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Post by Amy81 on Mar 7, 2006 7:26:10 GMT -6
He left the office and the computer just the way he found them, shut the light, and slipped out of the office. He glanced at his watch, and saw that he still had time to go through Em's quarters. He padded down the hallways to the living sectors of the ship, and used the pass key to enter the room.
Pink. It always surprised him to see how Em had decorated her living space. She just wasn't a pink sort of person. But there it was, in various shades just to prove him wrong. He wondered how she'd gotten the paint in so many subtle shades. Luxury used to be desireable, but since the destruction of the colonies it bordered on repulsive when so many lived day to day, unsure of where the next meal was coming from. But Em did work hard on the distribution of food, so he supposed she'd earned a little extra reward here and there.
He spent as much time in the room as he could, looking where he knew Em stashed things, and a few places where he suspected as much, but he couldn't find anything left of the pictures of him and Amy, taken so long ago. He sat down at her desk, drumming his fingers as he looked around the room, thinking.
He was out of time. He had to get back to his quarters, do what he had to do before Faltstaf came to wake him up. About two hours left. But what to do? He knew the reason behind the organ donor felgercarb, and there didn't seem to be any of the Amy evidence left. But should he kill Em anyway? It didn't seem like the right thing to do anymore. It was more an opportunity thing now, for one thing was certain: if he did kill her, he'd never have an easier time getting away with it.
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Post by Amy81 on Mar 8, 2006 13:06:34 GMT -6
He made sure everything was the way he found it, turned out the lights, and was just about to open the door when he heard footsteps in the hallway. The door opened suddenly as Ange was turning to look for a place to hide. Two men walked in, and upon seeing Ange they jumped on him immediately. Ange tried to get an arm free to swing a punch but was held back by one of the men. The other took the opportunity and punched Ange hard in the stomach. His breath came out in a groan, and he would have gone down if he wasn't being held up. A second punch, then a third, and Ange wasn't struggling anymore.
They let him fall now, and he felt a kick to the ribs as he knelt on his hands and knees. He rolled with the kick, and they were on him again. One of the men held him as the other straightened Ange's bad leg out, ready to go to work on the fragile knee he'd hurt back in his warrior days.
"No..." he managed to wheez out.
"Enough" said a voice cutting through the darkness. The men stopped, and only the sound of Ange's labored breathing could be heard. "He won't be any more trouble" said the voice. "Will you Ange?" A female voice. Familiar.
Ange's eyes bugged out. "Em?"
"What should I do, Ange?" she asked, fingering her bruised neck. "Let them take apart your old war injury?"
"Please... Em..."
After a pause that seemed like eternity, Em made a motion with her hand and the men let Ange go. "We'll be okay now" she said. "Thank you, gentlemen." They looked at Ange, then Em, then walked to the doorway and left. It was only then that Em turned on the lights. Ange blinked at the sudden brightness.
"I owed you that little beating" Em said. "After what you did to me. I just didn't think I'd get the chance so soon. So now it's my turn to ask the questions. What are you doing in my quarters, Ange? What's this all about?"
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Post by Amy81 on Mar 9, 2006 11:35:59 GMT -6
Ange rolled over, managing to get to his knees. "Who are the goons?" he huffed, looking at the closed door.
"My protection" Em replied. "After everything that's happened on this ship, a girl can't be too careful." Ange nodded, accepting the answer. "I have an alarm" Em explained. "If I don't press the button at regular intervals, those two come looking for me. And lucky that they did after the way you left me."
"You wouldn't have really let them ruin my leg, would you have?" Ange got one foot under him, and rested with the effort.
"You weren't really going to kill me, were you?" Em asked in reply. Ange managed a weak smile, and went on trying to stand up. He finally managed it, and flopped into the nearest chair. "So come on Ange" Em said. "Why did you turn on me like that? I'm on your side."
"Needed answers, Em" Ange replied. "I thought I was being played, and I didn't like what you were feeding me."
"Answers?" Em wondered aloud. "About the pictures of you and the brat? I told you the truth. They are destroyed. And her organs..."
Ange put up a hand. "Right there you can stop. I know the truth, Em." Em got a surprised look, her expression asking "How?" Ange shifted in his chair. "I got into your office computer. Found the files. I know why Amy's organs were so important to you."
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Post by Amy81 on Mar 10, 2006 8:16:05 GMT -6
Em tried to remain calm. "All right" she said, walking over to the couch and sitting down. "Been snooping in my files, have you? Very resourceful. And I should call back my two friends just for that. But, okay. What is it you think you know?"
"Starliner Alpha" Ange replied. Em kept her expression blank, but inside felt relieved. Ange hadn't found anything, just the phony 'evidence'.
"Starliner Alpha?" she questioned.
"You know" Ange went on. "The former cruise ship, retired and in the process of being converted to industrial use when the colonies were attacked..."
"I don't need a history lesson" Em interrupted in a level tone. "Get to the point."
Ange shrugged. "A boy lives there. Needs a new heart. Not many candidates with a match." He paused, studying Em closely. "Your nephew..."
Em knew he needed to see a response, so she gave him one. "You daggit" she snapped, looking as upset as she could. "How dare you dig into my personal affairs..."
"You should have just told me, Em" Ange interrupted. "You were being so secretive, and so upset when Amy wasn't going to be a donor..."
"I didn't want anyone to know" Em replied. "You of all people know how damaging secrets can be once they get out." She tried to look overwrought. "I didn't think you'd... TURN on me like that..." And that was the truth. She'd underestimated Ange, and he nearly killed her.
Ange got up, walked gingerly over to the couch, and sat next to Em. He put an arm around her. "I understand" he said. "You love your nephew. But it's not right to try and rig the donor system, or circle over a potential donor like a vulture."
Em looked at Ange, began to say something, but Ange shushed her gently. "There's no need to explain, Em. I understand. But it's in the hands of the lords. They'll protect him." He gave her shoulder a squeeze, pulling her closer. "I'm sorry I intruded. And I'm sorry I hurt you like I did." He stroked the side of Em's head, smoothing her hair.
Em sniffled but managed a small smile. "Well, now we both have a secret the other wants hidden. Can we stop fighting now? Trust each other again?"
Ange raised her head, looked deep into her eyes, and kissed her...
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Post by Amy81 on Mar 14, 2006 7:03:11 GMT -6
Several hours later, Em quietly got off the couch, careful not to disturb Ange's sleep. She slipped on a robe and grabbed a blanket, gently covering Ange with it. Then she walked quietly to the bedroom, closed the door, and made a call.
"Yeah, it's me" she said as the connection was made. She listened to the voice at the other end, nodding. "He didn't learn a thing" she said. "Uh huh. He thinks it's the nephew just like we planted." She listened some more, nodding, then nodding harder. "To the secret survival society!" she replied, disconnecting the com.
She walked back out to the main room, sat down in a chair opposite the couch, and watched Ange sleep.
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