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[sH0tgUn jUliA]

As everyone got into the car, Irina finished hooking her omni-tool into the skycar's nav computer via optical cable. "Okay VERA start feeding a live data stream for Arian's location," she maneuvered the car into traffic and punched it.

 

"Watch it!" Jenus shouted.

 

"I am, don't worry," she said as she weaved around traffic. "This thing can go faster, I know it can. There's a governor under the center panel, Jenus. Open it, and you'll see a yellow rod about 2 centimeters in diameter. Just pull it out."

 

Jenus used the fabrication part of her omnitool to create a screwdriver and opened the panel, and there it was. "Just yank it?"

 

"Yeah, just yank it."

 

"How do  you know it will work?"

 

"Jenus, I spent time in the motor pool on Duellos. I know these things."

 

Jenus did it and the car jumped forward in a burst of speed.

 

"Ah, now we'll weave even better."

 

Vayne was starting to get car sick. "Can you drive this thing?"

 

"I'll take you on my bike someday and really scare the crap out of you," Irina said, "But you won't fit."

 

"Truck!" Jenus shouted.

 

"I see it!"

 

Irina just had to maneuver around vehicles and kept the engine about 200 rpm under red line. VERA provided nav points.

[Kel Riever]

Babe

Babe left the offices of Terra Firma escorting Amy Babylon in a long coat, meant more for fashion than any practical use aboard the environmentally stable Citadel.  It might have seen the odd couple, visually, the press secretary dressed for politics and the woman who wore whatever she wanted and made other people want to (or wish) they could wear it.  Neither Jess nor Morgan was with them, a point that might have been picked up on, if it wasn't for the one, most unusual occurrence, over attire or company in attendance.  Amy Babylon said nothing on the way out, and that was the biggest surprise to the staff of all.

Nor did Amy say anything in the skycar ride with Babe on the way back to the Medusa.  Babe simply piloted the car, opting for manual control, while they travelled.  And when they appeared at the Medusa, all Babe did was board discreetly, avoiding most anyone she could with Amy, and brought her to an available cabin.  

"This is where you will wait, until Captain Stone is ready to see you.  I will have someone come to you shortly.  You may ask her for anything you require while you pass the time."

Then Babe closed the door and called for Sherie.

Through the entire trip, despite the silence, Babe was consumed in her own attempt to remember events that had happened.  She was distantly aware of most of what had occurred, but the part of her she had wanted to keep under wraps had come out.  Then there was a point where it all had gone blank.  Babe wondered now if she was making herself forget things, though in the past she had an inkling it had been someone else.

And that was what it was like being her, Babe was painfully aware.  Life a video where someone had gone in and erased certain clips.   One moment, sitting on the table giving Amy the coals, and then the other walking out of the office.

Well, it wasn't entirely forgotten, but for the part she remembered, it might as well have been a dream.  Something that couldn't possibly have really happened.

Sherie showed up, interrupting her thoughts at that spot.  Babe's distant reverie came back full blown to life, and she spoke to Sherie in earnest.  Which, of course, elicited that a desire to help that any mother would have for a child in need.  

"Sherie, we have a guest named Amy Babylon.  She's important to the Captain, so I've had her wait until she is called upon by Jess.  In the meantime, she may need a few things.  Would you please get them for her?"

Babe had another, abrupt, consideration.

"And one more thing, Sheri.  This is important, particularly if you don't want to be taken advantage of.  Whatever she asks for, make sure she doesn't ever entirely get it.  Always leave at least something off the list.  Promise this to me, please."

[Redbelle]

Sheri gave Babe a curious look. "If it's you then I promise. But later perhaps you'll be so kind as to tell me what has you concerned about her. I'll prepare some food. See that she's catered for. May I assume she will be joining us? The Captain does so like to pick up a motley group. First employee's of a civil defense group. Then the crew of a ship I understand you.... hulled is the term? Now she's picking up extremist political movement's press secretary's. I can't say i appreciate this Terra Firma movement. To many zealots in it's past to ever have the moral authority to.... Oh listen to me. I'm going on and I trust you have things to do as well".

 

Sherie plucked out a notebook that was shut by an elasticated band. Flipping the band up and off she drew a pencil from the books side and marked a note in her book. "Attend..... Amy.... Babylon..... Captain's favor". She marked by the side of the book. "Well that hardly speaks well for her". She shut the book up and gave Babe a farewell nod. "I'll see you at our next gun practice, if not sooner".

 

With that, her skirt swishing around her ankles, she turned and walked in the direction towards the Kitchen.

[Redbelle]

On leaving Amy's office, shortly after Babe and Amy, Jess and Morgan beelined to the landing roof where they found neither waiting and the skycar gone.

 

"Grud Dammit". Jess grunted as she went over and called another skycar to their location. The terminal told them it would dispatch one immediately and with a reported minute to kill, Jess rocked back on her heels and looked up at the stations spinning arms. It was surreal as always. Looking up and knowing that, from the docking corridor view of the station, she was actually looking at the arms that in her mind belonged on their sides. Not looming over her head.

 

But that was space. Direction was relative. In the gravity of her ship, with the pull of gravity and the position of the station on docking approach, it was on it's side. Now with the pull of gravity on the station on the Presidium, the arms were indeed up. It was topsy turvy where just because one point of view was right, didn't mean another point of view was wrong. Both were technically right. You just had to be able to see from a different point of view.

 

"Hey Morgan....". She said. "You think Amy would be okay learning I'm still alive? I mean, you know we're sisters and Babe knows we're sisters.... But after what happened in that office.... Do you think she'd be okay knowing that we're family"?

 

Jess heard the engines of the skycar from afar and turned to look at Morgan at her side. "Now's not the time I think. Amy could really lash out over what happened with Babe. Human ego's can be bruised if you don't protect them and Amy's ego is..... a little on the over inflated side".

[Kel Riever]

Morgan understood what Jess was saying.  "I would always trust your judgement.  It will come out, I think, in its own time.  Maybe she simply needs to get used to the way things are aboard the Medusa, before she gets used to the idea that someone she shares blood with is standing right in front of her.  I saw it in the way she treated you; she's going to look at you as competition.  At least at first.  And until she knows better."

Thinking about the office meeting, Morgan said, "The important part is to finish whatever it was that you thought you needed to, and that doesn't have to mean you come out with a confessional about who you are.  They're there, ready and waiting.  When Amy gets about, however, I feel like the meeting will fall by the wayside, until other business gets settled.  It's up to you; we can go further or let it wait.  Either way, I'm by your side."

[Redbelle]

Jess gave a mischievous grin. "You want to be involved in a TerF recruitment drive luv? I mean think about it. You get to dress as a C-Sec officer. Play the hero.... Maybe you could....". Jess's eye's slid away from Morgan as she rocked up on her toes. "...... keep.... the uniform"?

[Kel Riever]

"A uniform, is that a thing?"  Morgan grinned.  "The things we do.  How can I say no, with my own brand of...interests."

Morgan's eyes wandered.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena knew that if anything were to be done about Arian it had to be done quickly. The Citadel was huge and it would be relatively easy to find a place to hide. Getting off the Citadel would be another thing, but it's not like people had never been put in cryo pods and stuffed in cargo before.

 

She left the Janiri, went to the nearby C-sec motor pool and commandeered an unmarked C-sec interceptor. She began connecting her omni-tool to the nav computer.

[Redbelle]

Anika woke from consciousness feeling utterly spent. A rare thing for her. Getting up on her elbows she looked down and saw she was in Naleena's bed tangled in the sheet's and the memory of what had occurred suddenly hit her. A big goofy smile that stretched from ear to ear appeared on her face as she flopped down in the mattress and she stretched her tired aching muscles......

 

"Totally worth it".

 

Looking over at her jump suit and Typhoon she had a hazy recollection of Naleena telling her to come along somewhere. It had sounded important. Pulling herself up she swung her legs out of the bed and reached for her cloths. Pulling them on she asked.... "Vera, Where's Naleena going? Can I catch up to her"?

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"I have located her at the C-sec motor pool nearest the dock. I will upload its location to your omni-tool. If you hurry, you can catch her." VERA replied. "I will inform her you are on your way."

[Redbelle]

Jess looked at where Morgan's eye's lingered but before she could say anything, the Skycar arrived, hovered for a breif moment as the TerF computer exchanged handshakes with the Skycar's own, then descended downwards to alight on the roof landing zone.

 

Jess turned to Morgan and flicked her head to the car. "C'mon Cowboy. We've got a Babe to rein in".

 

With that, Jess moved over and popped the canopy of the car before settling into the drivers seat. As Morgan settled in beside her Jess toggled the canopy controls and cycled the engine to lift off. High up over TerF HQ Jess pointed the skycar at the lane that would take them to the docks and hit the throttle. The skycar lurched forward and both were pressed back in their seats as Jess navigated the thankfully light traffic.

 

In no time at all they'd arrived back at the docking station where the Medusa was in port and after landing and exiting the skycar, Jess struck out for the Medusa.

 

"So then, Mr Morgan. You want to sneak aboard? I'll have to announce myself in some way but I can tell the watch stander to keep my arrival under wraps. That'll stop the buck load of reports and sign offs i have to do. Give us time to do what we have to".

[Redbelle]

Anika got the legs on and up before reached for the arms. She pulled the jumpsuit up and over before cinching it closed at her front before doing up the fastener. Activating the hard point harness she felt the one on her back vibrate to show it was on and picking up the Typoon she swung it one handed over her back to connect. Taking her hand away as she turned the Typoon stuck in place.

 

"Thanks VERA. Can you have some thermal clips ready for me on my way? I packed light coming over".

 

The doors to Naleena's quarter's swished open, as did the lift and Anika stepped inside, turned, then reached over to hit the panel controls before leaning back to fold her arms as the lift doors swished shut and she began her descent.

[Kel Riever]

"Yes," Morgan affirmed.  "Until we're done with this business.  Babe needs a restoration."

Morgan couldn't think of a better word to use.  He wondered if Babe had issues before.  Now Morgan wondered how deep.

[Redbelle]

Jess looked up at the Medusa. Her full length was to big for the dockway to reach all the way to her stern where the airlocks nearest her quarters could be located. "Scuse me". She said as she disappeared into one of the occupied garages. Moment's passed. Then Jess came out and opened the garage next door, walked in. Moment's passed before Morgan heard the tell tale sound of an engine fire up.

 

What he saw next was Jess, riding what looked like a bubble, under which a propulsion unit was slung that two pilot seats where essentially resting upon.Bringing it over Jess popped open a door for him and gestured.

 

"C'mon! Before someone stops to ask if your really my supervisor on an inspection tour"?

[Kel Riever]

Morgan hopped in. He hadn't seen the odd craft ever before but had to admire its utility. "I wouldn't be surprised if this little space boat ends up aboard when we leave."

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"I have alerted Tallis to have 600 rounds waiting for you at the airlock." VERA replied.

 

********

 

Naleena drove the interceptor to the airlock of the Janiri and waited for Anika. Being a C-sec car and her being a Spectre she gave the proper authorization codes so that the car was not targeted by the security system.

[Redbelle]

The lift hit the level where the airlock was located and Anika stepped out and headed towards the exit where Tallis was waiting. In her hands was a belt of thermal clips that held a device Anika knew on sight. A barrier generator sat on the belt. Anika didn't know which make or model and resolved to get her own preferred type stocked on the Janiri.

 

Planning ahead a little there aren't you girl? She asked herself as she took the belt and clipped it on. "Thanks Tallis. See you soon". She said as she headed out the airlock and arrived outside the Janiri. Seeing Naleena in the interceptor she jogged over, popped the canopy on her side, and jumped in, remembering to duck her head before she banged it on the Interceptors roof.

 

"Sorry for the wait. Got distracted by this dashing Specter who left me rolling my eyeballs back in my sockets. Had to put them back". She said as she dogged the canopy closed. "So what's got you up? Someone out there whose interrupting our quiet time"?

[Redbelle]

Morgan hopped in. He hadn't seen the odd craft ever before but had to admire its utility. "I wouldn't be surprised if this little space boat ends up aboard when we leave."

Jess gave him an innocent look. "This thing? Me? Why Morgan, I am the height of responsible borrowing. And they never said when they'd need it back by....".

 

Jess pushed the engine hard and they took off and moved off to the aft of the Medusa. "Thought the engine coudl use a clean by the sounds of it and once the afterburner goes in and the bubble replaced with composite......".

 

Jess kept up the tirade of 'improvements' all the way to the starboard aft airlock where she commed in. "Duncan? Jess here. I want you to be discrete and open the aft starboard airlock for me. Then tell the watchstander I'm aboard without anyone knowing. And tell him not to disturb me unless it's something that can't wait. Understood"?

 

"Um.... yeah? I guess.... I mean yes Cap'n.... Why are you...."?

 

"Ship business luv. Very important. Hush Hush. Now chop chop".

 

"Ahhh yes... Right".

 

The airlock opened and Jess was happy to discover the rear of the engine contained a mag plate. Parking the inspection bubble on the hull of the ship Jess and Morgan went aboard, then moved further in as Jess commed Babe.

 

"Babe luv? Where are you? Can you meet me in my quarters"?

[Kel Riever]

Babe had just gotten herself a protein bar from Sherie (with much disapproval), and returned to one of the turret's when she got the call.

There was concern in Babe's voice.

"On my way, Captain."

[Redbelle]

Jess sighed as she pulled open a compartment in her cabin. Several tumblers emerged and she pulled out a pot. Several bags of herbs sat next to it and taking a sachet she dropped it into the pot before hitting a button in the compartment. Hot water spilled out of a spout and when it was full Jess switched off the flow. Placed everything on a tray and moved it across to the table in her room.

 

She saw Morgan eying her and Jess shrugged. "Just setting the mood. We're going to be having a bit of a talk before we get to Amy. Bit of relaxing tea. Something Doc recommends".

[Kel Riever]

"I understand," Morgan replied, "Good to set her at ease, if possible."

There was a com from Babe to Jess. "Captain, I'm at the elevator, and need permission to get to your deck"

[Redbelle]

Jess gave Babe her permission and opened the elevator to her access. "Come on up luv. I got the place all ready".

[Kel Riever]

Babe came out of the elevator, into the Captain's cabin for the first time. She saw Morgan and Jess, then took in the room for a moment with her ocean eyes. There was a bit of her lure gone, though her beauty was still undiminished. After her quiet, she was modest with her greeting.

"Hey."

[Redbelle]

"Hey luv. Take a seat". Jess gestured to the seat opposite hers by the table. " I think you know what I brought you up here to discuss. Tea"? She asked picking up the pot she'd made. "We can go something stronger if you'd prefer.... Just means upending a hip flask iin the drink is all". Jess finished pouring and set the pot down as three cups stood steaming. Jess took one and handed it off to Morgan before taking her own. " Gosh darn it all Babe get that backside sat down. Your here so we can talk. I'm not going to tell at you or anything".

[Kel Riever]

Babe hesitated. Then she gave in. She didn't look like she believed Jess, even if she wanted to.

"I think a shot in the tea would suit."

Morgan raised an eyebrow, but tastes were tastes.

Babe took a seat, putting one leg over the other after grabbing her cup, once her drink was poured ( and shot added ). After taking a sip, she nodded. "Okay," Babe said and seemed to prepare herself for the worst.