Cell Block Tango

[Nick Ryder]

Alpha Section Secure Holding - Beneath Leo's Blues and Rock Club --

Nick was pacing as he waited for the Viper to arrive with Kinsey, he had a lot of questions to ask of her and a damn good reason why he shouldn't just keep her locked in the old 'K'n'zy' vault right next to where Bartyn was currently cooling his heels. He had blamed himself for not completing her Jase'dasis training, for not trying harder to make sure that any last trace of K'n'zy was gone. Unlike himself, he had a bottle of Vodka sitting on a desk that he kept refilling his glass with. Not so he would get drunk, his metabolism seldom allowed it, but to keep his nerves calm so he didn't literally flare up at her. Because he was madder than he had ever been, he was 'pulling an Alice' by catching things on fire as walked, napkins didn't stand a chance, that's why he retreated to the lower secure holding facility. It was flame proof, psi proof once he put the shields up, and even Q proof, based on designs from the time one Q actually volunteered to test it. The sight of a Q unable to use his powers and 'snap' out was a sight to behold.

"Where ARE they?" Nick growled under his breath.

"Patience Mr. President... you're going to give yourself an anyurism." Nicole said as she checked her padd. "I must say, this is an impressive facility, almost makes the Mount look outdated."

"Well, it IS a little out dated, it predated most of the settlement here by at least a decade, some of it anyway." Nick said and took another swig of Vodka. "I hate this stuff... but we got a good deal on it." he winced as he put his glass down.

"As long as you don't create so much heat energy you melt my stockings off my legs again." Decker said with a smirk. "That bloody hurt you know."

"Sorry... I was and still am furious." Nick replied. "I told Alice not to come down here, I don't like her seeing me mad. Nor do I like snapping at her, because the lady does hold it against me."

"Smart woman. London girls always do tend to appreciate calm." Decker said and glanced at her padd. "They're entering the stratosphere now, should be landing in a few minutes. Their RCS thrusters took a hit when they rode out the explosive shockwave of a Brethren ship exploding."

"That'll do it..." Nick chuckled and sighed. "I still can't believe it."

"Believe it sir." Decker said softly. "Mattis is in a bad way, lost limbs, crushed jaw... we haven't located V'Pier yet."

"Not surprising, when he knew he had an out of Becca's form, he probably turned into liquid. You check the planters?" NIck raised an eyebrow.

"I called everywhere for him." Decker shook her head. "I fear we left him on Dominus' baseship."

Nick tapped his chin and thought for a moment, shrugged his shoulders and said. "He'll find his way home. I've known the man for over 50 years and he's always found his way back even if he took some detours along the way." he looked at the secure cell and saw the red light turn and the distinctive sound of a transporter humming. "Looks like they're here."

"Mr. President Emeritas... Director." JT said with a salute as he beamed in front of the cell. "Kinsey is secure in the cell. Mackenzie and Tal'zorha... they need a drink... although I might take them to Joe's pick up some of Tali's gear if you don't mind."

"Granted. Nice work there JT. Although in the future, when you surf a shockwave..." Nick chuckled. "Set the hull polarization, not just the shields. That's an old school designed ship. It's built to do both."

"I'll keep it in mind." JT replied and nodded his head

"Was just a bumpy ride, had worse." Clint said as he approached Nick and the Director. "I assume you'll want to interrogate her... we didn't really do much, Tali met with her briefly, but... we didn't want to piss her off and have her somehow break through the psi blockers."

"She won't hurt us." Nick said as he closed his eyes. "We aren't her enemy... just her annoyance. Isn't that right Kinsey?" he said as he walked closer to the cell. "What in the fuck? And you know I don't ask that of you often!"

[Kinsey Calhoun]

“Hello Nicholas. Clint.” Kinsey said with a smile as she tossed her hair over her shoulder. She sat down on the cot in her cell and crossed her legs. “I was wondering when I’d see Clint. You don’t have to worry about Ophelia anymore I killed her. I would have left her for you, but the opportunity presented itself.”

[Nick Ryder]

"Oh so I guess all is forgiven... FOR DESTROYING FOUR PLANETS!" Nick exclaimed. "What the hell Kinsey? Seriously... what in the HELL WERE YOU THINKING? If you HAVE the power to blow up planets... then you could have just wiped out Dominus and all his forces in one fell swoop!" he clenched his fists and took a calming breath. "I'm happy to see you aren't dead... but... holy shit Kinsey... you almost should have been.. then I wouldn't have to find out that my daughter in law BLEW UP FOUR PLANETS!"

[Kinsey Calhoun]

Kinsey narrowed her eyes at him as she leaned forward. There was an air of danger about her as she looked at them.

“You always think you know so much.” Kinsey said coldly. “What do you think would have happened if I’d killed Dominus? Truly. Just turned him into a tiny little ball or reduced him to the tiniest of molecules and watched them float away. Just POOF gone and maybe there wasn’t another version sitting somewhere waiting to take his place or a clone or maybe there was.”

[Nick Ryder]

"Okay fine... fine... yeah... I'll give you that. But why didn't you escape? They clearly had no power against you... " Nick said and just looked at her. "Four planets full of people... seriously Kinsey... how do we come back from that?"

[Kinsey Calhoun]

The memory of the electric shock running through her body every time she’d thought about it made her hand twitch.

“Does it matter now?” Kinsey asked as she looked away. “I wasn’t planning on returning.”

[Nick Ryder]

"Oh really?" Nick crossed his arms. "So you just blow up worlds and then what? Hide out at Soong's? Xenex? Earth?"

[Kinsey Calhoun]

“Xenex does sound nice and they’re off limits to Dominus but no. Those plans changed when Jack showed up.” Kinsey said as she looked at him. “Rather unexpected his involvement. You shouldn’t be too angry with him. He tried to make it painless for the Brethren of all people. I could have cared less. Even then he showed a measure of compassion. He was always a better person then I was.”

[Nick Ryder]

"Wait... Jack was helping?" Nick blinked and shook his head. "Brethren... okay... they're bastards but did you wonder what they'd do now? They're going to be out for blood. Namely anyone connected to that."

[Kinsey Calhoun]

Kinsey raised an eyebrow and glanced at Clint.

“You are out of the loop.” Kinsey said. “By now the Brethren are gone. What Brethren were left were aboard Dominus’ ships. We made sure they were highly motivated to fight each other while Jack and I were making our exit. We were beaming off his ship when Clint beamed me aboard his.”