Chapter 91: Sometimes Good Intentions Have Bad Consequences
DarkDestroyer
The Destroyer Of Worlds
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Warner Brothers Discovery Owns Babylon 5. For Entertainment Purposes Only. Non Profit.
I sit in my quarters watching the "Bat Computer" as security attempts to attempts to hunt down Clemons. I now have five slaved monitors all together arranged in a curve, very much resembling as much as possible a Bat Computer or various interpretations of them over the decades. I could afford to have a Cray installed here---but this will do for now, especially since I'm probably not going to be on Babylon 5 after this year, but that's for another time. The resolution they have is baffling. Babylon 5 requires a massive upgrade, to match what all the new line Earth Force ships have, you'd think we'd have taken care of this, but wars tend to distract from things like equipment upgrades. Nevertheless I am as Big Brother Bats as I can be here in my little nest of activity. I sip my cola in my glass...Lianna will be here in a couple of days. I've been chomping at the bit to see her...I can't wait for Sheridan and Delenn to return as well as Delenn has my---wait a minute. Static replaces one of the monitors. Uh-oh.
"Young to Security Central?"
"Ztttzzzzz..." I tap my link again but get the same response. This is not good. I feel for my PPG which is in it's holster against my right hip where I normally keep it. The only good thing about wearing a suit. On my left side in a easily unflappable pouch is my Denn'Bok. I do my calming exercises as I attempt to---the door chime goes off. I exhale and turn around in my chair to face the door.
"Come."
Stepping into my quarters with that insufferable smirk, and looking like something out of a demented Tik'Tok video back home---is John Clemens.
"You know who I am."
It's a statement, not a question.
"Of course I do, Mr. Clemens. What can I do for you?" I ask
"You can come with me without any fuss. I've cut all comm to your quarters. Have security running around like chickens with their heads cut off."
Normally, I would choose a more lighter tone for this situation, but I can see how demented this guy is. There are a dime a dozen of them in the B5 universe, occasionally one slips through. I stand up fighting every urge in my body to pick up my PPG and blow this guy's head off.
"Okay. I'm not who the one you came here---"
"Shut the fuck up. I know who you are. I have monitoring communications since before I stepped onto this hunk of junk. I know exactly who you are, you freak, and you're going to pay for what you've done to me."
Uh. Okay. I attempt to pull out my PPG but with a swift kick of his leg he kicks it out of my hand and then takes my hand and brings me down to the deck in an arm bar. My training is like kid's karate compared to his. He pushes my face down hard onto the deck so my cheek and mouth are smooshed---i-into--the deck.
"What do you want?" I manage to ask and instead of an answer I get a hard THUD to the back of the head and everything goes black.
I wake up after receiving a thunderous blow to the head that makes me vomit blood, I see stars, possible concussion. My head is pounding. I can feel my legs, feet, and hands all bound in duck tape. I'm surprised he didn't tape my mouth shut either, that means he wants me to talk.
"W-why---"
"You know why! You are responsible for the death of the President! Sheridan may have commanded the dissident fleet, but you were the one responsible for planning the rebellion against us! You...cost...me...everything." he says the latter four words as coldly as I've heard any one speak words in my life and my head snaps to the left hard again as he belts me.
"I c---c---can't argue with that logic."
"What? You mocking me boy? Do you know what I could do to you?"
"I-I am aware, and I---COUGH---am not mocking you. You're right. I'm responsible for the death of Clark. I am NOT responsible for your actions at the prison though, that's all on you!"
This time he uses his boot and KICKS ME HARD and my chair flips over and I land hard on the deck. That's going to leave a mark. Come on Zack.
"Ugh...."
"What...nothing fancy to say? I've seen the vids on you. You like to talk."
"So you're gonna be the one t-that shuts me up?"
"I figure someone should. I've nothing to lose. You keep interfering in things that don't concern you. You're going to cause something to happen that you can't control, and it'll cost people lives."
I start laughing. Blood and mucus spitting out as I do.
"That's rich coming from you Clemens. You have no holy crusade, you're doing this for revenge. You were going to kill Sheridan. Let me tell you s-something...it doesn't matter if I die today, tomorrow, or twenty years from now, what you're trying to prevent will endure. I will tell you though, if you do kill me, you won't get out of here alive."
"Oh I have no intentions of leaving here alive. You or Sheridan, it doesn't really matter now. No one is going to bother us." I have another blow to the head from his boot
I wake up. Head dizzy now. Definitely a concussion. Not sure what grade. This is getting to be as bad as Neroon's beating, but he at least was more gentlemanly about it. I attempt to look around the best I can. I can't turn my neck at all. It's still against the deck. I'm laying on my left side, which is about to go numb. I'm dehydrated, which means we've been doing this for quite some time now, couldn't guess how for how long, maybe a day. I am regretting that glass of cola now. What the jackass doesn't know is that I've been slowly using a piece of glass I found on the deck to cut the duct tape. It's taking forever since it's so small. He's sitting across from me his front to me, and....and peeling an apple with his knife as the skin drops to the deck.
"You're awake."
"W-why am I still alive?"
"Because I like to see you squirm before I kill you."
"Is this...w-what you did to your prisoners, and the dissidents of B-Beta 7?" I ask coughing up blood again
It is nearly time to channel my inner Batman. I can feel my anger start to get the better of me now. This fucker is pissing me off.
"Oh I did far worse to those scum. It's true, I did come here to kill Sheridan, but you were ripe for the picking. Sloppy of your people to out you---you know how many people want you dead now?" he asks
"I can imagine."
Come on...come on. I need a way to goad him over here though too...just as my tape finally has cut.
"I can c-c-cut you a deal."
"What?"
That gets him to pause.
"I said that I can cut you a deal. Let me go and I'll see to you get off scott free."
He laughs.
"Not a chance in hell. I'm not an idiot."
"You know who I am, and what I can do---I can get you out of here."
"What you can do, is shut your mouth."
I gather what strength I have and call on my Ranger training. Everything I Have now...
"Why don't you come and make me." I GROWL in my best Batman voice
That does it. He strides over and that is when with all my might I SWING my left arm at him and KNOCK HIM OUT with a single blow, he thuds onto the deck. I exhale hard as the adrenaline rushes through my body. I then twist myself around so that my back is now finally on the deck, breathing carefully, and use my glass shard to cut part of the leg tape off---it takes more time than I expected. I don't have a lot of time. My gut tells me that he's going to be out for maybe a few hours. That punch wasn't that hard I gave him. I am able to then twist back around and push myself up off the deck and attempt to rip apart the duct tape around my feet but can't do it. I see a work bench over---we're in a room. It has my link, PPG, and Denn'Bok on it. I hop over to the table and pick up my link and double tap it to activate it.
"Young to S--Security."
"Allan here...holy hell Adam, where the hell have you been?"
"He's got me Zack. I don't know where are. My link's active now---use it to find my location. Probably somewhere in Brown. I underestimated him..."
"Are you all right?"
"No...not at all. I have him knocked out right now---b-but it took everything I have to do it. Hurry." I tap the link off and sit down on the bench and lean back. I feel myself...my face is puffy. My wrists bloody from the binding and cutting. I'm exhausted as well. I look at Clemens. I look over to where my PPG---the mother fucker kept it loaded-. Remember my PPG is coded to my DNA only, so it probably frustrated him he couldn't use it at all. --I pick it up and turn the safety off and point it directly at his head. I convince myself that if he moves a single inch before security arrives, I will blow his head off. I tap my link.
"Zack...I don't know if he's rigged the room or not. You might have to use gas to knock us both out, and disable whatever triggers he's set up."
"Acknowledged. We'll figure it out Adam, don't worry."
Sometime later I wake up in Medlab with a start, with Lillian gently reassuring me that everything is okay.
"W-what happened?"
"Mr. Allan and security found you. You'd passed out from exhaustion. Clemens is in the brig under high observation. We're awaiting a ship to deport him back to Earth."
I'm hooked up to an IV and see I've dermals wrapped around me.
"What's the damage doc?"
"Well...you took quite the beating, not as extensive as the one that Neroon delivered, but very close to it. You have a minor concussion, bruising. Most of the lacerations I've managed to heal. Seeing as how your foot surgery is in a couple of weeks---you've just invited yourself to an extended stay in Medlab."
I groan.
"I thought you enjoyed my company?"
"I did...but frankly not the food."
"Well...I think we are well prepped to operate on your foot now, but we'll let you fully heal first. The clone is fully grown. All the tests on it have passed. Stephen will be arriving sometime tomorrow, he's been informed of what happened. So have Sheridan and Delenn, and Captain Lochley. Everyone is concerned about you."
"Yeah...I'm concerned about me too. Lianna?"
"Ms. Kemmer will be arriving at the end of the week. No doubt you'll be hearing from her soon. You need to rest Adam, you were captured for two days."
That is something I figured. At least 48 hours.
"All right Doc. You got me. I'll enjoy sleeping for the next few. Where's Zack?"
"Filing his report on this. He's been here several times checking on you. I've given you something for the pain, if you need anything else, you know what to do."
I just nod and close my eyes. I can't help by see Clemens stupid smirk as I rage inside.
I sit in my quarters watching the "Bat Computer" as security attempts to attempts to hunt down Clemons. I now have five slaved monitors all together arranged in a curve, very much resembling as much as possible a Bat Computer or various interpretations of them over the decades. I could afford to have a Cray installed here---but this will do for now, especially since I'm probably not going to be on Babylon 5 after this year, but that's for another time. The resolution they have is baffling. Babylon 5 requires a massive upgrade, to match what all the new line Earth Force ships have, you'd think we'd have taken care of this, but wars tend to distract from things like equipment upgrades. Nevertheless I am as Big Brother Bats as I can be here in my little nest of activity. I sip my cola in my glass...Lianna will be here in a couple of days. I've been chomping at the bit to see her...I can't wait for Sheridan and Delenn to return as well as Delenn has my---wait a minute. Static replaces one of the monitors. Uh-oh.
"Young to Security Central?"
"Ztttzzzzz..." I tap my link again but get the same response. This is not good. I feel for my PPG which is in it's holster against my right hip where I normally keep it. The only good thing about wearing a suit. On my left side in a easily unflappable pouch is my Denn'Bok. I do my calming exercises as I attempt to---the door chime goes off. I exhale and turn around in my chair to face the door.
"Come."
Stepping into my quarters with that insufferable smirk, and looking like something out of a demented Tik'Tok video back home---is John Clemens.
"You know who I am."
It's a statement, not a question.
"Of course I do, Mr. Clemens. What can I do for you?" I ask
"You can come with me without any fuss. I've cut all comm to your quarters. Have security running around like chickens with their heads cut off."
Normally, I would choose a more lighter tone for this situation, but I can see how demented this guy is. There are a dime a dozen of them in the B5 universe, occasionally one slips through. I stand up fighting every urge in my body to pick up my PPG and blow this guy's head off.
"Okay. I'm not who the one you came here---"
"Shut the fuck up. I know who you are. I have monitoring communications since before I stepped onto this hunk of junk. I know exactly who you are, you freak, and you're going to pay for what you've done to me."
Uh. Okay. I attempt to pull out my PPG but with a swift kick of his leg he kicks it out of my hand and then takes my hand and brings me down to the deck in an arm bar. My training is like kid's karate compared to his. He pushes my face down hard onto the deck so my cheek and mouth are smooshed---i-into--the deck.
"What do you want?" I manage to ask and instead of an answer I get a hard THUD to the back of the head and everything goes black.
I wake up after receiving a thunderous blow to the head that makes me vomit blood, I see stars, possible concussion. My head is pounding. I can feel my legs, feet, and hands all bound in duck tape. I'm surprised he didn't tape my mouth shut either, that means he wants me to talk.
"W-why---"
"You know why! You are responsible for the death of the President! Sheridan may have commanded the dissident fleet, but you were the one responsible for planning the rebellion against us! You...cost...me...everything." he says the latter four words as coldly as I've heard any one speak words in my life and my head snaps to the left hard again as he belts me.
"I c---c---can't argue with that logic."
"What? You mocking me boy? Do you know what I could do to you?"
"I-I am aware, and I---COUGH---am not mocking you. You're right. I'm responsible for the death of Clark. I am NOT responsible for your actions at the prison though, that's all on you!"
This time he uses his boot and KICKS ME HARD and my chair flips over and I land hard on the deck. That's going to leave a mark. Come on Zack.
"Ugh...."
"What...nothing fancy to say? I've seen the vids on you. You like to talk."
"So you're gonna be the one t-that shuts me up?"
"I figure someone should. I've nothing to lose. You keep interfering in things that don't concern you. You're going to cause something to happen that you can't control, and it'll cost people lives."
I start laughing. Blood and mucus spitting out as I do.
"That's rich coming from you Clemens. You have no holy crusade, you're doing this for revenge. You were going to kill Sheridan. Let me tell you s-something...it doesn't matter if I die today, tomorrow, or twenty years from now, what you're trying to prevent will endure. I will tell you though, if you do kill me, you won't get out of here alive."
"Oh I have no intentions of leaving here alive. You or Sheridan, it doesn't really matter now. No one is going to bother us." I have another blow to the head from his boot
I wake up. Head dizzy now. Definitely a concussion. Not sure what grade. This is getting to be as bad as Neroon's beating, but he at least was more gentlemanly about it. I attempt to look around the best I can. I can't turn my neck at all. It's still against the deck. I'm laying on my left side, which is about to go numb. I'm dehydrated, which means we've been doing this for quite some time now, couldn't guess how for how long, maybe a day. I am regretting that glass of cola now. What the jackass doesn't know is that I've been slowly using a piece of glass I found on the deck to cut the duct tape. It's taking forever since it's so small. He's sitting across from me his front to me, and....and peeling an apple with his knife as the skin drops to the deck.
"You're awake."
"W-why am I still alive?"
"Because I like to see you squirm before I kill you."
"Is this...w-what you did to your prisoners, and the dissidents of B-Beta 7?" I ask coughing up blood again
It is nearly time to channel my inner Batman. I can feel my anger start to get the better of me now. This fucker is pissing me off.
"Oh I did far worse to those scum. It's true, I did come here to kill Sheridan, but you were ripe for the picking. Sloppy of your people to out you---you know how many people want you dead now?" he asks
"I can imagine."
Come on...come on. I need a way to goad him over here though too...just as my tape finally has cut.
"I can c-c-cut you a deal."
"What?"
That gets him to pause.
"I said that I can cut you a deal. Let me go and I'll see to you get off scott free."
He laughs.
"Not a chance in hell. I'm not an idiot."
"You know who I am, and what I can do---I can get you out of here."
"What you can do, is shut your mouth."
I gather what strength I have and call on my Ranger training. Everything I Have now...
"Why don't you come and make me." I GROWL in my best Batman voice
That does it. He strides over and that is when with all my might I SWING my left arm at him and KNOCK HIM OUT with a single blow, he thuds onto the deck. I exhale hard as the adrenaline rushes through my body. I then twist myself around so that my back is now finally on the deck, breathing carefully, and use my glass shard to cut part of the leg tape off---it takes more time than I expected. I don't have a lot of time. My gut tells me that he's going to be out for maybe a few hours. That punch wasn't that hard I gave him. I am able to then twist back around and push myself up off the deck and attempt to rip apart the duct tape around my feet but can't do it. I see a work bench over---we're in a room. It has my link, PPG, and Denn'Bok on it. I hop over to the table and pick up my link and double tap it to activate it.
"Young to S--Security."
"Allan here...holy hell Adam, where the hell have you been?"
"He's got me Zack. I don't know where are. My link's active now---use it to find my location. Probably somewhere in Brown. I underestimated him..."
"Are you all right?"
"No...not at all. I have him knocked out right now---b-but it took everything I have to do it. Hurry." I tap the link off and sit down on the bench and lean back. I feel myself...my face is puffy. My wrists bloody from the binding and cutting. I'm exhausted as well. I look at Clemens. I look over to where my PPG---the mother fucker kept it loaded-. Remember my PPG is coded to my DNA only, so it probably frustrated him he couldn't use it at all. --I pick it up and turn the safety off and point it directly at his head. I convince myself that if he moves a single inch before security arrives, I will blow his head off. I tap my link.
"Zack...I don't know if he's rigged the room or not. You might have to use gas to knock us both out, and disable whatever triggers he's set up."
"Acknowledged. We'll figure it out Adam, don't worry."
Sometime later I wake up in Medlab with a start, with Lillian gently reassuring me that everything is okay.
"W-what happened?"
"Mr. Allan and security found you. You'd passed out from exhaustion. Clemens is in the brig under high observation. We're awaiting a ship to deport him back to Earth."
I'm hooked up to an IV and see I've dermals wrapped around me.
"What's the damage doc?"
"Well...you took quite the beating, not as extensive as the one that Neroon delivered, but very close to it. You have a minor concussion, bruising. Most of the lacerations I've managed to heal. Seeing as how your foot surgery is in a couple of weeks---you've just invited yourself to an extended stay in Medlab."
I groan.
"I thought you enjoyed my company?"
"I did...but frankly not the food."
"Well...I think we are well prepped to operate on your foot now, but we'll let you fully heal first. The clone is fully grown. All the tests on it have passed. Stephen will be arriving sometime tomorrow, he's been informed of what happened. So have Sheridan and Delenn, and Captain Lochley. Everyone is concerned about you."
"Yeah...I'm concerned about me too. Lianna?"
"Ms. Kemmer will be arriving at the end of the week. No doubt you'll be hearing from her soon. You need to rest Adam, you were captured for two days."
That is something I figured. At least 48 hours.
"All right Doc. You got me. I'll enjoy sleeping for the next few. Where's Zack?"
"Filing his report on this. He's been here several times checking on you. I've given you something for the pain, if you need anything else, you know what to do."
I just nod and close my eyes. I can't help by see Clemens stupid smirk as I rage inside.