Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Tested in Fire ❯ Chapter 10

Tested in Fire: New Humanity Part Ten

 

Jack Scott looked around the lobby of the Woodwards building warily, her sandy brown hair falling neatly away from her face. Still holding her pistol in the ready position she looked back at Motoko to ask, "Are you all right?"

 

"Just a little shaken," Motoko Fitzgerald admitted. The Asian redhead looked at Jack warily, "Do you really think that was just a warning?"

 

Jack lead the way over to the stairs, looking inside cautiously before waving Motoko to accompany her into the stairwell. "I think if they did hit you it wouldn't have bothered them very much," she said honestly, "but I'm sure the first shot was a deliberate miss."

 

"To scare me," Motoko murmured, "or someone connected to me."

 

"Exactly," Jack agreed as they headed up the stairs while she was also keeping a eye on the levels up above them

 

"That kind of contempt for life disgusts me," Motoko said with a frown.

 

'Not the sort of comment that I'd expect from someone like her,' Jack thought. They reached the right floor and Jack silently pushed the door open, looking both ways down the darkened hallway for any sign of intruders. "Maybe so," she said as they went out into the hall, "but for more than one person in the city that's how the game is played."

 

"Like the Shogun or Davidson?" Motoko asked shrewdly, following close.

 

'More like me and my type,' Jack thought to herself grimly as they reached her office. "No," she shook her head, "the Shogun has honor, much like his men." She unlocked the door, then looked around inside before letting Motoko go on in.

 

Motoko reached for the light switch only to have Jack gently reach out to stop her hand. "Why...?" she frowned.

 

Jack smiled slightly as she murmured, "I just want to check something." Like a ghost Jack slid over to stand by the window, carefully keeping herself out of line of sight even as she scanned the street below them for watchers. 'No sign,' she thought, 'which means there's no one there or they're better at this than I am.'

 

"May I?" Motoko asked, hand still resting on the switch.

 

"Please do," Jack smiled and Motoko switched on the lights even as Jack returned to the door and locked it behind them.

 

The little office was just as she had left it, and Motoko looked around with a faint frown. Still, she sat down in one of the guest chairs even as Jack quickly kicked off her dress shoes with a happy sigh. "They aren't that uncomfortable, are they?" she asked mildly.

 

"I don't wear them very often," was Jack's wry reply. Reaching up she pulled off her earrings, setting the clip ons down on top of her desk. Wiggling bare feet in the slightly dusty carpet she continued, "I need to get changed, would you mind joining me?"

 

"Eh?" Motoko blinked, looking at the other woman in surprise.

 

"I am your bodyguard," Jack shrugged slightly, "and at this point I'd feel uncomfortable letting you out of my sight."

 

"If you feel it's necessary," Motoko said with a sigh, "of course."

 

"Thanks," Jack flashed her most charming grin.

 

They went through the office and into Jack's quarters where she grabbed a fresh pair of blue jeans and a nice white blouse from her half-open closet, laying them out on the arm of her couch. With a single graceful gesture she pulled the dress up and then off, wearing only her panties beneath then folding the dress up efficiently and dressing as quickly as possible.

 

Motoko had a faintly scandalized look on her face and Jack sighed, "What?"

 

"I wasn't expecting you to be so... efficient," Motoko murmured.

 

Jack was pretty sure that counted as a insult, at least coming from the graceful and elegant woman who was standing nearby. 'Probably makes a production out of getting out of the bed in the morning,' she thought with faint amusement..

 

"Are we going to be staying here?" Motoko asked after a moment.

 

Jack sat down on the couch, glad that there wasn't too much dust this time. "Grab a seat," she waved then answered, "I don't know, do you think they know where you live?"

 

Motoko frowned at the dusty cloth of the couch and sat down. She thought about it then conceded, "It's possible."

 

"We can try to make a run somewhere else," Jack leaned forward slightly, :"but there's a degree of danger in moving you, as well as no guarantee you'd be safe in the new location."

 

"But is here safe?" Motoko asked softly.

 

"That's the question," Jack agreed, "they knew to launch a attack outside of the building, but I don't think they know the inside yet."

 

"You don't sound that confident," Motoko said perceptively.

 

Jack flashed a smile, "Which is why I plan to stay up tonight, just in case. And I'm calling in a favor or two, as well." She got up, stretching, "I'll fold out the bed for you...."

 

Motoko got up, looking dubiously as Jack folded out the hideabed, getting blankets out of a shelving unit nearby. "How... quaint," Motoko said faintly.

 

Jack tried not to laugh at the look at her face. "Have a good rest," she went out to her office, picking up the phone and dialing.

 

"What the hell d'you want?" Max Clark's voice came through, sounding a bit sleepy.

 

"Good evening Max," Jack said cheerfully.

 

"It's past midnight," Max growled out irritably. He took a deep breath then asked sourly, "What do you want, Scott?"

 

"How would you like to earn a few extra marks?" Jack asked, then quietly sketched in what she wanted him to do.

 

"Not too dangerous sounding," Max mused, "go up to your building, scout around outside a bit and then report back."

 

"These guys are armed," Jack cautioned him, "don't forget that."

 

"Why Jack, I didn't know you cared," Max sounded amused. More seriously he continued, "I handled worse shit back at Fort Langley, you know."

 

"True enough, old man," Jack agreed. "So. you're in?"

 

"Yeah," Max agreed, "I walk up, scout around then phone back in a hour or so."

 

"Good luck," Jack wished him.

 

"Gee, thanks," Max signed off.

 

Jack got up, stretching out as she stood in the office. Quietly she opened the door to the suite, looking in to see that Motoko seemed to be fast asleep on the fold out bed. She looked younger, somehow, and far less cynical than she had seemed while awake.

 

'Wonder if Davidson is really dealing with who's threatening them?' Jack wondered. She jerked as there was a soft knock on the office door and quickly turned, gun at the ready.

 

"Jack, are you home?" Heather's soft voice called.

 

Jack fought the urge to curse. She unlocked the office door and waved Heather in, scanning the hall fast to make sure she wasn't followed. "This isn't the safest place to be," Jack turned to say to Heather with a frown.

 

"You could say that about most of this city," Heather answered, her glossy black hair flowing down her back. She sighed, "You're bodyguarding Motoko?"

 

Jack raised an eyebrow, "And how do you know about that?"

 

"I was one of the ones that found her after the attack," Heather explained softly. She hesitated a moment, "I'm sorry."

 

"For what?" Jack felt her shoulders tense.

 

"For not telling you about my being a hostess at the Nightingale," Heather said softly. She took a breath, "I started up there after you left town, Jack, when none of us were sure that you were even coming back."

 

"It's none of my business," Jack said firmly.

 

Heather put her hand on Jack's arm, looking up into her eyes as she gently asked, "Isn't it?"

 

To be continued.....