History is Written by the Victor - Part 8
History is Written by the Victor
Rating: NC-17 (overall)
Pairings: Jensen/Jared, Chris/Steve, Tom/Mike
Category: M/M, AU, Futuristic (i.e. it is set in space!)
Summary: The Core planets have declared war on the Rim planets. When Captain Ackles and his squadron are taken prisoner by the enemy, their jailer turns out to be a young man called Jared. What will Jared do when Jensen's interrogation begins?
http://lady-krystal-79.livejournal.com/24997.html
Part Eight
Jeff stood in the middle of the cell block, looking through the bars at a man who had been liked and trusted, a man who had been responsible for the lives of others, and who had almost taken them instead. The Crew Chief, now sporting a pair of black eyes and with his nose practically healed by the med techs, looked miserable and broken. Jeff didn’t feel sorry for him, not after all he had done, and ruthlessly thought that this was just the state he needed the other man to be in.
“Tanner.” All of Jeff’s office and authority echoed in his deep voice, and the Chief looked up. “We already have you for two counts of attempted murder for yesterday’s attack, and we have a fairly solid case for five more counts. Do you really want to take the full responsibility for this? Do you want your men to go down with you without any retribution for the person who is really behind it all?”
Tanner shook his head, but answered, “There is nothing I can tell you.”
“You will be protected...”
“I’m not worried about myself! If this was just about me I would never have...” He broke off and held his head in his hands.
“We know about your daughter.” Jeff told him more gently.
Tanner looked up; a broken man who had very little left. “My family live in the Outer Core. I was off-world on a trading expedition when the war began, and they wouldn’t let me back in. My only choice was to join the Rim forces and hope to end the Core’s blockade so I could go home. Then I got word that my daughter had become involved with a man who is a ranking officer in the Core Police. Those men, they’re...” he choked on a sob, ‘they’re cruel, and vicious, and unpredictable. She told them her father was dead because she was afraid of what they would think, and if they ever found out...”
“So what was the money for?” Jeff wanted to know. The kind of fanatics that joined the Core Police couldn’t be bribed.
“I wasn’t in it for the money.” Tanner growled, and Jeff could see he was genuinely angered by the suggestion. “She said she had contacts, that she could have word to the Police in moments...”
“Captain Kreuk?” Jeff kept his voice level, but it made no difference.
“Do what you want with me. I’m not saying another word.”
***
“Commander?”
Jeff looked up and gestured Mike through the door. “Please tell me you were still onboard.”
Mike grinned. “We slept in and didn’t plan to leave until this afternoon. What do you need?”
“I spoke to Tanner last night. He’s not giving Kreuk up, he’s afraid of her, but he did say something that got me thinking. She told him that she could have word to the Core Police in moments. If that is true, she must have some connection to the Core. I want to know what it is. I want to know what you and your better half can find out.”
“How...far do you want us to go to dig up the dirt? Tom has skills that we, for the most part, haven’t previously tapped.” Mike looked excited, and Jeff felt a moment’s twinge of sympathy for anyone who got onto the wrong side of the man. Or even anyone who caught his passing interest, really.
“Whatever it takes, Mike.”
“You got it.” And Mike bounced out of the office, on his merry destructive way.
***
Jensen’s breath left him in short grunts. Jared’s hands were hard around his wrists, pushing them into the plush bedding. His shoulders were solid under Jensen’s knees, holding him open for Jared’s pounding thrusts. The power of Jared’s hips would have had the smaller man shifting up the bed had he not been pinned so irrevocably.
“Jared...ngh...please...”
“Yeah, Jen. Okay. Come for me.” Jared had ordered Jensen not to come until he gave the word, but hadn’t been sure the other man would be able to obey. As it turned out, Jen sure as hell could, and had. Now, however, he had his permission, and Jensen jerked as he came. Jared kept his rhythm until he, too, could hold back no longer, and the pleasure crashed over him. They collapsed side by side, breathing hard and ragged.
“Wow.” Jensen finally managed. “I’m so glad we finally made it to a bed.”
“Mmmhmm.” Jared’s grin was somewhat smug. It disappeared entirely when the comm they had been given beeped loudly. There were only so many portable comms, so nearly everyone who had gone off-world had gone without one. A runner could be used in an emergency. After their last experience and the subsequent findings, though, Jeff had demanded that they take one with them when they had returned planetside.
Jensen sighed and picked it up. “Ackles.”
“Sorry to cut your leave short Jensen, but I need you boys to come back early. I’ve called the others back too.” Jeff sounded more weary than sorry, but Jensen supposed that it wasn’t easy to find out that your people were trying to kill each other.
“When do you need us?”
“Don’t rush, but I want you in my office two hours before everyone else is due back.”
“Sure thing, Commander.” Jensen clicked the comm off and looked at Jared. “Well, that only gives us four hours. I guess we better make the best of this bed before we have to go back to my cramped little bunk...”
Jared laughed and rolled until Jensen was lying under him, smiling and playful. ‘I like the way you think.”
***
There was no trace of that light-hearted man in the serious Captain currently pacing Jeff’s office. They were all there, except Tom and Mike. The two men came rushing in making their apologies, claiming that they had wanted to make sure that they had found out everything. Jensen stopped his pacing. “About what?”
Jeff quickly outlined his conversation with Tanner and the conclusion it had led him to. Mike took up the slack. “So he sent Tom and me to dig deeper. While you lot were no doubt burning up the sheets planetside, we were dutifully working our way into one of the Core mainframes.”
Chris snorted. “You mean Tom worked his way into a Core mainframe while you annoyed and distracted him.”
“That’s what I said.” Mike grinned, unrepentant.
Tom rolled his eyes and picked up the briefing. “Considering what’s at stake here, I didn’t have to dig nearly deep enough to find what we were after. It was only a level three security lock.”
“To give you some perspective,” Jeff interrupted. “Jared’s true identity and background were deemed worthy of a level six. Even taking into account that the Core systems are superior to our own, this seems a little sloppy.”
“You’re saying Captain Kreuk is a spy for the Core?” Jensen looked at Jeff, and the older man gave one terse nod.
Tom spoke up again. “Once I was in, it was easy enough to connect the dots. She was born on a Core planet. I know that doesn’t mean anything,” he held up his hand when Jared made to speak, “but we’re talking Core, like one of the first founded.” There was silence in response to this, so Tom continued. “She rose through the Core ranks faster than either her skills or intelligence would have warranted, which suggests that she had money and prestige on her side. I think there may have been people who didn’t like it. I think they were hoping we would find her out.”
There was a cruel delight dancing across Chris’ features, mirrored on Mike’s. “So, even her own side want her dead. Man, that is one messed up woman.”
“Yeah, but what do we do about her? We don’t want her here, but we can’t send her back. And, as good as all this information is, it isn’t anything that will get her imprisoned.” Jensen sounded as frustrated as he felt.
Jeff, however, smirked. “No. But it just might be enough to get her to trap herself. I have a plan...”
***
The hanger bay was a chaos of noise and people. As the cruiser readied itself to leave Tamar, the squadrons and their tech crews were all checking over the fighters, making sure everything was battle-ready and nothing was missing or out of place. Amongst this general disarray, one shrill voice carried louder than any other. “I can see they’re not here yet! Where are they? If they think I’ll keep them on my crew after this, the lazy bastards...”
“Captain Kreuk? Is something wrong?” Jensen kept his voice mildly curious.
The brunette spun around, quickly - but not quite quickly enough - hiding her surprise. Coolly, she answered, “Captain Ackles. I’m sure you can see that my tech crew is missing. I am understandably upset about this.”
“Quite right.” Jensen agreed. “I saw them briefly planetside, but I don’t know where they went after that.”
He could see the calculation in Kreuk’s eyes. She wasn’t sure whether he was toying with her or not. “Is that so?” At Jensen’s hummed agreement, she grew colder. “Well, thank you, but that doesn’t help me at all, and I don’t have time to stand about and chat...”
“We know, Kristin.” Jensen cut in, low and deadly.
“What do youknow, Jensen?” She scoffed, all but spitting out his name.
“We know about your tech crew. We know what you did.” She was already shaking her head, ready to dismiss him. “We know who you really are, traitor.”
It was like a switch had been flicked and her mask had completely fallen away to reveal the ugly truth. The look on her face was so hateful, so spiteful, that Jensen almost took a step back. Instead, he stood still while she leaned in close and hissed in his ear. “You know nothing, Rim scum. You have nothing you could take to a court, otherwise you would have had me in the cells already. My tech crew are clearly gone, so you’ll get nothing from them. You can make whatever guesses you want. Just because our Commander wants into your pants doesn’t mean he’ll back you without any proof.” She pulled back again, a nasty smile on her face, and spoke louder. “And I’m not the one harbouring a Core spy in my bed.”
Jensen also smiled, which confused her. “Jared doesn’t work for the Core; he’s our man. And you might want to watch who you piss off next time, because a level three security was child’s play for Tom to crack. We have your whole history, Kristin. Oh, and your tech crew are currently in the holding cells, along with your Tech Chief, who got a little battered when he tried to kill me.” He saw her face blanch. “It was rather foolish to enlist your own crew, but then, you’re probably the only one who employed men that could be so easily bribed.”
With a screech, she lunged for Jensen, who half-heartedly kept her at bay. “I hate you! Why couldn’t they have just killed you? I delivered you right into their hands!”
At that, several Security men came forward and placed her under arrest. Jeff stepped forward out of the chaos too, and looked at Jensen. “Nice work, Jensen. I think that is all we’ll need.”
Jensen gave a humourless laugh. “Yeah, I imagine so.”
“Got it all!” Mike crowed, holding up a disc as he crossed the hanger.
Jeff groaned slightly. “I don’t suppose we could remove the comment about me wanting in to the Captain’s pants?”
“That would be tampering with evidence.” Mike replied righteously.
Tom snatched the disc from Mike’s hand. “I’ll see to it. They’ll never know it was changed.”
“Thanks.” Jeff sighed. The rest of them tried their hardest not to laugh.
***
Moments before they were due to leave Tamar, a shuttle had landed in the hanger bay. Jared, who had been watching Jensen and his crew prepare since he had no fighter of his own, had observed the arrival with mild curiosity. When the door had opened, that had changed to excitement, and he whooped loudly before dashing across the hanger. “Doc Beaver! You’re coming with us?”
The Doctor looked up and smirked. “Someone had to make sure you lot make it through the war.”
“And someone had to make sure you did.” A female voice floated down out of the shuttle.
Beaver gave a soft chuckle and helped an elegant woman climb down out of the craft. “Of course, dear.”
“This is your wife?” Jared was surprised. He wasn’t sure what he had imagined the Doctor’s wife would be like, but this wasn’t it.
“And you must be Jared.” She smiled at him. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
“Oh.” Jared blushed as he leaned down so she could brush a kiss across his cheek. “It’s nice to meet you, ma’am.”
With a childlike giggle and a wave of her hand, she gently reproved, “Call me Sharon, please.”
“Doc!” Jensen, alerted by Jared’s absence, arrived beside the group and shook the older man’s hand firmly. “I’m glad you decided to come with us. And this must be your beautiful wife. It is a pleasure to meet you, Mrs Beaver.” Jensen took her hand and kissed it in an old fashioned gesture that had her giggling again.
“Darling, you were right, he is a charmer. Please, Captain, call me Sharon, and may I call you Jensen?”
Jensen had gone a faint shade of pink. “Of course.”
“Wonderful.” Sharon smiled widely and turned slightly to call over her shoulder. “Amanda! Come on, sweetheart. Come meet the nice men your Daddy is friends with.” She turned back and told Jensen and Jared, “Amanda, our daughter, is a little shy.”
The girl in question timidly climbed down the shuttle steps and moved forward to latch onto her mother’s side. Jensen remembered the long shy stage he had gone through as a child and kneeled down in front of her so they could see eye to eye. “Hey there, Amanda. I’m Jensen.” He made no move to touch her, and eventually she gave him a small smile.
“Hi.”
“And I’m Jared.” Jared stayed back, trying not to look so big, and failing miserably.
Jensen intervened, speaking softly. “I know he looks like a giant, but he’s just like a great big teddy bear.”
Amanda didn’t seem too convinced, but bravely offered another, “Hi.”
As soon as Jensen stood up, Jared pulled him back and wrapped his arms around him, and Jensen told the little girl, “See? Just like a teddy bear; he loves hugs and cuddles.”
Gifting them with a bright giggle, Amanda let go of her mother’s hand. Sharon smiled at them both proudly, and they felt inordinately pleased by it. Beaver just shook his head and murmured under his breath, “Idiots.”
***
That evening, Jeff signed off his report on the traitor who had lived so long in their midst. He had just closed the file when there was a soft tap on the door. Looking up, he could see Jensen standing there, a touch of nervousness in his eyes. Jeff waved him in. “Jensen? What’s up?”
“Was she right?” Jensen asked without preamble.
“About what?” There was no need for Jeff to ask who he was referring to.
“About you.” Jeff had never seen Jensen so nervous, and as his words registered, Jeff knew why.
It took Jeff a moment to decide whether the truth or a lie would better suit the situation, but he figured he owed it to them both to tell the truth. “I’ve known you for a long time, Jensen. When you were a cocky, provocative teenager, I was almost thirty and had to keep telling myself you were much too young. When you got older, I was your Commanding Officer, and it was forbidden.” Jeff shrugged. “I knew I could never have you, Jensen. Didn’t stop me wanting you, though.”
Jensen ducked his head, embarrassed, but then looked up, that wicked seventeen year old still dancing in his eyes. “I wish I had known. I would have tried harder to seduce you.”
Jeff’s mouth dropped a little before he snapped it shut and grinned. “You always were the worst kind of tease.”
“I wanted you too.” Jensen admitted. “I wish we had...but now I have Jared.”
“Is this going to be weird?” Jeff wondered out loud.
“Maybe, for a little while, but I don’t think it will be a problem.”
“Good.” Jeff’s voice dismissed the matter, and Jensen nodded once before he turned and left.
***
The planetside Court system was haphazard at best; each planet having developed its own rules and punishments. The Rim Forces Court, conversely, was consistent; the same rules applied to any member of the Forces regardless of where they were born. There had been some debate, however, over Kristin’s case. She wasn’t actually a member of the Rim Forces, some had argued, but Jeff had made it clear that she should be considered such as she had served under him for several years. It had been decided that a representative of the Core should be invited to attend, with full assurances that they would be protected and left alone. They had sent the transmission, and the Core had accepted.
Jensen sat at the back of the Court room glaring daggers at the Core’s man. It was Spidaras, and Jensen hadn’t forgotten what had been done to him at this man’s hand. As soon as he had arrived on board their battle cruiser, Jensen had felt ill at ease. That hadn’t improved when Spidaras had spotted him and walked over as though he were on his own territory. “Captain Ackles! How very good to see you again.”
“The pleasure is all yours, I’m sure.” Jensen had replied dryly.
Jeff had looked between them and obviously made the right connections. His eyes had narrowed sharply, and he had barked out, “Secure the envoy. He is not to see anything on board this vessel beyond this hanger bay, am I understood?”
The security men had nodded quickly and grimly lowered a blindfold over the man’s head. The last thing Jensen had seen of him was his arrogant and amused face. Until today, when Spidaras had been directed, again blindfolded, to the front of the room. The first thing he had done, however, was look around the Court and spot Jensen. He had smiled and nodded his greeting. Jensen had merely scowled and felt the dread settle deeper in his chest.
Eventually, they brought Kreuk into the room. They sat her beside Spidaras and, when she saw who it was, she genuinely recoiled. They exchanged a few words that Jensen couldn’t hear, but they left her with fear in her eyes. Under different circumstances, Jensen might have felt pity for her. As it was, it only fed into his nerves further. He wished that Jared could have been there, but Jeff had pointed out that if Spidaras saw him, he could demand that they hand the man over to be tried as a traitor in their courts. Reluctantly, Jared had agreed. Chris had declared that he would accompany his Captain, but Jensen had ordered them all to remain onboard. They had argued furiously; Jensen had won. So he sat here alone and wished he hadn’t fought so quite so hard against it.
The Council of Judges entered at last, and the court quieted. The first person to speak was Jeff. He presented the information they had gathered, as well as the written testimonies of several of Kreuk’s tech crew. Only one man had agreed to be questioned, but that would occur later if it was required. The Lead Judge looked to Spidaras.
“Do you have anything to say to this matter?”
He smiled, that chilling smile, and answered, “The Core have no interest in this woman. You may proceed as you please.”
“No!” Kristin looked truly shocked. “You can’t just abandon me to this! I am a high-ranking Officer...”
“With no particular worth to us now that you have been discovered. I suggest you say no more, before you convict yourself.”
The woman subsided, understanding, betrayal and fear obvious in her features. She had been appointed a lawyer, but the man had little he could argue. When they heard the recorded conversation with Jensen in the hanger bay, he had tried to argue that it was entrapment. The Council had disagreed and allowed the evidence. From then on, her fate was more or less sealed. Unlike the Core, there was no capital punishment in the Rim, so she could not be sentenced to death. Instead, she was sentenced to imprisonment for life, not to be reviewed until such time as the war finished. Kristin began to sob quietly. Beside her, Spidaras just looked on in distaste, completely unmoved.
Before the Court could be adjourned, the Core man stood up and addressed the Council. “If I may, I have a request.” Jensen saw several of the Judges bristle, but Spidaras was given permission to speak, and his words chilled Jensen to the bone. “You have in your ranks a young man named Jared Padalecki. He was posing as a Core soldier until he recently made his escape. We have allowed you to convict one of our Officers whom you consider a traitor. We would like you to do the same and return this man to our custody.”
The Council didn’t want to grant his request, but Jensen could see that they were considering his words. Jensen felt sick. This was his fault. The only way Spidaras could have known about Jared was that Kreuk had told him; and she only knew because Jensen had told her. They had not played the part of the recording where she had accused him of harbouring a Core spy, nor his stupid, stupid response. For all the good that precaution was now doing. He had to do something. Jensen knew Spidaras. He would kill Jared before it ever came to trial. Jensen paused. He knew Spidaras. He stood up and moved to the front of the Court.
Holding onto his control by a thread, he spoke up. “Your Honour, if it pleases you and the Council, I would like to address the Court.”
“And who are you?” The Lead Judge wanted to know.
“My name is Captain Jensen Ackles.” That brought a reaction from several of the Judges. They had just heard all about him and his crew, as they had been the subjects of Kreuk’s most violent attacks.
Jeff spoke up from his position at the front of the room. “I believe you will want to hear what Captain Ackles has to say.”
“Very well.” The Lead Judge answered. “You may speak, Captain.”
“The request Captain Spidaras has made seems quite logical. There is reason, on the surface, to grant his request. I, however, know this man. While I was in custody on the Core battle cruiser, the Captain was in charge of my questioning. He was also the person solely responsible for my torture.” Jensen delivered this in a quiet, even tone, but the result was all he could have desired. An audible gasp echoed around the room. “Not only did he try to break me, both mentally and physically, but he also refused me medical treatment. Captain Spidaras has broken the agreed laws between both the Core and Rim for the treatment of captured prisoners.”
A loud whispering began amongst the gathered men and women in the room. The Lead Judge was not impressed. “Silence! Captain Ackles, why are you only just bringing this to our attention now?”
Jensen kept his voice low and calmly replied, “We had agreed to let the Core emissary come and go without detaining him and I was only abiding by that agreement, but I cannot, in good conscience, let another man be handed into this man’s custody without speaking up about his crimes.”
“Was anybody else aware of this man’s history?”
“My squadron.” Jensen answered. “And the man in question, Airman Padalecki.”
“I was also aware, Judge.” Jeff added. “And I am abundantly aware of the full extent of Captain Ackle’s injuries when he returned to us. His doctors were clear that had he remained in custody much longer it was almost a certainty that he would have died.”
The Judge looked at Spidaras, who remained cool and untouched by this conversation, and told him, “We refuse your request, Envoy. If your superiors wish to make a complaint, they may take it up with this Court themselves.”
“Yes, your Honour.” Spidaras acquiesced. He turned to look at Jensen and inclined his head in concession. Unfortunately, Jensen didn’t feel like this was over.
http://lady-krystal-79.livejournal.com/25378.html
Rating: NC-17 (overall)
Pairings: Jensen/Jared, Chris/Steve, Tom/Mike
Category: M/M, AU, Futuristic (i.e. it is set in space!)
Summary: The Core planets have declared war on the Rim planets. When Captain Ackles and his squadron are taken prisoner by the enemy, their jailer turns out to be a young man called Jared. What will Jared do when Jensen's interrogation begins?
http://lady-krystal-79.livejournal.com/24997.html
Part Eight
Jeff stood in the middle of the cell block, looking through the bars at a man who had been liked and trusted, a man who had been responsible for the lives of others, and who had almost taken them instead. The Crew Chief, now sporting a pair of black eyes and with his nose practically healed by the med techs, looked miserable and broken. Jeff didn’t feel sorry for him, not after all he had done, and ruthlessly thought that this was just the state he needed the other man to be in.
“Tanner.” All of Jeff’s office and authority echoed in his deep voice, and the Chief looked up. “We already have you for two counts of attempted murder for yesterday’s attack, and we have a fairly solid case for five more counts. Do you really want to take the full responsibility for this? Do you want your men to go down with you without any retribution for the person who is really behind it all?”
Tanner shook his head, but answered, “There is nothing I can tell you.”
“You will be protected...”
“I’m not worried about myself! If this was just about me I would never have...” He broke off and held his head in his hands.
“We know about your daughter.” Jeff told him more gently.
Tanner looked up; a broken man who had very little left. “My family live in the Outer Core. I was off-world on a trading expedition when the war began, and they wouldn’t let me back in. My only choice was to join the Rim forces and hope to end the Core’s blockade so I could go home. Then I got word that my daughter had become involved with a man who is a ranking officer in the Core Police. Those men, they’re...” he choked on a sob, ‘they’re cruel, and vicious, and unpredictable. She told them her father was dead because she was afraid of what they would think, and if they ever found out...”
“So what was the money for?” Jeff wanted to know. The kind of fanatics that joined the Core Police couldn’t be bribed.
“I wasn’t in it for the money.” Tanner growled, and Jeff could see he was genuinely angered by the suggestion. “She said she had contacts, that she could have word to the Police in moments...”
“Captain Kreuk?” Jeff kept his voice level, but it made no difference.
“Do what you want with me. I’m not saying another word.”
***
“Commander?”
Jeff looked up and gestured Mike through the door. “Please tell me you were still onboard.”
Mike grinned. “We slept in and didn’t plan to leave until this afternoon. What do you need?”
“I spoke to Tanner last night. He’s not giving Kreuk up, he’s afraid of her, but he did say something that got me thinking. She told him that she could have word to the Core Police in moments. If that is true, she must have some connection to the Core. I want to know what it is. I want to know what you and your better half can find out.”
“How...far do you want us to go to dig up the dirt? Tom has skills that we, for the most part, haven’t previously tapped.” Mike looked excited, and Jeff felt a moment’s twinge of sympathy for anyone who got onto the wrong side of the man. Or even anyone who caught his passing interest, really.
“Whatever it takes, Mike.”
“You got it.” And Mike bounced out of the office, on his merry destructive way.
***
Jensen’s breath left him in short grunts. Jared’s hands were hard around his wrists, pushing them into the plush bedding. His shoulders were solid under Jensen’s knees, holding him open for Jared’s pounding thrusts. The power of Jared’s hips would have had the smaller man shifting up the bed had he not been pinned so irrevocably.
“Jared...ngh...please...”
“Yeah, Jen. Okay. Come for me.” Jared had ordered Jensen not to come until he gave the word, but hadn’t been sure the other man would be able to obey. As it turned out, Jen sure as hell could, and had. Now, however, he had his permission, and Jensen jerked as he came. Jared kept his rhythm until he, too, could hold back no longer, and the pleasure crashed over him. They collapsed side by side, breathing hard and ragged.
“Wow.” Jensen finally managed. “I’m so glad we finally made it to a bed.”
“Mmmhmm.” Jared’s grin was somewhat smug. It disappeared entirely when the comm they had been given beeped loudly. There were only so many portable comms, so nearly everyone who had gone off-world had gone without one. A runner could be used in an emergency. After their last experience and the subsequent findings, though, Jeff had demanded that they take one with them when they had returned planetside.
Jensen sighed and picked it up. “Ackles.”
“Sorry to cut your leave short Jensen, but I need you boys to come back early. I’ve called the others back too.” Jeff sounded more weary than sorry, but Jensen supposed that it wasn’t easy to find out that your people were trying to kill each other.
“When do you need us?”
“Don’t rush, but I want you in my office two hours before everyone else is due back.”
“Sure thing, Commander.” Jensen clicked the comm off and looked at Jared. “Well, that only gives us four hours. I guess we better make the best of this bed before we have to go back to my cramped little bunk...”
Jared laughed and rolled until Jensen was lying under him, smiling and playful. ‘I like the way you think.”
***
There was no trace of that light-hearted man in the serious Captain currently pacing Jeff’s office. They were all there, except Tom and Mike. The two men came rushing in making their apologies, claiming that they had wanted to make sure that they had found out everything. Jensen stopped his pacing. “About what?”
Jeff quickly outlined his conversation with Tanner and the conclusion it had led him to. Mike took up the slack. “So he sent Tom and me to dig deeper. While you lot were no doubt burning up the sheets planetside, we were dutifully working our way into one of the Core mainframes.”
Chris snorted. “You mean Tom worked his way into a Core mainframe while you annoyed and distracted him.”
“That’s what I said.” Mike grinned, unrepentant.
Tom rolled his eyes and picked up the briefing. “Considering what’s at stake here, I didn’t have to dig nearly deep enough to find what we were after. It was only a level three security lock.”
“To give you some perspective,” Jeff interrupted. “Jared’s true identity and background were deemed worthy of a level six. Even taking into account that the Core systems are superior to our own, this seems a little sloppy.”
“You’re saying Captain Kreuk is a spy for the Core?” Jensen looked at Jeff, and the older man gave one terse nod.
Tom spoke up again. “Once I was in, it was easy enough to connect the dots. She was born on a Core planet. I know that doesn’t mean anything,” he held up his hand when Jared made to speak, “but we’re talking Core, like one of the first founded.” There was silence in response to this, so Tom continued. “She rose through the Core ranks faster than either her skills or intelligence would have warranted, which suggests that she had money and prestige on her side. I think there may have been people who didn’t like it. I think they were hoping we would find her out.”
There was a cruel delight dancing across Chris’ features, mirrored on Mike’s. “So, even her own side want her dead. Man, that is one messed up woman.”
“Yeah, but what do we do about her? We don’t want her here, but we can’t send her back. And, as good as all this information is, it isn’t anything that will get her imprisoned.” Jensen sounded as frustrated as he felt.
Jeff, however, smirked. “No. But it just might be enough to get her to trap herself. I have a plan...”
***
The hanger bay was a chaos of noise and people. As the cruiser readied itself to leave Tamar, the squadrons and their tech crews were all checking over the fighters, making sure everything was battle-ready and nothing was missing or out of place. Amongst this general disarray, one shrill voice carried louder than any other. “I can see they’re not here yet! Where are they? If they think I’ll keep them on my crew after this, the lazy bastards...”
“Captain Kreuk? Is something wrong?” Jensen kept his voice mildly curious.
The brunette spun around, quickly - but not quite quickly enough - hiding her surprise. Coolly, she answered, “Captain Ackles. I’m sure you can see that my tech crew is missing. I am understandably upset about this.”
“Quite right.” Jensen agreed. “I saw them briefly planetside, but I don’t know where they went after that.”
He could see the calculation in Kreuk’s eyes. She wasn’t sure whether he was toying with her or not. “Is that so?” At Jensen’s hummed agreement, she grew colder. “Well, thank you, but that doesn’t help me at all, and I don’t have time to stand about and chat...”
“We know, Kristin.” Jensen cut in, low and deadly.
“What do youknow, Jensen?” She scoffed, all but spitting out his name.
“We know about your tech crew. We know what you did.” She was already shaking her head, ready to dismiss him. “We know who you really are, traitor.”
It was like a switch had been flicked and her mask had completely fallen away to reveal the ugly truth. The look on her face was so hateful, so spiteful, that Jensen almost took a step back. Instead, he stood still while she leaned in close and hissed in his ear. “You know nothing, Rim scum. You have nothing you could take to a court, otherwise you would have had me in the cells already. My tech crew are clearly gone, so you’ll get nothing from them. You can make whatever guesses you want. Just because our Commander wants into your pants doesn’t mean he’ll back you without any proof.” She pulled back again, a nasty smile on her face, and spoke louder. “And I’m not the one harbouring a Core spy in my bed.”
Jensen also smiled, which confused her. “Jared doesn’t work for the Core; he’s our man. And you might want to watch who you piss off next time, because a level three security was child’s play for Tom to crack. We have your whole history, Kristin. Oh, and your tech crew are currently in the holding cells, along with your Tech Chief, who got a little battered when he tried to kill me.” He saw her face blanch. “It was rather foolish to enlist your own crew, but then, you’re probably the only one who employed men that could be so easily bribed.”
With a screech, she lunged for Jensen, who half-heartedly kept her at bay. “I hate you! Why couldn’t they have just killed you? I delivered you right into their hands!”
At that, several Security men came forward and placed her under arrest. Jeff stepped forward out of the chaos too, and looked at Jensen. “Nice work, Jensen. I think that is all we’ll need.”
Jensen gave a humourless laugh. “Yeah, I imagine so.”
“Got it all!” Mike crowed, holding up a disc as he crossed the hanger.
Jeff groaned slightly. “I don’t suppose we could remove the comment about me wanting in to the Captain’s pants?”
“That would be tampering with evidence.” Mike replied righteously.
Tom snatched the disc from Mike’s hand. “I’ll see to it. They’ll never know it was changed.”
“Thanks.” Jeff sighed. The rest of them tried their hardest not to laugh.
***
Moments before they were due to leave Tamar, a shuttle had landed in the hanger bay. Jared, who had been watching Jensen and his crew prepare since he had no fighter of his own, had observed the arrival with mild curiosity. When the door had opened, that had changed to excitement, and he whooped loudly before dashing across the hanger. “Doc Beaver! You’re coming with us?”
The Doctor looked up and smirked. “Someone had to make sure you lot make it through the war.”
“And someone had to make sure you did.” A female voice floated down out of the shuttle.
Beaver gave a soft chuckle and helped an elegant woman climb down out of the craft. “Of course, dear.”
“This is your wife?” Jared was surprised. He wasn’t sure what he had imagined the Doctor’s wife would be like, but this wasn’t it.
“And you must be Jared.” She smiled at him. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
“Oh.” Jared blushed as he leaned down so she could brush a kiss across his cheek. “It’s nice to meet you, ma’am.”
With a childlike giggle and a wave of her hand, she gently reproved, “Call me Sharon, please.”
“Doc!” Jensen, alerted by Jared’s absence, arrived beside the group and shook the older man’s hand firmly. “I’m glad you decided to come with us. And this must be your beautiful wife. It is a pleasure to meet you, Mrs Beaver.” Jensen took her hand and kissed it in an old fashioned gesture that had her giggling again.
“Darling, you were right, he is a charmer. Please, Captain, call me Sharon, and may I call you Jensen?”
Jensen had gone a faint shade of pink. “Of course.”
“Wonderful.” Sharon smiled widely and turned slightly to call over her shoulder. “Amanda! Come on, sweetheart. Come meet the nice men your Daddy is friends with.” She turned back and told Jensen and Jared, “Amanda, our daughter, is a little shy.”
The girl in question timidly climbed down the shuttle steps and moved forward to latch onto her mother’s side. Jensen remembered the long shy stage he had gone through as a child and kneeled down in front of her so they could see eye to eye. “Hey there, Amanda. I’m Jensen.” He made no move to touch her, and eventually she gave him a small smile.
“Hi.”
“And I’m Jared.” Jared stayed back, trying not to look so big, and failing miserably.
Jensen intervened, speaking softly. “I know he looks like a giant, but he’s just like a great big teddy bear.”
Amanda didn’t seem too convinced, but bravely offered another, “Hi.”
As soon as Jensen stood up, Jared pulled him back and wrapped his arms around him, and Jensen told the little girl, “See? Just like a teddy bear; he loves hugs and cuddles.”
Gifting them with a bright giggle, Amanda let go of her mother’s hand. Sharon smiled at them both proudly, and they felt inordinately pleased by it. Beaver just shook his head and murmured under his breath, “Idiots.”
***
That evening, Jeff signed off his report on the traitor who had lived so long in their midst. He had just closed the file when there was a soft tap on the door. Looking up, he could see Jensen standing there, a touch of nervousness in his eyes. Jeff waved him in. “Jensen? What’s up?”
“Was she right?” Jensen asked without preamble.
“About what?” There was no need for Jeff to ask who he was referring to.
“About you.” Jeff had never seen Jensen so nervous, and as his words registered, Jeff knew why.
It took Jeff a moment to decide whether the truth or a lie would better suit the situation, but he figured he owed it to them both to tell the truth. “I’ve known you for a long time, Jensen. When you were a cocky, provocative teenager, I was almost thirty and had to keep telling myself you were much too young. When you got older, I was your Commanding Officer, and it was forbidden.” Jeff shrugged. “I knew I could never have you, Jensen. Didn’t stop me wanting you, though.”
Jensen ducked his head, embarrassed, but then looked up, that wicked seventeen year old still dancing in his eyes. “I wish I had known. I would have tried harder to seduce you.”
Jeff’s mouth dropped a little before he snapped it shut and grinned. “You always were the worst kind of tease.”
“I wanted you too.” Jensen admitted. “I wish we had...but now I have Jared.”
“Is this going to be weird?” Jeff wondered out loud.
“Maybe, for a little while, but I don’t think it will be a problem.”
“Good.” Jeff’s voice dismissed the matter, and Jensen nodded once before he turned and left.
***
The planetside Court system was haphazard at best; each planet having developed its own rules and punishments. The Rim Forces Court, conversely, was consistent; the same rules applied to any member of the Forces regardless of where they were born. There had been some debate, however, over Kristin’s case. She wasn’t actually a member of the Rim Forces, some had argued, but Jeff had made it clear that she should be considered such as she had served under him for several years. It had been decided that a representative of the Core should be invited to attend, with full assurances that they would be protected and left alone. They had sent the transmission, and the Core had accepted.
Jensen sat at the back of the Court room glaring daggers at the Core’s man. It was Spidaras, and Jensen hadn’t forgotten what had been done to him at this man’s hand. As soon as he had arrived on board their battle cruiser, Jensen had felt ill at ease. That hadn’t improved when Spidaras had spotted him and walked over as though he were on his own territory. “Captain Ackles! How very good to see you again.”
“The pleasure is all yours, I’m sure.” Jensen had replied dryly.
Jeff had looked between them and obviously made the right connections. His eyes had narrowed sharply, and he had barked out, “Secure the envoy. He is not to see anything on board this vessel beyond this hanger bay, am I understood?”
The security men had nodded quickly and grimly lowered a blindfold over the man’s head. The last thing Jensen had seen of him was his arrogant and amused face. Until today, when Spidaras had been directed, again blindfolded, to the front of the room. The first thing he had done, however, was look around the Court and spot Jensen. He had smiled and nodded his greeting. Jensen had merely scowled and felt the dread settle deeper in his chest.
Eventually, they brought Kreuk into the room. They sat her beside Spidaras and, when she saw who it was, she genuinely recoiled. They exchanged a few words that Jensen couldn’t hear, but they left her with fear in her eyes. Under different circumstances, Jensen might have felt pity for her. As it was, it only fed into his nerves further. He wished that Jared could have been there, but Jeff had pointed out that if Spidaras saw him, he could demand that they hand the man over to be tried as a traitor in their courts. Reluctantly, Jared had agreed. Chris had declared that he would accompany his Captain, but Jensen had ordered them all to remain onboard. They had argued furiously; Jensen had won. So he sat here alone and wished he hadn’t fought so quite so hard against it.
The Council of Judges entered at last, and the court quieted. The first person to speak was Jeff. He presented the information they had gathered, as well as the written testimonies of several of Kreuk’s tech crew. Only one man had agreed to be questioned, but that would occur later if it was required. The Lead Judge looked to Spidaras.
“Do you have anything to say to this matter?”
He smiled, that chilling smile, and answered, “The Core have no interest in this woman. You may proceed as you please.”
“No!” Kristin looked truly shocked. “You can’t just abandon me to this! I am a high-ranking Officer...”
“With no particular worth to us now that you have been discovered. I suggest you say no more, before you convict yourself.”
The woman subsided, understanding, betrayal and fear obvious in her features. She had been appointed a lawyer, but the man had little he could argue. When they heard the recorded conversation with Jensen in the hanger bay, he had tried to argue that it was entrapment. The Council had disagreed and allowed the evidence. From then on, her fate was more or less sealed. Unlike the Core, there was no capital punishment in the Rim, so she could not be sentenced to death. Instead, she was sentenced to imprisonment for life, not to be reviewed until such time as the war finished. Kristin began to sob quietly. Beside her, Spidaras just looked on in distaste, completely unmoved.
Before the Court could be adjourned, the Core man stood up and addressed the Council. “If I may, I have a request.” Jensen saw several of the Judges bristle, but Spidaras was given permission to speak, and his words chilled Jensen to the bone. “You have in your ranks a young man named Jared Padalecki. He was posing as a Core soldier until he recently made his escape. We have allowed you to convict one of our Officers whom you consider a traitor. We would like you to do the same and return this man to our custody.”
The Council didn’t want to grant his request, but Jensen could see that they were considering his words. Jensen felt sick. This was his fault. The only way Spidaras could have known about Jared was that Kreuk had told him; and she only knew because Jensen had told her. They had not played the part of the recording where she had accused him of harbouring a Core spy, nor his stupid, stupid response. For all the good that precaution was now doing. He had to do something. Jensen knew Spidaras. He would kill Jared before it ever came to trial. Jensen paused. He knew Spidaras. He stood up and moved to the front of the Court.
Holding onto his control by a thread, he spoke up. “Your Honour, if it pleases you and the Council, I would like to address the Court.”
“And who are you?” The Lead Judge wanted to know.
“My name is Captain Jensen Ackles.” That brought a reaction from several of the Judges. They had just heard all about him and his crew, as they had been the subjects of Kreuk’s most violent attacks.
Jeff spoke up from his position at the front of the room. “I believe you will want to hear what Captain Ackles has to say.”
“Very well.” The Lead Judge answered. “You may speak, Captain.”
“The request Captain Spidaras has made seems quite logical. There is reason, on the surface, to grant his request. I, however, know this man. While I was in custody on the Core battle cruiser, the Captain was in charge of my questioning. He was also the person solely responsible for my torture.” Jensen delivered this in a quiet, even tone, but the result was all he could have desired. An audible gasp echoed around the room. “Not only did he try to break me, both mentally and physically, but he also refused me medical treatment. Captain Spidaras has broken the agreed laws between both the Core and Rim for the treatment of captured prisoners.”
A loud whispering began amongst the gathered men and women in the room. The Lead Judge was not impressed. “Silence! Captain Ackles, why are you only just bringing this to our attention now?”
Jensen kept his voice low and calmly replied, “We had agreed to let the Core emissary come and go without detaining him and I was only abiding by that agreement, but I cannot, in good conscience, let another man be handed into this man’s custody without speaking up about his crimes.”
“Was anybody else aware of this man’s history?”
“My squadron.” Jensen answered. “And the man in question, Airman Padalecki.”
“I was also aware, Judge.” Jeff added. “And I am abundantly aware of the full extent of Captain Ackle’s injuries when he returned to us. His doctors were clear that had he remained in custody much longer it was almost a certainty that he would have died.”
The Judge looked at Spidaras, who remained cool and untouched by this conversation, and told him, “We refuse your request, Envoy. If your superiors wish to make a complaint, they may take it up with this Court themselves.”
“Yes, your Honour.” Spidaras acquiesced. He turned to look at Jensen and inclined his head in concession. Unfortunately, Jensen didn’t feel like this was over.
http://lady-krystal-79.livejournal.com/25378.html