November 5, 2386
News Report in from Excalibur II - Councilman Lance Darton was killed yesterday in his home with his Wife Bella and three children ranging in age from 6 to 14.
Sounds were heard coming from the home early this morning. When Security was alerted they found a grizzly site. It was clearly the work of the Black Tiger; and again, the Black Tiger has eluded capture.
The bodies have been moved for further examination and will be turned over to surviving family members after forensics has had their look and they release their findings.
Until then, another community must mourn the loss of more victims of the Black Tiger.
Jaya was in her shuttle just approaching Serenity. Her eyes on the rose she had found against her shuttle hatch before she'd left Excalibur II. It made her shudder. The Dark Shadow had been there . . . The thought sickened her . . Why hadn't he come to kill her yet? He was just toying with her . . . that's what she thought. But the rose . . . It made her even more sick considering what it could mean.
Finally, she was granted clearance to land and brought her shuttle in.
A soon as she had the shuttle landed she was out the door with her duffle, leaving the rose behind. Part of her had wanted to destroy it, but she didn't; as a reminded of how sick the person she was dealing with was . .
As she got home, she picked up the comm, left a massage for Tyran letting him know she was home and then headed for the shower to wash away the grime of the past week.
Tyran headed to her as soon as he could, he entered and looked like he had not slept in days.
And he hadn't. His worry kept him from sleeping. He had even dreaming on the job.
He entered her home, and sat down in the living room to wait as he heard the shower going.
Soon she was out of the shower and changed into something warm. The house was a bit cool. But she could feel Tyran's presence and smiled as she saw him in the living room. She went up to him, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, sitting down on his lap.
"Honey, I'm home . . ." she smirked.
"I noticed. I heard about your murdering that family. I figured I could stop worrying soon." He sighed and wiped a lock of hair from his face.
"I know it took me longer to get back this time, but I wasn't able to leave right away . . . I had to stick around for an extra day to pretend I was there on business; less suspicions that way."
"And how did it feel, killing that family. those children?" Tyran said sourly.
"I did what I had to do," she replied flippantly as she got up from his lap and walked across the room.
"Oh yeah right. killing a six year old little girl, like your Emmy." He blocked her path and looked in her eyes.
She tried to steel them, but for a moment pain flickered through them at the sound of her daughter's name.
"As I said, I did what I had to do . . . That was the assignment."
"Yeah right, I'm not buying that excuse; you didn't kill them, did you?"
"And how would you know?" she asked, her seriousness evident. "I'm an assassin, remember? I'm supposed to kill in cold blood. It's my job."
"Assassin my ass! You wouldn't be able to hurt a child. Not after what I saw when you attacked that father abusing his little girl and certainly with the way you act when the kids are around you... with Rachel. The truth, now!" He said, knowing there was more to her; more to this assassin's job.
She was quiet as she turned away. "Okay . . . The truth . . ." she said, "I'm not what I appear to be . . ."
"Go on, I'm listening."
"For that last five years, it's all been a set-up . . . The people I've supposedly killed, aren't really dead . . ." she said. "Not that I can't kill . . Never mistake that. I know every way there is and then some . . . But I haven't actually killed any targets . . . My job is to get there before the Dark Shadow . . . stage the thing . . . and have the person or family moved to a new location. You wanted to know . . . That's the truth . . . You're right . . . I could never kill a child . . . But the Dark Shadow has to believe I can. That I kill as easily as he does . . . That I do it in cold-blood. My cover has to be preserved at all costs."
"I knew it!" He said as a smile broke through his features. "Thank you for telling me the truth." He kissed her; happy she did, realizing it was the first time he hadn't had to drag something out of her by tooth and nail. "I won't tell anyone!"
She caressed his face tenderly. "Had you not figured it out, I wouldn't have told you . . . I couldn't have . . . I hope you understand."
"I know you very well. Unlike the Dark Shadow who claims I'm not the right man for you, because I'm only a simple bartender. He doesn't even realize I own the freakin' joint!"
The mention of his name made her pale for a moment.
"Hasn't Alec told you, that he came to me?"
"What?" she said, her green eyes gazed at him with panic. Her face paled more.
"I went to Dom's the night of the Masquerade. He'd forgotten to take away the permanent teeth and such. I saw him grab a ride before I could reach him." Tyran started. "I knew he was going home so I took a shortcut through the back alleys near Virginia Boulevard."
"He was there?" she said softly. Not much scared her, but the fact that the Dark Shadow knew about Tyran did . . . petrified her. She could see 6 years ago happen all over again.
"He walked next to me, all of a sudden, saying you were a mighty pretty lady. Saying he studied you for five years, and that we weren't a good match. That he was in your league . . . that you could slice me in half in a snap... That I was nothing more than a simple bartender. That last bit made me angry."
She was quiet as she sat down on the couch, unable to stand any longer. "He's been studying me all this time? My god . . . and the flowers . . . I don't get it . . . He was suppose to come after me . . ."
"Dom and I think he's in love with you. Someone as ruthless as he is himself. I'm a competitor in his eyes, I think."
"Oh my god . . . I didn't understand the roses until now . . . Oh god . . . he's trying to court me!" She leaned over as if she were going to be sick. "He doesn't even seem to know who I am . . . I mean, that I'm Christianna Avante . . He must not remember my face . . . Not like he would after completing his contract . . ." She said with a hint of anger. "Maybe I should try to meet up with him. I could take him when he's vulnerable . . ." Her mind was racing with possibilites. "But I can't have you in his path . . . He'll kill you to get to me. Nothing stops him . . . and if he wants me . . . Oh god . . ."
"He won't kill me. I'm always armed. I have been since I figured out who you were." He showed her his outdated phaser.
"He probably knows you carry it . . . He could disarm you in a matter of seconds . . ." she said softly, trying to calm her nerves. "It's what we do . . what we learn . . ."
"I'm not afraid of him. I could have shot him back there... but I didn't. I was taught never to take a life. It'll hang on me... '
"But he knew you wouldn't fire . . ." she said. "He's apparently watched you too . . . You should be afraid . . . He's a monster. And it takes a monster to kill a monster . . ." she said trying to steel her nerves, wanting to force a confrontation. One way or another it would be over.
"He won't scare me. That's what he wants - me scared and willing to leave you. No chance."
"And if he does try to kill you?" she asked looking him straight in the eyes.
"I'll defend myself, and keep on living. That's what I learned from my people."
Suddenly, in a move that was barely seen, Jaya took his weapon from him, disarming him easily. She held the weapon in her hand.
"That's what you can expect . . ." she said holding out the weapon for him to take.
Suddenly he made a fast martial arts move she had never seen before, and had the weapon back. "You were saying?"
She smirked, but the concern was in her eyes. "I know how he thinks . . I know how he kills . . . But I don't know where he is . . . He knows where I am and where I go . . . He's watching me . . . He could be watching me now. Though I don't feel him nearby . . ."
"Let him come. No one but the Borg scare me."
She shook her head and put her face in her hands. "He was there . . "
"Yes, he came to us. I'm not too scared. But I have to be honest. I'm on edge. I even practised my Doj Thal moves again. I haven't done that in 300 years."
"No, I mean he was on Excalibur II," she said softly.
"I see..." He looked at her, wanting her to go on.
"He . . ." her stomach turned at the thought. "He left a red rose in front of my shuttle . . . in front of the hatch . . ."
Tyran looked angry. "Next time I swear, he won't get away from me. If he wants to scare me he can go ahead and try. If he tries to get me in trouble, fine, but no one threatens my woman!"
"That's just it . . . He's not threatening me, is he?" she said, her green eyes troubled.
"He is threathening you, in another way. He threatens to hurt me; telling you I stand in the way!"
"I could play along . . . Try to get him to meet me . . ." she said. "Try to . . . get him vulnerable . . ." She looked out toward the window, trying in her mind to see it work.
"Is that so wise?" Tyran aked carefully.
"If he wants me . . . maybe I should let him have me . . . Then strike when he lets me get too close, or when I have him distracted . . ."
"No, that I forbid you to do! Do that and you lose me for certain!" Jealousy burned in his green eyes.
"You don't understand," she replied. "I can use this to my advantage . . . I could finally take him out . . . My mission completed finally . . . No more lives lost. Vengeance for Emmy and David . . . And then we would never have to worry about him again."
"I'm jealous!" He growled.
She stood up and caressed his face. "I'm only thinking of possibilities that could work . . . He knows you. He knows I'm with you. He wants me . . Sooner or later, he'll try to kill you . . . I would rather kill him first . . "
"I can understand that, or at least I'll try to understand it." He said hesitantly. "But it's so difficult."
"I think you've lived so long you think you're invinsible, Tyran," she smiled and kissed him.
"I know. I know that..." He kissed her back, enjoying the sudden moment. He refused to be scared, but deep down he wanted to run and hide...
"If an opportunity arises for me . . . I just want you to understand . . . Anything I do is for us . . ." she kissed him again. "I love you . . . I will always love you . . ."
"I know that, and I love you. It's just hard... but I know it might be our only chance." He swallowed, anger in his eyes for what they were being put through. But he was more scared he would lose her.
"He won't hurt me as long as he thinks he can have me . . ." she said. "I know that much now . . ."
"I just... don't know..." He held her and kissed her like he would never let her go.
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