by DC Bastien
With a quick glance to Loap, to see if he could handle himself, Vadim whistled once and set out at a breakneck run, the taller Enforcer only half a pace behind him and to the right, both of them drawing with their dominant hands.
***
[Ashroe: I have SUCH a thing for non-verbal communication.]
[Sianor: Hehehe, you mean the eye-flicker thing?]
[Ashroe: Oh yes. You just know they have history if they do that. Guh.]
[Sianor: Ahh, the 'we go back, way back' thing?]
[Ashroe: Throw in a tragic backstory and I swear to god I am putty.]
[Sianor: Nice to know you have a type!]
[Ashroe: Assholes with painful histories, yep. Especially ones with English accents.]
[Sianor: English accents are sexy.]
[Ashroe: Depends which ones!]
[Sianor: I think I only know the standard one. Er. Does that sound ignorant?]
[Ashroe: No, I know what you mean. There feels like a generic American one to me, too. I wouldn't be able to place it other than 'American'. But if you get time, look up videos. For a country smaller than some of your states, we still have a wide variety.]
[Sianor: What's yours like?]
[Ashroe: I'll find you an example. Hang on... here.]
[Sianor: Oh my god that is so adorable.]
[Ashroe: Not really what I was going for, but thanks.]
[Sianor: No, I mean it! It's just... it's so lilting and different. I bet you'd hate mine!]
[Ashroe: I'm sure I wouldn't. You're from the south, aren't you?]
[Sianor: Unfortunately yes.]
[Ashroe: Why unfortunately?]
[Sianor: Well, you know the stereotypes.]
[Ashroe: I do, but I also know that even when two football teams here hate one another, most fans wouldn't actually brick your car. Just the assholes. I love the patter of a southern accent. It's so rolling and gliding.]
[Sianor: You're biased!]
[Ashroe: Who isn't?]
[Sianor: I keep spelling things the English way, you know. In my essays. I let one slip through the other day.]
[Ashroe: Well it is called the 'English' language... don't shoot me ;)]
[Sianor: I like my honors and my colors, but I am getting fond of 'realise'.]
[Ashroe: I have a confession. I sometimes still mess up center/centre and grey/gray.]
[Sianor: And we're both literate. I bet people who can't spell well get really confused.]
[Ashroe: I bet some of them don't even care. Not to mention commas, apostrophes and semi-colons... you're lucky if some folk capitalise the first word in a sentence.]
[Sianor: *shudder*]
[Ashroe: But we're getting off-track again.]
[Sianor: Whoops, yes. Whose go was it?]
***
"You're working with them!" the Human ringleader yelled, smashing an almost-empty bottle onto the bar-top, brandishing the makeshift weapon before him in wide, clumsy half-circles.
"I assure you, I'm not," Judge Peters said, backing up, his hands raised defensively in front of him.
"Put down your weapon," Kre growled, her hackles rising and her claws flexing out on instinct. Her voice had dropped an octave into a snarl of warning, the kind that made anyone's blood run cold.
"We're only here to find work. Heard there were issues with the law, wanted to make sure we steered clear of them," the Judge added. "You know what it's like."
"I know nothing. You're implying I'm some criminal, now?"
"You're brandishing a weapon in a public place, and threatening violence," the Judge answered.
"I told you to clear off." He waved the bottle back and forth some more, and a few others started to reach for their side-arms or knives.
"But you can give us information," the Judge persisted, "...and we--"
The drunken man didn't let him get any further, slashing forwards with the bottle.
Kre's instincts took over, and she launched herself bodily at the Human, barrelling him to the floor in a ball of furious fur. She knocked the bottle from his hand, her snarling muzzle inches from his mouth. "Do not threaten my charge," she snapped.
Which was when all hell broke loose.
Instead of a fight to protect the Judge, Kre found herself attacked from all sides by other Humans and a few Roq. There were strangely no other Sianar in the building, or they might have come to her assistance. Although there wouldn't have been Roq to fight off, then. It had perhaps been an error in judgement to question people here, but it had been Peters' decision and she had bowed to his superior knowledge.
Kre rolled sideways off the now-disarmed Human, scrabbling for purchase as two people grabbed hold of her throat, trying to choke her. She clawed over someone's leg in the heap, scenting the rich, coppery taste of blood as she sliced through the flesh. Someone was yanking on her tail, and she howled in fury, using all her strength to spin and crouch on all fours. The rage was in her system now, and her survival instinct took over.
First the man with the assault rifle. He was by far the biggest threat, and she pounced on him, jaws closing around his wrist. There was a sickening sound of bones shattering, and the rifle fell to the ground. Had she been more calm, she might have picked that moment to hold it, and to fire in the air to warn everyone off. Kre was far too gone for that, though, and instead she put her head down to present the thickest part of her skull, charging headlong at the next threat - hitting her in the solar plexus and taking her down in a cloud of scales and upset drinks. The Roq slid backwards until the bar stopped their momentum, and Kre was beset by four people jumping on her back again. She snapped and clawed, but they were holding on for dear life, and it was going to end very, very bloodily.
"Everyone drop to the ground, now, before I shoot each and every last one of you's kneecaps!"
Kre vaguely processed the familiar voice yelling an awkward command, but she was still muzzle-deep in fight-or-flight, an arm around her neck threatening to either pull her head off, or at least stop the airflow into her lungs.
Bam. Bam, bam, bam. The gunfire was loud and echoing, and it smelled strongly in the air. No more blood, but simple warning.
The four on top of Kre-Nappre went still, their holds still tight but no more wrestling for dominance. Kre took that as an opportunity to throw two of them, and then she was upright with one sliding down her waist, and the other still hanging from her throat like a demented baby monkey.
"Kre... Kre. It's okay," Vadim said, putting his gun back in its holster and approaching her slowly, his eyes cast a little down, his posture meek and supplicant. "We've come to take you back to the ship."
The Sianar chaplain shook off the last two, her claws still out, her breath short and panting. She stared at the Captain, then a sudden jolt of memory made her scan for the Judge.
He was there, to one side, looking like he'd taken a blow to the eye and then retreated away from the worst of the fray.
"C-Captain?"
"We're going to take our friends and leave," Avery said, his gun still drawn. "I'm sure that will suit every party best. No loss of limb, or life. And no law, either."
There were a few grumbles of unhappiness, but Avery ran his thumb very blatantly over the gun.
"If you want to seek redress, feel free to summon a Judge. No? Thought not. We'll be going, now. Good day to you all."
***
Chapter Eleven - Mission: Collusion
Loap was already on the ship, pacing up and down in the cargo hold.
"I should go find them," he hissed.
"Did he give you the return signal, or not?" Saidhe asked.
"Yes, but--"
"But nothing. You know as well as I do: the Captain can look after himself. He wouldn't tell you to run if he didn't mean it."
"I am not helpless. I know I am not a combatant, but I am not--"
"Not risking your hide after the last dumb-fool time you jumped in front of gunfire, you overgrown gecko," the Captain finished, stomping noisily
onto the deck. "Saidhe. Punch it. I'm not risking them actually calling the Enforcers on us."
"But Captain," Biann said, her legs swinging worriedly from on top the crate she was perched on, "...you've got an Enforcer there."
"Currently off-duty, Biann," Avery said with a shrug. "We'll talk technicalities when we're safe. Saidhe?" He tossed a chip to her. "This is my emergency bolt-hole. Even the Ur don't know about it. Take us there, please."
Saidhe caught the chip, but looked to Vadim for permission, first.
Vadim simply nodded the tiniest of nods, and Saidhe went up to the bridge.
"Are you hurt?" Loap asked, frowning when he finally processed the state that Kre was in. Her ruff was tugged down at one side around her neck, her fur was brushed the wrong way and in places it was starting to mat with blood.
"No. A little. I am fine," she said, her voice still sharp and brusque from the adrenaline. "Nothing serious. Mostly their blood."
"Brace," came Messenger's short warning, and then the cargo bay door shut, even as the ship started to lift off. "We will be expediting our departure."
"You sure you want to draw more attention to us?" the Judge asked. "Shouldn't we clear our flight plan, at least superficially?"
"I think we've pretty much blown any secrecy we might have been going for, back when you and Chuckles decided to rough up the locals," Vadim said. "Everyone: into the mess. We're having a team meeting."
***
from: Kay
to: Mandy Douglas
date: 15 August 2014 12:59
subject: Hey?
Hey,
I hope you don't think I'm some crazy stalker. Uh. I'm just worried about you, okay? You've not shown up in the shared doc, and you've not been posting in any of the communities for a couple of days.
Is everything okay?
I don't really want to look like some psycho or anything, it's just... I'm worried about you.
Just... if you can... let me know that you're alright.
K.
----------------
from: Mandy Douglas
to: Kay
date: 21 August 2014 07:18
subject: re: Hey?
Oh my god I am so sorry to worry you. I'm OK before you panic. I was in hospital, and I just wasn't with it. I'm back at home and convalescing now. I should be okay.
~ Mandy
Don't mistake my kindness for weakness
----------------
from: Kay
to: Mandy Douglas
date: 21 August 2014 13:01
subject: re: re: Hey?
Oh... great. I was really worried!
I hope you're doing better. I don't really want to pry, but if you need to talk about it... I'm here for you. I'll try not to pester you anymore. You just put your feet up. The internet will still be here when you're feeling better, you know.
Sent from my comms-device.
----------------
from: Mandy Douglas
to: Kay
date: 21 August 2014 08:22
subject: re: re: re: Hey?
Yeah, I would rather not talk about not feeling well, if that's okay. But I'd love to just chat, if you get time. I know you're at work.
Also - you're such a geek. 'Sent from my comms-device'?
~ Mandy
Don't mistake my kindness for weakness
----------------
from: Kay
to: Mandy Douglas
date: 21 August 2014 13:34
subject: re: re: re: re: Hey?
Oh, shush, Miss-Patronising-Quote. This is my fandom email, I can be geeky if I want to! I'm at lunch at the minute. I'm having ridiculously healthy cous-cous. It tastes horrible. I wish I'd gone to the drive-through.
Sent from my comms-device.
----------------
from: Mandy Douglas
to: Kay
date: 21 August 2014 08:47
subject: re: re: re: re: re: Hey?
I'll join you in craving real food. I'm on soups and yoghurts for the time being. I don't really want anything, but apparently if you don't eat, you can starve or something? Not like I'm thin enough to starve. I'm sure I'd last a few weeks. A few weeks on Jupiter.
~ Mandy
Don't mistake my kindness for weakness
----------------
from: Kay
to: Mandy Douglas
date: 21 August 2014 14:02
subject: re: re: re: re: re: re: Hey?
You know, I think there isn't a specific week or month on Jupiter, just a year. If we're being pedantic, that is. It deserves some consideration.
Actually, there's nothing about what the timings on the show would be, which irritates me. There would need to be some kind of standard 'day' length, and then groups of days. And with them all coming from different planets, the orbital periods would be vastly different, as well as the day-night divisions.
Sent from my comms-device.
----------------
from: Mandy Douglas
to: Kay
date: 21 August 2014 10:01
subject: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Hey?
Think I fell asleep before, sorry. And you are such a nerd. You can talk science to me any time.
I should try and have a proper sleep, now. I'll try to get back on when you're home, if you're in tonight? I might not be able to contribute much sensible, but I'd love to watch your cursor move.
~ Mandy
Don't mistake my kindness for weakness
----------------
from: Kay
to: Mandy Douglas
date: 21 August 2014 15: 25
subject: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Hey?
Of course. I'll be home in a couple of hours, but I have to walk the dog and get fed. See you soon.
Glad you're back. <3
Kay
Sent from my comms-device.
----------------
***
[Ashroe: There you are!]
[Sianor: Here I am :)]
[Ashroe: If you want to jump in, or tweak anything I do, feel free. You know I'm laid-back. But I won't feel put upon if you just need to watch and throw rotten fruit from the stalls.]
[Sianor: So noted! I will re-read the last few scenes so I am back in the zone.]
***
"So. Your Honour," Avery said, with a tiny little inclination of his head. "You want to tell us what happened?"
Surprisingly, Vadim didn't object to Avery talking from a position of authority, which set alarm bells ringing for most of the crew.
"We were attempting to find information, as the Captain requested. Why do you ask?" the Judge replied, a little affront showing in his tone.
"It just seems a little suspicious that someone as experienced as you would get your friend into trouble and then withdraw to the sidelines," the Enforcer answered.
"It happened very fast. I was trying to weigh up the situation. What are you implying?" The Judge looked from Avery to Vadim and back.
Vadim was unmoved. "He ain't implying anything, your Honour. He's just asking questions."
"Cap'n, what's going on?" Biann asked.
Vadim lifted his hand, then dropped it. Biann understood.
"You know the region is unstable. It's why you're investigating it," the Judge went on. "I was not to know how quickly it would turn into a blood-bath."
"I was fine," Kre jumped in. "Captain, I was. I would have been victorious."
"You would have been hurt, Kre. Can the pride for once. We all know you're a badass, but the Judge shouldn't have got you into that situation to be
gin with."
"What are you implying, Captain?" the Judge asked, his voice more forceful this time.
"They let you escape pretty easily," Vadim replied. "I know I'm clever, but there's clever, and there's playing to someone's sense of self-worth. I'm thinking maybe they wanted me to get you. Maybe this was their plan all along."
The Judge's hand slid into his pocket, and Avery saw. He jumped for him, slamming him to the deck noisily.
"Is it a grenade?" Vadim yelled, even as everyone else recoiled in shock.
"When my guts explode you'll know!" Avery hissed, as the Judge started to fight back.
"I'm afraid not," came Messenger's voice, sounding strangely apologetic. "I believe I have been compromised. I am sorry, Captain. There was a brief distress beacon before I could control myself. The virus is spreading, I must contain myself to prevent any further harm."
