It was a chilly morning in the Chelsea district. The sun bore down on the sidewalk and reflected off the glass windows that covered the buildings to make for such a radiant display. But the warmth that the sun offered was nearly completely diminished by the morning chill and the windy breeze that came in from the direction of the docks. One particular young blonde fought against the headwind as sshe dashed across the street and into an office building. Wrapping her wool trench coat around her and primping her hair, she walked through the lobby and stepped into the elevator.

Twelve stories up, Agent Thorne sat in her office, sifting through old investigation files, growing more and more impatient waiting for her Lieutenant's return. “It's been over a day... I really hope Gray knew what he was getting into.”

No sooner had the words left her lips than there was a knock on the door. Prompt as ever, if not a little startled, the young professional responded, “Yes?”

The Lieutenant she had been anticipating stormed in and let the door shut behind her. There was little pleasantness in the look on her face. It spoke volumes of fury and frustration.

“Lieutenant…” The woman took a moment to take a breath and compose what little she had lost only seconds before, “Nice to see you back.”

"Really." Vaala scoffed, having trouble keeping her anger in check. "I was starting to wonder if I'd be coming back after that little stunt.”

The Lieutenant approached the desk and put her hands down on the flat surface in what would have been a rather threatening stance had the person sitting behind the desk been anyone other than who she was. "Iniuria? Really? I'd rather have spent the past 30 hours back in that warehouse.” She nearly spat out her words at the woman. “With your gun to my head." Vaala had added the latter for dramatic effect. Something that seemed to be lost on her superior.

Thorne stood up and let her head hang. It was strangely condescending. "You must understand, Ms. Redwinter... I did what I had to do. You need to understand just what Ms. Lamont is capable of. Putting your trust into her would be a most dangerous thing to do."

"I understand...but there had to have been another way."

"Did you really think she would come out into the open and speak of her crimes?” The woman gave a small gesture at the rather absurd notion. “The woman runs a terrorist organization, you cannot trust a word she says."



"Perhaps...but being forced to relive those crimes from the victims' perspectives for more than a day is a little excessive, don't you think?” She tried to reason with the woman. “You could have done the same thing by giving me full access to her file"

Thorne gave a small sigh, not willing to reveal the true source of the ‘backup plan’. "We must follow protocol, Lieutenant. That is the way it works here, you know that. Sometimes certain actions must be taken for certain results, even if they don't seem to be the most effective means."

"I see. Well, it was certainly 'effective,' as you put it." Vaala hoped she sounded spiteful. She was dishing out quite the performance. If Thorne didn’t bite, she was in dire jeopardy.

Thorne nodded, but stopped suddenly seeming to have thought better of it. Quickly regaining her professional veneer and shaking her head slightly, she pressed the matter again, "But... do you understand now who we are dealing with?"

"I do.” Vaala stopped for a second doing her best to maintain eye contact with the woman. It seemed the only way to sell her story. “And you are correct: Ms. Lamont is a dangerous terrorist and must be stopped by any means possible."

It was only then that the older woman smiled, completely satisfied with the results, all apprehension for her operative put aside. "I’m glad to hear you think so, Lieutenant.” The woman returned to her seat and opened a drawer. “I know this is not what you expected of this assignment, but we are dealing with a very serious situation - one that is detrimental to the System itself." She took out a manilla file folder and dropped it on her desk, pulling her chair in underneath her. "Now that that is out of the way, we should get back to our investigation."

"I understand completely, Agent," Vaala said with a slight nod. "And I have some useful information that I gleaned from Ms. Lamont's hovercraft."

A tension ran through Thorne’s shoulders, her cold demeanor suddenly returned. "Is that so?" Her voice became lower, more firm somehow with that same British accent that she always spoke with.

Vaala smiled. "It seems your suspicions were correct. The terrorists are planning an attack on our interests in the Real."

The woman’s smile only broadened. Something similar—but just short—of pride came over face. "Let us see what you've found then."

The young operative produced a disc out of her pocket and handed it over to the older woman. She circled around the desk to peer over the Agent’s shoulder as Thorne entered the disc into her computer drive and loaded the contents. "The Sentinel Plant...here..." she raised a slender finger to the false target on the screen in front of her. "That is where they plan to attack. Sometime within the next couple of weeks.” At the click of a mouse, Thorne opened another window with the Plant layout and all underground tunnels surrounding it.

Thorne raised an eyebrow, "A rather ambitious attack site - wouldn't you agree, Ms. Redwinter?"

"I would, Agent. But they are…dangerous, as you've pointed out. Such an ambitious attack would not be unheard of..."

"You make a valid point, Lieutenant." She studied the information for a moment. "How did you manage to retrieve this data?"

"I managed to access the leader's files while she was...'otherwise occupied," she smirked.

The older machinist operative cocked her head to the side, trying to comprehend what the Lieutenant was implying. Realizing it wasn't important, she simply answered, "Very well. Excellent work, Ms. Redwinter, this data is invaluable." She stood up, still training her eyes on the screen. "We must take action immediately if this attack is scheduled to go into effect in the next few weeks"

"Thank you, Agent. Just doing my duty.” She rounded back to the other side of the desk and mimicked the angle that her superior often cocked her head to. “The system must be purged of this terrorist scum. Having them all in one place is just too good an opportunity to pass up, in my opinion."

Thorne eyed her, intrigued by her newfound sense of duty. After seeming to have reached some sort of unknown conclusion, she grinned. "You understand the importance of this, Lieutenant. I'm quite pleased."

"Yes, ma'am. No definite date yet...I believe they wish it to be a total surprise. I believe it would be best to reinforce the manufacturing plant as soon as possible - in case they speed up their timetable. And, of course, keep it reinforced in preparation for their attack"

"Absolutely, I will alert the proper channels so they may prepare."

Vaala paused a second before lowering her head in a humbly suggestive manner, "Might I propose, Agent, that some of the sentinels protecting the communications stations be...reassigned...in order to protect the facility?"

"I will look into that, Lieutenant. I cannot say for sure at the moment."

Vaala refrained from fidgeting, although it took considerable effort as she pressed the matter. "It's well known that their only defense against the sentinels is to blow their EMPs...which would leave them extremely vulnerable after a massive sentinel attack. At that point, they could easily be destroyed...once and for all."

The older woman shook her head, "That is true, however the Communications Stations are extremely important. I cannot imagine our superiors would want to relocate our defenses unless absolutely necessary." She sat back slightly in her seat, too pleased with the progress made to notice the faint look of disappointment that passed over her operative’s face. "But in the meantime..."

"Destroying these terrorists...and especially Ms. Lamont...is not considered 'absolutely necessary'?” There was a sudden urgent boldness to her voice. A desperation masked by ambition, “Think of it...with Lamont's group out of the way - for good - there's no real need to protect the comm stations or anything else from their attacks.” She backed off a little and gave a castual gesture, “These people are murderers...it seems to me to be a worthwhile allocation of resources..."

"There are other threats out there, besides Lamont's troupe.” Thorne cut in quickly. After a moment of silence she nodded with consideration, “But as I said, I will discuss the options with my superiors."

The Zionite resigned, "Understood. Will there be anything else?"

A smile came across the older woman’s face. There was no warmth to it. Only wicked cold ambition. "I believe there is something you can do to... aide in our efforts."

--Maeby

"I am, as always, ready to serve," Vaala said with a tight smile.

Thorne eyed her for a moment, suddenly wondering why Vaala seemed so enthusiastic. Perhaps Inuiria's actions really did work as planned. However, being unable to monitor her operative made her uneasy. Nevertheless, she had no evidence to the contrary. She put the thoughts aside and continued, "You are still on good terms with their ranks.. or as good as you can get given your little… confession..."

"It will take a little time, but I am certain I can convince them of my sincerity..."

"You will be accompanying them on this attack, correct?

"I had hoped to be elsewhere...perhaps with you...observing the results by that time, Agent. After all this work, I'd hate to be counted among the enemies of the system when Zion sifts through the wreckage."

"Well, given you have provided us this information, we shall ensure your safety. Now, here is what I'd like you to do." The woman folded her hands over the file in front of her and leaned over the desk. The conspiratorial stance was matched by her colleague, “Based on the surveillance you've provided from the hovercraft you were stationed on, The Shadrack, we are of the understanding that the Captain harbors an armored personal unit, correct? An APU?" Vaala only nodded. She knew what the woman referred to. "If you were to look into the archives at the last War a few years back, you would understand that these contraptions can theoretically pose quite a threat."

"Yes, Agent. I have done the research. They can be quite....difficult...to counter."

"I need you to…” The woman looked out of the corner of her eye, looking for the appropriate word. “…‘handle’ that little problem, by whatever means you are able. Cut power lines, dismantle the motors, I don't really care how you do it. Make it so it doesn't run."

"Understood. Is there anything else you would like me to do?"

"Given that there will be much confusion and chaos during this time, if you are able to hinder any of their other crafts that would prove an effective strategy. Disabling communications, discharging the ship... I'm sure you can think of a myriad of ways this can be done.

"I believe I know a few tricks to accomplish this easily."

"Care to elaborate?” The woman tilted her head to the side, “I'm curious."

"Well...I'm sure I can gain enough access to certain areas of the ships that might turn out to have components critical to the terrorists' success...” A smile formed on the corner of her lips, “...and find ways to...'distract them'."

Thorne gives a low chuckle. "I can honestly say I am impressed, Lieutenant."

Vaala nodded her head, unused to the praise but suddenly comfortable with it knowing that the woman before her only thought she would benefit from the information she had provided her. The thought brought a smile to her lips but not for the reason that would be expected. "Thank you, Agent. I do my best."

"Of course, Lieutenant, we expect nothing less."

"Then, if there's nothing else, Agent? It would seem I have...work...to do."

Thorne glanced at the screen again. "If you perchance happen to come across any other methods of... distraction.. please alert me. We want to have every move planned to the T."

"Of course," Vaala nodded.

"Then if nothing else... I'd suggest synching up the rest of the points in the city for easy access. Later, we should *dismantle* some of those wasted bits of code." Thorne gave her one last nod. "You are dismissed, Ms. Redwinter."

Vaala only nodded and turned to exit the small office. The operation had been a success.

Thorne cracked her neck and let her eyes shift to the monitor display yet again, a certain smugness on her face. She removed the disk and pocketed it into her inner jacket before shutting down the computer. Her phone rang and she answered it promptly. "Yes Agent Gray... I have something I wish to show you. I shall meet you at your office in 5 minutes." She clicked her cell phone shut and pocketed it, collecting her PDA and exiting the office.

Before she even shut the door behind her, she had bumped into one of her office workers. The young blonde wore wire rimmed glasses, with a coffee in one hand and a stack of manila files in the other. “Oh, I do apologize for my clumsiness. Lovely morning, isn't it Ms. Thorne?” She spoke with a deep southern accent. It seemed strangely out of place in the city.

Thorne was internally surprised by the interaction, but she remained professional as she stepped away from the woman and into the hallway to regain her space. In her typical English drawl, she responded. "That it is, Miss... Forgive me, but do I know you? Have you been here long?" She looked the woman up in down, noticing little out of place with the standard A-line skirt, white-collared shirt, and pumps.

The woman smiled warmly and scrunched her nose, “Ms. Saite.” She looked down at her hands as if embarrassed that she couldn’t formally shake hands, “And no… this is my first week.”

"Ah, I see..." Thorne arched her eyebrow. It was rare for her to encounter a "normal" person. But she supposed the bluepill deserved nothing but a polite response, "You.. enjoying your stay here?"

The woman simply smiled with a twinkle in her eye, “You know, I must say I am. I'm just learning something new every day.”

Thorne chuckled at the woman. "There is indeed much to learn in this business. I'd have a longer chat, but I am expected somewhere." She adjusted her jacket, eyeing the girl curiously.

The secretary shook her head, a look of absolute sincerity on her face, “Oh of course. You must be busy. I do hope that goes well for you.”

"I'm sure it will, dear. Enjoy your stay, Ms. Saite." She nodded her head slightly and continued through the front door to the outside.

The young blonde watched the woman round the corner with a smile. She carefully looked down the hall as she let the door Thorne had so carelessly left ajar due to some kind of convenient distraction fall open. She carefully slipped through and let the door shut quietly behind her.

Once through, the young woman took out a cell phone and promptly dialed a number. Her southern accent was suddenly gone, “I’m not sure what more confirmation we need, Wheeler. She fed her everything we told her to.” The Zion operative walked over to the Agent’s desk and turned on the computer as she took a chip out of the folder she had been carrying and clicked it into one of the many drives. Pressing some keys, she continued to talk into her cell phone. “No, I’m sure, she was unaware of my presence. I’m uploading the program now…” The woman paused a second. “She seems pretty attached to this PDA of hers, I think we should get good information off of this provided she doesn’t become aware of it.” She took the chip back and placed it in her file as she shut down the computer and rearranged the desk so it was as if she had never been there. She turned to exit the office as a smile crossed her face at something said on the other end of the line, “It’s possible to use my name in a sentence without making a pun out of it you know.” A moment later the girl chuckled as she took her wool trench coat back off the coat rack and opened the door to the hallway. “I’ll see you back on the ship, Wheeler.” She clicked her phone shut and pressed the elevator button in front of her, shrugging her coat on tighter around her. They had the b****.

--Maeby

Vaala knocked quietly on the door to Bindi and Fen's quarters. If she wanted Cameryn and the Mechs to think that sending her to Iniuria for 're-education' had worked, then she'd have to at least give the appearance of following Thorne's orders.

After a few moments, the door opened and RedBindi slipped out. “What's up?”

“Wheeler talk to you yet?” She knew Wheeler monitored everything she did while jacked in and assumed the other woman already knew what had happened with Thorne.

“Not quite yet,” RedBindi told her, “though he did warn me to watch you closely.”

Of course he did, Vaala thought with a little bitterness, wondering how long it would take before anyone actually believed her. “I fed Thorne some...'misinformation.' She ordered me to sabotage the ships – and Deff's APU.” She paused a moment. “She thinks there will be an attack on a Sentinel production facility and I've recommended reinforcing that to clear a path for you, but...well, what do you want to do?”

RedBindi closed the door behind her and motioned Vaala into the mess hall. As she followed the young operative in, she grabbed a bowl of goop and a glass of water before sitting down at the table. “What do you mean, what do I want to do? We're still planning on taking out the original target; I don't see any reason to change that.”

Vaala sat down opposite Bindi. “What I mean is, she wants me to sabotage ships. I don't see much way to get around that – when the attack does happen, she's going to know whether or not I followed her orders...unless there's a way to give false readings about the ships' conditions.”

Bindi sat back in her chair for a moment, thinking. “Hmm...I don't see why we couldn't. It shouldn't be that hard to rig something to give false readings on the ships you've had access to.”

Vaala nodded, relieved that she wouldn't actually have to sabotage anything. “And the APU?” she asked.

“You'll probably have to talk to Deff about that. APU's aren't a specialty of mine.”

Disappointment crept into Vaala's voice. She was still angry with Deff and really had no desire to talk to him right now. “Yeah. He'll probably go postal though. Maybe there's a way to do the same thing – to rig it to give a false reading, then spring a trap once they think it's down.”

“I'm sure there is,” Bindi acknowledged, “but I don't know how to do it. He or Sue might.”

“Yeah, I guess I'll talk to him about it – if I have to. There is another thing, though...” She took a deep breath. “With this tracer, maybe I shouldn't be aboard any of the ships. It's kind of a dead giveaway that I lied to Thorne.”

“That's why you'll be remaining aboard the Diluculo during the attack,” Bindi told her.

“What?! No. I have Thorne convinced that her little trick worked. I can use that on the ground, disrupt their systems or something.” As Bindi just stared at her, she dropped her eyes and admitted her real motive: “Ok...the truth is, I want a chance at Thorne and this attack is a perfect distraction.”

“I'm sure it is,” Bindi replied, “however your safety cannot be guaranteed if you go alone on the ground.”

“I'm willing to risk it.”

“I may not be.”

“Come on,” Vaala pleaded, “Comms will be open so you can monitor everthing. This might be the only chance I have to get rid of the b**** – and you can't guarantee that Zion's going to be able to get rid of this tracer she put in me,” she pointed out. “What would you do if you were in my position?”

“If I let you do this,” Bindi told her in a tone that made it clear that it was a very big 'if', “you won't be doing it alone.”

“What? How—who else can get past the security?” She'd risk her own life for the chance to take Thorne out, but she wasn't willing to risk anyone else's.

RedBindi raised an eyebrow. “Of the members of the Trust? Only one person that I know of.”

Vaala's eyes widened at the implication and she shook her head. “No way. Absolutely not. Fen'll kill us both for even thinking about it.”

“Then you don't go,” Bindi told her matter-of-factly.

“You're insane! If something happens...and what about that chip in your head? Obviously, they've perfected their little 'experiment'.” She said the word distastefully, as if she could taste its foulness just by saying it, “Giving them a chance to mess with that thing again is just...well, it's crazy.”

“They are not going to know I'm there, but you are not going into that alone. Period.”

She knew about Bindi's stubbornness – hell, even Thorne had called her 'relentless,' but this was ridiculous. “Then send someone else,” she insisted. “I can handle it, and besides, who would captain the Titan if you're on the ground?”

“Neither they – nor you,” Bindi pointed out, “have had the training I have and the Titan is in Vapor's and Lumi's capable hands. As I said, if you want to do this, you will not be doing it alone. Those are the terms. Otherwise, you will stay aboard the Diluculo during the fight.”

Vaala was getting frustrated and angry, but she tried to keep it contained, remembering that losing her temper wouldn't get her anywhere – at least not with Bindi, anyway. “Jesus Christ. Are all of you this goddamned stubborn?” she half-muttered before looking up at Bindi. “I know. Why don't we ask Fen what he thinks?”

“Because he is sleeping peacefully and I don't intend to wake him for this. And to answer your question,” she said with a slight smile, knowing full well the question had been rhetorical, “yes, we do tend towards the stubborn side of things – it increases our survival chances.” As Vaala rolled her eyes, Bindi added, “plus, he would agree that you are not doing this alone. As to my going, he more than likely would insist that he come as well – which would leave both the Titan and the Devildog without a captain. Do you want that?”

“No, of course not. I just don't think it's a good idea for you to be anywhere near the Mechs, and especially Thorne. She seems to have a kind of peculiar obsession with you that I don't like. I mean, Jesus, calling in Iniuria to deal with her suspicions about me? That's just...evil.”

“And you're getting obsessed with her,” Bindi observed. “Either way, the odds of your survival increase with the presence of another Trust member. I don't allow my operatives to take such risks without proper backup – whoever that may be.”

There was a flash of anger in Vaala's eyes. “What I do or don't think about Thorne is none of anyone's business. I want her gone, though, admittedly, I'd like to be the one to wipe that little smirk off her face. And I'm more than willing to take the risk to do it, but it's not right to put anyone else at risk.”

“I'm not risking anyone else, including you.”

“And how in the hell is going in there with a two-minute window not risky? Too much could go wrong.”

“Then perhaps you should wait to take Thorne out,” Bindi told her. “If it's too risky for the two of us, then maybe we should wait and plan a better time.”

“Wait,” Vaala said derisively. Patience had never been her strong suit, but right now, it was even less so. “And do what – live aboard the Diluculo the whole time and hope she doesn't find me, either here or in the Matrix? No way. Best to do it while she's distracted with other things.”

“Then you're not doing it alone.”

Unable to contain her frustration any longer, Vaala slammed her fist into the table. “Goddammit! Stop being so f***ing stubborn and just let me do this! It's just...it's something I need to do.”

RedBindi leaned back in her chair and looked Vaala in the eye. “The only barrier to your doing this is the fact that you will not accept my presence – so perhaps you are the one being too stubborn.”

Looking away, Vaala said quietly, “Maybe I am,” she admitted. “But it's just not right to risk anyone else for my fight. Enough damage has already been done and I just want to end it.”

“You can,” RedBindi told her, “and this fight is no longer just your fight, Vaala. It's the Trust's fight. We tend to watch each other's backs around here – I'm sure you'll figure that out someday.”

Vaala raised her eyebrows. “Would that 'back watching' be before or after someone shivs me like they did Qui?”

“The person who stabbed him was restrained as soon as possible and Qui was taken care of. That's why we keep doctors onboard all our ships. Care to try another jab?”

Vaala sighed heavily. “Fine. Since it seems I have no other choice...but I really do not like this.”

“And I didn't like your original plan of going alone.”

“I'm not the Commander of the Trust, either, nor am I married to Fen. I've got enough problems without dragging you into bad situations.”

“You aren't dragging me into the situation—”

“Besides, it's not like one operative makes any difference anyway,” Vaala mumbled, low enough that she thought it wouldn't be heard.

RedBindi heard it though and looked directly at her. “One operative makes a difference to me,” she told her pointedly. “And if you wish, you can even talk to Fen yourself when he wakes up.”

“Oh hell no,” Vaala said, shaking her head. “This was your idea, you tell Fen what you're doing. He's far less likely to snap your neck than mine.”

“All right, I will.”

“Yeah, sure,” Vaala said. “After it's over, no doubt. You know he'll never agree to this insanity and as the saying goes, 'it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission'.”

Bindi sighed. “I'll tell him in the morning. No need to worry him tonight. He'll agree.”

“F***ing military,” Vaala muttered, annoyed at having lost that argument so miserably.

“Try 'd*** family',” Bindi smiled. “Welcome to the Trust.”

--Vaala, RedBindi

“Just how do you think you're going to get in there anyway?” Vaala asked.

“I guess we'll figure that out when we get there. I'll run some training sims with the data we have on the site, that should give us a better idea of what we need to do.”

“Just blow the d***ed place up – preferably with Thorne still inside,” Vaala grinned.

“We can do that as well,” Bindi said, returning the grin. “It's not like the Titan doesn't have enough guns.”

“Actually, I was thinking of something a little more...up close and personal. Maybe planting explosives to create a bit of a diversion – make them think the attack is coming from a different direction than it actually is.”

Bindi nodded. “Go on.”

“Well, if I'm with Thorne, I should be able to go pretty much anywhere I want without being questioned by anyone—”

“Which means you'd need to go alone,” Bindi interrupted. “Not happening.”

“She's going to know I'm there anyway,” Vaala countered. “I can get in and disrupt their systems—”

“Mmhmm,” Bindi breathed, interrupting again, “but how will you explain us letting you off our ships?”

“I, uh,” This would be easier if Wheeler had already briefed her, she thought. “Well, I actually already told her that I'd prefer not to be aboard any Trust ships during the attack and she's said that she can arrange for my 'protection' since I've been so...'useful'. Don't know that I actually believe her, but it's worth a shot if I can keep her convinced that I've 'changed my mind' about the Mechs,” she shrugged.

“Just how is she planning on removing you from our ships?” Bindi asked.

Vaala shrugged again. “I can always tell her you booted me off your—”

“The only way she'll get you off our ships is by taking one of them out,” RedBindi insisted. “That's not a risk I'm willing to take, especially since the ship she would hit would most likely be the Diluculo. And why would we boot someone off our ships who has possible intelligence about an attack just prior to attacking? It doesn't make any sense.”

“She seems to think you're all such terrorists who think nothing of killing people. I can tell her someone attacked me and I escaped – same type of thing I did with Cov. She'll buy it if it's done right, and her disappointment is really the very least of my worries right now.”

Bindi shook her head. “If she knows anything about us or me, she'll know we don't work that way or she'll assume I did the attacking...and she'll know you wouldn't escape from me.”

That last comment sent an unnerving chill down Vaala's spine. RedBindi's manner sometimes made it easy to forget just how true the statement actually was. “Probably not,” she pressed, “but if it wasn't you, if it was someone else—”

“Not going to happen, Vaala,” Bindi replied. “You aren't going in there alone.”

Vaala resisted the urge to jump out of her chair and throw it across the room. D***, this woman is infuriating! she thought. “Then what do you want me to do, Bindi? I'm sure as hell not going to just sit here when I can actually do something. I mean, it's not like you're going to be able to just walk in the place.” After reconsidering for a moment, she corrected herself. “Well, maybe you could. Still, that's not the point.”

“And the point would be?”

Vaala shook her head. She wasn't willing to reveal her suspicions yet about what kinds of other experiments the Machines might be running – at least not without any proof. She leaned back in her chair and thought for a minute. She had an idea...but not one she really wanted to bring up. Oh hell, if she insists on going, might as well, she thought. “All right, then. How well do you think you can act like Lamont? If Thorne thinks the chip's controlling you...”

Bindi sighed. “I can act like her very well. But if you think Fen would let the two of us walk into the midst of them like that... Well, I'll let you broach that idea with him.”

“Yeah, that'll go over well,” Vaala said sarcastically.

“Exactly,” Bindi agreed.

Vaala sighed deeply and tried again. “Look, on the ship, I put everyone at risk. At least on the ground, I can cause enough trouble to help and kill Thorne. Either way, I'm at risk. My way, I'm the only one at risk and at least I can stop her before she does anything to anyone else.”

“Let me state this again,” Bindi said firmly. “You are not going in there alone. Period.”

Unable to control her frustration any longer despite nearly Herculean effort, Vaala yelled, “Why the hell not? And don't give me that 'operative' bulls***. We take crazy chances every day – this is no different. If you think I need a babysitter because you're concerned that I might do something to help Thorne, you're wrong. The only place I want to help her to is an early grave.”

Putting enough steel into her voice to remind Vaala who she was talking to, Bindi told her, “Do not raise your voice. You take chances in the Matrix – the Real is a whole different ballgame...and one that you are still new to.”

“All right, then,” Vaala said as she lifted her chin defiantly and fixed RedBindi with a challenging look, “Train me. You know she hasn't had nearly the training you've had, so it shouldn't be too hard to train me just enough to do this.”

Meeting Vaala's gaze with one of her own, Bindi replied, "The answer to that is no. We don't have enough time for one, and two, you're still not going in there alone.”

“Yeah,” Vaala said bitterly. “Because you don't trust me, do you? Fine. What do you suggest?”

Sighing again, Bindi told her, “The simple fact of the matter is that I wouldn't let any operative go on a mission like that alone. And I suggest that you think of a plan that doesn't involve you going alone. My main goal is the target we've selected. If you want Thorne taken out on this mission, then you will have to figure out a way for it to be done without you being the only one going in.”

“You are a stubborn pain in the a**, you know that?”

“It's one of my more endearing traits – just ask Fen.”

“Fine. Ok. I'll think of something. I'll go back and research her files, see if there's something there that I can use to get you in... But one way or another, I am going,” Vaala insisted.

“Just as long as you're going in with someone to watch your back. Sleep well, Vaala,” Bindi told her, dismissing her. “I think you're going to need it.”

“Yeah, right,” Vaala said as she left the mess hall, shaking her head and muttering. She wouldn't sleep – not tonight or any other night that Thorne was out there and capable of finding her. She'd have thought that, of all people, RedBindi would understand that. A few minutes later, she listened as Bindi returned to her own quarters and she wondered how – or if – the other woman slept most nights when she knew there was someone out there trying to find her, but then focused her thoughts on the task at hand: coming up with a plan the Commander would allow her to act on.

--Vaala, RedBindi

Vaala had just finished eating when Fen walked into the mess hall. She hadn't slept worth a d*** last night - not that she'd expected to - and she really didn't want to talk to either him or Bindi after having lost that argument so completely last night.

Fen grabbed his breakfast and sat down opposite her at the table...and then got straight to the point: "So, I hear you want to take on Thorne all by yourself."

"Your wife talks too much," Vaala told him as she stood up. "And she's too d***ed stubborn."

"Wonderful, isn't it?" Fen quipped through a mouthful of goop.

"Yeah...it's just...great," she answered, her tone of voice making it clear that it was anything but great.

"We work as a team - all of us," he told the young operative. "You do something stupid like going out on your own and you end up dead...or worse."

"Tell me, does anyone ever win an argument with her?" She really wasn't in the mood to be lectured - again.

"No idea," Fen shrugged. "But then, I've never met anyone dumb enough to try," he chuckled.

"Like I told her, I'm willing to take the chance. It's my fight," as she realized what he'd just said, she turned to face him, her eyes narrowing. "And did you just call me dumb?"

"I call anyone who tries to win an argument with her dumb," he grinned.

"Gee, thanks. I'll remember that for the next time I see you trying to argue with her," she said, giving him a slight smile.

Fen laughed. "I never said I wasn't dumb." As Vaala chuckled, he added, "anyhow, it's not just your fight. It's our fight now."

"Maybe," she shrugged, "but you all have enough on your plates. I can handle this."

Fenshire leaned back in his chair and fixed her with a hard stare. "I remember the time I thought I could handle Iniuria on my own," he told her pointedly. "It ended up with me being captured and then ransomed for Bindi...and then she got tortured."

Vaala shook her head. She had no answer for that and she knew it. "You are all pains in the a**, you know that?"

Fen just smiled. "Good. Keeps you from sitting down on the job."

"Very funny," she said humorlessly. "Why are you both so goddamned adamant about this anyway?"

"Because you're one of us and we look out for each other."

"It's one d*** mission!"

"One d*** mission that could and probably would get you killed," Fen pointed out matter-of-factly. "You think Thorne'll give you a third chance?"

"I don't intend for her to live long enough to be able to make that decision," Vaala said icily.

"What you intend and what actually happens are two completely different things."

"Maybe," Vaala acknowledged, "but I at least have to try. I can't have Thorne running around chasing me for the rest of my life - and I can't live on the Diluculo forever."

"You won't," Fen reassured her. "We'll kick her a**."

We? she thought, hoping he was referring to the Trust as a whole and not considering going along as well. "I don't know who's more stubborn," she told him. "You or your wife."

He smiled again. "Oddly enough, we've only ever had one argument..and it was pretty scary."

Vaala laughed. "With her, I've no doubt it was. I'd hate to see her really pissed."

"It's...scary."

"I can imagine," Vaala said, recalling RedBindi's annoyance at the monument when she'd admitted the truth and how absolutely intimidated she'd felt at the time. "She can be scary when she's not pissed," she confessed.

"She's not scary," he chuckled.

Yeah, right, she thought, remembering some of what she'd read when she started this assignment. While she knew that 99% of what she'd been told when she took this mission was patently false, it was the 1% truth that made her nervous. "Maybe not to you," she muttered. "Well, did she also tell you that she flat out rejected every idea I've had?"

Fen shook his head. "No. She only told me that you wanted to go after Thorne alone."

Vaala raised a brow. "You mean she didn't tell you that she plans on going along - which, incidentally, I think is a really bad idea."

"She's not going alone," he said matter-of-factly.

"Christ," Vaala practically whispered. "You're both insane. Who's going to captain the DevilDog if you go?"

Fen didn't answer, just smiled at her before looking down to finish his meal, signaling that the conversation was over. Frustrated, Vaala spun on her heel and left the room. She had a lot of data to sift through...and now she had to come up with a plan that could pass muster with both Bindi and Fenshire.

"This is shaping up to be one hell of a rotten day," she mumbled as she walked down the corridor.

--Vaala, Fenshire

Vaala had been over the files a hundred times at least. She still couldn't find anything usable - there was nothing there to help her to formulate a plan that RedBindi and Fenshire would find acceptable. "I need a break," she muttered.

She walked down the cramped corridor to the mess hall, got a drink, and started pacing. She had to think of something...but what? Every idea she'd had that she'd tossed out, Bindi had flatly rejected, and she just wasn't willing to follow the other woman's advice about waiting. Thorne was dangerous - far more dangerous than anyone seemed to be giving her credit for, in Vaala's opinion - and she had to do something. She knew she wouldn't rest - literally or figuratively - until Thorne was no longer a problem.

She looked into the cup, wrinkling her nose. She really hadn't wanted a drink, she'd just needed to clear her head a bit and stop staring at the same information over and over. Setting the drink down on the table, she walked resolutely from the room. She had a lot of work to do and very little time to do it.


Returning to the quarters RedBindi had assigned her, she sat down to review the files again. Maybe there was something--Wait a second, she thought. Cameryn has a chip in her head, just like Bindi. Thorne had said something once about RedBindi being a failed experiment, an inferior 'model' as it were, while she was what "the human race could only wish to achieve." If Cameryn Thorne was the 'successful' evolution of a 'failed' experiment, then just who was running that experiment, she wondered. As she'd heard it, the Mechs had been pretty clear about not continuing since Marks had failed so miserably the first time...and yet, Thorne was answering to Gray? Something didn't add up.

She looked more intently at the data scrolling across the screen. Something caught her eye. "What the hell?" she said quietly. "That's not normal." She may not have been the world's greatest hacker, but she knew enough about code to know when something was wrong. And this was definitely wrong. The same anomaly popped up a few more times, and Vaala noted that it seemed to pop up almost every time Cameryn met with or spoke to Gray.

"Who are you?" she thought aloud. The code was..."Oh s***!" she exclaimed, jumping up like she'd been kicked and knocking the chair over. That wasn't a program, it was an RSI - which meant that it sure as hell was no Agent. "Marks," she breathed. "That's not Gray, it's f***ing Marks!" She looked around quickly to be sure that Bindi or Fen hadn't snuck up on her and overheard, then switched the monitor off, horrified by what she'd seen.

Screw orders, she thought. After all, it's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to ask permission, right? She caught sight of the picture RedBindi had returned to her back in the Shadrack's brig and looked at it. If she didn't know better, she'd have sworn her brother's image was giving her that disapproving look he'd always given her every time she'd done something rebellious. "Why can't you just do as you're told, Cat?" he'd always asked her, using her nickname to try and soften the rebuke in his voice.

She smiled slightly at the memory and told the photograph the same thing she'd always told her brother when he was alive: "I don't set out to break the rules, Ryan," she said softly. "I just do what I think is right." Putting the photo facedown so she wouldn't have to look at it, she added under her breath, "And if I am right, and Marks is the one behind this, there's not a snowball's chance in hell I'm letting him get his hands on RedBindi again."

Another late night. The Diluculo was practically silent, except for the normal creaks, groans, and other assorted noises on every ship, and she'd long since gotten used to those. RedBindi and Fenshire were sleeping, so she had the room to herself - and the brief respite from having her every move watched was slightly comforting. All her nights seemed to be long these days, and Vaala couldn't remember the last time she'd slept for more than an hour or so. Days were even longer, with RedBindi, Fenshire, and Wheeler - and probably everyone else - watching her so closely that she felt more like a prisoner than a real person. Some days she wondered if RedBindi's taking her off the Shadrack had less to do with the tracer Bindi said she'd found in the scan, or if it was just a kinder, gentler way of locking her in a - slightly more comfortable, she had to admit - brig and throwing away the key.

At least she was somewhat heartened by her talk with Qui. It had been awkward and angry at first - she still had a hard time with what he'd done, the number of people he'd killed with the code bombings...and the number of people who would probably spend the rest of their lives trying to figure out how to piece their minds and their lives back together - but in the end, they'd managed to sort it out and decided to try and encourage each other as they both dealt with the consequences of their actions. Right now, she needed every friend she could get, and who better than someone who knew exactly how she felt and what she was going through?

She was sitting in the mess hall, considering the details of the plan she'd finally come up with. It had taken her a couple of days to think things through and come up with an idea she thought RedBindi might find acceptable. She briefly considered scrapping the whole thing and waiting like Bindi had advised, but ultimately, she decided against that. Thorne was just too dangerous, at least to her own well-being - and probably to RedBindi's as well - to leave out there. And if she was right about who was behind it all, maybe there was some possibility of getting the answers Bindi needed.

She flirted with the idea of revealing her suspicions about Thorne and about Marks to Bindi and Fen, but chose to keep that to herself for now. She was fairly certain that if she told them what she thought was going on, they'd both completely reject the idea of her ever getting her hands on Thorne as being too dangerous, at least for her, and would insist on her allowing them to deal with it. As she refined the details, she heard footsteps running down the corridor and looked up just in time to see Fen run by with his wife in his arms, headed for the med bay.

Without any conscious thought, Vaala leapt up from her chair and threw herself across the table and into the corridor, following behind him. Bindi had marks all over her, like she'd been in a nasty fight, but Vaala knew d***ed good and well that there was no one else on the ship. She stood at the foot of the bed, wanting to do something to help, but not entirely sure Fen would let her near his unconscious wife, given the reason she was aboard the Diluculo at the moment.

She watched Fen as he started hooking various monitors up to Bindi. As Vaala watched, wondering if she should just step in and do something and deal with any reactions later, Bindi's legs turned red and bruises appeared on her knees. "Fen..." she said loud enough to get his attention as she pointed at the new marks that had just appeared. Fen looked in the direction she was pointing, his fear for his wife obvious even if he was trying to contain it, and told her to help him get Bindi hooked up to the monitors so that maybe they could figure out what was causing all this.

"I... don't know what to do," Fen said once they'd gotten everything hooked up.

Vaala looked across the table at him, feeling almost as helpless as she imagined he felt. "We need Cov," she told him, knowing that neither of them had the medical expertise to do much for RedBindi at the moment. And I really need to get my hands on that crazy b****, she thought, referring to Thorne, and choke the life out of her...right before I rip out her spinal cord with my bare hands to make d*** sure she's dead. She is going to *pay* for this, she thought as she looked down with worry at the Commander's unconscious form.

Suddenly, RedBindi leapt off the table and lunged right for Fen. "What the f***?!" Vaala exclaimed as she jumped out of the way, looking for a place to hide until the murderous look in Bindi's eyes disappeared. As Bindi advanced towards Fen menacingly, Vaala looked around the room in a panic, noticing the room looked more like a battle zone with monitors and medical equipment strewn all over the floor as a result of RedBindi's 'waking up'. As Fen pleaded with his wife to stop, to realize it was him, Vaala's eyes settled on a cabinet containing syringes of sedative. Grabbing the sedative just as Bindi's fist connected with the grating where Fen's head had been only a second before, she waited, watching for Bindi to slow down enough to give her a chance to inject her without getting killed in the process. When Bindi finally stood still, she wasted no time. If Bindi hurt Fen, she knew the other woman would never forgive herself...and Vaala would definitely never forgive Cameryn. That woman had wreaked enough havoc. She lunged towards RedBindi, syringe in hand, keeping as low as she could, and stabbed the needle into the other woman's thigh.

"Vaala! Wait!" Fen screamed as Bindi looked down at the syringe and then looked back up at him. Vaala looked at Fen incredulously. Wait? she thought. Your wife - or whoever the hell that is right now - was trying to kill you, and you want me to just sit by and *watch*? You're out of your f***ing mind.

"I'm sorry..." Bindi said. "I didn't know it was you..." she said as the sedative took hold and she fell to the ground, unconscious again.

--RedBindi, Fenshire, Vaala

"Jesus Christ, Vaala! What the hell did you do that for!?" Fenshire yelled. "She was coming out of it..."

"I'm sorry, Fen," Vaala shrugged helplessly. "She was trying to hurt you and it was the only thing I could think of to stop her..." she trailed off, looking around at the destruction in the room.

Fenshire looked down at his wife and brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "I've never seen anything like that before," he said worriedly.

Still shaken, Vaala nodded. "Neither have I. Ever." She took a breath - one that felt like her first since they'd gotten to the medbay. "What do we do now?"

Fenshire looked down at his wife again. There were wounds all over her. He gently picked her up and put her on a bed and Vaala moved closer and busied herself with reconnecting all the monitoring equipment. At least she could do that much.

"She was coming out of it before you injected her..." He glared at Vaala for a moment. "Maybe if we brought her out of it, she could tell us what happened..."

She looked over at Fen, who was staring down at his wife and told him, "You know she'd never forgive herself if she had hurt you."

He nodded and sighed. "I know...you were only trying to help."

"Hey Fen," Vaala asked, "are you sure bringing her out of it is a good idea?" She looked down at Bindi, clearly disturbed by what she'd just witnessed. "I mean, what if she-"

"I'm sure," he answered. "She was coming out of it."

Vaala nodded slowly. She really didn't like this...Having even a fleeting knowledge of what RedBindi was capable of had always made her feel intimidated by the other woman, but what had just happened had struck a fear in her like she'd never felt before. "Ok," she acknowledged, deciding to trust Fenshire's judgment, "tell me what to do."

Fen looked around. "Wheeler usually handles this...Wheeler!" he yelled, calling for the Titan's Operator.

A few moments passed before they heard the sound of footsteps in the hallway. "What's with all the commotion and where the hell are you, Fenshire?" Wheeler's voice called out.

"Medbay! It's Bindi..."

Oh Christ, Vaala thought as she heard Wheeler run down the hall. Wheeler's going to blame me for this...

Wheeler stopped at the entrance to the medbay and stared at RedBindi. "What happened?"

"She went Lamont on me," Fen answered, looking up at Wheeler. "We had to sedate her."

"Christ..." Wheeler approached the bed to take a look. Noticing the marks all over Bindi, he observed, "I guess you had to use some force to restrain her..."

Fen shook his head. "She was sleeping and then these...wounds started to appear on her. Then she just kind of flipped out-"

"Flipped out?" Vaala repeated, "Fen, she tried to kill you! That's a little more than 'flipped out'."

"She'd never kill me," Fenshire answered with certainty. "Lamont or otherwise."

Vaala was far less certain of that, given what she'd just seen. "If you say so," she mumbled as Wheeler looked up at the two of them.

"These wounds just appeared?" he asked, his voice sounding as disbelieving as Vaala's just had.

"Yeah," Fen answered. "I've never seen this before..."

"Fen brought her in here, she was lying on the bed, and...welts and bruises just started...appearing," Vaala added with a helpless shrug.

Wheeler sighed. "What was she sedated with?"

Fenshire looked around on the floor for the syringe. Picking it up, he held it out to Wheeler. "This." Vaala nodded in agreement, a little grateful that Fen hadn't told Wheeler that it had been her specifically that had injected Bindi with the syringe's contents.

"Dammit... That's the s*** I use on her when she's jacked in," he said as he walked to the cabinet and grabbed a few vials. "We'll have to see how much of this stuff it takes to bring 'er out."

"All right," Fen assented as he looked down at his wife with concern and took her hand.

As Wheeler walked back towards RedBindi, Vaala quickly stepped out of his way. "Stay with me, Red," he said as he inserted the needle into her right arm port. He slowly injected the contents and watched her closely for any changes as Fenshire gently caressed his wife's head with one hand and took her free hand with the other.

"Come on..." Fenshire said quietly, his voice filled with concern.

A few moments passed and Bindi began to stir. "Whew," Wheeler said, sounding relieved. "Looks like one's all she'll need."

Vaala backed up a bit as RedBindi began to show signs of regaining consciousness. If Fen was wrong and Bindi woke up like she had a few minutes ago, Vaala wanted to make sure she was out of the other woman's way. Fen sat down on the bed next to his wife and held her head in his lap as Bindi's eyes opened and she looked around the room, seeming a little dazed.

"Hey sweetheart," Fen said as Vaala stood as far away as she could possibly get and still be in the room, her look one of concern mixed with absolute terror.

"Oh god..." Bindi said as realization set in. She abruptly stood and moved away from the three people in the room, who were all looking at her worriedly.

"Careful, Red," Wheeler told her, noting how unsteadily she moved.

"Hey," Fenshire said as he moved towards RedBindi, "You should sit down."

"Don't..." Bindi warned him. "You shouldn't be around me. None of you should," she said, steadying herself against a cabinet as she winced slightly in pain. "Just...head out of here. Please."

Fen moved over and put his arms around her. "I'm not going anywhere."

Seeing that Bindi was...well, Bindi, Vaala began to relax a little as color returned to her face, her fear of and for RedBindi replaced with anger. Thorne and her little friend are going to pay dearly for this, she thought. "Neither am I," she said, taking a step forward.

Bindi moved away from her husband. "Fen, don't...please. I was going to kill you."

Fen shook his head at her and moved close again. "No you weren't," he told her. "You'd never kill me."

Vaala agreed. "No you weren't," she said, a little more angrily than she'd intended it to come out.

Bindi shook her head sadly at them. "Yes...I was..."

"Whatever that was," Vaala replied, "it wasn't you. It was...something - someone - else." She began to understand even more fully what she'd come to realize during all these months: that Lamont was not RedBindi, and her anger at Thorne and the Machines burned even hotter.

"No, Vaala... That was me..." she sighed heavily. "Trying to kill Marks."

"Marks," Vaala told her. "Not Fen," she said, a look of fury which she quickly contained passing over her face.

"You're not going to push me away," Fenshire insisted. "You weren't going to kill me."

RedBindi put a hand on her husband's chest, keeping him at arm's length. "Yeah...I was. There was a man in front of me and he was going to die." Her eyes widened as she looked at the marks all over her arm. "How..."

"They just started appearing on you," Fen answered. "You were sleeping." Vaala nodded in agreement as she started to go a little pale again at the memory.

Bindi turned and walked a little unsteadily to the mirror. She looked herself over, noting the marks and bruises, while mumbling to herself as Fenshire moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her. "What happened?" he asked.

RedBindi recoiled slightly from the touch as she began to speak. "Marks," she said. "Everywhere he touched me it was like I was on fire... These welts appeared in my dream. I...I had no idea they were physically happening to me as well..."

"That bastard," Vaala muttered as Fenshire sighed sadly.

"We really need to do something about that chip." he said.

Yeah, like rip out Thorne's brain and figure out how the hell to get rid of it, Vaala thought.

--Fenshire, RedBindi, Vaala

RedBindi sighed and moved away from Fenshire again. "I...I guess I'll have to let Zion medical do whatever tests they need to do..."

Vaala shook her head. "Wait. I don't know if that's a good idea. Didn't Iniuria," she spat the name like a curse, "say that Roberts was planning something and not to let you go anywhere without an armed escort?"

RedBindi whirled around to face her, causing Vaala to again back up a few steps. "What choice do I have in the matter?" she asked.

Fenshire agreed. "Then she'll have an armed escort," he said firmly.

"I thought they said the tests could be done here?" Where it's safer, she added mentally, genuinely concerned for RedBindi's well-being.

"We shouldn't talk about this now," Fen said, putting a hand on Bindi's shoulder. "Bindi...you should rest."

Vaala spoke again, more to Fen than to anyone else. "Look I don't trust the b****, either...but Iniuria," Fenshire's eyes narrowed at the name, "did keep her word - she left me alone and let me go," she told him, still surprised that that's what had happened and not something far, far worse than she even cared to imagine. "That has to count for something. What if she's telling the truth?"

"Don't mention that woman's name in my presence," RedBindi said, her tone causing Vaala to shrink back even more.

"She already had her opportunity at a second chance," Fenshire agreed.

RedBindi looked at Fenshire. "Why don't you head to the Titan or the DevilDog tonight? Who knows what else that bastard can do?"

Fenshire shook his head. "I'm not leaving your side. You need me."

"I can't trust myself around you. I came so...so close to..." She shook her head. "It would be best for you not to remain near me in this condition."

"Bindi, I don't know if that's a good idea," Vaala said, "I mean, Fen's about the only one who can bring you out of it." And if he's not here to do that, I'm gonna be screwed if that thing in your head takes over again...

"What else am I supposed to do?" Bindi asked, "Just hope I don't kill him?"

Fenshire put his hands on her face, tilting it towards him. "But you didn't. You stopped yourself. I know you would never ever let anyone hurt me, no matter what," he told her.

"I may not be in a position to control myself, and...I couldn't ever forgive myself if I did manage to hurt you or, god forbid, kill you."

"Then if we have to, we'll sedate you again," Vaala said.

"You won't hurt me or kill me," Fen promised. "You're the strongest person I know. There's not a person, Machine, or exile in this world that could force you to hurt me - or anyone in the Trust." Vaala wondered briefly who that last part was directed at: RedBindi or her...or both.

"You may be willing to take that chance, but I'm not," Bindi answered with a sigh as she turned away and headed back to her quarters.

"God d***, that is one stubborn woman," Vaala murmured as Fenshire followed his wife.

"Well, I'm sorry," he insisted, "but it's a risk I'm willing to take." Vaala watched as Wheeler just shook his head, hoping that Fen would be able to reason with his wife. As the couple reached the door of RedBindi's quarters, she stopped and turned to face Fenshire.

"We can discuss this further in the morning."

Fen shrugged. "I'm not leaving you," he told her as he looked into her eyes.

"Fine," she answered. Vaala thought she detected a little annoyance in Bindi's voice and tried not to smile as she thought, apparently it *is* possible to win an argument with the woman...but I'll be d***ed if I know how he did it. She heard the door to their quarters close and waited a few moments before looking at Wheeler.

"You mind if I, uh, go back to my quarters? I'm, uh, a little...rattled...by all this."

Wheeler shrugged. "May as well."

"Thanks," Vaala said, relieved to be dismissed. She made sure she was completely out of Wheeler's sight before taking the syringe of sedative she'd swiped from the medbay out of her sleeve and tucking it into her boot. Maybe I'll finally get some sleep for a change, she thought. Because the Commander was right about one thing: I am definitely going to need it. Her eyes took on a murderous glint of their own as she thought about Thorne and the many ways she would make that b**** suffer for everything she'd done, including what had just happened to Bindi, before she finally killed her. The only way you'll die, Cameryn Thorne, is when *I* allow it...and by that time, you'll be *begging* me to kill you, she thought as a malicious smile spread across her face.

--RedBindi, Fenshire, Vaala

Vaala was in Westview teaching the local gangs some manners when she heard Deffdog's voice over the comm. Guess I'd better get around to talking to him like Bindi told me to sooner or later, she thought. No time like the present... "Hey Deff. What's your coordinates?"

He relayed the information and Vaala made her way over to International. From her spot on the roof, she saw him at the end of the docks, gazing out over the water. Not a bad view, she thought of the view over the water - something she'd never taken the time to appreciate before, noting the Exiles that were keeping their distance from the Zion captain. She approached and waited, staring over the water. Deff acknowledged her with a nod and she spoke: "So...uh, we have a problem." Straight to business, I suppose. "Thorne wants the APU disabled."

"And how does she expect that to happen?" Deff asked.

"Truthfully, Thorne says she doesn't care how, so long as it's not operational. I talked to RedBindi, and she thinks it may be possible to rig the ships to give false readings to indicate some sabotage, but neither of us knows enough about the APU to know whether or not it's possible to do the same with it. My thought was--"

"No, an APU doesn't have anything like that. It's built to be undetectable. All it has is a very short range transmitter."

"D***. Well, I'll just have to make her believe it's been done then. Think you can hold off on using it - maybe spring it as a kind of last-minute surprise and then wipe them out?"

"The only way it can be proven that the APU has been damaged is if she sees it break down in battle...and that leaves me in one bad situation."

Vaala nodded, an idea forming. "...unless I can convince her otherwise - which I think I can." She was betting there was old footage in the archives of damaged APUs that could be altered to make it appear as if it were Deff's APU that was damaged. She made a mental note to get with Wheeler on that.

"I'll do what I must to protect my hovercraft," Deff told her.

"Understood." She knew after her months spent aboard the Shadrack that it was no idle statement.

Deffdog looked at her, a question obviously on his mind, so she waited. "And how do you know Thorne will believe you?"

Vaala gave a little chuckle. "She's under the mistaken impression that her little stunt with Iniuria was successful in...'bringing me back to my senses.' I see no reason to...disabuse her of that notion, do you?"

Deff looked back over the water, thinking. "If I was in her position, I would want more proof."

Thankfully, she's not always as thorough as some people I know, Vaala thought. "Perhaps. But she can be easy to...persuade...when necessary," Vaala shrugged. "Truth is, I intend to kill her during the attack," she confessed.

"And what does Bindi have to say about that?"

"The Commander insists on going with me," Vaala shook her head. "She says it's too dangerous to attempt alone." She shrugged again, resting against the railing as she took in the view. "Hell, I don't know...maybe she's right... What I do know is that Thorne is dangerous - and I don't intend to allow that kind of danger to exist so long as it's in my power to do something about it."

"Hmm. You really shouldn't go alone," Deff agreed, "but with this current situation with Bindi...I'm just not sure she's the proper candidate to go with you."

"I agree - and I brought that up. But she is right about one thing: she very well may be the person best equipped to get in and out of there quickly and get the job done. Besides," she laughed, "I lost that argument miserably."

"Bindi's judgment is clouded, and so is Fenshire's because of this whole situation."

"Maybe," Vaala acknowledged, "but I'm not going to be the one to cross RedBindi. She wants to go, I'm sure as hell not going to stop her." Or at least, not that I'm going to tell any of you about...

"One thing they seem to have forgotten...Thorne has a chip. So does Bindi. Thorne might know how to...bring Lamont back."

"Maybe," Vaala nodded, choosing her words very carefully because of who she suspected was behind Cameryn. "Or she may have the answers Bindi needs to finally get rid of the thing - even if I have to rip those answers from Thorne's broken skull myself."

Deffdog turned to deal with the Exiles that had been inching closer as they talked. "They seem a little too interested in our conversation," he noted.

"Exiles and Agents alike seem to be too d***ed interested in my conversations and movements these days," Vaala observed.

"So," Deffdog said, turning back to the water with a sigh. "I need to try to avoid using the APU until after the attack..."

"Maybe not even that long. Just give us time to get inside and...take care of business."

"Anything else I need to avoid?"

"I hope not. Since Bindi took me to the Diluculo, Thorne's had a hard time trying to track me - a situation I like just fine. The less I have to be around that psychotic chipheaded toaster lover, the better."

"I don't like this one bit, but I'll do what I can to help with this, Vaala."

"I appreciate your willingness to help, Deff. It's not an ideal situation by any means, but it's a hell of a lot better than the alternative...and if Thorne can bring Lamont out...well then, it's better for everyone - especially Bindi - if she'd not around to do it."

Deffdog nodded. "I'll see what I can do." He began to walk away, then stopped suddenly and turned back. "And Vaala..."

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry I went through your quarters."

She hadn't been expecting that. Containing her surprise, she answered quietly, "Yeah. I understand. Protocol." She d*** sure didn't like it, but she understood why he'd done it.

"Yeah," he nodded. "It was necessary..." He seemed as if he wanted to add more, but decided against it. "Stay safe, Vaala," he said as he jumped to the rooftops and left her standing there alone.

"You too, Deff," she murmured as she looked out over the water again, ignoring the Exiles who no longer seemed to be interested in her. "You too."

--Vaala, Deffdog

Vaala was taking out her frustrations on the local Lupine population once again. Even though she knew Wheeler was always watching, she felt more comfortable - and less..."watched" while she was in the Matrix, and the "Puppies," as she'd come to call them, made extraordinarily good punching bags...or as she liked to call them, "training aids." It didn't hurt that she also wandered across the occasional Cypherite or Machine to use for target practice as well.

In the middle of venting her frustrations on about a half a dozen "Puppies," she heard RedBindi's voice: "Vaala, when you get a chance, head to Camon Central."

Camon? What the hell for? she thought. Rather than questioning - she was learning not to do that too often - she simply acknowledged the request and answered that she'd be there as soon as she could. She put a few more Lupines out of her misery before heading out, muttering something over their corpses about their amazing ability to turn even the staunchest dog lover into a cat person.

The code had scarcely cleared before she heard RedBindi's voice again: "Ah, there she is." Vaala looked around to see RedBindi, Fenshire, and QuiDormit standing there talking to a man she didn't know. "Vaala, meet Farplane," Bindi said, introducing them. Realizing that she'd been called here for a simple introduction, Vaala relaxed a bit as she exchanged pleasantries with the man. As the group took a seat, Farplane asked about what had transpired in his absence, and Vaala immediately became uncomfortable again as Fen and Bindi explained her situation.

She reiterated her desire to take care of Thorne, once and for all, and Fenshire spoke up: "Actually, I wanted to talk to you and Bindi about that..."

Here it comes, Vaala thought as she tried to contain her annoyance. They're going to tell me it's too dangerous, that I don't have the training, that I'll have to keep hiding on the Diluculo... She knew Fen hadn't been entirely thrilled with the idea of her going on the mission to kill Thorne to begin with - his comment about what she intended to happen and what actually would happen had definitely made a mark, as had RedBindi's comment about her 'obsession' with Thorne - but she still hoped they wouldn't pull the plug entirely. "Oh?"

"Didn't you say Thorne has a chip in her head like Bindi?"

"Yes." Please tell me he's not going with this where I think he is...

"The chip is controlling her," Fenshire continued. "Her actions, even her heart rate and vital functions. She may not be responsible for her actions. I think she needs help--"

"She's responsible," Vaala took advantage of Deffdog's arrival to interrupt. "She's a threat that needs to be stopped." Preferably before she kills me, she added mentally.

"She's no more responsible for her crimes than I am for Lamont's," RedBindi told her.

"You're fighting the chip, she's not," Vaala insisted.

"Did you know her before the chip?" Bindi asked.

"Well, no..."

"Then you can't say for sure that her actions are her own," Fenshire replied. "And she may have information that could help Bindi."

"She is a threat, Fen," Deffdog said. "And if she's dead, we could study the chip and maybe learn how to extract it."

Vaala agreed, a little surprised that Deff had agreed with her position on this.

"So, Deff, you'd have killed me for being a threat as Lamont?" Bindi asked pointedly, though Vaala had the feeling the question wasn't only directed at Deffdog.

"No, of course not," he said as Vaala interrupted.

"But you're not a threat - she is. You got away--"

"After fifteen years," Bindi clarified.

"So, what - we wait another decade or more and see if Thorne decides that working for the Mechs isn't exactly what she wants out of life? I don't think so."

"They're right, Vaala," QuiDormit said.

She shook her head. "No. Thorne is not Bindi. She knows what she's doing, and she's doing it deliberately...and she needs to be stopped."

"Come on, Vaala," Qui pleaded, "stop being so stubborn."

Vaala turned to Qui. "You're not the one Thorne's tracking and going to kill once you've 'fulfilled your purpose'."

"Ah, forget it. I'm keeping my trap shut," Qui said, seeing that his arguments weren't going to convince Vaala to change her mind about this.

Fenshire, sensing the same, simply made it an order: "Thorne is to be captured, not killed."

"Fen! She tortured Cov, put a gun to my head several times, she shot me..."

"Because the chip is controlling her," Fenshire insisted. "Or do you think Bindi deserved what Iniuria did to her because of Lamont's actions?"

"No, of course I don't think Bindi deserved that." She suppressed a shudder as the images Thorne had shown her popped back into her mind. "No one deserves that. But how do you know that Thorne's done all she has because of the chip?" Vaala asked.

"How do you know she hasn't?" Bindi shot back.

"I just...know," Vaala shrugged. "Call it instinct."

"We kill her and we're no better than Iniuria," Fenshire pointed out. "If we capture her, maybe we can help her. We can run some tests on the chip, find out how it works--"

"Oh, how very Zion," Vaala said, her temper getting the best of her. "Because us using someone as a lab rat is so much different than the Machines doing it. And what makes you think Ma--Gray is going to let her be captured without just shutting down the chip - and Thorne with it?"

"Who?" Bindi asked, catching the slip.

Vaala ignored the question as Deff glanced at her. Instead, she chose to continue to push the point: "I mean, if the chip controls everything, down to vital functions, it is possible they'd do that. At least with Thorne dead, we have time to study it and figure out how to remove Bindi's without doing any damage."

"And since the chip controls her, she's not in control of her actions," Fenshire pressed. "She needs help, she doesn't need to be killed."

"Oh, please," Vaala said, her temper flaring even more. "You really think Ma--Gray is going to allow that?" F***! I really need to learn to control my temper, she thought as she saw Fenshire's eyes narrow at the slip.

"Why do you keep calling him 'MaGray'?" Fenshire asked.

She shook her head. "Just a slip. I meant Mr. Gray," she answered, trying not to look at Fen or Bindi.

"No, you were about to say a name," Bindi said. "What was it?"

D*** my mouth getting ahead of my brain! I really need to learn to just shut up when I'm pissed. "It was...nothing," she shrugged as she stood. "I really need to get back to my training..."

"Sit down, Vaala." Bindi's tone of voice was clear: it was not a request.

As Vaala reluctantly made her way back to the bench, Bindi asked again: "What name were you about to say?"

Vaala shook her head. "Nothing...uh, no one. Just...never mind."

Deffdog looked at her. "Vaala, do we really need to have this discussion again about you lying to us?"

"The name, Vaala," Bindi said again. "I've been very forthcoming about my past to you, and I expect the same courtesy."

"No. It's just a suspicion and I have no proof, so it's not even worth it." This was not a conversation she wanted to be having because she knew that if she did, her one chance to get at Thorne would disappear instantly.

"Then give us the name so your family can help you get the proof," Fenshire told her.

"Family?" Vaala said as she jumped to her feet. "As I recall, my family is dead," she said, looking directly at Bindi. She half-regretted the statement as soon as she said it. It had been vicious and unnecessary, really, but if it derailed this particular conversation, then it would have at least accomplished something other than spite. Still, she couldn't quite get used to the idea of "family" right now, especially with everyone watching her so closely that it was stifling, and the fact that she'd heard the same lecture so many times in one week from so many different people was really starting to wear on her nerves.

"As is mine," Bindi replied evenly, unfazed by the outburst. "Now - the name, please."

"Fine. You want a name? Marks. I think Thorne's "Gray" is Marks. There's something in the code that just...doesn't look right."

"Thank you," Bindi said. "Get that code to Wheeler and maybe he can help you with it."

Oh yeah, because Wheeler's my biggest fan... "Fine. Can I get back to training now?"

RedBindi nodded. "And Vaala...we'll discuss this more later, after you've gotten that temper of yours under control."

Oh great. Another 'discussion.' "Understood," she nodded curtly just as the phone in the hardline rang and mercifully delivered her from the grilling. She figured she'd go find some more of the Merv's "Puppies" to play with - right now, she needed a good fight.

--Vaala, RedBindi, Fenshire, QuiDormit, Deffdog, Farplane

“Thorne is to be captured, not killed.” Fen's order replayed itself over and over in her mind until Vaala finally, in a fit of rage and frustration, threw the cup in her hand across the room, where it struck the wall and landed on the grating with the clatter of metal on metal. Thorne is a threat that needs to be eliminated, not treated like some kind of goddamned innocent victim who only needs a little help to see reason. There is no reasoning with her; she's more machine than human...and one day, she's going to prove that in a way none of you expects – a way that'll make you all wish you'd listened to me in the first place.

She was glad Bindi had directed her question about killing Lamont at Deff instead of at her. Had Bindi asked her the same question, "...you'd have killed me for being a threat as Lamont?" her answer would have been, unequivocally, yes. Without hesitation. As Lamont, the woman had been a threat to Zion and to all humanity – a threat that Cameryn Thorne had the same potential to pose, with the proper training – and Vaala, had she been free of her dependency on the System then, as she was now, would have done whatever was necessary to eliminate that threat. But, she decided, that was not something the RedBindi needed to know – ever.

Maybe Deff was right, she thought. Maybe their judgment is clouded. Still, RedBindi was the Commander, so she really had no choice but to follow her orders, especially given the amount of trust Bindi was willing to extend to her at this point. She still felt like her “escort” here in New Zion was less for her protection than to keep her under constant surveillance, but Bindi had allowed her to travel freely...so long as Wheeler accompanied her everywhere she went. It was, however, infinitely better than being locked in a cell, so she'd take what she could get.

Her days were spent with various personnel who were trying to disable the tracer Bindi had found during the scan. No one seemed to have any solutions, despite countless hours of scans and analyses that would have tested the patience of even the Oracle. Frankly, she was sick of scans, analyses, tests, being poked and prodded by anyone and everyone with an idea on the matter, but she submitted anyway – not that she had much choice. The idea that no one in the city could figure it out bothered her. Here she was, sitting in New Zion like an oversized lab rat, while Thorne and her people were probably out there tracking exactly where she was – which, in her opinion, put the whole city in jeopardy. Her nights were spent thinking, planning, discarding ideas and creating new ones, as she pondered how in the hell she was going to capture Thorne with a two-minute window of opportunity.

Fortunately, Fen didn't say Thorne had to be conscious – or even unharmed, she thought with a small smile. She'd follow her orders...but there was nothing at all saying how she had to go about doing so. She folded her arms behind her head as she stretched out on the bunk and stared at the ceiling. She wouldn't sleep – she rarely did without the help of a small dose of the sedative she'd “borrowed” from the Diluculo's medbay, but she'd try to at least relax, just a little bit, just for one night. Maybe one day soon, she'd really relax and maybe even sleep again – but that day was not today.

From around the corner down a path, Cameryn listens intently, watching for any sign of other Zion workers.

“Wheeler, did you hear that?” the Lieutenant’s voice came muffled though the nearby closed door.

"No..."

"You sure? I thought I heard something...eh, maybe I just need some rest."

"I'll go take a look, just in case. Stay here... alright."

"Uh, yeah.”

The door creaks open and Wheeler sticks his head out, peering out down the path. Cameryn hovers her hand over her baton, her eyes darting back and forth, nimbly moving through the shadows, edging closer to the corner of the path out of sight. Wheeler looks back and forth down the path, closes the door behind him, and then heads down the path where he thinks he hears a noise, energy rifle at the ready. Hearing his movement, Cameryn allows him to take a few more steps; the moment she sees him she cracks her baton against the back of his skull with expert force. She immediately takes a few steps back into the shadow. Wheeler crumples to the ground without a word, the rifle clattering down beside him.

Cameryn inspects his body, making sure he is out cold. Satisfied, she picks up his rifle, approaches the room and opens the door from the side, peeking inside. She hears Vaala’s voice from the inside. "Wheeler?"

You assume too much. Cameryn looks inside fully. "You really ought to hone those 'instincts', Lieutenant."

Vaala looks extremely surprised to see her superior. "What the hell are you doing here? Trying to get me killed?"

"On the contrary, operative.... I am extracting you from New Zion. You and I are to return to the Communication Tower." Cameryn steps inside facing the door, keeping an eye out for anyone walking by. She cradles the gun, ready to fire if necessary. "Gather your belongings. We are leaving. NOW."

Vaala gives her a rather incredulous look. "...Extracting? Are you insane? We'll be dead before we even get to the ship! Wait...you do have a ship, right?"

You severely underestimate me, Lieutenant. This may not have been my idea, but still… Cameryn gave her a slight smirk, as if she suddenly had acquired a sense of humour. "How do you think I got in to begin with?" She peeks out around the corner, seeing that Wheeler was still out cold. "Come, we only have a few minutes to get back to my craft." She steps outside, maintaining a veneer of calmness as to not attract attention.

"...What about my operator? He's out there right now, checking the corridor. If I try to leave here, he's going to call in the whole city."

Cameryn sighs with exasperation. She tugs on Vaala's shirt and pulls her around the corridor's corner so she can see Wheeler's unconscious body. "You see why we only have a few minutes?"

"Uh...yeah." Vaala seems to be at a loss for words, but she returns to the room to grab a few of her supplies. “Let’s go.”

Cameryn pulls her a little more, urging her to move faster. She speaks in a hushed tone. "This way, through the corridors. Move quickly, but do not attract attention." Cameryn guides her through the maze of tunnels leading to the docks.

Good Lord, Gray… send me into the wolf’s den. You are just f***ing brilliant.

Up ahead, near the dead drop entrance, a hovercraft was powering up. A catwalk runs along the side of the wall nearest the craft, where Cameryn points. "We will take that path; it is out of the way and closest to my ship."

Vaala nods. "How the hell did you get in here, anyway?"

"I will explain once we are on the ship. We must hurry." Without slowing her pace, Cameryn leads her through the catwalk, a few people running by too preoccupied with their own tasks to notice them. The release door to the craft is closed; Cameryn punches a button near the door and whispers. "Agent Thorne reporting, I have the Lieutenant, please open the door." Not a moment later the hatch releases and before it opens completely, Thorne jumps onto the door, making her way inside. "Please hurry, Ms. Redwinter." Vaala ducks inside with her and looks at Thorne rather expectantly.

Cameryn motions for the large man near the hatch to close the door, which he closes promptly. She holds onto a pipe welded to the low ceiling above her. Picking up a communication transmitter, she presses the button and speaks into it. "Alright, Ryla. Are we clear for the pickup?"

A low female voice answered. "Roger, Agent. 90 seconds to the lift."

"And what of Command? The release papers were sufficient?"

"Yes, Agent. We still are clean with them, we'll be out in no time."

"Excellent." Cameryn turns her attention to Vaala. "Ms. Redwinter... if you value your equilibrium, I suggest you hold on to something. This will not be the smoothest ascent."

Vaala raises her eyebrows, but grabs onto another pipe. "Okay, we're on the ship, Agent. Just what do you think you are doing? When RedBindi finds out..."

Cameryn interrupts her. "When Ms. Lamont finds out we will be quite a distance away."

"If you say so..." Vaala mutters.

The craft is soon attached to the pulley system in the dead drop, and it slowly begins it's ascent through the hole. Cameryn suddenly remembers. "To answer your question, Lieutenant… the crew you see before you was commissioned by Agent Gray. They are recently disaffected Zion, but they are still registered operatives for the time being. They still maintain the proper clearance to enter New Zion... however that will change soon enough."

"I see..."

"The fact that a 'Zion operative' turned up missing, an unconscious operator, and a craft exiting soon after... Zion is not stupid, they will figure it out."

"This wasn't quite what I expected when you said you'd ensure my safety. And who do you think they're going to send? You and I both know Red--er, Lamont--will stand on someone's head until they send her, if she doesn't just come after us regardless of orders."

Come now, I sent you in so you would understand these people. "Even if she were to come after you, she would make that decision in haste. You know that as well as I do. She would be severely outnumbered, no matter her course of action."

The craft continues it's ascent up the three-mile hole, the main hold of the craft is strikingly silent and cold. After what seemed like hours, Vaala speaks again. "So, what now?"

"We head for the Communication Tower, and prepare for the attack. That is what you requested, is it not?"

"Well, yes...I guess I just didn't expect you to actually follow through."

You poor thing. You still haven’t learned to rely on your superiors. Cameryn smirked emotionlessly. "You seem to forget I am not like other humans."

In a rather sarcastic tone, Vaala responds, "Oh, believe me, I don't forget that."

Cameryn merely nods, her green eyes glowing almost as much as in the simulation.

"We're almost out," Ryla's voice chatters over the comm device.

Cameryn clicks the button. "Aye, Ryla. Make haste to the Communication tower in Sector 15. Do not delay."

"Yes, Agent."

Vaala looks around for a minute. "Nice ship."

"One of the newer Zion models I'm told. But we installed a few ... upgrades."

"Upgrades?" Vaala questions.

"How many ships move this fast? That and she has advanced tracking capabilities..."

"Tracking? What kind of tracking?" The inquiry seems rushed.

Cameryn restrains a smile. "I will debrief you soon enough."

"Anything else 'special' this crate can do?"

Always with the smart remarks.

The comm beeped again. "Breaching the exit in 5... 4... 3... 2... 1..." The ship lurched to its side as the final tugs of the cables pulled it up through the Zew Zion entrance. Finally a distance away from the hole, the ship hummed with power and started up, immediately taking off to the northwest.

Cameryn finally answers her. "This craft is designed for speed mostly. The hoverpads are able to carry extra charge, making it possible for a 'speed boost' of sorts."

"Very nice." Vaala nods and smiles.

"We should reach the Tower within approximately three hours. I suggest you get some rest... we have much planning to do. They could launch the attack any day now."

"Right." Vaala steps away, and then suddenly turns back. "This thing got a name, or should I just call it 'the ship'?"

Cameryn sighs, not interested in continuing the conversation. "She is called the Infinity."

"Infinity... good to know. Good night, I guess..."

"Good night, Ms. Redwinter." Cameryn, her footing now stable, makes her way to the cockpit to join Ryla.

--Cameryn

“Man am I glad to see you,” the swing shift engineer told his replacement. “Double shift, and it seems like every ship in New Zion needs repairs.”

“I hear ya there. Go on, get some rest. They'll still be here tomorrow.”

“That they will. Have a good one. See you tomorrow.”

“Same place, same time, same everything...”

The engineer chuckled softly on his way out. On his way to his quarters, he noticed something laying on the walkway. “Man, doesn't anyone ever clean up after themselves around here?” he muttered, moving closer to retrieve the item and get it out of the walkway. As he approached, he noticed that it wasn't a what he was looking at, it was a who. The engineer quickened his pace until he reached the unconscious man. “Hey! Buddy,” he said, shaking the man awake. “You alright, man?” he asked, looking around to see if anyone was around to give him a hand. Seeing no one, he continued trying to revive the man on the ground in front of him. “Hey,” he said as he reached down to turn the man's head towards him. Feeling wetness, the engineer pulled his hand away. “What the hell?” He nearly panicked when he saw the crimson stain on his hand. “Hey!” he shouted, “I need a doctor here!”

Finally, the man began to stir. Startled, the engineer leaned back down to assist the man if he could help. “Buddy...you all right?”

Sitting up, Wheeler winced in pain as he put his hand to his bleeding head. “Where...?” he said, looking at the engineer, “F***...help me up.” The engineer stood there, looking astounded. Wheeler looked at him and gritted his teeth. “Help. Me. Up.” A little scared by the determination in Wheeler's voice, the engineer did as he was told and put Wheeler's arm around him. Standing up, he took most of Wheeler's weight on his shoulders. “There...” Wheeler said, pointing towards the room he and Vaala had been in. “Take me there.” Wheeler, fighting to remain conscious, slowly made his way to the room with the engineer's assistance. He opened the door and noticed Vaala wasn't there – the room had been cleaned out...except for a ring and a picture.

“F***! Comm...need...comm,” he said, leaning in the doorway.

The engineer shook his head. “Buddy, what you need is a doc.”

Wheeler turned around and grabbed the engineer by his shirt, his grasp leaving a bloody stain on the man's chest. “Either find me a comm...or..get the hell...outta...my way,” he grunted.

“Alright! Alright!” the engineer said, knowing that he wouldn't change the bigger man's mind. “This way.” He managed to half carry, half drag Wheeler to the closest comm unit, drawing the attention of several people along the way. Once there, Wheeler lurched forward and held himself up against the comm station.

“Wheeler to...Diluculo," he said, obviously having trouble getting the words out through his pain, “Bindi...Val's gone. Something happened....dunno what. She left her ring and pic. Contact again with more info later...” Having delivered his message, Wheeler slumped to the ground again, oblivious to everything around him.

Within a few moments, armed guards arrived to investigate the commotion. The guards' captain recognized Wheeler instantly as the Titan's operator and was silently grateful that RedBindi was safely away from New Zion when whatever had just happened went down. “Pick him up and get him to the nearest medical facility – and do not leave his side,” he ordered as his men nodded to acknowledge the order and picked Wheeler up between them very carefully.

The captain turned towards the engineer and took his statement before finally releasing him. The engineer didn't know who the guy he'd just picked up off the floor was, but whoever he was, he must have been pretty damned important, judging by the guards' response. As he walked back to his own quarters, he chuckled again, remembering what his relief had said to him on his way out. “Well, maybe not the same everything...” he said quietly as he reached his quarters.

Vaala, RedBindi

She'd paid close attention as she'd gone to 'her' cabin, and the Infinity was pretty much just like any other hovercraft. The quarters were cramped, her boots made the same noise on the metal grating, the creaks and groans as the ship moved towards its destination were pretty much the same...the only difference between the Infinity and the other hovercrafts she'd been on was that on the Infinity, there was a Machine Agent and an entire crew who would gladly kill her were it not for the information they thought she had provided – and would provide – them.

She had no doubts or misgivings about that: the instant Thorne learned that her 're-education' at Iniuria's hands had been just one of many lies, she would be dead. And with an entire crew at her disposal, Cameryn Thorne had just graduated from the ranks of 'pain in the a**' to the level of an incredibly dangerous adversary. She only hoped that when Wheeler came to – if he comes to, she thought, recalling the sight of the Titan operator's blood all over the corridor – he would see what she had so carefully and deliberately left behind and understand that this had not been her choice.

Vaala stretched out on the bunk. She knew it would be just another long night doing little more than lying still and pretending to sleep, but this time, even lying still was a chore she couldn't be bothered to manage. If Thorne was watching – and she was certain the b*tchy little toaster was – she'd make something up later about being nervous that RedBindi would follow. It was clear the Trust Commander made Thorne nervous, so it should be easy for Thorne to believe the same was true of Vaala.

Bindi was right, she thought. I should have waited. Now I'm in a worse position than I was before. As she considered her situation – and the safest way to extricate herself from it – a memory surfaced. She'd been in New Zion for just over a day when RedBindi's former first mate had knocked on her door and asked Wheeler to give them a few minutes alone. The request had made her a little nervous – she'd heard a few stories about Lovable and how it was best to avoid her when she was pissed, but Vaala had known that, given her situation, she'd had very little choice other than to sit there and see what the woman had to say.

She'd been more than a little surprised to find that Lovable hadn't been angry at all. “I'm not in the business of pointing fingers,” she'd said. “It's human nature to make mistakes. Some are bigger than others, but if we were perfect, unflawed...well then we would be soulless machines, wouldn't we? What I mean is... nobody does everything just right. That's just how life is. If it were static and perfect, it wouldn't be much of a life. Mistakes are part of that - what separates us is how we handle those mistakes.” She recalled the diminutive officer's face shadowing over with dark emotions as she'd continued: “...I understand wanting to do everything alone. But sometimes you can't. Sometimes a person needs to break down and finally ask for help, because sometimes you can't escape on your own..."

Suddenly, Vaala sat up. That's it! she thought. She's right, Bindi and Fen were right...the only way out of this mess is to let them help. But...Marks... She tossed the thought aside. RedBindi and Fenshire could probably handle just about anything that came their way – they'd been doing it for some time now anyway, she reasoned. She knew that Bindi and Fen were at or near Haven. They'd taken the Diluculo and gone off alone for a much-needed vacation to spend Christmas together. Given the Diluculo's capabilities, that should be in range of the Comm Station. I can probably get a message out...

Vaala took a quick mental inventory of what she knew: the ship she was on was called the Infinity, it had some upgrades, but nothing near the kind of upgrades on the Diluculo, she knew there were at least two or three crewmen aboard besides Thorne and that they were or had been Zion operatives...Ryla, she thought she remembered Thorne calling one of them. Hopefully, that information, along with the fact that she'd left her ring and her brother's picture behind, would be enough to convince them that what had happened to Wheeler hadn't been her doing. If not...well, she was sure they'd come anyway, she mused with a wry smile as she considered how to get the message out. It would have to wait until they were at the comm station – there was no way she would be able to get near any comm equipment aboard this ship.

After several long minutes, she lay back down. She wouldn't sleep, she knew, but she could force her body to rest. Yet another thing RedBindi was right about, she told herself. I'm definitely going to need it.

Lovable, Vaala