The leaves fluttered in the night breeze, in the distance an Owl cried out, looking for his mate. No answer came. Marcus, hidden in the shadows watched patiently for the light in Montgomery’s apartment to extinguish. The Owl cried again, Marcus waited for a reply, hoping the bird would find the comfort he was looking for this evening as well. But again, no reply.
Presently the apartment went dark and Marcus started his approach to the building. It took only seconds to bypass the security measures at the door and then he made his way up using the service lifts. At the top floor he exited the lift and found his way to the central security room. When he entered a lone attendant looked up a the white haired man and nodded in silence. Getting up to go find a cup of coffee he left Marcus alone to kill the video feeds on Montgomery’s floor. They would now just loop the previous half hour until instructed otherwise.
His work done he made is way back to the lift and dropped two floors to Montgomery’s apartment. Again, the door lock was no more effective that a wish tossed into a well.
There was just enough moon light coming through the window to see Montgomery’s silhouette as he sat in a chair in the living room.
“I’ve been expecting you.” Montgomery said in a low resigned voice.
Marcus, one hand holding a palm size phaser walked slowly to a chair across from him.
Seeing the weapon in his hand Montgomery waived a hand. “You know I’m not armed. Your man did a through job clearing the apartment during todays trial.”
“Yes, today’s trial.” Marcus replied standing across from him. “Typical Federation Justice.”
“Well…… What did you expect?”
“No more, no less.”
“Did you find who was trying to kill me?”
“Please, don’t add insult to injury. It was you all along.”
Montgomery nodded. “A desperate ploy, but it served its purpose.”
“It afforded you some measure of sympathy, and it kept me from killing you.”
“Yes….. till now.”
Marcus smiled. “Oh, I’m not going to kill you Admiral.”
The old man looked up . “What?”
Shaking his head. “Some things in life are worse than death.” And with that Marcus stunned the Admiral with his phaser. Montgomery slumped over in the chair, drool running down his chin. Marcus got up and walked over, and grabbing a hand full of hair jerked his head to the side, exposing his neck. With his left hand he withdrew a small hypospray and injected the liquid it contained. Tossing the head back Marcus turned and started toward the door.
“All the little blue pills in the galaxy will do you no good now. I suggest a quite monastery to enjoy your new life of celibacy Admiral.”
The guard on the fourth floor sipped his coffee, watching the monitors. There was an almost imperceptible blip as the loop stopped and the monitor returned to recording real time. He leaned back and sighed, his sister was finally avenged.
Marcus strolled slowly down the dark street in Wells City. The Owl cried out, but this time, …..in the distance came the hoped for reply. Comfort comes in many forms, the company you keep,.... the touch of hand. The knowledge of justice served. This evening Marcus found just a measure of the comfort he so desperately searched for.
OFF:
Marcus Dinn
Owner of RICKS
Admiral Montgomery (NPC)
