Hostile Takeover

[Valiens Nantaris]

Tegaea smiled unpleasantly. "Oh yes...she's going to tell us everything she knows, and make some educated guesses on what she doesn't. Where is Ankeli Ran Diso?"

"I don't know!" the woman replied, looking around furtively.

"What won't do. Take her back to the ship."

While Maelion dragged the woman off Tegaea looked to Siobhan. "Had to do it this way. Had to ensure you wouldn't accidentally give it away. And also, I like to surprise you once in a while too, sweetie," she added smugly.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

"We'll refresh your memory. We can be very motivating," Siobhan said coldly to the CEO before she was dragged away to their shuttle. She was not feeling pleasant.

She gave Tegaea a look. "I would have not given anything away," she pouted with mock indignation. Then she a far pertinent question escaped her lips. "So, have you tested the mechanical tongue already...without me?"

Not that she minded Tegs having her fun - as is well-known, they weren't that sort of couple and considering Siobhan's appetites it would be extremely hypocritical - , but she would be feel jealous if her boss had beaten her to the punch.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

Tegaea raised an eyebrow. "You've really given your new aide a lot of thought, haven't you! I'm glad to hear that was the first question on your mind. No, I have not slept with her, though since you're going to be working with her a lot more from now on, perhaps you can ask her. But I remind you, she's as much an employee as you, and she is not a sex bot."

She smiled to lessen the harshness of her words. "Come on, let's get out of here. I want Ankeli...but Massive Dynamic is broken for now."

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

"I think she'd start breaking bones if someone treated her as if she was one," Siobhan responded with a small smile. After all, she had just seen the devastation Maelion was capable of...and had been very impressed and just a bit turned on by all the carnage.

Finally someone who could keep up with her when it came to causing large-scale desolation and property damage. She surveyed the destruction they had caused, the dozens of dead soldiers, burnt-out vehicles and wreckage of the walker. "Yeah. Let's move. And who's this Ankeli woman?"

The party of mercenaries quickly departed towards the shuttle that was lying in wait for them. In the distance sirens could be heard howling, the local security forces were moving in with speeders, but at a pace that suggested they understood it had been a battle between megacorporations and that was in their interests to stay out and give the victors time to depart.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

This writer does not blame the two women for not being able to detect the anagram. After all, unlike books would have one think, there was not only one person in the galaxy called Kaelin, there would likely be millions!

And so the two left, not knowing they were being watched with malice and hatred....

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

It would indeed be bizarre if one name was only reserved for one person, in a Galaxy of a million worlds. For instance, it would be safe to assume that millions of humans had the name "Luke" and Kaelin might be a popular name.

The shuttle quickly took them to their cruiser and upon being noted of their arrival the ship captain gave the order to prepare for a hyper jump before anyone could ask awkward questions. The security forces at the spaceport were very eager to oblige and swiftly let them through, especially after they received a few credits and Siobhan had some words with the station chief.

It transpired that the noble Duros had always hated Massive Dynamic. Of course, that was because Omega had won. The rival CEO Kendra Gandal was locked in the brig and put under guard, though she was no in no state to escape anyway. Siobhan doubted she would last that long under interrogation. Pompous bigwigs and aristos tended to fold quickly under threats, they had did not have the stomach for it. They would get answers soon enough.

"Massive Dynamic CEO captured, a heavy blow struck against their forces. Payback's real sweet," Siobhan said Tegaea, feeling just a bit smug at her plan working. Well, their plan, but she had proposed that Tegs lie in wait. Then she turned thoughtful.

"So, again what's the deal with this Ankeli woman? I take it there's more to this than a corporate tussle." The CEO had seemed afraid when Tegs had mentioned the name.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

"She's been someone I've wanted to catch for some time. Her name has come up far too many times in too many strange places to be a coincidence. I believe she's implicated in the deaths of hundreds of people, directly or indirectly. She's a criminal, and a highly intelligent one, moving from group to group when she is about to be caught. She is not someone you want to mess with though."
Tegaea shrugged. "Regardless, Massive Dynamic has been beheaded, and we are in the process of buying up and acquiring the rest of their assets in our territory."

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

Siobhan considered this, frowning. "I'll see whether I can do some digging on her." Again, our heroines could not be expected to discover the name was an anagram for the Kaelin.

She nodded to Tegs, it was a victory. "Awesome, one problem less. Thanks to my shrewd plan....and some other factors. Maelion is very good. Hmm what are we gonna do with Gandal, once she's spilt the beans?"

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

Tegaea gave her a look and chuckled. "I know what YOU want to do with her! You think my kennel cage is looking empty and lonely. Well, I'm sorry, but I only have consenting pets. After we're done with her we'll ship her off somewhere where she can't cause any trouble. You though, dear, can spend some time in the cage if you're very good!" she said with a grin. She knew Siobhan would be more than willing to play a bit after this battlefield success!

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

The thought of indefinitely keeping Gandal as a sex slave had certainly occured to Siobhan and appeared quite tempting...but she was not Kaelin. "I know, we're not Kaelin. As tempting as her in the cage sounded."

But the option of playtime brought a glow to her features and she gave Tegs a cocky grin. "Good? I've been more than good. And my idea brought down a rival company. I've earned a reward!" she gave Tegs a playful swat on the arm. "Will Anya be joining us?"

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

"I think we can arrange our schedule so she's at the debriefing, don't you?" Tegaea said, putting an arm around Siobhan's shoulders and giving her a kiss.

 

[Aeda Shaytari]

A figure watched them go, eyes narrowed with such hatred that the air before her seemed to roil and twist. Then she turned away. She would have her revenge....