BFtP: A Fair Exchange

Posted on Sun Jul 29th, 2018 @ 5:15pm by Major Hailey Weston & Lieutenant JG Siobahn Fallon

Mission: https://wellington.pegasusfleet.site/index.php/sim/missions/id/4
Location: Hailey's Quarters

Hailey's eyes drifted open slowly, not her normal 'I'm awake', especially since there was no reason to. She'd had the opportunity to sleep in today and she was going to take advantage of that. She half-turned over and reached out to snuggle back in with Siobahn and her hand hit empty bed. She reached out again, further, but just more empty bed. Her eyes opened and she blinked, seeing the emptiness next to her, the chill of the sheets which told her that it had been empty for some time. "Siobahn?" She called out, certain that the young doctor was just in another room, not having wanted to wake Hailey up from what was problem some severely needed sleep.

There was no answer.

Hailey rolled out of bed, adjusted her shirt and padded on bare feet to the bathroom: Not there. A few more steps took her to the small living area: Again, nothing." Her heart started speeding up at that point, but she forced herself to remain calm, after all, she was probably just out for a morning run, that was all. She sat herself down on the couch and made herself wait several minutes, then got back up and leaned over the desk console, punching in her own code and keyed a search for where on the ship Siobahn was.

There was no signal from her commbadge. Hailey started to panic. She tremored as she reached out to key the comm, "Ensign Fallon, this is Major Weston, where are you?" She kept it formal, maybe Siobahn was called to the surface on official business?

Carlos was sitting at the table, a sumptuous array of food spread before him as he picked and chose what he wanted and dropped it onto his plate, alternating that task with taking sips from a mug of steaming black coffee. The commbadge, sitting next to his mug, chirped, almost right on time, a fact that brought a smirk to his face.

With a grin like the cat that got the cream, he reached out and tapped it with one finger, almost laughing as he spoke. "Major Weston, your communication is right on time."

Hailey froze. That voice. Oh God, that voice. "I'd like to speak to Ensign Fallon." She said carefully, in as neutral a tone as she could.

"Your little girlfriend is currently availing herself of my hospitality and can't talk right now, but rest assured my dear, I have more than enough to say for both of us. How about we cut the small talk and just get to the point. I have something you want, you have something I want. I propose we trade, what do you say?" Carlos' voice was silken as he spoke, clearly he was a man used to getting what he wanted, especially as he knew he held the upper hand.

"I'm going to kill you." Hailey said in response, "If you've hurt her in any way, shape or form, nowhere will be safe."

"Now, now, there's no reason to be so hostile," Carlos replied with a chuckle. "I'm not asking much, really very little for someone in your position, Major!"

"What do you want, Carlos?" Hailey snapped, "Because you know I can't give it to you. For one, it would be illegal."

"That never stopped you before, my dear, or have you forgotten the years you spent in my company?" His voice changed from being genial to being deadly serious. "I want weapons. Two crates worth. Don't tell me you can't, because I have all the bargaining power I need right here... your girlfriend and all her pretty little body parts." Carlos chuckled as he picked up a piece of bacon and bit into it. "Oh, don't worry, I promise you'll get her back, eventually."

Hailey's teeth grit almost audibly, war in her mind as she parsed out all the information. She couldn't give him the weapons, they were light years above what he'd have, she had the top of the line weaponry. It would turn him into a major crimelord if she did it, then her career would be over. She should cut Siobahn loose, that was what she SHOULD do. "How do I know she's still alive? Because there's no way in hell you're getting anything unless she is."

Carlos feigned upset at her request. "You mean you don't trust me? After all I did for you Ima?" He reached up, snapping his fingers abruptly and the doors behind him opened with a dull thud, one of his men near dragging an unwilling Siobahn in behind him, the muted sounds of her protest barely audible. "I have been hospitable so far, if you don't believe me, ask her yourself."

The muffled sounds of Siobahn in the background caught Hailey's attention, "Siobahn? Siobahn, are you all right?"

At the sound of Hailey's voice, Siobahn dissolved into full tears. "Hailey!" she cried, trying to rush forward toward her commbadge, crying out as she was pulled backward abruptly. "Hailey, I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

Carlos held up a hand as Siobahn was silenced, leaving the silence echoing around the room for a moment. "There, you've heard her. You know she's alive, at least for now."

Siobahn bit down hard on the hand that covered her mouth, until it was removed quickly. "Hailey, NO!" She screamed. "No, Don't do it!"

"Shut her up, now!" Carlos barked as he looked around, a look of annoyance on his face. "Don't disappoint me Ima. You of all people know I don't like that."

"Two crates." Hailey bit out, the sound of Siobahn's voice breaking her, "It's going to take me three or four hours to arrange it so it doesn't show up on the ship systems as a red flag." Her mind was racing, not about how to do it, but what she was going to do long before that deadline.

"Two hours, not a minute more," Carlos shot back. "In the marketplace, where we met yesterday. No games." He closed the commlink before she could reply, making it clear that his terms were not negotiable. Picking up a piece of toast, he chewed on one corner before motioning for Siobahn to be seated across the table from him. "Congratulations my dear, you've just been upgraded from prisoner to hostage."

Siobahn almost fell into the seat, pulling the blanket tighter around her shoulders, wincing at the pain in her shoulder. A quick glance toward her right had her looking straight into a mirror, her own reflection catching her by surprise, and not in a good way. Her long hair which had been neatly braided now fell loosely around her face in a tangled mess. One side of her face was already starting to come out in a deep angry bruise and there was a smudge of dried blood at the corner of her mouth where her lip had been split. She looked away again, unable to bear the sight any longer, a deep feeling of intense failure washing over her as she cast her gaze downward, grateful for the fact that her hair, no matter how tangled, shielded her tears from view.

OFF:


Major Hailey Weston
Marine CO/2nd Officer
USS Wellington

Ensign Siobahn Fallon
Medical Officer
USS Wellington

Carlos Rivero
General Bad Guy
New Earth