Now Sarah waited in the narrow corridor just outside of the Commander's office on The Valley Forge. Everything had gone by so quickly...and traumatically.

Since Sarah was distracted, she failed to notice the two big guys with high powered rifles entering the building. To make a long story short, Yoji got shanked, Boomer was overpowered...and Jack's cargo was gone along with the money Ian was supposed to have paid for it.

Terror wouldn't even begin to describe what Sarah was feeling right now. Finally, someone stepped out of Jack's office and held the door for her. He didn't look happy. In fact, he looked sad. For her. Hot damn she was in for it....

"You wanted to see me?"

"Close the door." Jack gave one last puff on his cigar before setting it aside.

Sarah slipped into the room and closed the door quietly behind her. Jack was angry and rightly so. She had screwed up big time and nearly cost Yoji his life. "Yes sir?" Sarah took this seriously; standing at attention in front of her commander.

"What"happened?" Jack's piercing gaze tore into Sarah as she struggled to remain calm. Jack was practically hissing in anger; fangs barred. Both hands slammed down onto his desk, splintering the wood in several places as he moved to stand up from his chair.

"This was my fault, sir. I-"

"Damn straight it's your fault, bitch! Do you know what you cost me today?" Jack's eye twitched as he screamed at his communications officer, cutting her off. "Get over here. now!" With her entire body trembling, Sarah did as she was bade, quickly sidling over to The Wolfe. She bowed her head; two-tone hair forming a veil over her face. "Look at me." When Sarah did not immediately obey, he gripped her shoulder tightly, giving her a shake. When she whimpered, Jack used the other hand to grab her hair and yank her head back to look up at him. "Don't you ever disobey a direct order again;" his voice lowered, 'do you understand me?"

Sarah nodded miserably, terrified out of her mind. She knew Jackson to be true to his word. She wouldn't ever cross him again. Catlike eyes pleaded with him to release his grip, teeth worrying into her lower lip.

Jackson just saw weakness and tightened his grips. "Yoji could have died because of your little slip-up. And now I'm without my cargo. What are you going to do about that, hmm' How are you going to fix this, Mackenzie"!" Jack was screaming again, disgusted with the little wretch in his hands. He shoved her away so roughly that she fell to the floor.

"You spend a lot of time here, now." The deep, baritone voice in the doorway made Sarah start, causing her to grip the back of the couch. She was sprawled out on the junky old couch in the lounge, staring at the ceiling. She was in a pair of boxers and a white cami, hair remained loose, fanning around her head and shoulders as she lay there. "You get in a fight wich"er boytoy?" Boomer cackled loudly and ambled into the room. Sarah smirked as he approached, not even bothering to try and cover herself. Boomer was so much like a brother to her that it was scary. The big black man was a killer and prided himself in that fact, but when it came to Sarah, he was nothing but a teddy bear. The coffee table creaked its protest as Boomer set his large body onto it, facing little Sarah. "Yes and no. He broke up with me." "You don't sound too torn up "bout it, girl." "I'm not." A lie, but she was good at hiding the truth. She brought a hand up to poke at the bruises and teeth marks still ringing her neck from Chuckie. "But that's because I'm a whore." "Naw, you ain't no whore. You just likes you some rowdy lovin" every now n" then." He paused, cracking a smile. "Wit' lotsa horny men." She laughed, shifting onto her side, propping herself up with an elbow. "I cheated on him, Boomer. Isn't that terrible of me?" He shrugged, unwilling to answer that. She was who she was and Boomer wouldn't tell her what was right or wrong. It's different for everyone. Reaching out, Boomer lightly traced the full mouth bite mark on her neck; his dark skin an extreme contrast to her smooth, tanned flesh. "With the guy who did this?" "Uh huh." "Dayum girl, looks like it hurt a lot." "It did, but I asked him for it. I wanted it " no, needed it." "You don't deserve to be punished, Mack." Boomer withdrew his hand and looked into her eyes steadily. Sarah fidgeted, scratching at the thin, tan strip of abdomen that wasn't covered by her clothing (or lack thereof). "Maybe, Boomer?" She was irritated that he knew her so well. No one had ever figured that out. "But I like it, too." "Jus" be careful, okay girl" I don' wanna see gettin" hurt again." "Again?" "You got attached to the last guy." Sarah snorted, sitting up all the way and setting her feet on Boomer's knees. "Did not." Now it was Boomers turn to snort. "Whatever, Mackenzie." "Sure, sure, Boomer. You know you're the only man in my life." She laughed, slender fingers lifting to cover her mouth. Boomer laughed too, turning his head towards the door as Yoji chose that moment to enter. "You betta" be careful, Yoji might get jealous."

"Of what?" "Yoji!" Sarah turned to the Asian and beamed up at him, arms opening to invite him in a hug. He slinked his lanky frame across the room, over behind the couch, to lean over it and give Sarah a hug. A kiss was pressed to her neck and then he withdrew. Sarah's hands reached up and over, allowing her fingers to dance lightly on his bare back as they hugged. "Where've you been" Haven't seen you here on the ship in days." "I was out on mission." "He's been lookin" f"that Ian dude." Sarah ohh'd softly, nodding her head. "Get any leads?" "As a matter of fact, I know where he is." Sarah's catlike eyes widened, her pupils constricting conspiratorially. She'd be able to get him; kill him. Jack wouldn't hate her anymore. She would be able to stop feeling guilty about what had happened to Yoji, even though he'd told her many times that he didn't blame her.

The elevator dinged as it reached the top floor of the ship, doors breezing open to reveal a rather different looking Sarah Mackenzie. In the commons of the large, state sized spacecraft, regular attire was permitted. However, when on duty or in authorized personnel quadrants, you had to be in uniform; looking presentable.

Combat booted feet stepped out of the elevator, pausing just outside of it as the doors slid shut again. Sarah peered around and smoothed her hands over the crisp, white button up that was tucked into her navy blue pants. A p-blaster was holstered at her hip and various bars and brass stars adorned the fabric above her left breast and on her shoulders. Her hair was pulled into a tight bun, completing the professional look.

With her hands settled on her blaster, as was habit, Sarah strode across the large, open room, past the observations deck and into the conference room. Yoji, Boomer, and a few others were already present and sitting around the round, oak table.

"So what?s the plan."

"No plan yet, Mack. Yoji's pulling up the building blue prints."

"Where Ian's staying?"

"Yeah. Here you go, Mack."

From a small, circular shaped disk; about one inch in diameter and the same high, a holographic projection appeared. The schematics of a large, run down building on the the south side of WestEnd. The bluegreen image flickered faintly and spun very slowly.

"Wow, nice job. You sure he's here?"

"Yeah, had a positive ID."

Sarah sat in a chair and Yoji tossed her a pair of gloves with electrodes on the fingertips. She'd be able to manipulate the graphics; able to turn, invert, enlarge and navigate through the building. "You actually went in there" Yoji, what if he saw you?"

He tapped away at a keyboard and a panel appeared beside the hologram, listing all of the technical aspects of the building. "I didn't go in. Had someone else do that."

She nodded and raised her hands, beginning a series of movements that allowed her to see inside of the building. "And are all of you in here volunteering to help with this mission?" Hazel green eyes glanced up from her work to peer at the occupants. She knew Boomer and Yoji would be participating, but there were also the other three crew members present. "Officers Raab, Harmon, and Creed. That was a question."

Bethany Creed and Danny Harmon replied with echoed yes'. Jason Raab was silent, almost sneering at Sarah. "You may be in command of this mission, Mackenzie, but Wolfe has me here to observe and make sure you don't screw up."

Sarah ignored him and continued investigating the building. "Anyone know if he's gotten rid of the explosives yet?"

Yoji cleared his throat. "No, I forgot to ask Cameron if he saw them."

Sarah snarled and whipped her head towards Yoji. Both hands slammed palm down on the table as she leaned across it. "What in the hell was he doing helping you?"

The Asian, startled by her sudden feral display, sat back in his chair, leaning away from her. "He'd mentioned before that he'd help. Since you were...indisposed and Boom and I had already been seen by his gang, I needed someone to check the place out. He was willing."

The phone rang. "I don't care," Sarah snapped. "You leave him out of this. It's too risky."

Bethany cleared her throat and interrupted. "Lieutenant Mackenzie..."

Sarah glared at Yoji once more and then turned to Beth. "What do you want?"

"There is someone here to see you." Bethany hung up the phone and glanced to the window.

Sarah snarled at having to be interrupted, but she, too, looked to the window. And there he was.

Words could not express Sarah's elation at the news.

Several day's earlier, she'd gone to an old flame/friend to ask a favor. Beneath the mistletoe, whilst making out, Sarah informed Alain D"Mourir of his task. He was to kill Ian Griffin by any means possible.

He agreed, and three days later found Ian at the Inn. Guns were drawn, hostages taken; along with risky means of gaining the upper hand and alleyway chases. At one point, it seemed that Alain had met his match " with Ian having pinned the younger boy, strangling him. However, Alain managed to throw the street rat off his back, pull his gun and sprayed Ian's grey brain matter all over some poor, unsuspecting shop owners window.

She felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders; like she had more of a chance now. Surely jack would be appeased with simply the death of the scumbag, but Sarah knew he'd be in a much better mood if he got his cargo back. 4 days was certainly long enough to raid a locker and return the explosives to their owner. At least...it better be long enough.

~<>~

"Okay!" Sarah stood up from her chair in the conference room to address her comrades. "Thanks to Cameron's help, we've managed to find a day when the rats are scarce. Tomorrow being that day, I suggest we raid the building then." While it caused Sarah literal, physical pain to praise Cameron for his deeds, she always gave credit where credit was due. Good thing he wasn't present at this meeting to hear such words uttered from her mouth.

"What are you going to do about Ian, Mazkenzie?" Jason Raab sneered as Sarah settled her cat-like eyes on him. "It's one thing to get the Captain's cargo back...but how are you going to handle the real issue" Have you even given that any thought or are you just throwing caution to the wind by planning a raid when this idiot is still out there. He knows we're looking for him, Mackenzie."

Sarah, surprisingly, stayed calm. "Are you finished, Officer Raab?" Jason's hatred for the girl was written all over his face, but he nodded. "Then first of all, you will address me at rank, Officer. Second of all, you should learn to keep your mouth shut about things that don't concern you. Griffin is dead as of last night." Jason's cheeks flushed, but that only furthered his anger. "Believe it or not, Officer Raab, I do know what I am doing."

"You killed him, then?"

"I had him taken care of."

"Did you see the body, Lieutenant?" Jason was, in fact, impressed. But that didn't keep him from doing his job of making sure she didn't screw up.

Sarah grit her teeth together, glancing around at the rest of the rooms occupants.

"I'll take that as a no." A smug smile settled itself onto Jason Raab's features.

Sarah's hands balled into fists at her sides before reaching for a manila envelope beside her on the table. She opened the fastener, pulled out three 11 x 8 " photos; all of Ian's dead body. She slid them across the table to Jason. "Ya mind shutting up now so I can get this meeting started?"