The End is Never Final

Each footstep is weighted, dragged down with exhaustion and fear; the pace sluggish. It is impossible to say, look out a window and discover a full moon, but to the internal clocks developed by Tony, Ben and our lovely Kate, it is growing late. Katie is holding up the best. Her training has kicked hard and her head (not to mention her rank) is bent on getting her team out of this mess alive. To the others, the Lieutenant Commander is expected to lead and her stepping up to the challenge is a matter of course. There is some relief, but it is more likely to resemble the relief of a crew to discover that they have a good Captain. They will pledge their meaningless loyalty to any commanding officer, but to do so for a good Captain is almost as pleasant as a beautifully wrapped Christmas present.

“Okay, let’s set up base.”

The order comes with ease and her team, no longer her friends, quickly move to help her. Every breath is an instruction and their lives weigh heavy in her hand. Tony Piccolo forces his tired feet to move for her, Ben Krieg pushes the more cowardly aspects of himself to the side. His desire to leave the burden of protection on Katie’s thin shoulders melting with the mental image of his ex-wife’s mouth crushed by the thin lips pf a menacing stranger. His hand pushing up her thigh tearing fiercely at the fabric, warped mind bent on violating her in the most damaging way a man can hurt a woman.

“What do we know?”

“Not much,” Ben scratches the invisible itch at the back of his neck again. “We saw them taking prisoners in the direction of the Engine Room. That means that they aren’t killing everyone.”

“And,” Tony eagerly broke in, “we know that they will kill people.”

Ben shoots Tony a look that clearly says “duh” and Tony jumps to defend himself. Kate Hitchcock shoots her own feminine glare and the jaws of both men snap, “Piccolo’s right. We need to keep in mind that they will kill us, not just take us prisoner. These men are dangerous and never forgetting that may be the only thing that keeps the three of us alive.”

Tony leans over, one eyebrow up in triumph, “See? Not as dumb as you think.”

Den rolls his eyes in reply. “Please. Tony, you were only about two full IQ points away from your mother naming you Twiddle Dumb.”

“Oh you really are too funny, Krieg.”

“Why thank-you.” Krieg dramatically wiped a fake tear from his eye, “You know I really do try.”

Tony, fists balled at his sides like anchors at the ends of strong rope, stood there. On his face, eyes narrow and mouth curls to create an expression that openly dares Ben to say anything. Just give me one excuse, that expression says, one excuse and I’m going to wipe that smug arrogance off your face you little cocksucker. And that expression makes the situation suddenly too real and, for the first time, Benjamin Krieg can see just how the man could have survived his time in prison.

His eyes widen and his hands go up, mocking a surrender pose, “Just yanking your chain. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

The fists give way to limp hands. Although he knows for a fact that Ben, more than likely, meant every fucking one of his words, shame flushes his handsome face. It wouldn’t do to punch a navy officer on a military vessel. No way, even if he is baiting you, the good Old Boy’s Club wouldn’t see eye-to-eye with the likes of an ex-convict. All the reformation in the ocean wouldn’t show them that you are worth considerably more than the dog shit littering the streets of those still plagued by poverty and domestic violence (not that the rich have completely left the latter behind. Tony is certain that even high-class folks like the Wolenczaks have been stressed, or intoxicated, enough to resort to violence. Hell, if they hated each other even half, as much as his roommate claims, it would be more surprising if they hadn’t).

Kate’s gentle hand on his arm brings him back to reality with staggering force. She’s close enough to smell her shampoo and he hells himself, more for the benefit of more interested parts of his body, that just because her hair smells nice doesn’t mean that he’s attracted to her. She whispers soft words of encouragement. (“I know that he’s trying but don’t let him get to you”).

Anger melts from his face as quickly as the ice cubes melt in a good glass of lemonade on a nice summer day. A small part of him (no comment on which part) thinks that Katie is responsible for this sudden change. The infamous Piccolo temper has never before met its match.

Ben Krieg, on the other hand, is not in awe of the higher-ranking officer. He isn’t thinking about how amazing she is, about how her face lights up when she smiles or any multitude of similar thoughts flying through Tony’s head. He is thinking about how much he would love Tony to be the next gruesome discovery in the flagship’s expensive passageways. Although these thoughts speak volumes as to the cause of his failed marriage, Krieg feels justified by them. Backing down to the likes of Tony Piccolo hurt his pride. And, as Kate learned, a wounded Krieg is a sure way to a disastrous outcome.