Thickening Fog

Posted on Sun Sep 20th, 2009 @ 10:32pm by Commander Acle Walex

Mission: Into a Devil's Heart
Location: Starbase Ronin
Timeline: MD04 1500 hours.

Acle stepped off of the docking tube that connected the Iapetus to the starbase. He quickly moved to one side, knowing and expecting the small crowd of personnel that were behind him. He took a moment to smell the air, the difference between the shipboard and stationboard life support systems were faint to anyone not used to living in a space going vessel, however, for one who had spent more of their life in such a vessel, the difference was tangible.

Acle was wearing nondescript civilian clothes, almost unheard of for him. They were all of dark colors, and the jacket that he wore was big on him, allowing very interesting contemplations of what could be underneath it. He looked around once before melding into the crowd of people entering the main thoroughfare for the starbase. He allowed his instincts to take over, fairly sensing the crowd around him, the moods and actions. His eyes carefully scanned for any sudden movement, any hints that would give a warning of any hostile action. Almost as a side-thought, his eyes registered the sign pointing in the direction of where he wanted to go.

Still retaining his anonymity as one of the crowd, albeit, a much smaller crowd, Acle peeled off from the main group, entering a waiting area for the many turbolifts. He continued to mull about with the crowd, careful not to draw any undue attention to himself. The first turbo-lift arrived, disgorging its passengers. Luckily enough, it was close to Acle, allowing him to easily insert himself inside. He pushed the button for the promenade then waited till the hatch closed. He rode with only one other occupant. He closed his eyes for a moment, allowing memories suppressed to come forward, then snapped them open again. The other occupant had not seemed to notice.

The hatch opened with a soft hiss, allowing Acle and the sole occupant to leave. Acle raised an eyebrow as he noted the sole occupant fell in behind him at a discreet distance. He did not react though, content to wait the other person out, or find out that it was nothing more then coincidence. Acle did not believe in coincidence though.

Acle turned to the right, heading towards the right, towards the main lounge. Much to his relief, his fellow turbolift passenger continued the way he had been going, in the general direction of the shops. Acle entered the lounge, the dim interior filled with pulsating lights and beating music. He even spotted a few members of Iapetus's crew inside. He unobtrusively moved to one corner, intent on taking a seat at the table. The table appeared to have been strategically placed for privacy, as it was well shielded from the rest of the lounge, and the light was even dimmer over here. He moved towards it, but, saw a couple engaged at it. He smirked, and then made his way to the wall, putting his back towards the couple. Although it left the couple outside of his field of vision, the rest of the lounge was revealed to him.

Acle leaned against the wall, eyes shifting back and forth. He accepted a slightly bubbling drink from one of the sultry waitresses then returned to scanning the room. He smirked slightly. His skills were paying off.

A slight whisper of clothe sounded behind him, triggering Acle's instincts. His hand was inside his coat, reaching towards the hold-out phaser before his mind truly registered the threat, the drink in his other hand forgotten as it to reached for a concealed combat knife. He started to spin about, but, his movement was quickly arrested by a strong hand on his bicep and a cold prickle at his throat. The cup shattered, unnoticed amongst the loud music of the club.

"One wrong move spook..." A gruff voice said softly in his ear. The speaker was tall then. Mentally, Acle prepared himself to react. Even if he died, he would take this bastard with him. Once again, he was stopped as he felt another hand move against his arm, tracing it to inside his coat. With his arm still being held in a vise-like grip and the knife at his throat, that meant there was an accomplice. Acle nearly snarled.

The hand moved to the end of his arm, almost daintily removing the holdout phaser and securing it before doing the same to the other hand and the combat knife. Acle prepared for the worst at this point. Although he still had another knife on him, he would never reach it in time, for it was in his boot. He slowly lowered his arms to his side. Surprising, the pair allowed him to do it. Acle realized something then... The hand that had removed his combat knife was still hovering around his chest, inside his jacket. Unexpectedly, it started to move slowly, almost... sexually, feeling his well-defined muscles. He tensed as he felt it draw lower, moving to his stomach. It paused for a moment, then slowly drifted further. Acle's mind finally started to work again.

"Damn it Samantha..." Acle said.

A soft feminine chuckle greeted his answer and the hand was removed. "Let him go Garreth... He'll be a good boy." a low, sultry voice said.

Acle felt the hand on his bicep squeeze, hard enough to register pain before being removed. He also sensed more then felt the knife at his throat come away.

"I'll call you if I need you Garreth. Leave us." the women's voice said. This time, the man growled slightly, then moved away, entering Acle's field of vision for the first time. The man was huge, nearly a foot again taller then Acle. He was easily the tallest human Acle had ever seen, and one of the bulkiest. He moved to sit himself at a near-by table. Acle noted, however, that they were clearly within his field of vision.

"Come along then Ace..." the low voice drawled. "Shell we have a seat?" A cool hand was placed against his bicep, tugging softly. His bicep tensed without his consent, proving the tension that ran through his body. The chuckle sounded again.

Acle allowed himself to turn, getting a good look at his assailant. Acle's knees nearly buckled. The women in front of him was gorgeous. Long legs accented her skirt that she was wearing. Her tight shirt nearly drew his full attention before he forced his eyes to continue upward. Long blond hair framed a face that could have been god's example of the perfect female. Acle shook himself, forcing himself to look at her face.

Sam smirked, clearly noting the effect that she was having on him. "Like what you see...?" she purred.

"You look nice as always." Acle said, somewhat stiffly. Another chuckle sounded. Acle allowed himself to be led towards the table and for him to be seated, whilst Sam sat herself opposite. She leaned down slightly, putting her chin in her hands, her eyes sparking with mischief. Acle did not allow himself to be drawn into looking lower then her face. He felt himself oddly sweating.

Only this women could have this effect on him. The sheer sex radiating from her was enough to draw the eyes of any male, but, for him... He had grown up with her.

"What do you want?" Acle said, absurdly proud of himself for not allowing his voice to crack. Damn it! He was thirty years old, not some teenager.

"Yes, I have been fine Acle. My father said to tell you hello, and asked me if I was going to marry you yet." She replied, the last statement drawing with it a flash of a smile. That smile could brighten an entire planet.

Acle's eyes narrowed. "If you remember right, I offered for that once." he said, but, did not allow her to say anything in reply. "Also, I highly doubt either of your father would even talk to you if they knew exactly what you were up to."

Sam's eyebrows drew closer together, an angry retort clearly coming to her. She stopped herself though, instead straightening in her seat. "I see... This is how it is going to be for this evening. So be it." She smiled wryly at him then sighed. "Your in danger Ace..." She said.

Acle snorted "I am a member of the military. It is my job to be in danger."

"Not like that... This could ruin you. Not just you, but, your family. Tarnish the Walex name. Hell, for all I can find out, it could kill your family." She said.

Acle's mouth drew together, then went still, all emotion disappearing from his face. "If you seek to threaten my family, I will not rest until I find you." he said coldly.

Sam appeared genuinely surprised for a moment before true rage spilled onto her features. "You fool!" She snapped. "I love your mother almost as much as my own! I would never do anything to her or your family!" she fairly hissed.

Acle's face smoothed, then he looked down, towards the table, before looking back up into her face. Her visage was that of a wrathful Valkyrie, and it was still nearly enough to make Acle weak. Damn this girl.

"I apologize Sam." He started then was interrupted by a buzzing in his inner jacket pocket. He looked Sam in the eyes, then slowly put his hand in his coat pocket, withdrawing the padd. Sam watched every movement with careful study, then offered an angelic smile to him as he pulled out the device.

"Instinct I suppose wins over all. I know you cannot hurt me." She said.

"Don't tempt me." Acle replied, never looking away from her face. In reply, she withdrew his own combat knife and placed it on the table, hilt first towards Acle. She then withdrew her hand. Acle's eyes flickered down to the knife, then back up to her. They both knew that Acle could grab the knife faster then she could react, faster then her armed body guard could possibly draw a weapon Acle knew him to have. They sat like this for a few minutes before Acle growled, looking away. "Damn you Sam..." He said under his breath.

"Yes, that has been said to me before." She replied, picking the knife up once again and returning it to some hidden place on herself, which was in itself nearly magic considering the clothes, or lack thereof she was wearing.

Acle's eyes turned back to his padd again as it buzzed in his hands. A message had arrived to him from another unknown sender. He opened it, carefully tilting the screen so that only he could read it. Sam instead chose to read his eyes.

"Acle,"

The message began,

"I apologize that I will not be able to meet with your for dinner like I said. Matters are starting to come to a head over a case that I am working. Instead, I have sent you this message. Attached to it you will find your 'present'- Orders detailing the arrest of one Lieutenant Commander Peter Brown. You are authorized all force necessary. Try to bring him back alive though, old man's words, not mine. Good hunting.

~Tim"

Acle looked up from the message, carefully clearing the screen. "Was there something else you needed Sam?" he asked, forcing his voice to be cold. It did not work well.

"Yes... Follow me." she said, raising. She motioned her body guard to stay where he was, and led Acle, again by tugging on his bicep, towards the back of the club. Acle knew from experience that this way led towards various suites of rooms.

A battle was waged in the confines of Acle's head. He stopped suddenly, making Sam look back. The sight of her imprinted itself into his mind. But, it was not her physical aspects that made the angel on his shoulder lose. No... Damn him, he still loved the women. He allowed himself to be led towards the back, and the brief glimpse of paradise that awaited him.

------------------------------
Three hours later
------------------------------

Acle woke up, his eyes snapping open. He was lying in a bed, the sheets tangles around him. He looked around, sitting up. The room was empty, himself being the only occupant. Lying next to him was a small stuffed animal, that of a teddy bear. The teddy bear was a little worse for wear. He lifted it gingerly, as if afraid that it was going to fall apart in his hands. Underneath, a note rested. Acle carefully put the bear down and opened the note, reading the brief contents.

"Ace...

Once you gave me this in my time of need. You will never know how it helped me through the nights after my mothers... Anyway, you now need it more then me. I will be looking after your mother for you. Continue doing what you do best hero,

~Sam"

Acle read it again before carefully refolding the note and putting it down. He rubbed suddenly wet eyes once before exhaling greatly. He stood up, and began gathering his scattered clothes.

------------------------------
A post by:

Acle Walex
Chief Intelligence Officer / Acting Executive Officer
USS Iapetus