Shannon had come back from her patrol with Lt. MacLeod wound up and anxious so she changed into shorts, tank top and her sneakers and decided to run around the near empty corridors. She was about thirty minutes into a good strong stretch when she rounded a dark corner and found the passage blocked by half a dozen men. She stopped and two of the men turn and left. Surprised by the group Shannon hadn't realized that one of them men had slipped around behind her until she felt a knife at her neck and was taken down face first onto the deck.
"What did you see, Flygirl?"
Shannon answered, "Nothing!" Trying to breathe and not get accidently cut by the knife. "That's the right answer." He breathed into her ear. "You never saw us. We're going to be watching you...if you cooperate then neither you or your other 'pilot's ' will get hurt. You say one word to the authorities...your dead!" He said as he laughed and slammed her head into the deck. The remaining three faded into the darkness.
Shannon woke cold from the sweat that had chilled her body from the run and the attack, she rolled to a sitting up position to look around and the room swam and she fought dry heaves for the better part of an hour with a wicked pounding in her head. She slowly stood and reached up and touched her temple area and found the knot the size of fist... Waves of dizziness rolled through her and the station kept tilting off its axis. Slowly she walked and cut through Marine barracks to the infirmary, where Captain Alcon sat duty and after tending the injury and trying to get the story out of the pilot made her stay for observation for twelve hours; being woken every hour to make sure the concussion didn't get any worse. That was three weeks ago and she remembered as if it had happened yesterday.
Shannon stood fifteen feet from the round target mounted to the bulkhead. There were several other people present in the room mostly at the bar sipping a cold one. She concentrated then released the five inch fletched dart, which hit the middle ring under the 5 mark. She tightened up, relaxed and threw the second of three--bull eye, the third dart was released just after Talia entered the room. Shannon moved to collect her darts from the board hardly noticing where the last dark struck.
Talia went up to the bar and got herself a drink, but she had spied Shannon. As she got her drink and before her friend could duck out on her, she went to her.
"Hey, Shannon," she said, taking a good sip of her drink. "I think you and I should talk." She said it casual and with a smile, but there was no mistaking the look in her eyes.
Shannon placed the darts in their holder and looked back at Talia as she picked up her own glass, "Sure." She indicated a table that had two PADDS on it a stylus and paper...
Talia noted that the other woman was trying to work on a flight plan. "Who you flying with tonight?"
"Lucas." Shannon sat down and flipped the sheet over. "What's up?"
"Well, for one thing, you've been pretty distant lately," she said taking another drink. "Maybe even cold would be a better description. And every time I've tried to get near you to ask how you are, you take off like a bat out of hell . . . I know you're avoiding me," she said, gazing at her friend. "I'd like to know why. What's going on with you?"
"Excuse me?" Shannon took sip of her ice water and shook her head with a disgusted frown. "I've been a little busy lately and if you hadn't noticed on the flight roster were flying opposite watches and haven't been assigned a flight together since we went and rescued K'tag." Shannon put her drink down hard on the table and continued, "you're the one who didn't want to be my partner in the dart league this time around!"
Talia raised her eyebrow. "Have you forgotten that I can tell when someone is lying? And you're still not good at it, Vansen!" She took a drink and shook her head. "Look, something is going on with you. I know it. You know it! Why don't you do us both a favor and tell me! Besides, all I want to do is help you. What is it that has you spooked. That much I can sense from you very clearly. I am your friend, last I checked."
Shannon noticed several people at the bar turn and look in their direction, damn , "Can you raise your voice any louder I don't think the Major heard you down the hall." Shannon stood and left the bar. The door closed behind her and she was about twenty feet in the clear when she heard the door open and foot steps following.
Without thinking twice about it, Talia grabbed Shannon by the arm. "You were being louder than I was in there!" she said, "All I want to do is try to help you through whatever is going on with you, and you just want to stand there and give me a cold shoulder? What is up with that? We're friends! Friends watch each others backs! That's what I thought anyway . . . Now, I'm going to ask again." This time her voice took on an edge. "What is going on?" Suddenly images began coming to her mind and her expression changed.
Shannon back pressed against the wall shifted her gear to her non dominant arm and had almost struck her friend...never introduce physical violence or bring a weapon into a confrontation unless its life or death...she'd been trained that since we was old enough to train in martial arts... she relaxed and talia's grip loosened. Shannon avoided direct eye contact with her friend and long time wingman. Though gritted teeth, "lets just say--its safer for everyone including the squadron if I don't have any Friends." With that Shannon pushed away from the wall and stalked off down the corridor to ready room to prepare for her up coming mission.
Without a second thought she knew what she was going to do. She was going to talk to Morgan.
"Please, sir, you have to pull Lucas off of that patrol and put me on it," Talia said as she stood before Morgan, who was handling her request.
"For what reason, Lieutenant Tigre," he growled, as he looked at her, not liking to rearrange the schedule, even for someone as close to him as Talia.
For a moment she was silent. "Morgan, something is going on with Shannon. She won't talk to me about it. I picked up some images and feelings from her that hinted to me that her life might be in some kind of danger and she made a comment to me that everyone would be better off if she didn't have friends.
I NEED this opportunity to talk with her . . . I have to find out what's going on and I don't think I'll be able to get her to break on the station. Too many opportunities for her to get out of talking. Out there, there are none . . ." She gazed at him imploring how important this was.
He thought about it for a moment then tapped his commbadge. "Captain Bicardi to Lt. Lucas West."
"Here, sir," came the quick replied.
"You are about to get a stomach ache," he said.
"Sir?"
Shannon was in the bay doing her pre-flight check on her ship, he coveralls were hanging down around her waist. The door opened and in walked Talia with her flight suit on, helmet in the other hand. "What the HELL, are you doing here. Where is West?" Shannon placed both hands on her hips but never made eye contact with the other woman while she addressed Talia.
Talia shrugged her shoulders. "I hear he got a stomach ache. Captain Bicardi assigned me to go," she replied, hiding her inward smile. "Guess you're stuck with me."
"Oh, no, I'm not" Shannon touched her combadge, and said, <Lt. Vansen to Captain Bacardi.>
<Lieutenant.>
<Sir, I request that Lt. Tigre be scrubbed from this mission. Sir, she'll be flying back to back patrols against standing squadron SOP.> Shannon turned her back on Talia.
<I'm aware and have approved the alteration in mission personnel, Lt. Now, get launched or be in violation of orders!> She heard the finality and the promise hidden in his voice...charges of insubordination would definitely impact her next promotion. She rotated her head on her shoulders, then turned and faced Talia with a scowl that could take paint off the bulkheads, "Your flying!"
"Looks that way," she replied, her eyes meeting Shannon's for a moment. "I'll see you out there." She then headed to her fighter.
Shannon forced her arms into the sleeves of her flight suit and secured the front. She climbed down into her ship and finished the pre-flight checks then called to the airboss, "Lt.'s Vansen and Tigre ready for launch." After several deep calming breaths she settled back and turned on the PADD strapped to her leg-which had their mission and flight data ready.
"You're cleared for launch." Shannon glanced over and saw Talia's ship descended and mate with the body of her ship as they both descended and were shot out into space. "Take heading delta two angels 90." She said to Talia as she implemented the change in her own flight attitude.
Signaling that she had done so, she allowed Shannon to believe she might be quiet. At least for awhile. She wanted them away from the Station for a bit. Once they reached that point where they were alone, she thought the time had come.
"Okay, Shannon, want to talk now? There's no one to hear us," Talia said as she broke the silence.
Shannon gritted her teeth and thought about the messages she'd received...one sent though IS massaging service with no traceable address, the second had been in person from the back, in a dark corridor with a blade weapon to her neck and the recently the hard copy note pinned to her flight suit. "Talia, I don't know what burr is eating at you, but there 's nothing going on." what she really wanted to do while there was no chance of anyone listening in was to spill the whole thing to her friend, but that was unacceptable...she'd found that no where was really safe and she'd do anything not to risk her friend or squadron.. and since she'd been given specific instructions to remain silent.
"Damn right I have a burr eating at me," Talia replied. "One of my best friends is going through something serious and she won't talk to me about it. But I can sense you want to . . . I know you do . . ." In fact, she already knew what Shannon had gone through. But she wanted Shannon to tell her, to open up to her . . . She wanted Shannon to trust her to help her with this. Either way, Talia was ready to take matters into her own hands if necessary.
"I stumbled into something" She looked out into space and added, "...I really don't know anything but the point has been made for me to forget anything and everything; 'I might have heard or seen'. They've been very serious about 'it'-- "
"And do you know what you saw or heard or who these people are that are threatening you?" Talia asked with concern. Her mind already working on how she could take whoever these people were apart piece by piece.
"No," Shannon knew Talia and knew she was going to knaw on his like a canine with a bone..."and neither do you!"
Shannon mad that Talia was pursuing this.... "Can we please just drop this... Right now I'm the only one at risk and as long as I keep my mouth shut then no one else IS!"
"Shannon, that's not good enough! These people have to be stopped before they actually try to hurt you!" Talia replied definitely unwilling to drop it."You can't keep your life in danger just because you want to keep the rest of us safe. That shouldn't even be an option and as of right now, it's not going to be an option anymore."
"I thought there was some sort of 'code for mind readers', I didn't ask; nor, have I given anyone --including my best friend permission to do so. " Shannon bit her lip, then apologized, "I'm sorry--that was uncalled for. You're just trying to help but this time I can't let you, or anyone else for that matter or I'm dead." Shannon swallowed depressed by the whole thing, continued, "If I don't tell you are you going to go running with this Captain Bacardi, or to Colonel; it was probably a bad contraband or drug deal... given time everything will blow over."
"I hate to break it to you, but if they are threatening you this badly, you stumbling into something that isn't going to blow over . . . They are trying to drive you to do something to give them an excuse to make an accident happen. Mean, I could be wrong, but I don't think I am," Talia said. "You can't keep living your life like this . . . And . . . uh . . . Morgan already knows something's up . . . But I haven't told the Colonel or the Major," she offered.
"Oh that's just great, Talia! This is the one place, I can go and be free and relax. And now this ...I can't believe you. " The station was just coming up in visual range. "I'm not naive. And as your friend I don't want to involve you. I trust you with my life out here and with my back on ship in any fight...but I can't now. Not with this." Shannon requested clearance for landing then turned off her communications gear.
As they landed, Talia quickly exited her fighter, but she only watched as Shannon exited her. For the moment, she decided to drop the conversation. She'd said all she could. Now all she could do was hang in the shadows and watch . . . and see what would happen next. But the one thing she would not do was drop it.
In the back of Shannon's mind played over and over, ...morgan knows something is up... shit and she was going to have to make a report on their mission to him. She glanced at her chronometer and realized he would be asleep as he was flying in a few hours. She filed the forms and had them routed to him. Talia hung back and picked at a her thumb nail. In silence both women walked through marine country to the pilots area and noticed that 'general quarters' was in effect and there was a trace of smoke around that the ventilation system hadn't cleared yet. Both women looked at each other and shrugged...the closer they got to the ready room the more activity and the stronger the smell. Both shouldered their way into the room and noticed that both of their lockers were smoked up and warped.
Talia looked at Shannon. "I guess someone saw me talking to you . . . Chances are I could have been Lucas asking you why you've been acting so weird and this would have happened to his locker," she saw quietly. "But either way, I'm involved now. You can't shut me out and we have to take care of this before it gets worse . . ."
"Lucus has a 'y' chromosome and never would have asked or gotten himself involved with 'my personal problems.' Your right about one thing--now you're involved, hope that makes you happy because it scares the hell out of me that you are!"
"Attention, Officer's on Deck!" One of the fire crews yelled when Colonel Tarik and Captain Bacardi entered. Both women turned standing at attention.
Talia met Bicardi's look briefly and knew that things were about to get complicated.
Oh crap . . . Guess it had to happen... with the fires.
"Lt. Tigre, care to tell me why someone blew up to yours and Vansen's locker?" Col. Tarik looked at her with a stern, yet curious gaze.
Talia shook her head. "Random acts of violence, sir?" she replied, playing off being mystified.
"Listen, if there's something more going on here, you need to come clean, and come clean now!" Tarik growled. "I don't know what it was like where you came from but around here we tend to save demolitions charges for the enemy!"
Both of the women said nothing.
"Fine. Both of you are grounded until you come clean and tell me what the hell is going on!"
"But sir--" Shannon began to protest until Tarik cut her off.
"If you're not communicating here, in the barracks, then you're not communicating in the field, either. And I'm not going to allow you to risk the lives of the rest of your squadron or my people on the ground with schoolgirl games! Now, either tell me what's going on, or you'll stay pinioned until you do," Tarik insisted.
Again, no one said anything.
"Fine. Have it your way," Tarik said. "Get this mess cleaned up in any case." He tapped his combadge. "Tarik to Hartman--round up our three best demolitions experts to do a sweep of the pilots' ready room for charges."
[Sir?]
"You heard me. Send them up here immediately!"
Tarik waited another three minutes until the demolitions team began checking the locker room for more charges. Happily, no more were found. With a scowl, he left the two women alone in their thoughts.
Talia let out a groan as her head fell to her chest and shook back and forth. "Man . . . This is not good . . ." As she raised her head again, she rolled it from side to side and sighed.
Morgan entered the ready room at that moment. "So...which of you two is going to tell me what's going on here?" he demanded.
Shannon looked at Talia, and since this was her fault, spoke up. "Sir." she fought with herself and finally blurted it out, "I stumbled into something several weeks ago and have received several threats--one at knife point and now this."
"All right--tell me what exactly you 'stumbled' into, Lieutenant," Morgan said as he made notes on a PADD.
"I'd just returned from patrol and was wound up and decided to go running though the back corridors of the station--but never got outside of Marine country when I stumbled upon a group of men. It was dark and I never really took a count of how many when one grabbed me from behind, dumped me to the deck with a knife to my throat. "I was told if I cooperated and said nothing of what i'd seen or heard then myself and my 'ship mates' wouldn't be harmed. I believed them, Sir.
"And what did you see?"
"Sir, on my honor, I saw nothing and don't even know what they were talking about. Next thing that happened was my head hit the decking and I woke cold with a huge headache and knot on my head. I have gotten some messages that they are watching me."
Morgan grunted at the mention of honor. "Could you identify these people if you saw them again?" he asked.
"I could identify, them but I don't know their names...I don't cavort with all of the men in the marines--contrary to what people have said about me!
"No one is making such an allegation, Lieutenant," Morgan said. "I want you to speak with Security today--that's an order!"
"Sir. They've blown up our lockers just with Talia stepping in an harassing me until she knew... My life isn't worth a thing or anyone else's if I take this into the open." she pleaded and looked to talia to support her but knew little right to expect her to help after everything that had happened.
"And what kind of life do you expect to have if they keep you looking over your shoulder?" Morgan asked. "You owe this to yourself. Otherwise these people will forever have power over you."
"Sir, I think with a little ingenuity and planning, we might be able to handle this ourselves," Talia said meeting morgan's gaze. "We can't risk this getting worse. Next step is they start killing."
"Don't try to handle this yourself. That's the surest way to end up dead or worse!"
"But, sir, if we went to Security all hell would break loose. Who knows what these guys would do?" Talia asked genuinely concerned for Shannon more so than herself.
"There are what almost 1,000 marines on this station, sir. Its only going to take one to kill me for something 'they think I saw or heard."
"Who knows what they will do if you don't?" Morgan asked. "They've already placed explosives in your lockers--and you hadn't actually said anything until now."
I know nothing except the threats to my own life and now Talia's. What do you expect Security to do...besides it happened on Marine turf."
Security has jurisdiction over all crimes on the station, no matter what department. Morgan said with his arms crossed over his chest.
Talia let out a groan as her head fell to her chest and shook back and forth. "Man . . . This is not good . . ." As she raised her head again, she rolled it from side to side and sighed.
"And with my telepathic and shapeshifting abilities, I'm more than a match for most people . . . Maybe there's something we can do covertly. There has to be something more we can do . . . "Get some composite sketches and at least keep these people under surveillance, that's what!" Morgan replied. "Besides, there have been larger rumors of sabotage aboard the station. Any information you can provide will be of help!
"Sir. I will not do it! I won't involve security."
"Fine," Morgan said with a flash of temper. "You're still grounded until you choose to cooperate with Security."
"Uuuugh", Shannon yelled as he left the room as she slammed her locker door.
"Talia, you understand, right?"
"That we have to handle this ourselves?" she replied. "Of course!"
The dark haired woman sat on the bench across from the ruined lockers, "I doubt he meant you're grounded, I'm the one obstructing the investigation and a direct order.
"He meant me too," she said with resignation. "Because he thinks I know more than I do . . . And yes, I have sort of picked your brain," she said sitting next to Vansen and nudging her with her shoulder. "When you weren't being very open with me! But I still didn't see what you saw . . . I can see the faces, if you'll open your mind to me. That way I know who we're looking for . . ?"
"In for a penny, in for a pound, huh?"
"That's right," Talia replied with a smile. "Ready to share now?"
"Yeah then we can clean up this mess and get a drink to drown being grounded."
Morgan had stood just outside the door, listening to all that had transpired. He couldn't say that he approved, but then again it would have been exactly the thing he would have attempted.
After all, a warrior had to be responsible for his own honor. He made a note to start watching Talia's and Shannon's moves more closely, just in case they got in over their heads.