Thread:FleetCaptainT/@comment-27324808-20170413210919 - Revision history

FleetCaptainT: Created page with "
'''Thirty-six'''

2017-04-13T21:09:19Z

Created page with " <p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%">'''Thirty-six'''</p> <p class="western" lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><br ..."

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<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%">'''Thirty-six'''</p>

<p class="western" lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><br /></p>

<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><span style="font-weight: normal">The sound of pounding feet </span><span style="font-weight: normal">up</span><span style="font-weight: normal"> the steps of the nearest storage bunker diverted Cycloneâs attention from his sorting. </span>''<span style="font-weight: normal">Sounds like trouble</span>''<span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">. Cyclone thought, turning just as Shrill Failed Brick burst out </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">through</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> the cellar doors. Her sweaty face was </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">unusual</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">, since she was developed athletically and the exertion of stair climbing should be nothing to her. Cyclone </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">set his pack of armor shine down and set his jaw</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">. </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">If her </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">visage could hint to what transpired to inspire her perspiration, she'd seen something scary </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">- s</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">he was pale as a sheet.</span></span></p>

<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Cyclone was about to ask her what happened when Shira blurted out, "You</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">r</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> girlfriend and Ryder just appeared out of thin air."</span></span></p>

<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Cyclone coughed through his nose </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">in protest</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">. "You mean Kate?" </span></span>''<span style="font-weight: normal">Did everyone see them together?</span>''</p>

<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Then Kate stormed out followed by Allison, and Shira danced out of the</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">ir</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> way. Ryder had a poise of passive </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">observing-</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">complacency, walking with her head cocked to one side, one brow raised, </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">and </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">her lips set like sheâd </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">already </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">said her piece. </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">On the contrary</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> Kate looked stormy </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">and about to spill her mind.</span></span></p>

<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">"Look at you.â Cyclone </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">noted</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">with concern</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">. When Kate faced him, the look on her face was puzzling; there was upset, with a tinge of... hurt? </span></span>''<span style="font-weight: normal">What happened?</span>''<span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">âWhat happened?" </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">he asked worriedly.</span></span></p>

<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Kate looked about to speak, when she looked up,</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> past him, and Cyclone pivoted stiffly to see Intrepid and Red, </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">approaching</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> from the back of the property. "What's going on?" Intrepid asked, looking between everyone, </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">and h</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">is eyes narrowed </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">on</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> Ryder. As well, Stromling Cyclone, Luke, Mara, Rover, and others paused from their tasks to glance over, </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">t</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">hey sensed something was up, </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">and </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Shira sidled to her cousin.</span></span></p>

<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">It took a few seconds before Kate responded. â</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">The more the merrier.â she said, and then h</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">er words spilled out, fast and accusatively to Intrepid, "You knew. About my death."</span></span></p>

<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Cyclone </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">drew in his breath</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">. "Your-"</span></span></p>

<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">"-Death?" Shira </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">gasped</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">, turning goggle-eyed to Intrepid. "</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">This </span></span>''<span style="font-weight: normal">is</span>''<span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> a suicide mission?</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">"</span></span></p>

<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%">''<span style="font-weight: normal">I donât think thatâs what this is about, Shira.</span>''<span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> Cyclone thought.</span></span></p>

<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">"</span></span>''<span style="font-weight: normal">I</span>''<span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> already died." Kate </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">announced</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">coldly</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">. "In the dimension where Intrepid and I were married.â </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Cyclone stepped back, </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Shira gasped </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">again, and Intrepid stared at the ground</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">. âYou could have told </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">us</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> about that, </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">too</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">."</span></span></p>

<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Unable to retreat,</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> Intrepid </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">looked up from his feet, although his voice faltered and his neck twitched</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">. "</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Iâm sorry</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">. I should have been the one to tell you.â </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Keeping his eyes on them, </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Cyclone </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">imagined Intrepid barely keeping himself from glaring at Ryder, while trying to keep a level gaze with Kate. He held out a hand to Kate, and noticed</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">someoneâs shadow, </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Redâ</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">s,</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> shift behind Intrepid, a quick and </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">preferably</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> discreet motion, but </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">he noticed it</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">. </span></span>''<span style="font-weight: normal">She's involved too</span>''<span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">.</span></span></p>

<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Kate </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">either</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> also noticed or she already had a piece of her mind for Red, since her next statement was directed at her. "</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">It was y</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">ou </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">who</span></span>''<span style="font-weight: normal"> </span>''<span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">told him everything, </span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">didnât you</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">."</span></span></p>

<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Intrepid said quickly,</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"> â</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Itâs not her fault</span></span><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">."</span></span></p>

<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%">â<span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">I did.â Red confirmed.</span></span></p>

<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Intrepid had already edged a toeâs-length in front of Red, almost protectively. What it meant, Cyclone wasnât sure, and the extent of Kateâs sudden unease and subsequent need for confrontation was still a mystery.</span></span></p>

<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Being with Kate all these years, he understood one thing though. She didnât like being lied to, and being kept out of the loop was close enough.</span></span></p>

<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">"I also know why you rescued Cyclone and me in the first place." Kate said. "Because Red is our daughter in the other dimension.â More gasps. âThe point is, either of you could have told me. Everyone here deserves to know. If weâre going to work together as a team, we need to be open with each other, okay? No more hiding information.â</span></span></p>

<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Intrepid nodded. âAlright. So what do we do now?â</span></span></p>

<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%">â<span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">You mean relationship-wise, or in team terms? We have a few more hours before our rendezvous on Crux. Cyclone and I will train our powers until then.â Kate spun around and grabbed Cycloneâs arm. âWeâre finished for now. Come on Cyclone.â</span></span></p><ac_metadata title="Song of the Swans Chapter 36"> </ac_metadata>