Chapter 28N - The End

[BRIK]

Well, if my guess is correct, I'd better go talk to Skyler, bet that this tribunal outcome won't sit well with him.

"So, Ike...what do you think will happen WHAT THE?!?!"
Brik almost loses his footing as an OBVIOUSLY upset Skyler almost collides with him as he rushes past, out of his office.

The thought is almost immediate...Oh crap, Skyler must have heard the verdict!

Brik takes a few quick steps to close distance on the fast-moving Skyler and, noticing that he has no weapon or rank insignia (a HUGE detail and technicality that may keep them ALL out of the brig)...Brik LEAPS into a low tackle from behind designed to bring Skyler down quickly!

"Ike, help me! Skyler! The LAST thing we need is for you to be in the brig with Brie!"

Brik struggles with Skyler, prepared to punch his lights out, if that's what it will take to keep him from committing a high crime.

[Ike]

"Oh, Frack!" Ike shouted, as he reacted to Skyler's forward motion and Brik's quick plea. The thought flew across his mind... what does it take to get milk and cookies around here?

Skyler barely noticed the two warriors were even there.. at first. His eye's were peering down the corridor as a crowd was quickly closing... and, yes! It was Brie in shackles.

Brik took his entire body, and with full force, hit Skyler low with the intent of off balancing the angered warrior... hoping Ike took the high road to complete the effort. Ike followed as if it were planned. Skyler acted like he had not even seen them, shoving Ike into the opposite corridor wall and raising Brik off of him with one leg's motion. Thank the Gods he was not after them, as his glance never left his target.

Ike and Brik looked at each other, then both gave that old' academy try in the two of them each taking one of Sklyers legs from the back with their shoulders and at the same time. This brought the furious man down, but only to his knees. Brik positioned his right leg down on Skyler's, grabbing the Major's left arm with both of his hands... Ike doing the same to his opposite.

Ike felt the heat from Skyler's fury pulsing in his veins almost to vapor point as he gripped his CO's arm with all of his might. Blood lust! He knew it well and this was not the time or place.... or is it???

The lead Blackshirt looked ahead, noticing the struggle at hand.

"Brik! drag him back to his office!" Ike said with desperation. Brik looked over at his beat friend, Ike, with a look of "What the frack do you mean?", as it was taking all the two men had in them just to strain to hold Major Skyler another half of a micron.

The situation is like solenite ready to explode!

[Brie]

On the way to the brig there was a scuffle of some type, but the blackshirts quickly led Brie around a corner and away from it. Once officially inside the brig, the shackles were removed and Brie was led into a small room and given clothes to change into. A female blackshirt that she hadn’t yet met was in the room with her. Brie quickly realized she had been given a Prison Barge uniform. They had instituted uniforms for some of the inmates a couple of yahrens earlier after a small uprising. She changed quickly, wondering when the reality of the situation would finally hit her.

After she had changed she returned to the same cell that she had been in before the Tribunal, the last cell on the left. Boleman entered with her, Pierce stayed outside. “She is not allowed visitors unless it’s cleared by Captain Urdea or me,” he informed the guards once the cell door closed.

One of the guards spoke up. “Excuse me, Major Pierce, but Captain Urdea has already informed us that she’s in OUR hands now, and you no longer have any authority over her.”

“We’ll see about that,” Pierce said and he stormed off.

Boleman continued shaking his head. “Brie, I am SO SORRY.”

“It’s okay,” she told him. “If you don’t mind, I’d kind of like to be left alone. You and Trula need to be getting back to the Galactica anyway.”

“If there’s anything I can do...” Boleman’s voice trailed off. “I’ll be in touch.”

“Wait,” Brie called. “Could you do me a favor?”

“Of course,” Boleman replied.

“Could you find Major Skyler,” Brie asked, “and tell him that I’m counting on him to run the squadron? Tell him that’s what I need him to do and nothing else. Remind him that I’ve worked my butt off to make Gold Squadron the pride of the Callisto, and I expect no less from him. Let him know that I expect him to continue to act in a professional manner. And make sure that he knows that I’m fine.”

“I’ll look for him right away,” Boleman promised. The guard opened the door. Brie didn’t even watch as Boleman left. She briefly thought of what had happened in the same cell earlier with Justin and felt bad for pushing him away, but she was going to push EVERYONE away so that they couldn’t get caught in her mess. She lied down on the bed and could think of only one thing. How could she prove that Pierce had been involved in Turner’s murder?

**

On a different part of the Callisto, Pierce didn’t go looking for Captain Urdea. He had other plans, and he was late. He glanced around to make sure he wasn’t being followed. Once he was satisfied, he made one final turn before stopping in front of a long-forgotten storage area. He typed in some numbers that weren’t his normal code, glanced around one more time, and entered. The room was dark and mostly empty, but after a micron his eyes adjusted to the light. He quickly counted heads. “We’re all here,” Pierce announced. He cleared his throat. “This meeting of the New Secret Survival Society will now come to order.”

[JustinB]

After hearing the Guilty verdict, I saw the hurt and anguish on Brie's face. Finding out Brie would be staying on the Callisto was a small relief.
I couldn't help but still feel the hurt of Brie's last words to me. She needed someone and I wanted to help.
As the crowds began to move, I made my way to my office. I wanted to drink to forget this injustice. Before I my way to the Officer's Club I wrote three messages.
The first was to the New Gold Squadron C.O, Skyler if I could remember right. I invited him to meet me at the O'Club if he wanted.
The second was to Randrius and informing he was in tempory command for the next few centars...

The third was to Brie..

Brie, I know the times ahead will be difficult for you and you want to be left alone. That is a fair enough request. But before you plunge yourself into eternal despair, DO NOT turn your back on your friends. I will never turn my back on you. I will do whatever I feel necessary to secure your freedom no matter the consequences. PLease forgive me for any personal anguish I have put you through. BUT, my feelings towards you and you know what they are, will never change.
Your Warrior In Arms
JustinB

I made my way quickly to the Callisto Brig. I passed the note to the Blackshirt in charge and asked that it be given to Brie on her arrival. He was going to open it, but he caught my glare and thought again about doing it.

My next stop was the Officers Club. I found my regular corner and ordered four tankards of ale. I drank all in succession and ordered another round.

[Brie]

As soon as Brie closed her eyes her thoughts were interrupted. “Brie?” A Blackshirt was there, holding something in his hand. “Major JustinB wanted me to give this to you.”

Rolling her eyes, Brie stood and walked to the cell door. She took the note through one of the holes in the door. She read it, sighed, and rolled her eyes again.

“My shift is over soon,” the guard informed her. “If you want to send a message back...” He held up a piece of paper, an envelope, and a pen.

“Thanks.” Brie took them from him and sat down at the desk. Choosing every word carefully she wrote back.


Major JustinB,

I wasn’t aware of the fact that you and I are supposed to be friends. I’ve always thought of us only as professional acquaintances, although with my discharge we’re no longer even that. I don’t see why a bottle of grog and a mix-up in housing assignments would change anything, although it did make for a semi-enjoyable way to pass a couple of centars.

Stop worrying about my current predicament. I’ve been taking care of myself since I was three yahrens old, I can handle this. I’ve asked you several times to leave me alone. If you try to contact me again, I’ll notify security. My name may not carry a lot of weight at the moment but Captain Urdea has promised to help me in any way that he can. I'm sure that you don't want a restraining order on your record.

Sincerely,
Brie


Brie sealed the note and handed it through the cell door to the guard. “I really appreciate this,” she told him. “If it’s still sealed when you give it to him, JustinB might slip you a cubit or two.”

“Thanks for the tip!” The Blackshirt disappeared down the corridor. Still holding Justin's note, Brie sat down on the bed again. She hoped her message would do the trick. She hated that she had to hurt him, but she knew that she couldn’t let anyone close to her with Pierce on the prowl.

[Skyler]

Skyler went to his knees, two of his friends attempting to keep him from ending his career. His focus was now on the shrinking view of the party as they turned and took an alternate route to the Brig. He was startring to rise, Ike's and Brik's grip on him slipping when a new figure, Wraith appeared from no where, hitting him in a high tackle. As he was off balance, two Warriors grasping him by the lower legs, another with his full weight hitting him in the chest, he toppled over backwards. Before he could regain his foward motion, Logan hit the access pad for the office door and the trio managed to get him back inside as Logan close the door. Skyler worked his way free rolled over and regained his footing. His rage at Pierce filled him, but to get back out that door, he would have to go through 4 of his friends..... Was that something he was prepared to do???

Skyler drew back and swung with all his might.... the door to the wall locker collasped under the assualt, caving the center in and pulling the hinges from their seats. The Warriors guarding the exit all exchanged glances, but stood their ground. Skyler turned towards them with a softening expression and and asked them only one thing.....

"Why?"

[JustinB]

I was just about to order another round, when I saw one of the Blackshirts from the Callisto Brig enter the Officers Club. As he was making his way towards me, I noticed he had a note in his hand.
Thinking it was the one I had left for Brie Isaid to him, "Did'nt I ask you to give that to Maj.. um Brie?"

"You did Major," he replied, "But this is her reply and as you can see it is still sealed."

Catching on to what he was referring to, I tossed him a few cubits and read the note.

What I read made my jaw drop. Anger rose up inside me followed closely by a lot of hurt. How could she brush me off like that and threatening to place me on report to Captain Urdea. I didn't know what to do as I was feeling all alone.

With my heart in tatters, I was all but useless. I had developed some real feelings for someone and they had thrown it back in my face. I needed to talk to someone but didn't know who I could talk to. Maybe if I was lucky, Lucian or BatGal two people who I trusted and respected might come in. Till then, I thought to myself, I am going to see how much grog I could drink before getting in some deep trouble.

As I ordered my next round, all I could think about was Brie.

"Why Brie, Why?" I muttered feeling sorry for myself...

[LucianG]

Lucian and Fallel entered the Officer's Club. Seeing Osh at the bar, Lucian asked, "Hey Osh, how are you? Have you seen JustinB?"

"Doing well, Lucian," Osh replied. He pointed to JustinB, and said, "He seems in the dumps about something. Good luck."

[Logan]

Logan hit the access pad to lock the door to Skyler's office as his fist crashed into the wall locker. The look on his face as he turned to them was one of rage and helplessness, a look she had only seen on his face once before, yahrens earlier in another time and place.
She came back to the present when she heard him ask softly, "Why?"
Ike and Brik were completely disheveled and a little out of breath, obviously their efforts at stopping Skyler had gone on for quite some time before she and Wraith had turned the corner. And as she looked at Skyler, for the first time she noticed the missing rank insignia and blaster, even his Callisto patch had been ripped from his uniform. And it all clicked in her head. Wraith had told her about the tribunal and they had heard the verdict as they had left the medlab. They had been on their way to meet with Skyler when they had come across the struggle in the corridor. Logan had known that Skyler would be upset by this felgercarb. Admittedly, she didn't know Brie personally, but she knew Skyler and he was a good judge of character. All the Warriors she had talked to on the Callisto since she had been assigned here had the utmost respect for Brie and Logan had been dumbfounded by the guilty verdict. Hence, she and Wraith had been intent on talking to Skyler, their Squadron CO now, to see what their next move was now. But, now, seeing the look in Skyler's eyes, Logan knew there was more to Skyler's outburst than loyalty to his CO.
Skyler exchanged a meaningful look with Logan as he saw comprehension dawn on her face and a barely perceptible nod told her this was priveleged information. He was in love with Brie and didn't want anyone to know.
So, she crossed her arms across her chest and leaned back against the locked door. "Skyler, granted that you have worked with Brie a lot longer than the rest of us, but we aren't going to lose you to a tribunal too. If you have to tear this room apart and take on all four of us in the process, go ahead. Do your worst. But I for one am not letting you out of this door. So, what'll it be. Do you want to take on all four of us, your friends, or do you want to calm down and let's figure out how the frack we're going to get Brie out of this mess?"

[Ike]

As Logan addressed Skyler, Ike could not imagine having to exert any more energy in keeping his CO from ripping Pierce like an ovine ready for the slaughter.

"Hades is the best place for original sinning pluton scum like that. The Lords of Kobol will judge him. His day is coming, Major. We're Gold Squadron. How can we help you... Brie?", Ike offered as one ex-ground-pounder to another.