Ardon was, well not satisfied, rather relieved. He had once more been summoned to the Council of Seven almost immediately after the Remley incident. He had heard what had happened from Galders, and he was shocked to hear about the massive damage that had happened. He counted himself fortunate that The Anarchist had chosen not to attack the habitat module. He was a bit surprised that he hadn't actually.
The council had congratulated him on the successful implementation so far. They had been interested in knowing when he was going to secure complete control and bring the plan to fruition. Days, merely days he told them. He had the papers and fake evidence planted already, and he was going to activate the last part of his plan tomorrow. After all, he had to make sure to get The Anarchist in place again before striking. They had sent him out again as another servant. No more, with the next strike he would have something on them, and then he could force them to admit him. The Council of Eight. It sounded pretty cool to him, he could definitely live with that.
He was going to celebrate, but for now there was work to do. He sent a message to Fadhe, telling him to initiate in 24 hours. There, it was set in motion. Nothing and nobody could stop him now, he had made sure of that with his very first move.
The door chimed, and he opened the door. "You are late" was the only comment yoda had. Azumi bowed deeply and said "I am sorry yoda-sensei." She was dressed in an indecently revealing slim fitting tank top and hotpants with lace-up stiletto-heeled boots.
Yoda ignored the outfit completely as usual. "Be on time next time Azumi. I need for this message to be delivered immediately. Now, go and do what is tasked for you." Azumi received the small holo crystal and remembered to bow deeply before leaving. She loved delivering, it was always very violent and intense. She walked down towards her room to change into her jumpsuit as she ran into LNH and sharingan. They nodded, and LNH smiled as he saw her tattoo on her shoulder.
In reality it was his fault that she had it made. He had told her on the first day she was initiated into CLM, that all female personnel got a CLM tattoo. Old tradition and all, for good luck and profitable hunting, even MysticRogue had one. New as she was, she had jumped at the chance to show that she was one of the crew. Maybe she was slightly intoxicated with it all, but at the end of the day she had the CLM logo superimposed on a Vulture on her shoulder. She had never regretted, but she had been mercilessly teased for it ever since.
"Hi Azumi, I hear they have a Warthog sale at sedina D-14. Maybe time to get a new tattoo?" sharingan winked at her, a half-empty beer keg under one arm. Used to the hazing, she smiled her prettiest innocent smile and extended her middle finger on the left hand and shoved it in his face as she walked past. She liked sharingan, but he needed to be treated like the pittbull he was. He laughed as she passed, and turned to look until she had swaggered around the corner. LNH punched him on the shoulder when she had left.
"Come on, you still need to paint those "Hello Mystic" drawings over," LNH slurred. Damn, he shouldn't eat before drinking so early, Or was it drink so early before eating? He couldn't remember and took a swig of the strong ale to help him. Nope, he definitely needed more. He would finish the keg while sharingan worked, yep that was a plan.
Chi had just entered Hortan's room together with John, when his PDA rang twice. Guild business he knew immediately. He received the summons from Surbius. MIck and Killdog Deathwad were inbound on fake pilot ID's. He was to escort them down to Moda's for help with the forensics.
"Chi, I have to go, and I am not authorised to leave you here alone with Hortan. So that means we have to go." He saw her start to protest but rose his left hand to stem off protests. "I don't like it either. I trust him with you, but orders are orders. We'll come back later, ok?"
"What if I stay here with her?" The soft melodic voice came from the door. "I am, I'm sorry. The door was open, and I thought that if he were up, I would see if there was something he needed, or .." She looked down. "Forget it, I am out of place here. I am sorry."
Chi looked at the young girl, and then back at John. Grab the moment, her teachers had always told her. "That is ok with me, please come in Ms?"
"Kanaka, Miharu Sena Kanaka" she answered almost in a whisper. "I am secretary to Mor Isil, and I saw Hortan there when he was first allowed to fly. He was so happy, and so sweet."
Chi looked at John and smiled her most innocent smile. "See John, I am not alone with him now. Please?"
He looked back at her. He started to tell her no, but something in her eyes made him waive and in the end relent. He rolled his eyes and put his hands up into the air. "Gah, what do I know. Stay for all that I care, but you stay with her. And that is not up for discussion!" He pointed at Miharu who nodded and followed him all the way out of the door.
"I am Tohasandra Chi, liaison from the PA," Chi presented herself. "Could you help me wake him up please. And maybe clean him up a bit?"
Hortan had been sedated for five days and looked the part. The wounds on his head and arms were now covered by pink synthskin, but he had not been washed at all. Tohasandra set up the medicines for waking him up while Miharu found some washing utensils. She started cleaning him as gently as she usually did her own baby back home. Having more time than last, Chi gave Hortan a smaller dosage of the antidote, thus ensuring that he would wake up as from sleep instead of with a jolt.
Miharu finished up and sat to wait beside Chi. She was fingering her necklace nervously. Chi noticed it looked very new.
"A gift?" Miharu looked confused. "The necklace, was it a gift?"
Miharu noticed she was fiddling with the necklace and stopped. "Yes, it was a gift from my boyfriend on Valentines day. He has one identical to this." She smiled shyly and looked down. "It says return to MIharu on his, and mine has his name."
Before Chi could ask who it was, Hortan stirred in his bed. Chi went over and sat on the edge immediately, softly calling his name. He folded his arms and legs in fetal position with his arms protecting his head. Chi had hoped she wouldn't need the MAO inhibitors, but she had brought them anyway. She walked over to her purse and started preparing the drug. In the meantime Miharu sat next to Hortan and started stroking his head and neck while talking to him in a low voice. When Chi turned back with the ready inhaler, Hortan was half sitting, with Miharu hugging his thin upper body and holding his head, still talking in that low voice. After some minutes had passed, he lifted his head and looked at Chi.
"Why would someone kill me? Would would anybody do that?"
"You were never the target Hortan" Chi replied. "It was supposed to be Ecka. Your presence saved his life actually. You saved his life."
The information sank in slowly in the drug-numbed mind, but eventually Hortan stammered. "But why did someone want to kill Ecka?"
"I think we are going to find out shortly. In the meantime, what about we get you dressed and go grab a bit to eat? I hear they make excellent pancakes in the mess hall." That brought a little smile out on his lips, and he nodded, slowly at first, but then with more enthusiasm. Hortan loved pancakes.
