Collections 101 - Part Three

       After Lynx changed back into her clothing, she took a position next to Jackal to watch the battle wage on below.
      “You did good.” Jackal said, his voice barely audible.
      “Better then you, anyway.” Lynx responded, keeping her voice low as well.
      He respected that about her. She knew that it wasn’t easy for him to give compliments and that he was a private person to begin with. “Everyone does better then me.”
      “Yeah, it’s a wonder that you come in second every month. What do you do, bore them to death?”
      Jackal fought a smile, “I happen…”
      “Hey, if you two need some privacy for your little flirting session, why don‘t you use the changing room? Some of us are trying to watch this!” Falcon barked.
      Lynx shook her head and looked back out the window. To her utter surprise, Angel was in the lead, and Mac wasn’t catching up. Every time Mac got in a good shot, Angel would get in three more.
      “The kid is pretty good.” Jackal mumbled.
      Lynx agreed with a nod.
      Fifteen minutes later, Mac had lost the battle. Both he and Angel barged into the control booth. Mac was never mad when he lost, as he was always willing to learn something from these experiences.
      “I must have been more tired then I thought.” Mac was joking, but it came across as an excuse to Falcon.
      “Those trying to kill you won’t take the time to ask if you are too tired to fight.” He frowned.
      “So, what did I win?” Angel asked, a large grin on his face. “Dinner alone with Lynx?”
      Lynx snorted.
      “No, dinner alone with me and Goose. Come to my quarters in an hour.” Falcon told him, and left the control booth with Goose following behind him.
      Serf, who had been quietly watching from the corner, decided that there was no reason for him to be here anymore, and exited the room.
      “Damn good, damn, damn good.” Mac patted Angel on the back. “Where did you learn to shoot like that? I’m an artillery expert, and I’ve never seen such accuracy.”
      “Well, Falcon taught me when I was a kid. I practiced a lot while he was gone, mostly so we would have something to do when he came around.” Angel shrugged, “After that hunter training built me up some, and then just experience, I guess.”
      “Think you could give me a couple lessons, show me where I am going wrong?” Mac took a seat on the bench beside them, both pulling off their boots.
      “Sure.” Angel’s eyes wandered over to Lynx, “I could help anyone else who needs it, as well.”
      She rolled her eyes, and exited the control booth. Jackal didn’t seem impressed by his offer either, and followed her out.
      “Give it a rest, man. We already told you, it won’t happen.” Beau chuckled.
      Angel grinned, “It’s going to happen, she’s made a challenge out of this. That woman is going to speak to me and appreciate my company.”
      Mac laughed, “She doesn’t even appreciate her own company.”
      “She doesn’t seem to mind Jackal all that much.”
      Beau shrugged, “I don’t see them hanging out in the entertainment area exchanging war stories either.”
      “Maybe not, but she does talk to him a whole lot more then anyone else.” Angel stepped into the changing room.
      Beau stared at Mac, who only returned the confuse look.
      “Lynx and Jackal have hated each other since she was assigned here.” Mac spoke a little louder so Angel could hear him.
      “Yeah, but he has eased up a bit on the dirty looks.” Beau added.
      “Think there is something going on between the two of them?” Angel asked, stepping out of the changing room.
      Mac shook his head, “No way, Goose once let it slip that… never mind, maybe I shouldn’t be saying anything.”
      “You already started, you have to finish now.” Beau said what Angel was thinking.
      Mac sighed, “She said that Lynx has never… you know… been intimate with anyone who wasn’t a target.”
      Both men had to stop themselves from dropping their jaws.
      “Are you kidding me?” Angel asked.
      He shook his head, “No, something about how she was breed. She doesn’t attach herself to males or some nonsense like that.”
      “I don’t think Jackal knows that.” Angel snickered.
      “No, seriously, Jackal hates her. I think he’s being more cordial because Falcon was getting tired of the feud.” Beau watched Mac enter the changing room.
      Angel shrugged, “Doesn’t matter to me, she isn’t married to him yet. I can still call dibs.”
      “Replicas aren’t allowed to marry or have kids!” Mac shouted from the changing room.
      “Huh, then she’ll always be free for someone to call dibs on.” Angel grinned.

      Jackal entered the docking bay after he, Beau, and Mac had split the shower. They had come to realize that an extra male on the ship meant less water for them. Falcon divided the water up by genders, which was something that would have to change now. He had laughed when the others suggested that one of them start showering with Lynx. Mostly because he was thinking it, before anyone had made mention of it.
      Heading over to the bounty computer, he wanted to check to see how much money he had made this week. Long ago, he had given up trying to beat Lynx, she was a workaholic. The best he could do was beat everyone else, and there was no way Angel was going to take his second place position. Pulling up his recent completed bounties, he frowned when he saw that Lynx had entered the data disk as his recovery. He told her not to do that, he moaned.
      There was nothing he could do about it now, unless he claimed fraud. Then both he and Lynx would be in trouble with headquarters. Checking his total, he sighed. He needed at least three more completed missions this week. He normally aimed for sixty to seventy thousand caps a week. Which most bounties were ten thousand a piece, they were more time consuming then anything else. Though Lynx seemed to shove in ten or more every week.
      He wondered how she even found time to sleep and shower, let alone join in the competitions and excel. Damn, he wished he could be enhanced like her… what did he hear Falcon call her once? Elite, that’s what they liked to be called, though it bothered the rest of the crew so Falcon stopped calling her that.
      “Damn it.” The curse came from behind him, as he was picking out a bounty. There was no mistaking the voice, it was the woman he had just been thinking of… again.
      Walking over to her ship, he kneeled down to see her on her back underneath it. She had several wires out, and had apparently gotten shocked.
      “What are you doing?”
      His voice scared her, and Lynx sat up. Unfortunately, the ship was above her and she hit her head. Rather hard, it made Jackal’s teeth shake.
      “Are you alright?”
      “Fine.” She said through her teeth, rubbing her forehead.
      “So much for knowing your surroundings.” He jested, but his voice sounded dead serious.
      Laying her head back down, she glared at him for a moment. “I keep having power outages, and the scanners aren’t picking up any faulty wiring. So, I thought I would give it a look myself.” She turned her eyes back to the open panel, “I have no idea what I am looking at.”
      This time Jackal allowed the grin to form on his lips, “Want some help?”
      Shaking her head, she looked back at him. “No, I need to figure this out on my own.”
      “Or I can teach you, so you know better next time.”
      She said nothing.
      “Figuring it out on your own is all well and good, and I am sure it’s a very rewarding experience. But some things you need to be taught, so you don’t screw up your ships wiring and be aloft in space with enemy fighters on your ass.”
      “I know, but I don’t like the fact that it’s you offering.” She shoved the tool box out from under the ship, then climbed out behind it.
      When she stood up, so did Jackal. He didn’t like her hovering above him. “And what is wrong with me offering?”
      “You.” She retorted, “This is not you. Jack doesn’t help. Jack ignores, Jack broods… Jack doesn’t grin… stop doing that, you are freaking me out!”
      Her reaction only forced his grin to become a smile. “If I knew that tormenting you was this easy, I would have started a long time ago.”
      “If you would have started a long time ago, then I would of thought this was the normal you.” She folded her arms across her chest, “Is this about me saving you, again?”
      “No, this time it’s about you giving me a bounty and now I have to pay your ass back… again.” His smile faded as he spoke.
      “You know how you can pay me back? Get rest of the crew to stop harassing me. I’ve been hazed more times then Serf, it needs to stop.”
      He shook his head, “Sorry, that would force me to say that I care about what happens to you, and I don’t.”
      Her eyes narrowed, “Well, aren’t you sweet.”
      The grin returned to him, “Thanks, I try.” He looked back at the ship, “Now, do you want some help solving the problem, or not?”
      With a heavy, reflective sigh, she nodded. “Alright, fine. Show me how it’s done.”
      He suppressed the urge to make a dirty joke, knowing that Lynx would become offended. “Let me see the scanner reports, and then you can climb underneath and I’ll show you what to do.”
      “Underneath the ship or you?” She joked flirtatious.
      Her words left him in shock, as she went to get the scanner she had used from the tool closet. When he was certain she couldn’t see him, he rubbed his face to get rid of the blush he knew was there.

      Pressing the buzzer next to Falcon’s quarters, Angel took a deep breath. He did not want to have dinner with his father and step-mother. He snorted, step-mother, she was his father’s play thing, a young cheap thrill that his father would toss aside once she was too old for him.
      Goose’s short, thin form greeted him with a wide smile, “Come in, Angel.” She went to hug him but he slipped past her as if he didn’t notice.
      The quarters were like a large apartment complete with showers, kitchen, living and dining rooms, and two bedrooms. Though they only used one and Falcon used the other as an office, where he could do work without being harassed by the crew. His quarters were off-limits to all crewmates, except on special occasions like this one.
      Angel looked at the open archway that led into the dining room, Falcon was already sitting at the head of the table. He knew from experience that commanders always received the best food. The crew normally ate anything that was non-perishable, where Falcon could afford fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as meat.
      Sitting at the table beside his father, Goose returned to the kitchen and began to bring out the food. Asparagus with butter sauce and filet mignon, as well as a nice bottle of red wine.
      “I am sorry I didn’t prepare a big meal, Angel.” Goose said, “I was running a little behind today.” She smiled at him, trying to remember Lynx’s words about giving the boy a second chance.
      Angel nodded, “It looks great.” His words were dry and forced, even though he did mean them.
      She smiled, though Falcon shot him a look of displeasure. After filling everyone’s plates, Goose remembered she had forgotten the cork screw and entered back into the kitchen.
      Angel was a little surprised with how much Goose was doing, while his father just sat there. He remembered how his own mother had Falcon help her cook and clean, whenever he arrived home for a time. She always told Angel that his father never pitched in around the house because he was never home, so he needed to do so when he was there. The logic made no sense to him as an older man, as his father had been sending them money so that his mother never had to work.
      Goose returned and asked Falcon to open the wine, which he complied to. When he stood from his seat, Angel was a little surprised to see his father kiss her forehead. He had never seen his father so much as squeeze his mother’s hand, let alone kiss her. It caused a burning in his heart, rage that was directed towards Goose when he knew it was Falcon’s fault.
      His eyes pierced through Goose’s skin as she poured them each a glass of wine. It was unusual for a hunter to be able to drink alcohol aboard the ship. He sipped at it while he ate, knowing it was probably the only wine he would be allowed to have that evening. It was quiet for several moments, and the uneasiness in the air became too much for Goose.
      “Are you liking the ship and crew so far, Angel?” She asked, biting into an asparagus spear.
      He looked up briefly at her, “It’s fine.” He had mumbled his answer, and knew that his father had glared at him for his rudeness.
      She ignored his behavior and continued, “You were amazing today in the simulation room. I’ve never seen Mac so impressed.”
      “Thanks.” He replied.
      Goose swallowed, “I hear that you’ve taken a liking to Lynx.” She had no idea why she had said that, but she really did want to find a topic for him to discuss with her.
      Angel looked up from his plate, “I don’t think who I take a liking to is any of your business.”
      She grinned nervously, “No, I don’t suppose it is.”
      “Don’t speak to my wife like that.” Falcon growled, he had had enough of this.
      “It’s alright, Falcon.” She patted his hand, “Looks like everyone is ready for dessert, I have a chocolate…”
      Their plates still held a large portion of food, they were no where near ready for dessert. “No, it’s not alright.” Her husband interrupted her, then turned his gaze back to his son. “That’s my wife you were speaking to. She cooked this meal for you, and she was trying to be pleasant. How dare you disrespect her hospitality.”
      Angel glared up at his father, “I didn’t realize that ship policy dictated that I had to like your wife.” He stood from his seat as Falcon did.
      “You don’t have to like anyone, but you do have to be polite.” Falcon’s upper lip curled.
      “I’m going to get the chocolate cake, that will make everyone feel better.” Goose stood up, “Sit down, boys, there is no need for this.”
      “Shut up!” Angel yelled at her, “You aren’t part of this family, don’t act as if you are.”
      “Don’t tell my wife and your superior to shut up.” Falcon growled, interrupting before Goose could apologize. “And she is more part of this family then you ever were.”
      “Oh, I’m sorry that I am part of your first family. You know the one you left to rot while you played commando.”
      “Played commando? I was supporting you and your mother, you little ingrate!”
      “My mother? You mean your wife, the one who took care of your child and was left alone all her life. She never turned to another man, but here you were fucking anything that was younger then her.”
      Falcon’s fist clenched. “Your mother knew what I was before we were married. She knew this was my job, and refused to board ship with you. It was her choice to be left behind.”
      “And if you were a real man, you would of quit and gotten a real job!” Angel balled up his fists.
      “One that would have paid in a year what I make in a week. And besides aren’t you in the same line of work as I am.”
      “Yeah, I am. Maybe, I’ll marry a woman, abandon her and my child, and marry a young slut like you too.”
      That was the last thing that Angel remembered, that and his father’s fist colliding with his face. He had thought he heard Goose cry out for Falcon to stop, but it was followed immediately by a deep black void.

      Lynx was playing doctor to him when he woke up in the medical bay. It had only felt like a matter of seconds that he was unconscious. He was flinched awake as the medicine that Lynx was lacing his wounds with stung him out of unconsciousness. She didn’t greet him with a friendly expression, though he had heard how close Goose and Lynx were.
      “How long have I been out?” He asked, making his lip bleed again.
      She shrugged, “I guess fifteen or twenty minutes.” She began to apply some more of the medicated goo to the gash above his eyebrow.
      “He’s got a mean right hook.” Angel said in between flinches.
      “So I can see.” She shook her head.
      Goose had been the one to rush out into the hallway, screaming for someone to help. Lynx and Jackal were the closest in the dock and rushed to her rescue. It had taken the both of them to pull Falcon off Angel’s limp body. Their commander had gone into a rage, and no amount of pleading was getting through to him. As Lynx pulled Angel out of the quarters, she had heard Jackal trying to talk Falcon down.
      She had no idea what had been said between the two men, but she had never in her life seen Falcon like that. Whatever happened, she was pretty sure that Angel deserved it.
      The medical bay door opened, and Jackal stepped inside. There was blood on his shirt, where Falcon’s bleeding knuckles had grabbed him. Walking over to the medical bunk, he looked Angel up and down briefly.
      “You are one lucky son-of-a-bitch.” Jackal spat, “If I had heard you say that, you wouldn’t be alive.”
      Lynx’s eyes flashed up to Jackal’s, but she didn’t raise her head. “What he say?”
      “I called Goose a slut, alright?” Angel barked. “I’m sorry, I was just trying to piss my father off.” He grunted when he called Falcon his father, he hadn’t wanted to the crew to think of him as Falcon’s son.
      She shook her head, “No wonder Falcon laid into you like that. He is very protective of Goose.”
      Reaching for the antibiotic tube, her hand touched warm flesh. She looked down to find Jackal’s hand atop of the tube. He retracted his hand immediately, making eye contact with her. Lynx thought she saw his cheeks flush slightly, but knew that that couldn’t of been true.
      Again the medical bay doors opened, and Falcon entered. His hand was swollen and his knuckles bloodied. He obviously came for some medical attention. Without a word, he walked to the other end of the medical bay and laid on a bunk, and closed the curtain around him.
      Lynx offered the antibiotic tube to Jackal, and went to check on her commanding officer. As soon as she was behind the curtain, Falcon sat up on his elbows, and watched her pull out some bandages and medication.
      “Think he’ll still be able to run missions?”
      She heard worry in his voice, “Are you really worried about that, or do you care if he’s alright?” She asked taking his injured hand into her own, and looking over t
      he knuckles. “Well?” Falcon asked as she made him flex his hand to check for any major breaks.
      “He’ll be fine. No worse then a bar fight.” She put his hand down, and looked up into his face. “Though, this may damage his standing with the crew. I would suggest telling all those involve to keep it to themselves.”
      Falcon nodded, “I agree.”
      She sucked on her inner cheek, there was more to say, but he was her commanding officer.
      “Go ahead, let me have it. Goose is too upset to.” Falcon laid down as she began to medicate and wrap his hand.
      “What the hell is the matter with you?” She was trying to speak as low as she could, so that the others couldn’t hear her. “Not only is he your son, but you are his commander. Do you know how much trouble you could be in if he reports this?”
      He slowly nodded his head, “I know, I fucked up.”
      “Not only that, but even if we keep our mouths shut, it won’t take a genius to figure out what happened. Your hand and his face look like ground beef.” She sighed, “And you know, Goose has been called a lot worse.”
      With his free hand, he rubbed his face. “It’s more then just him calling Goose that. He accused me of abandoning him and his mother, but I was working. You know how hunters operate, and his damn mother wouldn’t live aboard ship.” Falcon normally didn’t discuss these matters with anyone but Goose, but he knew that he needed someone not involved in the matter to give him an outside opinion.
      “What he accuses you of and what the truth is are two different things.”
      “No, actually he was right.” He sighed, “Fact is, his mother never liked me. She got pregnant during a one night stand, and her father was a senator. He could have made my life as a hunter a hell or non-existent, and he told me that when he asked me to marry her.” He sighed, “That’s why I always tell you guys to use contraceptives, and try to dissuade you from physical relationships. I spent a long time, married to a woman who hated my guts. Didn’t want to get to know me, didn’t like me, and was turning my son against me.”
      “I think that’s a little cynical and hypocritical of you, Falcon.” She finished wrapping his hand. “You disallow relationships of any kind aboard the ship or off it. Which is why the men are constantly bothering me, and why they feel they have to sneak off ship. Besides, I think its our mistake to make, don’t you?”
      He bit his lower lip.
      “Had you not screwed up that day, then you wouldn’t have your son. And you do love your son, don’t you?”
      “Yeah, I do.” He sat up, placing his feet over the edge of the bed, before checking over her medical work.
      “Sometimes the best things in your life come from the worst things. If you constantly tell everyone else not to live their life and make mistakes, then you might be forcing them to miss out of the good parts of their errors.”
      He grinned, “Goose told me that you were a good counselor.”
      She shrugged, “Just offering my opinions. No offense, Falcon, but I think you and Angel need to apologize to each other.”
      “Yep.”
      She went to open the curtain, but he grabbed it.
      “Hey, I saw that you put in for a transfer.”
      Lynx nodded her head, “Yeah, I am so tired of being harassed by these assholes. Now that I am the only female, I don’t know if I can hold out.”
      “I’ll talk to them, make them see it my way. Just give it a couple more months, take your name off the transfer list. You are pretty much the only reason we are the third ranked collections vessel, and it would cause us no end of grief if you left. Me mostly because Goose would complain constantly about being the only woman aboard, and how it was all my fault that you left.”
      Lynx chuckled, before nodding, “Alright, two months.”
      “Three.”
      She grinned, “Ok, three.”

      Lynx’s ship docked, that morning she had left to do a mission. Unfortunately she was unable to collect, and cursed herself the entire way back. She knew she should of picked out several missions, but she always felt obligated to do them all. With the medical ship in route, she didn’t have much time to waste. It wasn’t that she couldn’t find or handle the collection, it was that damnable Angel that had done it to her. She was purposely allowing her target to think he was winning a fight against her, so he would follow her into a trap she had laid.
      That was when Angel appeared out of no where it distracted her, giving her target a chance to sucker punched her so hard that she past out. When she awoke both Angel and the target were gone, and only footprints of a pursuit had been left in their wake. She could only pray that Angel hadn’t caught him, as he didn’t deserve the bounty.
      Jumping from her ship, she ran to the computer console to check Angel’s retrieval list. She growled to herself, when she saw that he had collected on her body pick-up. With a hard stomp of her foot, she headed down the halls to find him.
      Entering into the entertainment room, the guys were watching a death match on the hologram. Angel stood up when she entered and grinned.
      “Hey, sorry about today. I didn’t want him to get away, and when I came back you were gone.”
      After she had awoken still laying in the grass, she went to a bar to calm herself down. She needed some time away from Angel or she might of caused him bodily harm. Though she was immune to the effects of alcohol, she had attempted to drink away her sorrows.
      “You fucking son of a bitch, I should kick your god damn ass!” She screamed.
      All eyes fell on her, no one had ever before heard her get angry like that, nor was she prone to cussing.
      “I’m sorry, but what did you want me to do? He was beating the crap out of you, I had to step in.” Angel’s voice held genuine concern.
      “He wasn’t beating the crap out of me, I was luring him to a trap. There was only five more steps and I would of owned him!” She stepped forward and jabbed him in the chest with her index finger, “Now, I have to pay the goddamn ‘no collections fine’!”
      “Look, I’ll give you the money from the bounty. I am really sorry.”
      “The bounty was nine thousand caps, the fine is twelve thousand. Keep your pity money!” She hissed.
      He frowned, “I didn’t know, Lynx, I am really very sorry.” He had almost choked when she said the fine was that much, on his last ship it had only been five thousand.
      Jackal stood up from his seat, “Ok, there is nothing that can be done here. Why don’t you both just go to your corners and take a few breathes.”
      “Shut the fuck up!” Lynx barked at him, then returned her glare to Angel. “If you ever steal one of my bounties again, I swear…”
      “What’s going on here?” Falcon entered into the room, he had heard the yelling echoing down the hall.
      “Angel stole my bounty.” Lynx calmed the anger in her voice when she spoke to her commander.
      Falcon rose an eyebrow, “Is this true?”
      “I thought she was being attacked, I went to step in, and he knocked her out. So, I chased him to make sure he didn’t get away. Look, I’ll split the money with you, give it all to you, whatever you want.”
      “Why did you claim it?” Falcon asked before Lynx could speak.
      He shrugged, “She hadn’t actually caught him, just lured him out. Besides it was the only mission that I grabbed. I’m sorry.” Had he said he was sorry enough, yet? He wondered to himself.
      “Now, I have to pay the ‘no collections fine’.” Lynx growled at Falcon.
      “No, Angel said whatever you want. He’ll pay your fine, and hopefully that will be a lesson to him.” He looked at Angel to see if he would disagree, but his son only nodded his head.
      Lynx’s body released it’s tension, “Fine.” She hissed before exiting the room.
      Falcon shook his head, and looked at Beau and Mac who had been shocked into silence. “Well, since I have you all here. I have something I need to talk about.” He walked over to the U shaped couch that encircled the entertainment hologram. Flipping it off, he sat down, inviting everyone to sit with him.
      “What about Lynx?” Angel used his thumb to point to the exit she had used.
      “That’s who this is about.” Falcon informed him, as he rested his elbows on his knees and folded his hands together. “Lynx just put in a transfer. It seems that she feels like you guys target her a lot with your pranks.”
      “We tease her, but I don’t think we…” Mac stopped speaking when Falcon glared up at him.
      “Lynx makes the most of anyone on this ship. If she were to leave not only would it remove us from the third rank position to about the twelfth, but we would lose a lot of luxuries that we have around here. We would go back to one shower a week in groups, our meal rations would decrease, and the ship wouldn’t be outfitted with new appliances as often.” He cleared his throat, “I know that some of you don’t know what it was like before she came aboard, but it was really tight around here. If you left ship, then you had to bring back three bounties. Life was a little rough, get it?”
      Everyone nodded their heads.
      “Good, so let’s ease up on Lynx a bit.” He stood up, “Oh, I almost forgot the worst part. If Lynx left then Goose would be pissed at all of us.” He tried to hide a shiver, before exiting the room to find Lynx.
      “Damn, I didn’t know it bothered her that much.” Beau said.
      Serf shrugged, “I get picked on a lot, maybe I should complain to Falcon and put in for a transfer.” He grinned, it was a weak attempt to make a joke.
      “Don’t you have something you should be doing?” Jackal snarled.
      “Yeah,” Mac added, “I clogged one of the toilets and it stinks in there, go fix it.”
      Serf sighed, and got up reluctantly, “Why can’t I ever shut up?” He asked himself as he made his way out of the room.

      The buzzing noise came to Lynx’s door, and her eyes slowly opened. It took her a few moments to realize that the buzz was in fact part of reality and not her dream. Standing up, she pulled on her jump suit, before yelling that she was coming. The door slide open as she finished zipping up her suit, it was Goose.
      “Medical ship is here.” She informed her.
      Lynx sighed, “Great, my day to be molested.”
      Goose chuckled, “You get a buddy to take you yet?”
      She shook her head, “Guess, I should go ask someone.” Her words were spoken through a yawn.
      Not even saying a goodbye to Goose, she stepped out of her room and began to search the ship for someone. The medical ship came about once a year, sometimes more often. It only inspected hybrids like herself, the other crewmates had to find their own doctors. Not only did it check to ensure she was healthy and give her several shots to keep her that way, but they collected samples. Eggs from her ovaries, blood, skin tissue, muscle tissue, and spinal fluid were most common.
      It was why she needed what Goose called a “buddy”, as she had to be given pain medication during the procedure. She couldn’t fly herself back, so someone had to do the flying for her. They would take the multi-passenger transport to the medical ship. It was against regulations for the medical ship to open an umbilical with them. There had been times in the past when someone had snuck in without their knowledge, and stolen samples or information to sell. Making people come aboard their own transport, allowed them to monitor more closely who was aboard the ship.
      After several moments of searching, she hadn’t found anyone aboard. She sighed, they must of all known that the medical ship had arrived, and grabbed missions. It was pretty boring to wait around for her examination to end, and they didn’t get paid for it. It was odd that Jackal hadn’t taken the opportunity to pay her back. Of course, it was something he would have been forced to do, so it really wasn’t pay back. She shook the thought from her mind, when she saw Falcon walking down the hall with his data pad in hand.
      “I need someone to accompany me on the medical ship.” She told him.
      He frowned as if she were asking him, “I don’t have time for that.”
      Lynx sighed, “I think everyone left.”
      His eyes shifted back to his data pad, “Yep, everyone is off ship except for Angel.” He frowned, “That lazy bastard.”
      “What about Serf?”
      “Off ship with Mac.” Falcon turned around, and headed for Angel’s quarters.
      Lynx kept close behind him, trying not to pout. The last person she wanted to take her was Angel. She watched Falcon press the button beside Angel’s door. When there was no reply, Falcon opened the panel beside the door, revealing a thumb scanner. With a quick swipe of his thumb, the door was forced open.
      “What the hell are you doing aboard ship?” Falcon barked, “Don’t you have any bounties to do?”
      Angel stood from his bed, he was wearing only his boxers. “Damn, could of given me a minute to dress.” His eyes went to Lynx, then back to his father.
      “I asked a question.”
      He shrugged, “I was going to go on one later. I’m still a little sore from the beating you gave me.”
      Falcon glared, “Too late, you lose. Fly Lynx to the medical ship and wait until she’s done there.” With that he flipped around, leaving the two alone.
      “Huh?” Angel looked at her.
      “Just put some clothes on and meet me at the transport dock, ok?” Lynx rolled her eyes.

      “Hey, Cheung.” Lynx greeted the familiar doctor, as she stepped off the transport.
      The tall, dark haired Asian man smiled at her, “Good to see your still alive.” He chuckled.
      It was his common salutation to every hybrid bounty hunter. Lynx had known him since he was a medical student, while he worked at the base where she received her training. He waved for both her and Angel to follow him to the main room.
      “Do you care if I watch?” Angel asked.
      Lynx shrugged, “Whatever, it’s not that interesting.”
      “I’m curious though.” He looked at Cheung.
      “You can watch with my partner behind the glass in the operations room.” Cheung told him, as they entered into a white hallway.
      “You still working with Doug?” Lynx asked. For several years now, Cheung had been telling her that he wanted a new partner. Doug seemed to think that those like her were property and didn’t care to treat them as people.
      “Yep.” Cheung answered, and pointed to a door with the words ‘Operations’ on it. “You can wait and watch in there.”
      Angel nodded and entered the room.
      Lynx followed the doctor into the main examination room. There was a large tank in the center, and a surgical table beside it. She stripped herself down to her bra and underwear when Cheung asked her to.
      Sitting on the table, she waited for Cheung to finish reading her medical history, as well as her reproduction records. “Looks like another one of your eggs made it out of the tank. That makes six.” He informed her.
      She liked to hear about those things, though she would never meet the children. It felt good to know that a piece of herself was out there, well six pieces of herself.
      He began to check her body with a scanner, ensuring that her bones were the proper density, as well as her blood pressure and other usual check-up procedures. “Have you had any head injuries recently?”
      “The other day I got hit so hard that I was knocked out for a while.” She told him.
      “How long?” He ran another scanner over her head.
      She shrugged, “No idea.”
      “Looks like everything is alright.” Cheung leaned forward, and she could smell his sweet breath. He had recently been eating candy, something cherry flavored. “Alright then, into the tank.”
      Lynx frowned, “I hate this part.”
      “I hate doing this part as well.” Cheung informed her, as she jumped down from the table and entered the tank in the middle of the room.
      He placed the breathing mask over her mouth and nose, then picked up a syringe on the tray beside the tank. Gently, he gave her the shot in her upper arm. It would dull her pain sensors as well as put her to sleep for a short while. Placing her wrists in the shackles beside her, Cheung locked them in place, and then another set on her upper arms.
      “Now remember, deep breathes, and don’t panic.” He informed her as he shacked her thighs and ankles. “We are monitoring you, and it may feel like the fluid is getting into your mask, but it’s not.” He placed a receiver in her ear.
      She gave a groggy nod. Her eyes looked up to where Angel and the blonde headed, Doug, stood behind the glass. Cheung took a step back, and the tank door began to slide close. This is where Doug took control. The tank slowly began to fill with a greenish liquid. Though she was slowly falling asleep, she could still feel her body going into panic mode. She knew that she was safe, but it always happened. Her body would react to the chemicals in the liquid, it happened to all like her. She had to fight the urge to kick, which wouldn’t of helped anyway because of her shackles.
      Her heart began to beat rapidly as the liquid approached her neck. “Calm down, Hybrid 84756A.” Doug emotionless voice entered her ear through the receiver. “Deep breathes, allow the oxygen into your lungs.”
      After several intakes of breath, she fell unconscious to her surroundings. Cheung monitored her from the examination room, as Doug began to procedure from above. Angel stood watching him, as the doctor informed him of what he was doing. There were monitors all around the room, pointed at the different angles of the tank.
      Doug pointed to one, “We are going to take a small sample of spinal fluid.” He informed Angel. A rather large needle appeared on the monitor and headed for Lynx’s spine.
      Angel looked down as the tank came to life. There were arms moving around inside of it, positioning needles and other devices around Lynx’s body. It looked more like a torture contraption then a piece of medical equipment.
      The monitor changed to another needle in front of her abdomen, “Some eggs samples.”
      “What do you use all these samples for?” Angel asked.
      “To create more hybrids. A single hybrid can have up to five different people who have donated to their DNA. We still need sperm and an egg, but with skin cells, spinal fluid, and other samples we can give them the qualities that we want.” Doug looked at Angel who was watching the procedure closely.
      “So, do you guys give them the light eyes and hair, or is that just something that happens?”
      “It’s a genetic defeat that we encourage, yes. It something we dissuade in children that are going to be adopted, but for hunter hybrids it’s law.” Doug was finished, and began to empty the tank.
      “So, what’s the difference between her and me?” Doug grinned as Cheung pulled Lynx from the tank, and laid her on the table. “She has increased healing, strength, agility, and longevity.”
      “Longevity? How much longer?”
      “We began making hybrids eighty six years ago, none have died from old age, yet. Most die in battle, so it’s kind of hard to judge their average life span. From the way we have monitored their aging though, it seems that around thirty five their cells reduce the speed of their aging to about half.” He nodded, then add. “The children we make for adoption though, aren’t given any of that stuff.”
      Angel nodded his head as Cheung entered the operations room. “She’ll come to in about five or ten minutes. Though she’ll act as if she’s drunk, take her straight to her quarters and let her rest. Inform your commander, that she is going to be in pain for a couple of days. Try to make her take it easy, though knowing her she won’t.” Cheung informed him.
      He nodded, “Alright.” He looked back at Doug, “What was the green liquid for?”
      “Sterilize any bacteria on her or the equipment, also works well as a healing aid. Only problem with it is it causes a panic reaction in the hybrids. As a regular human, you never want it to touch your skin. Soaks in and can make you go into ‘fight or flight’ mode, without your ability to decide which. Makes you terrified of everything and everyone.”
      Angel rose both his eyebrows, “Doesn’t sound too safe.”
      “It isn’t, but it’s the best way to get these samples, because it works well with the sedatives we give them.” Cheung informed him. “Besides, it makes it easier on them and us to do it this way, otherwise it’s surgery and could take a couple hours each.”
      He gave a gentle nod, before looking back at Lynx down below on the table. Her hand began to move suggesting that she was slowly awakening from her medically induced sleep.

      Angel chuckled as he helped Lynx down the hall, she kept telling him to be quiet and placing her finger over her lips. Her voice was extremely loud whenever she spoke, but she didn’t seem to realize it. Cheung hadn’t been kidding when he said she would act like she was drunk.
      He kept having to catch her from falling, and though he offered to carry her, she insisted she could walk on her own. Carefully, he watched her as she bumped shoulder to shoulder against the walls, swaying her back and forth. Another step revealed to be too much for her, and she stumbled onto the ground.
      She laughed as she sat up on her bottom, and smiled up at him. “Oopsie.”
      That was about all he could take, and Angel began to laugh along with her. He reached down to help her up, but instead of pulling herself upward, she pulled him down beside her.
      “I got to tell you something.” She whispered, or at least she attempted to, it was just as loud as her normal voice.
      “What’s that?”
      “Your father really does love her, and she really loves him.” Her head laid back against the metal wall.
      Angel’s smile faded, “I know.”
      Lynx’s head shot up, “You know?”
      “Yes, I know. I am not blind. That’s not my problem, well it was, but it isn’t now. Well, it was what I thought the problem was, but now I see that it’s not. Does that make any sense?”
      “No.” She giggled. “But I’m sure it makes sense to you. Be nicer to Goose, she wants to be friends with you.” She tapped his nose with her index finger. “And don’t steal bounties, you bastard. I haven’t forgiven you.”
      Angel smiled, “How many times do I have to say that I am sorry?”
      “Have you said sorry to Goose?”
      “Well, no…”
      “If you do that, I’ll forget the entire thing.” She had to stop herself from giggling for no reason at all. “You make nice with Goose, and you won’t have to pay my fine. What do you say?”
      “Ah, I don’t want you to suffer…”
      “Twelve thousand caps is well worth it.”
      Angel stood up, helping Lynx to her feet. “I’ll think about it.”
      She refused to stand, “I’m not getting up until you agree.” He was pulling on both of her arms, but she just pulled right back.
      “Ok, I agree. Geeze, you’re a busy body, you know that?”
      Lynx laughed as she stood up, “And you’re a spoiled little brat.”
      He chuckled, “Ok, that’s an accurate description. At least, that’s the way I’ve been acting, isn’t it?”
      She nodded as she wrapped her arms around one of his own, and they began down the hallway. Angel had to hold his position so not to sway with Lynx as they walked. He tried not to pay attention to the fact that she had placed his upper arm between her breast. She walked sideways, trying to look at him, and keep her balance.
      “Are you cooking today?” She questioned.
      “Yes, it’s my day. Got any requests?”
      She shrugged, “What can you make?”
      Angel rolled his eyes upward as if he were trying to read the back of his mind, “I’m actually a pretty decent cook.” He decided not to go into detail, “What about you?”
      Pressing her lips together, she laughed through them. “I make cereal and toast… that’s it.”
      “That’s all you make? For all three meals?”
      She nodded her head, “I lived my life eating in a mess hall, I have no idea how to cook.”
      “You want me to teach you?”
      “Let me try your food first, then I’ll decide.”
      Angel chuckled, “Well, if you weren’t about to spend your day sleeping, I would invite you to watch me.”
      “Maybe, next time.” They reached her door, and she again beeped his nose. “See you can be nice, you should try doing that with Goose. Oh, and ignore Mac and Beau, those sexiest bastards are only going to get you into trouble… and back on my bad side.”
      He nodded his head, “I’ll remember that, Lynx.”
      “Lyn.” She corrected, “Now, go apologize to Goose, you promised.”

      Angel couldn’t believe he was doing this. He doubted that Lynx would even remember that she had made him promise, and he would have to pay the fine anyway. However, he needed to get some of his father’s favor back. So, standing outside the bridge, he entered to find Goose sitting at the communications console.
      The bridge was a large room which was meant to hold up to eight people working. However, only two people ran the ship, Goose and Falcon. For the most part auto-pilot did the flying, though Falcon took over when they had to go off the scheduled itinerary. The communications console was to the right of the room, and there was a large half oval a chair in the center and another console around it for the ship’s captain. The rest of the room was filled with navigation, shields, and weapon controls.
      To his surprise, Goose looked up and grinned at him. Taking off her headphones, she gave him a questioning look, “Falcon is in his office.”
      “I came… I came to talk to you.”
      Her head dropped, she was afraid he would say that. She really didn’t want to argue with him anymore.
      “I wanted to apologize for my behavior, Goose. You aren’t the one that I am angry with. My father is the one to blame, and I shouldn’t of dragged you into it.” He was suppressing the urge to divert his eyes from her own.
      She smiled, “Thank you, Angel. Although, I wish that you didn’t think that Falcon is to blame for any of this. He did the best he could for you and your mother.”
      “He did the best that he wanted. I know my parents weren’t in love, and I know that the two of you are. I’m glad that my father found someone, but my mother lived her entire life with no one. If he would have been around more, then maybe she could of felt something for him.” He cleared his throat, he couldn’t believe he was talking to her about this.
      She nodded, “Yeah, I suppose so. They were both young, and they made a mistake, but I agree they should of tried harder.”
      “Thanks for understanding, and again I’m sorry. I didn’t really mean those things that I said, I was just mad, you know? I mean that doesn’t excuse me, but… I’m sorry.” He was really getting tired of saying that lately.
      Goose stood up, and hugged him. It took a moment for him to set aside his pride and hug her back. “Lynx put you up to this, didn’t she?” She whispered in his ear.
      Angel chuckled, “How’d you know?”
      She shrugged, “She’s the peace keeper around here.” Goose stepped back, and saw Falcon behind Angel at the entry way.
      Seeing his wife hugging his son was the last thing that he had expected to see that day. “Am I interrupting?” He asked.
      Goose giggled, “Yeah, you caught us. We’ve been having an affair behind your back, then pretending not to like each other.”
      Angel didn’t realize that she was joking, “What? No, that’s a lie.”
      Falcon laughed and came to stand next to his wife, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. “She was kidding, boy.” He kissed her temple then turned his attention back to his son. “Now, what the hell are you doing here? Aren’t you suppose to be making lunch?”
      He sighed, “Yes, sir.”
      Falcon grinned at his wife as his son left, “That was nice to see.”
      “It was nice to do.” She took her seat behind the communications console. “Maybe now I can sleep at night.”