Breaking In--Pt. 1

[Admiral Hart]

The Plunder's Heart hovered in slowly near Jupiter, the Captain on deck and currently talking to Thorn Scarsguard over the comm channels.

"...you want me to what?" Thorn asked incredulously.

"I want us to break into Io and rescue Andi. I need another ship for my plan to work, and I could probably use some of your cannon fod...I mean, highly trained men, for the assault." Hart replied. "And you're the most capable person I know who doesn't work for me."

"It's not gonna be cheap, Jonah."

"I've already sent you back half of what you paid for that medical work, Scarsguard. All of it once you give me your word you'll help us free Andi. Deal?" Hart asked.

"Deal." Thorn replied. "So, what's this plan of yours to break into the most secure location in the Solar System."

Hart shook his head. "No, in person. Not over the comm. We're too close to Io and I don't want to chance them catching wind of it."

"Alright. Just send me the coordinates to meet you at and I'll be on my way. Thorn, out." The screen went dead.

"You know he's going to find a way to double cross us." Morgan said as Hart slumped back in his chair.

"Yeah, I also know he's our best chance if we want to get Andi and still be able to catch Anton." Hart replied, feeling uneasy, frustrated, and rushed. States which he knew were bound to get him into trouble.

And he had a feeling it would be sooner rather than later.

[Jason Thornvaald]

Captain Thorn Scarsgard stepped through the airlock hatch and onto the Plunder's Heart, outwardly unperturbed. He went alone, ignoring Lyra's angry protests on the matter. He needed her on the Mjollnir in case trouble arose, and plus he didn't want to run the risk of her running into that crazy boarder crewman, Dane. Time was of the essence at the moment, and they didn't have enough of it right now to indulge in those two's bizarre idea of foreplay.

Thorn met Hart's First Mate, Halcyon, just inside, giving the dark-skinned man a slight nod of greeting. One that the sour-faced warrior didn't return, merely met with a suspicious glare before turning on his heel and beginning to lead him through the halls of the ship toward the Captain's quarters. Thorn glanced around himself curiously as he went, with a faint nod of respect.

Damned fine ship.

He sighed a little as he walked, his mind abuzz with activity. The sultry, sexy, adorably prissy doctor had gone and gotten herself arrested and thrown on Io. Normally, if this were any other person, he would've scoffed and wished them luck with the rest of their miserable existence. It had been proven time and again, there was no coming back from Io. Too many people had tried, and failed. But Thorn had only to remember those soft gold eyes, that slender frame held so proud and haughty despite all the odds stacked against it--had only to think of the pretty woman cowering in a dark, dingy cell alone--to have him near jumping the bit to get this damned fool plan of rescue underway.

Luckily Thorn had managed to somehow cling to his composure, not letting on to Hart just how eager he really was to see Andromeda Reyes out of that hell-hole. It would never do to reveal your weakness to the enemy, after all. The return of half his life-savings would be a nicely added bonus, too.

The large pirate Captain followed Halcyon through the halls, then into a lavish room that could only be Hart's quarters. The redheaded man stood as soon as Thorn entered, giving a slight nod of acknowledgment, which Scarsgard returned.

"Hart," he called. Halcyon closed the door behind them.

"Scarsgard," Jonah returned, tone serious. "I'm glad you decided to show." Thorn grinned a little, his wintery eyes deceptively light-hearted and flippant.

"Well you know I can never turn down a good challenge, Hart. And like hell I'm going to let you be the only man responsible for doing the damned impossible." Hart's mouth kicked up in a sideways smile, but the sentiment didn't quite reach his clear blue eyes. Thorn merely returned it.

Hart was no fool, after all. They both knew what the stakes were, and they both knew the rules to the game well. There would be an alliance, for now, but should the moment arise either one of them would take the first opprotunity to make the profit. There was a code you lived by, after all, out here in the black. It was one that had seen them become two of the most powerful space-faring figures in history.

"So," he heaved after a slight, silent stare down, his deep voice as smooth and eloquent as ever. "Just what does this grand plan of yours entail?"