[M] A Single Step: Chapter 1

[Zenteer]

A loose semi-circle of Enforcer's surrounded the Cybers. The remaining Cybers backed up against the wall and ceased their fire. Though stilled kept their aim on the Enforcers. The cyber in charge glared at Mareth and slid in thumb across his throat in clear sign language.

A heavy force crashed into Mareth knocking him down and breathless. The hostile wore civilian clothing, but wore the ear communicator. An infiltrator! Infiltrators were Enforcers who used disguises and gather information. They blend into the crowd and pretend to be someone else. They're usually informers, but sometimes have to fight.

The infiltrator wore a white suit just like Tox, and was bald. He was fairly "big" too. He was the sort of person that wasn't fat, he was just big. Everything about him was big, his arms, his legs, even his head.

The bald-headed infiltrator was on his knees standing up, but Mareth was a bit lighter on his feet. Mareth agilely leaped up onto his feet thing swung his heavy steel tipped boot into the infiltrator face. Mareth turned and prepared himself to flee, but a hand grabbed him by the foot and pulled him down.

The infiltrator was bleeding out of a spot on his head, spilling blood o the nicely polished floor. Mareth struggled with the infiltrator, twisting around to release his hold, but to no avail. Mareth rammed his foot into the infiltrator's face, hoping the shock of pain would unlock his grip. The infiltrator groaned, but stubbornly held on. Mareth drove his foot repeatedly in his face. The infiltrator finally released his hold, but not before the Enforcers surrounded Mareth also.

[Falcon Red]

Tanaur stayed vigilante through the whole happening, proud of how the Elites were doing, and how disciplined they followed their orders. They fired two maybe three shots total, only at the cybers close enough, out of the way of civilians, keeping safety a number one priority. They were trained beyond the everyday enforcer, though things did happen, and those accidents are what they successfully avoided this time.

He called a cease fire as he watched the cybers rounded up, along with the one who instigated the start of the firefight. Waiting a couple minutes, listening to his earpiece for what was going on with the fugitives, he awaited orders from Vanel. None came.

"Sir, Anaun awaiting orders."

Nothing.

"Sir, this is Taraun Anaun awaiting next orders."

Still nothing, just fuzz over the ear peice. Frustrated, Taraun waited a minute or two longer before finally, he jerked his head back signaling all the enforcers to come in and stow their weapons, as he hit the button for the door to close. He kept his earpiece to the enforcers channel to listen for the all clear, and had the frequency backed up to the elites so that if Vanel came with orders, his voice could disregard the signal.

He looked a moment and had a few of the team go out and scout looking for their leader as he walked over to the Grand Maiden, and the Captain. He bowed slightly forward to her, then brought his right arm perfectly vertical, hand flat covering his eye, tips touching his brow, saluting the Captain.

"The fugitives have been subdued, still waiting on word from Vanel, I have three out now scouting, just awaiting word now." He spoke to them, keeping his body stiff and professional.

[Zenteer]

Mareth stayed silent as the bluecoat handcuffed him and searched him about ten times. They obviously found the only pistol, he carried and nothing else. The confiscated his sun glasses let him keep everything else. Even his jacket lined with small electrical lock picks. There was about five bluecoats guarding him in total and about thirty-odd other bluecoats in the atrium with them.

The two bluecoats held him by the arm on either side applying heavy pressure on his arm to numb the muscle. Only problem was that one arm is cybernetic. There was two bluecoats in the back about three feet back holding blaster rifles aimed at his back every once in a while they decided to hit Mareth with the but of their gun because they think he's moving to slow. In reality, they just like to hit him. The last one was in the lead, while the rest of them followed him like cattle. Not that I have a choice. Mareth threw the dice and lost the game, but also made one of his enemies lost the game.

Mareth was escorted to the Captain, The Grand Maiden, about half a dozen bluecoats guarding them and a another bluecoat saluting. The one in the lead saluted and questioned "What shall we do with this one sir? He doesn't seem friendly with the others and I don't want another fight breaking out when they're near each other"

This guy is brilliant bring a highly dangerous criminal right next to the most important people on the ship.

[Mary Sue]

The Elite Guard remaining in the room spun around to face the Enforcers and raised their guns at the entire group.

"Get him out of here, you idiots!" Captain Mils growled. His own professional demeanor vanished at the sight of a criminal in their presence. The Elite Guard also seemed to realise the Enforcer's error. The Elite Guard's main job was to protect the Grand Maiden and the Captain at all costs. If that meant shooting a few Bluecoats... so be it.

However...

"Cease this,"

Silence fell upon the room as the Grand Maiden rose to her feet and dusted off her robes. She placed her hand on Tanaur's arm and guided him to step to the side so that she could see Mareth.

"You're heart is turbulent," she said. "But I don't blame you for the fray that took place."

"But, your grace-" One of the Guard's said, but Alena held up a hand and he fell silent.

"What occurred tonight, occurred because certain...issues....had not been resolved. I do not pretend to understand everything that goes on inside the Jericho X-7... But tonight is STILL inexcusable. The Goddess' blessing has been marred for the new year. The New Year has been stained with blood. It is a foul omen...."

Alena's grew eyes stared straight into Mareth's. If she was afraid, it did not show.

"You and the remaining Cybers will be taken down to the prison level. There are some questions I'd like to have answered.... But for everyone's sake-" She reached out and touched Mareth gently, then froze mid-sentence and quickly drew away.

"Tanaur, I think Di'tia would be better to restrain Mareth on this side," she said, pointing to Mareth's cybernetic arm.

Di'tia, a nearly full-cyber member of the Elite Guard, stepped up and relieved the bluecoat holding Mareth. Her metal fingers grabbed hold of his arm and she stared straight ahead at the Grand Maiden.

"Remove this man at once," Captain Milas said at last. "Di'tia report back to the Guard once the prisoners are secured."

"Aye, Sir." She replied and the group left the room, marching Mareth away.

Alena turned to Tanaur, and gazed at him with worry filled eyes.
"Have there been any orders from Vanel?" She asked.

[Zenteer]

"Not my fault they tried to gun me down" Mareth snorted. The Grand Maiden switched her gaze from her guards to the criminal.

As the Grand Maiden Alena stared him down, Mareth returned her unwavering gaze with a cold one of defiance. One that shows her that even though he is captured, he has not yet lost the battle. One that shows her he will fight like a caged animal to survive. One that shows her that he will escape and will take down an army to do it if need be.

Mareth's muscles tense like a wild cat about to pounce as she touched him. Mareth's held his breath as she touched him in the arm. Every single cell in his body readied themselves for battle, but she quickly drew away. Mareth relaxed silently and blew a large stream of carbon dioxide through his nose.

The guards quickly and efficiently swapped and a heavier pressure was unleashed upon his right Cybernetic arm. They half dragged him through a maze of corridors and finally into the prison.

The trekked through numerous security check points and patrolling guards until the reached a door that glowed "Dangerous Criminals Approach with Caution"

They past through several occupied cells containing numerous criminals. They were all different, one had a lizard's head while another's face was completely covered in wires. Though they all shared a few similar features such as the look of power and might. They gave off negative energy and looked like they had killed people with their bare hands and some of them literally have bear hands. Another thing they have in common was their silence. It was a general rule to shut up.

They finally arrived at a empty cell right next to the Cybers who tried to make a few holes in Mareth. They tossed him in without another word and left.

[Falcon Red]

Tanaur kept his back to the entering group of enforcers and prisoner. The all too familiar sound of the rifles snapping on target. He slowly turned his head, closing his eyes in annoyance. What possibly could have made that a good idea, bringing someone who cares so little for human life in with the most important.... he though.

After the Captain spoke, Tanaur opened his mouth to issue the order to take him away, but was stopped by the Grand Maiden. She pushed him aside lightly, showing her grace in the action. The guard stepped back without question and listened.

"You fired the first shot, you instigated tonights events whether they were coming for you, or you were just playing 'let's shoot straight into a crowd.' Try that "not your fault" crap with someone else, maybe you'll get lucky." Tanaur stated, still aggrivated witht he enforcers bringing him in, aggrivated that he would dare interject someone who was showing sympathy.

He watched her touch him, and quickly draw away. When she made the suggestion of Di'tia, all he needed to do was look over at her, she was already heading to make the switch, effectively holding the prisoner, keeping him controlled. Tanaur nodded and she nodded back before answering the Captain's orders.

Tanaur turned his attention back to the Grand Maiden, a lump in his throat forming at the sight of her eyes. He suddenly didn't wish to tell her any news.

"No my lady, not a word, I dispatched a few Elite's to search, and am still awaiting word from them.."

He said letting a moments silence fill the room. Though the silence in Tanaur's ear filled with static for a second, then a voice. "We found Vanel.. he was shot through and through, he didn't survive, Anaun.." The voice broke, and Tanaur spoke up again to the Grand Maiden.

"They found him Your Grace... He was killed in action..." He said somberly, bringing his hand to his ear and speaking back to his scouts. "Take him to medical, they will see to him cleaned up properly." He spoke, composing himself once again. "Is there anything we can get you My Lady, Sir?"

[SQJPure]

"I told you I'd get you here?" Thato said, her words slow barely making it out through the wall off confusion that served as a road block against forming any kind of reaction to the situation at hand.

And it was quite a bizarre situation. Hadn't things been going well when they'd left? What the hell had happened in such a small space of time? There was still a wave and after of people exiting the plaza in numbers that almost promised that there would be caught beneath the flow, being kicked, stepped on and slowly trampled to death. She'd read through enough papers and been force fed enough stories to know that there would be allot of dead around and even more on the brink of death and to top it off it seemed as though the action that had caused the riot had not ended at all.

Thato pulled Constance's arm and started to retreat when Constance held her ground pulling her Thato back instead of the other way around proving that even after the equalisers Constance was still the stronger woman.

"My mother could be in this mess."
"No she couldn't, my father as well. They are too high up to have been on the ground when it happened at worst they were on the higher stadium with the Grand Maiden and at best they were on the upper tiers looking down to everything. It would be absurd for them to be on the same level as everyone else here. They are alive and well, if you do not believe me call them. You have your com device right?"

Constance stared at Thato in blind shock at first her eyes wide, staring at a whole world, Thato could only guess was hidden in her own face before the eyebrows dropped to the point here they furrowed and what had once been fear and disbelieve became determination. Thato found herself missing the fear.

"You're right but that doesn't mean we shouldn't find them."
Thato shrugged. " In a way that's exactly what it means since they are most likely not in trouble and clearly have bigger issues. For all I know my father is somewhere else waiting for the trouble to pass before he actually comes in to help."

"Then you need to be here helping them" Constance said.
Thato chortled despite herself but the complete and utter lack of humour or leeway that Constance's body image painted told her quite vehemently that there was no way she was going to let Thato talk her way out of this.

"Why me?" Thato yelled over the shouts and screamed as the waves started to dissipate and it started to feel like they were walking through a regular crowd and not walking out of a black hole's gravitational pull with the petite Constance acting as a linebacker, protecting an even more petite Thato.

"You're a doctor! A damn good one!" Constance yelled.

Thato sighed heavily, the numbers of runners head dropped enough to allow her words to be heard by everyone in the area, heads turned almost immediately. At least three people from what she saw had changed their paths.

They were coming at her and all she wanted to do was run and run away fast but Constance was still holding on to her, keeping her feet rooted in place. Her grip was an anchor to her heart demanding she stay and help every single person there. She was the only one between the two of them at the fact that Thato was a licensed doctor at her age, and the best in her classes. While Thato herself hated the fact. Something Constance would never fully be able to understand.

Constance would feel the sensation of strings being pulled up to her as the first of the runners started yelling incoherent nonsense she really didn’t want to care about. But with Constance there she listened. She needed to gain ground with her girl friend. Losing her wasn't worth anything in the world or ship and so she did her best to stabilise who she could.

[The Bartender]

Terra had managed to get away from the Plaza and walked toward her appartment. She was boiling from anger, but didn't show it, she didn't want to damage her cover as a good-mannered dancer toward the other people living in the same area.
As she arrived her home, she was greeted by about 10 cats which overran her, playing with her tail, scrathing her legs and licking her face.
"Kids, calm down." She shouted without any resault as the cats played with her ears and clothes. The anger she had been having was gone as the cats still went forward.
"Oh, stop it now!" She said in stern tone and the cats suddenly stopped. "Good kids." Terra sighed and stood up, her legs were shaking for some reason.
She undressed, peeled off her make-up and took a long shower. After that she dressed up again, this time in black t-shirt, black leggings and socks. After dressing up she opened her laptop and informed her manager over her com device that she wouldn't perform today.
After a short discussion with her manager she opened the databank about underground gangs and organisations and serched a snake with metal plates as scales.
After about 10 minutes she hadn't found nothing.
"This isn't possible! Why is there no data about them?!" She shouted and scared the cats around her.
"Damn it! They destroyed my New Year and I can't even take my revange..." She sighed and opened a bottle of Femia, a strong alkoholica and took a long sip of it.

[Mary Sue]

Alena's world shifted a bit and she swayed and caught herself on the arm of a chair.
"Vanel...." She whispered.

Milas grunted and straightened his ceremonial garments.
"That's unfortunate," he said and put on his gloves. "A new head guard will have to be named at once."

Alena nodded slowly, trying to hide the fact she obviously shaken.
"What should we do?" She asked out loud.

--------------------------------

Out on the plaza floor, doctors began swarming the scene, treating victims of the cross-fires and tramplings.

Enforcers swarmed like Loca Bugs, armed and ready to take down any minor threats.
A group of enforcers teleported in with Thato and Constance at their core. One of the Enforcers gestured to the plaza.

"Get to work," He said, rather bluntly and coldly. He tilted his head to the group of doctors already at work.

--------------------------------------------

Meanwhile, the remaining cybers who managed to get away, appeared in a dimly lit room.

"Damn bluecoats! We almost had him!" One of the cyber's growled.
The other grunted and leaned against the cold wall.

"Now how are we going to get to Mareth? They'll have him under tight security..."

"Perhaps you should have thought of that, before you thundered into the most popular ceremony of the year and started firing away like complete morons...." A cold voice snaked its way to the cybers' ears. The men froze, becoming acutely aware of the temperature of the room they walked into. The Boss...was in.

"B-boss...." the leaning Cyber said, backing away slowly.
"Wh-wh-what do you want us to do?"

"I think you've done enough for now..." the voice said and a dark figure rose from its seat. Quick as a flash, the Cybers were thrown to the ground, bleeding from lacerations on their faces.
"Consider that just a taste of what will happen, if you fail me again..."

[Mary Sue]

Weeks passed, and a somber mood permeated the entirety of the transport ship Jericho. The events of the New Year's Eve celebration remained a haunting memory in everyone's mind. Unlike previous years, there was no week long celebration and endless parties. The New Year began abruptly, as people went right back to work.

Victims of both the shootings and the trampling lined the beds of the medical bay, and doctors were running on empty as the patients were finally starting to get on their feet once more. They had no idea that something even bigger was on the way for them, and would test their very souls as doctors and healers.

The Plaza/ observation bay had been shut down indefinitely, and guards took turns standing in front of the transport pads that lead to this level of the ship. The only ones allowed were the cleaning crew, to remove the bloodstains from the floors and walls and pick up the mess of the riot. Those responsible for the riot that ensued weeks prior where being detained in maximum security, visited only by military personnel, and were being rigorously questioned as to who ordered the attack, who the cybers had been ordered to capture, and so on. All the cybers were willing to disclose, was that they had been sent to capture Zenteer, but refused to speak of who ordered the attack or why.

Though the Captain was free to move about the ship at will, the Grand Maiden was on lock down and confined to her quarters. As a safety precaution, only the Elite Guard were allowed to visit, and the Captain himself had to have an escort.

Despite the oddities that occurred, the Jerico X-7's inhabitants were doing their best to move on. Even as dark plans had begun to move forward in the shadows....