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Post by Admiral Hart on Feb 27, 2009 15:16:31 GMT -5
"She's not breathing!"
"We're facing heavy damage, Captain, do you read me?"
Captain Hart slumped to her knees, despair and shock filling her face. All the while her comm link filling with more and more panicked cries.
"Captain! Captain!"
----Three Days Earlier---
"Captain, we're only about day and a half from Earth." Helmsman Xiao said. "So far smooth sailing."
Morgan cast Jo a worried look. "Jo, this is quite possibly the worst plan ye've ever had."
Captain Hart gave him a withering look. "Stop contradicting me in front of the men. It will be fine."
Cook looked up at her. "With all due respect, Ma'am? What is the plan? I thought we were going to go to the Cove and celebrate the Bicentennial or something."
Jo smirked. "We aren't going to the Cove, but I fully intend to celebrate the Bicentennial." Jo then put out a ship-wide comm announcement. "This is Captain Hart speaking. Before long, we'll be on Earth. London to be precise." She gave a pause as her grin grew wider. "It seems Prime Minister Rodriguez is holding a little shindig. Everyone who's everyone--statesmen, businessmen, actors, authors--is going to be there. And we, ladies and gentlemen, are going to crash this party and rob them blind. That's right. We're going to sneak into the most heavily guarded party in the Solar System and make a ruckus. Make sure to take your punch-spiking gear. Hart, out."
Everyone on the bridge was giving her a stunned look. Except for Jane, who looked crafty and speculative, and Morgan who looked annoyed.
"Oh, come on, guys. This is going to be the best job in the history of piracy. Nothing will go wrong."
***********
Elsewhere on the ship, Clara stood before most of the Orphans--Angel and Toby were conspicuously absent. On her back were a crossed pair of greatswords, each weapon easily larger than she was, made entirely of starmetal.
"Good." She said, glancing at the intercom. "Mother is doing as I thought she would. Which will give us our chance."
"Our chance for vhat?" Siegfried, a very large teen in his latter teenage years, and the last woken up.
"I have thought for a long time on what our course of action should be, where we should start it, and how it should begin." Clara said, amplifying the fervor of her audience. "And I have come to three conclusions."
"Revolution. The Prime Minister's Party. And violently."
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Dr. Andromeda Reyes
Sailor of the Eight Planets
Plunder's Heart Chief Medical Officer
I've given up everything for my sister once. I wouldn't test my loyalty if I were you.
Posts: 119
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Post by Dr. Andromeda Reyes on Feb 27, 2009 15:57:20 GMT -5
Andromeda glanced up at the intercom speaker above her after the Captain finished speaking, expression pensive. The slender woman was bereft of her white lab coat for the first time since she had been held prisoner on Io, dressed casually in a coral pink blouse and a darker shade of slacks. She sat mostly alone in the galley at present, nursing a cup of coffee and trying to ignore Happy's worried gaze, who was watching like a hawk to make sure she finished her lunch.
She had tried to turn in her resignation to Jo yesterday. The redhead had stoutly refused.
"You're free to take a break as long as you want," the tall woman had replied softly, "but I'm not letting you quit. Everyone makes mistakes, Andi, even you. And Cassi is fine, now. You're not Atlas, babe. The world doesn't have to rest on your shoulders."
Andromeda sighed, biting her lip slightly, stomach growing cold with dread and worry. Jo's plan, as usual, sounded unnecessarily life-threatening, completely insane and dangerous in the extreme. Dane would probably be getting shot at least once. Who knew what other injuries would be cropping up. And she wasn't nearly in the right state of mind to deal with them. Katy could only be expected to do so much, as she was still just learning, super-intelligent android or not.
Andromeda prayed that, for once, her talents would not be needed on this job. Because she was no longer confident that they would be of any use.
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Willie Barbary
Buccaneer
Pilot
It's worse when you know that hell is coming, but nobody else will believe you . . . .
Posts: 52
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Post by Willie Barbary on Feb 27, 2009 16:18:01 GMT -5
Willie paced the confines of her and Miller's bunk, her lip nearly chewed to the quick from worrying. The Captain's announcement was still ringing loudly in her ears. As well as the words she had heard Dagger say to her in her dream.
They did it because they're planning something that I might get in the way of.
This crazy, high profile job at the Prime Minister's Bicentennial party just seemed too much like an eerie coincidence after that cryptic warning. Willie knew without a shadow of a doubt that something very, very bad was going to happen at that party. She could feel it all the way down into the marrow of her bones.
Unfortunately nobody else would believe her. Not even Miller.
He'd gazed down at her with a pained expression after she'd gone to him, somewhat frantic when the Captain continued to refuse to believe her.
"I know the dream seemed real to you," he'd murmured carefully. "But Clara and the Magi--as creepy as they might be--have only helped us in the past." He'd rubbed at her shoulders afterward, dark eyes gentle. "I will keep an eye on them, though, if it'll make you feel better."
She'd told him to stuff it, and gave him the cold shoulder that night in bed.
Willie continued to pace, though she had to pause as a wave of dizziness suddenly came over her. She gasped a little, reaching out to grab ahold of the wall nearby. After a moment of standing there, shaking, the cold and nauseous feeling began to subside. The small woman, now about seven months along in her pregnancy, bent a little to stare at her now-swollen middle. She ghosted a faintly trembling hand across her belly, only somewhat mollified when she felt a fluttering of a kick from her son.
"Your momma's got enough drama right now, sweatpea," she mumbled in a somewhat pained tone, continuing to rub at where she could feel the baby pressing against her tummy. "Please don't go adding to it, huh?"
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Post by Cassiopeia Reyes-Hart on Feb 27, 2009 16:41:12 GMT -5
Cassi winced, slowly rotating her right arm in a wide arc where she stood alone in the gym, trying to work out the stiffness that seemed to want to settle there. She was getting ready to start an hour or so of some dancing cardio in order to help get her back into shape from her week of convalescing. She had mostly recovered from her brush with death, all that remained was a tight tenderness in the area of her scars. Her slender fingers lifted now, rubbing slightly at the pinkened blemish in order to try and rub away the ache.
In the exact same spot where Morgan had kissed her last night, dark face wreathed in concern while he made love to her in one of the unoccupied passenger rooms . . . .
"Cassi."
The slender teen wrenched a little, being tugged forcefully out of her guilty thoughts. She turned to see Clara standing beside her, her pale, striped face set with firm determination. The blonde teen blinked a little, clearing her throat and hoping her adoptive sister wouldn't wonder at why she was starting to blush to the tips of her pointed ears.
"Hm-m?"
"Cassi, I have something very important to ask you." Cassi tensed a little at Clara's dead-serious tone and expression.
"What's wrong?"
"A lot of things," her sister responded cryptically, "but with your help I think we can fix them. I wanted to ask you if you're willing to help. To do something serious in order to help all of the Magi everywhere, so none of our people ever have to suffer again."
Cassi felt herself trapped into Clara's powerful violet stare. And any suspicions or uncertainties she might have had about those cryptic words or anything she had seen or heard before now were suddenly too weak to make much of a difference. Cassi nodded readily, silver eyes earnest. Innocent, and achingly naive.
"Sure, Clara. You know I'm always willing to help, and there's nothing I want more than for people--our people--to be safe once and for all."
Very slowly, Clara smiled. A victorious sort of smile. "Good," she purred. "Before mother's mission, meet me and the others in my room. Together, we're gonna be unstoppable."
Cassi nodded and smiled back. Not hearing the undertone of anger and violence in her sister's voice.
Or maybe she just didn't want to hear it.
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T.K.
Sailor of the Eight Planets
Chief Engineer
"If my Pocky is returned within the next hour, I promise you a quick death instead."
Posts: 106
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Post by T.K. on Feb 28, 2009 0:10:39 GMT -5
T.K. wasn't quite sure what emotion he was currently experiencing. In fact, he wasn't even sure if it had a name at all. He was so far beyond being exasperated, that whatever it was, it certainly deserved it's own name. Unfortunately, he was just too busy to actually think up a name for it.
Since their getaway from the Mambas, he'd been in a constant state of work and stress. The easiest thing, had been removing Ghost Viper to an isolated section in one of the storage areas. A little trial and error, and he'd rigged up a system to communicate with the Techno Entity, as well as modifying a spare Vid screen, and game module to 'entertain' their guest while he was busy with other matters.
As for the ship itself, while intact, it had needed several major repairs, including having the engines rebuilt... again. He'd had repair crews working around the clock on almost every system on the ship, not only doing repairs, but also helping to track down any lingering traces of sabotage by Ghost Viper. He'd left the Engines in Ryan's capable hands, stopping by every few hours to check the progress. Most of his time was spent traveling from one section of the ship to another, either helping with complicated repairs, organizing the various 'volunteer' repair crews. There had been some minor accidents, and a few injuries, but repairs had been completed more or less ahead of schedule.
And then there was Shiyounin. Most of his stress, stymied from trying to figure out what to do with her. After all, how do you comfort a mentally scarred A.I.? Especially, one that insists on either clinging to you, or trying to hide inside your jumpsuit.
And now, the Captain wanted to crash the Bicentennial.
Yes, he definitely needed to come up with another name for this feeling. Exasperated just wasn't working.
Maybe Mambosis. Definitely had Trademark potential.
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Anne
Cabin Boy
Anglerfish's AI
Oo la la, what have we here?
Posts: 3
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Post by Anne on Feb 28, 2009 3:26:39 GMT -5
Anne hummed to herself onboard the Anglerfish, preparing another batch of love-letters to deposit into Shiyou's mailbox.
She was positive that, once the bunny girl had a taste of the Anne-machine that she would be back the very next day. But she was not, alas. So, Anne decided to continue to woo Shiyounin, at least until she got bored. Then, probably, she would move on to one of the mech AIs.
True love, for the AI, after all, was a very fickle beast indeed.
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Post by Admiral Hart on Feb 28, 2009 3:52:46 GMT -5
In the requisite time, Plunder's Heart was hovering over the earth, docked into Station 8-B, also known as the Underbelly. It was officially a maintenance station for large ships that could not necessarily land. Unoficcially, it was a black market dock, refitting, and parts shop for any and every ship with the cash to use its resources. It was also where the Plunder was going to be during this caper.
Hart said over the comm, "Attention, all boarders on Dane's and Morgan's crews, and Mr. Miller, report to the assembly room on the double."
Once in the assembly room, Hart was there with several of the more textile-minded members of the crew, including Jill, the ship seamstress. Inside it were row after row of finely made clothes--shirts, suits, tuxedos, and every dress imaginable. Once everyone was assembled, Captain Hart said, "Alright, we're going to a fancy dress party, and we don't want to draw attention or look out of place. So, you're all going to pick out something to wear, get fitted, and, with the help of our talented Miss Jill, you're all going to get fancy. Yes, even you Dane. Stop grumbling Butch."
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Beau Altair
Cabin Boy
Teleporting is highly unfair.
Posts: 20
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Post by Beau Altair on Feb 28, 2009 4:10:11 GMT -5
Beau hesitated a little at first, somewhat leery. Especially as Morgan was looking just as uncomfortable and rebellious as the rest of them were. Though the First Mate's displeasure stemmed more from the plan of the heist in general, and less with the idea of putting on a suit.
Which was what Dane was loudly vocalizing against. "Aw c'mon Cap'n! A monkey suit?! Why can't we just bust in like usual?"
"Because we'd be riddled with holes before we ever got anywhere near the party," was Jo's bland retort.
"Which is why we shouldn't be doin' this damn fool thing at all," Morgan suddenly chimed in grumpily, though he had stepped forward and motioned absently to a standard black and white tuxedo and then let Jill start measuring his arm span. The Captain narrowed her eye on him in clear displeasure.
"If you have any more concerns about my plan, honeybear, feel free to take them up with me in private," she ground out. She swept her blue eye across the rest of them. "I don't believe I gave you a suggestion, people."
At that subtle bark, the others finally moved forward and began picking and choosing through outfits. Beau rubbed a little at the back of his neck, feeling it heat up somewhat. He hadn't ever been that big on clothes or fashion. Put a gun in front of him and he could strip, clean and reassemble it in minutes, tell you exactly what caliber of ammunition it took, how far it could fire and what conditions it would lose it's accuracy.
Tell him to pick out something nice to wear and he was pretty much at a loss.
Finally one of the other crew who had helped make all of the clothes took pity on him. "Here Beau," she called, holding out a charcoal colored suit with a deep green silk shirt and black tie. "I think this one will suit you. I'm sure Cassi'll agree," she added somewhat impishly.
That lightened his mood considerably. Beau gazed down at the suit while the girl measured the length of his arms and the circumference of his chest, smirking. He might just keep the thing after the mission was over, that is if Jo allowed it. Never knew when the chance might present itself to take himself and his girl out to a fancy dinner or something . . . .
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Post by Morgan Halcyon on Feb 28, 2009 4:33:08 GMT -5
Morgan picked out something to wear out of extreme duress. He knew Josetta better than he knew anyone else. He knew she would never, ever see the flaws in her plan. Which were manifold and several.
After he got fitted, Jo walked up to him and said, "You. Me. Outside. Now."
Morgan, rather than wince, rolled his eyes and walked out of the room with her.
"Jo.." He began. Josetta shoved him back, which he was not expecting at all, so he actually stumbled a bit.
"I am sick and tired of you talking down to me." Jo said with a snarl. "The past year you've not said one supportive thing to me. Not a single fucking one. And you've done it in full view of the crew."
He started talking again, but Jo snapped at him again before he could manage to say anything. "You are my first mate. You will support me rather than try to wear me down every time, or I will replace you, husband or no husband. I know what I'm doing. We can make this happen. We can do this. I believe in myself and I believe in this fucking crew, and if you're not behind me anymore, then you're against me, because I will not have you contradict my authority one more time. Do you understand?"
Morgan blinked, a bit stunned, and fully aware that the rest of the boarders probably heard that too. Then his eyes narrowed at his wife and he replied. "Crystal. Sir."
"Good. Now get back to your post." Jo turned and walked away.
Morgan mumbled, "Even if this is a damn fool's errand." Jo turned and glared, her one eye icy, and then she stomped forward, dagger in her hand, and backhanded her husband with the pommel. The impact caused him to lurch to the side, and his eye immediately began to swell and bruise.
"No. Not one more fucking word Morgan." Jo growled. "Even if this mission fails, which it won't, not one. Fucking. Word. There's enough mistrust and negativity on this ship already. I don't need my second adding to that." Then she stomped off, leaving an absolutely floored Morgan to watch her leave.
Morgan then turned to the boarders, who were also mostly staring in stunned silence, before growling, "Well, stop gawking and get to picking out some bloody clothes." before stomping away himself.
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Post by Cassiopeia Reyes-Hart on Feb 28, 2009 5:10:36 GMT -5
Cassi glanced up from trying to pull an especially playful Roger out of one of the medical cabinets where he'd decided to try and play hide-and-seek when the doors slid open. She immediately gasped at the sight of Morgan tromping inside, his dark face like a thunder-cloud. Even more-so at the fact that his left eye was nearly swollen shut, a small trail of blood oozing down from the small rent in his eyebrow.
"OhmyGod, Morgan!" she yelped, standing. He turned a little sharply in her direction but then winced and continued forward, heading for one of the med-kits on the counter. "What happened?" she demanded, coming forward while he wrenched one open and began pawing through the supplies somewhat roughly, sending their contents scattering across the counter and floor.
Despite his angry motions, his deep voice was deceptively bland and monotone. "Just had a bit of a disagreement with the chain of command, luv. Nothing major."
Cassi blinked at him, somewhat confused. She parroted his words slowly, not understanding, "disagreement with . . . ." Then all at once her silvery eyes went wide, expression becoming one of shock. "Jo did this?!" she demanded in disbelief. "Jo hit you?" Morgan wouldn't respond, just pulled out a temporary ice pack and activated it before pressing the gel to his eye with a wince. "But . . . why?" she questioned then, tone warbling.
The Captain was one of her most favorite people in the world. The Captain was her mother. The Captain had hit Morgan, the man she loved, for 'disagreeing; with her.
A hot rush of something suddenly filled her belly then. Cassi's eyes narrowed into furious, enraged slits. A moment later she was darting out of the med-bay, ignoring Morgan yelling her name. The agile dancer ran all the way to her mother's quarters and for once didn't wait to be let inside, opening the door with a wrench of the controls.
Josetta turned from where she'd been pacing the confines, expression still somewhat flushed with anger and frustration.
"How could you?!" Cassi demanded, stomping in from the threshold. Her fists were clenched at her sides, her whole body filled with righteous anger. Backed by all the resentment and jealousy she'd been forced to keep hidden all these months. Giving heat and fury to her normally sweet tone.
"Cassi, don't start. Not right now."
"He's your husband!" the blond cried in a betrayed sort of tone, ignoring Jo's words. The Captain scowled.
"Yes, and he's also my First Mate. And as such he should back me up no matter what, but instead all he's done is try and second-guess me and cut me down for months. I have every right to enforce respect on my ship."
"Respect? You call hitting him in the face earning respect?! There're better ways of going about getting respect than hitting people!"
"And when those don't work, use violence," came Jo's deadpan retort. "He has no reason to undermine my authority like this."
Cassi gave a cruel snort to that. "No? Really? How about you screwing my sister behind his back?"
"That doesn't concern you," Jo growled, tone gone cold. Cassi almost stamped her foot, all of her pent up emotions starting to tear their way loose.
"Yes it does!" she hollared back.
"And how is that, Cassi?" her mother demanded blandly.
The words flew out of her mouth before she even realized what she was saying, her tone hoarse with raw emotioin. "Because I love him more than you!"
The room went dead silent at that. Cassi immediately recoiled a step with a trembling gasp, her face going ashen and her eyes slowly widening with the implications of what she'd just blurted. Meanwhile Jo just stared at her. For the longest time, not saying or doing anything. And Cassi felt her whole being begin to shrink in fear and regret as she saw the suspicion slowly turn into horrified realization. Very slowly Jo sank down into a near-by chair, as if she'd suddenly lost the will to stand.
The teen curled her suddenly icy hands into the hem of her shirt. "Jo?" she called waveringly.
"Leave my chambers," Jo suddenly pronounced, her voice devoid of all emotion. Cassi felt the tears stab her eyes then, breath beginning to stab quick and uneven in her chest.
"B-but--,"
"Now!" Jo suddenly roared, causing Cassi to fall back several more steps in shock and fear. Until she finally turned on her heel and ran back out as she'd been told.
Now sobbing--both from fear as well as self-loathing--Cassi ran to the only place she knew that she might be able to hide.
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Dr. Andromeda Reyes
Sailor of the Eight Planets
Plunder's Heart Chief Medical Officer
I've given up everything for my sister once. I wouldn't test my loyalty if I were you.
Posts: 119
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Post by Dr. Andromeda Reyes on Feb 28, 2009 6:06:40 GMT -5
Andromeda rounded a corner and was nearly bowled over by someone running in the other direction. It took her a moment to realize that she had nearly been run over by her sister. Who was now sobbing near hysterically. Andromeda caught the teen to her to steady her, and then continued to hold her when Cassi immediately recoiled with a low moan.
"Cassiopeia, what's the matter," Andromeda demanded, tone almost stern with worry. Her sister didn't reply, probably couldn't with how hard she was crying. "Cassi, stop. Calm down. Breathe," Andromeda ordered. After a few more moments her sister's sobs became less frenzied, but there was still an air of desperation and hopelessness to her expression that cut right through the older Reyes. "What's wrong, honey?"
"I can't," she hiccuped. "You'll hate me too."
"Cassi, I could never hate you," Andromeda insisted vehemently, now more determined than ever to find out what had gone wrong. Her sister trembled in her arms for a moment, and then her whole frame seemed to cower slightly.
"I've done something . . . something everyone is gonna hate me for."
The doctor felt her patience waning, rolling her eyes slightly. "Come on, Cassiopeia, don't be so melodramatic--,"
"I slept with Morgan."
Andromeda felt the breath get knocked out of her lungs as if someone had just punched her in the back. She stared down at Cassi's tear-stained silver eyes, for a moment too stunned to react. "What?" she demanded, tone strangled. Cassi started crying anew.
"I never meant for anyone to get hurt! I was dancing and he came in and saw me and he was so lonely and I've loved him for forever--,"
"Morgan had sex with you?" Andromeda demanded in a low, trembling voice. Her sister flinched, but nodded. "When?"
Cassi swallowed with some difficulty, looking about as miserable and broken as a body could possibly get. ". . . which time?"
And suddenly Andromeda saw red. She turned and started marching away but Cassi held her back. "No, Andi! Wait!"
"Let me go, Cassi!" the doctor demanded with a snarl. "He's going to pay for this!"
The elder of the two managed to free herself from her sister's clawing grasp. Cassi might have given chase, if she wasn't suddenly occupied by the sight of someone else--whom Andromeda completely overlooked in her rage.
Beau standing on the other side of the hall. Expression blank with shock. Having overheard every word, apparently.
Meanwhile Andromeda was on the warpath. She learned from a passing crewman where Morgan was at the moment; the assembly hall. Where most of the crew had gathered to go over the last minute details of the mission. Uncaring of the ugly scene she was about to cause--only able to focus on the rage in her gut, her fierce protective instincts rearing hard.
Andromeda's steps didn't falter as she entered the assembly room. She stalked past the other crew, who began stopping in their conversations and staring after her at the sight of her no-doubt enraged expression, making a beeline for the tall black man near the back. Who turned at her approach, expression mirroring confusion and then dread before going blank.
Stoic. Unemotional. This unfeeling bastard had violated her little sister, preyed on her innocence like some kind of vulture.
Andromeda hauled back and slapped him as hard as she could. The surrounding crew gasped in shocked disbelief. The tall First Mate didn't even flinch with the blow, however, continuing to stare down at her blandly. The doctor did her best to ignore the now-throbbing agony in her hand instead.
"How could you?" she hissed. "You sorry, sick sonofabitch!"
"Ye wanna elaborate on that, 'fore I have ye tossed into the brig?" he demanded in a low, bland tone.
"You violated my sister!" the doctor screamed, causing the crew to gape and murmur amongst themselves in shock and disbelief. "She trusted you and you took advantage of her! Used her to get back at Jo for cheating on you!"
Now Morgan's bland expression suddenly melted into one of seething anger. "You think I don't care about her?" he growled. "You think I don't fucking love her? No, it's not alright. I'm a dirty fucking old man for going after her and I'll have my time in hell for being with her but don't you fucking dare tell me that I don't love your sister, Andromeda."
The doctor was somewhat taken aback by that admission, as that was the last thing she had expected him to say. The murmurs of the crew had become a firestorm by now, as Morgan had just freely admitted to having an affair with their young mascot. Who was the adopted daughter of his wife.
Andromeda doubted Soap Operas could get this twisted if they tried.
She did her best to hold onto her anger, speaking through clenched teeth. "Cassi is barely more than a child, Morgan!"
Now the dark-featured man gave a slight snort of disbelief. "Barely more than . . . Andi, Cassi'll be eighteen in less than a year. She's nearly a woman."
"She's still my baby sister, you son of a bitch," Andromeda shot back harshly. "Who's had to endure more than enough pain and heartache to last three lifetimes. And now she's making herself sick with pain and humiliation because you couldn't be a man and keep your dick in your pants!"
Morgan winced at that. ". . . so I should break her heart and leave, then?" he demanded somewhat hoarsely. "Have nothin' more t'do with her?"
"You should never have done this in the first place!"
"I should never have done it in the first place," he agreed softly. "And you should have never given in to Jo." The murmuring suddenly became a soft roar of speculation around them. "I could have held out forever if I'd only had Jo." Andromeda visibly flinched, feeling the wind getting stolen out of her sails. As she had nothing more to say, Morgan continued, voice bitter. "Do you know what it's like, Andromeda? To know the woman you vowed yourself to doesn't look at you the same way she does someone else? To know her heart's not yours anymore, that she's found someone she actually loves rather than just a place-holder husband? Yeah, I'm in the wrong," he growled finally. "And so are you."
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Beau Altair
Cabin Boy
Teleporting is highly unfair.
Posts: 20
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Post by Beau Altair on Feb 28, 2009 12:43:19 GMT -5
Beau couldn't hear anything for the ringing in his ears. So shocked he literally just stood there and gaped at his girlfriend, literally frozen with it.
Like a horrible, twisted movie, scenes from the last few months began replaying in his mind. Which he had dismissed or ignored, not wanting to believe it. Not wanting to see the truth. Too much of a gullible fucking moron to even suspect it. The long, hot stares Morgan and Cassi shared sometimes when they thought no one was looking. The guilty glances. The way they would quickly pounce apart if someone caught them alone in a room together.
Cassi took a few tentative steps toward him now, but for once Beau was heartless to the agony on her pretty face or the tears spilling out of her silvery eyes. "Beau, I'm so sorry--," she started, reaching for him.
Beau jerked, wrenching his arm out of her reach and backing up a step, his normally carefree face slowly darkening into one of hard fury. "No," he snarled, voice shaking. "Don't you fuckin' touch me."
Cassi flinched as if he'd physically struck her, her tears increasing. "Please," she whimpered. "I n-never meant to hurt you."
Beau gave a cruel bark of laughter. "Oh, so you mean you fucking Morgan behind my back was just an accident, was it?" he sneered. "What's the matter sweetheart, did you just trip and fall on his dick?" Cassi didn't respond, just cried harder. Beau was completely deadened to them. "I don't fuckin' believe this," he snarled. "You're so goddamned self-righteous. Playing all sweet and innocent. Throwin' me a pity kiss before you go off and spread your legs for a man twice your fuckin' age!" Cassi flinched again, her shoulders rounding with shame and humiliation. "Why?!" he demanded then in a scathing hiss, hurt and fury pouring out of him in equal measure. "If you never fuckin' loved me, why did you keep stringing me along?"
"I do love you, Beau!" Cassi tried to insist desperately, achingly.
"You sure as hell have a funny way of showin' it babe," he sneered bitterly.
"I tried to break it off with you," Cassi cried, "right after the first time that we . . . But you wouldn't let me . . . ."
Beau felt another dagger pierce through his chest. Jesus fucking Christ, that had been over three months ago. She had been screwing another man for that long? And she had tried to break up with him, he well remembered. And like a pathetic little bastard he'd begged her not to. Promised that whatever he was doing wrong, he'd do his best to change it.
"Next time, try harder," he snapped roughly.
"Please don't hate me, Beau," she whimpered. Any other time he would've been moved to do anything to take away that crushed, almost pathetic grief out of her eyes. Now all he could think of was adding as much to it as he could. Until she was hurting just as much as he was.
"Too late, babe. But don't worry, sweetheart. If pirating doesn't work out for you, they always need some fresh dock whores down on the Cove. Apparently you've already got your foot in the door on that one."
Beau finally shoved his way past her and continued down the hall, the sight of her beginning to turn his stomach. The gunman entered his room, staring around himself, almost in a loss. Christ, he had given up his entire life for her. He'd done nothing but love her, like a stupid little puppy. And all of it had been nothing more than a lie.
Beau planted his fist into the bulkhead with a dull roar. He stood there, head bowed, he wasn't really sure how long. Until suddenly he found himself whirling away and stalking back outside.
He came across Morgan near the Galley. The black man stopped as soon as he saw the angry teen marching in his direction. And didn't even try to avoid the fist that came flying across his jaw. Morgan took the hit, barely moving with it. Beau fully expected the First Mate to pummel him into the ground and almost relished the thought of a fight even if he was destined to lose it badly. But, contrarily, Morgan didn't make a move to attack him. Didn't even bark at one of the surrounding crew to arrest him and throw him in the brig. Just stared down at him with shame and resigned pity in his dark eyes.
Beau clenched his fists, seething. "You fucking bastard. I trusted you. I looked up to you. And all the while you're fucking my girl behind my back! For three fucking months! How do you even look at yourself in the mirror?!"
Morgan just stood his ground, expression somewhat ravaged. "I don't," was his rough, hoarse reply. "I'm sorry, Beau. I know that's not enough, but I'm sorry."
"You're sorry. Fuck you, Halcyon," Beau snarled back. "And as for Cassi, you're more than welcome to the little whore. I don't want your damaged goods anyhow."
The First Mate winced hard at that, then stared at the younger man before suddenly pulling the pistol from it's holster on his thigh. Beau tensed a little, but instead of point it at him, Morgan suddenly turned it around and offered the weapon to him instead. "I'm sorry," he repeated softly. "Out of everyone, we hurt ye the most in this. So here. If it would make ye feel better."
Beau had the gun snatched out of Morgan's hand, the hammer cocked back and pointed dead-center between the larger man's eyes in less than a blink. The gunman held it there for what seemed like an aching eternity, the barrel nearly shaking with as hard as he was clenching the grip, his finger so close to pulling the trigger. Finally, after several long moments, Beau suddenly loosened with an angry sigh, tossing the gun down at Morgan's feet instead.
"Forget it," he growled. "You're not worth the bullet. Or the blood on my hands."
And then the teen turned to begin stalking away. After a moment, Morgan suddenly called after him. "Forgive her. No matter what she did, blame it on me. It's my fault. But forgive her."
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Post by Cassiopeia Reyes-Hart on Feb 28, 2009 13:08:22 GMT -5
Cassi stumbled into her hiding place--a storage room in a part of the ship that when largely unused--hitting her knees just inside of it and hugging herself to try and keep from falling apart completely. She had ruined everything. She'd gone and opened her big mouth and now everyone on the ship was going to grow to hate her.
She had hurt Jo, the woman who had saved her from her parents, saved her from endless torture by the government, given her a new life and a new purpose, who had taken her in like her own child. Betrayed that trust completely.
She had hurt Beau, the man who had loved her unconditionally for months. Selflessly sacrificing his career just to save her.
Whore.
Cassi curled in on herself, Beau's cruel words flying around her like little jagged blades. Her guilt and self-loathing was almost suffocating.
She had hurt her sister as well. Cassi had seen that flash of disbelief and, what's worse, disappointment in her sister's eyes when she'd told Andromeda what she'd done. She had failed her sister in this, dismally.
Of their own accord, her silver eyes suddenly shifted, her second-sight focusing in on her sister at present. Cassi wrenched a little when she saw Andromeda standing in front of Morgan in the assembly room, the entire crew listening to them fight it seemed. And then Morgan's words suddenly sunk in, and Cassi felt what was left of her battered heart completely shatter.
I should never have done it in the first place. And you should have never given in to Jo. I could have held out forever if I'd only had Jo.
Cassi let out a short scream, wrenching backward and forcing her eyes to shut, severing the vision. The blonde teen collapsed completely into a tiny ball then, shaking and almost unable to breathe past the pain in her chest.
Morgan still loves Jo. Even after everything that's happened, he loves his wife. I've only been a distraction. Something to pass the time. Something that never should have happened. Sad, stupid little girl.
And then someone was kneeling beside her. Cassi tensed with a wrench, staring up at Clara's face through her tears. Her sister's expression was firm, violet eyes burning with sympathy. And retribution. The tiger girl cupped Cassi's reddened, tear-stained face in her clawed hands.
"Don't worry, Cassi," she murmured softly. "We're your family too. And we'll take care of you." Clara slowly stood then, and held out her hand. "Come with me. And leave them behind." Her eyes flashed. "After all, they are only human."
Cassi's gaze was trapped by her sister's powerful stare, and slowly the crushing pain in her chest began to recede. The humiliation, the guilt, the despair were all dimmed in her heart. The anger and the hurt fury ballooned hot and fierce instead. So that, slowly, her broken-hearted stare slowly hardened, her silver eyes going cold and flat.
Cassi put her hand in Clara's, and then slowly got to her feet. Joining her sister. Suddenly unable to remember why that might not be such a good idea. Clara was the only one who understood her. No one else did. No one else even wanted to try. Clara was her family now.
All the rest of them were dead.
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Willie Barbary
Buccaneer
Pilot
It's worse when you know that hell is coming, but nobody else will believe you . . . .
Posts: 52
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Post by Willie Barbary on Mar 2, 2009 1:59:01 GMT -5
Willie stood near the foot of the bed, arms crossed and a stony scowl on her face as she watched Miller button the dress shirt he had chosen a few days ago from Captain Hart's selection. The ex-Mamba was doing an admirable job of avoiding her disapproving gaze however.
"I can't believe you're just gonna go," she growled at length. She watched Miller tense a little before he let out a heavy sigh, tucking in the tail of his shirt before fastening his slacks.
"We've been over this, Willie. This is my job now. I don't have much of a choice in the matter."
"You do have a choice," she shot back. "You could choose to believe me when I tell you that something awful is going to happen down there. You can choose to stay here with me instead of going off to get your damn self killed."
He looked up at her at that, dark eyes pained but resolute. "Willie. It was a dream--,"
"It was real dammit!" she snarled back, beginning to get herself worked up again. She knew she wasn't supposed to, but her fear and anxiety were starting to get the better of her. It wasn't helping matters that she already felt awful, having woken up this morning with what felt like needles jabbing into her lower back and that cold queasy feeling that just wouldn't go away. Now Miller was only adding to her distress by refusing to take her seriously. "I know what I saw! I know the difference between a dream and something more. This was too detailed! Too precise!"
"Willie, try to calm down," he tried to soothe, stepping forward a little and reaching for her. The pilot batted his hands away however, backing up a step.
"No, I will not calm down! Not until you start listening to me--,"
Willie suddenly cut herself off with a pained gasp. Her hands dropped down to her swollen belly as she felt a sharp, agonizing spasm. And then she stared down at herself somewhat dumbly as a rush of blood suddenly spilled out onto the floor. Moments later she was crumpling to the ground. Miller leapt forward, and just managed to keep her from hitting her head.
Suddenly it was hard to concentrate on much past the swimming, icy numbness in her limbs. Willie stared up at Miller's stricken face somewhat blearily. "It's too soon," she mumbled in a confused whimper. "Miller, something . . . something's wrong . . . ."
And then Willie's whole body went slack, eyes rolling back into her head.
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Post by Admiral Hart on Mar 2, 2009 2:28:40 GMT -5
Hart stood next to the fancied-up, top of the line shuttle they were using for the mission. She was wearing a floor length, red gown with gold trim. Underneath her voluminous skirts, somewhere, was her rapier, her dagger, and her pistol. She looked as uncomfortable as the rest of them men did, but even moreso, as this was the first time any of them had seen her in girl clothes.
And from the look on Morgan's face, he as well.
"Where the hell are Beau and Miller?" Hart growled.
"I don't think Beau's coming." Morgan replied in a tired voice, looking away from Hart, who did not even bother to look at her second in command.
"I repeat. Where the hell are Beau and Miller?" The Captain reiterated. Cooper said, this time, "I don't think Beau's coming, Cap'n."
Hart gave a long, cold glance at Morgan. Earlier, she might have stabbed him, but right now, she did not have the time to do so. "How about Miller?"
As if on cue, a frantic message went out over the comm. It was Katy. "Doctor Reyes, report to the medbay now! Willie has gone into premature labor! I don't know what to do!"
Hart looked to the speaker, then back at the prettied-up pirates, all with concealed weapons. "Alright. We leave without them. We don't have time to address personal problems, we're on a tight schedule."
Morgan, under normal, less stressful situations, might have voiced a concern. But he did not. And the plan, for good or ill, advanced one more stage, and the Pirates entered the shuttle and made their way towards London.
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Cottonmouth reclined in the captain's chair aboard the Anaconda. Repairs were already finished.
"Ma'am?" A cadet reported. "We have a lock on Plunder's Heart. Earth orbit. The Underbelly. It looks like they're docked, under repairs, and exposed, Ma'am."
Cottonmouth gave a stoic Asp a smirk. "The Underbelly is acceptible considered collateral damage with high command, right?"
The cadet nodded. "Yes Ma'am."
Asp then spoke. "Good. Get us there. When we are within range, open fire, all weapons, no chance to escape. Obliterate it before they have a chance to break away from the docking clamps, and take the Underbelly with you if need be."
Cottonmouth gave a nod. "Couldn't have said it better myself."
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