The Wrath of Kate Daniels

Posted on Wed Nov 24th, 2021 @ 8:12am by Kyle Cragen [Reece] & Commander Arrianna Salannis an Vantar & Michael Bishop

Mission: Darkness Rising - A Phoenix Lalor Sub Plot
Location: Base Shield Controls
Timeline: Md 28 / 0345 hours
1171 words - 2.3 OF Standard Post Measure

Kate knew where he was going. She had guessed his plan, what he'd do when he boarded the base. Bishop's attack was a distraction, Kate always knew what Cragen was going to do.

Quietly, Cragen crept along through the dark. He had a general idea as to where the shield controls were. Outside the sounds of battle could easily be heard. He knew that he had to hurry, tbough.

Finally, he found an access door, leading dowm to the power station for the compound. He quietly opened the door and slipped inside, closing the door behind him.

It was there that Kate Daniels stood. Her face obscured, blonde hair draped down from a hood and a cape that concealed herself. Below the cape her hand reached for her sword and a sound of metal signalled Kate drawing her weapon. She performed an elegant flourish. It was Cragen's own sword.

This was meant as an insult and a challenge. But somehow he couldt sense what was inside this woman. Limitless love... but undying seething hatred. She stared Cragen down for what seemed like an eternity.

Turning slowly at the familiar sound. Cragen sawthe cloaked figure. Thoughhe couldnt see her face, the silhouette was unmistakable. "Hello, m'dear. Who are you now?"

"My name is Kate Daniels. I'm am only what you have made. Bishop broke a good woman into a slave. But I. I'm not a good woman. Maybe deep down Arrianna Salannis an Vantar still lives. There's only one person in this universe that will save you from my wrath." She lanced forward like lightning. But inside Arri still existed.

In a flash of his own speed, Cragen drew and extended the two collapsible clubs he was carrying. He then used them to block, then parry her attacks.

It was during this fight he knew how the Alindar were so effective at light infantry and small group tactics. How even the Klingons wouldn't challenge them. She was a panther. One wrong move and it would be the end of him. She circled with cragen. Silent, furious rage, reminding of him of the time before he found her again, well she had lost the only thing keeping her sane.

"I am going to hunt down every slaver and put their heads on pikes too!!!" Kate barked with her overwhelming hatred. "I am going to free their slaves and feed a revolution so fiery, it will burn every man or woman who has ever picked up a whip. Wickedness itself will burn away... You... The terrans... everything!!!! Revolution will purge the corrupt!!!!!"

While Kate was an excellent sword fighter, Cragen was better, having been using them since the 1400s. As they continued to spar, he started to gain the upper hand, using both gis strength and experience. In a rapid combination of strikes and blocks, he wrested his swird from her hands.

Stepping back, he moved it effortlessly, as if it were a part of him. "Very impressive, my dear. Now, I think it's time you returned to Flossie." He paused and said a single word. "Holforra." It was a word that he programmed into each of his slaves. It was a subliminal command to have them submit without question.

Kate shook her head. It took a bit of her mental discipline to ignore the command. She spoke again. "You think the mind of an Alindari is so easily influenced?" She took her guard again. "I will not be your slave ever again." The word was having some effect on her.

Cragen gave her a grin. "Oh, that's fine, my pretty pet." He said in a confident tone. "It may not have instantly brought you to your knees, but, it will bring you around soon. Stronger minds have fought it and lost. It's only a matter of time, my lovely."

Cragen saluted Kate with his sword and then moved into a ready stance. "Now, if you don't mind, I need to drop the shields."

Kate drew a phaser. "I'm afraid you have walked into my trap." She noted. "I had just enough time to lock down that console, and I'm afraid the shields will not be dropping anytime soon. Add to that, I've errected a dampening field in this room." Kate noted. "You are not going anywhere."

Meanwhile Bishop was assembling both his ground forces and aerial support for the attack. "We will attack here." He pointed to the side of the mountain. "The ground forces will have aerial support. The defenses are weak here. We can overwhelm them."

Seeing that he was outmatched, Cragen sighed and lowered his sword. As he did so, he turned his left side away from Kate, offering his sword back to her with outstretched his right hand. As he did so, using his now hidden left hand, he subtly reached for a flash bang grenade.

Kate stunned Cragen before he could try anything and then picked up his com unit. "Bishop... I highly recommend you surrender immediately." Kate explained. "I have your boss, and your plan has failed. Checkmate I believe. Stand down and return my partner immediately and I'll guarantee I won't kill him today." Kate disarmed and shackled Cragen. Retrieving her sword.

Silence...... for several long seconds as Bishop considered Flossie's words. Then a low chuckle came across the com. "Flossie! I am delighted to hear your voice even under these unfortunate circumstances. As to your demand, if you kill Mr. Cragen then I'm sure you realize you would never see Blondie again. So checkmate? I'm afraid not my dear."

"But I still have your boss, Bishop." Kate noted. "And I can put him somewhere you'll never find him. Eventually I'll wring every secret out of him that he knows and recover my partner anyway. And don't you ever call me Flossie again. Her name was Arrianna Salannis an Vantar, and she was a far more noble woman than I am." Kate noted. "You made Flossie, you also made me. I'll just hold onto Cragen for a while. I suggest you consider your next move carefully. Unlike Arrianna, I show utterly no mercy. Check."

"I see I have trained you well Flossie, Arri or whatever name you wish to call yourself. I admire your determination and zeal no matter how misplaced it may be. I advise you not to do anything drastic or later regret in regard to Mr. Cragen unless you don't wish to see Blondie or Sephine again." Bishop replied easily. "I am sure we can work out something. Enjoy your victory while you can."

Arri flipped the coms off and looked at Cragen. "Oh Mr. Cragen. I haven't even begun with you yet."

Cragen, of course, said nothing in reply. As he was unconscious and smoldering slightly from the heavy stun at close range. Had he been human, he might have been dead.

Bishop sent message to both ground and air forces to withdraw except for a small surgical strike team. Which withdrew to a safe distance and awaited their next orders.

~OFF~