Safehouse, Quadrant A, Abaddon Station, Tartarus Sectors

  May 4th, 2508

  Raven couldn’t believe her luck. She expected to die. Hell, she expected to be a prisoner in an unknown planet. But here, resting on a couch, in a safehouse alongside her sister, her teammates, and Grim as Dice and Voyager were resting up elsewhere. Safe from further horrors for the time being. Even better, the deranged Mr. Kinsley was captured and inbound to the capitol for a lovely chat session with the Imperium’s intelligence community.

  “I can’t believe you guys came for me.” Tears trailed from her eyes.

  “You’re my sis, Anya. And I wouldn’t let anyone take you as slave. Not ever.” Hawk put her hand on her. As comfort.

  “We thought we lost you for good, boss. But I’m glad you’re still alive.” Knob’s wide smiler warmed her.

  “We’re a team, Raven. We look out for each other.:

  “How bad is it?” What Raven asked was pretty obvious, as her team and the fellow entourage were looking at the wrapped cast on her right leg and left arm.

  “Six weeks of rest. You won’t be able to operate within timeframe. No exercises. And take care of your body at all times.” Dice advised.

  “I didn’t know you were a medic, Swerts.” Raven’s snark only elicited an eye-roll from Dice.

  “I took up classes after my service. And I’m serious. You need to be fully healed before you’re fully ready.” Dice’s serious tone clearly meant what he said.

  Raven then shifted her eyes to the ceiling. She felt a sting of tears in her eyes,

  “We’ll do it together, Anya. Your team will take care of you.” Both Knob and Hammer nodded at Hawk’s statement, and Raven felt even more grateful

  “Raven. We got a problem.” Operations Director Andreas came forward to the living room, his sudden announcement elicited a groan from the others.

  Hawk sighed. “Can it wait, Director? She’s still healing up.”

  “She and her team are being called up to urgently return to the Capitol for debrief.” Andreas explained, though Hawk’s eyes narrowed. Given the urgency, she felt there was more.

  “Then what are we waiting for?” Raven urged when slowly went to a sitting position, then coughed a few times. The ribs on her body were still damaged.

  “Were that the case, we’d do so ASAP. But..” Andreas was weary, which only meant bad news in Raven’s eyes. He brought his phone and played a recording.

  [Operations Director Andreas…] Raven and her teammates were familiar with that voice.

  [This is Yurev’Berk, Minister of State for our great Imperium. We regret to inform you that Agents Raven, Knob, and Hammer are now branded as Rogue and enemies to the state, due to the allegations that recently came to us. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to bring these agents back to the capitol, post-haste, for interrogation. Failure to do so will result in heavy disciplinary punishment.]

  The recording ended, and everyone stood in astonishment over the enormity.

  “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” Raven hissed, while Knob’s hands on her face and Hammer was looking away.

  “How did that happen?” Hawk questioned, and Andreas brought his tablet. In its screen showed Raven’s bank account. Hawk, Knob, and Hammer closely looked to the screen, which showed a transaction of 25,000 pax credits from Malice to Raven on May 2nd. That was two days ago.

  “Yeah, that’s a false-flag action.” Hawk stated plainly, which Andreas nodded.

  “Indeed. I asked the analysts to look as soon we learned of this. Here’s the result from yesterday.” He flicked the tablet’s screen, bringing digital forensics results.

  When Hawk looked, the transaction was written on behalf of a shell-company called Pyres Investments Firm, based in Haig, Tortsin. Further analysis showed the company was founded in mid-2495 with the name Myra Lang as the founder, in addition to investment transactions on Quadrant C of Abaddon Station over the past 10 years. Her facial portrait bore similarities to to Kill Team Torch’s nemesis.

  “Holy hell. Myra Lang.” Knob breathed.

  “Who’s that?” Grim interjected, curious on who it is.

  “Former Imperium trooper.” Andreas flicked through the tablet, eventually displaying Lang’s dossier.

  “Dishonorably discharged in ‘91 due to a friendly fire incident she allegedly committed. In ‘93, she was involved in the Fires of Dresden incident in the Pwert colony alongside other Sons of Tortsin terrorists. She disappeared immediately in the aftermath, and was never seen since.”

  Raven put a hand on her forehead, as she was tired. Hawk sat down with her, her hand on her sister’s shoulder for comfort.

  “That might explain why Malice wanted Raven alive. Assuming she is Myra Lang, of course.” Hammer shared his apprehension.

  Andreas huffed. “I thought you might say that, so the analysts went further in analyzing Lang’s old dossier photo and our dossier photo of Malice.” He flicked through his tablet, and the screen showed the forensics analysis of the two photos. Grim, Knob, and Hammer looked closer to see the results. 99.3%. Very low margin of error.

  Andreas then presented it to Raven and Hawk who were on the couch. Raven raised her eyebrows, as the resemblance was uncanny.

  “Well… shit.” It was all she could’ve said at this moment.

  Knob sighed, then looked to her superior. “So, what do we do now? We go to Tortsin, we’ll be sent to prison. Or worse.”

  Raven’s eyes widened when she remembered something else. “Shit! Andreas, my family…”

  “I know, Head Director Luger sent some people to secure them hours ago. They’re safe and taken care of in an undisclosed safehouse.”

  Raven breathed and sighed in relief. Her family was safe from harm’s way, at least for the time being.

  “That’s good. But about what Knob said…”

  Andreas rubbed his nose. “It’s not a good option, but it’s the best one your team has. We fake your deaths, take in new identities as Neera’s soldiers, and stay in Abaddon until we find a way to clear your names.”

  Raven took her breath. “I can work with that.”

  “As long I don’t have to act as a tax collector, I’m fine with that.” Hammer commented, and Knob nodded. This option was preferable to any other alternative.

  “What about you, Hawk? I assume you’re gonna be leaving to a base for debrief after this.” Raven inquired her sister.

  She looked down and sighed. “I’m supposed to, but I’m still needed here. Command wants me to root out people working against.”

  But in truth, Hawk was still on her mission to root out Unveiling Eye, given how long it will take to decrypt the encrypted she and Grim found a few weeks ago.

  “Well, I’ll probably have to go separate ways from you for a while. Not really fair, is it?”

  Hawk shrugged. “It’s not, but considering the circumstances… can’t make an omelet…”

  “Without breaking a few eggs. I know.” Raven finished the idiom, then chuckled.

  Andreas did a mock cough, then Raven paid attention. “Speaking of which, we should make an appointment with Ms.Vilkra. Get things running forward. As you were.”

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  He bowed and left the safehouse, leaving only Kill Team Torch, Hawk and Grim.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Safehouse, Quadrant A, Abaddon Station

  Minutes after the director left, Raven sighed heavily, and put her hands on her face. She was in despair. “This is so fucked.”

  Hawk brought a hand on her sister’s shoulder. “I know.”

  “I was doing so good for my nation. And this is how I’m thanked for. I should’ve known better.” Raven shouted in frustration.

  “Intelligence agencies have records of treating their agents as expendable.”

  “You say that like it’s gonna happen to you.” Knob chimed in.

  “Oh, make no mistake here, Knob.” Hawk shifted eyes to the agent. “I expect one day the galaxy will decide that we Rangers have outlived our usefulness and betray us when it’s all said and done.”

  “Hmm, do you have any proof of that, or you’re just being cynical?” Knob inquired.

  “Call it a gut feeling.”

  “Oh, not this again.” Grim interjected.

  “What do you mean?” Hammer was confused over what was going on.

  “Well, a lot of soldiers in the FDA don’t have a lot of love for STR. Some in leadership feel we’re a relic of a bygone era. Hawk here believes that once we win our war, assuming we actually do, the FDA will force to dissolve the entire organization.”

  “They have no love for us. Not ever since the Sparrow.” Hawk commented bitterly, and Grim rolled her eyes.

  “Some of them still admire him, Hawk. You know better than that.”

  “The Sparrow. You mean Malcolm Hawkins.” Knob interjected.

  “And the whole reason why Anya ran away from her real family.” Hawk commented sarcastically.

  “Not funny.” Anya sniped.

  “What’s not funny is disappearing on your parents and siblings and not telling them you were alive for over a decade.”

  “I lived in hell there, Kate. You think I enjoyed it?”

  Grim put a palm on her face. “Here we go.” She muttered.

  “That’s not important. What’s important is that you had a family who loved you and cared for you.” Hawk argued.

  “I gave them a message a few years ago. What more do you want from me?” Raven argued back

  “Gee, I don’t know? Maybe a frequent 3 months period of messages to the family to let them how you’re doing.” Hawk’s voice was growing louder.

  “I’m a daughter of the Empress, for god’s sake. I’m an heiress.”

  Hawk chuckled. “Heiress…” then chuckled again.

  “Wake up, Anya!” She shouted. “You’re born from wedlock. Your half-sisters or brother are sooner to get the title than you. Hell, you’re more likely to be a puppet for despicable powerful assholes than an honest leader working on behalf of her people.”

  “Enough!” Grim shouted.

  The entire room was stunned.

  Grim sighed, then continued. “Look, I know you’re sisters. I know siblings often fight each other. But we need to focus on the here and now. Christ, you two are fighting like children.”

  “She’s not wrong there, boss.” Knob commented first. “It was a catty fight.”

  “But…” Raven tried to argue her position. “She speaks truth, Raven. And you’re not any better, Hawk” Hammer interrupted.

  Hawk looked away, her eyes drifted from them.

  Grim took a breath. “Raven, look at me.”

  She looked at her, eye to eye.

  “I cried, I mourned for you when I thought you were gone. My heart tore to pieces in the years since. Kate was in grief for many years, as well.”” Grim spoke up. “But when I learned you were alive. That you were doing well by yourself? I was happy. I was delighted that you. Yes, I could’ve been angry like your sister is doing right now. But seeing a young girl who was tormented for some stupid crime of being born out of wedlock, now thriving? It made me happier to see you face-to-face to a woman who’s strong, determined, and resourceful. I’m happy that you’re alive.”

  Raven felt the tears coming out, and didn’t care enough to wipe them. Grim’s speech.

  “And Hawk, you cared for Anya, and you still do.” Grim’s voice was barely shaking, which tugged Hawk right in the heart. “I was there for you when you were mourning for her. But I know more than most people, that you were happy to know she was alive, weren’t you?”

  Hawk looked to her friend and nodded.

  “So, why bother fighting this? Why fight over the past? There’s no guarantee we’re alive tomorrow, not in this life we’re in.” Grim took a slow breath, and continued. “The last thing that the two of you need is disavowing each other and not share how much you truly care and love each other.”

  Both Knob and Hammer nodded at Grim’s speech, while Hawk and Raven saw truth in it. Both sisters looked at each other, then smiled.

  “Anya, I’m sorry for fighting. You’re my sister and I love you with all my heart. I’ll do what I can to keep you and your family safe.” Hawk started up.

  “Kate, I’m sorry for being selfish. You’re my sister as well and I love you. Once I..” Ravem heard ahem from Knob and Hammer, then corrected herself. “We find a way out the mess I’m in, I’ll…”

  She felt her sister’s hand on her lap. “You don’t have to leave Tortsin, if you don’t want to. You can stay there for the rest of your life if you want, once this problem of yours is done.” Hawk said.

  Raven wiped the tears, then nodded. “Thank you.”

  Both sisters felt a hug from Grim. “That’s more like it, you bastards. Sisters stick together!”

  Hawk and Raven enjoyed the sentiment. “Love you too, sis.” They said together.

  Knob and Hammer were smiling, delighted.

  “Anya.” Raven shifted her eyes to Hammer. “You have my support. What the minister was saying about you and us is wrong, and I’ll do everything in my power to help clear our name and take down the bastards who framed you.”

  “Likewise.” Knob bumped a fist to her chest. “You took care of your team. Now it’s time for us to take care of you.”

  Raven’s lips smiled wider. “Thanks, you two. I’m gonna need all the help I can get.”

  The rest nodded along. “About Weber and Fredir’Karn...”

  “What about them?” Hawk asked.

  “Weber called me last week, told me she was set free last month and set up to meet with her on the condition I find myself ‘framed’, so to speak.”

  “Ah, Kyla Weber. I remember her. She was a great mentor for us.” Knob spoke in reminiscence.

  “Given our situation, I’d say we’re on the ‘framed’ framework.” Hammer jokingly said, and the rest chuckled lightly.

  “That’s good. And Fredir?” Hawk asked.

  “Coincidentally, he’s currently working as a contracted technician for Ms.Vilkra. I plan to talk with her and see if I can meet him.” Raven answered.

  “Step by step, Anya.” Grim commented.

  “I’ve never met Fredir’Karn, but I heard he was a professional. We’ll need all the help we can get.” Hammer gave his input.

  “Indeed.” Raven agreed.

  “Well…” Grim stood up, and looked towards Raven and her team. “Let’s start on new names for all of ya.”

  Raven and her teammates nodded, ready to get started.

  They were rogue and enemies of the Imperium they were sworn to protect. But they were determined to clear their names.

  Whatever it takes.