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Quote: // My first (ongoing) attempt at a back-story to my characters (some of them, anyway) quite likely full of grammatical and spelling errors. Comments/Feedback/Criticisms of any kind are welcome and appreciated.


(Edit: Well, I guess a feedback section would be helpful, wouldn't it?)
FEEDBACK

Updates are likely, boredom does that to me.

Hugs, -TN

Edit: Well, story's finished. Hope you liked it, feel free to say so. With 157 views i'd like to think someone read it, But maybe not. See you around. -TN


[color=#000000]0040 Hours GC time- Location unknown

"[color=#ff6633]Keep an eye out, if this safehouse is discovered we'll have to move him again." [color=#000000]Commanded Imalt Zimmerman, Dialing up the intensity of his laser pistol and shutting the door on his partner's face.

[color=#000000] He turned to the man chained to the chair in the center of the room. He was slumped forward, unconscious. His untidy short black hair, with just the beginnings of gray at the roots, despite his young age, hung over his face. Blood dripped down off his cut lip onto the red and gray suit he wore.

[color=#000000] Zimmerman picked up a cup full of water from the table beside the chair, then splashed it over the man's face. The man jerked in his seat and looked up at Imalt. Imalt was impressed, this man had killed two of the people he'd sent to capture him. The remaining men had taken their sorrow out on him with their fists, but the man still glared at Imalt with those cold, gray, determined eyes.

"[color=#ff6633]Tell me your name." [color=#000000]Demanded Imalt, sitting on the table beside the chair, dropping the cup on the floor, where it shattered into porcelain shards.

[color=#000000] The man growled something that Imalt hadn't understood.


"[color=#ff6633]Say again?"[color=#000000] He said, putting a hand to his ear theatrically and picking a scalpel from the table he sat on.

"[color=#008080]Word for bloody word, what I said was: ''Your worst nightmare, You son of a syphilitic whore." [color=#000000]The man said, Grinning impudently.

[color=#000000] Imalt kicked the man in the chin, adding another bruise to the collection the man had on his face already. "[color=#ff6633]Take that as proof of my lack of a sense of humor, will ya?" [color=#000000]He said, Leaning back again. "[color=#ff6633]Now answer me, what is your god-damned name?"

[color=#000000] The man looked up at him again, an amused grimace on his face, pulling his sharp features into a condescending sneer. "[color=#008080]You sent five goons to kidnap me and you don't know my name?"

"[color=#ff6633]No, but I want to make sure that I've got the right man.[color=#000000]" Imalt leaned forward. [color=#000000]"[color=#ff6633]Are you or are you not Tobias Regenauld Fisher, Captain of the Archangel Research Vessel?[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#008080]Yeah, Guilty as charged, Gov'na.[color=#000000]" Said Tobias.

[color=#000000] "[color=#ff6633]Can the corny accent, You're Bretonian, not Victorian English.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#008080]You know your history, mate. I'm impressed.[color=#000000]" Said Tobias, Leaning back in his chair, Rolling his shoulders as if having his hands chained to the chair behind him was straining them. Which it probably was. "[color=#008080]So ya know where I'm from, What else do you know?[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#ff6633]Probably more than you'd like. I know that you killed my brother for instance.[color=#000000]" Said Imalt.

[color=#000000] "[color=#008080]Really? Could ya give me a hint? I'm not proud to say it, but I've killed a lot of people who could have been your brother.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] Imalt chuckled. "[color=#ff6633]Yeah, I know you have. And you know what? I don't blame you. It was your job. My brother was an idiot. But he was my brother. I'm only asking you to give up whoever hired you to kill him.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] Tobias grimaced again. "[color=#008080]Well, I may or may not tell you. But it'd be helpful to know who it was I'm supposed to have killed.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] Imalt picked up the data-pad he'd left on the table, flipped to the picture of his brother and held it out. "[color=#ff6633]Othello Zimmerman, Smuggler. Owner of Zimmerman produce. A front business for small arms dealing.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] Something in Tobias's face changed, a flicker of recognition. "[color=#008080]Who the hell are you?[color=#000000]" he asked.

[color=#000000] "[color=#ff6633]Imalt Zimmerman. Small time smuggler, like him. But I like to think that I'm smarter and haven't pissed anyone off enough to have them hire a thug to kill me.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#008080]I'm an assassin, I mean I WAS an assassin. Not a thug, Assassins have style. Get it right.[color=#000000]" Grumbled Tobias.

[color=#000000] "[color=#ff6633]Look Mr. Fisher, I know it was just a job. That's the only thing stopping me from cutting off your extremities with a hacksaw. Just tell me who hired you and you can go. I may even hire you to kill them.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#008080]I cordially invite you to suck it.[color=#000000]" Was Tobias's reply.

[color=#000000] Imalt picked up a hacksaw from the table. Tobias didn't flinch, but sneered again, disdainfully. He was right, Imalt agreed, He did have style, still, style couldn't dull blades. Imalt stood up and walked slowly around to the back of Tobias's chair, then rested the hacksaw against his shoulder. "[color=#ff6633]You want to rethink that last answer?[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#008080]Nope, Offer still stands.[color=#000000]" Growled Tobias, His shoulders tensing involuntarily.

[color=#000000] Imalt stood for a while, hacksaw poised to cut, flexing his fingers on the grip... A moment's indecisiveness then he took the saw off Fisher's arm, and walked back to the table, where he sat, twirling the saw around in his hand. "[color=#ff6633]You know.... I've always wondered what Motivates people like you.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#008080]People like me?[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#ff6633]Assassins. Hired guns. Hitmen.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] Tobias leaned forward in his chair, the look he gave Imalt was calculating. "[color=#008080]Are you asking me to tell you my story?[color=#000000]"

Quote:[color=#000000]0100 Hours GC time- (17 miles away)

[color=#000000] Dr. Angelina Corvin cursed softly as she sorted through her digital keys, looking for the one that would unlock the door to the apartment she shared with her Fiancé on Gran Canaria while the Archangel was in drydock. She shifted the box she was carrying into her right arm, and rested it against her hip while she swiped the key in the lock, the door clicked open.

[color=#000000] "[color=#4b1f6f]Tobias?[color=#000000]" She called, stepping into the entryway. She looked around as she closed the door, the room was abnormally cool.

[color=#000000] She walked up the entryway towards the door to the living room, there was a mirror on the door. In the mirror was a young woman, of medium to tall height with reddish brown hair and smooth, tanned skin. Large clear eyes glanced up and down her reflection, noticing the flush appearing on her cheeks as she did so, she'd always tried to avoid mirrors.

[color=#000000] "[color=#4b1f6f]Tobias? Hello? Are you here?[color=#000000]" She called again, opening the door into the living room. The light was off, which was also strange, she lowered the box to the ground and clapped her hands twice, activating the light.

[color=#000000] Then she gasped slightly, gazing at the scene in front of her. Two men lay dead in pools of blood. One sprawled across the floor, his laser pistol lay a few feet away. The other lay across the couch in the middle of the room, staining the white leather deep crimson. Black holes in the plaster of the walls gave evidence of misses by the rushed shooter who had still managed to take these two men down.

[color=#000000] She checked quickly, neither of the men were her Fiancé. "[color=#4b1f6f]Oh god.... Oh god....[color=#000000]" she mumbled. She took two deep breaths, Bad idea. The air was still thick with the smell of fresh blood, it brought back nightmares of her youth, but the breaths calmed her down nonetheless. He'd told her this may happen, He'd also told her what to do if it did.

[color=#000000] She walked to the far wall, where a phone hung, only to find out that it had been destroyed by a stray shot. She pulled out her portable phone, it relayed from the Archangel, so the charge would be minimal.

[color=#000000] He call was answered on the fourth ring. "[color=#00ae00]Archangel Research bridge, Keel speaking.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#6b2394]John, It's Angelina. There are two dead guys in the apartment and Tobias isn't here.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] A short silence, Keel probably moving to a more private area, then: "[color=#00ae00]Sounds normal, Knowing him.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#6b2394]Yes, but He didn't leave a note.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#00ae00]That's bad. He'd Leave [color=#00ae00]you[color=#00ae00] a note, bastard never left [color=#00ae00]me [color=#00ae00]one when he pulled this kinda stunt...[color=#00ae00] I'll be there in a bit.[color=#000000]"

Quote:[color=#000000]0105 Hours GC time- Location Unknown

[color=#000000] Tobias leaned back, the chains on his chair rattling. "[color=#006b6b]Well, I guess it started with my parents.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#ff6633]As so many things do.[color=#000000]" Said Zimmerman.

[color=#000000] "[color=#006b6b]I'm choosing to ignore the innuendo there." [color=#000000]Said Tobias, in an aside.[color=#006b6b] "Well, I grew up on planet New London, south east continent, Thames district. It was a rough area, Ruled more by the street gangs than the Queen[color=#000000]."

[color=#000000] "[color=#ff6633]A situation I'm familiar with, trust me.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#006b6b]Yeah, I was about sixteen when the riots happened, You remember them? Probably not. They didn't get much media attention. Well, I was at home when they started, my parents were on the street. By the time the fighting moved on, I think I was the only one alive on the whole block.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] Zimmerman sat silent. He could imagine that, Leaving the house as a kid to see your neighborhood slaughtered. "[color=#ff6633]But most people'd just break down. Or join one of the gangs. You didn't.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#006b6b]No, I decided that I wanted revenge, I'd always been a bastard like that. I checked some of the bodies in the area, some of the gangsters had died, and they left their guns behind. I grabbed a few then took to the rooftops.[color=#000000]" He smiled and said with vindictive happiness in his voice: "[color=#006b6b]I hunted down the gang that had ripped my street apart, and rained death down on them form above, every single one died.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] Tobias sighed. "[color=#006b6b]Then I had to ditch the guns, they were laser weapons, and they can sometimes track energy signatures on those, somehow." [color=#000000]He gestured with his head towards the cabinet under the sink, where he'd seen Zimmerman stash Tobias's weapons, out of sight.[color=#006b6b] "That's part of the reason I use old-style projectile weapons. No one has a planet wide database for them anymore.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#ff6633]But how did you go from being an orphan on the street to being a paid Assassin? That seems to me like a bit of a jump.[color=#000000]" Said Zimmerman, Puzzled.


[color=#000000] "[color=#006b6b]You know, It probably would have stopped there, I'd have gotten killed in the rioting, Or killed myself, Or something. If it weren't for John Keel.[color=#000000]"

Quote:[color=#000000]0150 Hours GC time- Location unknown.

[color=#000000] Zimmerman turned to the dossier he'd had a Private Investigator put together on Mr. Fisher. It was highly incomplete, and held no mention of anyone named John Keel. "[color=#ff6633]Who's that? And why did you use his name? You've been careful about names so far.[color=#000000]"
"[color=#006b6b]John Keel taught me almost everything I know, And he lives like me, With no one to miss him. It'd give him a welcome challenge if you came after him.[color=#000000]" Tobias shrugged. "[color=#006b6b]But anyway, I was slinking around the streets, Avoiding the police forces, when one of the Tactical Response Teams found me. John Keel was leading it. He covered for me, got me out of the area.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#ff6633]But how did you end up a hired assassin, if he was a BPA officer. He should have stopped you.[color=#000000]" Said Zimmerman.

[color=#000000] "[color=#006b6b]He knew I was angry, and he also knew that he'd never get the gang leaders through legal channels. He led me to a man who sold replica projectile weapons, got me a few. Then left. Told me to 'call me if you need me'.[color=#000000]" Said Tobias, imitating Keel's rough voice. "[color=#006b6b]Within five days two of the smaller gang leaders were dead.[color=#000000]" He paused, Counting to himself. "[color=#006b6b]Uh... Three months later he left the BPA, signed for a three year hitch with the Bretonian ground forces. When he finished with that he looked me up, asked if I needed any help.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] Zimmerman put the saw down, it clattered on the table. "[color=#ff6633]How come I'd never heard of you, either of you, before you killed my brother? You were good. Most good assassins get noticed by the media.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] Tobias laughed unkindly. "[color=#006b6b]No, [color=#006b6b]most [color=#006b6b]bad[color=#006b6b] assassins get noticed. They're the crazies, the ones that try to kill the Queen because the devil came out of his cereal box and told him too.[color=#000000]" He snorted. "[color=#006b6b]I'm a professional, well, [color=#006b6b]was[color=#006b6b] a professional, and an assassin does his best [color=#006b6b]not [color=#006b6b]to be caught.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] He rolled his shoulders again. "[color=#198a8a]Also, it helps when the powers-that-be don't actually care about the people you kill.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#ff6633]What do you mean?[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#198a8a]Scumbags.[color=#000000] [color=#198a8a]Like slavers, Or drug dealers or smugglers, Eh... No offense meant.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#ff6633]None taken. I think.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#198a8a]Well, I usually hit targets as revenge. That was my thing, I worked for people who'd been wronged.[color=#000000]" He grinned again, Then tried to stretch, the chains clinking. "[color=#198a8a]Hey, Can you unchain me? This is a bit uncomfortable.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#ff6633]No, I'm talking to an assassin, you're not gonna make me forget that.[color=#000000]" Zimmerman grumped. "[color=#ff6633]But.... Why did you kill my brother? He was stupid, but I don't think he ever wronged anyone badly enough.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] Tobias looked away, down and to the left. A sure sign of deceit or dishonesty. "[color=#198a8a]It was personal.[color=#000000]" he said. "[color=#006b6b]Personal jobs are never a good idea. It's hard to stay emotionally detached.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#ff6633]But...[color=#000000]" Prompted Zimmerman.

[color=#000000] Tobias stayed silent.

[color=#000000] "[color=#ff6633]Well? Did you manage to stay emotionally dead for the hit, Huh?![color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] More silence.

[color=#000000] "[color=#ff6633]Tell me, NOW![color=#000000]" Zimmerman lashed out, bringing the hacksaw across Tobias's face with a loud slap.

Quote:0400 Hours GC time- Gran Canaria spaceport

Angelina stepped into the cargo hoist that then lifted her up to the waiting bay of the Archangel Research, The rising sun over the mountains gleamed off the sloped roofs of the city, and off the snow capping the mountains.... The Vurelian Enclave was somewhere out there, could they help? Probably not. This wasn't a threat to Gran Canaria, just to Tobias and her. They hadn't heard from Jimmy in a while, he was missing, no help there. And... and He wouldn't help, He might even have something to do with this. She sighed, Stepping off the cargo hoist into the bay itself. The large cargo pods loomed over her in the echoing, cavernous room. She followed the lines painted on the floor, took a hallway to a lift then took the lift to the bridge. Because the ship was preparing for a return to space, the bridge was bustling with activity, white suited scientists like herself rushing back and forth with data-pads clutched to their chests. Grey suited crewmen, not involved with the research potion of the ship's operation, were operating the navigational, system monitoring and communications equipment, and getting in the scientist's way.

[color=#000000] Keel saw her pass and fell in behind her, leaving his post as communications chief in the hands of crewman Mary Haner. "[color=#00ae00]I've just run a check, He's not in any of his safehouses."

[color=#000000] "[color=#6b2394]It took [color=#6b2394]that long?"

[color=#000000] "[color=#00ae00]Yeah, He's got a lot of them."

[color=#000000] Angelina headed for the door to Tobais's office, directly off the bridge, to allow the captain quick access. She unlocked the door with the key card that only she and Tobias had, the door opened and admitted them. Angelina flicked on the lights, Illuminating a large wrap-around wooden desk with a comfortable looking chair behind it. Monitors lined the wall, most of them displaying various readings from around the ship, but one medium sized one on his desk was cycling through pictures, Most of them of Angelina herself or her and Tobias. Angelina blinked and turned to the task at hand.

[color=#000000] "[color=#6b2394]Well, what did you want to look for, John?[color=#000000]" She asked.

[color=#000000] "[color=#00ae00]We need to find out who, where and what his last job was for, god knows that it's probably the cause behind what's going on.[color=#000000]" He said, sitting in the chair and accessing the computer. "[color=#00ae00]God, This is a mess, Hasn't he ever heard of C-cleaner?[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#6b2394]I don't think so, He's never been a computer type.[color=#000000]" She replied, Opening a drawer . "[color=#6b2394]And I doubt you'll find his files there, He hides them well.[color=#000000]" She opened a folder then swore in a low voice. "[color=#6b2394]God, I can't believe he actually reads all this crap. I even use a template to make my reports on the reactor. And he reads every one word for word.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#00ae00]What's his password?[color=#000000]" Asked Keel, Not paying attention.

[color=#000000] "[color=#6b2394]My name, Duh.[color=#000000]" Replied Angelina.

[color=#000000] "[color=#00ae00]Oh, right...[color=#000000]" Said Keel, Typing the password in. "[color=#00ae00]Oh what the hell, He's got a password for his [color=#00ae00]normal[color=#00ae00] documents, and he's got a 59 digit combination for his protected files.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#6b2394]He's a bit paranoid, he was an assassin after all.[color=#000000]" Said Angelina.

[color=#000000] "[color=#00ae00]Yeah, I wish I could be sure I remember his last hit, I [color=#00ae00]think[color=#00ae00] it was the BPA guy who was assisting Gaian animal smuggling, but I'm not sure.[color=#000000]" Said keel, leaning back in the comfy chair, he looked at Angelina. She was staring at a monitor, currently displaying a double portrait of Tobias and herself, tears dripping off her sculpted nose.

[color=#000000] Keel had never been good with the bleeding heart variety of person. Though he liked her, Angelina was nothing if not that. He was worried about Tobias too, but more angry than worried. He patted her on the back awkwardly. "[color=#00ae00]Angelina, did Tobias ever tell you what his last job was? Was it the BPA officer?[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] Angelina wiped her eyes on her sleeve and looked at him. "[color=#6b2394]No, T-Tobias didn't tell you?[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#00ae00]Tobias doesn't talk about that anymore, not to me anyway.[color=#000000]" Said Keel, staring at the Angelina. "[color=#00ae00]Wait, You're telling me that he took someone down [color=#00ae00]after[color=#00ae00] he retired?![color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] Angelina shifted uncomfortably. "[color=#6b2394]I... I guess so.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#00ae00]Well who was it, And who paid him?[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] Angelina stayed silent, looking away.

[color=#000000] "[color=#00ae00]Angelina, If we're going to find him we need to know this stuff.[color=#000000]" Keel admonished.

[color=#000000] " [color=#6b2394]I know... it's just... Personal, is all.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#00ae00]Personal? No way, That's not how He works.[color=#000000]"

Quote:0625 Hours GC time- Location unknown

[color=#000000] Tobias spat a glob of blood onto the floor and looked up at Zimmerman. "[color=#198a8a]Ya know, I really wish you'd stop doing that, I've got enough scars to be going on with as it is.[color=#000000]"

[color=#000000] "[color=#ff950e]Then tell me, Was the hit a personal thing or a hired hit!?" Zimmerman shouted, Bringing the saw around again, smacking tobias hard enough to nearly knock him out of the chair.

[color=#000000] Tobias swore and sat up straight. "[color=#198a8a]Do I need to repeat myself?"
Zimmerman raised the saw a third time, then lowered it and exhaled sharply, his self restraint getting the better of him. He sat back down on the table, dropping the saw. "[color=#ff950e]So, How the hell did you manage to end up the captain of a Zoner research ship? The Zoners are pacifists!"

Tobias shrugged. "[color=#198a8a]I did a favor for a guy who knew a guy who knew that the Archangel needed a new Captain. And I bought enough stock that I own it too. I just needed a retirement that would clash sufficiently with my former life to deter any suspicion when I retired."

[color=#000000] "[color=#ff950e]What made you retire?" Asked Zimmerman. "[color=#ff950e]I thought you couldn't leave a life like that behind."

"[color=#198a8a]I thought I could, But apparently I can't." Tobias sighed sadly. "[color=#198a8a]On a hit I made, A BPA agent that was assisting the smuggling of stolen Gaian wildlife. Two hundred yards with a frangible bullet, I watched through my scope as he went down. The security guards were the first to reach him, They couldn't do anything. It was a bullet to the head after all. The second person was his wife."

Zimmerman nodded slowly, beginning to comprehend.

[color=#000000] "[color=#198a8a]She just dropped on top of him and cried. She looked a tad like my mother. I sat there, watching the scene through my rifle's scope, And thought about him, he probably had kids. I Imagined being one of those kids. Having my mother come back to me and tell me that my father had been shot dead for his minor vices." Tobias shrugged again. "[color=#198a8a]In a way those kids were now in the same boat as I had been when my parents died."

"[color=#198a8a]I just left, Grabbed my gun and ran. When I got back to my ship I called Fernando, A guy I did a charity job for, He set me up on the Archangel two months later." He looked up at Zimmerman, his face now lacking the cocky arrogance it had previously held. "[color=#198a8a]Ever since I realized what assassinating someone took away from the world, no matter how small, I've tried to give back through the Archangel's projects."

Zimmerman stared at him, puzzled. "[color=#ff950e]Then why did you kill my brother?"

[color=#000000] Tobias leaned back. "[color=#198a8a]That was a special case."

[color=#000000] "[color=#ff950e]Special how?"

[color=#000000] "[color=#198a8a]He deeply hurt someone I'm quite fond of."

[color=#000000] "[color=#ff950e]Who?"
Tobias looked at him. "[color=#198a8a]I'm not telling you, It wasn't their fault anyway."

Zimmerman stood up and opened the dossier on the desk, running his finger down the list of contacts . "[color=#ff950e]Was it John Keel? The man called Jimmy? Sully? The one you referred to as "J-Rad"? The late Rene Lafayette? Your wife, Angelina Corvin?"

[color=#000000] "[color=#198a8a]We're engaged, not married, Not yet." Corrected Tobias, a little too quickly.

[color=#000000] Zimmerman's head snapped around quickly, his hard blue eyes piercing. "[color=#ff950e]It was her?"

[color=#000000] "[color=#198a8a]No." Tobias snapped, But he cringed to himself, He was getting rusty. He hadn't been interrogated in a long time. Now his ineptitude might just get Angelina killed.

[color=#000000] "[color=#ff950e]You're lying." Said Zimmerman, stepping in front of him, Holding Angelina's file. "[color=#ff950e]You looked down and to the left, Reflexive when concealing the truth."

Tobias groaned inwardly, Dammit. A rookie mistake.

[color=#000000] "[color=#ff950e]So she sent you to kill my Brother...." Mused Zimmerman, flipping though her file. "[color=#ff950e]But why? As far as I can tell they never crossed paths? What does a Zoner nuclear physicist have against him?" He stopped. "Good god, twenty five's pretty freaking young to be a Doctor of Nuclear Physics."

"[color=#198a8a]Does that file say where she got her degree?"

[color=#000000] "[color=#ff950e]Yeah, Gran Canaria Freedman's University, What does-" Zimmerman stopped, pieces falling into place. "[color=#ff950e]No, No way. He wouldn't."
Tobias nodded. "He bought her on Malta. As a slave. She cared for the fragile cargo when he hauled it. If anything was damaged he had his men beat her until she could barely stand."

"[color=#ff950e]NO!" Shouted Zimmerman, Throwing the file behind him, papers and pictures fluttered slowly to the floor. "[color=#ff950e]I don't believe it! He promised me! I was pissed that he was working with the Outcasts. I made him promise that he'd never haul slaves!"

Tobias shrugged impassively. "[color=#198a8a]You have better moral fibre than he did."
"[color=#ff950e]Son of a- that motherfu- RAGH!!" Zimmerman flipped the metal table over, unused implements of torture clattered and smashed across the linoleum floor.

Tobias liked the way this was going, If Zimmerman condemned his brother, he would let Tobias go. "[color=#198a8a]So now you understand why? Why I killed him?"
"[color=#ff950e]Yeah..." Growled Zimmerman. Tobias felt relief rise in his chest. "Don't mean I have to forgive you, Or your god-damned wife." Imalt snarled, Raising Tobias's pistol to it's owners head. "I'll kill you, then I'll find that bitch and butcher her. For what she had you do." He disengaged the safety. "Good bye. And for the record, I never intended to let you live."

Quote:0630 Hours, GC time- Street outside Hotel.


[color=#000000] Keel opened the trunk of the ground-car, pulling out his Sub-Machine Gun, an armored vest, and Tobias's Sniper rifle. It was Tobias's pride and joy, He'd kept it after he retired. Now Keel hoped it'd help rescue him.

[color=#000000] He was worried, He didn't want to tell the girl. He doubted that the kidnappers, having seen the way they operated in the security cameras that had traced them to this hotel, would hesitate to shoot Tobias if they felt they were compromised.

[color=#000000] He loaded the SMG, and slung the rifle over his shoulder, Tobias had kept it loaded, just in case he'd needed it.

[color=#000000] Angelina stepped out of the passenger side of the ground car. "[color=#6633ff]Can I help?" She asked.

[color=#000000] Keel walked to the alley between two buildings on the opposite side of the multilevel super-street from the hotel. "[color=#00ae00]No, I'm getting onto this building. If I can snipe the leader, Tobias can handle the rest." I hope, He added silently. He jumped onto the enormously long ladder up the side of the alley and tried to climb it. His knee screamed in protest. "[color=#00ae00]DAMMIT!" He roared, Dropping to the ground.

"[color=#6b2394]What?" Said Angelina, rushing forward.

[color=#000000] Keel cursed for a second. "[color=#00ae00]I forgot.... Son of a- I forgot I can't climb ladders. I took a bullet to the knee during the Leeds riots. It's never worked right since..." He panted.

[color=#000000] Angelina stared up the ladder. "[color=#6b2394]Give me the gun. I'll go up there."

[color=#000000] Keel stared at her. "[color=#00ae00]Are you sure? Can you even shoot?"
"[color=#6b2394]Yes, Tobias taught me." She lied, He'd taught her to fire pistols, Not a monster like that.

Keel hesitated, A new plan forming. "[color=#00ae00]OK, take it. It's bolt action, .338 Lapua magnum. They're in the north suite on the top floor. I'll go book a suite on the same floor, so I can get into the room once you take the shot."

[color=#000000] Angelina nodded solemnly, slinging on the rifle. She jumped onto the tremendous ladder and began to steadily climb. Keel hoped she was up to the job as he stuck the SMG under his coat and ran to the hotel's front door. Then he thought. Of course she was, She regularly put on a suit of powered radiation armor and stepped into a live reactor. She used her degree in Nuclear physics in a way her professors had probably never anticipated.

[color=#000000] [color=#00ae00]But.... He thought as he stepped into the elevator and settled in for the twenty five story ride, That rifle was calibrated for Tobias, three inches taller than Angelina and right handed, Angelina used her left.

[color=#000000] [color=#00ae00]Oh god, Oh god. He thought, the pre-battle adrenalin thundering in his heart. [color=#00ae00]We've sure buggered this up...

Quote:[color=#000000]0650 Hours GC time- Outside the Hotel

[color=#000000] [color=#6600cc]Oh god, We've sure screwed this up... Thought Angelina as she hauled her self and the rifle onto the roof of the building across the street. She stumbled over to the edge, Falling into a prone position and hurriedly shouldering the rifle, aiming down the scope.

[color=#000000] In the scope she saw her Fiancé, chained to a chair just inside the kitchen of the hotel suite. A man in front of him flipped a table over, scattering things across the floor.

[color=#000000] Angelina tired to fire, But she hadn't loaded a round into the chamber. The man raised a pistol to Tobais's head. And Angelina realized that the bolt was on the wrong side of the rifle.

[color=#000000] "[color=#6600cc]DAMMIT!"




[color=#000000] 0651 Hours GC time- Inside the Hotel

[color=#000000] Keel tried to shove the elevator doors apart faster, then sprinted down the hallway, SMG in his hands, thank god there wasn't anyone else on this floor. He pelted down one hallway, turned, then ran up another. At the end of the hallway he could see the door, marked Suite 15. He didn't slow down to open the door, but crashed his shoulder into it, breaking the lock out of the wooden door.

[color=#000000] Just inside the suite he could see a man with a pistol reclining beside the open door of the kitchen, The man looked surprised, as if he'd not expected an intruder and opened his mouth to shout, just as Keel raised the SMG and heard a voice from the kitchen say "[color=#ff950e]- never intended to let you live."




[color=#000000] "[color=#00ae00]DAMMIT!"




[color=#000000] 0655 Hours GC time- Dead man's seat.

[color=#000000] Tobias realized that he had seconds to live. At this time he thought of only one thing. That he was letting his beloved down.

[color=#000000] [color=#198a8a]Dammit...

Quote:0655.01.01 Hours GC time-

[color=#000000] Angelina pulled the trigger.

[color=#000000] 0655.01.02 Hours GC time-

[color=#000000] Keel pulled the trigger.

[color=#000000] 0655.01.03 Hours GC time-

[color=#000000] Zimmerman pulled the trigger.




[color=#000000]




[color=#000000] 0655.02 Hours GC time.

[color=#000000]

[color=#000000] Tobias opened his eyes.




[color=#000000] Zimmerman's left eye was gone, And he was slowly falling backwards, the bullet from Tobias's pistol going wide, Punching a hole in the wallpaper. Zimmerman hit the floor with a resounding THUD. At the same time that a second man pushed the kitchen door open by falling though it, a hole in his chest. The open door framed John Keel, Lowering the SMG.

[color=#000000] John keel stepped on the body in the doorway. “[color=#00ae00]God son, You know how damn hard you are to find?”

[color=#000000] Tobias cursed hoarsely. “[color=#198a8a]You cut it pretty bloody close, Mate.”




[color=#000000] Keel cut the chains holding tobias to the chair. Tobias stood up, Stretching his arms and groaning.

[color=#000000] “[color=#00ae00]Do me a favor and wave out the window, will ya, lad?” Said Keel.

[color=#000000] Tobias did so, watching an indistinct shadow wave back. “[color=#198a8a]Your sniper's good, where'd you find him?”

[color=#000000] Keel looked up from where he was, Planting a bomb on Zimmerman's body. “[color=#00ae00]That was Angelina.”
“[color=#198a8a]What?!” Asked Tobias, spinning around. “Where did she learn to shoot like that?!”

Keel gave him a look. “[color=#00ae00]From you, of course.”

[color=#000000] Tobias looked puzzled. “[color=#198a8a]I never taught her to fire a rifle.”
Keel stopped, stood up and smiled. “[color=#00ae00]Damn. She's devious. She had me convinced that you had. If she'd been on our team when we were in the business....”

“[color=#198a8a]I wouldn't wish that life on anyone.” Said Tobias. “[color=#198a8a]That's why I've left it behind.”