But ain't it good to be special? That depends perhaps, but if you're a character in a book by SRD, that's probable to involve lots, lots of suffering and pain, as Angus is about to find out. And not only Angus.When the order came to have Angus Thermopyle frozen, it arrived by gap courier drone straight from UMCPHQ, tight-beamed to Com-Mine Station Security as soon as the drone resumed tard.
The order was signed by Hashi Lebwohl, director, Data Acquisition, United Mining Companies Police.
Angus had suddenly become a very special prisoner.
Milos gets questioned on why this happened so suddenly - and why with cryogenic encapsulation. Now that he's so cornered, he even has to answer kind of honestly, how horrible is that? And still he doesn't know yet that this will soon be the least of his troubles
The chief intends to buy time and orders Milos to break "that bastard". Angus though persists in his intransigence - one more particularly cool word SRD uses. Angus touchingly stands by the pact he made with Morn, understanding from his circumstances that she hasn't betrayed him - ain't he a sweetheart? Oh wait, he also expects to be killed upon talking. He does feel gratitude for her at least though.Because he felt he had no choice, Milos risked a degree of honesty. Squirming inside, he replied, "To silence him? Keep him from talking to us?"
He also deduces that Com-Mine Security now has some kind of a time limit, so waits for it to run out, meanwhile adapting a pose of a beaten man ready for death, fat chance of that impressing the guards after his earlier attempt at same, which ended up with death of one of the guards and nearly an escape - but at this point he doesn't care, he just waits, conserving his strength.
Then it happens, a visitor arrives for Angus. Min Donner herself. She orders switching off the monitors and immediately unnerves Milos, contemplating aloud if the data Com-Mine provided was doctored.
Milos definitely learned to appreciate Angus and his abilities : )Milos winced. "Do you want to talk about this here - in front of him? I've got a private office." The blotches on his scalp were curiously distinct. "He remembers everything. Don't think he doesn't. He's already trying to figure out how he can use you."
As mentioned earlier, Angus has some lovely eye color.Angus watched with his yellow eyes hooded and kept his malice to himself.
Min Donner drops a cryptic phrase:
Milos is very much eager to get rid of Angus, causing Min Donner to question why he wasn't handed over earlier."He's got the right. After what you've put him through, he's got the right. You already have enough advantages. I'm not going to give you another one."
Ah, reputation! It is such an important thing, especially when just your name causes a person who spent his recent time in prison accepting beatings and interrogation to panic."If you're in such a hurry, why didn't you comply with Hashi's order?"
Hashi's order. A stun-prod of panic touched Angus' guts. Hashi Lebwohl, DA director, UMCP. Every illegal who ever worked the belt knew Hashi Lebwohl by rumor and reputation.
Milos explains the situation earlier, as offence taken and thus no cooperation unless forced, to which Min Donner points out that now thanks to Angus forcing it is well possible.
Milos even questions whether they even cared about the Starmaster, but Donner denies his suspicions, though quite assured that Hyland's accusation was a lie. Which causes Taverner to ask why, what kind of hold he could have on her. But Min Donner just proceeds with what she came for."The Preempt Act," she answered. "How do you suppose we got that passed? Why do you suppose we asked you to help Captain Succorso frame him?" Her tone made no distinction between asked and ordered. "That was the lever we needed - a traitor in Com-Mine Security, somebody who was willing to help a pirate like Captain Succorso steal station supplies. Morn Hyland's accusation that Starmaster was sabotaged here helped, but we needed more. We needed corroboration. When we were able to demonstrate that Security on Com-Mine Station - the station closest to forbidden space -
couldn't be trusted, most of our opposition crumbled."
Familiar talk, isn't it?"I'm Min Donner," she said, "director, Enforcement Division, United Mining Companies Police."
"From now on, you're going to work for us."
When she said her name, Angus' heart froze. Min Donner. Involuntarily he raised his eyes to her face, and his mouth hung open. Min Donner herself. The woman who sent out Starmaster - the woman they called Warden Dios' "executioner."
Things were bad enough if he was in danger of the death penalty for what he'd done to Morn Hyland. He still had a defense against that. But if the likes of Hashi Lebwohl and Min Donner had taken an interest in him - if he was going to be turned over to them -
"Don't touch me,"
Angus is not the only one to enjoy a change in his life though.
Milos must be overjoyed, more time with Angus!Now she sounded distantly amused as she said, "Get packed. You're coming with us."
That hit the deputy chief hard. At least Angus wasn't the only one being threatened. Milos was suddenly terrified. All the color dropped out of his face. His mouth shaped words, protests, appeals, but he couldn't make a sound.
And so Angus gets dragged into medical for cryogenic encapsulationHe and Angus stared at and through each other, as horrified together as if they'd just learned that they were brothers.
Now is Angus going to suffer enough for people to start cheering for him after everything? I do think I've seen some precedent.Because of the tape, he almost strangled on his own yells when the guards pushed him into a large, sterile room and he realized that it was full of the equipment for cryogenic encapsulation.
The nightmares he'd spent his life fleeing had caught up with him.
A rather more important question though, so who thinks Angus is up to becoming some rather disagreeable ice cream? Not like the UMCP seem to be the guys to ask someone's opinion
An entertaining comment. 