Medic. “Rygel, any hits confirming
Z’arr’s whereabouts?”
“Mm. None so far, Captain.” The Lieutenant responded,
fingering the bridge of his nose as he scanned data feeds coming in over his
CPA, river–water hued eyes flicking at a rapid rate over reports. “I’ve hacked
into Ophere’s local Peace Keeping network; a lot of chatter and effort to
ascertain who tore through a certain glass production company a couple of hours
ago,” Rygel said the last with a short chuckle. “But the PK has little that’s
helpful. Also, nothing useful as far as unusual transactions from Voss’s
finance centers.”
“Okay, Dane. Keep at it. There’s something… off about
Lieutenant Z’arr.” The Captain stated, trying place a mental finger on the
reasons for her instinct.
“If you mean ‘off’ as in our target slipped away from us, I
agree.” Belgrum Naxos commented, the trained, professional hunter and scout in
him irritated at the escape of their prey.
“No, I mean off in the sense that K’llan Z’arr doesn’t fit
the template of willing betrayer.”
“And why is that, Captain Serros?” Major Hadarr asked, a
skeptical cast to her voice.
“Because she could have let the glass–factory worker be
crushed and in doing so, have had a much better chance at securing her escape.
She didn’t.” Captain Serros said flatly, confidence growing as her thoughts
aligned with instinct.
“Many people commit crimes because they think their actions
are correct, or because they feel situation has compelled them to do so.” Major
Hadarr remarked, her sincerity of belief unusually easy to read, turquoise stare
challenging.
“Perhaps.” Avara replied with a shrug. But in her mind, she
replayed Z’arr’s actions and enacting of the K–Shield. “Either way, I want it
clear that our mission is to capture , not kill Lieutenant Z’arr.”
“If possible. No promises.” The Vosaia Major responded.
“If the Captain says capture, we capture .” Marcus Perez
declared, tone flat.
“If possible.” Hadarr repeated, non–committal.
“All set, Serros.” Ca’rrakk announced, interrupting the
tension between Perez and Hadarr before it could escalate.
The Captain cast a grateful nod at her Gorath crewmember,
flexing her fingers as the green Salu–Salve and her Arca PV did their work. Sliced
skin was already beginning to mend even as the Shield Operative fought the very
strong impulse to scratch her fiercely itching hands while the wounds visibly
knitted. “For now, the best we can do is prep our gear, eat, and grab some
sleep. It’s going to be a long night.”
“Aye, aye, Captain. I’m thinking bok–ten noodles and hyron
steak. I’ll do the run.” Perez declared, an almost boyish look of expectant satisfaction
on his rugged features.
CHAPTER 5
The brightness of dawn’s radiance seeping into the small,
bare room did little to lighten K’llan Z’arr’s mood as she reflected on the
night’s events. She could feel, deep in her bones, that something was off about
her mission, and that something was steeped in dreadful implication.
The slim Vosaia found herself pacing the dingy confines of
her rented room in the Amren Sector, agitation pushing her to some sort of
physical release from nagging anxiety. Aside from the fact that no one should
have even been aware of her meeting with the Irdoi information broker, the
presence of her pursuer was what was most off.
Replaying each nuance of every moment within Revenant, the
chase, and their meeting, K’llan knew that her tracker was neither just an
opportunistic mercenary out for some ready money, nor a criminal trying to
obtain a valuable asset.
“Captain Avara Serros, Quorum Strategic High Risk,
Intelligence, and Enforcement Operative. By the Authority of the Quorum,
Consulate, and Ministry, you are to surrender yourself into my custody and
await charges.”
Z’arr repeated those words in her mind, felt again the quiet
yet certain sincerity and genuine
Z’arr’s whereabouts?”
“Mm. None so far, Captain.” The Lieutenant responded,
fingering the bridge of his nose as he scanned data feeds coming in over his
CPA, river–water hued eyes flicking at a rapid rate over reports. “I’ve hacked
into Ophere’s local Peace Keeping network; a lot of chatter and effort to
ascertain who tore through a certain glass production company a couple of hours
ago,” Rygel said the last with a short chuckle. “But the PK has little that’s
helpful. Also, nothing useful as far as unusual transactions from Voss’s
finance centers.”
“Okay, Dane. Keep at it. There’s something… off about
Lieutenant Z’arr.” The Captain stated, trying place a mental finger on the
reasons for her instinct.
“If you mean ‘off’ as in our target slipped away from us, I
agree.” Belgrum Naxos commented, the trained, professional hunter and scout in
him irritated at the escape of their prey.
“No, I mean off in the sense that K’llan Z’arr doesn’t fit
the template of willing betrayer.”
“And why is that, Captain Serros?” Major Hadarr asked, a
skeptical cast to her voice.
“Because she could have let the glass–factory worker be
crushed and in doing so, have had a much better chance at securing her escape.
She didn’t.” Captain Serros said flatly, confidence growing as her thoughts
aligned with instinct.
“Many people commit crimes because they think their actions
are correct, or because they feel situation has compelled them to do so.” Major
Hadarr remarked, her sincerity of belief unusually easy to read, turquoise stare
challenging.
“Perhaps.” Avara replied with a shrug. But in her mind, she
replayed Z’arr’s actions and enacting of the K–Shield. “Either way, I want it
clear that our mission is to capture , not kill Lieutenant Z’arr.”
“If possible. No promises.” The Vosaia Major responded.
“If the Captain says capture, we capture .” Marcus Perez
declared, tone flat.
“If possible.” Hadarr repeated, non–committal.
“All set, Serros.” Ca’rrakk announced, interrupting the
tension between Perez and Hadarr before it could escalate.
The Captain cast a grateful nod at her Gorath crewmember,
flexing her fingers as the green Salu–Salve and her Arca PV did their work. Sliced
skin was already beginning to mend even as the Shield Operative fought the very
strong impulse to scratch her fiercely itching hands while the wounds visibly
knitted. “For now, the best we can do is prep our gear, eat, and grab some
sleep. It’s going to be a long night.”
“Aye, aye, Captain. I’m thinking bok–ten noodles and hyron
steak. I’ll do the run.” Perez declared, an almost boyish look of expectant satisfaction
on his rugged features.
CHAPTER 5
The brightness of dawn’s radiance seeping into the small,
bare room did little to lighten K’llan Z’arr’s mood as she reflected on the
night’s events. She could feel, deep in her bones, that something was off about
her mission, and that something was steeped in dreadful implication.
The slim Vosaia found herself pacing the dingy confines of
her rented room in the Amren Sector, agitation pushing her to some sort of
physical release from nagging anxiety. Aside from the fact that no one should
have even been aware of her meeting with the Irdoi information broker, the
presence of her pursuer was what was most off.
Replaying each nuance of every moment within Revenant, the
chase, and their meeting, K’llan knew that her tracker was neither just an
opportunistic mercenary out for some ready money, nor a criminal trying to
obtain a valuable asset.
“Captain Avara Serros, Quorum Strategic High Risk,
Intelligence, and Enforcement Operative. By the Authority of the Quorum,
Consulate, and Ministry, you are to surrender yourself into my custody and
await charges.”
Z’arr repeated those words in her mind, felt again the quiet
yet certain sincerity and genuine
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