Prison Barge, Quadrant C, Abaddon Station, Tartarus Sectors

  May 1st, 2508

  “Wake up… wake up!”

  Raven’s eyes shook a bit, then opened her eyes. The vision was blurry at first, then when it got clearer, she saw herself in an interior. It was damp, cold, and only dimmed in lights.

  “Must be an Imperium spook. Yeah, she’s set for the Empty Death.”

  Barge? Empty Death? Raven got up and tried and move, but was stopped by the chains set on her arms and legs.

  “No use in trying to leave here, human. Prisoners get sent here by Malice and stay for a long time.” Raven looked to who was talking to her. A Serpari, of the Serpar species. Amphibians with tall thin bodies, large eyes, a long head, and large eyes. Fast metabolism allows to talk fast, think fast, and, but comes at the price of shorter lifespan. Rarely do a Serpari survive past the age of 50. Also known for agility, makes them for great acrobatics.

  “Are you an Imperium spook?” Another prisoner, a Vernusen on her left. Raven stayed silent. Agency’s policy strictly forbids from revealing anything about her occupation to strangers.

  Though with the predicament she’s in, they were gonna found it

  “Sorry to tell you this, soft-flesh. But you’re set for Empty Death.” A prisoner, a Kratoorin, in front of Raven, commented.

  “Empty Death?” Raven asked.

  “Where prisoners are put into airlocks and shunted out to the emptiness of space. No zero-gravity nor space-walking equipment. You out to space, you’re dead.” The Serpari prisoner answered.

  “Everyone shut up!”

  The prisoners went silent from a fellow prisoner’s shout as the footsteps marched towards them. Two guards, both human, inspected around the room, for any sign of discontent. Their eyes shifted to Raven. For a minute, they looked at her with hate. And the feeling was mutual for Raven. When the minute passed, the guards left her sight, then stood at attention near the double-door. It flicked open, where two people came in. The last two people she wanted to see her right now.

  Malice, a crime boss of Skaro Syndicate. And ‘Cracked’, the turncoat informant.

  The pair moved through the floor in sync, their eyes focused around surroundings.. Malice’s presence had spread fear among the prisoners, some of them were shaking their breath.

  Raven, as tried as she might have otherwise, furrowed her brows when the pair stopped and focused their attention on her. She saw them more clearly. The criminal, presented herself in power. The informant, lanky in build and bare faced, but still shrewd and

  “Well, isn’t this most fortuitous. An Imperium dog in bondage.” Malice lowered to her knees, and Raven could see the mix of delight and arrogance from the crime boss’s face. “You know, most of your peers died to avoid capture. To think my people managed to capture an agent, a living will of an agency who’s mission is spreading misery in their path.”

  “They were here for me, your excellency. Unfortunately, like any Imperium dog, she believed that I’ll” The smirk displayed from ‘Cracked’ snapped something inside Raven, and she attempted in vain to lunge at him, the chains on her body kept her in check. ‘Cracked’ took a step back, not taking any chances.

  “You’ll be in pieces when I get my hands on you, you fucking traitor!” Raven shouted, then felt the strong grip on her neck from Malice.

  “You don’t have power here, Imperium dog. Now sit!” Malice hissed at her prisoner, then let her go.

  “I had hoped to send you towards Empty Death. Leave your corpse to the cold darkness of space. No, I have something better.”

  “Tell me, how well do you know the Cyberis?” This question unnerved Raven, suspicious

  “They died in their second war.” Raven’s answer only gave a chuckle on Malice’s side.

  “No, no, no, my dear Imperium bitch. They’re alive. Thriving.” Malice stood up, as she looked down on the SSB agent like an inferior.

  Raven was shaking for a moment, but still kept her resolve. “What do you want with me?”

  “I think the better question is what the Cyberis will do with you, Agent Hawkins.” Malice’s venomous tone was heavy. “Once I send you to them, I am sure Charybdis will more than glad to take you in as an asset. Or a prisoner.”

  The mention of Charybdis dawned on Raven, and her eyes widened. For a moment, she was tempted to ask, but knew better. She was in position and Malice is not someone arrogant enough to explain plans to her enemies.

  Then, she lowered her knees again, bringing her face closer to Raven. “But then again, I’m sure their allies within the Imperium you truly believe in will want you. After all, what better way to install a puppet ruler than the daughter of the Empress herself?”

  Malice’s last sentence was spoken as a statement. The other prisoners, their eyes narrowed and their mouths were open towards Raven. She didn’t look at them, couldn’t afford to in this predicament.

  A pair of explosions was suddenly heard, and the prisoners gasped in fear, while the two guards and ‘Cracked’ were keeping on their toes.

  Malice stood up, away from Raven, then called up through her comm earpiece. “Report!”

  [Multiple hostiles have breached our perimeter. Its Neera’s men!]

  Malice cursed, and stormed to the two guards, ordering them to defend the barge. The guards nodded and left the prison area.

  “Mr. Kinsley.” The turncoat informant turned closer to Malice, awaiting instructions.

  “Break the agent’s bones, if you desire. But no hits on her face. It’s still important for our future.” And with that, ‘Cracked’ aka Kinsley nodded and moved to Raven, Malice left the area for the defense.

  Raven steeled herself. Her training taught her to not break, no matter how agonizing the torture process. But she’s no demi-god, either. And she wasn’t in any position to beg for help from the other chained prisoners. Not with the fact of being an heiress was well known to them. And whatever the explosions from earlier, she wasn’t expecting a rescue, either.

  “I will enjoy breaking you, Agent.” Kinsley growled, getting his fists ready.

  “Do you worst.” Raven hissed.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Western Sector, Quadrant C, Abaddon Station

  [Covering fire!]

  [Watch the flanks!]

  [Avoid heavy fire!]

  Magpie and Case shut down their allies comms channel, as the gunfire after the two explosions was their cue. Overlooking from the rooftop of a four-story building, they saw the prison barge from its back. The twin fusion drive engine was not spooling, which gave them all the more advantage.

  They focused their eyes on the ground right below, then took a breath. Inhale, then jump! The fall until the jump pack on their backs slowed their momentum and landed without trouble. Exhale.

  Both First Strategic Recon agents readied their assault rifles and watched their angles. Case watched the back, while Magpie watched the front. The docking station was not far from their current position.

  Together, they moved in sync. Keeping watchful of hostile fire. A shot rang out and felt a fragment on their feet. Both agents took cover at two chest-level pillars in front.

  “Fucking hell. I knew this wasn’t gonna be easy.” Magpie hissed.

  “You want easy, join the peace corps.” Case cracked a joke.

  A few shots flew through, but didn’t hit them. Both looked at the smoke grenades held in their waist, but they kept still. Chances were the sniper had thermals.

  [Knob to Magpie, I’ve got a lock on your enemy sniper. Stand by.] Knob’s comment on their comms followed with a shot from behind, then flew through and hit the sniper dead.

  [Target down. You’re clear to move.] Knob

  [We’ll stay back and cover you.]

  “Acknowledged.” Magpie confirmed, then gestured Case to follow. When they sprinted their way to the docking station, they felt the gunfire growing louder. They reached the station, but the doors were locked. Case brought an explosive charge from her wait, and installed it on the chest level of the right door. She and Magpie stacked up a few steps away, then clicked the detonator. The explosion breached the door, and both agents entered in motion.

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  “Magpie to ‘Vilkra.” Magpie called up on comm. “We’re inside the docking station. Heading to the barge’s interior now.”

  [Affirmative. If you see Malice, you are to terminate her without mercy.]

  “And ‘Cracked’.. Sorry. Mr. Kinsley?” Case inquired, part of her hoped she gets to kill him.

  [Capture at all costs. He’s still a valuable asset. We lose him, we lose our shot at Unveiling Eye.] Halberd responded to her query, emphasized on the capture.

  Case sighed. “Copy.”

  The comm call ended, and then both agents heard the footsteps.

  Hastily, Magpie threw a flashbang in front while Case readied her frag grenade, cooking it for a few seconds. The blinding explosion subdued the mercs for a moment, then the grenade fell on them. When they regained their senses, the explosion took them out. Both agents moved forward to the airlock, side-stepping from the gore.

  [Halberd to Magpie. A dropship just flew away from the area. Malice was inside.]

  “Fuck!” Magpie hissed.

  [I know you’re eager to take her down, but stay focused and rescue Raven. Voyager is on standby and will extract you as soon you bring her in.]

  The call ended, then Magpie felt Case’s hand on her shoulder. “We’ll get her someday, Kate.”

  Magpie nodded, then moved forward in tow and reached inside.

  Gunfire from the mercs flew through the interior, as Magpie and Case took cover near the airlock.

  They both looked at each other, then nodded. Both threw flash, blinding at least four hostiles. Both agents gunned them down, then moved further in the interior, keeping an eye for the prison room.

  Malice’s soldiers may have the numbers, but First Strategic Recon have their fury.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Prison Barge, Quadrant C, Abaddon Station

  Raven tried. By god, she tried. But she couldn’t handle it any longer while she was on the floor. Her chest felt heavy with bruises, few of her ribs were cracked. Her left leg was broken in bones.

  “You degenerate Imperium fash are all the same. Weak! Short-sighted! Inferior!” Kinsley kicked her the abdomen a few times, and each kick was painful. His tone seeped in hatred.

  “All you do is make alliances, never care for the plights of your people! You. Are. Lost!” He angrily stomped on Raven’s right arm. The bones cracked, and she screamed in painful agony. She then sobbed from the pain.

  Even the prisoners couldn’t help themselves sobbing at this barbaric display. This profane and abhorrent torture

  “But Malice? Abaddon? Cyberis? They are the future.” Kinsley grabbed her shirt, her chest and face shifted to him. Her eyelids were shaking.

  “A fresh start to where strength matters above all else. Where our weaknesses fade from our bodies. Where our…”

  Kinsley’s tantrum was interrupted, as screams and gunfire grew louder. He let Raven go, then aimed his pistol. When he heard rolling on the ground, he saw what was underneath.

  A flash blinded him, and he was screaming from the pain. He felt something, or rather someone, tackling him on the floor before he could act. He attempted to resist, but that someone was too strong. He then felt an injection on his neck. His eyes faded to black and his body limped to unconsciousness.

  “Wh… who are you?” One prisoner asked, afraid and shaking.

  When Magpie came to see Raven, her anger bubbled when she saw her sister bruised and broken from the torture she endured. Raven coughed, and Magpie lowered herself to hold her.

  “Raven. Raven. Can you hear me?”

  Raven opened her eyes. Her vision was a little blurry, but she clearly saw her sister. She came to rescue her.

  “Sis. Sis!” Raven sobbed, and tears left her eyes. Magpie hugged her sister tight, even with all the chains she was bound in. “It’s okay, Raven. I got you.”

  “Magpie to Halberd. I’ve got her. Kinsley is unconscious and ready for transpo Moving to extraction.” She called up on comm.

  [Copy, Magpie. Hammer will take it from here. Voyager is en route to extract Raven. ETA 2 minutes.]

  “Please, get us out of here.” Another prisoner cried out.

  Case scouted the room and found a hand-sized control button. She pressed it with her hand, then the chains on all the prisoners disappeared.

  “By the gods, we’re free!”

  “We’re free! We’re free!”

  “I’m getting out of here!”

  A few prisoners attempted to leave, but Case blocked the way. “Not so fast, people. There’s gunfire outside. And you don’t want to end up.

  Magpie sighed, then called up on comm again. “Magpie to ‘Vilkra. Critical Update. We’ve freed the prisoners on the barge.”

  When she glanced the prisoners, the HUD highlighted all of them. With the total number being 75.

  “75 total.”

  [Understood.] Neera sighed. [Take them outside towards the four-story building you inserted in. My pilots will get them out in ten minutes.]

  As the comm ended, Magpie carried Raven to her back. She felt heavy, but it was not a problem.

  “Okay, listen up!” Magpie shouted to the prisoners, and they all paid attention. “We’re getting you out of here, but you need to follow us. Clear?”

  The prisoners nodded, aware their saviors were securing them to freedom.

  “When we leave the ship, we’ll be leaving the docking station on the right door. There’s a four-story building not far from the station. We’ll take you inside and up near the roof. Dropships will came in ten minutes to evacuate you out of here. Any questions?”

  The prisoners shook their head.

  “All of you, follow my lead!” Case shouted to the prisoners when she lef the room. Magpie stood back, allowing the prisoners to take their leave.

  One prisoner, however, didn’t follow. Instead, he went and carried Mr. Kinsley

  “You don’t have to do this.” Magpie argued.

  “No, I don’t. But what this man did to your sister? It was horrible. He needs to be served with justice.” The Kratoorin prisoner counter-argued, then left the room as well.

  Magpie left the room and ran all the way to outside the ship. Leaving the docking station by the right door, She followed the entourage of prisoners following Case to the building. And went inside, when her friend kicked down the entrance door, running through the stairs to the rooftop.

  During the run, Magpie could hear her sister moaning from the pain. She felt her heart was heavy at seeing her sister in such pain, which gave her further resolve to keep carrying her until she and Case reached the rooftop.

  Voyager’s Kite dropship landed and its ramp opened. The Kratoorin prisoner carried Kinsley and let him down inside, then left the ramp. After that, came Case and Magpie, and the latter put Raven gently on the seat, putting a harness on her.

  “I don’t know how we can ever thank you.” A female prisoner spoke to Magpie, and the agent glanced at her.

  “You can thank me by taking up permanent residence at Quadrant A from now on. The boss lady is tough, firm, but she cares for the well being of the people living in her territory.”.

  [I heard that!] Magpie smirked at Neera’s protest.

  “Thank you.” Another prisoner gave his gratitude, and both FSR agents nodded.

  Voyager’s Kite lifted off, then the prisoners waved their goodbyes, and the ramp closed down. Afterwards, Magpie and Case felt the shaking when the Kite flew through the air.

  [This is Voyager Express. We’ll be touching down at Quadrant A in 15 minutes. Have a safe flight.]

  Magpie chuckled from Voyager’s announcement through the Kite’s speaker. As emotional as it was to rescue her sister, she always loved it when her husband gave levity, within reason.

  When she looked on Mr. Kinsley, however, she felt her blood boil. Case was looking at her friend, aware of what she was feeling.

  “I hope the intel he has is worth it.” Magpie growled.

  “You and me both.” Case reciprocated the sentiment.

  “People like him are animals. He doesn’t have to deserve to live.” Magpie spoke out her frustration, and Case nodded. “Yet, this is the way of the things with covert ops. As bullshit as it is.”

  Magpie kept silent for a moment, ruminating on the difficult world of covert ops. She and Case are more than familiar with it. They experienced it, lived it, and hated it. And it never got any easier for them. At times, they found themselves compartmentalizing as coping mechanisms. They never talked about it to their family, not like they could. They were sworn to secrecy. Well, at least Voyager knows, but that’s due to his intimate involvement with the duo in their covert mission.

  “Yeah. Mission accomplished, at least.” Magpie shrugged.

  “Yep. Mission accomplished.”