Lost and Found; Pt 3
A-hunting We Will Go.
By PhantomChajo
It had been several months since Lt. Quicksilver had been listed
as MIA. Though no one had given up home in finding, it was becoming harder
and harder to keep things quiet. Someone on Earth was helping the SilverHawks
by keeping the Brass from writing him off as AWOL/MIA/KIA. The General populace
of Bedlama was still as yet unaware of his disappearance, rumors had been
spreading like wildfire with the Mob and other low-life scum that he was
no longer in the picture. Several had even tried to take advantage of Quicksilver
being gone, but found out the hard way that the SilverHawks were taking things
a lot more serious.
Every square inch of Limbo Inside the Light Year Limit had been
searched time and again with no success of finding him. Everything outside
the Limit was outside the jurisdiction of the ‘Hawks, legally that is. It
didn’t stop them from making occasional forays to Fense or the Casino.
There was only one person that was truly free to come and go as
she pleased. And from the look of things, she was going to be getting help.
Her brother was going to be coming to Limbo to take over her courier business
so that she could concentrate on other things. That person was no other then
Phantom.
Over the past several years, she had been buying land on Bedlama.
She had been planning for a long time to give over the courier business to
her brother, Raven so that she could take up the family business of RunningHorse
Ranch. Along with settling down with Will until such time as he decided to
retire that is. When that happened she would give in and head to New Eden
to take up her duties as Duchess of Huntington. They had decided that when
that happened, the property on Bedlama would be given to Emily, should she
decide to accept it, and if not, it would go to one of Zan’s other Siblings.
When Quicksilver vanished, the plans for building the Ranch house
had been put on temporary hold. She had acquired a place on Fense to stay
as she searched it and the surrounding areas. That was why Raven was taking
over the business so early.
When he and his wife and children arrived, she met them at the
Space Port on Bedlama. Along with Raven and family, a member of a small but
exceptionally loyal group called the Royal Couriers.
“It hasn’t been a year already has it?” she asked the young man
in question.
“No your Grace, It hasn’t. But I was sent just the same,” he said
with a bow.
She didn’t comment as was handed a slim briefcase. Slipping off
her signet ring, she inserted it into the small depression designed for it.
A small LED started to blink. Blue and white, back and forth. She twisted
the ring one direction, then twisted it the other was. The light switched
from blue and white, to red and green. A small click was heard as the safety
lock was disengaged. Upon opening the briefcase, she found several Royal
documents and a hand full of letters to her.
“Hmm… How long will you be staying? Rather is this a fast turn
around or are you staying for a while?” she asked the young man.
“I’m here until Needed your Grace. It’s not often that we get
to relax between trips.” He said with a smile.
“Ahh, good, good. I had arranged for a suite at the Omni for Rave
and his family, but I think I’ll just go ahead and take them to my place.
The Suite is registered under my name. Here’s the Key card. I have it booked
for several weeks.”
“While I would enjoy that much time off, I would hate to take
up someone else’s rooms,” He started to say.
“Don’t worry about it. They are family, you on the other had are
one of the poor sods that have to work for a living.” Zan chuckled. “I’ll
get back to you as soon as I’ve gone over everything. More the likely there
will be something to take back. Go on, you deserve a break.” She said shooing
the young man off.
“As your Grace commands.” He bowed, still grinning and went to
collect his travel bag then head to the Hotel.
With that taken care of she turned to the couple waiting to the
side. “Heyla Little Brother!” Her arms open and a grin on her face.
“Heyla Sister!” Raven said as he wrapped his arms about her, hugging
and pounding her on her back. “It’s good to see you again, it’s been too
long.”
“Aye, it has,” she replied, turning to her brother’s wife and
hugging the woman. “Jenny, good to see you too.” When she let go, she knelt
down so that she was on eye level with one of the two children with them.
“Come ‘ere and give me a hug you little imp.”
A young boy, no older then 4 smiled shyly from behind his father’s
legs. After a glance up and a nod from his father, the child barreled into
his Aunt’s arms. “Aunt Tasia!” he said, giving her a sloppy kiss on the cheek.
“Where’s..” Zan began to ask but stopped once she saw the backpack
like infant carrier on Jenny’s back. “How did I miss that when I gave you
a hug?”
“Maybe because you we’re looking for it?” Jenny teased.
“Hehe Maybe. It’s a shame I lost the last bet,” Zan said as she
stood up with her nephew in her arms.
“Not by much sis, not by much.” Raven commented.
“Yeah, well as they say, almost only counts in Horse shoes and
hand grenades.” She motioned for the pair to follow her. “Come on, we’ll
grab something to eat while we’re waiting for your stuff to be unloaded.
Looks like you get to move in sooner then expected.” She remembered to grab
the briefcase at the last moment.
“That’s fine. We can see what we’ll need to get and can start
looking.” Jenny said.
“Help! My first paycheck is already gone. Spent on..” he didn’t
get to finish as he was elbowed in the ribs.
“Spent on things your going to be using, James RunningHorse.”
Zan just laughed at the antics of the couple. She knew that deep
down they truly and deeply loved each other. Just as she loved Will.
For the next several hours they sat and talked as the Blue Goose
was loaded with her brothers stuff. By mutual decision, only the family heirlooms
had been brought. The rest could be purchased here in Limbo or Imported.
The only talk was of family doings, all that involved business could wait
until later.
Unbeknownst to any one, another private courier had come to Limbo
at the same time. Though the courier was not a member of the Royal Courier
group, they were delivering to Nobility none the less.
“With fond wishes Mr. Shade,” said a young woman as she handed
over a small package.
“Ah, such a delightful person to bring me a gift,” he said as
he took the package. Inside was a few well worded letters. “Anything of interest?”
he asked as he looked the letters over.
“Dragons of Red, Dragons of Blue, Power comes from the Dragon
of the Midnight Hue.”
“I see.” He knew now what it was he was looking for in the letters.
“Oh, and I was also told to let you know, your suppose to see
to it that I have a good time while I’m here.” The young woman said.
“Indeed. I ensure that all such lovelies enjoy the stay here on
this delightful world.” He smiled at her then snapped his fingers. “Terry,
Show her to our guest quarters.”
“Yes Sir,” Terry said as he pushed himself away from the wall
where he was leaning casually. “Right this way baby doll,” grinning as he
draped an arm over her shoulder and lead her away. He was already whispering
something in her ear.
After the pair left, Mr. Shade motioned the other person in the
room over to him. “Selly, see to it that he entertains her tonight, properly.
Along with the rest.”
“Sure thing Mr. Shade,” Selly said with a wicked grin.
“And Selly, Be sure you get it all on tape. For my Private collection.”
“Okie Dokie Mr. Shade. Not a problem,” she replied as she made
her way out of the room with a saucy hip-swaying walk.
Later that evening, Terry was the first of more then a dozen men
that had their way with the young woman. But only Terry’s time with her was
recorded. Another item in a growing collection. It would be several days
before the body of the young woman would be found. Her face disfigured and
her body looking as if it had been clawed at viciously. It followed the same
MO that the Mon*Star was known to use when he got a hold of a new play thing.
The Authorities on Bedlama as well as the SilverHawks considered the case
an open and closed one. Another black mark on the long list against the Planet
Master.
When Terry later asked about the girl, he was told that she had
already left on an important assignment. He accepted it with a shrug and
went on with what he had been doing.
Raven, Jenny and the children settled into their new home with
ease. Other then personal items, the place was mostly furnished. Zan on the
other hand had a fun time setting her place up on Fense. Going to the thrift
stores and second hand shops to find what she wanted. The only thing new
and up to date was the security system and the computers. Everything else
of hers had been put into storage until her home was built.
In that time, she had also managed to reply to the Official Business
and reports she had received. Most were about the infrequent but hard hitting
raids that had been plaguing both Huntington and The Wind Walker Plains.
She also received information about the so called harsh conditions that Drakon
was suffering.
“Harsh my ass. The ones suffering are those that can’t suck up
to the bastard. Or those that have pissed him off some how.” Zan muttered
to herself as she read everything.
Of the private letters, most were about gossip amongst the Nobles,
unofficial observations and suspicions of what Duke Drakon was doing. Also
in the letters were information about one of the Duke’s men being expelled
from his small court. The Duke claimed the man had been stealing from the
public coffers, but refused any offer of Royal investigation into it. While
it was his right to do so, it made him look as if he was hiding something.
And since the man in question had vanished, there was nothing that could
be done.
Also in the letters was a note from the Ducal Regent of Huntington.
He told of how the people that settled close to the Drakon boarder were being
harassed by raiders, having cattle and other livestock stolen. Minor stuff
that was slowly amounting to a lot more. He also told of the number of protected
animals having been found, killed for their furs and a select few organs.
In reply to the official reports, she authorized an increase in
the local militia to deal with the problem areas along with the authorization
of increased funding for the area settlers. It wasn’t like Huntington was
a poor fief and had to request Royal aid. Though she did pen a request for
extra Military patrols in the borderlands. As a precautions, she advised
her Regent that if anyone came from Drakon requesting to resettle in New
Huntington, to arrange for them to be put in areas of in which there would
be little worry of any type of sabotage.
As a second precaution, she sent a copy of her authorizations
to the Crown archives. Though she had no fear of any of the people of Huntington
trying to claim the Regent was attempting a coup against her, she didn’t
trust any of the Nobles, especial those located or allied with Duke Drakon,
to try and claim it was happening and managing to get one of their followers
as Regent.
With that all done and taken care of she put everything in the
briefcase and locked it. It was on the next flight out of Limbo along with
the Royal courier. Her next bit of business was to have Raven meet with Commander
Stargazer and the other SilverHawks. Now that he was taking over, he should
get to meet his clientele. She also arranged for Raven to drop messages off
to the Commander. Merely keeping him informed of going-on’s past the light
year limit. Not that they could do anything about it, but forewarned was
forearmed.
That night she spent her time in Will’s arms. It would be the
last time for a very long time. Either until she found Jon or until the ranch
house was built. Which ever happened first. A couple of months at least.
When morning came, he saw her off. “Be careful out there Zan.”
“Don’t worry, this is me we’re talking about.” She replied with
a grin.
“That’s what I’m worried about,” he chuckled then enveloped her
in a hug, easily picking her up as he did. “Come back in one piece Wolfie.”
Burring his face against her neck as he said it.
“I will Teddy Bear, I will. And I’ll have found Quicksilver by
then.” The unspoken words of ‘one way or another’ hung at the end of the
sentence.
“Hope so.”
“And you can make up the list time then lover.”
“Sounds like a winning game plan to me,” he said enthusiastically.
She laughed kissing him one last time. “You would. I gotta get
going.”
“He let her go and stood back, watching as she climbed into the
Hummingbird. A few moments later, it was gone from site. He felt a hand on
his shoulder.
“Don’t worry lil’bro. She’ll be back before you know it.”
“Yeah…guess your right.”
“Hey, I’m your big sister aren’t I? Don’t I know what’s best?
– Don’t answer that. – Now come on you big softie, we’ve got a briefing this
morning. Don’t want to be late for it.” With that Emily turned and headed
for the lift.
Will just laughed and joined her.
~Fini~
Back to the Guest Author Section
Back to the SilverHawks Fanfiction
Homepage
Back to the Shadowspace