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feredarStory: Justice
Year: 989 FY
Characters: Taz, Sorell
Warnings: Discussion of kidnapping, piracy, and terrorism.
The President was silent as he was escorted to Taz's cabin and they jumped away. She was pleased, with herself and her crew--they'd managed the whole operation in under five minutes, with no casualties. Most of Nathanson's guards were down, and a few of her people would be in sickbay for a while, but no one had died.
Smooth as silk, just like she'd promised.
She sent off a quick message to her client, then went to join her hostage.
"Evenin', Mr. President."
"I'm not sure what you're hoping to accomplish here," he said. "The Republic does not negotiate with terrorists."
Taz smiled, and shook her head. "True. But I ain't a terrorist. Drink?"
"No, thank you," he said. "And you kidnapped a sitting President. That is an act of terrorism."
She shrugged, and poured one for herself. "I'd call it an act of piracy, but--tomayto, tomahto. I'm Captain Taz Hantree, at your service."
"I know who you are," he said. "You keep bouncing on and off a half-dozen Most Wanted lists."
"Off at the moment," she agreed, "though I expect that'll change, after today. Ah, well, can't be helped."
"So, why did you kidnap me, Captain?" he asked. "For ransom? Ideology?"
"A little of both," she said. "But mostly for justice."
President Nathanson stared at her. "For justice."
"Yep."
"For what?"
"A lot of things," she said. "Most recently Congresswoman Heidari and her husband."
"I had nothing to do with that."
She waved a hand dismissively and poured herself another drink. She hated politics, and if this weren't so important, even the hefty remuneration her client was offering wouldn't've gotten her to do something this...political. "Yeah, I know. It was the Council of Freedom. Now, they are terrorists."
He blinked. "How can you be sure?"
"I have friends in all kinds of places, Mr. President," Taz said. "One of the benefits of bein' on the fringes, see. This has all their hallmarks. When this is over, you can pursue that line of thinkin', for your investigation. You'll see I'm right."
He considered for a minute. "Fine. Say I believe you. Why in the world did that leave you to kidnap me?"
"'Cause we had to get to you first," she said. "Or at least that's what my client told me. You sympathize with some of their politics, but not enough--in any way--for the hard-liners."
She could tell, watching his face, that he found an element of a hard truth in that. "So, then, what will you do with me?"
"Still waitin' on word," she said, then gave him a crooked smile. "Sorry. But, hey, if you know me, then you know I treat my captives right. All goes to plan, you'll be my honored guest for a day or two, then someone else can deal with the politics."
Nathanson blinked. "That won't be you?"
She laughed. "Like I said. I'm in it for justice. Which, let me tell you, usually hasn't got anythin' to do with politics."
"Then why kidnap me at all?"
Taz looked at him. "Because, Mr. President, there's things in the dark that need fightin'. Everyone knows that. Even those who ain't Purist know that. But the problem is when people are so focused on what's in the dark that they circle around behind it and become it." She shook her head. "Me, I'd rather fight for somethin' than against it. And if that means stealin' you so someone smarter'n me can tie you to a chair and make you listen, I'll do it. Even if it costs my freedom, so long as my people stay clear."
He didn't seem to have a response to that, but he looked thoughtful, rather than defensive.
"So," she said, "like I told you, you're to be my guest for a while. You can't leave the cabin. You need anythin', I'll have a guard outside at all times. Don't abuse the privilege." She gave him a quick salute and turned to leave.
"Captain," he said, as she reached the door, and she half-turned to see him.
"Yeah?"
He started to say something, then stopped, and shook his head. "I would like to discuss this further, later, if you have time."
Well. That was unexpected. All she knew of Sorell Nathanson said he was rock-solid in his beliefs, even if he was too moderate for half his party.
But, then again, there was probably a reason the Council had targeted him, rather than counting on him; and why her client had ordered him captured, rather than eliminated.
"Sure," she said, and smiled at him again. "I'll be by."
"Thank you."
She left the room and locked the door behind it, nodding to her man outside, and went for the bridge.
At least she wouldn't have to rely only on clever evasive maneuvers to keep from boredom on this trip.
Year: 989 FY
Characters: Taz, Sorell
Warnings: Discussion of kidnapping, piracy, and terrorism.
The President was silent as he was escorted to Taz's cabin and they jumped away. She was pleased, with herself and her crew--they'd managed the whole operation in under five minutes, with no casualties. Most of Nathanson's guards were down, and a few of her people would be in sickbay for a while, but no one had died.
Smooth as silk, just like she'd promised.
She sent off a quick message to her client, then went to join her hostage.
"Evenin', Mr. President."
"I'm not sure what you're hoping to accomplish here," he said. "The Republic does not negotiate with terrorists."
Taz smiled, and shook her head. "True. But I ain't a terrorist. Drink?"
"No, thank you," he said. "And you kidnapped a sitting President. That is an act of terrorism."
She shrugged, and poured one for herself. "I'd call it an act of piracy, but--tomayto, tomahto. I'm Captain Taz Hantree, at your service."
"I know who you are," he said. "You keep bouncing on and off a half-dozen Most Wanted lists."
"Off at the moment," she agreed, "though I expect that'll change, after today. Ah, well, can't be helped."
"So, why did you kidnap me, Captain?" he asked. "For ransom? Ideology?"
"A little of both," she said. "But mostly for justice."
President Nathanson stared at her. "For justice."
"Yep."
"For what?"
"A lot of things," she said. "Most recently Congresswoman Heidari and her husband."
"I had nothing to do with that."
She waved a hand dismissively and poured herself another drink. She hated politics, and if this weren't so important, even the hefty remuneration her client was offering wouldn't've gotten her to do something this...political. "Yeah, I know. It was the Council of Freedom. Now, they are terrorists."
He blinked. "How can you be sure?"
"I have friends in all kinds of places, Mr. President," Taz said. "One of the benefits of bein' on the fringes, see. This has all their hallmarks. When this is over, you can pursue that line of thinkin', for your investigation. You'll see I'm right."
He considered for a minute. "Fine. Say I believe you. Why in the world did that leave you to kidnap me?"
"'Cause we had to get to you first," she said. "Or at least that's what my client told me. You sympathize with some of their politics, but not enough--in any way--for the hard-liners."
She could tell, watching his face, that he found an element of a hard truth in that. "So, then, what will you do with me?"
"Still waitin' on word," she said, then gave him a crooked smile. "Sorry. But, hey, if you know me, then you know I treat my captives right. All goes to plan, you'll be my honored guest for a day or two, then someone else can deal with the politics."
Nathanson blinked. "That won't be you?"
She laughed. "Like I said. I'm in it for justice. Which, let me tell you, usually hasn't got anythin' to do with politics."
"Then why kidnap me at all?"
Taz looked at him. "Because, Mr. President, there's things in the dark that need fightin'. Everyone knows that. Even those who ain't Purist know that. But the problem is when people are so focused on what's in the dark that they circle around behind it and become it." She shook her head. "Me, I'd rather fight for somethin' than against it. And if that means stealin' you so someone smarter'n me can tie you to a chair and make you listen, I'll do it. Even if it costs my freedom, so long as my people stay clear."
He didn't seem to have a response to that, but he looked thoughtful, rather than defensive.
"So," she said, "like I told you, you're to be my guest for a while. You can't leave the cabin. You need anythin', I'll have a guard outside at all times. Don't abuse the privilege." She gave him a quick salute and turned to leave.
"Captain," he said, as she reached the door, and she half-turned to see him.
"Yeah?"
He started to say something, then stopped, and shook his head. "I would like to discuss this further, later, if you have time."
Well. That was unexpected. All she knew of Sorell Nathanson said he was rock-solid in his beliefs, even if he was too moderate for half his party.
But, then again, there was probably a reason the Council had targeted him, rather than counting on him; and why her client had ordered him captured, rather than eliminated.
"Sure," she said, and smiled at him again. "I'll be by."
"Thank you."
She left the room and locked the door behind it, nodding to her man outside, and went for the bridge.
At least she wouldn't have to rely only on clever evasive maneuvers to keep from boredom on this trip.