Calm before the storm

Posted on Fri Mar 18th, 2022 @ 3:29pm by
Edited on on Sun May 15th, 2022 @ 1:14am

Mission: Tales from the other side of the Mirror
Location: The Serpent's Tooth, MU
Timeline: After 'Mercy is for the undeserving'
860 words - 1.7 OF Standard Post Measure

"You're tense," Lianej said as Mal slid into bed beside her, and pressed his body against her side, burying his head against her shoulder.

"I know." He didn't elaborate.

She reached over to stroke her other hand through his hair. It was getting very long now, well past his shoulders. She petted it soothingly. "Its one more day. Then we'll be at Safe Harbour. The Captains will muster, make their decision, and then they'll be gone and we'll be back to harassing Terran patrol ships. The simple life."

She felt, rather than saw, the rueful smile against her shoulder. "There's nothing simple about boarding action." he pointed out.

"Compared to politics, espionage and dodging cuckolded wives and husbands?" She teased gently. "You sailed far more dangerous waters than I ever did. By comparison, standing behind a decksweeper is simpler. And safer."

Mal gave a soft snort. "I didn't manage all that well. Got caught, remember?"

Lianej pressed a kiss to the top of his head. "You lasted longer than anyone thought possible, and you were still a child when you started. Anyway, its all over now. You're safe here."

"They're going to die though. They're going to piss off the council and get shot on the spot."

"And good riddence."

He snaked an arm around her waist, and held on. "Still deserve a proper trial. Captains Council isn't exactly a jury of their peers, twelve good men and true."

Lianej snorted. "There aren't twelve good people in the entire Terran navy. Only the evil survive."

"True enough." He sighed. "Still..."

"Still nothing. Whatever they've tried to do can't balance their scales, and if we can see it, the council will see it. You can't save everyone worth saving. Don't trouble yourself with the ones who aren't."

"Its not about them. Its about me. I'm not my mother. I want better for them because its better for us. and I'm not my father. Just because I can, doesn't mean I should. Just because I can't, doesn't mean I shouldn't try..."

"Oh darling," Lianej squeezed the young man tight. It was easy to forget he was young enough to be her own son. And whilst he was no teenager anymore, sometimes she was reminded how young he was by comparison. And even his father's attempt to execute him hadn't knocked his idealism out of him. "You've saved more lives than I ever managed. No-one can blame any harm on you."

There was silence. "Tell that to Lady P."

Lianej closed her eyes briefly. "That was not your fault. You said it yourself, she was a guest, not a prisoner. She thought a guard was too conspicuous. She got home in the end."

"I keep thinking about that."

"Oh?" Lianej said, not sure this wasn't going to end up in a circular argument again.

"Who knew we had her?"

"Mal, we've been through this. I'm sure Taylor's fall from grace made it common knowledge."

"But who knew to look out for us on Wyzim? You don't just "go" to Wyzim; its a backwater with nothing to trade. We were going to lay low. We didn't know we were going until we made Safe Harbour the week before."

Lianej went still, "It could still be a fluke. Backwaters make sense, none of the major players, relative safety, no one asks questions..."

"But the odds, " Mal said, "You don't have a snatch squad on every backwater space port just on the off chance. They had to know. And they only way they'd know is if someone told them."

"Not one of ours." Lianej said sharply. She knew her crew, they were all family, bound to each other.

"No. Nish would have found them. But she locks down pretty hard everywhere else. So it has to be somewhere we've been, that she won't open up for. And Safe Harbour is definitely one of those places. And I think we mentioned Wyzim to a handful of people. So it must have been picked up by someone who was there, or had access to the people we spoke to."

"Leak on Safe Harbor?" Lianej said, her voice slow with doubt, "That's not an accusation we should make lightly."

"I know. But If I were my father, its what I'd do. Someone nice an unnoticeable, but in a place to hear everything."

"How do we know its not coincidence?" Lianej didn't want to think their Safe Harbour was no longer safe. But ....

"Maybe ask the others when we see them?" Mal brushed his lips along her shoulder. "Malecho perhaps. She's smart." his hand slipped from her waist, brushing over her hips and moving down.

"If you think that's going to get me to stir ugly rumours," A brush of his fingers made her breath hitch.

"Not rumours, checking facts," her partner insisted, grinning smugly.

"Fine, fine," Lianej thought about moving his hand, and then his fingers twisted, and her whole body sighed. "I shall check some facts. Satisfied?"

Her lover started to shuffle down their bed. "Hmm, not yet," Mal said, winking at her as he threw the blanket aside. "Ask me again in a little while..."