Smugglers Cove (Love2write and Silence)

(I don't think her nose would be anywhere close to almost touching his. Might be at his chest. Killian is 6'7")

What the woman said was right, but it didn't change anything and Killian still figured using the boy would be the fastest way to get certain items extracted from the ship. Soon as the boy stood up for himself a smile came to the captain's face. "As a crew member he has every right to speak his mind and I'll take his word same as any other man." There was no room for children in this work and Killian refused to see the boy as anything less than a man for this work. Releasing Star's arm he let her go.

"Adam I'll be to the control room and we'll change course." The war hadn't started yet, but it would after he stole the box and he was more than ready to see the alliance fail. For years it had been tightening it's grip and he was going to end up dead either way. At least in this system he would get a chance. For a short moment he met Star's gaze and he felt bad. There still wasn't anything to do for it. This was the only way he could see getting his crew out of an upcoming war alive. They had to have friends somewhere and he'd killed too many for the alliance to want to befriend him. If he didn't steal the weapon someone else would and he would already have lost the chance to put his crew as honest men or at least get a second chance.
 
(I edited)
Star rubs the bruise forming on her arm, scowling at Killian angerly as he met her gaze once more before turning away. Once Timo spoke up, she knew there was nothing left she could do. She had insisted on letting him stay. Letting him become a crew member. This was indeed part of it...but she hated every second of it. The only thing left to do was to protect him best she could.
"Star..." Timo begins, his voice making it clear he was looking for her approval. She couldn't give it.
"You wanted to be a smuggler kid...well, now you're getting your chance." She says sullenly, walking away.

Trapped. Both of them trapped. Trapped in a life that rarely gave anything good back but one they had no choice but to try and make the best out of. Death was inevitable, the only question was how long before your luck rang out. Love was a fleeting illusion. It was every man and woman for themselves out here. Alliances lasted only as long as the money did and the partnership was needed. Trust and honor were nice sentiments but in this life it got you killed.

And yet...despite all this she couldn't help but hope...hope beyond hope that one day luck wouldn't factor into her death. That love would one day be attained and someone would care about her beyond himself. Hope that she would find a bond between people where trust wasn't a commodity and honor was a given.

Hope that perhaps one day...she would be free.
 
Killian spent the next several days locked away in his control room. He sent various instructions to the pilot and watched the progress until it was time to start getting the ship and crew set. The captain pulled a box out from under his bed and then pulled the floor tile up. Inside he kept the bullet proof vest which he figured he might be needing this round. Slipping it on he had to suck in a little bit to put the thing on. While he wasn't fat, the vest was too tight to be considered comfortable. Pulling another shirt over it he let out a long breath and started to load down with guns and multiple tools for picking at boxes. No need for big guns and grenades. Being closer to the material was dangerous but, he wanted to be able to access the weapon quickly.

Stepping out of the room he met with Mike. The older man just shook his head and went along. Killian grumbled under his breath. There didn't seem to be anything that he could do to make the crew happy. They were going to be stuck in a lousy war either way and he made a bid to keep them in a better position. It was still risky but, when wasn't it?

"Alright you guy's ready for this?" Looking at Mike, Star, and Timo he held out different weapons to each of them. However, the boy didn't get much. He only got a small hand held stun gun. "You just shoot anyone that isn't one of us if they get close to you." At least the boy didn't seem to be as afraid for himself as Star was for him. "Adam?" Listening in on his headset he smiled. "Alright just open the port when we get to the ship." It was going to be a fast hit.

******************************************************************************************

The port made a direct entry for the first layer of the aircraft. Killian led the crew into a walkway in the top of the transport. They hadn't been detected yet. When they were it was sure to attract fire and a lot of it. Sometimes holes like this were easily kept plugged by the drill and shaft that they slid through. Adam had a locked the port to the ship and closed off the drill end so that a leak of pressure would not be detected or leave the smuggling ship vulnerable to attack. "Remember." Hissing toward the group Killian decided to give them a quick run down. "If you try to crawl up the shaft into the ship you'd better call Adam ahead of time or he disconnects and this ship loses pressure and goes down." It was as much about taking the weapon as it was about destroying it.

Killian motioned for the boy to come with him. "You walk behind me." As for Star and Mike they knew what they were going to have to do make sure the area stayed clear after Timo went down. "Mike you and Star make sure Timo is safe I've got myself." It was likely that they would be attacked from both ends but, Timo was far too young to be shot at with limited defense so Killian decided to run the part from the top by himself. Others would make an additional protection for the boy and they would be able to retrieve the stuff to send up to Killian.

It would be the captains job from there to make sure everyone got out and then he would hold off any attack from the rears while they got loaded into the ship with the weapons.
 
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Star charged her weapon taking up her position at one corner while Mike guarded the other. She watched out of the corner of her eye as Killian hooked Timo up to a harness and began to lower the boy through the shaft to the treasures below. She gritted her teeth and refocused her attention on the doors and hallway leading up to their location. Two guards, chatting happily, came through the door at the end of the hall and walked straight towards them, not yet knowing about the breach in security. They didn't live long enough to find out.
A quick shot with a silenced pistol ended their patrol and their lives.

Meanwhile Timo had just reached the floor of the shaft. He unhooks the clip from the harness and waves at Killian began exploring the storage chamber. Killian had shown him (after the fiasco on the dead ship) what sort of items to look for of value. He finds one of the crates they'd been hired to get and carries it over to the clip that waited at the entrance of the hole. He clips the handle to the rope and tugs on it. A second later Killian began pulling it up and he hurried off for the next one. One crate down, many more to go.
 
Killian felt a distinct tug on the rope. Hauling the first box up he set it aside and lowered the rope again. Carefully feeding it down the cooling shaft into the base cargo bay he tried to avoid the metal clasp clanking against the chute. A soft murmuring had started behind him. Leaving the rope slack he then let the rest of what he had fall into a puddle on the floor. Slowing his breathing he began to reach for his gun. Any moment now they would be coming into view. Though the shoulder had mostly healed it was catching sometimes when he reached for his weapon. The arm halted part way there and he forced it to move.

Kneeling he made himself the smallest target possible without sacrificing the accuracy of his aim. A soldier rounded the corner and Killian shot him. Rushing forward he caught the man's body before it hit the floor. Last thing he needed was for a loud clunk to sound the alarm. Gently lowering the body he returned to the shaft to find another box had been hooked up.

The captain began hauling the box when he hit the wall. Force of the bullet into the back of his vest would have thrown him on his face if he wasn't standing so close to the shaft. Dropping the rope he pivoted and shot. This time he didn't have a chance to catch the body. "Hurry up." Hissing into the headset he then continued pulling the box up. Hopefully they could start stacking the boxes and he could get more than one at a time.
 
"I'm trying...but these boxes are heavy." Timo grunts in reply. He stumbles over to the line with another box in his arms. This one larger than the rest. He didn't even think to check if it would fit through the shaft. He hooked it up and tugged the rope, rushing off for the next one.

Star shoots another guard who falls ontop of the one she'd shot only seconds before. A bullet clips her shoulder and she turns her head just in time to see Mike take the guy down. She hisses in pain but forces herself to concentrate. Mike's eyes suddenly go wide and he aims down the hallway that Star was supposed to be watching. She turns her head. The guy she'd just shot hadn't died and he was radioing in about the breach. Mike shot and missed. Star shot and ended him...but it was too late. Sirens began to go off around the station.
"Time's up! We need to go!" She yells to Killian.
 
Heard the woman yell. "I know." He could hear some of the shooting in the lower level. It was likely the soldiers making a run for them. "I'm gonna push this load into the tube and have Adam use the suction on it." They would need to get the merchandise out of the way first. Hauling the last box up he stacked them together and started toward their port of entry. Next he was going to need to give them some kind of coverage that was a given.

Already Killian could hear the shouts below begin to sound. "Run." Meeting with them half way in the hallway Killian faced the onslaught of men. "Get moving!" Roaring at the crew members he fully expected that they would keep on moving. A little cry sounded behind himself and he saw the boy stumble. His face darkening the captain stood in front. "One of you get back here and get him out of here."
 
Star was on the boy before Killian could finish his sentence. She tossed a smoke grenade into the mix of guards beyond Killian, filling the hall with smoke. Even as Mike and Killian backed away, they covered her as she scooped the boy up into her arms and hurried him to the ship. The sounds of shooting decreases as she enters the ship. No doubt the guards were worried about hitting eachother and had stopped shooting recklessly.

Something warm and wet had begun to dribble down her front. She looks down at Timo. His pale face was gritted in pain and he held his side, blood flowing freely through his fingers. Damn Killian! She'd warned him! She'd told him!! She was going to kill him. Star hurries Timo to the med-bay and lays him on the table. She slips an oxygen mask over the boy's face as his breathing becomes labored.

Heavy footsteps sound through the bowels of the ship. She hopes its just Mike and Killian. "Mike! Get in the med-bay! I need you!" She yells over her shoulder, before returning her attention to Timo. She cuts off the boys shirt, wiping away as much of the blood as she could to see the damage. It seemed to be a through-and through but there was an odd shape to the wound. Star presses a large amount of gauze against both sides of the wound, attempting to stem the bleeding. Then she grabs the scanner and pulls it over the wound to better inspect it.

The A.I. x-ray's the area and reports back to her its findings. Star grits her teeth. An exploding round. Designed to do as much damage as possible whether or not the bullet hit a vital area. Mike appears at her side. "Exploding round. Most of it went straight through but there's shrapnel here and here. I think he's bleeding internally but I'm not a doctor. It's really hard to tell." She points to the screen. She looks back down at Timo, noting that he'd gone strangely still. In a panic she checks his pulse. Thready, but there. She grabs a vital's monitor and attaches it to his bare chest and arm. His blood pressure was dropping. "Damn it! He needs a doctor, like a real one." She nearly yells.
 
(Just for your information. Children will usually hold steady stats for a long time and when they start dropping like that its because they aren't far from kicking the bucket. So if I don't get it stabilized in this post the boy dies. Adult and children bodies react differently when it comes to serious damage. By the time a kid shows a reaction its typically a little late.)

Even as the shooting got to be less Killian fired into the smoke filled hall. If he could force them to back out he could get his crew out relatively quick. Another shot hit his vest and he fired back several more times as he moved closer to the exit. By the time he reached the tunnel he was nearly numb. He couldn't tell if he was hit or just blasted with adrenaline. "Unhook!" Gradually the tube pulled away from the other ship. They would be losing pressure too quickly to make any kind of recovery.

As the captain stepped back into the ship he was met with a severe look from Mike. "You need to get in there. The boy is real bad off."

Killian didn't bother to even check himself over. Instead he started to strip any gear that would prevent him from doing his work. As he was reaching the medical bay he dropped his gloves on the floor and stood at the sink. He could feel the glares from the woman. It wasn't his fault that she felt that way. Washing his hands and then putting on medical gloves he leaned over the boy. "I'm gonna get an I.V. started. Mike in the drawer." The other man knew what he needed. Taking one of the boy's arms he tied it with a rubber band. It was terribly small and Killian didn't like that part. However, the boy would need something. He was dropping fast. Killian frowned when he looked at the boy's face. "You stay awake. Damn it." Cursing as he worked he did what he could to get the boy stabilized.

Fluids and pain killers seemed to help. Killian moved the oxygen mask over to push a small tablet under the boy's tongue. It would just work as an anti nausea. More than likely he would need. Now that everything was done that he could do Killian called in on his headset. "Adam we need the hub planet." There was a doctor there that he could get to. It would take a lot of money but, this was part of his crew and he wasn't about to let the kid die.

"Timo." Speaking the name loudly he leaned in closer. "We're taking you to a doctor. Bullet went through but, there's still some other stuff in your guts." He couldn't begin to even try fixing this kind of problem. "I'm gonna be right here all damn night long. If you even hurt a little bit you'd better say something. That's an order."
 
(I did not know that. Good info. :) )

Timo meets his eyes. He nods slightly blinking weakly. "Tired..." He murmurs.
"I know, bud. But you need to stay awake. Alright? Just keep your eyes open." Star holds his bloodied hand tightly, too worried to yell at Killian just yet. She dotes over him, stroking his hair like a mother would her son. "How long till we get to the hub?" She demands.
 
(Yeah that's why medical professionals freak out with kids. Its just scary cause you can think they're fine and if you don't watch they'll die on you and really fast.)

Killian worked around the woman for as long as he could. Peering over at her he shook his head. There was no telling how long it would take. That would depend on the solar winds. Sometimes they arched pretty bad from this direction. "Might be overnight." Grabbing one boot Killian started to unlace it and pulled gently. They were going to need to have the boy prepped before they got there. The more he could do now would mean the faster treatment when they landed. It was a good thing the kid had more clothing than this.

Taking a pair of scissors Killian started to cut the boys pants. When he got toward the top he pushed on Star. "You'll have to let go of his hand and help or get out." Naturally that wasn't going to garner any favor. Favor was not the concern at this point. Catching the boy's expression he realized that Timo would rather the woman not see this part. "Star I need you to leave for a few minutes." He could understand the boy not wanting anyone more than necessary to see the painful parts.

A while later Killian pushed the door open again. Timo was wrapped in blankets and he had plenty of gauze stuffed in the wound to keep it from oozing too much more. "Adam where we at?" Looking to Star he nodded and then turned toward the boy. The captain winked at him. "Well now little smuggler. We're almost there. You just hang on for a few more minutes."
 
Star hesitated leaving Timo for even a moment but she understood the need for privacy. She took the time to hurry to her bedroom and strip off her own bloodied clothing. She washes off her shoulder from where the bullet had grazed her and puts a bandage on it. She then grabs a clean cloth and washes off Timo's blood from her hands and stomach. As the red swirled down the drain she pauses.

Her knuckles grip the sink till they were white, nausea broiling in her gut. Memories from a similar situation years ago flood her mind. Only, that time...the kid had died in her arms, and she hadn't been able to do a damn thing about it. If Timo died too...
Star shook her head furiously and washed her face. No...he'd be fine. He wasn't dying. Not on her watch. She rushes back to the medbay and paces outside the door until Killian opens it at nods at her, letting her back in.

She couldn't help but glare at him. It was his fault that boy was suffering so. She takes a seat by Timo's side. "How you doing, bud?"
"I didn't know bullets hurt this much..." He murmurs, his forehead scrunching.
"Yeah, they're nasty. Kinda the reason I didn't want you out there." Star finds his hand admits the folds of the blanket and gives it a soft squeeze. "But you're going to be fine. I promise."
"I'm not going to die?" He asks.
"No...no you're not going to die. Promise."

Timo lays his head back in relief. He looks over at Killian. "Did I get the right stuff? Do we have enough?"
Star shakes her head. The boy was suffering from a bullet wound and he was worried about the job. Maybe he did have the blood of smuggler after all.
 
Killian nodded. "Yep they hurt like hell every time." The captain didn't understand why the woman was still giving him the look. It had nothing to do with him. If the boy was part of the crew it was a given that something like this could happen and the boy had agreed to the work. Of course the woman was going to be making promises that he wasn't so sure would be something they could keep. He still wasn't sure if the boy was going to be ok or not.

Of course the boy was assured by her and then wanted to know about the goods. Killian shook his head and smirked. "Oh I haven't had the chance to check it yet. Gonna get you to a doctor first and then we'll worry about what you got." He couldn't help taking some pride in the boy. "You're making one hell of a smuggler kid. Rest of the crew's got you. When the doctor releases you we'll go for a drink." That was something he figured any man would deserve and he wanted to make sure the boy got all the same perks as any other member.

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When they landed Killian rolled the bed out of the medical bay and toward the hospital. Adam had them landed right in front of it. Killian sat on one of the seats in the waiting room for hours before a doctor came out.
 
"I'd like that." Timo manages a small smile at the Captain before closing his eyes to sleep.
******
"Well!? Is he going to be alright?" Star jumps to her feet as the doctor approaches them.
"We managed to remove the shrapnel and repaired the damaged arteries." The doctor says calmly. "He's stable but we'll need to keep him under observation for a few days, just to be sure everything is healing nicely. And, as protocol requires we've also alerted the authorities. They should be here soon to question you. After that you can go ahead and see him. Room 12-b." The doctor nods at them and turns away.
Star looks over at Killian with a panicked expression. "What now? We can't leave him, but we can't stay and he can't move."
 
Killian met the woman's gaze and shook his head. How dumb did she think he would be? "We're over here with rebellions loyal planets." That was the reason that as a smuggler he had to take sides. If they didn't then crew members would be forced into hiding everyplace that they went. No matter what happened the captain was going to stay. Shifting on the chair he winced. After all the hours he finally started to feel the bruises from the many times he'd been shot. The vest had protected him from any serious damage and yet he still had some welts that were forming.

Lifting his shirt he poked at the blue bruise growing on his stomach. His back he couldn't see but, the feeling right underneath his left shoulder blade told him everything he needed to know. "If anything happens you get the boy out of there, Mike, and Adam will fly you all out toward the base." That had been his name for home though he didn't like to admit where he was from.

Getting up of the seat he limped over to the hallway and made a quick contact on his device to the rebel military. "We've got the goods." Now he just needed to sort it and take what they had on the list and hide the rest. If any problems arose the military would straighten it out.
 
Killian's contact also called off the authorities, officially making them protected members of the resistance. As Killian organized things with the cargo, Star visited Timo.
She enters his room quietly, just in case he was sleeping and approaches his bed. She was relieved to see much of the color had come back to his pale face and that his vitals were steady.

Timo blinks open his eyes as she sits on a creaky stool by his bed.
"Hi." Star smiles.
"Hi." Came the tired response.
"How are you feeling?"
"Weird." Timo lifted his hand and squints at it. "Everything is...numb...hazy."
"Probably the drugs. Don't worry about it." She pats his arm.
Timo sighs and seems to fall asleep again. Star was just glad he wasn't in pain.

She looks up as an android enters the room. "Hello." The female android says stoically. "I am Nurse Tasha...medical bot series 5. Can I assist you with anything today."
Star blinks. They had androids in hospitals now? What was this world coming too? "Um, no. I'm fine. Continue your rounds."
"Very well." The android nods and checks on Timo's vitals.
"Uh, actually, I do have a question. How much does a model like you cost?"
"Approximately 350,000 credits." Tasha replies. "However, hospitals get a discount."
"I see. And what functions do you perform." Star asks curiously. Having a medical droid on board would help alot but the cost was a bit steep.
"I am capable of performing almost all medical procedures. Even assisting in surgery should the need arise. Will that be all, Miss."
"Yes, Thankyou." Star looks back at Timo, the wheels in her head turning.
 
Killian limped back to the ship. He only had about half an hour to get it all sorted. Opening one of the boxes he just smirked. "Damn it kid." There wasn't time to check them all and one box was full of stuff that was beyond priceless. It would bring a few questions even at the black market. However, it would be more than worth the hassle. This new hunting ground would be welcome to him, but first he needed to get a few more things for their raids. Such as some body armor for the boy and for the rest of the crew. He would be needing a little more for himself as well. The vest he did have had suffered too much damage to reuse.

The officer arrived on board the ship with a sly grin. "I see you've had problems." It was obvious to the man that the captain had a limp and he was obviously not in the best of condition. Then again what outlaw didn't have some kind of issue. Peering into the box pushed toward himself the officer nodded. "It's all there." Signaling for a man to pick it up he then turned toward the smuggler again. "You're a fine smuggler. Seems the rumors are true. You always get what you're after." No doubt there was more on the ship that he didn't know about but, for now spoils of the war could go to the smuggler. He needed it from the looks of his equipment.

It seemed to take forever though the deal was actually done quickly. Killian only took a few minutes to get himself washed up and changed before he returned to the hospital with a fresh change of clothing for the boy. On his way into the hospital he noticed a small gift shop and a bear. Looked like it was cuddly. The captain wasn't much for cuddling but, he knew kids wanted to have some kind comfort.

Stepping into the room Killian raised the bear. "Got you something to hold onto when you cough." At least the boy wouldn't have to hold a pillow for everything and this could go anywhere with him. Setting the bag of clothing down next to Timo's bed he paused for a moment. "I got to check over the goods. It was a good hit. You're cut's gonna be sizeable. What you plan to do with all that money?" It was something to keep the boy's mind off the pain and Killian could understand that much. He was still doing his best to ignore Star. She would be angry and he couldn't help that. Still he was doing his best to be here for a part of his crew regardless of what the woman thought. Leaning against a wall in the room Killian listened to the boy talk. "Hmmm...." Eventually Timo asked if they were going to leave him alone. Killian shook his head. "Only if I need food or I got to piss. Otherwise I'll be in here."
 
"Oh, thanks." Timo took hold of the bear. From the flush in his cheek and the hidden smile on his face it was clear he was trying to hold back just how much he actually liked it.
Star raises an eyebrow at Killian at the oddly sentimental gift. She knew he cared more than he was letting on, but she was still pissed at him for letting the boy go in the first place.
"I...I don't know. I'll probably save most of it and get good treats with the rest until I see something I really want." Timo replies, holding the bear to his chest tightly. He looks between Killian and Star. "You'll stay with me...right? You're not leaving?" He asks worriedly.
"Of course not." Star says, then smirks as the Captain promises to stay as well. He was a jerk. But he was a well-meaning jerk.
Timo nods in relief, wincing as he adjusted in the bed to get in a more comfortable position.

They stay with him making small chat till the boy falls asleep, snuggling with the Teddy. Star looks up once she was certain the boy was asleep. "You know, if he had died...I would've killed you." She looks up at Killian, her eyes cold. She meant every word.
 
Eyebrows raising slightly Killian met her gaze when she gave her idle threat. He could see she meant it, however he didn't think she would have been able to accomplish it. Star wasn't the first person to threaten him that way. If he believed people were capable of killing him he wouldn't be working in this job. As it was he was fairly sure that he would live and he was still tough enough to survive for some time.

"You could have tried." An equally cold expression came to his face. "If you'd rather I'm feeling rather generous. Get the hell off my ship. I don't have time for this kind of shit. The boy is a full member to the crew. I ask him to do a job and he tells me if he can do it or not. Anyone that dies...It was their choice to start with. If you can't handle that then you're on a safe planet right now and I don't want you here." There wasn't room for her to be continually undermining him. She could feel how she wanted but, to have an internal threat based on emotion was not going to happen. Killian had let her express whatever she wanted, this kind of idea was not something he would tolerate. Star had basically told him that she would revolt if she decided that she didn't like him.
 
Star glares at him. No remorse at all. His response just pissed her off more. She stands and storms off, her fists clenched with no hint if she'd be back again.
***
It was early morning when Killian was awakened by the door creaking open. It was Star. She'd returned and her expression no longer held that murderous light, but rather just a tired sorrow. She retakes her seat beside Timo, across from Killian.
"My brother was his age...when he was killed." She explains. "We were both forced into Hell's Angels...put on a ship with a Captain who didn't give two shits about us. We were just cannon fodder to him. Then, one day the Captain sent us on a heist with three other guys. Caleb was hit...died in my arms."

She looked up at Killian. "Sometimes you act like him, that Captain...pisses me off...but, I know you aren't him. You actually care, but...smuggler Captains have a reputation to uphold a crew to run. I keep pressing the boundaries...so, I'm sorry. I still want to be part of the crew."
 
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