It's Time

[Kat Donovan]

Kat Donovan sat in the back of the bridge of the ISS Vindicator. It wasn't an unusual location for her to be, but this time she was there for her own purposes. Carefully changing and tweaking security subroutines, then covering her tracks through layers of encryption, and system backdoors.

If she were lucky no one would discover her treason until it was too late. If she was very lucky they wouldn't even know she was gone until she didn't report for her next shift. By then she and Trinity would be on Terra Alpha.

"Lord Draven, why are you still working?" Lord Bellatrix teased.

"Just finishing up the security report you asked for Milady."

"Don't be silly. It's 21:00 hours. The report will still be there in the morning my very young apprentice."

"Aye, I ken the time. The same could be said of you lass."

Bellatrix laughed, "I have always loved that accent of yours."

"I always found yers bloody boreing and flat."

Bellatrix chortled, "That it is! Very well, time for bed. You you care for dinner. I'm replicating."

"Thank you truly milady, but I think I will knock off. I got a bonnie wee bed calling me name aye."

Bellatrix shrugged, "As you wish."



Three hours later Kat was sitting in her dark quarters, and empty bottle of Scotch whiskey, and partial remains of a a traditional Scottish dish still sitting on the table, long cold.

"Computer, locate Lady Bellatrix."

"Lady Bellatrix is in her quarters," the computer responded.

"And Security Chief Lancaster?"

"In his quarters."

"Well, Donovan, it's bloody now or never," she muttered to herself. Standing she slung her bag over her shoulder, and stepped out into the corridor.

Moments later she stood outside Trinity's quarters. Not wanting to be caught standing outside, she entered a false security clearance and entered.

"Colonel Talon, now is the time for our departure," she said loudly into the dark.

[Trinity Talon]

"Ready when you are." Trinity said as she stood up from her usual kneeling sleeping position, the wounds on her back had heeled, but she found it was almost more comfortable than laying down. "We don't stop until we hit home." she said firmly as she clipped her kilden to her hip and wrapped her cloak around her bare shoulders. "Let's hope your training pays off."

[Kat Donovan]

"Let's hope ya dinae need it," Kat said. "It took me three weeks to write a program that no one would find, and would allow us to exit the shuttle bay without alerting everyone on the bloody ship."

She pulled off her backpack, and opened it. After a moment's of digging she extracted a pair of handcuffs. She handed them to Trinity and pulled the backpack back on. "They aren't real. Or rather, they are real, just that I modified them so that you can get out of 'em. Just incase someone sees us. It's 0100 hours, so it isn't too likely, but not impossible, aye."

[Trinity Talon]

"Kinky." Trinity said with a smirk. "Or you're taking me somewhere to have your way with me. Didn't quite mind that one engineer." she winced. "Not entirely uncommon on this ship for the crew to 'use' others on this ship. Your helmsman never has the same person in his quarters more than twice." Trinity shook her head and sighed. "Let's get the hell out of here... "

[Kat Donovan]

"Aye, a bonnie wee idea to be sure, but first we have to stop by sickbay." Seeing Trinity's expression she answered cryptically. " You'll see."

Kat hat lead them on a twisting, turning route through the corridors of she ship, finally arriving at sickbay the duo entered.

The doctor looked up from his work. While Bellatrix preferred to use the House hologram there was still a flesh and blood doctor on board. "Aww Lord Draven what brings you here at this late..." His question trailed off seeing Trinity, "Why is she here?"

Kat didn't hesitate, and in a blur her kliden was drawn, and she killed him with a swipe from the blade. His body fell to the deck with a heavy thump. "I wish you could be trusted doctor," Kat said with regret in her voice. "Colonel get me two hyposrays of Imoprovoline 3cc doses.

Ket left Trinity in the sickbay and entered the statsis room. She returned with two bundles in her arms. One was considerably bigger than the other.

Kat set them down on the bio bed nearest to Trinity, and started to unwrap them. Two Narlin babies. One about 6 months old, a girl. The other was severely premature, and still covered in blood and dried amniotic fluid from having been hastily wrapped up and placed into a stasis chamber. "The last of House Stormtalon. She was pregnant when we captured her. A couple months ago when Dominus found out he had the child aboted so he could place his own spawn in her. It broke Magus, and he hung himself a few days later."

[Trinity Talon]

"This was unexpected... but I'm glad you thought of them." Trinity said as she hastily replicated carriers for the children that could be strapped to their backs. "This is certainly earning you points... " she strapped one of the carriers onto her back and put the smallest child in her own. "He's so small... " she sighed and looked at Kat. "Anyone else we need to get before we escape? We've taken this risk... what's another?"

[Kat Donovan]

"I dinae ken if wee Simon will survive." She glanced at Trinity and shrugged, "Well, the lad needed a name, just in case aye. An' I dinae ken any good Narlin names. Simon, was my gran-da. Lord Simon Fraser of Lovette. On me mum's side ya ken."

[Trinity Talon]

"Sounds like you're smitten." Trinity said with a half smile. "It's good name. First Pope Peter was originally named Simon..." she cocked her head. "Hey, the Ryder family is Catholic too."

[Kat Donovan]

"Aye, well he's a sweet wee lad. I just hope your doctors can help him ya ken."

She pressed a hypospray of the sedative against the little girl's neck. Kat had a regretful expression on her face, but it was hardened with determination. "Having a crying baby, would attract to much attention." She picked up Magus's daughter and set her gently into the carrier. "That's a bonnie wee lass," she cooed as she strapped her into the contraption."

Pulling the carrier over her shoulders Kat glaced at Trinity. "No more stalling aye? "

[Trinity Talon]

"Aye." Trinity said and picked up another hypo and loaded it with a stronger sedative. "Just in case we encounter someone. Can't chop everyone in two." she closed her eyes. "Our coast is clear for the moment."