this time of night, and she came prancin out here, with a big smile and a wave for us, she always was nice to us, not like some folk can be ye know”
“Aye I know,” Now this sounded like Mystic, a smile for anyone that has never harmed her, but just what had happened, he had no doubt who shot the guy in question, but ...brown hair?
“Anyways, she twas about to get inta her ship, when we heard a slight scuffle, it was the bloke that had been bothering her, she had always handled herself so we saw no reason to interfere unless needed ye know?” At this yoda nodded, urging them on although he had a pretty good idea forming.
“Suddenly, a blaster goes off, and on this here quiet dock, it was a horrible racket, so we rushed over to see what was going on, and there stood Ms Spitfire with a blaster and the bloke lying on his back with a hole in his stomach and his knee, although there was only one shot here, and she just smiled and said she told him “ never without permission” then she told us to back away, and when anyone points a blaster at me i get worried, but a lady like that? You bet we backed up, but we did notice she was injured when she went to get into her ship, tho she swore it twerent nothing bad.”
Yoda had heard enough, someone had accosted Red and she had shot him, if the bastard lived, he wouldn't very long... Tossing the credstick to the guys with his thanks he got to his ship, he wasn't sure where to start, but piecing it together, he knew that Mystic had found where the treasure was, but somehow was more seriously hurt than she had let on when she left this station.. How Everson....suddenly it struck yoda, Mystic had mentioned that the viper had an itani wife he went home to when he had teased her one day. Thats why Mystic called the snake instead of him, he was closer...only from the rumors he had picked up, the snake wasn't welcome in 'tani space anymore. So where would a former viper, recently turned back to being a nationalist, married to an itani but unwelcome in itani space go? He couldn't see the itani wanting to be in Serco space. Somewhere neutral...and having only recently left the Vipers, he would bet anything there were accommodations in UIT territory.
But where would he take Mystic? He must have been with Mystic when he contacted 'zumi . He knew the problems with ITAN over the treasure so would not be wise to leave her in smurfland. The more yoda thought the more agitated he got, his first instinct was to start tearing apart UIT, but if not handled right, it could make things bad for Mystic and himself, not that he cared one whit about the so-called law of UIT, but Mystic needed him. He slammed his fist into the console in frustration, causing yet another crack to form in the surface, just as his comm went off.
“Yoda”
“Hey yoda, its Jasmine”
“Kinda busy Jas, whats up?”
“Well we got the present you left us”
“'good 'zumi delivered it”
“Umm no Shar and a couple others brought it up, Azumi left the station shortly after she called us”
“She left? I told her.... nevermind, later. Jas, I know you were in contact with Mystic while she was gone...” Jasmine didn't speak..
“Its ok Jas, but I need you to do something for me, I need to find out how to contact this Viper Mystic seems to have taken as a pet”
“You mean Everson?”
“Yeah, any ideas?
“Well I can take a quick look at Mystic's office, I'm sure there is something there”
“Take a look quickly and contact me back asap”
It didn't take 10 mins for Jasmine to get back to yoda with the information that just might be what he was looking for...the full name of the former Viper. Nolan Faux, or at least thats the name he seems to be going under now, yoda thought. Confusing story Mystic had told him, but now he had information and information was always good. Yoda punched in the comm number Jas had pulled up on Nolan Faux ..it only took a couple of minutes til a woman's voice answered.
“Faux residence...”
“I need to speak to Nolan please” yoda kept his voice calm and clear
“One moment, “ He heard background noise but nothing he could make out clearly
“Vehement here”
“Yoda here, I think you have something of mine.....”
“Shh relax Mystic, you will be ok, I promise” This seemed to soothe her somewhat and she drifted back into a dreamless sleep.
**
While Mystic's fevered mind couldn't seem to grasp anything, yoda's on the other hand was going in a million directions at once. The monitor he had showed Mystic was still alive, but very weak. He needed to find her and the only clue he had was that Everson/Vehement had called Azumi to pick up a crate. While he was still worried, he knew that the snake would take care of Mystic, not that yoda believed for a minute that the guy was anything other than the reptile, whose tag he once wore, but Mystic, she could see the good in anyone and pull it out into the open.
Waiting around for information was not his strong suit so yoda started his search in Pelatus, Mystic's hideaway. Finding nothing there but the guard who doubled as a manager of sorts, he went straight to Mystic's computer system, she had had a nice setup installed, and it didn't take long to find out what she had done. Routing everything here first, she had assured no one could trace her.....unless they knew how to access her system, and yoda knew how.
Working as quickly and as thoroughly as possible, the pirate managed to trace every communication Mystic had sent and received since she had left him standing on the dock in Latos over a month ago.
He thought back:
“I will be back...I don't know where I'm going, I just need to get away ok? Please trust me....just a little?”
“Go, but we WILL discuss you not following orders when you get back”
“Thanks and yes we will talk, I promise” And she had given him a small smile, but he knew there was more to it when he watched her walk away, disheartened and almost frantic.
“I never should have let you take off, and we WILL discuss it all,' He said aloud, bringing himself back to the present, “If I ....no...WHEN I find you and I will find you Red, I have to” Yoda knew Mystic needed him and it was driving him insane not being able to find her. They had been wingmates too long, and friends, he guessed ever since he pirated her so long ago in Odia. The memory of that brought a smile to his face, she had given in just long enough to be sure she was safe, then she had actually had the nerve to promise to blast his ship to bits one day, and she had eventually done it too.
“Bout damn time you fraggin machine,” he said as the machine finished, after what was actually only a few minutes. Yoda could saw where she had been the longest, a backwater station just inside itani space. Just before that, she had spent a couple of hours at Tung in Edras, and no communication at all before that, which would have put it about the time she left Latos. “So to Edras it is, and if I don't find what I want there, I will tear every damn station apart until I find her...”
It didn't take long in Edras to find the “Fatal Beauty”, Mystic's ship, she had stored it here and bought a nondescript hog. “Must be the one 'zumi found the crate on” he mused. Paying a hefty fee, yoda had someone take the maud she prized so much back to Latos. “Twill make her feel better when she gets home to know its there, safe and sound”
His next stop was the station Mystic had spent so much time in, seemed to have been some excitement recently. Keeping to the shadows, he learned that someone had been shot there recently. Seeing a couple of dockworkers nearby, yoda showed them a large credstick and then casually asked what had happened. As he had figured they were more than happy to tell the tale.
“This brown haired wench...”
“She weren't no wench, not sure exactly what type of lady she was, but she was a lady right enuff”
“Yeah I meant no disrespect to be sure...”
“Gentlemen if you please, I'm sorta in a hurry here” yoda used a tone that would make brighter individuals cringe.
“Yeah sorry mate, but she was as spit-fire, shoulda been a redhead the way she carried herself, nice as she could be, til someone crossed her..”
“And I take it this person who was shot crossed her?” yoda was a bit more patient as the tale seemed to be moving along.
“He 'ad been accostin' her on and off since she first showed up...but she tweren't having none of his kind. Anyways, the night she went to leave me an Earl here were pullin' graveyard...thats the overnight shift ye know”
“Aye I have been known to pull a few graveyards in my time” yoda smirked a bit,
“Wells, me and Earl were pullin' graveyard and nothing was going on, twas pretty late, wee hours of the morning, traffic slows down, makes it worth while for the monies we get.”
“To keep it simple mate, as you seem in a bit of a rush here,” the one called Earl took over, eyeing the credstick yoda was twirling in his fingers. “The lady had been coming and going a lot, but never this time of night, and she came prancin out here, with a big smile and a wave for us, she always was nice to us, not like some folk can be ye know”
“Aye I know,” Now this sounded like Mystic, a smile for anyone that has never harmed her, but just what had happened, he had no doubt who shot the guy in question, but ...brown hair?
“Anyways, she twas about to get inta her ship, when we heard a slight scuffle, it was the bloke that had been bothering her, she had always handled herself so we saw no reason to interfere unless needed ye know?” At this yoda nodded, urging them on although he had a pretty good idea forming.
“Suddenly, a blaster goes off, and on this here quiet dock, it was a horrible racket, so we rushed over to see what was going on, and there stood Ms Spitfire with a blaster and the bloke lying on his back with a hole in his stomach and his knee, although there was only one shot here, and she just smiled and said she told him “ never without permission” then she told us to back away, and when anyone points a blaster at me i get worried, but a lady like that? You bet we backed up, but we did notice she was injured when she went to get into her ship, tho she swore it twerent nothing bad.”
Yoda had heard enough, someone had accosted Red and she had shot him, if the bastard lived, he wouldn't very long... Tossing the credstick to the guys with his thanks he got to his ship, he wasn't sure where to start, but piecing it together, he knew that Mystic had found where the treasure was, but somehow was more seriously hurt than she had let on when she left this station.. How Everson....suddenly it struck yoda, Mystic had mentioned that the viper had an itani wife he went home to when he had teased her one day. Thats why Mystic called the snake instead of him, he was closer...only from the rumors he had picked up, the snake wasn't welcome in 'tani space anymore. So where would a former viper, recently turned back to being a nationalist, married to an itani but unwelcome in itani space go? He couldn't see the itani wanting to be in Serco space. Somewhere neutral...and having only recently left the Vipers, he would bet anything there were accommodations in UIT territory.
But where would he take Mystic? He must have been with Mystic when he contacted 'zumi . He knew the problems with ITAN over the treasure so would not be wise to leave her in smurfland. The more yoda thought the more agitated he got, his first instinct was to start tearing apart UIT, but if not handled right, it could make things bad for Mystic and himself, not that he cared one whit about the so-called law of UIT, but Mystic needed him. He slammed his fist into the console in frustration, causing yet another crack to form in the surface, just as his comm went off.
“Yoda”
“Hey yoda, its Jasmine”
“Kinda busy Jas, whats up?”
“Well we got the present you left us”
“'good 'zumi delivered it”
“Umm no Shar and a couple others brought it up, Azumi left the station shortly after she called us”
“She left? I told her.... nevermind, later. Jas, I know you were in contact with Mystic while she was gone...” Jasmine didn't speak..
“Its ok Jas, but I need you to do something for me, I need to find out how to contact this Viper Mystic seems to have taken as a pet”
“You mean Everson?”
“Yeah, any ideas?
“Well I can take a quick look at Mystic's office, I'm sure there is something there”
“Take a look quickly and contact me back asap”
It didn't take 10 mins for Jasmine to get back to yoda with the information that just might be what he was looking for...the full name of the former Viper. Nolan Faux, or at least thats the name he seems to be going under now, yoda thought. Confusing story Mystic had told him, but now he had information and information was always good. Yoda punched in the comm number Jas had pulled up on Nolan Faux ..it only took a couple of minutes til a woman's voice answered.
“Faux residence...”
“I need to speak to Nolan please” yoda kept his voice calm and clear
“One moment, “ He heard background noise but nothing he could make out clearly
“Vehement here”
“Yoda here, I think you have something of mine.....”
"One moment." The owner of Vehement's heart left the comm unit and moved to summon him. "Someone is on the phone for 'Nolan.' It must be an old friend, because almost nobody calls you that anymore.
"We'll see I guess." He set down the project he was working on- a carving of Mystic's motionless form- and went to the comm unit.
"Admiral Vehement."
"Yoda here, I think you have something of mine..."
"Now hold on just a minute there. Azumi should have given you your precious treasure, so if you don't have it I am not the person to talk to."
"Shut yer trap snake, I'm talking about Mystic."
Oh, so he has the crate and he doesn't even mumble a thank you. "What about her scumrat?"
"I want her back."
"Everybody wants things."
"I swear, if you even think about-"
"Now you shut up and listen. I don't want her in my home any more than my wife does. But even if you knew where I was, there is just no safe way for YOU to move her right now. The g-forces involved with evading the strike force alone will rip open her stitches."
"Stitches?" Yoda sounded suddenly more concerned, and a lot less aggressive.
"Yes. My wife put them in, a dozen of them I think. The knife wound was deep, but missed everything vital. We had to give her a couple liters of blood too. She comes in and out now, but she's generally cheerful."
"I need to see her."
"Absolutely the hell not. Mystic and Azumi were bad enough, and you're not half as cute as they are. I'm not putting my wife through any more pirate visits in her home. When I can fly with her safely, I'll bring her to your place myself."
Yoda considered punishing his console again, but resisted the urge. "When do you think that will be?"
"A couple days."
"Alright. Well um.. thank you for saving her life, I guess. I didn't know why she liked you before, but I think I am starting to figure it out. Can you put her on?"
"Sure.."
"Hey Red."
Nolan's wife looked the comm unit oddly, hearing someone she'd never even met use Nolan's pet name for her. After a moment of confusion, she realized the caller meant Mystic.
Mystic's eyes widened as she heard Yoda's voice. What could she even say to him? "Hey you."
"You are in big trouble-" Mystic winced visibly as he said the words she expected, but he continued "but I just wanted to say.. good job. Hurry up and get better so you can show me how to open this damned thing."
"Okay hun."
"They treating you right?"
"Ya. Food's great, and I get loads of attention."
"Alright. I'll expect your debriefing in a couple days." The call ended, and Mystic fell asleep again as if she'd never been awake at all.
"We'll see I guess." He set down the project he was working on- a carving of Mystic's motionless form- and went to the comm unit.
"Admiral Vehement."
"Yoda here, I think you have something of mine..."
"Now hold on just a minute there. Azumi should have given you your precious treasure, so if you don't have it I am not the person to talk to."
"Shut yer trap snake, I'm talking about Mystic."
Oh, so he has the crate and he doesn't even mumble a thank you. "What about her scumrat?"
"I want her back."
"Everybody wants things."
"I swear, if you even think about-"
"Now you shut up and listen. I don't want her in my home any more than my wife does. But even if you knew where I was, there is just no safe way for YOU to move her right now. The g-forces involved with evading the strike force alone will rip open her stitches."
"Stitches?" Yoda sounded suddenly more concerned, and a lot less aggressive.
"Yes. My wife put them in, a dozen of them I think. The knife wound was deep, but missed everything vital. We had to give her a couple liters of blood too. She comes in and out now, but she's generally cheerful."
"I need to see her."
"Absolutely the hell not. Mystic and Azumi were bad enough, and you're not half as cute as they are. I'm not putting my wife through any more pirate visits in her home. When I can fly with her safely, I'll bring her to your place myself."
Yoda considered punishing his console again, but resisted the urge. "When do you think that will be?"
"A couple days."
"Alright. Well um.. thank you for saving her life, I guess. I didn't know why she liked you before, but I think I am starting to figure it out. Can you put her on?"
"Sure.."
"Hey Red."
Nolan's wife looked the comm unit oddly, hearing someone she'd never even met use Nolan's pet name for her. After a moment of confusion, she realized the caller meant Mystic.
Mystic's eyes widened as she heard Yoda's voice. What could she even say to him? "Hey you."
"You are in big trouble-" Mystic winced visibly as he said the words she expected, but he continued "but I just wanted to say.. good job. Hurry up and get better so you can show me how to open this damned thing."
"Okay hun."
"They treating you right?"
"Ya. Food's great, and I get loads of attention."
"Alright. I'll expect your debriefing in a couple days." The call ended, and Mystic fell asleep again as if she'd never been awake at all.
It had been several days since I had last heard anything from Mystic and noone else seemed to know where she had gone either. I had spoken to Look on several occasions in between exchangeing neutron blasts and the general rule in CLM was that it had to be my fault she was gone as I had given her the last clue as to where the treasure probably would be located.
Needless to say I spent just as much time avoiding CLM pilots as I did tracking hive movements. One such occasion I had been mulling around in Pherona trying to pick up on Mystics trail when Azumi came flying in, luckily I was in my shiny new X1 and was ready for whatever she had in store for me which was.....nothing. No hail, no ITAN dog, no help me with my frilly underwear, nothing she just kept on going. I didn't follow her simply because only the day before I had heard that Vehement had been spotted in the area. In the past this would not have been a big deal but since his recent absence from the Vipers and joining a new group of Serco nationalists we were all instructed to keep an eye out for him. Unfortunatly I never did get an idea where Vehement had gone as I'm sure he could have given me somewhat of an idea where Red might be hiding out.
I had no other choice, I would have to go on with plan B and try and visit CLM headquarters again. I hope I'm able to get out with all my parts still intact again.
[sector]Elbryon-Council member Elbryon of ITAN requesting docking permission and an audience with someone in charge....
[sector]?-Go ahead and dock Elb I have something I need to discuss with you too....
Elbryon[ITAN]
Council member
Needless to say I spent just as much time avoiding CLM pilots as I did tracking hive movements. One such occasion I had been mulling around in Pherona trying to pick up on Mystics trail when Azumi came flying in, luckily I was in my shiny new X1 and was ready for whatever she had in store for me which was.....nothing. No hail, no ITAN dog, no help me with my frilly underwear, nothing she just kept on going. I didn't follow her simply because only the day before I had heard that Vehement had been spotted in the area. In the past this would not have been a big deal but since his recent absence from the Vipers and joining a new group of Serco nationalists we were all instructed to keep an eye out for him. Unfortunatly I never did get an idea where Vehement had gone as I'm sure he could have given me somewhat of an idea where Red might be hiding out.
I had no other choice, I would have to go on with plan B and try and visit CLM headquarters again. I hope I'm able to get out with all my parts still intact again.
[sector]Elbryon-Council member Elbryon of ITAN requesting docking permission and an audience with someone in charge....
[sector]?-Go ahead and dock Elb I have something I need to discuss with you too....
Elbryon[ITAN]
Council member
Yoda cringed as the communications cut off. How could he trust her life to this snake? He guessed that he just had to, at least the monitor he had placed with her was now showing improvement in her condition. “But how do I know the reading is real?” Yoda thought to himself as he boosted towards Azek
yoda slaps Look ...no hands and wakes him from an obvious bad dream.
Time to find new ways to kill stuff matey.
Time to find new ways to kill stuff matey.
"Good morning sleepyhead" Vehement addressed the waking pirate that had taken up residence on his couch.
"Hey sweetie, you're a nice face to wake up to."
Nolan's wife cleared her throat loudly from the kitchen.
"You really need to stop that."
Mystic gave a pretend pout. "I only have so many options for entertainment while I'm an invalid."
"Won't need to worry about that anymore."
"What do you mean?" Mystic sat up quickly, gritted her teeth in pain, and then flopped back to the couch while verbalizing her discomfort. "Ouch!"
"Take it easy... I'm going to take you home today."
"All good things must end, they say. What makes today the big day anyways?"
"You're getting too cozy making my wife squirm, for one. But mainly because anyone who is as energetic with verbal warfare as you've become really can't fool me with pretend illness."
"I'm really gonna miss your cooking though, Mrs. Everson" the pirate called toward the kitchen.
It was enough to make her shudder. "Mrs. EVERSON? Eww.. gross."
"But accurate."
The wife of the pilot with three memories turned the corner to frown at the pirate queen. "I think I'm glad you're leaving."
===
"This sector is actually quite pretty" Mystic remarked.
"I guess you never get to look at it in your line of work" Vehement commented.
"Make sure to thank your wife for me, Everson. I owe her as much as you for my life. Good to know somebody has my blood type."
"I don't suppose you'll be taking any more of her blood, though. I need it right where it is."
Vehement's Vulture XT shuddered slightly as it slipped into Azek. The system was clear for once, and moments later they entered Latos.
"It is gonna be so weird to be home."
"Not for them. I know for a fact how much they've missed you."
"Latos C-2. CLM central" Mystic observed quietly as the station came into view.
Vehement keyed his comm system to speak to the station. "Request docking at CLM hangar, complete cargo manifest is one passenger."
*You're the only one I've ever heard of to declare a manifest while docking there* quipped the controller.
"They need some warning to extend the welcome mat."
===
And welcome it was. Half of CLM was there, and the only reason the other half didn't make it was how drunk they were from the night before. Yoda stood alongside the fighter's cockpit, arms crossed and tapping his foot. JJ and Jasmine were there eager to reunite with Mystic, and even Azumi was present, standing off to the side. Everyone was waiting for the moment the Vulture's glass slid open. As it did, Mystic waved. The pirates all gave a spirited 'YARRR' and then cheered uncontrollably.
Someone had the forethought to have a stretcher ready, and Vehement lowered her onto it before dropping back into his seat. This was her moment. As his XT exited the dock, the crowd of pirates seemed just a little bigger than when he arrived.
"Strat is gonna kill me."
"Hey sweetie, you're a nice face to wake up to."
Nolan's wife cleared her throat loudly from the kitchen.
"You really need to stop that."
Mystic gave a pretend pout. "I only have so many options for entertainment while I'm an invalid."
"Won't need to worry about that anymore."
"What do you mean?" Mystic sat up quickly, gritted her teeth in pain, and then flopped back to the couch while verbalizing her discomfort. "Ouch!"
"Take it easy... I'm going to take you home today."
"All good things must end, they say. What makes today the big day anyways?"
"You're getting too cozy making my wife squirm, for one. But mainly because anyone who is as energetic with verbal warfare as you've become really can't fool me with pretend illness."
"I'm really gonna miss your cooking though, Mrs. Everson" the pirate called toward the kitchen.
It was enough to make her shudder. "Mrs. EVERSON? Eww.. gross."
"But accurate."
The wife of the pilot with three memories turned the corner to frown at the pirate queen. "I think I'm glad you're leaving."
===
"This sector is actually quite pretty" Mystic remarked.
"I guess you never get to look at it in your line of work" Vehement commented.
"Make sure to thank your wife for me, Everson. I owe her as much as you for my life. Good to know somebody has my blood type."
"I don't suppose you'll be taking any more of her blood, though. I need it right where it is."
Vehement's Vulture XT shuddered slightly as it slipped into Azek. The system was clear for once, and moments later they entered Latos.
"It is gonna be so weird to be home."
"Not for them. I know for a fact how much they've missed you."
"Latos C-2. CLM central" Mystic observed quietly as the station came into view.
Vehement keyed his comm system to speak to the station. "Request docking at CLM hangar, complete cargo manifest is one passenger."
*You're the only one I've ever heard of to declare a manifest while docking there* quipped the controller.
"They need some warning to extend the welcome mat."
===
And welcome it was. Half of CLM was there, and the only reason the other half didn't make it was how drunk they were from the night before. Yoda stood alongside the fighter's cockpit, arms crossed and tapping his foot. JJ and Jasmine were there eager to reunite with Mystic, and even Azumi was present, standing off to the side. Everyone was waiting for the moment the Vulture's glass slid open. As it did, Mystic waved. The pirates all gave a spirited 'YARRR' and then cheered uncontrollably.
Someone had the forethought to have a stretcher ready, and Vehement lowered her onto it before dropping back into his seat. This was her moment. As his XT exited the dock, the crowd of pirates seemed just a little bigger than when he arrived.
"Strat is gonna kill me."
Mystic was nervous and excited as they entered grey space, she was eager to get home, yet...
"It is gonna be so weird to be home."
"Not for them. I know for a fact how much they've missed you." Everson replied. This made Mystic feel a bit better, but she knew she still had some harsh music to face as well.
"Latos C-2. CLM central" Mystic observed quietly as the station came into view. She mentally prepared herself as Everson requested docking permission. He really was the only one she had ever heard declare anything when docking at CLM.
As they prepared to dock, her heart swelled a bit, there was a huge gathering on the dock, JJ and Jas, even Azumi, dressed calmly for a change, along with Look, Flaggy, tumble and several others. She also noticed yoda standing right where he would be the first she saw as they came to a full stop. As the glass slid open, she waved slightly and the entire congregation of pirates let out a loud “Yarr” followed by immense cheering. It was good to be home. As Everson deposited her onto the waiting stretcher, everyone gathered around. She watched through the crowd as the one responsible for saving her life left without so much as a word. He knew she was in good hands, and she had said what she needed to on the trip home. They would talk again, if yoda didn't kill her, she thought as her eyes landed on her long time friend and wingmate.
“Ok lets get her to the med-center, then everyone can visit with her later, there's meat out there begging to be shot at” He said gruffly.
“I don't need the med-center, just get me to my quarters...” she started to complain.
“You will be checked out in the med-center, and IF they clear it, we will move you to your quarters...now do as I said” He pointed to a couple of the new recruits that were preparing to move the stretcher, “Not you two, tumble give me a hand here” And with that, the leader of the pirates and one of the most hated pirates in the galaxy moved her from the docking bay, toward the waiting med team as if she were made of glass.
Two hours and too many test later, Mystic was finally in her quarters lying comfortably on her own couch, Pagan sitting nearby. “I missed you girl” Mystic said as she stroked the cat gently, Pagan mewed in what seemed to be rebuke at her being gone so long. “I know, I shouldn't have taken off and just left you, but I did what I needed to”
“Yer right, you shouldn't have taken off like that” Yoda's voice interrupted the homecoming communication between pirate and cat. Mystic knew she would get no more reprieves from what was coming. She sighed.
“Darlin, I....”
“Don't darlin me, not only did you take off after I told you not to, and after you promising you would be back...”
“I am back..” Mystic smiled, “just a bit later than I let on I would be”
“Yeah and with a knife wound that could have killed you, if that snake hadn't got to you in time”
“But he did, and I'm going to be ok, I will be back in the pilot's seat in no time.”
“No you wont.” Yoda stated firmly, “Yer grounded until I say otherwise”
“But the doctor said...”
“I don't give a damn what the doctor said Mystic, I will be the one that tells you when you fly again.”
Mystic winced at the heat in his voice. She would find no quarter there, she was grounded for however long he saw fit to punish her. She listened as he listed her transgressions one by one.
“Not only did you not come back after your “short flight to clear your head” you knew then what you were planning. You took the globe as well, so don't even try to pretend like you made the decision spur of the moment.”
“Yoda I wasn't sure what I was going to do, I just knew I had to do something...”
“Why Red? Why did you feel the need to not only take off when I was trying to convince you not to go? Do you think I was doing it out of spite or something? I have known you too damn long not to recognize when you are upset, and you don't make the best decisions when you are”
“I just needed something darlin', I was at loose ends here after stepping down, that globe was costing way too much, in time, in frustration, hell it almost lost us JJ and Jas.”
“And it damn near killed you getting it....”
“But I DID get it,” She smiled brightly again, hoping to soothe him a bit.
“Mystic, I would rather have never found that damnable treasure than to go through what I have the last weeks, since you decided to pull your disappearing act. Don't you get it hunni? I was worried sick about you. Do you know how many pilots I spaced that might normally have never crossed my path if I hadn't been looking for you?”
“You were looking for me?” This surprised Mystic, tho maybe it shouldn't have if she had thought of it.
“When you were refusing to respond to me? Only one thing kept me from going all out trying to find you at first, the monitor I slipped onto you. So at least I knew you were ok”
This was the first she had heard of this.
“A monitor? What monitor?”
It was yoda's turn to smile, “Aye, remember when you did contact me, apologizing for missing that tourney? And I mentioned I had found your necklace and you had me send it to your place in Pelatus?”
Mystic's hand went instantly to her chain, with the three charms on it, the newest one a tiny maud with the CLM logo that yoda had given her.....when he sent the chain to her. She looked at the tiny addition in wonder.
“There is a monitoring device in this?” She asked him puzzled.
“Twas the only way I could try to keep an eye on you, or at least enough to know you were ok,” he smiled again, “ it works too, it was screaming at me when you were hurt, twas why I almost destroyed UIT space when I found out Everson had you.”
She didn't know whether to be flattered or annoyed and decided to go with the former feeling. She smiled again as she tucked the chain back under her shirt, well actually it was Everson's shirt, she had lost her flight suit when he had had to replace the bandage when he found her. His wife had been kind enough to go out and purchase her a pair of loose comfy pants at the station store, while she was mending. Mystic was sure it had more to do with the fact that said good Samaritan didn't relish the idea of her wearing nothing but a very long shirt while in the presence of her husband, but it was generous of her all the same. She really must think of a way to repay her kindness.
“I will wear it always,”
“Damn straight you will, I wont have you flying again without a way to at least know your ok”
“So you do intend to let me fly again with CLM?”
“Of course silly, but when you do get back into your ship you WILL fly with a mate at all times for a while.”
Mystic frowned, “ I don't need a damn babysitter, just because I made one stupid mistake...”
“One? Lets see, taking off on what you knew could be dangerous without any backup, refusing a direct order to return, ignoring your commander's communications, taking guild property without said commander's consent....should I continue?”
She sighed, “Ok so I was a bad girl, still doesn't mean I need a babysitter, I am your LT for goodness sake, or are you demoting me as well?”
The anger that flashed in yoda's eyes for a moment before he regained control made Mystic wince a bit.
“Dammit Red, your still my number one, you aren't the first to do something totally stupid, and you wont be flying with a babysitter, you will be flying by my side when you get ungrounded.”
This brought a smile to her lips, “And just how long will I be grounded Sir? The doctor said I should be up and about in a couple of weeks....”
He cut her off again, really was getting to be a habit in this conversation, “But with your recent reckless actions, you know the CLM rules as well as I do, its up to ...”
This time she cut him off to finish , “...the commander's discretion when said pilot would be allowed to resume normal duties” She sighed, he had absolutely no intention of letting her off the hook easily.
“Exactly, so once the sawbones releases you to work, you can content yourself to paperwork and such, until I think your ready to fly again.”
While Mystic knew that yoda couldn't really stop her from flying, he could stop her from flying with CLM as long as he wanted, and she didn't want to cross him further, and she had to admit, he had good reason for doing what he was. She herself had grounded several pilots for lot less reckless actions than she had displayed.
Yoda watched the emotions warring on Mystic's face, he knew she would accept his dictates, however grudgingly, but she had brought it on herself. He felt sorry for anyone that would be in her path until she got her wings back, but for now, she would accept their clipping.
“Ok so while I'm caged, I suppose I can get lots of time to catch up on old sappy holo's or something, although I will get pretty bored here alone...”
“You wont be alone either....”
“What Now?, I cant even be trusted alone?”
“Don't start with me and it has nothing to do with that, just until you become mobile you will need someone to help you out, so I'm looking into that now, although a few of your fellow pirates have offered to help out as much as possible until then.” his voice softened, “you gave everyone a scare hunni, let us at least take care of you when you cant take care of yourself.”
Mystic relented when she realized she really was being a bit brash, “I'm sorry darlin, I seem to be a bit grumpier than normal, but I warn you I got spoiled with Everson's wife's cooking and all the attention....” She giggled this time when he cut her off.
“Think we cant take as good a care of you as the snake? You will be so damned spoiled you will not want to get back to work!” He stopped when he realized she was in pain from her little giggle fit. “Ok enough talk, you need some rest, so lets get you to your bed...”
“I will be fine here on the couch, besides, don't I have some visitors waiting?”
“They can wait a while longer, and your going to your bed, no arguments” As he said that he scooped her up and carried her to her room, gently depositing her on the bed. “Now you can be comfortable and get some sleep. Later we will get you something to eat and set up your holo's for you to watch, but this bed is more comfortable than that couch.”
She sighed, “Thank you yoda, although, I keep getting carried around, I wont know how to walk soon...”
“The doctor said stay off your feet and off your feet you will stay, and thats an order.”
“Yes boss”
“Better, do t hat more often and maybe you wont get into trouble as much” He grinned at her
She went to toss a pillow at him and realized it was too much exertion as the pain assailed her and she almost blacked out. Yoda was beside her in an instant
“I'm ok, just don't need to do that again...”she laughed a bit, “but would you be a sweetheart and get me the pain pills the doctor gave me?” She sounded a bit strained even as she tried to joke. As he gave her the dosage, he even got her a glass of water, which made her giggle a bit again. The great pirate was playing nursemaid to her. Not that anyone outside of this room, except a few CLM would ever believe it, she was sure that everyone thought he was still chewing her out for her recent actions. Yet he was being kind and gentle, something no one else ever saw from him. Even as he had been giving her hell about what she had done, it had been from genuine concern and worry. After a few minutes the pain medication seemed to be taking effect as she started closing her eyes, it had been a long day already and she was exhausted.
“Now sleep, I will be back later, I have an urge to kill things, and no getting out of this bed!”
“Yes sir boss...” she mumbled as she drifted off to sleep, not seeing the smile on his face as he headed for the door. She was going to be ok, he would see to that, if he had to fight her tooth and nail, she would be ok, she was home where she belonged, where they....where he could make sure she was.
As he left her quarters, he ran into a small crowd waiting to see that she was ok. He gruffly chased everyone away, telling them they could visit her after she had had some sleep. He then went to his ship and set out to find some meat. Later he would discuss with her how to get that damn box open and find out what was inside. The queen was back in her kingdom, it was time for things to start to get back to normal.
"It is gonna be so weird to be home."
"Not for them. I know for a fact how much they've missed you." Everson replied. This made Mystic feel a bit better, but she knew she still had some harsh music to face as well.
"Latos C-2. CLM central" Mystic observed quietly as the station came into view. She mentally prepared herself as Everson requested docking permission. He really was the only one she had ever heard declare anything when docking at CLM.
As they prepared to dock, her heart swelled a bit, there was a huge gathering on the dock, JJ and Jas, even Azumi, dressed calmly for a change, along with Look, Flaggy, tumble and several others. She also noticed yoda standing right where he would be the first she saw as they came to a full stop. As the glass slid open, she waved slightly and the entire congregation of pirates let out a loud “Yarr” followed by immense cheering. It was good to be home. As Everson deposited her onto the waiting stretcher, everyone gathered around. She watched through the crowd as the one responsible for saving her life left without so much as a word. He knew she was in good hands, and she had said what she needed to on the trip home. They would talk again, if yoda didn't kill her, she thought as her eyes landed on her long time friend and wingmate.
“Ok lets get her to the med-center, then everyone can visit with her later, there's meat out there begging to be shot at” He said gruffly.
“I don't need the med-center, just get me to my quarters...” she started to complain.
“You will be checked out in the med-center, and IF they clear it, we will move you to your quarters...now do as I said” He pointed to a couple of the new recruits that were preparing to move the stretcher, “Not you two, tumble give me a hand here” And with that, the leader of the pirates and one of the most hated pirates in the galaxy moved her from the docking bay, toward the waiting med team as if she were made of glass.
Two hours and too many test later, Mystic was finally in her quarters lying comfortably on her own couch, Pagan sitting nearby. “I missed you girl” Mystic said as she stroked the cat gently, Pagan mewed in what seemed to be rebuke at her being gone so long. “I know, I shouldn't have taken off and just left you, but I did what I needed to”
“Yer right, you shouldn't have taken off like that” Yoda's voice interrupted the homecoming communication between pirate and cat. Mystic knew she would get no more reprieves from what was coming. She sighed.
“Darlin, I....”
“Don't darlin me, not only did you take off after I told you not to, and after you promising you would be back...”
“I am back..” Mystic smiled, “just a bit later than I let on I would be”
“Yeah and with a knife wound that could have killed you, if that snake hadn't got to you in time”
“But he did, and I'm going to be ok, I will be back in the pilot's seat in no time.”
“No you wont.” Yoda stated firmly, “Yer grounded until I say otherwise”
“But the doctor said...”
“I don't give a damn what the doctor said Mystic, I will be the one that tells you when you fly again.”
Mystic winced at the heat in his voice. She would find no quarter there, she was grounded for however long he saw fit to punish her. She listened as he listed her transgressions one by one.
“Not only did you not come back after your “short flight to clear your head” you knew then what you were planning. You took the globe as well, so don't even try to pretend like you made the decision spur of the moment.”
“Yoda I wasn't sure what I was going to do, I just knew I had to do something...”
“Why Red? Why did you feel the need to not only take off when I was trying to convince you not to go? Do you think I was doing it out of spite or something? I have known you too damn long not to recognize when you are upset, and you don't make the best decisions when you are”
“I just needed something darlin', I was at loose ends here after stepping down, that globe was costing way too much, in time, in frustration, hell it almost lost us JJ and Jas.”
“And it damn near killed you getting it....”
“But I DID get it,” She smiled brightly again, hoping to soothe him a bit.
“Mystic, I would rather have never found that damnable treasure than to go through what I have the last weeks, since you decided to pull your disappearing act. Don't you get it hunni? I was worried sick about you. Do you know how many pilots I spaced that might normally have never crossed my path if I hadn't been looking for you?”
“You were looking for me?” This surprised Mystic, tho maybe it shouldn't have if she had thought of it.
“When you were refusing to respond to me? Only one thing kept me from going all out trying to find you at first, the monitor I slipped onto you. So at least I knew you were ok”
This was the first she had heard of this.
“A monitor? What monitor?”
It was yoda's turn to smile, “Aye, remember when you did contact me, apologizing for missing that tourney? And I mentioned I had found your necklace and you had me send it to your place in Pelatus?”
Mystic's hand went instantly to her chain, with the three charms on it, the newest one a tiny maud with the CLM logo that yoda had given her.....when he sent the chain to her. She looked at the tiny addition in wonder.
“There is a monitoring device in this?” She asked him puzzled.
“Twas the only way I could try to keep an eye on you, or at least enough to know you were ok,” he smiled again, “ it works too, it was screaming at me when you were hurt, twas why I almost destroyed UIT space when I found out Everson had you.”
She didn't know whether to be flattered or annoyed and decided to go with the former feeling. She smiled again as she tucked the chain back under her shirt, well actually it was Everson's shirt, she had lost her flight suit when he had had to replace the bandage when he found her. His wife had been kind enough to go out and purchase her a pair of loose comfy pants at the station store, while she was mending. Mystic was sure it had more to do with the fact that said good Samaritan didn't relish the idea of her wearing nothing but a very long shirt while in the presence of her husband, but it was generous of her all the same. She really must think of a way to repay her kindness.
“I will wear it always,”
“Damn straight you will, I wont have you flying again without a way to at least know your ok”
“So you do intend to let me fly again with CLM?”
“Of course silly, but when you do get back into your ship you WILL fly with a mate at all times for a while.”
Mystic frowned, “ I don't need a damn babysitter, just because I made one stupid mistake...”
“One? Lets see, taking off on what you knew could be dangerous without any backup, refusing a direct order to return, ignoring your commander's communications, taking guild property without said commander's consent....should I continue?”
She sighed, “Ok so I was a bad girl, still doesn't mean I need a babysitter, I am your LT for goodness sake, or are you demoting me as well?”
The anger that flashed in yoda's eyes for a moment before he regained control made Mystic wince a bit.
“Dammit Red, your still my number one, you aren't the first to do something totally stupid, and you wont be flying with a babysitter, you will be flying by my side when you get ungrounded.”
This brought a smile to her lips, “And just how long will I be grounded Sir? The doctor said I should be up and about in a couple of weeks....”
He cut her off again, really was getting to be a habit in this conversation, “But with your recent reckless actions, you know the CLM rules as well as I do, its up to ...”
This time she cut him off to finish , “...the commander's discretion when said pilot would be allowed to resume normal duties” She sighed, he had absolutely no intention of letting her off the hook easily.
“Exactly, so once the sawbones releases you to work, you can content yourself to paperwork and such, until I think your ready to fly again.”
While Mystic knew that yoda couldn't really stop her from flying, he could stop her from flying with CLM as long as he wanted, and she didn't want to cross him further, and she had to admit, he had good reason for doing what he was. She herself had grounded several pilots for lot less reckless actions than she had displayed.
Yoda watched the emotions warring on Mystic's face, he knew she would accept his dictates, however grudgingly, but she had brought it on herself. He felt sorry for anyone that would be in her path until she got her wings back, but for now, she would accept their clipping.
“Ok so while I'm caged, I suppose I can get lots of time to catch up on old sappy holo's or something, although I will get pretty bored here alone...”
“You wont be alone either....”
“What Now?, I cant even be trusted alone?”
“Don't start with me and it has nothing to do with that, just until you become mobile you will need someone to help you out, so I'm looking into that now, although a few of your fellow pirates have offered to help out as much as possible until then.” his voice softened, “you gave everyone a scare hunni, let us at least take care of you when you cant take care of yourself.”
Mystic relented when she realized she really was being a bit brash, “I'm sorry darlin, I seem to be a bit grumpier than normal, but I warn you I got spoiled with Everson's wife's cooking and all the attention....” She giggled this time when he cut her off.
“Think we cant take as good a care of you as the snake? You will be so damned spoiled you will not want to get back to work!” He stopped when he realized she was in pain from her little giggle fit. “Ok enough talk, you need some rest, so lets get you to your bed...”
“I will be fine here on the couch, besides, don't I have some visitors waiting?”
“They can wait a while longer, and your going to your bed, no arguments” As he said that he scooped her up and carried her to her room, gently depositing her on the bed. “Now you can be comfortable and get some sleep. Later we will get you something to eat and set up your holo's for you to watch, but this bed is more comfortable than that couch.”
She sighed, “Thank you yoda, although, I keep getting carried around, I wont know how to walk soon...”
“The doctor said stay off your feet and off your feet you will stay, and thats an order.”
“Yes boss”
“Better, do t hat more often and maybe you wont get into trouble as much” He grinned at her
She went to toss a pillow at him and realized it was too much exertion as the pain assailed her and she almost blacked out. Yoda was beside her in an instant
“I'm ok, just don't need to do that again...”she laughed a bit, “but would you be a sweetheart and get me the pain pills the doctor gave me?” She sounded a bit strained even as she tried to joke. As he gave her the dosage, he even got her a glass of water, which made her giggle a bit again. The great pirate was playing nursemaid to her. Not that anyone outside of this room, except a few CLM would ever believe it, she was sure that everyone thought he was still chewing her out for her recent actions. Yet he was being kind and gentle, something no one else ever saw from him. Even as he had been giving her hell about what she had done, it had been from genuine concern and worry. After a few minutes the pain medication seemed to be taking effect as she started closing her eyes, it had been a long day already and she was exhausted.
“Now sleep, I will be back later, I have an urge to kill things, and no getting out of this bed!”
“Yes sir boss...” she mumbled as she drifted off to sleep, not seeing the smile on his face as he headed for the door. She was going to be ok, he would see to that, if he had to fight her tooth and nail, she would be ok, she was home where she belonged, where they....where he could make sure she was.
As he left her quarters, he ran into a small crowd waiting to see that she was ok. He gruffly chased everyone away, telling them they could visit her after she had had some sleep. He then went to his ship and set out to find some meat. Later he would discuss with her how to get that damn box open and find out what was inside. The queen was back in her kingdom, it was time for things to start to get back to normal.
Azumi came into the room, her German Maid uniform a major change from the normal "dressed to kill goth" outfits or "little girl giggle DEATH" thingies she liked so much.
'Zumi, is that you"
Mystic looked at her from the depths of her drug induced drowsiness.
"Yes Mystic, I am here to cater for you until you can fly again. Which I hope is going to be soon since I am grounded until then as well."
*You pissed yoda off too?"
"Yeah, I kinda did." She looked down, somewhat ill at ease. She had the utmost respect for her sensei, and would do his bidding without questions every time. Well almost. She looked up at Mystic. "But I would do it again Mystic."
"I see. Do you like old tacky holo's?"
"Not in particular, but if it makes you fly sooner, I love them." She grinned a predatory smile.
Mystic sighed. She'd better get well soon or Azumi would be climbing the walls. Not to mention the fact that she probably would be too. At least Azumi had dressed...well she was more covered than usual. Maybe this was the time for Mystic to have a stern talk-to with her. And maybe she would find out why it was Azumi that was grounded with her. Tomorrow, now she just wanted to sleep.
'Zumi, is that you"
Mystic looked at her from the depths of her drug induced drowsiness.
"Yes Mystic, I am here to cater for you until you can fly again. Which I hope is going to be soon since I am grounded until then as well."
*You pissed yoda off too?"
"Yeah, I kinda did." She looked down, somewhat ill at ease. She had the utmost respect for her sensei, and would do his bidding without questions every time. Well almost. She looked up at Mystic. "But I would do it again Mystic."
"I see. Do you like old tacky holo's?"
"Not in particular, but if it makes you fly sooner, I love them." She grinned a predatory smile.
Mystic sighed. She'd better get well soon or Azumi would be climbing the walls. Not to mention the fact that she probably would be too. At least Azumi had dressed...well she was more covered than usual. Maybe this was the time for Mystic to have a stern talk-to with her. And maybe she would find out why it was Azumi that was grounded with her. Tomorrow, now she just wanted to sleep.
“Mystic, this just isn't comfortable” Azumi complained. It wasn't the first time in the last week, but Mystic had finally convinced her, at least while she was helping her out, to try dressing a little more sedately. Personally she thought 'zumi looked very sharp, in the black jeans with the black lace cami she had picked out for her. “'Zumi, how can you say that this outfit inst as comfortable as some of those so called clothes you wear?”
This had been a debate they had had several times over the last week, Mystic was trying to occupy her time helping Azumi to understand why understated was more productive in their line of work than her over the top look she favored so much. But still she was restless, she had finally been able to convince yoda that she was mildly self mobile, even the doc had said she could move from the bedroom to the living room, she just had to take it easy.
She hadn't been able to do much else, every day, several of CLM were popping in, sharing stories, checking up on her, asking if she needed anything at all. Look had delivered several burgers and beer, which yoda promptly confiscated, “No drinking with the meds”, but the burgers had been delicious anyway. Was a good thing there was a cook in the station and a few of the pirates could cook as well, otherwise Mystic feared she would have starved, because a good pirate she might be, but Azumi in the kitchen? The reminder made her shudder, it had started off well enough, she was going to make one of Mystic's favorite's a hot roast beef sandwich and a salad. Next thing she knew, there was tons of smoke and the alarms were going off. Seems she had gotten distracted and forgotten about the bread on the griddle. Everyone got a good chuckle, but Mystic had no clue what her kitchen looked like now.
Even tumble had brought her a present, although not many would have appreciated the gift. It was part of the hull plate from a racer in the Deneb Run. All of this made her more restless, she should be with them, doing...something. Everyone was being great, keeping her up on things that were happening, letting her know how much they had missed her, she felt foolish sometimes for ever thinking that she wasn't part of this group. She had yet to find out exactly what 'zumi had done that got her stuck babysitting, but she had a pretty good idea. Jasmine had come to see her and had let her in on the fact that instead of delivering the chest to JJ and herself, Azumi had delegated it to others and taken off, and shortly after the guy that had attacked her, had turned up dead in his hospital room. While yoda would never see fit to discipline someone for getting revenge for an injured mate, he would for disobeying orders, couple this with the fact that from what she had pieced together, Azumi didn't immediately share when Everson had contacted her. Simple enough, but yoda also wanted someone to help take care of her, so Azumi got the job.
Yoda had been in several times, every day, Mystic did enjoy the talks, if she did think he was being a bit over concerned at times. He had transferred the treasure to her quarters so that she could explain how to open it. Mystic had insisted that when it was first opened that no one else was around but the two of them, which put Azumi in a huff for a day or so, she still seemed a bit grumpy for having been excluded. But keeping the box able to protect itself was important, she wasn't sure why, but it was, and yoda had agreed and sent Azumi away.
Yoda had refused to let her use her blood to open it again, instead taking one of the blades and opening his own hand. Watching the box open this time, when she wasn't as out of it as she had been the first, was amazing. The globe throbbed almost as a heartbeat, as the seals broke, whoever had designed this, had been one hell of a genius, or lunatic.
The treasure was just as fantastic as Mystic remembered, old coinage, some seeming to date back to when the wormhole to the former system collapsed, even older maybe. Cred sticks from every phase sense they had come into use, even some jewelry, as well as loose gems. Easily a mass fortune. As it all came into view yoda let out a whistle through his teeth. “With this we would never have to pirate again...” he said.
Mystic laughed, “And do what? Settle down and become law-abiding citizens suddenly? We would wither and die in no time, or go stark raving mad and wipe out an entire system.”
Yoda's laughter joined hers, “Right you are hunni, we are who and what we are, nothing can change that” He hefted a gem in his hand, thinking a minute.
“Ye know Elb contacted me while you were gone”
Mystic hadn't known this, but it made sense, since she was being so mysterious when talking to him.
“Really? I cant say I'm surprised really.”
“Aye he came to the station, didn't seem to believe I had no idea of your whereabouts”
“I think we should at least inform him we have the treasure...maybe even...” She paused
“Maybe what?”
“Maybe even give him something....after all he did help, not only finding the globe originally, but also the information he shared near the end. It helped lead me to it.”
“Well lets start by informing him it has been found and offering to let him come and see it, then we can decide anything else.”
That had been the end of that conversation, Mystic had been satisfied, she was a pirate, but fair was fair, no matter who was involved. ITAN had tried besting them at every turn, but in the end, CLM had won out, so being generous would put them one up, because she was sure that in the reverse situation, if ITAN had found it, CLM would probably have never known.
“Mystic?” Azumi's voice penetrated her thoughts.
“Yeah 'zumi?”
“I need to run down to my quarters for a bit, will you be ok? I shouldn't be gone more than maybe an hour”
An idea began to form in Mystic's head as she listened to the young pirate explain ..something.
“Sure Az, take your time, I think I might lie down a bit, I'm a little tired.” Tired of being cooped up in this station.
“Ok I promise I wont be gone too long, just need to take care of a few things...”
“Go ahead, I will be fine for a couple of hours, geeze, I'm not totally helpless ya know”
Mystic waited until she was sure Az was gone, wrote a quick note, then made a call.
“You have to help me, I am going nuts in this place, I just need to get out of here for a bit...please?”
When Azumi returned an hour and a half later, all she found was a note:
“Going nuts here, don't worry, I'm in good hands
tell yoda I'm not on my feet, just getting out of
the room for a bit”
Mystic
“Aww Hell....”
This had been a debate they had had several times over the last week, Mystic was trying to occupy her time helping Azumi to understand why understated was more productive in their line of work than her over the top look she favored so much. But still she was restless, she had finally been able to convince yoda that she was mildly self mobile, even the doc had said she could move from the bedroom to the living room, she just had to take it easy.
She hadn't been able to do much else, every day, several of CLM were popping in, sharing stories, checking up on her, asking if she needed anything at all. Look had delivered several burgers and beer, which yoda promptly confiscated, “No drinking with the meds”, but the burgers had been delicious anyway. Was a good thing there was a cook in the station and a few of the pirates could cook as well, otherwise Mystic feared she would have starved, because a good pirate she might be, but Azumi in the kitchen? The reminder made her shudder, it had started off well enough, she was going to make one of Mystic's favorite's a hot roast beef sandwich and a salad. Next thing she knew, there was tons of smoke and the alarms were going off. Seems she had gotten distracted and forgotten about the bread on the griddle. Everyone got a good chuckle, but Mystic had no clue what her kitchen looked like now.
Even tumble had brought her a present, although not many would have appreciated the gift. It was part of the hull plate from a racer in the Deneb Run. All of this made her more restless, she should be with them, doing...something. Everyone was being great, keeping her up on things that were happening, letting her know how much they had missed her, she felt foolish sometimes for ever thinking that she wasn't part of this group. She had yet to find out exactly what 'zumi had done that got her stuck babysitting, but she had a pretty good idea. Jasmine had come to see her and had let her in on the fact that instead of delivering the chest to JJ and herself, Azumi had delegated it to others and taken off, and shortly after the guy that had attacked her, had turned up dead in his hospital room. While yoda would never see fit to discipline someone for getting revenge for an injured mate, he would for disobeying orders, couple this with the fact that from what she had pieced together, Azumi didn't immediately share when Everson had contacted her. Simple enough, but yoda also wanted someone to help take care of her, so Azumi got the job.
Yoda had been in several times, every day, Mystic did enjoy the talks, if she did think he was being a bit over concerned at times. He had transferred the treasure to her quarters so that she could explain how to open it. Mystic had insisted that when it was first opened that no one else was around but the two of them, which put Azumi in a huff for a day or so, she still seemed a bit grumpy for having been excluded. But keeping the box able to protect itself was important, she wasn't sure why, but it was, and yoda had agreed and sent Azumi away.
Yoda had refused to let her use her blood to open it again, instead taking one of the blades and opening his own hand. Watching the box open this time, when she wasn't as out of it as she had been the first, was amazing. The globe throbbed almost as a heartbeat, as the seals broke, whoever had designed this, had been one hell of a genius, or lunatic.
The treasure was just as fantastic as Mystic remembered, old coinage, some seeming to date back to when the wormhole to the former system collapsed, even older maybe. Cred sticks from every phase sense they had come into use, even some jewelry, as well as loose gems. Easily a mass fortune. As it all came into view yoda let out a whistle through his teeth. “With this we would never have to pirate again...” he said.
Mystic laughed, “And do what? Settle down and become law-abiding citizens suddenly? We would wither and die in no time, or go stark raving mad and wipe out an entire system.”
Yoda's laughter joined hers, “Right you are hunni, we are who and what we are, nothing can change that” He hefted a gem in his hand, thinking a minute.
“Ye know Elb contacted me while you were gone”
Mystic hadn't known this, but it made sense, since she was being so mysterious when talking to him.
“Really? I cant say I'm surprised really.”
“Aye he came to the station, didn't seem to believe I had no idea of your whereabouts”
“I think we should at least inform him we have the treasure...maybe even...” She paused
“Maybe what?”
“Maybe even give him something....after all he did help, not only finding the globe originally, but also the information he shared near the end. It helped lead me to it.”
“Well lets start by informing him it has been found and offering to let him come and see it, then we can decide anything else.”
That had been the end of that conversation, Mystic had been satisfied, she was a pirate, but fair was fair, no matter who was involved. ITAN had tried besting them at every turn, but in the end, CLM had won out, so being generous would put them one up, because she was sure that in the reverse situation, if ITAN had found it, CLM would probably have never known.
“Mystic?” Azumi's voice penetrated her thoughts.
“Yeah 'zumi?”
“I need to run down to my quarters for a bit, will you be ok? I shouldn't be gone more than maybe an hour”
An idea began to form in Mystic's head as she listened to the young pirate explain ..something.
“Sure Az, take your time, I think I might lie down a bit, I'm a little tired.” Tired of being cooped up in this station.
“Ok I promise I wont be gone too long, just need to take care of a few things...”
“Go ahead, I will be fine for a couple of hours, geeze, I'm not totally helpless ya know”
Mystic waited until she was sure Az was gone, wrote a quick note, then made a call.
“You have to help me, I am going nuts in this place, I just need to get out of here for a bit...please?”
When Azumi returned an hour and a half later, all she found was a note:
“Going nuts here, don't worry, I'm in good hands
tell yoda I'm not on my feet, just getting out of
the room for a bit”
Mystic
“Aww Hell....”
“You have to help me, I am going nuts in this place, I just need to get out of here for a bit...please?”
Vehement studied the pirate's face for a long moment and blinked.
"Well?"
"You want me to break into CLM headquarters to break you out? All this time off your feet has made you mental."
"Cmon Everson!"
"I'm not putting my wife through this again."
"We don't have to go to your place! Just get me OUT of here!"
===
It would have been easy. Would have been, except for the time limit. Only an hour before Azumi would be back didn't leave much time for a plan. Vehement had to fly like a CtC transport just to get to the station with enough time to allow flexibility.
Vehement docked normally on the Xang Xi side of the station. They would have a record of his visit, but there was no time to fret with that. Moving with a purpose, the pilot of three memories weaved his way though the bustling station. Ahead lay the section that CLM leased- an awkward nod to legitimate behavior- and within minutes Vehement was darting between bulkheads and hoping not to meet Look..No Hands.
MysticRogue startled when her doorway opened. "Took you long enough."
"Oh hush" he recommended as he scooped her up off the couch and made for the exit.
"Ack, Everson- I can walk now!" Mystic hurriedly dropped a note that was in her hands.
"Not at my pace you can't."
===
"Yoda is gonna go nuts, your face will be all over the security recordings."
"This was your idea" Vehement reminded her.
"Where are you taking me?" the pirate inquired from the rear seat of the dull red-orange BioCom Vulture. Gliding silently through empty sectors of Latos hadn't told her much.
"Odia. No one would look for me there, not even my wife. Nolan avoided it like the plague. Everson only used it as a road to Bractus. Odia is Pancakes' domain, of the three."
"I'm not sure that bodes well for me.."
"He was also the only one of the three to fly the corvult, if you're into trivia."
"Charming.. Oh, Everson do you think we can go back quick?"
"WHAT?"
"I forgot my bag of stuff I might need!"
"Hm, no. As a rule, I try to limit daring infiltrations to one a day."
Several hours of flight later, Mystic's appetite for getting out was satisfied and she drifted off to sleep. Vehement guided his ship into the most forgotten station of Odia and landed with extreme care. He covered the pirate with his jacket, preventing anyone on the station from remembering a man with a redheaded woman, and switched ships to a nondescript Atlas he found at a bargain price.
An empty sector was picked at random and he let the ship drift. MysticRogue looked fairly comfortable, positioned as she was on the ship's fold-out sleeping surface. Empty space was boring, and Vehement didn't dare contact the outside even for some paperwork to keep himself occupied. When she showed no signs of waking, he decided napping beside her wouldn't hurt.
Vehement studied the pirate's face for a long moment and blinked.
"Well?"
"You want me to break into CLM headquarters to break you out? All this time off your feet has made you mental."
"Cmon Everson!"
"I'm not putting my wife through this again."
"We don't have to go to your place! Just get me OUT of here!"
===
It would have been easy. Would have been, except for the time limit. Only an hour before Azumi would be back didn't leave much time for a plan. Vehement had to fly like a CtC transport just to get to the station with enough time to allow flexibility.
Vehement docked normally on the Xang Xi side of the station. They would have a record of his visit, but there was no time to fret with that. Moving with a purpose, the pilot of three memories weaved his way though the bustling station. Ahead lay the section that CLM leased- an awkward nod to legitimate behavior- and within minutes Vehement was darting between bulkheads and hoping not to meet Look..No Hands.
MysticRogue startled when her doorway opened. "Took you long enough."
"Oh hush" he recommended as he scooped her up off the couch and made for the exit.
"Ack, Everson- I can walk now!" Mystic hurriedly dropped a note that was in her hands.
"Not at my pace you can't."
===
"Yoda is gonna go nuts, your face will be all over the security recordings."
"This was your idea" Vehement reminded her.
"Where are you taking me?" the pirate inquired from the rear seat of the dull red-orange BioCom Vulture. Gliding silently through empty sectors of Latos hadn't told her much.
"Odia. No one would look for me there, not even my wife. Nolan avoided it like the plague. Everson only used it as a road to Bractus. Odia is Pancakes' domain, of the three."
"I'm not sure that bodes well for me.."
"He was also the only one of the three to fly the corvult, if you're into trivia."
"Charming.. Oh, Everson do you think we can go back quick?"
"WHAT?"
"I forgot my bag of stuff I might need!"
"Hm, no. As a rule, I try to limit daring infiltrations to one a day."
Several hours of flight later, Mystic's appetite for getting out was satisfied and she drifted off to sleep. Vehement guided his ship into the most forgotten station of Odia and landed with extreme care. He covered the pirate with his jacket, preventing anyone on the station from remembering a man with a redheaded woman, and switched ships to a nondescript Atlas he found at a bargain price.
An empty sector was picked at random and he let the ship drift. MysticRogue looked fairly comfortable, positioned as she was on the ship's fold-out sleeping surface. Empty space was boring, and Vehement didn't dare contact the outside even for some paperwork to keep himself occupied. When she showed no signs of waking, he decided napping beside her wouldn't hurt.
Azumi felt immensely stupid. She knew she was an absolute disaster in a kitchen, somehow her skills were more fitting to ripping apart and blowing things up, but she had asked around for some help to make something special; a surprise for Mystic now she was able to walk around a bit. She had been genuinely surprised when Lebermac took up the challenge of helping Azumi create something edible in her own kitchenette, but the result was without doubt very good.
And now she was standing with her stupid celebration cake in her stupid clothes feeling... well, you get the idea.
"Aw hell Mystic, as if I didn't have enough trouble already!"
She dumped the cake on the table and slumped in one of the chairs. Oh this was just great, how was she going to tell yoda that Mystic had run away on her watch?
...in good hands. That could only mean one thing. She knew with whom Mystic was enjoying freedom with, but she had no idea where. Sure as hell not on the station. And she couldn't herself go look for her, she was grounded as well.
Screw this, she flicked a connection open to Lebermac.
"Myeah?"
His slurred voice indicated a rather high level of intoxication, a prerequisite of her plan.
"Leber, I am lonely, care to come around and give me some company?"
"Shure dollfashe. Door ish open, I'm be wright there."
That made no sense, she was afraid that he would get lost on the way or just fall asleep in a corridor as usual.
"I'll come to your place Leebs, make sure you have enough TehKilla"
She had stripped off the uncomfortable jeans and instead gone completely over the top with an almost see-through black lace bodice over what would probably be the new definition of mini mini-skirts, high black leather stiletto-heeled boots. Her new tattoo on the low of her back, an arrow pointing down with the words FLARE BAIT, was a contrast to the milky white skin. A teardrop was under each eye painted in black. She walked into Lebermac's room and almost fell over several times over the many bottles on the floor. Leebs was lying head into his pillow, two bottles in each arm, snoring loudly. This was almost too easy. She swiped his license and placed a kiss on his neck leaving a print of black lips.
She walked down to Leebs ship hoping for a light fighter, and wasn't disappointed. A vulture, battered, one winglet short, but serviceable after she dumped the empty bottles out of the cockpit. She swiped the card, was greeted as Lebermac, which incidentally had all the dockhands running for cover, and left the station. She needed to go talk to a certain lady who just might know where to find Mystic by finding who she was with.
"Red, Az, you'll never guess who I just talked to."
Yoda swaggered into the room and looked around.
"Mystic? Azumi?"
Getting no answer, he looked at the table, at the delicious looking chocolate cake with white glazing showing a marauder firing flares (well, he assumed that was what it was) that was tossed on the table, and underneath that the note. He grabbed it and read it.
"Like hell you are!"
Yoda tossed the note and stomped down to the HQ swearing all the way.
And now she was standing with her stupid celebration cake in her stupid clothes feeling... well, you get the idea.
"Aw hell Mystic, as if I didn't have enough trouble already!"
She dumped the cake on the table and slumped in one of the chairs. Oh this was just great, how was she going to tell yoda that Mystic had run away on her watch?
...in good hands. That could only mean one thing. She knew with whom Mystic was enjoying freedom with, but she had no idea where. Sure as hell not on the station. And she couldn't herself go look for her, she was grounded as well.
Screw this, she flicked a connection open to Lebermac.
"Myeah?"
His slurred voice indicated a rather high level of intoxication, a prerequisite of her plan.
"Leber, I am lonely, care to come around and give me some company?"
"Shure dollfashe. Door ish open, I'm be wright there."
That made no sense, she was afraid that he would get lost on the way or just fall asleep in a corridor as usual.
"I'll come to your place Leebs, make sure you have enough TehKilla"
She had stripped off the uncomfortable jeans and instead gone completely over the top with an almost see-through black lace bodice over what would probably be the new definition of mini mini-skirts, high black leather stiletto-heeled boots. Her new tattoo on the low of her back, an arrow pointing down with the words FLARE BAIT, was a contrast to the milky white skin. A teardrop was under each eye painted in black. She walked into Lebermac's room and almost fell over several times over the many bottles on the floor. Leebs was lying head into his pillow, two bottles in each arm, snoring loudly. This was almost too easy. She swiped his license and placed a kiss on his neck leaving a print of black lips.
She walked down to Leebs ship hoping for a light fighter, and wasn't disappointed. A vulture, battered, one winglet short, but serviceable after she dumped the empty bottles out of the cockpit. She swiped the card, was greeted as Lebermac, which incidentally had all the dockhands running for cover, and left the station. She needed to go talk to a certain lady who just might know where to find Mystic by finding who she was with.
"Red, Az, you'll never guess who I just talked to."
Yoda swaggered into the room and looked around.
"Mystic? Azumi?"
Getting no answer, he looked at the table, at the delicious looking chocolate cake with white glazing showing a marauder firing flares (well, he assumed that was what it was) that was tossed on the table, and underneath that the note. He grabbed it and read it.
"Like hell you are!"
Yoda tossed the note and stomped down to the HQ swearing all the way.
The halls cleared as he stormed down the hallway, everyone knew to keep clear when yoda had that look on his face. They felt sorry for whoever was responsible, he was quick and decisive when angry, and he looked far past that.
“One simple task, thats all I asked, keep her company and help her out” he fumed as he made his way to his office. Once there he checked the flight logs first, no one had docked at CLM. He rang Azumi's quarters, nothing. He did a general check to see who was on station, it was then that it caught his eye. Leber had taken off and for once hadn't damaged anything, maybe he was finally learning to fly without being drunk. “That's about as likely as Mystic following orders lately...” He spoke to himself as he checked the security cameras, just as he suspected, it wasn't Leebs taking off, it was Azumi, how she ended up with his flight card, he wasn't even going to hazard a guess, but one loose pigeon was a start.
As he put the call in to Lebers ship, he continued scanning the security footage.
The comm going off in the quiet ship made Azumi jump, the fact that it was yoda, made her cringe. She could ignore it....but thought better. By now he probably knew that both she and Mystic were gone, it had been a couple hours already. Sighing she opened the comm.
“Azumi here sensei, I know what...” she never finished.
“Get back to HQ now...” yoda's voice was quiet and controlled.
“I am looking...” again she was cut off.
“Azumi, if you ever expect to fly with CLM again, I would suggest that this time, you follow orders and return to Latos immediately.”
She was close to Uit space, and possibly finding Mystic, but if she refused a direct order, it could mean the end of her career, and she liked it, she could fly solo of course, but that did not appeal to her. CLM was where she wanted to be, so she turned the ship around and headed back to HQ, and yoda's wrath.
“On my way back”
Yoda cut communication as soon as he heard her agreement. Something on the security tape had caught his eye. A figure, carrying another, normally that happened a bit around here, with some of the crazy parties, someone often had to carry someone else. But this one was cradling their load, and yoda would know that red hair anywhere, zooming in a bit, he recognized the faces.
“Damn snake, I knew it...”
***
Mystic awoke and stretched gently, then froze, there was a warmth beside her, she relaxed when she realized it was Everson. She looked at him sleeping for a moment as a mischievious thought came to her mind. “Maybe I shouldn't”, she thought, no telling how he might react to be woken unexpectedly. She sat up slowly so as not to wake him and looked around a bit, he had changed ships while she was sleeping, she must have been more exhausted than she realized. She would have to get back to her quarters soon...there was no telling what was going on this time, but she would worry about that later, for now....she looked back at the sleeping man beside her and grinned. Leaning over she placed a gentle kiss on his lips, startled when he grabbed her and deepened it, almost completely reversing their positions until he was almost lying on top of her. His arms wrapped around her firmly, yet gently, one hand cradling her head, the other kneading her back as he pulled her even closer to him. This was not what she expected and as enjoyable as it was, after a few minutes she pushed gently against his chest. As he pulled back Mystic looked up into those eyes, full of mischief and a silly grin...
“Pancakes....”
“One simple task, thats all I asked, keep her company and help her out” he fumed as he made his way to his office. Once there he checked the flight logs first, no one had docked at CLM. He rang Azumi's quarters, nothing. He did a general check to see who was on station, it was then that it caught his eye. Leber had taken off and for once hadn't damaged anything, maybe he was finally learning to fly without being drunk. “That's about as likely as Mystic following orders lately...” He spoke to himself as he checked the security cameras, just as he suspected, it wasn't Leebs taking off, it was Azumi, how she ended up with his flight card, he wasn't even going to hazard a guess, but one loose pigeon was a start.
As he put the call in to Lebers ship, he continued scanning the security footage.
The comm going off in the quiet ship made Azumi jump, the fact that it was yoda, made her cringe. She could ignore it....but thought better. By now he probably knew that both she and Mystic were gone, it had been a couple hours already. Sighing she opened the comm.
“Azumi here sensei, I know what...” she never finished.
“Get back to HQ now...” yoda's voice was quiet and controlled.
“I am looking...” again she was cut off.
“Azumi, if you ever expect to fly with CLM again, I would suggest that this time, you follow orders and return to Latos immediately.”
She was close to Uit space, and possibly finding Mystic, but if she refused a direct order, it could mean the end of her career, and she liked it, she could fly solo of course, but that did not appeal to her. CLM was where she wanted to be, so she turned the ship around and headed back to HQ, and yoda's wrath.
“On my way back”
Yoda cut communication as soon as he heard her agreement. Something on the security tape had caught his eye. A figure, carrying another, normally that happened a bit around here, with some of the crazy parties, someone often had to carry someone else. But this one was cradling their load, and yoda would know that red hair anywhere, zooming in a bit, he recognized the faces.
“Damn snake, I knew it...”
***
Mystic awoke and stretched gently, then froze, there was a warmth beside her, she relaxed when she realized it was Everson. She looked at him sleeping for a moment as a mischievious thought came to her mind. “Maybe I shouldn't”, she thought, no telling how he might react to be woken unexpectedly. She sat up slowly so as not to wake him and looked around a bit, he had changed ships while she was sleeping, she must have been more exhausted than she realized. She would have to get back to her quarters soon...there was no telling what was going on this time, but she would worry about that later, for now....she looked back at the sleeping man beside her and grinned. Leaning over she placed a gentle kiss on his lips, startled when he grabbed her and deepened it, almost completely reversing their positions until he was almost lying on top of her. His arms wrapped around her firmly, yet gently, one hand cradling her head, the other kneading her back as he pulled her even closer to him. This was not what she expected and as enjoyable as it was, after a few minutes she pushed gently against his chest. As he pulled back Mystic looked up into those eyes, full of mischief and a silly grin...
“Pancakes....”
The dockhands readied the flame retardant and cleared the dock. Lebermac was about to land. One of the dockhands thought about walking over and warn yoda, but then reconsidered quick. Nobody wanted to draw attention from the commander of CLM, and especially not when he had been waiting for almost fifteen minutes. The dockhands all just agreed that they were happy that they weren't Lebermac.
The vulture flew slowly into the cradle and landed with a feather like touch, so gently that the click from the latches was inaudible to all but yoda's improved hearing. Turning the power off and opening the hatch took an immense mental effort from Azumi, now she would have to face yoda, her sensei.
She jumped out of the battered vult, and almost as if it couldn't bear parting with the pilot that had treated it so unlike the former occupant, it dropped the remaining winglet. The crash of the winglet hitting the floor made her flinch, and she looked down into the ceramal floor as she walked over to yoda, her hands in front of her.
"Yoda-sensei, I.:"
"You nothing Azumi."
The anger in his voice had left. He was speaking softly and patiently, like a father to a daughter, a doctor to a patient or even like a teacher to a student. This made Azumi even more scared naturally, as it was the first time it happened.
"I tried sensei, I really did. But I wanted to surprise Mystic with a cake to celebrate that she could walk again, and I .."
"Enough."
His voice, even though it was said in a low tone, carried the command to make her stop immediately. She kept looking into the floor, wringing her hands in front of her.
"Azumi, you did not follow my orders. You did not inform me when Mystic fled. You did not keep me informed when Mystic disappeared. This. Stops. Now."
Every sentence seemed to be a body blow to her, especially the last three words that were almost spit out like a bad taste in yoda's mouth. She nodded, keeping her head down.
"I am your sensei, so I take all blame Azumi, you understand that? But I WILL punish you for it, to make you understand."
She nodded once more.
"You will report to Retractile, and then you will fly combat patrol for a week CONTINUOSLY in Sedina B-7, only allowed to dock for repairs and food. Do I make myself clear""
Azumi looked up, real tears mingling with the painted ones. It took a second for her to understand what he said and then she rushed him. Yoda was a 8th level black belt Ju-Jitsu master, and a 9th level Black belt Kendo master, but he was not prepared to be rushed by her, especially not her. She grabbed him, lifted him, hugged him and placed a black kiss on top of his forehead. She then dropped him again and took a step back, the mischievious grin back on her face.
"As you command sensei."
With that she turned and sprinted for her own ship, the pink Rev C.
Yoda congratulated himself on a job well done. He had restored the young piratess' confidence somehow, and he believed that he had made her follow orders. After all, he couldn't himself make Mystic stay on the station, how the hell was Azumi going to do it? Now, if he could only find out where Mystic was and make her understand that the same rules applied to her. He smiled as he walked to the his command quarters, it had been a long time since someone kissed him. He started whistling until he took his hands in his pockets. There was something it the left pocket. An ID card, belonging to the name Lebermac. He chuckled, well at least she hadn't taken the large....
"AZUMI!!!!!!"
Azumi cruised through space, her gaze intent on the gleaming blue gemstone she had swiped from yoda. She would give it back eventually if he wanted it, but it was so beautiful that it helped her focus on these long days cruising through nothing. After all, she could hardly dock and give it back now and who knows, maybe he would forget about it?
The vulture flew slowly into the cradle and landed with a feather like touch, so gently that the click from the latches was inaudible to all but yoda's improved hearing. Turning the power off and opening the hatch took an immense mental effort from Azumi, now she would have to face yoda, her sensei.
She jumped out of the battered vult, and almost as if it couldn't bear parting with the pilot that had treated it so unlike the former occupant, it dropped the remaining winglet. The crash of the winglet hitting the floor made her flinch, and she looked down into the ceramal floor as she walked over to yoda, her hands in front of her.
"Yoda-sensei, I.:"
"You nothing Azumi."
The anger in his voice had left. He was speaking softly and patiently, like a father to a daughter, a doctor to a patient or even like a teacher to a student. This made Azumi even more scared naturally, as it was the first time it happened.
"I tried sensei, I really did. But I wanted to surprise Mystic with a cake to celebrate that she could walk again, and I .."
"Enough."
His voice, even though it was said in a low tone, carried the command to make her stop immediately. She kept looking into the floor, wringing her hands in front of her.
"Azumi, you did not follow my orders. You did not inform me when Mystic fled. You did not keep me informed when Mystic disappeared. This. Stops. Now."
Every sentence seemed to be a body blow to her, especially the last three words that were almost spit out like a bad taste in yoda's mouth. She nodded, keeping her head down.
"I am your sensei, so I take all blame Azumi, you understand that? But I WILL punish you for it, to make you understand."
She nodded once more.
"You will report to Retractile, and then you will fly combat patrol for a week CONTINUOSLY in Sedina B-7, only allowed to dock for repairs and food. Do I make myself clear""
Azumi looked up, real tears mingling with the painted ones. It took a second for her to understand what he said and then she rushed him. Yoda was a 8th level black belt Ju-Jitsu master, and a 9th level Black belt Kendo master, but he was not prepared to be rushed by her, especially not her. She grabbed him, lifted him, hugged him and placed a black kiss on top of his forehead. She then dropped him again and took a step back, the mischievious grin back on her face.
"As you command sensei."
With that she turned and sprinted for her own ship, the pink Rev C.
Yoda congratulated himself on a job well done. He had restored the young piratess' confidence somehow, and he believed that he had made her follow orders. After all, he couldn't himself make Mystic stay on the station, how the hell was Azumi going to do it? Now, if he could only find out where Mystic was and make her understand that the same rules applied to her. He smiled as he walked to the his command quarters, it had been a long time since someone kissed him. He started whistling until he took his hands in his pockets. There was something it the left pocket. An ID card, belonging to the name Lebermac. He chuckled, well at least she hadn't taken the large....
"AZUMI!!!!!!"
Azumi cruised through space, her gaze intent on the gleaming blue gemstone she had swiped from yoda. She would give it back eventually if he wanted it, but it was so beautiful that it helped her focus on these long days cruising through nothing. After all, she could hardly dock and give it back now and who knows, maybe he would forget about it?
"Pancakes.." Mystic guessed, gazing up at her attacker.
"How about we get something to drink and find a more comfortable place to continue this conversation?"
Mystic mused for a moment. Oh, the possibilities. "Um-"
Her thought never escaped her lips, as the third set of memories within Vehement's mind chose to take them by force once again. She struggled slightly- but without conviction due to her recovering wound. By the time he let her breathe, she was having trouble thinking clearly.
"I have to get home" she objected hurriedly.
"Why? Don't you like it here?"
"I just have to, I don't.. yes but please.." Mystic paused to take a breath.
"You don't need to be afraid, little one."
"No, I know, but I really gotta go. He'll be looking for-"
"Protective father eh?"
"...something like that." Mystic giggled, imagining Yoda as the father of some unruly teenage girl.
Pancakes stood, and lifted her to her feet gently. It seemed to help clear his head. "Jeeze Mystic, what were you thinking?"
"Just havin' a little fun, Everson."
"Go have some fun with your seat and harness, I need to figure out how to sneak you back into Latos."
Mystic held onto his arm. "Cmere quick."
"What do you think-" Vehement didn't finish, his question answered. Mystic's fingers were wiping the lipstick off of his mouth.
"There. So what's the plan?"
"Figure out which part of space views it as legal for me to have my way with you for what you just did."
Mystic punched his shoulder feigning anger and went to her seat.
Vehement's method of choice involved playing chicken with an Orne Guardian. After the hull of the Atlas was sufficiently battered, he toggled off what systems remained- specifically the IFF, and set course for Latos. No less than two CLM members ignored the lonely and pathetic Atlas in favor of bigger fish.
"I found something that belongs to you."
"SNAKE!!!" Yoda fumed at his comm system at the surprise call from the man he was looking for. "WHERE THE HELL IS-"
"You can reclaim your lost property by visiting the quarters of MysticRogue. Good day." Vehement disconnected the call and blasted the Atlas comm unit with his sidearm. It was now midday, and he had stood up his wife for their weekly pancake feast, not to mention failing to come home the night before. Space gods dammit.
"How about we get something to drink and find a more comfortable place to continue this conversation?"
Mystic mused for a moment. Oh, the possibilities. "Um-"
Her thought never escaped her lips, as the third set of memories within Vehement's mind chose to take them by force once again. She struggled slightly- but without conviction due to her recovering wound. By the time he let her breathe, she was having trouble thinking clearly.
"I have to get home" she objected hurriedly.
"Why? Don't you like it here?"
"I just have to, I don't.. yes but please.." Mystic paused to take a breath.
"You don't need to be afraid, little one."
"No, I know, but I really gotta go. He'll be looking for-"
"Protective father eh?"
"...something like that." Mystic giggled, imagining Yoda as the father of some unruly teenage girl.
Pancakes stood, and lifted her to her feet gently. It seemed to help clear his head. "Jeeze Mystic, what were you thinking?"
"Just havin' a little fun, Everson."
"Go have some fun with your seat and harness, I need to figure out how to sneak you back into Latos."
Mystic held onto his arm. "Cmere quick."
"What do you think-" Vehement didn't finish, his question answered. Mystic's fingers were wiping the lipstick off of his mouth.
"There. So what's the plan?"
"Figure out which part of space views it as legal for me to have my way with you for what you just did."
Mystic punched his shoulder feigning anger and went to her seat.
Vehement's method of choice involved playing chicken with an Orne Guardian. After the hull of the Atlas was sufficiently battered, he toggled off what systems remained- specifically the IFF, and set course for Latos. No less than two CLM members ignored the lonely and pathetic Atlas in favor of bigger fish.
"I found something that belongs to you."
"SNAKE!!!" Yoda fumed at his comm system at the surprise call from the man he was looking for. "WHERE THE HELL IS-"
"You can reclaim your lost property by visiting the quarters of MysticRogue. Good day." Vehement disconnected the call and blasted the Atlas comm unit with his sidearm. It was now midday, and he had stood up his wife for their weekly pancake feast, not to mention failing to come home the night before. Space gods dammit.
"You can reclaim your lost property by visiting the quarters of MysticRogue. Good day."
Yoda hadn't noticed anything in Mystic's apartment when he was there, but to be honest once he saw the note he hadn't paid attention to anything else. Intrigued he headed to Latos, if the snake was sending him a message, he was probably bringing Mystic back and imagining the look on the pirate queen's face when she came into her apartment and found him waiting...it was too good to pass up.
What he wasn't expecting was to walk into her apartment and see her there, propped on the couch, smiling at him.
“Hi darlin, you get my note?”
“The snake said I would find something that belonged to me here” was all yoda responded, looking around. He would talk to her, but not yet.
“I don't know what he was talking about, all he brought into this apartment was me...” she stopped, he considered her yoda's “property”? She would kill him...she was no ones property.
“Then you must be what he was talking about Red,” this time he grinned a real grin. He knew how strongly Mystic felt about things, the snake calling her someone's property might just make her think twice about keeping him around. And nothing would make him happier, tho he couldn't explain exactly why. “So now that your back, would you mind telling me what in the bloody hell you were thinking?”
Mystic sighed, “I was thinking I was bored out of my mind, that Azumi, as sweet as she tried to be, was driving me nuts, as was your constant hovering, I got stabbed darlin', I'm not a total invalid.”
“I wasn't hovering... I was just keeping a check on you to make sure you were taking care of yourself”
“That is exactly my point yoda, I was not being allowed to take care of myself, in any way, so I called Everson to take me out of here for a bit.” She paused to look at him before continuing, “Now I am back, I am no worse for wear, and I promise I will stay on the station, if you will back off a bit and let me DO something.”
He made her wait a few minutes for his response. “Ok hunni, I can agree to that, IF you promise that if you want to go off station for a flight....you will ask me instead of calling the snake.?”
Mystic has not even considered asking yoda, but now it made sense why he had been so angry, as long as they had known each other they had covered each others backs, but she had turned to someone else to help her, not just when she got hurt, but later, when she had no real reason to call for outside help, she had asked Everson instead of him.
“Deal, if you will take me out for a spin every once in a while, I will be a good pirate and take care of some paperwork and such, I can do that without much effort. Oh and I sent word when I got back to Elbryon, I told him we had the treasure and if he would like he could come see for himself what all the fuss has been about.”
“Fine, I will alert the dockworkers that he will be docking here at some point, and to escort him when he gets here, but you are not to take him to the treasure alone understand? That is a no argument order. You are still injured and while I don't think he would be foolish enough to try to harm you to get to the treasure, lets not take any chances ok?”
“Agreed, and if you don't mind I would like to make a small gift of some of the treasure for him, of course small from that treasure would still be more than he could possibly make with ITAN in a few months. And it wont diminish the treasure's worth to us at all.”
Yoda sighed, he could give in to her on this point, although if it were up to him he would just space the itani and be done with it, “If you insist, then its fine with me, oh and speaking of the treasure, I had brought this to you earlier, but since you ran off, I don't know if you deserve it or not.” He removed a box from his pocket and watched Mystic's eyes light up.
“A present? For me? And of course I deserve it, I didn't get into any trouble” Almost, but he didn't need to know that particular story, she thought back to those kisses,at what almost happened.... almost...
“I dunno, ye have been being awful unruly lately, yer lucky there aren't any planks for ye to walk anymore” He teased, still not handing her the box.
“Well if you think that you could just whip me and be done with it” she teased back.
“Nah you would enjoy that too much, but I suppose you can have it anyway.” He handed her the box and watched as she opened it, her mouth making a little O as she removed the bracelet he had had made from some of the treasure, it fit tightly against her wrist, studded with small chips of some of the stones, the metal almost black against her wrist, the bright green of the emeralds matched her eyes perfectly.
“Oh,its wonderful, come here,” she pulled him close and gave him a hug and his second kiss of the day, this one slightly different, as she left traces of her lipstick against his mouth, giggling she wiped it off.
“Ok so you have had your joy ride, you got a present instead of the beating you deserved for making me worry..again.” She had the good grace to look down and blush slightly. “So now can things get back to normal? Or at least as normal as they ever are around here?”
“Maybe....Soon” she smiled.
Yoda hadn't noticed anything in Mystic's apartment when he was there, but to be honest once he saw the note he hadn't paid attention to anything else. Intrigued he headed to Latos, if the snake was sending him a message, he was probably bringing Mystic back and imagining the look on the pirate queen's face when she came into her apartment and found him waiting...it was too good to pass up.
What he wasn't expecting was to walk into her apartment and see her there, propped on the couch, smiling at him.
“Hi darlin, you get my note?”
“The snake said I would find something that belonged to me here” was all yoda responded, looking around. He would talk to her, but not yet.
“I don't know what he was talking about, all he brought into this apartment was me...” she stopped, he considered her yoda's “property”? She would kill him...she was no ones property.
“Then you must be what he was talking about Red,” this time he grinned a real grin. He knew how strongly Mystic felt about things, the snake calling her someone's property might just make her think twice about keeping him around. And nothing would make him happier, tho he couldn't explain exactly why. “So now that your back, would you mind telling me what in the bloody hell you were thinking?”
Mystic sighed, “I was thinking I was bored out of my mind, that Azumi, as sweet as she tried to be, was driving me nuts, as was your constant hovering, I got stabbed darlin', I'm not a total invalid.”
“I wasn't hovering... I was just keeping a check on you to make sure you were taking care of yourself”
“That is exactly my point yoda, I was not being allowed to take care of myself, in any way, so I called Everson to take me out of here for a bit.” She paused to look at him before continuing, “Now I am back, I am no worse for wear, and I promise I will stay on the station, if you will back off a bit and let me DO something.”
He made her wait a few minutes for his response. “Ok hunni, I can agree to that, IF you promise that if you want to go off station for a flight....you will ask me instead of calling the snake.?”
Mystic has not even considered asking yoda, but now it made sense why he had been so angry, as long as they had known each other they had covered each others backs, but she had turned to someone else to help her, not just when she got hurt, but later, when she had no real reason to call for outside help, she had asked Everson instead of him.
“Deal, if you will take me out for a spin every once in a while, I will be a good pirate and take care of some paperwork and such, I can do that without much effort. Oh and I sent word when I got back to Elbryon, I told him we had the treasure and if he would like he could come see for himself what all the fuss has been about.”
“Fine, I will alert the dockworkers that he will be docking here at some point, and to escort him when he gets here, but you are not to take him to the treasure alone understand? That is a no argument order. You are still injured and while I don't think he would be foolish enough to try to harm you to get to the treasure, lets not take any chances ok?”
“Agreed, and if you don't mind I would like to make a small gift of some of the treasure for him, of course small from that treasure would still be more than he could possibly make with ITAN in a few months. And it wont diminish the treasure's worth to us at all.”
Yoda sighed, he could give in to her on this point, although if it were up to him he would just space the itani and be done with it, “If you insist, then its fine with me, oh and speaking of the treasure, I had brought this to you earlier, but since you ran off, I don't know if you deserve it or not.” He removed a box from his pocket and watched Mystic's eyes light up.
“A present? For me? And of course I deserve it, I didn't get into any trouble” Almost, but he didn't need to know that particular story, she thought back to those kisses,at what almost happened.... almost...
“I dunno, ye have been being awful unruly lately, yer lucky there aren't any planks for ye to walk anymore” He teased, still not handing her the box.
“Well if you think that you could just whip me and be done with it” she teased back.
“Nah you would enjoy that too much, but I suppose you can have it anyway.” He handed her the box and watched as she opened it, her mouth making a little O as she removed the bracelet he had had made from some of the treasure, it fit tightly against her wrist, studded with small chips of some of the stones, the metal almost black against her wrist, the bright green of the emeralds matched her eyes perfectly.
“Oh,its wonderful, come here,” she pulled him close and gave him a hug and his second kiss of the day, this one slightly different, as she left traces of her lipstick against his mouth, giggling she wiped it off.
“Ok so you have had your joy ride, you got a present instead of the beating you deserved for making me worry..again.” She had the good grace to look down and blush slightly. “So now can things get back to normal? Or at least as normal as they ever are around here?”
“Maybe....Soon” she smiled.
Epilog:
JahelaJ was finishing up the cataloging of the credit chips and it was a substantial amount spread across thousands of accounts throughout the universe.
The jewels and precious metal trinkets were appraised and also made the current balance in the CLM bank accounts seem like a trifle.
The historic documents and objects-d'art rescued from long-forgotten deposit boxes and station-storage locations were not only priceless but would go a long way towards putting a positive face on CLM as a benefactor to museums of all three nations.
But, without a doubt, the strangest item in the hoard was a vid chip. It was a cockpit view from a long-obsolete ship model, minus HUD. It showed a wormhole activating and a pilot saying "I found it! I found it!! Transmitting coordinates no...". But before the pilot could finish the sentence, a blue beam erupted from the wormhole and elongated the video to nothingness.
JahelaJ put the vid chip into the vault in the lab, turned the lights off, rubbed her eye and went to bed.
JahelaJ was finishing up the cataloging of the credit chips and it was a substantial amount spread across thousands of accounts throughout the universe.
The jewels and precious metal trinkets were appraised and also made the current balance in the CLM bank accounts seem like a trifle.
The historic documents and objects-d'art rescued from long-forgotten deposit boxes and station-storage locations were not only priceless but would go a long way towards putting a positive face on CLM as a benefactor to museums of all three nations.
But, without a doubt, the strangest item in the hoard was a vid chip. It was a cockpit view from a long-obsolete ship model, minus HUD. It showed a wormhole activating and a pilot saying "I found it! I found it!! Transmitting coordinates no...". But before the pilot could finish the sentence, a blue beam erupted from the wormhole and elongated the video to nothingness.
JahelaJ put the vid chip into the vault in the lab, turned the lights off, rubbed her eye and went to bed.