Smugglers Cove (Love2write and Silence)

Killian sighed when she pushed in and insisted on getting closer. "Well I doubt that getting close the red star could be any worse than us getting blown out of the sky by a patrol." Things were starting to get tight and he couldn't help the uneasy feeling that there was something much larger than smugglers going on. "All these maps are tested. Nobody would have made it if their ship exploded or got burnt up." Shutting the book he looked at her. "Only other way is to try charting something myself and that's always risky. Adam's never charted anything with the ship and I don't think I'd want to try it again." He was almost more willing to risk the red star. "I'll talk to the crew tonight to see what they think." Grumbling under his breath he waved her away. "Just go do something."

By the time dinner rolled around Killian was still busy though by now he was laying on the floor with one book balanced on his stomach and propped up against his legs while he held another one on his chest. Occasionally he would lower the one he was holding so he could gaze at the map book. "What?" Almost yelling he answered the knock on the door to the control room. "I don't have time to eat right now. Tell them to come see me when they're done." He was hoping to get all the charts done and prepared with a an idea of charting his own path if they wanted to go that route. The captain had half a feeling that the crew might.
 
"Mike told me you might be busy so...he told me to bring you some...Captain." Timo entered hesitantly, carrying a plate of food. "And...and I wanted to thankyou...for adding me to the crew."
 
Still laying on the floor he tilted his head back so he could see the boy. "Put it on the desk." He figured he could eat it later on. Killian had expected the boy would just leave now that his task was done. Instead Timo remained for a few moments longer to give his little speech. The captain grunted. "Well you'd better do your part." He didn't want to admit but, he was slightly affected by what his crew thought and they all seemed to think the boy was a great addition to the ship. Only time would tell with something like having a boy on board the ship.

It was a while later and Killian finally moved up to the desk so he could eat. The fact that the food was cold didn't matter much to him. Gravy was nearly gelatin but, it was alright. Shoving another bite into his mouth he leaned over the charts as he compared them during the last of his addition to the new path they would be taking to the planet Sabra.
 
Star steps out of the shower, wrapping a towel about her and wringing the water out of her hair. A scar on her shoulder, near her neck, catches her eye as she passes the mirror. Her fingers brush it lightly, memories of her time in Hell's Angels coming to mind. She didn't miss it...not for a minute. But...there had been a few people whom she'd grown close to there. One in particular she could've fallen in love with. 9 months was a long time though...no doubt he'd moved on and forgotten about her by now.

Star pushes the thoughts from her mind, slipping into a pair of warm sweats and hanging up her towel. Her new haircut flopped awkwardly to the side and she didn't feel like bothering with it so late at night. A cup of hot-cocoa calls her name and she makes her way into the kitchen. She is surprised to see Killian there, eating cold mash potatoes and gravy. "Burning the midnight oil, huh?" She teases, making a pot of hot water. "Want some cocoa?"
 
Killian migrated from the desk to the kitchen and he carried his new chart with. This time he had drawn his own lines. Trail blazing was something he hadn't tried in a very long time. His thoughts were interrupted by Star. Grunting in response to the midnight oil he shoved another bite of food into his mouth. A frown came to his face when she offered cocoa. "What is that?" Some of the potato was easily visible since he had chosen to talk with his mouth full.

He'd never heard of it much less thought that he would be subjected to some strange sort of food. There were plenty of strange things that Star had fed him. Still none of it was bad yet. Whatever cocoa was he was more than willing to try. Nodding he accepted the explanation. "Guess I'll have some." The first sip he tried only a little bit. It was certainly odd but, he liked it. "Huh...I see why you like it. Any of the others try this yet?" Didn't sound like they had and a grin spread across his face. "Good. The less they know the better." Of course it wouldn't stay that way but, it made a good story.

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The next morning Killian slept in but, not too late. He had a few things to get done. Finding his breakfast sitting on the table he shoved a few bites into his mouth and left the rest of it sit on the table. "Adam." Pushing the other man's chair aside Killian took up the spot for driving. "I'm trail blazing today." At that the other stood up and let him have at it. Nobody liked it and it was better if the captain was the one to do it in his own craft. If anything happened it was his fault.

Killian watched the bits of asteroid fly past. His eyes almost dried between blinks. There was too much to try and watch. By far the greatest risk was the speed. They needed to maintain at least 200 notches per hour considering the distance but, it gave limited time to react. So far the recorder was going to save the path he took. It showed that so far his estimations were close to the original plan that he had entered into the computer. It was nearly evening and he discovered why the path was now not nearly so desirable as chancing the red star. "I think we've got trouble bigger than the compliance officers." Ahead of him was an entire fleet of ships from the neighboring system. There had been some rumor of a possible revolt.

They didn't have the time to turn around so instead Killian continued along the path until the transmitter started to squelch. "Unidentified ship port on station." Picking up his transmitter Killian answered. "Aye...We're coming in." From here he didn't know what they would find. Glancing to Adam he sighed. "Better notify the rest of the crew we're about to get boarded."
 
Star and Timo were playing cards when Adam sounded over the radio. "We're about to boarded." Star immediately through all the cards in a box and shoved it under the bed. "What? What's going on?" Timo protests and Star stands up.
"Boarding party. Never a good sign." Star says. She pulls back her dresser and presses down on the tile. A hatch hisses open, revealing a hidden storage space. She wraps a blanket around Timo to keep him warm and hands him a water bottle and some wrapped jerky. Once he's settled she warns him, "Don't make a sound. No matter what you hear, don't come out until one of us comes to get you. You'll be fine." She smiles reassuringly and closes the hatch.

Star hurries to the armory and grabs her weapons. She slips two knives into her boots and grabs a couple stun grenades, shoving them in her pockets. She finishes with a pair of energy pistols, slipping them into the holsters on her belt.
She makes it to the deck with Killian just as the boarding party opens the doors and enters their ship.
 
With the few spare moments that he had Killian raced to shove arms into various different hatches in the ship. He was going to save every little thing that he could. Racing back from his room all the way to the bay he saw that Star was coming down the hall to join him and the rest. There was never anything quite like grenades in pockets to draw one's attention. Killian glowered at her. "What the hell?" This was not the kind of time that you wanted to appear unfriendly. Still it was too late for her to change. The captain stood perfectly straight as the doors opened. They were inside a large space station and a whole crew of men stood in front of them.

Guns trained on them the first row of men rushed in and immediately started to round the crew up. Killian felt one kick him in the back of the knees. The man behind him tackled him to the ground as he already had a forward momentum going. Whoever these soldiers were they certainly were touchy. A rough jerk on his arms sent a spasm through his shoulder. Grunting he tried to move his arm, but the man behind him only pulled harder and then began to pull him off the ground by his arms.

Only a few short moments later the second wave of men came through and searched the ship. While the ship was scoured Killian had one man frisking him and others were doing the same to crew members. Thankfully he didn't have anything that would make him subject to suspicion.

A rough shove started him out of the ship. Killian followed the orders without any complaint. He just hoped that so far the rest of the crew would follow suit and they wouldn't be causing any problems.
 
As one of the soldiers frisk Killian, another grabs Star and does the same. He pulls the grenades out her pockets, sneering at her. "Expecting trouble, princess."
"Don't call me princess." She growls at him. He checks all the obvious places, groping a bit too much to her liking. If she could've broken his fingers, she would've. Another guard, cuffing her arms behind her back, kept her from fighting back. He finds her weapons and tosses them aside. Then shoves her along with Killian, Mike and Adam. Star hopes beyond hope that Timo would be safe, stressing more about that than the fate of herself.
 
Killian only frowned slightly when they were forced to walk down a corridor and then pushed into a large room with what looked like officers. Momentarily he wasn't sure what or why they had brought him here. Then it dawned on him. Perhaps it was for the better that things would go this way.

"The famous Captain." Clapping his hands together with a tone of mockery the man who must have been the senior officer rose from his seat. "I knew we had a good smuggler on our hands to be trail blazing this sector, but I didn't expect to see you." The smirk on the man's face only grew larger. "I have a proposition for you. Though if you've got any mind for things beyond the illegal activities I'm sure you've already guessed it."

Always seemed that the men who thought they were so smart and caught him also thought he was half stupid. Maybe it was true. Maybe not. Killian didn't figure he would even pleasure the man with an answer. Instead he just stared at him blankly.

A low chuckle sounded from the man. "Ooh I like that a silent one too." Looking to the others in the room he nodded. "You have two options. 1. I kill you and all your crew. 2. You work for the rebellion. We're going to be needing a man of your special skill set to gather information and run a few goods for us across the borders. It's civil war in a few days. In war you know that smugglers are shot down by both sides. You're trade is full of spies and liars. So you could lessen that risk if you would work for us. I will offer you what the other side won't. A pardon."

Having a pardon was interesting to say the least. Killian knew he didn't have an option and he hated not getting to really make the choice though he would have normally taken up something like this anyway. "What's the first job then?"
 
Star looks over at Killian in shock. He was giving in so easily? Granted, they had precious few options...but still...she hadn't expected him to just go with it without any sort of discussion. "We're still gonna get paid, right?" She dares to ask.
 
All of them were ushered back onto the ship. Killian was handed a small envelope with instructions. Once they were alone Star was asking him a question. A grin came to his face. "Oh I don't know about you but, I'm not worried about the trade." There were a few good things about war and he didn't care too much who he worked for as long as they won. "The rebellion is going to have a few commodities that are bound to bring a high price if you can get it back to them. I'll be one of those with an exclusive access to the system in rebellion against the alliance. Besides the more I sell to them and the more information I gather the better off I am."

Mike just shook his head. This was one of those times that he sincerely wished he didn't know the captain. There was something rolling in that mind and it was far more than what Killian was letting on. Of course he hadn't just given up. Something told Mike that Killian might have gotten drift of this and he was using this event as an opportunity to get himself involved.
 
"I don't like it." Star crosses her arms and shakes her head. "Getting involved in a war? This is going to bring way more heat and danger to the ship. Not to mention, we have a kid on board."
 
The woman always wanted to contradict him and in front of other crew members. Killian frowned and then spat on the ground in front of her. "I don't care if you like it. We didn't get much choice. Besides he's right. Smugglers usually get fired on by both sides. So I just have a little ally here is all." Of course she was going to mention the newest member to the crew and he growled. "He's not a kid. Timo is a crew member and he's my responsibility the same as the rest of you." Reaching across himself he rubbed the sore shoulder. "You're the one that insisted on keeping the boy and he's here and now he'll learn to be a smuggler like the rest of us."
 
Star glared at him when he spit at her feet. The rest of his speech was bull. She spins away from him and hurries back to her room to retrieve Timo. She pops open the hatch. The boy looks up at her with frightened eyes, his expression melting into relief as he saw her smiling. "You're alive!" He exclaims jumping out of the hole and wrapping her in a tight hug. "Course I am. Told you everything would be alright." She ruffles his hair.
"What happened?"
Star fills him in on the situation as they return to the deck. "So, what's the gig?" She asks Killian as they approach. She nods to the envelope in his hand.
 
Star was one of the most confusing folk that he had ever met. The woman rushed away to do something. Cry? If that was the case she wouldn't be the first person he'd met that couldn't handle the pressure. When she returned it was with the boy. Killian grinned when she mentioned the letter. "Never thought you would ask." He was more than happy to take on this sort of work. It was something he had thought about before but, never had reason to do or anything to fall back on in the event that it didn't turn out so hot. Still didn't have much of anything to fall back on, but he had a reason. "Oh just a small job hijacking an important box during transit." It was a ship that travelled alone. Well armed inside but, designed to look like a basic transport. Somewhere the rebellion had a good spy to track this one down. Nobody ever thought of stopping it and it had crucial weapons for the war aboard it. "We get to steal some high technology weapons." The grin on his face had a wild twist and his eyes almost danced with the thought.
 
"Of course we do. Not that we get to keep any of it. Thanks to our new partnership." Star huffs.
"Do I get to come!?" Timo asks excitedly.
"No..." Star says immediately. "You are far too young and inexperienced to be participating in a dangerous heist.
 
At the woman's huffing Killian had to laugh. He turned toward Timo as the boy asked. Before he could say anything else the woman answered. "Actually you can." Smiling at Timo he then turned his gaze to Star. "And we will get to keep some of it. They don't know what's in those crates. I've got a few buyers on the black market. Pretty sure we could make a good haul out of this. There was only a few things listed in the agreement. Whatever they don't list I take." Timo was going to be part of this since he was crew and Killian already knew where he wanted the boy at.
 
"No way!" Star protests. "He is way too young to be going on a heist, Killian and you damn well know it! What exactly could he do anyway?" She looked like she was about ready to fight him on the point. Hands on her pistols, a determined frown on her face.
 
Stepping closer to the woman Killian grabbed one of her arms. "You just think he's too young. I don't think you know what those orphans can do." Growling in her face he then continued. "He will be on the heist and he will learn to be a smuggler. I just need a smaller person to go down a certain pipe. We'll have a lead on him and if anything happens I can pull the kid out in a few seconds. Besides..." Getting even closer he could feel she was near losing her balance. "I can't afford for them to catch the kid. He is too young to withstand torture."
 
Star glowers at Killian as he gets closer, invading her personal space, but she refused to step back. "Just because you can't afford it, doesn't mean it can't happen. Just because you intend to protect him and keep him from harm doesn't mean he wouldn't be at serious risk of catching a bullet. And if he dies, your well meant intentions won't mean a damn thing!" She growls just as furiously. Like a mother bear protecting her cub, she faces him without fear.
"Star...I'll be ok. I want to do this." Timo says, putting a hand on her arm. He wanted to prove himself more than anything.
 
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