The Pax Way: Two- Submission

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Chapter Two: Submission

Without breaking the man's grip on his wrist Pax slid into the seat across from the man and depressed the button for the booth's privacy shield. The man's eyebrows went up and Pax shrugged. "Sometimes we get Fleet in here and they want to be able to relax and talk to each other without committing a breach of classification. So we've got damn good shields Neighbor."

The man released his wrist. "And the fact you've turned them on means that you don't want anybody snooping into our private conversation. Interesting. What could a cook at a dumpy little space diner have to say to me that would require a privacy shield."

Pax shrugged his shoulders and spread his hands. "I was just going to ask you to leave actually, or just to step outside with me Neighbor. Considering who you are I wasn't going to scream that at the top of my lungs all over the diner. I don't think you want Station Security breathing down your back." The man began to eat his meal which Pax vaguely remembered was a derogatory action on some Dogma worlds.

He allowed some annoyance to flair on his face. "Look, you can ignore me, you can insult the hell out of me, you can hope that I'll get up and walk away..." The man's left hand suddenly lashed out. Pax almost laughed at the man's look of shock when Pax easily caught the fist, moving at twice the speed the swiftest normal man could have, in his hand. "Now Neighbor...what do you say to taking this outside?" The man slowly pushed back his plate of food and stood up while Pax cancelled the shield.

Heads turned to look their way, most noticeably those of Pops and the kid at Table Two. "Pax...what's going on?" That was from Rodney, a member of Station Security that was currently off duty. He was always eating at the diner and was the closest thing to a friend Pax currently had. Pax shot Rodney a look and shook his head slightly. Rodney shrugged and went back to his burger.

As the diner door closed behind him Pax was forced to duck as the man instantly lashed out with a spinning kick. The next thing the man knew Pax had one arm looped around the man's neck and was casually leaning against the wall. Try as he might the man couldn't get out of the headlock, Pax was too strong. And, as the man found out pretty quickly, hitting Pax had all the charm and effect of punching an Terra Prime concrete wall. "Alright, let me loose and we'll talk."

"Not a chance...I wasn't born yesterday Neighbor."

"I can see that. I've got a contact computer that's showing me those Upgrade marks on your arm right now." Pax quickly let the man out of the headlock, wrapping the tattooed arm around behind his back instead. "How did a man like you end up in a shitty little space diner like this?"

Pax exerted a little more pressure, just a bit, and the man yelped. "That's the second time you've insulted my job Neighbor. I'd start being a little nicer if I were you. I'd also start talking."

"Not a chance Ship-Born. I'm not going to tell you a damned thing."

Pax exerted just a bit more pressure and the man's shoulder popped out of the socket. Before any scream could leak out Pax's other hand was clamped firmly across his mouth. "Not the right answer Neighbor. Now I'm going to put your shoulder back in it's socket and you are going to tell me exactly what you're doing chasing the Prince's son across human space. And I'd also like to know why he's here if you've got that information."

He pulled his hand away from the man's mouth and popped the man's shoulder back into place. Pax then switched arms taking the man's right since he'd already put the left arm through hell. "Now for that information."

"Are you serious?" A small amount of pressure had the dogma man speaking again. "Alright, alright. I didn't mean I wasn't going to tell you I just couldn't believe you didn't know. I assumed you were the young man's bodyguard. The Upgrades and Damage Rating points to that." That explains why he'd been watching Pax.

For a moment Pax cursed his stupidity. He hadn't been wearing long sleeves, they got in the way during cooking. This was a perfect reason to get those marks, made with dyes that were only visible in certain parts of the spectrum, removed entirely. But then again if he was caught by Fleet without those and they ran a background check...Pax would be in deep shit. That was the whole reason the marks were still there.

Returning his attention to the man, Pax spoke in a clipped voice. "No I'm not his bodyguard...I don't do that kind of work anymore."

"Wise. It lost it's attractiveness after the loss of the Motherships didn't it." After all this time Pax the mention of the Motherships didn't get a rise out of Pax like it would have out of some young hot-blood raised by his parents to seek revenge for their destruction.

"Watch it Neighbor. You know how old I am." Realizing he'd made a serious mistake the man began to babble. Pax shook his head. Back in his day and age Dogma assassin's had been a more stalwart crew. The simple tactics he was using now shouldn't be affecting the man unless..."You're blowing me plasma arn't' you?"

"No no! I assure you I am not!" The man's fervent declaration rang through the passage. Pax raised an eyebrow and rattled off a long string of words in Dogmatic, a language that had taken him years to learn since it was only spoken by high-ranking Dogma officials...the only kind that would be involved in business like this. The man looked up at him. "What?"

Pax spun the man around, clamping a hand on the man's throat and squeezing just enough to occupy the man's hands. Staring right into his eyes he shook his head. "I don't like liars Neighbor." He wiped one of the contact computers out of the man's eye and stuck it in his own. Staring at the tattoo he shook his head. "Now if that were real, there'd be several other layers to it. A real Dogma assassin would be carrying around hidden marks just like mine. You've got marks alright...but they ain't Dogma." He spun the man back around to the arm hold.

It was right about that time that Rodney walked out. He instantly grasped the situation...and jumped to the same conclusion. "Pax! That man's Dogma! Watch out!"

Pax shook his head. "Get some restraints Rodney. He's got synapse chips for speed and strength and a contact computer in his right eye...I'm borrowing the one out of his left." Rodney fumbled around a bit for the pair of restraints all Station Security carried with them, even when not on duty.

Cuffing the man he set him down against the wall and looked back at Pax. "Pax...I'm going to need to see some I.D." He pulled out a small palm scanner. "Sorry buddy but...if he's got synapse chips that means you do too. And I don't remember you registering that fact with us."

Pax didn't budge. "Sorry Rodney but I can't give you I.D. although a bio-scan will tell you I don't have any chips in me."

"Pax I've got to I.D. you. Try to look at it from my point of view. I just walked out into a hallway to see my best friend with a Dogma assassin in a submission hold that would have done Fleet proud. I then learn that the man's running with synchips and not one but two contact comps. I gotta do my job."

Pax sighed. "Then you've got to take me to your supervisor. And this man is not from Dogma...he's from Phault and a Spectrum Sweep will confirm it. I'd also recommend you escort the young man at Table Two along with us. He was the target of this plot and I'm not about to let him out of my sight. He'll probably want to cause you trouble but don't listen to anything he says. Say that the man in the corridor says you're his accomplice...just don't tell him which man."

"Pax..." Pax held up his hand, cutting off Rodney's words.

"Just do it Rodney. You'll regret asking questions now later."
---------------------------

The head of Station Security sat next to Rodney who was watching the holo screens that showed views of both the holding cell and a small waiting room. "Boy...what I'm about to tell you can't leave this room."

Rodney looked at his superior. "Sir?"

Rodney watched the Head tap the screen that showed the waiting room. It zoomed in on Pax's form and Rodney blinked. Several marks glowed on his body, a key showing the meanings of some of the glowing symbols appeared next to him. "You realize I'm risking my job doing this but...well I want someone else to be just as scare shitless as I am. You were the officer to bring him in, you were also his friend, so you're that lucky man by default. Take a good look at that read-out and then I'll give you his non-classified history."

Rodney scowled at the words 'non-classified' but turned his attention to the screen. His jaw dropped. There were several marks for Upgrades, seven of them, including the exact dates they were preformed and what age Pax had been when they were administered. There was a Damage Rating, those were only given to the most dangerous members of society. Rodney didn't know exactly what G-Grade was and that information was classified when he tried to look it up.

There were several other markings that were classified as well, so classified that their names didn't even show. It was the last mark, more than all of the others, that scared the crap out of him. It was a Ship-Mark, the only mark Pax carried that would be visible to the naked eye. The Mark told anyone with the knowledge what ship Pax had been born on. "Good god...he's from the Dementia!"

The Head nodded. "You want to see his biography...or what they'll let us see at any rate?" Rodney shook his head. The mark readout scared him sufficiently.

He did have one comment though...

"What the hell was he doing flipping burgers at Rosie's!"
------------------------------

Pax leaned back against the wall, staring at the camera that was beaming his image to whomever was watching. He absently calculated the time it would take to get the Interceptor back here. That was the closest Fleet ship by his calculations, having stopped at the Station two days ago to warn everyone that their normal patrol ship was out for repair and they'd need to be alert until it returned.

"When I get home I'm going to have you executed you hear! You blew it, just blew it!"

Pax closed his eyes...the kid was getting irritating. He grinned for a moment reminding himself that the 'kid' actually looked a bit older than he did.

"What are you smiling about? You think this is funny?" The kid had obviously misinterpreted the smile.

"Actually I do sir. But not funny that we're both sitting here, not under arrest but certainly not allowed to leave, and that we're both getting on each other's nerves. I find it funny you don't remember me and that you're behaving as if throwing your name around is going to scare the pants off me. You can quit because it won't sir."

Pax was rather satisfied when the young man's jaw dropped.

"How dare you talk to me that way! I AM Kevlen Richardson Vectel! I AM the son of William Richardson Vectel who is currently Prince Prime Elect!"

Pax smiled even wider at the outburst. "And I'm glad you admitted it for the camera sir. Should I tell you mine so that you can be properly chagrined and try to apologize?"

Kevlen balled his hands into fists at Pax's words and said through clenched teeth. "It won't matter one way or another. If you were as important as you say you are I'd doubtlessly remember you...but I don't so you're not."

Pax shook his head. As much as he didn't want to spoil the surprise until both he and Kevlen were aboard Interceptor he was also sick of being treated like scum. If this was the way Kevlen treated everyone of lesser rank he didn't know then Pax was going to have some stern words with William when they both got back to Valina.

He closed his eyes and mulled the options over. Tell Kevlen who he was and explain what he was doing all the way out here...or just keep silent until Fleet arrived and the cat was let out of the bag?

Comments (1)

Posted by Crazy Scott 04-15-2008 11:42,   Fan-freakin'-tastic! Okay, I'm hooked. This was pretty bleepin' good, and I like how Pax's character is fleshing out, and the story around him. The detail is good by not overwhelming, the technology impressive but not confusing. Again, you did a great job with the sci-fi aspect of this one, while keeping the human element close to the surface.    I'm impressed. And hoping that you write quickly, as well, because I'm impatient for more...    Really fun read!   » Report this comment to administrator » Reply to this comment...

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