BLUE SUN ROOM FAN FICTION - GENERAL

BADKARMA00

The Last Spartan – Chapter Thirty-Four
Thursday, December 6, 2007

Knocking on the door


CATEGORY: FICTION    TIMES READ: 2174    RATING: 9    SERIES: FIREFLY

The Last Spartan – Chapter Thirty-Four No ownership inherent or implied. No money received for efforts. ------------------------------- The Director gazed out of the window in his office at the setting sun. Another day gone, he thought to himself. How many more before his purpose was fulfilled? The Project had almost ended with the Miranda Wave. The public outcry, the outcry from Parliament members not involved in the Project, had forced the Parliament to publicly denounce the efforts to make people, make their worlds, better. But the Project survived. It had simply gone underground. Even as the government had made a three-ring show of the destruction of the Academy, the Lab, and all the other facilities, the most important aspects of the Project were being relocated to this one. And the effort had continued, to make better worlds. Worlds without sin. Now, all that was endangered by an idiot with a lust for power and an over appreciation of his own importance. The Director hadn’t even tried to keep the news of the attack on Lord Janos’ estate from making the News wave. There’d been no point. The guests at the ball numbered some of the most powerful and influential people on the planet. They wouldn’t be bought off, or threatened. And after the Miranda wave, every reporter in the ‘verse was looking for sensational stories to exploit. Terrorists attacking the estate of one of the richest families in the ‘verse certainly qualified. The Director walked to his desk screen, and punched up security. Seconds later, a well groomed man in the uniform of an Alliance Captain appeared. “Yes, sir?” “I want security doubled until further notice,” the Director ordered. “Is there a threat, sir?” the Captain asked respectfully. “Something I should alert the troops to watch for, specifically?” “Have them watch for everything, you incompetent jackass!” he snarled, and the Captain flushed in anger. “Yes, sir,” he gritted. “Will that be all?” In response the Director simply switched off the screen, mentally noting to have the idiot replaced. He sat heavily at his desk, and began studying the reports from the day’s activities. ------------------------------- The Athena settled gently onto the ground just over a mile from the ‘facility’ that Nettles had told them about. As the hatch opened, Janos looked at his followers, face grim. “Tonight, we face a great evil. The people in this facility have tortured and killed many innocents in an attempt to control their various gifts and abilities. Many of them no more than children.” “For me, it is personal. My betrothed, the Lady River, was one of their victims. And Lady Inara was wounded, near fatally, by one of their ilk. My home invaded, my reputation sullied.” “If any of you feel that you cannot do as I ask, now is the time to say so. I will not hold you in blame. But I intend to see this place destroyed, utterly, before the sun rises again. And no one will leave here alive.” The men and women assembled before him simply stood there, looking at him in anticipation. No one offered, no even thought, to stay behind. Janos smiled. “Thank you, my friends,” he said quietly. He looked at the studious man seated at a computer console. “Mister Givens?” Julio Givens had, at one time, been the most sought after ‘hacker’ in the history of Earth-that-Was. Now, some five hundred years later, he served as Janos’ ‘expert’. Like the others, Givens’ loyalty to Janos was absolute. “I’m already into their network, My Lord,” Givens smiled. “I can pretty much do anything you want. Once I start, however, their anti-intrusion software will kick into play. I can defeat it, but it will cause a delay of several seconds, once they’re on to me.” “Very well. Are there any questions?” Janos addressed the entire group. There were none. “Neera, let us begin,” he ordered, and the Amazon nodded. “You heard the man. Charlie and Delta teams, deploy for security. Make sure this position is secure. Baker team, take the point, no more than five hundred meters out. The rest of you, assemble with the gear. Like you got a reason, people!” The two three-man teams detailed for security went first, fanning out and ensuring that the ship’s location was secure. “Mal, remember what I said,” Janos turned to his Captain as the rest of the team dis-embarked. “At the first sign of trouble, I want this ship in the air, and you gone. Don’t hesitate for a second. We’ll make our own way back, if necessary.” “I don’t like leaving people behind, Jayne,” Mal said, unhappy with that part of the plan. “We aren’t people, Captain,” Neera smiled evilly. “We’re monsters.” With that the Amazon stepped out of the hatch, following her team-mates down the ramp. Mal watched her go, impressed despite himself. “Damn fine looking woman,” Mal muttered, and Jayne smiled. “With a taste for mortals,” he told Mal, who paled. “No, not like that,” he assured the Captain. “I meant she enjoys living among you.” Mal looked at Janos, who shrugged. “She’s a bit. . .touchy,” Janos smiled thinly. “And a little blood-thirsty, I’m afraid.” “Figured that’d be a job requirement, ‘round you,” Mal snorted. Janos looked at Mal in surprise, then burst out laughing when Mal grinned. “Why, Mal! A joke! There is hope for you yet!” “Nah,” Mal waved the comment away. “Just a smart-ass on occasion, s’all.” “On occasion?” Janos asked wryly, and Mal laughed at that. “Take care o’ yerself, Jayne,” he said seriously. “I don’t need River slapping me again.” “I’ll do what I can,” Janos laughed once more, and then he was gone. Mal moved to the hatchway, watching the people disappear into the night. “They’re good,” Zoe commented from behind him. He nodded. “Imagine what the war might have been like, we’d had them on our side?” “Who’s to say they weren’t?” Zoe asked, and Mal turned to her in surprise. “You know something? Or guessing?” “I’ve seen that Neera before,” Zoe said thoughtfully. “I’m sure of it. Just can’t remember where, yet.” “Think she was Independent?” Mal asked, curious. “Don’t know,” Zoe admitted, frowning. “But I know I’ve seen her somewhere.” “Well, with luck we’ll see them again.” “Don’t think luck’ll come into, sir,” Zoe observed. “Not with that bunch.” ------------------------------- “We’ve reached the perimeter fencing, My Lord,” Janos heard the scout in his earbug. “There is no sign of patrol activity. The fence is wired, however.” “Very well. We will be there shortly. Maintain your watch.” Janos nodded to Neera, and the group moved forward. Once the entire team was assembled, Janos keyed his radio. “Mister Givens, can you turn off the perimeter surveillance?” “I can,” came the instant reply. “Then do so, please.” “Done,” he heard a minute later. “Move,” Neera’s hiss put the team into motion. Ten seconds later the entire team was sprinting for the facility. There was no need for finesse. Once they were finished, no one would doubt that someone had been here. “We’re at the door,” Neera informed Janos. He nodded. “Let’s knock.” --------------------------- The Director was still at his desk, going over various information, when the muted crump of an explosion reached his ears, and rattled his desk. He instantly punched up the security station on his screen. “Report, Lieutenant,’ he ordered tersely when a young woman’s face appeared. “Sir, I. . .that is, there was a. . .sir, we’re under attack!” she finally managed to get out. “Attack?” the Director asked in confusion. “Who is attacking us?” he demanded. Though he had expected such a response after Nettles’ debacle, he’d really thought to have some warning, at least. “We have observed at least ten assailants, sir,” the young officer calmed slightly. “They appear to have used explosives to gain entrance to the main passage way through the service entrance. Perimeter surveillance has been disabled, somehow, so we can’t be sure of the exact number. They appear to be working their way down the main hallway, with teams branching out at each new passage. We’ve already taken several casualties,” she added. “Show me,” he demanded at once. His screen flickered, then displayed the images available to the Lieutenant. The Director watched as black-clad commando types worked methodically up the main passageway. Suddenly he saw one use a burst of incredible speed, almost disappearing into air. He felt his blood run cold. “Lieutenant, on my authority, activate the self-destruct,” he ordered, still watching the video feed. “Sound the alarm, and then try and get out, if you can.” “Self-destruct?” the woman was non-plussed. “Sir, surely that’s premature. There aren’t that many of them, and we have. . .” “Do as I say!” the Director snarled. “They don’t need many to turn this place into an abattoir. Now follow your orders!” He angrily shut off the screen and stood. Damn that Nettles, he fumed, almost consumed by his rage. I knew this would be the result. I should have killed that idiot, rather than. . . He shook the thought off angrily. No time for that now. He looked around him, making sure there was nothing here that might identify him. There was so much he’d like to take, but knew it was impossible. He had all the relevant information on data keys, of course, so the research would not be lost. The rest would have to be replaced. A troublesome detail, but not terribly difficult. The worst loss would be the current crop of test subjects, several of whom had shown real potential. But, there were more out there. He’d just have to have them found, and brought to him. He walked to a section of bookcase that looked like the rest, but concealed a hidden alcove. Pressing a button, he accessed the hidden compartment, and removed a few small items. Lastly, he removed a wicked looking sword, and a pistol. Tonight would be interesting, he decided. ------------------------- “We’re moving too slowly,” Janos told Neera. “Sir?” Neera looked at him in confusion. They were working their way through the facility in fine fashion, she thought. “Too many are likely to escape,” he pointed out. “Their alarms have sounded.” Neera nodded in understanding, and keyed her mike. “Delta team, Echo team, fall back. Take up positions outside the facility to implement black flag op order.” The two team leaders acknowledged at once. Neera looked at Janos. “That should cover it,” she smiled thinly. “I should have thought of it before,” he growled. “So should I have, My Lord,” Neera told him. “We laid this on too fast, I guess.” “There was no choice,” he nodded his agreement. “Continue your advance.” He started to turn away, when another thought struck him. “Neera?” She turned back. “There is another thing. It’s possible they have prisoners, ‘subjects’ they call them, here. I do not want them harmed. We’ll take them, if we find them. Try and return them to their families.” “As you will, My Lord,” she bowed slightly, and began issuing orders. Janos, meanwhile, stalked down the corridor toward the director’s office. With one third of her men now detailed to the outside, Neera would have her hands full. And he meant to handle this alone, anyway. ---------------------------- The Director exited his office, heading for the small, private garage where his armored ground car was kept. Once he reached it, he should be able to make his escape. The project was doomed, now, he knew. No one would want to rebuild it, no one would want to be a part of something that could blow up in their faces. So, he’d go underground. Hide for a time, and then try again. He smiled at the thought. Some day all of this would reap great benefits. There would come a time when he could look back at all that had been necessary, and know that it had been worth it. That all the sacrifices, all the pain, had led to a better world for all. As he rounded the corner, he stopped. There was a shadow coming from the adjacent hallway. The same one he had to travel down to make his escape. Someone was blocking his way. ---------------------------- Neera Trivett had never been one to duck a good fight. Once she’d seen to it that everyone was on the same page, and relayed her new orders, she hefted her own rifle, and went to work. The teams were moving down separate hallways, eliminating security and civilian personnel alike. No one felt any guilt at killing these men and women. People who had used the cover of ‘science’ to justify torture of the worst kind. “No better than the savages of Earth-that-Was,” Neera muttered to herself, triggering a three round burst into a security guard. The teflo-tanium sabot rounds easily penetrated the guards body armor. The rounds were a custom made alloy of Teflon and titanium. A deadly, armor defeating combination. As she worked her way toward the end of the hallway, she came to a nondescript door, plain in every way, save for the locking mechanism. “Now what’s behind door number three, I wonder?” she mused. Reaching down to the knob, Neera gave it a violent twist, and the lock simply ceased to exist. Opening the door wide revealed a simple set of stairs. “Of course,” she muttered. “Millions of taxpayer credits, and no elevator.” With that grump, she started down the stairs. It seemed to her that she’d gone roughly two stories down when she reached another doorway. Another grab and twist, and she was inside it, as well. What she found caused even her iron will to falter. ------------------------------- “I wish we knew what was happening,” Zoe said softly. She and Mal were looking out the ramp, having nothing more to do at the moment. “Could ask that Givens, I guess,” Mal said, his tone indicating he doubted that it would yield any information. “Already did,” Zoe admitted with a grin. “He said, and I quote, ‘don’t bother me’.” “Didn’t expect it would do much good.” “Chafes to be on the sidelines, doesn’t it, sir?” Zoe asked. Mal nodded. “I was just thinking that, actually,” he admitted. “Always been on the sharp end afore. Both of us,” he added, seeing her frown. “Never thought about what it might be like to have to wait on others to do the sweat work, while I stayed on the ship.” “Me either,” Zoe sighed, leaning against the door frame. “I never thought about a lotta things, I guess,” Mal continued suddenly. “But I’‘m trying to do better.” “You’re doing fine, sir,” Zoe assured him. “We all been through a lot, lately.” “Ain’t no reason to go makin’ things worse, Zoe,” Mal snorted. “Especially for them as been with you, high and low.” “Them are the one’s what understand, sir,” Zoe pointed out philosophically. “Don’t make it better,” Mal objected. “Or right.” “Makes it family, sir,” Zoe smiled. “Family always forgives, in the long run.” Mal smiled at that. ------------------------------ The Director watched as the shadow in the L-wing of the hallway grew larger. There was no where to run to, even if he’d been inclined to run, which he wasn’t. He had to go down that hallway to make it out of the facility. That meant that he’d have to kill whoever was approaching. It was sad, but necessary. All for a better world. Finally the shadow grew into an actual shape as the source revealed itself. The figure at the end of the hallway was large. Very large. Tall and broad shouldered, and somehow familiar. He knew that stance, he was sure. But it was the voice that did it. A voice he’d know anywhere, in any condition. When the figure spoke, in the deep, rumbling baritone, voice gravelly with emotion and rage, the Director knew who it was that stood before him. And for the first time, he knew fear. “Hello, Neethos.”

COMMENTS

Thursday, December 6, 2007 10:44 PM

JANE0904


No, wait ... so this is Neethos, the one who turned Jayne/Janos? The one who seemed to be the good guy? Do I really have to go back and find out? More, please, and very soon!

Tuesday, December 25, 2007 11:48 AM

BROWNCOAT135


Yeah he was a good guy, but like Janos told Mal last chapter a lot of the few good.....others left are switching sides


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