Moksha Capital, Timira: Red Handed

[kahl]

Each footstep echoed throughout the warehouse like a heavy drum beat. As Sohn crossed the vast space, he tugged off his gloves. They were of fine leather. His clothes too, although utilitarian in appearance, were of very fine materials and expertly crafted. Were it not for Aerc's knowledge of the man's ruthlessness--a viciousness and perversion that far exceeded his own if only in that it was finely tuned like a craft-- one might think that Sohn was a bit of a fop. He hair was pulled up in a traditional Mokshan coif, the upper half in a decorative tie, while the rest fell free.

"I bought it shortly after the old man died. I think the sentimental value of it will leave an impression on my dear sister." Sohn stopped and scoured the upper catwalks, then looked at Aerc and smiled. "My men will be positioned there..." he pointed in a sweeping arc toward the catwalks. "And you'll stand here."

Indicating his position, Sohn then bent and marked the floor with a black smudge from an oil crayon. "If you stand here...no chance of snipers."

Aerc looked around as he drifted toward the spot. His eyes narrowed at a blackened window--the others were all boarded over. "What about that?"

"It's painted over, you chun zhu...sniper can't see through that. Trust me...you'll be fine." Sohn pat his shoulder as he crossed behind him and suppressed a smirk. "So for all pretenses you'll make the exchange. Once Kahl is in your hands...my men will kill the rest. Your hostages, John Savage...and anyone who comes with him."

"Bloody brilliant." Aerc nodded. "Simple. I like simple."

"Yes...." Sohn pursed his lips. "I've already sent the coordinates to the Golden Dragon and the business exchange is set for..." He checked the time on an expensive pocket watch. "...four hours and twenty-three minutes from now."

"And your fee...? Dear old friend..." Aerc arched a red brow at the man.

A fire, not unlike that in Kahl's eyes, flared to life in Sohn Harra's as he met Aerc's gaze. "You know what I want."

"--you can't kill her. I'm past that now. She's mine and I intend to keep her."

"What fun is there in killing her?" Sohn sneered, inwardly reviled at the thought of Aerc pawing over his sister. "Just make sure I get my "family time"...and we'll be square."

Aerc nodded with a shrug. "Shi a...sure." He had never put much thought to the disgusting relationship between Sohn and Kahl. They weren't...completely brother and sister. They only shared a mother and that really meant nothing in the long and short of things. He never did understand why Kahl didn't hunt down her real father and use his name...or just change her name. Aerc could only assume that Kahl was as compliant with the relationship between she and Sohn as Sohn seemed to think she was.

Were either man to know how the other truly perceived their sickened mind, the irony of it would likely reduce them to laughter. To Sohn, Aerc was little more than an animal. In his youth, Sohn enjoyed Aerc's bestial vitality and aggression. Now, as an adult he found it vulgar, and in Aerc's mind, Sohn was a perversion of man that elevated torture to an admirable degree...but had sexual appetites that turned even Aerc's stomach. Last person Aerc would ever have wanted was his own sister...if she'd lived past the age of ten. That had been a difficult kill...but then, the first always is.

"Get Thadius and Pug in here with your hostages. My men will be in position shortly." Sohn stopped and smiled. "Do you like quail? I think I'll have some food sent for the occasion. I do so love quail...and Kahl, if I remember is quite fond as well."

- - - -

Curled under the bench in the brigg, Kahl had exhausted herself of crying. Her wrists and ankles were red and bleeding where she'd fought against her restraints. No matter that she knew the plan--Kahl could not abide being bound in any way. Not after...

The door opened and Stewart stepped in. No one had bothered to turn on the containment field. In her condition, she had no where to go...and if need be, Stewart would just take her down again with a ponics gun. Stopping a few feet from her he crouched down and removed his head gear. Kahl merely glared at him with red-rimmed green eyes.

"We sent him security footage of you here...in the brigg, and they sent back coordinates and a meeting time." Stewart's face, damaged as it was, sagged and pinched with discomfort and grief. He hated to see her like this...bloody, beaten and bound. It pained him all the more to know that they had done it to her. Well John had...but it may as well have been Stewart himself.

"I'm so sorry Kahl...if we could have found another way..." He reached to touch her gently but the woman snapped her teeth at him. Stewart recoiled his hand. "Say something...curse me...beg, anything...just...say something."

Kahl's gold-flecked green eyes seered him to the bone. Hanging his head in misery, Stewart pulled his head gear back on then asserted in a more business tone, "Jack's a sharp-shooter. I have no doubt she'll hit him and kill him."

Pulling a handkerchief from his pocket, he wadded it into a ball then muttered, "dui bu qi..." Had he not been wearing gloves, Kahl's teeth would have ripped through his skin as he stuffed the cloth into her mouth. They couldn't risk her saying anything that could jeopardize them all in her desperation to be free of her restraints.

- - - -

Turning the thinkpad in her hand, Jack bit on her bottom lip as she rapped on the door to John's room. Stewart had guaranteed her that the Captain would be in here, so when no one answered she knocked again...louder. Finally there was a muffled voice and the door slid open. Jack peered in to see John was slumped in a chair. The discomfort of invading his privacy settled over her and gripped her throat, but Jack swallowed and held up the think pad.

"S-Stewart said I should run the scenario over with you...make sure...uh...we've got signals and such down." She colored a faint pink. "I've never really done...this...before."

[Melara]

He'd have had a bottle in his hand if he wasn't so sure that he wouldn't stop after the first drink until he was blacked-out drunk. As it was, his hand ached to hold a bottle and his throat burnt with want to swallow some numbness.

His eyes were red but dry when the knock came. Still, he swiped one weary hand over them and his cheeks. When the knock repeated louder he realized he hadn't answered.

"Come in already," he mumbled. The door finally opened.

"S-Stewart said I should run the scenario over with you...make sure...uh...we've got signals and such down." She colored a faint pink. "I've never really done...this...before."

He looked over at Jack, at the thinkpad in her hand. "Ay," he mumbled and waved her over, gesturing at another chair. "Come and sit, ay?"

As the girl sat John leaned forward, steepling his hands as he looked at her. "You're sure you're up to this?" he asked. "You ever killed someone before?"

[kahl]

Jack met his gaze with a pensive silence, then narrowed them with intent. "No, I haven't...but I am confident I can."

Her eyes lowered and she growled, "at least this piece of pi hua."

A flick of her eyes upward informed her that John was studying her quizzically. Last thing she wanted was to answer questions about her past. The truth was Jack had come very close to killing someone...once. It wasn't her proudest moment but at times, looking back, she fantasized that she had done it. She had every reason in the world. This Aerc reminded her far too much of that man from her past...and of others. Others she did everything she could to forget.

Before he could ask anything, she met his gaze and with an uttered an unwavering promise. "I have reason enough to kill this man. I wouldn't hesitate. Madhi has told me enough...and Stewart...he told me even more." Her fingers drummed on the arm rest and she nibbled her lip. "And...I have my own reasons."

"I'll make him dead. I swear it." Jack met his critical stare. "You just tell me where and when."

- - - -

Iris and Roman were shoved roughly to the floor near the black smudge. Sohn checked his pocket watch. "Well...any minute now. I'll be...with my men."

Aerc's eyes narrowed, not trusting the man, but he let him go. Looking up he could see Sohn's mercenaries lining the darkness, gun in hand. Not even Stewart would be insane enough to try anything. Not with so many crosshairs marking his head.

Watching the elitist Sohn stride from the warehouse, Aerc snarled. This wasn't the Sohn he remembered from his youth. That Sohn had been a Timiran Tiger. A member of the violent gang that revelled in anarchy. This Sohn was a gorram politico...with manicured nails. It disgusted him, and Aerc was already considering killing him. Maybe as a present for Kahl. She'd like that...maybe.

Carter scurried in, twitchy and spastic as always, a thinkpad in his hand. "Just got confirmation--they landed. The Golden Dragon is in Timira. They should be here in under twenty minutes."

- - - -

Stewart eyed Ishkar with a glower. "I've no doubt Sohn Harra will have a herd of mercs in that warehouse. I've already got my sniper set with a solid nest and a mark on Aerc...what I need is for you and yours to take out those mercenaries as quickly and silently as possible. I've got two in my crew that can help--and Chameleon...if you find and kill Sohn Harra, that'll be a bonus in your favor."

The Silent Order Assassin nodded in understanding and appreciation. "I am confident that can be arranged."

"I'd prefer this to be a shadow play, but if you have to come in through the front door...just make it quick and clean. We've got no less than three vulnerables in the crossfire." Stewart glanced over at Kaige as the young man tapped his arm. They were setting down in Timira. "We're landing now. Wont be long before we're there...how far out are you?"

"In orbit. We can land any time."

"Then hit dirtside, ma shang...and I'll just assume you and yours are there on time. If my people start dying, I'll know you weren't reliable and I'll make sure you pay for whomever we lose. Dong le ma?"

"Shi a..." Ishkar nodded. He still owed too many debts to too many people. He really disliked how this one was playing out in repayment.

[Melara]

Nike was slightly less...greasy, now that she'd had her shower. Slightly less, yet somehow she still managed to look unwashed. Her battered satchel hanging against the small of her back she peered upward. At Yin's signal she turned and began scaling the side of the building like a monkey, heading for a small vent near the roof. They knew where the two hostages were. It was their job to get them out safely. For Nike, it being her job meant it was her entire purpose until the job was done.

**
John's boots sounded soft on the floor of the brig. Crouching, he gently touched his wife's bruised cheek, again fighting the heat that wanted to rise behind his eyes.

"They're in position," Stewart said from the doorway. "Time to go."

Sliding Kahl forward John hefted her up and over his shoulder again. His eyes were suddenly stony as they met Stewart's.

"Let's get this done, ay?"

[kahl]

As he carried her, Kahl hung limp, fuming with misplaced anger until they exited the ship. Then the reality of the very real danger she was in settled heavily on her mind like a wet, wool blanket. She wriggled, writhed, bucked and kicked in every effort to free herself of that blanket and of John's arms.

Finally Stewart had to take her from him. Holding her by the legs, he let her hang down his back more, the blood rush flushing her face and dizzying her but not enough to stop her fighting. Her muted screams and epithets came in muffled shrieks from behind the large rag filling her mouth. Where Kahl hung she could see very little...until Stewart dropped her onto the floor like a sack.

The sudden drop startled her and the landing was on her side, but on her shoulder. She heard a pop in her joint then felt the seering heat of pain flash through it. Were it anyone other than Stewart that had dropped her, she'd have bit back her cry. Intent on letting he and John know that she was not liking this at all, she roared at him through her gag.

Rolling to her back, her eyes lifted to see Aerc's leering face above her. Real terror filled her and Kahl used her bound feet to slide herself back on the concrete floor as she began to quake and sob. Before Aerc could come within touching distance of her, Stewart raised a baton and pushed him back at the shoulder.

"Back. She's still our property until you deliver, you bei, wang ba dan..." Stewart kept his tone cold and even, not emotional.

Aerc smirked and gripped Roman by the hair, jerking his head up for Stewart to see. "I'm thinking maybe this one will cost more...like that slice of Symphilia you two are hiding."

"Sheng qi, Aerc. The deal was Kahl for the pair." Stewart jabbed a finger toward the ghost soldiers hovering above in the catwalks. "Where's your business partner, Sohn? He'll tell you. A deal is a deal."

At the mention of Sohn's name, Kahl wailed again and struggled to inch herself away. Her entire body was shaking as Stewart reached down and hauled her back by her ankle restraints.

- - - -

The windows of the abandoned factory extended from the floor to within a foot of the ceiling. Jack lay with the barrel of her rifle poking just a fraction through a busted pane of glass. Laying on the dusty concrete, she affixed the thermal scope and adjusted it for light temperature. Although it was day here, the light was far closer to night.

Stewart would run a hand over his head when it was time. He didn't trust John to keep his cool or to remember. Jack settled in and adjusted the scope until she could see the colored aura of a stocky man. Stewart had said the taller one was Thadius, the tall scrawny one was Pug and the short scrawny one was Carter. She should aim at the muscular short one. Jack disliked the idea that she couldn't fully see their faces. The blacked out window prevented it. She worried that she'd shoot the wrong person, but then...she thought, other than Stewart and John, they're all worthy targets.

One person she didn't see was a man named Sohn Harra. Stewart had urged her to keep watch for him as well, likely apart from the others, almost feminine from a distance. She noted that the last name was the same as Kahl's but knew better than to ask.

"Ok, Stewart...tell me when." Jack's whisper came as she settled the crosshairs directly over Aerc's skull.

- - - -

Sohn stared at the hazel green eye at the end of the scope. His cameras were distributed throughout the area so he could sit calmly in a nearby hotel watching the events unfold. This camera was positioned so that he could see exactly who Savage's sniper would be. Sohn knew enough to trust there would be one, and he ensured that the most logical locations would be one of three. The window or the two air vents.

"So, you're the person i have to thank for taking out the garbage..." he purred as he changed to a camera inside the factory. "Oh," he sat up, dropping his feet to the floor. "Oh my. Now that is...unexpected."

He looked the girl over. She lay on the ground as if watching a wave or painting her nails, knees bent, ankles hooked above her ass. A rather fine ass, too, Sohn noted. He couldn't tell if the chunky layers of turquoise hair were real or a wig, not that it mattered much. Just when he was disappointed he couldn't see her face, the girl turned and chased a bug off her elbow.

Sohn arched a brow. "Well, John Savage...you certainly are collecting quite the harem, aren't you?"

As Jack returned her focus to the scope, movement on another camera caught Sohn's eye. A ragged figure was scaling the building and slipping inside. A devilish smirk curled his lips and the man sat forward again to watch eagerly as his well orchestrated plan unfolded.

[Melara]

"Enough with the pi hua," John said, finding no need to fake impatience or anger. "I'm not here to sing and dance with you, savvy?"

Of course, if Aerc so much as reached down for Kahl's ankle he was going to put a bullet in his head. He'd promised her long ago that the bastard wouldn't touch her again and he meant to keep his word.

**

Behind the men who lined the catwalk, a pair of screws holding a grate in place began to silently ease free. Nike's unblinking eyes flashed in the dark behind the slats. Her five inch filleting knife was held between her teeth.

[kahl]

Ty and Ishkar led their respective teams through the alleys on either side of the building. Although he followed, Daniel didn't intend on bursting through the doors and mowing down anyone. It was the dumbest plan he'd ever heard. Dangerous, reckless and dumb.

As Ishkar's group rounded the corner, Daniel lingered then turned and darted off on his own. Climbing the fire escape of the adjacent building, an old factory from best he could tell, the man spied a slip of a woman disappearing into an air vent. She didn't have blue hair...maybe Savage's crew had more than one sniper? No--he'd have told them.

Once on the roof, he paced along the edge until he reached the back edge. From there he could jump onto an adjacent building whose roof and side wall were close enough to the warehouse that Daniel could reach the fire escape and scape his way up to follow the predator.

Before scrambling onto the warehouse, he shed himself of all Ishkar's expensive "military" crap. Most of it was useless. Daniel also stripped off his shirt. He could more quietly with less clothing. His pants, however, would have to stay on. That was just modesty and general courtesy.

With only his 'issue' primitive survival blade, Daniel slipped in behind the secretive woman. After he watched her silently and easily dispatch the first soldier, he grinned. This was the partner he needed. Creeping along the back catwalk, he stood up behind the soldier farthest from the woman. They could meet in the middle, a trail of bodies on either side.

Something in that thought titillated Daniel, and when he slammed his blade upward into the base of the first man's skull, severing his spinal column, he felt an arousing rush. Catching the man's skull in his free hand, then jerking his blade free with the other, he carefully lowered the man to the ground as if he were sleeping.

- - - -

"Gorramit, Daniel!" Ishkar hissed as he realized his team-member was missing. Growling into the small mic hooked over his ear, the man ordered Ty, "I'm sending Del over to you. Let him and Farrel go in that way. My bet is that Daniel's gone over to the factory to attempt a lone-gunman style snipe. Kick his scrawny ass, would you?"

Waving a hand, Ishkar sent the ship's engineer on his way back around the building, then turned and waved for Eddie to follow him in. Last thing he needed was Eddie on the opposite side shooting him in the crossfire.

There was the sound of breaking glass--it had to have been a shot. "Gorramit Daniel!" Ishkar hissed again, then prayed that it had been Stewart's sniper and not the rogue idiot-savant of the Avernus.

With one hand gesture he waved for Eddie to follow him in.

- - - -

Aerc smirked at John. "I'd be agitated to give up Kahl too...so I'm curious why you're willing to?"

"He's agitated that his wife and son are still on their knees and bound when he's brought his cao-toy for you as you asked." Stewart knew at least one of them would like hit him for that later, but it was necessity, not truth. "She's more trouble than she's worth--so just pass over Iris and Roman and we'll leave."

Aerc waved for Pug to cut Iris and Roman free. The stringy man stepped closer and drew his blade.

Stewart ran a hand over his scalp. It was likely premature, but the man's switchblade made him nervous. It wasn't unlike Aerc the Red to kill everyone there. Pug would slit Iris and Roman's throats and the soldiers above would dispatch he and John with little effort. As he gestured he looked up and noticed that barely half of the soldiers were still there. If it weren't for the boot of one, he'd not have guessed that they were being slain. As his hand came off his head he gestured quickly to ignore it in the hopes that Jack would see it and Aerc would not.

That hope was dashed as Aerc's eyes narrowed and he stepped forward. "What the frak was that, Innes?!"

The window shattered a fraction of a second too late and the bullet meant for Aerc punched it's way through Pug's skull. A spray of bone, blood and brain covered Roman, then another covered Kahl as Thadius Black's head was the second to pop. Both bound and gagged prisoners moaned in disgust and misery.

- - - -

"Xi--cao wo!" Jack barked in fury. Less than a tenth of a second and she wouldn't have missed. Stewart's gesture had been clear. He ran a hand on his head, so she moved her sight onto Aerc and fired. What the cao had gone wrong?!

Unable to see Aerc now, she shot Thadius as he reached for his weapon. Once done, she sat back and watched as four men burst into the warehouse through side entries, all carrying guns. None of them aimed at Stewart or John, so she assumed these were their friends. Collecting up her gear, Jack thought about what she'd just done.

Setting the gun case on the ground, the woman sank onto a crate, pulled her hood down over her head until it hid her face. She knew she should feel remorse...or at least some form of guilt for having killed a person. A person like Aerc deserved to die. People like him...they didn't belong in a civil world.

Hands shaking she slid a pack of trips from her pocket and lit one. She drew in the mellow drug's smoke, holding it until she could feel her body melt. Exhaling slowly she remembered why she had agreed to do this. For Kahl, for Iris and the kid, sure. Jack did it for herself too. Catharsis, maybe.

Javid. Javid was why she'd done it...but Javid was just as alive now as he'd been twenty minutes ago...twenty-three years ago.

Stuffing her trips pack back in her pocket, Jack slid off the crate and collected the gun case. She only froze when she felt the muzzle of a gun press to the back of her head.

[Melara]

Nike knew just the spot in the back that would both sever the spinal column and puncture the major airway leading to the lungs. Each man died without making a whisper. She had two down before she realized someone was on the other end of the catwalk, working his way through the guards just as efficiently.

There were only two men left when the sniper shots finally struck. Instantly the two remaining soldiers shifted their aim, fingers tensing on weapons. Her mysterious compatriot grabbed and dispatched the man closest to him. Nike leapt on the back of the one closest to hers and, legs wound around his waist, grasped his hair and yanked his head back, slitting his throat. Even as she did so, however, his finger convulsed and his gun ignited.

**

At the gunshots Yin appeared from nowhere, leaping forward and slamming a foot into the redheaded man's back, shoving him forward. There was a pop and a wash of blood. Ignoring it he grabbed hold of the two hostages. Easily he flipped the woman up onto his shoulder but the boy was too large to lift at the same time. Instead he yanked him to his feet and quickly got him out of the way of danger.

**

Everything seemed to happen at once. Aerc suddenly stepped forward with an angry, "What the frak was that, Innes?!" Almost simultaneously his two thugs collapsed, taken down by precise sniper shots. John crouched, grabbing Kahl's wrist-binds and sliding her back on the floor at the same time he pulled out his pistol. Even as he aimed a gun up on the catwalk popped. He felt fire dig into his side and his air suddenly narrow. He half fell onto his other side, nearly dropping his pistol.

A shadow behind Aerc resolved into Yin, who kicked the redheaded man. John managed to keep hold on his pistol and aim again as Aerc fell forward onto his knees.

"Frakin' bastard," John snarled as he pulled the trigger.

[kahl]

Aerc's torso convulsed, his chest beginning to stain with a deep crimson. He wheezed as he breathed. John had collapsed a lung. As he fell forward, he reached toward Kahl as John passed out.

A heavy boot fell on his hand, grinding it into the floor. His good hand. His real hand. As he snarled and tried to yell in protest, he lifted his head to glare at his attacker. Stewart's blank face and hollow eyes stared back, the goggle reflecting Aerc's own horror back at him. Stewart made no show of what Aerc had done to him, nor did he bother with some pithy, victory declaring quip. He merely squeezed the trigger on his gun and watched the back of the red head's skull explode across the back of him.

Sliding his gun away, Stewart then turned and cut Kahl free. Although he was prepared for her to break his nose...again, she only surged to John's side. "John...Lao tian, John...??" she smacke dhis face causing him to stir.

"Thank god," she sighed. "Stewart--pick him up. We've got to get him to the ship's infirmary ma shang...tian xiao de what organs that bullet tore through."

- - - -

Daniel stood observing the tiny assassin next to him. She'd accomplished as much as he had. He didn't ask where she'd learned to do it, although it may have given some insight into where he had learned. His instincts told him, however, that they didn't have the same teachers.

With an approving nod, he sheathed his knife then turned to look out over the scene. Eddie, Del and Farrel were verifying the dead while Savage's group were hustling out the door. Ishkar looked up and waved his gun. "I should bloody well shoot you too, you gorram Qing wa kao de liu mang!

Daniel said nothing only turned to look at the shaggy girl again. She seemed a lot like him. He found it comforting.

- - - -

Ever so slowly, Jack lowered the gun case back to the floor. "If you're aimin' to kill me...make it quick. I can handle pain, but I don't like it so much..."

{Ty--Daniel's in here! Regroup in the warehouse.} Ishkar's voice blared in Ty's ear.

Still standing frozen with a gun to her head, Jack bit her bottom lip and measured her breathing. "I'm with John Savage's crew...I'm...--"

"Not going anywhere--" A silenced pistol pinged in the dark and Jack felt the gun at her head fall away. A finely dressed man emerged with deliberate stride from a shadow near the door. "Good thing I arrived when I did. He'd have killed you."

Jack whipped around to look at the man on the ground, slapping her hood back off her head to see better. He wasn't dead. In fact the man stared up at her with confused, wide eyes which moved from her face to her hair.

"Oh don't worry. He's not dead...just had the wind knocked out of him. Body armor," the stranger shrugged.

Turning back to the shooter, Jack gaped, "you...you're Sohn Harra."

"Mm." Sohn nodded as he holstered his gun. The admission seemed inconsequential. "I suppose you've heard some nasty stories about me? Sadist, rapist, murder...?"

Jack shakily stepped back. other than the rifle, Stewart hadn't given her any other weapon, and her own knife was not with her. Stupid, stupid move, Ai mu gou!

Sohn smiled warmly at her silence. "That's a yes..."

"What do you want...?" Jack held her ground, trying to nonchalantly seek out an exit. She was short but she could sprint really gorram fast. With any luck, she could outrun him. With his stride though...frakker was tall...

Inclining his head, Sohn's smile was seductive, his eyes fierce. "Don't be naive."

[Melara]

Nike did not know him. Clearly he was with the other group that had come in…which was only verified by the big guy cursing up at him. As was her habit when she didn’t know someone, she avoided looking at him directly. Instead she was observing the floor below. Stewart and Kahl were hauling a wounded John out. Yin had slashed the binds holding the woman and the boy, and now was steering them out after the trio. The rest were the skinny guy’s crew—

Glancing sternly at Skinny, she pointed to one of her eyes, then the window. Without a word, she turned and squirmed back in the vent.

Most of her childhood had been spent moving and hiding in vents. She was at home, like a snake in a hole, moving swiftly through the dusty, cramped little space. Even travelling straight down she automatically wedged her hands and feet just so as to not fall or reduce her speed. One of the crew had yet to reappear.

Slipping from one vent grate she was in the open only a moment before she slipped into another. Scaling upward she heard voices. Slowing, she peered out to where Jack had her sniper nest. She was there, on her feet, an unfamiliar man facing her. Another man was on the ground, red-faced and wheezing as he moved weakly.

The vent came out easily a dozen feet away from them. She’d have to be quiet.

Grippnig her knife in her teeth again she silently slipped out of the grate and started creeping in a crouched crab-walk along the shadows toward the three.

**

“R-Roman,” Iris gasped as the gag came free.

“Hold your water,” a man’s voice grumped. There was a snick, and the ropes holding her wrists came free, then her ankles. Without even pausing to look at her rescuer, she shifted over to her son, her hands shaking as she tried to pull off his mask and gag. The stranger began cutting the boy’s bonds as well, and as soon as they were loose he flung his arms around his mother, hugging her tight.

“I hate to break up this fluffy moment,” the stranger grumped. “But get your asses moving.”

For the first time, Iris looked at the man and felt her gut recoil. Had John not come for them after all? Had they just landed in an even worse situation than they’d been in before?

“Up,” Mohawk snapped, gripping their arms and hauling them to their feet. Roman, weak from days without food or appreciable water, half stumbled as they were steered toward a distant door.

[kahl]

Ishkar radioed to Ben to go to the Golden Dragon immediately. The ships weren't too far from each other and if he knew Kahl she was taking John to her medbay, not some stranger's. "Get over to them ma shang. I think he was gut-shot...not sure. Everyone else is fine."

He wasn't actually sure of that point. Ty was still missing and aside from being insane Daniel seemed fine.

"Rest of you...secure the area. Wait for my order to return to the Avernus." Ishkar waved a hand to disperse them then set about the nasty job of disposing the bodies. The Silent Order had a very...effective method of evidence removal. Pulling the pouches from his vest pockets, Ishkar tore one open over each body, dusting the gaping wounds of the bodies. Tossing the empty pouches into a barrel, he then tugged a scarf up over his nose and mouth and watched from a distance as the rapid-action acid ate through the remains and the blood pools, giving off a faint yellow-green mist as it went. Most would find it disturbing, Ishkar found it fascinating, like watching death in fast forward. The bodies nearly seemed to vaporize...but the smell was ungodly.

- - - -

At the woman's signal, Daniel turned and looked at the window. He saw it too. The blue haired girl backing away from an asiatic male. Riding the rails of the stairs down, Daniel dropped to the floor at a run. Ignoring Ishkar's barks at him again, he bolted out the warehouse front doors and over to the factory. He saw a car sitting in wait. Two large men exited the vehicle as Daniel neared, but he was faster and bolted inside, startling the threatening man, whom he could only assume was Sohn Harra.

Daniel grabbed the man with deceptive strength and flung him backward toward the wall. With a lunge, he slammed the man's shoulders back against the brick and reached for his knife. "Get them out!" Daniel barked to the girl creeping along behind Ty and Jack.

Ty managed to stand on his own with some help from Jack, the latter of whom flinched as a blade whipped past her and sank into one of the two muscled men entering the front. "Jesus christ..." she cursed, then pulled Ty's weight onto her shoulders and rushed him toward the back to escape.

Daniel pressed his blade against Sohn's throat, spinning him about as a shield against the remaining man standing. "You can both walk, or you can both die..."

Sohn smiled and spoke calmly, "interesting tattoos..."

The aggressor in the doorway stepped forward, until Sohn raised a hand to stop him. "No need for further violence. I merely wanted to chat with that charming young lady. I can see my advances are unwelcome. Jorgen, in the car please."

Daniel waited for the large man to exit before relieving Sohn of his gun and pushing him forward. By the time Sohn turned around, the factory floor was empty.

- - - -

Jack followed Nike wondering who her other rescuer was. As they emerged from an alleyway, Ty was able to talk again. "Daniel...he's one of mine--I've never seen him....seen him like that."

"Is he...ok?" Jack asked nervously.

The Golden Dragon loomed up before them and Jack nodded, "that's our ship. You'll be safe there until things blow over."

As they came aboard, Madhi was a mess. "John's been shot! Jack...he's bleeding everywhere--" She blinked at the man straining to stand upright at Jack's side. "Who is this...? Is this one of Ishkar's men?" At the man's annoyed sneer and cough, Madhi gestured to the nearest seating surface. "Here...let him rest. The infirmary is...crowded at the moment."

Jack led Ty to the cargo bay stairs and let him sit. "Here...let me help with your vest." Crouching in front of him she unstrapped his dragline body armor. "More of a guarantee, but more elastic right? You do know these things come with kevlar plating to lessen the impact, right?"

Once the vest was off, she didn't ask permission, just opened his shirt and examined his wound. His entire rib cage was aflame in red, black and purple. "I wouldn't be surprised if you broke at least a couple ribs."

Madhi sniffled and kept her distance. "What if he dies, Jack? Do you have any idea what Kahl will be like..?"

"Yeah," Jack nodded. "I've got a pretty good idea..."

- - - -

"Tell me what to do, Kahl," Stewart demanded after resting John on the cot.

The woman pointed at the cabinets and began listing off items and drugs. As best he could to keep up, Stewart raced to gather the supplies while Kahl carefully cut away John's shirt and examined his wounds. "Don't you die on me..." she hissed at him. "I'll never forgive you."

Powering up the nanite surgical system, she then turned and did a scan of the wounded area. "I was thrilled to get to play with this when we stole the ship...but I hoped we'd never really need it."

Dumping the requested items onto the tray table, Stewart grunted, "leave it to John to test it first."

[Melara]

Once they were in the Dragon, Nike merely sat down on a lower step, one arm draped around her ever-present satchel as she watched Jack remove the man's vest. As non-chalantly as if they had been for a summer stroll, she pulled out a smoke and tucked it in her mouth, lighting it. A few moments later a panting man with dark hair and a bag came rushing aboard, trailed by a pale-faced woman with one arm. Her clothes looked too big for her.

"Can I help?" the man asked, zeroing in on the man who seemed injured, stepping past Nike as if she wasn't even there. Wordlessly Nike looked at the woman and then held out her pack of smokes.

"Thank God," the woman replied, taking one.

[kahl]

Daniel would have regrouped with Ishkar if he hadn't seen Ben and Anne. The woman shouldn't have been allowed out of bed, let alone off the ship.

Running after them he caught up to them on the Golden Dragon. Ty was slumped against the metal stairs of the cargo bay, the blue-haired girl bending over him to examine his bare chest. Ty didn't seem like he was minding it too much.

Ben was walking toward them while Anne accepted a cigarette from the silent assassin. Daniel smiled and nodded at her, then murmured at Anne's shoulder. "You're pale. You shouldn't have left bed..."

Impulsively he reached up and smoothed her hair back as she turned around. Her eyes went to his bare chest and he colored self consciously. Although he was sinewy with muscle and not just the scrawny scrap of skin and bone that many thought, her eyes on him were...unsettling, especially when they focused on his tattoos.

Clearing his throat he gestured to the blue-haired girl. "I should go see if Ben needs help with Ty...maybe see if cotton-candy hair can find me a shirt..."

- - - -

Jack looked up at Ben as he approached. "At worst he has some broken ribs. His dragline stopped the bullet from entering, but...well...you can see." She nibbled at her lip. "He took that bullet for me..." Guilt darkened her hazel/green eyes.

"My name's Jack, by the way...If it weren't for him and your friend over there, Nike probably couldn't have gotten me out." The woman ran a hand back through her vibrant hair.

- - - -

Bending over John as she lowered the armature into place, Kahl kissed his clammy brow. "John...luv...this is going to hurt...a lot. I've given you as much painkiller as I can without risking your health."

Stewart touched her shoulder. Ignoring him, Kahl straightened and lowered the armature until the thick needle was positioned above the tender tissue of the open wound. Pinching her lips tightly and clenching her teeth, the woman tried to focus on healing a patient, not saving her husband's life. Initiating the sequence, the needle suddenly jabbed down into John like a shiv. A hot flood of fluid entered his system and a second later the pain ripped through him. Although the nanites were used to repair deep internal injuries, reknitting torn and severed tissue, healing was never a painless process. The needle remained deep inside John continually feeding a stream of enzymes and proteins that the nanites used to rebuild muscle and ligament. When the cycle finished and the nanites died off, his system would flush them out like destroyed parasites and he would be left with a wound that was bound with the weak scar-tissue foundation it needed to strengthen and heal completely.

- - - -

Sohn had his car return him to his loft. The day had been far more productive than it might seem to an outsider. He had skillfully arranged the assassination of a reckless nuisance. He had successfully located his dear, sweet-fleshed, long lost sister. Surprisingly, he had also found a fresh new bloom to pluck. He was uncertain of her age, not that it mattered to Sohn. While ever man had his preferences, most were always willing to stray from them for the right trophy.

He had seen the waves between Aerc and the Golden Dragon crew. Sohn knew about the Symphilia Madhi, but no mention or vision of the turquoise-coiffed sniper. The Symphilia he might be able to lure with a business arrangement. He had more than a few contacts that could arrange it discreetly. She wouldn't even know that it was he she had been hired to service. Luring the other, however, would be far trickier.

Firstly, she knew who he was and what he looked like. There was no mistaking that she was a bright girl. Smart enough not to do something brave or bore him with typical street-offers of bartered freedom. While Sohn would never turn away a willingly offered good polish, willing was a bit of a turn-off.

Examining the gun case on his table, he grinned with devious eyes and opened the small print dusting kit beside it. "Let's see who you are...little mermaid."

[Melara]

“Ben,” he smiled as he introduced himself. “Well, Cap…looks like you’re a hero then.”

“Why don’t you scoot off to their infirmary, Crane…let the pretty girl take care of me,” Ty said. “Their Cap’s worse off than I am.”

**

John grunted a pained half-scream through his clenched teeth. Every breath seemed to draw less air than the one before. “Hard to…to breathe love...” he panted. “You all…right? You’re not…didn’t get hurt…?”

**

“Where’s John,” Iris demanded as bravely as she could from the strange man. They’d been bustled aboard a ship and shoved into what looked like a lounge. She had a hold of her son, hugging him tightly as she did her best to glare at the man that could likely fold her in half with his pinkies. “If John’s the one that got us out where is he?”

[kahl]

Having seen that Jack and the others were okay, Madhi took it upon herself to check on Iris and Roman. They were likely confused and from what she'd seen in the wave, Roman at least was injured. Hearing the Captain of the Avernus brush off his doctor, Madhi gestured, "come with me. The boy and his mother need tending. Kahl and Stewart are taking care of John."

As she led him through the ship she tried to calm herself with basic civilities. "My name is Madhi Arjuna."

Her name glided over her tongue like water on ivory. The consonant break in her first name buzzed like an erotic coupling of a D and a TH. It was a distinctly Exaelian accent, although not that of a farm girl, but by her manner of dress and movement that much could be established.

As the lounge doors slid open Madhi heard the woman--nearly opposite of Kahl in every way save temper-- demand, “If John’s the one that got us out where is he?”

"He is in the infirmary...in surgery," Madhi replied in Yin's stead. As the woman and youth turned to look at her, Madhi sadly informed them, "he's been shot. I brought..." flustered, Madhi paused and looked at Ben. "...I'm sorry, I'm so upset I've forgotten your name..."

- - - -

Using a field kit from the cargo bay wall, Jack made Ty sit up as she carefully bound his ribs. Tearing the medical tape with her teeth, Jack bent forward to secure the gauze. "I'm not a "girl", you know." Her eyes flicked up to his as she arched a brow. "I'm old enough to have a teenager."

Sitting back on the stair railing a few steps beneath him, she shrugged. "You're done. Not much else I can do but get you water and some aspirin."

Turning her eyes on Daniel she remembered that he needed a shirt. Standing she crossed the med bay to the cabinet that had held the field kit. There were some coveralls inside, light weight ones. Maybe that would do. Taking a pale blue one to him she sheepishly admitted, "that's all I can find for now...without raiding the crew's closets anyway."

"JACK!"

The woman's head whipped around to see Kaige galloping down the stairs, barely stopping short of Ty. "Are you okay? John's been--"

"Shot. Yes, I know...I'm fine." The young man's over zealous concern wasn't as easily abated as she'd hoped. He awkwardly stepped around Ty and came to her. "Are you sure you're okay? I saw on the cams...that guy, and the gun...and he--he didn't touch you, did he?"

"Did you see him touch me?" Jack asked tightly.

"Well....no--"

"Then he didn't touch me. I'm fine Kaige. I can take care of myself." The turquoise haired woman huffed then cocked her head. "Where is there some water?"

As she expected, the lanky pilot darted to a refrigerator at the far end of the bay and retrieved a bottle for her. As soon as it was in her hand she smiled curtly then walked to Ty and handed it to him. Crouching again she rummaged in the med-kit until she found some aspirin. "Here...should help."

- - - -

Daniel accepted the coveralls from the odd girl with a quietly, sheepish mumble. "...eh...shi a...thanks..." Gesturing to Anne and the assassin-girl that he was stepping aside to pull them on, as if dressing in front of them were too provocative. "I'll just...over here...be right back..."

Until he'd begun to pull the coveralls on, Daniel hadn't realized that he had blood on him. The coveralls would hide it for now. One hand swiped over his chest. The blood was dried already, and looked nothing like the paints he used when he painted. He was an artist, not a killer...so how had he done all those things he'd just done? And it had been so easy, like breathing.

As he zipped up the lightweight jumpsuit over top of his pants and incriminating bloody chest, he returned and eyed Anne. "Do you need to sit down...or some water maybe?"

Not waiting for an answer he went to the fridge that Kaige had been to, but rather than only bringing one bottle like he had, Daniel gathered an arm-full and passed them out to the others before ending with Anne, for whom he'd brought two.

- - - -

“Hard to…to breathe love...” he panted. “You all…right? You’re not…didn’t get hurt…?”

Kahl shook her head, "the bullet knicked a lung, John. You've got a Pulmonary oedem--"

"Fluid, John. You've got blood and fluid in your lung...she's working to get it out." Stewart interrupted as he saw Kahl's hands start to shake. The reminders that this was her husband and not just some patient were distracting her, overwhelming her.

"She's fine, John. kahl did just fine...Iris and Roman are safe, no one else got hurt." Stewart squeezed his friends hand.

Closing her eyes at the mention of Iris and Roman, Kahl turned her head and cracked her neck, forcing herself to compartmentalize so she could do her gorram job.

[Melara]

"They're all righ...right...ay?" John asked. "That bas..bastard is dead ay...?"

He grunted in pain again, arching his head back a little to try and breathe a bit better.

**

"Ben Crane," Ben supplied with a faint smile. "Please, both of you...sit down."

He said this mostly for the woman's benefit as she suddenly looked ready to faint. The creepy man in the corner just stood and watched as Ben gently took her arm and helped her to sit.

"John was shot--?"

"I'm sure he's in capable hands," he soothed. "Right now let's worry about you two."

**

Ty took the water and aspirin with a nod, tossing the pills into his mouth before chasing it with a gulp from the water. It was clear the boy that had rushed in was crushing on her. Skinny little strip of nothing...Ty could probably twist him like a wet towel.

"Thanks," he said with a lopsided grin.

**

"I'm all right, Daniel," Anne insisted even as he came over with two water bottles for her. The other girl, the greasy one, had put the bottle he'd given her between her feet, more intent on smoking than drinking it. Anne took another draw on her own smoke before placating the man and accepting a bottle.

[kahl]

He'd seen enough in the past few days to put some pieces together. Shoulders sagging, Daniel bobbed his head and muttered in his timid tone, "...good...good...I'll just..." He directed a finger toward a stack of crates near the open hatch. "...be over there if you need anything..."

Shuffling away, Daniel then sagged onto the crate and compulsively screwed and unscrewed the cap of his bottle. He'd seen enough. Anne mostly just tolerated his presence. Scruffy, no account guy like him didn't stand a chance when the dashing Ben Crane was around. Daniel was broken anyway. Even if he was as charming and handsome, schooled and credentialed as Ben...Anne wouldn't want him.

As if merely examining the ship, Daniel's eyes roamed the bay and he idly sipped at his water.

- - - -

The man was scruffy. Scarred and rugged with a buzzing of red hair. Jack could sense the varied layers in him. When he'd spoken to 'Crane' his voice was gruff, militant. He was asserting his role as leader. Then when he spoke to her, he was softer, more relaxed.

"You're their Captain, aren't you?" Jack asked him as she flicked a finger in Anne and Daniel's directions. "And that man Crane."

Ty nodded then drank from his water.

"Thank you," the woman spoke in earnest. "I know there was some confusion of whose side I was on...but I appreciate that you...what I mean is--I know who that man was...what he does...to people...and if you hadn't been there--" Her throat was tightening. Damn her memories for rising to the surface at all the worst times.

"Anyway," she said breathlessly. "Thank you."

- - - -

Madhi added to Ben's statement, her tone surprisingly defensive, "Kahl is the best surgeon there is. If she can't save him no one can. She's like a team all by herself...and the last person in the Verse that she'll let die is her husband."

Feeling guilty for having said it after the fact, Madhi's lips pursed, drawing to the side in embarrassment and shame. "I-- I'm sorry...that was inappropriate."

Hanging her head she turned away and pressed a hand to her temple. When she turned back she serenely asked, "Dr. Crane, is there anything I can do to assist you?"

- - - -

"They're all righ...right...ay?" John asked. "That bas..bastard is dead ay...?"

Nodding, Stewart pulled off his head covering and goggles to meet John's eyes with his own. "He's dead, John. For good. I made sure of it myself and if I know Ishkar, there ain't nothin' left to resurrect this time."

Waiting for the assertion to sink in, Stewart then noted, "Yin should have them in the lounge by now. There's likely only one cabin left on board for them to stay in. I'll make sure Madhi has it made up and ready for them."

Kahl's gaze hit him coldly from across the room. Avoiding looking up at her, Stewart focused on John. "Kahl's almost done with you...just hang in there boy-o."

[Melara]

"I'm in good hands, ay?" John smiled weakly. Rolling his head he looked at his wife, fighting another grimace of pain. He felt like he had sandpaper in his lungs, but seeing the bruises on her face pained him more than anything else.

**

"They both look dehydrated, and they probably haven't eaten for a few days," Ben told her softly. "If you have anything for them to drink and eat...?"

"Of course," she replied instantly, and he turned his attention back to the pair. Beyond bruises and the aforementioned dehydration, she looked fairly healthy. The boy had been a bit bashed around. Burns had been sunk into his collar...by a cigar or cigarette, by the look. Gently Ben swabbed them with a pain-killing antiseptic and burn cream.

**

"You're welcome," Ty told her, then took another slug of the water. He gestured to his ribs. "Thank you for this. You got a good hand. How long you been with the Dragon?"

**

Feeling suddenly a little dizzy, Anne sat down on the bottom-most step, sipping at her water with her eyes unfocused, her thoughts a thousand miles away.

Rising, Nike pinched her lips around the drooping butt of her smoke, then went over to Skinny's side. Pulling out her battered pack of Blacks, she shook one out and offered it to him before perching on the box beside him.

[kahl]

The man nodded in gratitude as he took the smoke and lit it. "Name's Daniel Hawke...but most folks call me Cockroach."

After a moment he muttered, "real impressive what you did back there." It seemed he wanted to say more but instead only squinted and blew a plume of smoke. "...yeeeah..." He took a hefty drag of his cig and stared at his feet.

- - - -

He gestured to his ribs. "Thank you for this. You got a good hand. How long you been with the Dragon?"

The woman uttered a cough-like laugh and shook her head with a sardonic snort. "Only just...I'm already questioning if I crewed up with the wrong ship." Picking the splinters and lint off her hoodie and flicking it away, jack sighed, "to be completely truthy...I don't even know what they want me around for. I'm just an artist...nothing special..."

Kaige had already retreated in rejection, and Jack gestured with a wave toward the upper doors. "Unless Madhi just needed someone else for Kaige to follow around like a puppy."

- - - -

Madhi went to the galley and made up a tray of proper food, not the snacky pi hua that Stewart and Kaige kept in the lounge. She gathered up the heavily laden tray and made her way back, sashaying in with no less grace than she would if working. Lowering the tray to the counter she held a hand out at Yin as he approached. "Ah-ah...this is for them. You can get your own in the galley."

Collecting a few bottles of water and two bottles of Boba tea for the boy, Madhi brought those to Ben's side. "Some drinks..." She smiled at Iris, her eyes still reflecting some guilt. "We have Jennies too, of course, but...if you're dehydrated...best to stick with water for now."

Straightening again, she eyed Roman sadly. He likely had no idea that she'd seen the wave, but the images and sounds wouldn't leave her mind. "You're both probably tired and want somewhere to clean up..." She gestured toward the door. "I'll go make up a room for you...see if I can find you some fresh clothes."

- - - -

"I'm in good hands, ay?" John smiled weakly.

Kahl's eyes lowered and she swallowed hard and bobbed her head ever so slightly. "Shi a...That's all I can...Stewart--I can't do anything else..."

As she looked up, tears welled in her eyes and she avoided looking at John. "Unless I had a team of surgeons, the best GRE equipment...there isn't..." The woman shrugged and braced her hands on the counter, hanging her head as she tried to control her emotions.

[Melara]

Her own butt was about spent. Plucking it from her mouth, Nike flicked it away.

"I'm Nike," she said, then got to her feet. Taking Daniel's hand firmly she pulled him up and led him around the stairwell, pushing him lightly but firmly into the cargo lift. Turning she closed the door and then locked it down. Moving back to him she plucked the smoke with authority from his mouth and tossed it away before grasping his head and pulling him down, kissing him hungrily.

**

"An artist with a sniper rifle," Ty pointed out, then touched his bandaged ribs. "And who does a good field dressing. Yeah, I'm not buying it. So...if you think you're on the wrong ship, I can remedy that. We could use you."