Kidnapped spamming
Nov. 13th, 2004 09:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
maderrYou're getting three chapters, so I apologize for the small flooding of your flists - though I suspect no one will hate me *too* much. And these will bring me back on schedule and sitting very pretty, and another chapter will be typed tomorrow (and hopefully Genuises as well *crosses fingers*).
Enjoy!
Chapter Eleven
Merchant class star ship 00061225, the dragonfly
"Approaching Kreska. ETA to transport range thirty minutes."
Einn's voice was carefully neutral as he acknowledged his crewman's words. Beside him, Cyan was silent and still. Einn fell back into his own silence, letting Faller take care of things.
They'd already said their goodbyes; there wasn't really anything left to say. So why did Einn feel like there was?
Fingers danced lightly across his left shoulder, and Einn looked up smiled. He and Cyan both started to speak at the same time--
And where cut off by a sudden chiming from the console. "Boss on the line for you, Captain."
"I'm busy at the moment," Einn said with a warning glare. "He can wait thirty minutes or so."
"Says it's urgent, Captain."
Einn shook his head, "I don't care. He can wait."
"Says no it can't - you have a special guest he'd like to have a word with."
"No!" Einn snarled. "How many times do I have to tell you?"
"What the hell?" Cyan asked. "Why does he want to talk to me?" he asked the crewman at the communication console.
The man looked at Einn, whose glare was nothing less than murderous, then looked back at Cyan. "Says it would be rude to call and not say hello to his brother."
On Einn's shoulder, Cyan's previously gentle touch turned into a painfully tight grip. "Put it up. Now."
The crewman punched a button, and on the main view-screen overlooking bridge appeared the smirking face of Jade, bedecked in robes of red and gold, the scarlet painted nails of one hand drumming idly against his cheek. "Well, well. You're looking the worse for wear, little brother. Are you always so pale? You should spend less time holed up on that prison planet of yours."
"What...what in the hell is going on here?"
"Oh - did your lover leave that part out?" Jade flicked his amber eyes toward Einn, who remained mute. "He works for me. Imagine my surprise when a fellow Chancellor came to tell me that some "unknown" pirate ship took my brother hostage. I was quite amused. Only to be told that you paid for the pleasure. And quite the pleasure it is I hear."
Snarling, Einn rose from his seat and severed the connection, smashing the console and turning on the man who had disobeyed him. "Get off the bridge. NOW."
"So you work for my brother?" Cyan said into the cold silence that followed. "All this time you've been reporting everything to him?" He jerked away from Einn's touch. "Are you stupid? Why the hell? I can't believe--GET AWAY FROM ME!" But instead of backing away, Cyan ducked away from Einn's attempts to calm him and then swung a punch hard enough to bruise even Einn's tough skin.
"ETA twenty minutes" a voice said meekly.
Faller had moved to drag the offending crewman off, and returned to watch the fight in silence, moving only to warn off the crew from any action.
“I don’t believe you,” Cyan said bitterly. “I thought you were better than that. You work for my brother?”
“It’s not what you think.”
Cyan looked ready to hit him again, “Clearly it never was. Fuck. I’m a fool. You’re a bigger fool. Have you any idea just how fucking stupid an idea it is to work for him?”
“I have a pretty good idea, yes.” Einn said, his own irritation rising. “Would you shut up and listen to me?”
“No.” There was finality in Cyan’s voice. “I’ve already made plenty of mistakes because I listened to you. I won’t do it again. You’re my brother’s lackey - anyone who deals willingly with him isn’t worth listening to.”
“I don’t do it willingly!” Einn shouted desperately. “You’re usually so reasonable, I don’t understand why you won’t let me explain.”
“Reasonable?” Cyan echoed. “Reasonable? This is Jade we’re talking about. There’s nothing reasonable about him. There’s nothing sane about him. My brother is a scheming, lying, manipulative, conniving, unstable bastard. And anyone who assists him is stupid and headed for certain death.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Clearly you don’t!”
Einn blinked, taken aback by the veracity of Cyan’s words. It suddenly occurred that most of Cyan’s anger sprang from fear. But fear of what, he didn’t quite know.
“You have no idea what Jade is capable of,” Cyan continued before he could speak. “And I can’t believe I trusted you. You knew! This entire time you fucking knew. Who. I. Was. And you never told me a goddamned word. Not one! And now you’ve probably put Sean in danger, because my brother isn’t stupid.” Misery joined the fear and anger in Cyan’s face. “Have you idea what you might have done?”
“I highly doubt your brother gives two shits why you’re here – I certainly never told him. And the minute I find out who has been spilling information, they’re be lucky if all I do is kill them.” The tone of his voice promised all who heard it that his words were no idle threat.
“Whatever,” Cyan turned away in disgust. “That’ll teach me to deal with pirates. And to think that—” he shook his head. “If something happens to Sean because of you, I’ll kill you.”
A crewman spoke up, “Within range of ground transporters.”
Cyan stalked toward the door, glaring darkly at Faller a moment before he turned back to Einn.
“It’s not what you think,” Einn tried one last time.”
“It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’ve lied to me this entire time. About Jade. None of you get just how terrible he really is. There are several reasons I try not to be associated with him. Whatever deal you think you have with him, he doesn’t agree.” His eyes were angry and sad as he looked at Einn. “He’s going to kill you eventually, make no mistake about that. And he’ll probably make sure you take the blame for a great many of his schemes. He’s nothing but trouble. If you actually manage to survive whatever it is he’s plotting, don’t get pissed when I show up just to say ‘I told you so.” He mashed the open button for the door, and paused on the threshold. “Thanks for the lift, Captain.” He didn’t say goodbye.
Einn wanted to hurt something – or someone. “Would somebody like to explain to me why we feel the sudden need to disobey my orders?”
“Because, Cap’n…” a crewman rose to his feet, stunner in hand, “We don’t much feel like following’em anymore. And the Boss had decided we’d be better off without you.”
Einn went cold.
“What the hell are you going on about,” Faller snapped. He narrowed his eyes as another crewman leveled a stunner at him.
“Lord Alexander ain’t got no problem with you, Faller.”
“Well it’s too damn bad I’ve got a problem with him. And if you don’t drop that weapon right this instant, you’ll regret it.”
“I think we’ve got the upper hand here, Faller. Now – Lord Alexander has said you’re both to be killed, if you wouldn’t see reason.” The insect-like crewman who controlled navigation stared at Einn, his stunner still leveled at him. “But you’ve been a pretty good captain all these years. So we’d be willing to dump you on Kreska. If you’ll go peacefully and not make any trouble.”
Einn was sorely tempted to tell them all to just start shooting. He and Lark could easily take out most of the bridge before they went down for good. But that was the easy way out, and if things were falling apart like this.
Cyan and his friend probably were in danger. He really wish he had some sort of clue as to what the fuck was going on. “Fine. We’ll go to Kreska.”
“There’s a wise decision.”
Faller shot him a glare, but subsided at Einn’s warning look. “You lot realize that if I ever see you again, I’ll kill you.”
“Don’t take it personally, Faller.” Another red-skinned human and the insectoid guided them off the bridge and toward the transporters. “We’ve noticed the Captain getting soft of late, and you’re all too willing to follow his orders. But Alexander has bigger plans, and no soft Captain is going to be able to carry them out.”
“Soft?” Einn asked quietly.
No one replied, instead the insectoid keyed in the codes for Kreska and helped shove Einn and Faller onto the transporter. “Make yourselves scarce; if we see you again, someone really is going to have to die.”
Einn remained silent, and in the next moment he and Faller were gone.
Planet 1185911 (kreska), Solo City
Einn fought an urge to scream as he and Faller rapidly exited the transport station – the only one, in the only major city on Kreska.
It was a planet of browns and greens and blues; too remote even for those who enjoyed a rustic style vacation. Kreska was the source of a great many luxurious textiles, though the amount of wood and other natural resources utilized was closely supervised by the Infinitum Government. Little of note occurred on the sleep planet, so no one paid any mind to them – travelers were infrequent but not unheard of.
Several minutes later Einn and Faller were holed up in an inn. Einn stared dourly out the window.
“He won’t be that hard to find,” Faller offered, voice almost comforting.
“What in the hell is going on here? It makes no sense at all. None.”
Faller shrugged, rubbing his face tiredly with his hand – he’d long ago discarded the In-specs worn to control the ship they no longer manned. “I don’t know. When and if we ever get back to the Dragonfly I’m going to beat every one of them until I find out how they managed to scheme behind my back like that.
“It’s obvious Alexander is up to something.”
“No shit. What was up with that call on the bridge?”
Einn shrugged, “I think that was meant exclusively for Cyan. I can’t see what other purpose it served. We’re damned lucky the crew didn’t turn into complete bastards, though. Otherwise we’d both be dead – and there’d be no one to help Cyan.”
“You really think he’s in danger?”
“Yes. I don’t know why – maybe because the mutiny didn’t happen until he was gone. I think it probably wasn’t supposed to happen until our bodies could be sent into the nearest sun.” he shrugged. “Like I said, I’m glad the crew decided to spare us. Though I’m certainly not going to grant them the same courtesy.”
Fall agreed with a few muttered curses of his own. “So I guess we’d better set to work finding your lover. Or should that be ex?”
“Shut up. You’re not helping.”
“For what it’s worth, he’ll probably forgive you eventually.”
“I’m surprised you care enough to even attempt such a thoughtful if stupid comment.”
Faller shrugged, “I think you’re both idiots. But he was at least as miserable as you when he stormed off, which to my mind means you’ll eventually be happily reunited idiots.”
“I’ll settle for making sure he’s okay. But thank you.”
“Whatever. Let’s get going.”
Enjoy!
Chapter Eleven
Merchant class star ship 00061225, the dragonfly
"Approaching Kreska. ETA to transport range thirty minutes."
Einn's voice was carefully neutral as he acknowledged his crewman's words. Beside him, Cyan was silent and still. Einn fell back into his own silence, letting Faller take care of things.
They'd already said their goodbyes; there wasn't really anything left to say. So why did Einn feel like there was?
Fingers danced lightly across his left shoulder, and Einn looked up smiled. He and Cyan both started to speak at the same time--
And where cut off by a sudden chiming from the console. "Boss on the line for you, Captain."
"I'm busy at the moment," Einn said with a warning glare. "He can wait thirty minutes or so."
"Says it's urgent, Captain."
Einn shook his head, "I don't care. He can wait."
"Says no it can't - you have a special guest he'd like to have a word with."
"No!" Einn snarled. "How many times do I have to tell you?"
"What the hell?" Cyan asked. "Why does he want to talk to me?" he asked the crewman at the communication console.
The man looked at Einn, whose glare was nothing less than murderous, then looked back at Cyan. "Says it would be rude to call and not say hello to his brother."
On Einn's shoulder, Cyan's previously gentle touch turned into a painfully tight grip. "Put it up. Now."
The crewman punched a button, and on the main view-screen overlooking bridge appeared the smirking face of Jade, bedecked in robes of red and gold, the scarlet painted nails of one hand drumming idly against his cheek. "Well, well. You're looking the worse for wear, little brother. Are you always so pale? You should spend less time holed up on that prison planet of yours."
"What...what in the hell is going on here?"
"Oh - did your lover leave that part out?" Jade flicked his amber eyes toward Einn, who remained mute. "He works for me. Imagine my surprise when a fellow Chancellor came to tell me that some "unknown" pirate ship took my brother hostage. I was quite amused. Only to be told that you paid for the pleasure. And quite the pleasure it is I hear."
Snarling, Einn rose from his seat and severed the connection, smashing the console and turning on the man who had disobeyed him. "Get off the bridge. NOW."
"So you work for my brother?" Cyan said into the cold silence that followed. "All this time you've been reporting everything to him?" He jerked away from Einn's touch. "Are you stupid? Why the hell? I can't believe--GET AWAY FROM ME!" But instead of backing away, Cyan ducked away from Einn's attempts to calm him and then swung a punch hard enough to bruise even Einn's tough skin.
"ETA twenty minutes" a voice said meekly.
Faller had moved to drag the offending crewman off, and returned to watch the fight in silence, moving only to warn off the crew from any action.
“I don’t believe you,” Cyan said bitterly. “I thought you were better than that. You work for my brother?”
“It’s not what you think.”
Cyan looked ready to hit him again, “Clearly it never was. Fuck. I’m a fool. You’re a bigger fool. Have you any idea just how fucking stupid an idea it is to work for him?”
“I have a pretty good idea, yes.” Einn said, his own irritation rising. “Would you shut up and listen to me?”
“No.” There was finality in Cyan’s voice. “I’ve already made plenty of mistakes because I listened to you. I won’t do it again. You’re my brother’s lackey - anyone who deals willingly with him isn’t worth listening to.”
“I don’t do it willingly!” Einn shouted desperately. “You’re usually so reasonable, I don’t understand why you won’t let me explain.”
“Reasonable?” Cyan echoed. “Reasonable? This is Jade we’re talking about. There’s nothing reasonable about him. There’s nothing sane about him. My brother is a scheming, lying, manipulative, conniving, unstable bastard. And anyone who assists him is stupid and headed for certain death.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Clearly you don’t!”
Einn blinked, taken aback by the veracity of Cyan’s words. It suddenly occurred that most of Cyan’s anger sprang from fear. But fear of what, he didn’t quite know.
“You have no idea what Jade is capable of,” Cyan continued before he could speak. “And I can’t believe I trusted you. You knew! This entire time you fucking knew. Who. I. Was. And you never told me a goddamned word. Not one! And now you’ve probably put Sean in danger, because my brother isn’t stupid.” Misery joined the fear and anger in Cyan’s face. “Have you idea what you might have done?”
“I highly doubt your brother gives two shits why you’re here – I certainly never told him. And the minute I find out who has been spilling information, they’re be lucky if all I do is kill them.” The tone of his voice promised all who heard it that his words were no idle threat.
“Whatever,” Cyan turned away in disgust. “That’ll teach me to deal with pirates. And to think that—” he shook his head. “If something happens to Sean because of you, I’ll kill you.”
A crewman spoke up, “Within range of ground transporters.”
Cyan stalked toward the door, glaring darkly at Faller a moment before he turned back to Einn.
“It’s not what you think,” Einn tried one last time.”
“It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’ve lied to me this entire time. About Jade. None of you get just how terrible he really is. There are several reasons I try not to be associated with him. Whatever deal you think you have with him, he doesn’t agree.” His eyes were angry and sad as he looked at Einn. “He’s going to kill you eventually, make no mistake about that. And he’ll probably make sure you take the blame for a great many of his schemes. He’s nothing but trouble. If you actually manage to survive whatever it is he’s plotting, don’t get pissed when I show up just to say ‘I told you so.” He mashed the open button for the door, and paused on the threshold. “Thanks for the lift, Captain.” He didn’t say goodbye.
Einn wanted to hurt something – or someone. “Would somebody like to explain to me why we feel the sudden need to disobey my orders?”
“Because, Cap’n…” a crewman rose to his feet, stunner in hand, “We don’t much feel like following’em anymore. And the Boss had decided we’d be better off without you.”
Einn went cold.
“What the hell are you going on about,” Faller snapped. He narrowed his eyes as another crewman leveled a stunner at him.
“Lord Alexander ain’t got no problem with you, Faller.”
“Well it’s too damn bad I’ve got a problem with him. And if you don’t drop that weapon right this instant, you’ll regret it.”
“I think we’ve got the upper hand here, Faller. Now – Lord Alexander has said you’re both to be killed, if you wouldn’t see reason.” The insect-like crewman who controlled navigation stared at Einn, his stunner still leveled at him. “But you’ve been a pretty good captain all these years. So we’d be willing to dump you on Kreska. If you’ll go peacefully and not make any trouble.”
Einn was sorely tempted to tell them all to just start shooting. He and Lark could easily take out most of the bridge before they went down for good. But that was the easy way out, and if things were falling apart like this.
Cyan and his friend probably were in danger. He really wish he had some sort of clue as to what the fuck was going on. “Fine. We’ll go to Kreska.”
“There’s a wise decision.”
Faller shot him a glare, but subsided at Einn’s warning look. “You lot realize that if I ever see you again, I’ll kill you.”
“Don’t take it personally, Faller.” Another red-skinned human and the insectoid guided them off the bridge and toward the transporters. “We’ve noticed the Captain getting soft of late, and you’re all too willing to follow his orders. But Alexander has bigger plans, and no soft Captain is going to be able to carry them out.”
“Soft?” Einn asked quietly.
No one replied, instead the insectoid keyed in the codes for Kreska and helped shove Einn and Faller onto the transporter. “Make yourselves scarce; if we see you again, someone really is going to have to die.”
Einn remained silent, and in the next moment he and Faller were gone.
Planet 1185911 (kreska), Solo City
Einn fought an urge to scream as he and Faller rapidly exited the transport station – the only one, in the only major city on Kreska.
It was a planet of browns and greens and blues; too remote even for those who enjoyed a rustic style vacation. Kreska was the source of a great many luxurious textiles, though the amount of wood and other natural resources utilized was closely supervised by the Infinitum Government. Little of note occurred on the sleep planet, so no one paid any mind to them – travelers were infrequent but not unheard of.
Several minutes later Einn and Faller were holed up in an inn. Einn stared dourly out the window.
“He won’t be that hard to find,” Faller offered, voice almost comforting.
“What in the hell is going on here? It makes no sense at all. None.”
Faller shrugged, rubbing his face tiredly with his hand – he’d long ago discarded the In-specs worn to control the ship they no longer manned. “I don’t know. When and if we ever get back to the Dragonfly I’m going to beat every one of them until I find out how they managed to scheme behind my back like that.
“It’s obvious Alexander is up to something.”
“No shit. What was up with that call on the bridge?”
Einn shrugged, “I think that was meant exclusively for Cyan. I can’t see what other purpose it served. We’re damned lucky the crew didn’t turn into complete bastards, though. Otherwise we’d both be dead – and there’d be no one to help Cyan.”
“You really think he’s in danger?”
“Yes. I don’t know why – maybe because the mutiny didn’t happen until he was gone. I think it probably wasn’t supposed to happen until our bodies could be sent into the nearest sun.” he shrugged. “Like I said, I’m glad the crew decided to spare us. Though I’m certainly not going to grant them the same courtesy.”
Fall agreed with a few muttered curses of his own. “So I guess we’d better set to work finding your lover. Or should that be ex?”
“Shut up. You’re not helping.”
“For what it’s worth, he’ll probably forgive you eventually.”
“I’m surprised you care enough to even attempt such a thoughtful if stupid comment.”
Faller shrugged, “I think you’re both idiots. But he was at least as miserable as you when he stormed off, which to my mind means you’ll eventually be happily reunited idiots.”
“I’ll settle for making sure he’s okay. But thank you.”
“Whatever. Let’s get going.”
