Bethesda [Clayton, Sian]

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

Bethesda.

What used to be a bustling shipyard, now just a defunct, dilapidated mess of skeletal metal buildings and crumbling concrete bunkers.

The setting for what Jack hoped to be a daring rescue and not some great tragedy.

The docks were a few blocks away, the crew of the Lenore taking on the people Clayton had guarding the shipyard while Briggs attempted to not only find his way inside, but discover in which building Sian was being held.

It was not easy. Jack may have been smooth in his words and his dealing, but he was not the sneaky type. His clothes were not his normal attire that could only be described as scruffy-chic...or maybe just scruffy. He had turned in his vests and his button-ups and allowed Ari to help him get combat-ready. They had raided the closets of people who had left the Lenore, ill or just to find better work, and he was now wearing a pair of the previous captain's dark pants and a long-sleeved but slim-fitting brown shirt that used to belong to the ship's doctor. They had outfitted him with a heavy vest that should offer what Ari had assured him was "some" protection from bullets...whatever that meant.

He kept his fingerless gloves.

As the fearless Lenore crew distracted the guards, Jack slipped in through a loose hole in the fencing around the shipyard and ducked immediately behind a shipping crate. There were men in the yard as well, but not many. He breathed deep, closing his eyes and remembering the smell of cinnamon.

Then he started making his way around to the first bunker-type building he could see, slipping from crate to crate or hiding behind the crumpling walls where ships used to be housed. When he reached the first bunker, he realized it was a no-go. The door was off its hinges and it was unprotected. He darted past it and on to the next.

He ran right into a guard, practically tripping over the man as he rounded a corner.

There was no time for hesitation. Jack pulled his weapon and grappled with the man, hand over his mouth to stop him from shouting. Finally, he was able to lift his pistol and drop the butt of the handle down hard at the base of the man's skull. The guard crumpled. Jack caught him and dragged him fully behind the building, tying his wrists together with the man's own bootlaces before moving on.

The next bunker was larger and had a few more guards, but they seemed unconcerned. It was obvious Clayton thought he might have Jack as a visitor after Sian's contact, but it was equally obvious he was underestimating Briggs. The guards did not expect anyone to get past the people out front.

Jack's eyes darted around. Four. There were four guards. And he a terrible shot and unused to much combat. Ah, well. It couldn't be helped. He'd have to try.

Just as he was about to break cover and tear at the guards, obviously a man without a plan, a few shots popped off from the direction the Lenore crew had gone. The guards in front of the bunker stood up, staring in the direction the firing had come from. When shouts and more firing followed, backed quickly by the sound of an explosive of some kind going off, the men took off running. All of them. There must be more inside.

Jack stared at the smoke rising in the distance, hoping the crew was okay. Then he shook himself out of it and tore towards the building. Once inside, he hugged the wall and dropped down to a crouch.

The bunker was huge and dark. Jack could see lights at the other end, but he did not linger around the doorway long enough to try to discover what it was. Instead, he went quickly for the nearest metal staircase and made his way up it as quietly as possible. It led to a catwalk that crossed the span of the warehouse, and Briggs could see a few men patrolling it.

He crept towards them, taking out the first man as quietly as possible, laying his unconscious body down and stunned at his luck so far. However, it couldn't last.

The other two men were not as easily taken. He attacked one, disarming him, but the other saw what was going on and he ended up being in a somewhat noisy wrestling match with the two men. Their guns scattered across the catwalk, Jack's included. He was able to shiv one between the ribs several times with a blade Ari gave him as the other rained punches on his head. The man he stabbed grew limp, so Jack grabbed that man that was striking him and tossed him over the railing...to land with a sick thump on the concrete right next to Clayton Diers. Clayton was staring up at him, Sian gagged and tied up next to him. Jack gripped his head, the bloody knife dangling from one hand as he leaned against the railing. "Well..." he called with a disarming grin tossed down at Clayton, "This didn't go exactly as I planned."

[Sian]

[[Notes: This topic will be a mixed perspective between Sian and Clayton, whenever it's from Clayton's view it will be in red.]]

[October 30th, 2522]

Once Sian had gotten the message off to Cypher, at least she hoped, Clayton had knocked her out. Again. She was getting tired of being unconscious. When she had woken up yet again she was tied to a chair and not to mention gagged. Clayton wasn't taking anymore chances with her it seemed. That was fine. Jack was coming to get her, rescue her from this monster of a man.

Blasted woman, gorram whore. She had been a pain in the ass for Clayton, lucky he was getting paid a whole hell of alot for this job. Otherwise he woulda said screw it and killed her the moment she drew his blood, the cut on his cheek still had some healing to do. Wouldn't be having anymore problems from her now though. Now he just had to wait for his employer to show up. He had hired some guys just in case anyone showed up with the intent of taking his bounty.

They were in some large building now, had been since she woke up. Clayton wasn't much of a talker, which was fine with the Companion. The only part of him she wanted was his blood. Sian did notice there were other men around, with guns. She hoped that Jack wasn't alone in his plans to rescue her.

Sian's body was sore and stiff, she'd only been allowed to move about a few times a day. The bruises where the ropes were left tight had no time to heal, only get worse. Thankfully it seemed she hadn't lost too much blood from her wounds, at least that she could tell. She was still alive after all.

Noises of a fight began to sound from above her, looking up she couldn't make out anything. Her vision blurry. Then all of a sudden a man's body hit the ground close to her, making her jump. If she could move that is. What in the... Looking up again she saw him leaning against the railing. Jack. Relief surged through her body, if she could smile she would have. She closed her eyes at the sound of his voice, she had missed him. So very thankful he actually had shown up and even found them.

Clayton was getting tired of waiting. Tired of babysitting. He was ready to get paid and leave. He'd heard the noise from above but didn't pay too much attention to it. Until a man's body landed right next to him that is. His gaze went up towards the catwalk above. Grinning when he saw the cause. At Jack's words he laughed, "I'm impressed you would come for her yourself Jack. She is just a fancy doxy after-all. Sure you could find yourself another. One who isn't such a pain in the ass too." He was highly amused at the current situation. Why would the man risk his own life for this girl? It was a confusion that he didn't care about. He could play it to his advantage though. "Planning to come down here Jack or just gonna stay up there? I can make quite the show for ya if that's the case.' Clayton grabbed and pet at Sian's hair, smiling as she glared at him, 'She is rather pretty. Well was anyway, but still." He was taunting Briggs, trying to make him act without thinking.

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

Jack glanced around as Clayton spoke, dropping to his knees to lift his weapon. He had the urge to just rain bullets down on Clayton, but as bad a shot as he was, he would undoubtedly hit Sian as well. That risk was unacceptable. "Well, ya see Clay, I been gettin' rather fond of 'er bein' a pain in the pee-goo." He slid his feet across the catwalk, struggling not to skid in blood. Clayton was touching her now, and Jack tried to swallow down the rage that was boiling inside him.

"I'm comin' down, don' get yo' panties in a twist there, Diers." He made his way to the wall, glancing at the stairs. He'd be an easy target on the staircase, and he quickly turned back to the bleeding man. Maybe dead, maybe not. Beggars couldn't be choosers.

He dragged the body with him, grunting at the effort. Talking. He had to keep Clayton talking. "Didn't take ya fo' the snatch n' grab type. You losin' yo' touch there, Diers?" He started down the steps, keeping the body beside him to block any bullets Clayton might send his way.

"Hard ta find good work nowadays? Those men outside an' on the catwalk ain't exactly the top o' the line, eh?" Sure, he was maybe angering the other man more, but he had to chance it. Clayton wouldn't kill Sian; he obviously had to keep her alive for his employer, whoever that was.

At the bottom of the stairs, Jack turned to face Clayton, hauling the body up in front of him. The man groaned. Still alive, then. For now. Jack hoped Clayton would want to keep him that way. "It's over. Ya didn't 'ear that explosion a few minutes ago? I got a crew outside says you ain't gettin' outta this one." He waved his pistol haphazardly at Clayton. "Step away from th'girl, yeah?" His eyes flicked to Sian, softened a moment, then returned to Clayton's face. His gaze hardened. "'less yer feelin' lucky."

[Clayton Diers]

[[Again mixed perspective ~ Sian will be magenta]]

Clayton hadn't pulled his gun yet, he figured Jack wouldn't shoot while his girl was so close. He just watched as his old partner made his way to come down. Smart man, using his downed henchman for cover. Too bad Clayton didn't give a damn about any of those guys.

Jack was right, Clayton didn't normally take the petty kidnapping jobs, "Money talks. You know that Jack. An' this Ma Tze here had a big price tag on her." He gestured at Sian, but kept his eyes on Jack.

Someone had hired him to kidnap her? Sian was surprised, she wasn't some random choice. It had been planned and paid for. By who? She suddenly worried deeply, thinking back to the man who had been hired to kill her years ago. Was it just a replay of that, whoever it was had finally found her? She just stared at Jack, silently praying that they both would make it out of this alive.

He was getting tired of Jack's prodding at him, Clayton wasn't a patient man. Taunting the man while he had Sian in his grasp might not be the smartest plan. He may not be able to kill her outright, but he could hurt her. Yes that he could do quite well, he didn't though, yet.

"Well had to do something, Girl wouldn't tell me who she waved, course I didn't give her no chance either." He shrugged, "Had to be ready for it just in case. Course they ain't top of the line, you gotta pay them. These'll just make good target practice once I'm done here."

Sure he had heard the explosion, at the time there hadn't been much concern. He had enough men to take care of things, at least should have. Guess these men weren't as good as they claimed, which meant they deserved a bullet.

He didn't move, didn't step away. Instead he grinned, a dark look coming into his face as he looked at Briggs. "I could cut you in Jack, we could go back to like the ol' days. Just you an' me. Yeah? Payload is big enough on this one, I ain't gonna have to find work again if I play it smart." While he waited for the man's response he slowly pulled his own gun from it's holster. Just in case.

-------------------
Ma Tze - female companion, a somewhat derogatory slang

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

Jack could see Clayton was getting agitated. Good. So long as he kept that temper pointed on him and not at the woman he'd come here to save. Much as he wanted to rage at the other man, tell him to stop calling her names, he knew well enough that would only cause him to look weaker. To draw attention back to her. He had to keep it on the two of them, had to keep her out of it.

The way he talked about the men he'd hired was sickening him. Jack was not the type of criminal, the class of ugly that would kill his own men. It never did sit right with him, one of the reasons his men were so loyal but also why he'd never risen to the heights of one such as Minerva.

"Target practice?" he asked, struggling to carry the deadening weight of the bloody man in his arms. He'd stabbed him quite a few times; he may be dying. Jack did not have the luxury of feeling sorry about that. "How'd ya get so cold, Clay? Sign of a bad leader, that." Stalling. Bluffing. Edging slowly closer as he did so.

Briggs actually cracked a smirk when Clayton tried to pretend he'd cut him in. As if he'd do that. We both know that ain't happenin', Clay," he said in his smooth, business-like tone. "I'd thank ya not to insult my intelligence in tryin' ta make me think you'd actually cut me in an' I'll do you the favor of not insultin' yours by pretendin' to go along with it." He breathed in deeply, steeling himself for the inevitable. "Way I see it? Only one way outta this fo' the both of us. So how's about you put yo' weapon down, I'll put mine down, and we do this little dance like men? Or you too far gone ta remember how ta use those fists o' yours?"

[Clayton Diers]

"Not tryin' to be a leader like you Jack, just in it for the pay. Don't need anyone to share the spoils with that ain't worthy and if I can get the jump on'em they ain't worthy."

Oh well it was worth a try and Jack was right, he wouldn't actually share with him. Their ties had been done a long time ago and there was no want to recreate them. "Insult yer intelligence? If I recall correctly you're the one comin' in here all alone and I'm the one who can shoot. Unless you been practicing Briggsy." He remembered Jack Briggs who couldn't shoot a gun properly to save even his own life. Clay was unsure if things had changed since then but he was betting they hadn't. Just in case though he stayed close to Sian. He'd use her as a shield if need be. If the choice was between his life and his money...well ya can't spend money if you're dead.

Clayton grinned at Jack's proposal, "Alright Jack, if that's how you wanna go out, I can make that 'appen for ya." He'd wait for Briggs to toss his gun first of course before he tossed his own. Once done he'd come out swinging.

Sian wished she could do something, anything. Weren't much you can do when you're lucky the ropes aren't too tight where you can't breathe though. She was stuck sitting by and watching. Hoping. Praying. Worrying. It was just Jack and Clayton, she didn't know what kind of fighter he was. She hadn't experienced that side of him before. Sian found herself worrying greatly about his well-being though as she watched him come closer. When the guns hit the floor there were tears falling down her cheeks. Her life was literally in his hands..no pressure.

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

A leader like him. How ironical. Oh, it was good that Clayton didn't seem to know how much of his small kingdom was dissolving under Minerva's acidic grip. He smirked, very slightly.

Now, it seemed Clayton had the unfortunate ability to recall Jack's shooting skills, or lack thereof. But the one thing Jack had always had, and that was working for him now, was bravado, dumb luck, and a little finesse with his silver tongue. By all rights, Diers had the upper hand. He could shoot, he had Sian, and Briggs should have been losing his battle.

However, pride had struck, it seemed, and for some reason Clayton decided to take Jack's challenge. "Yeah, Clay. That's 'ow I wanna go out." Briggs tried to hold back a smirk; he hadn't won yet. Diers was still breathing.

He leaned over, dropping his pistol gently. When Clayton dropped his and came at him, Jack mustered all the strength he could to toss the bloody man still in his arms at Clayton.

When Diers inevitably dodged the dead weight, he would find Jack exploding out in front of him with a strong right hook aimed for the sweet spot just below Clayton's ribs. He was quick, but Diers was stronger.

Clayton took the punch, but it didn't seem to wind him as much as Jack had anticipated. He immediately grappled with Briggs, twisting his right arm behind his back and throwing him to the ground. Jack grunted in pain as Clayton thrust a knee into his back, struggling to get out from under him so that his shoulder would not be dislocated. Clayton tangled his hand in Jack's hair and slammed his face into the pavement. "You're gonna lose, Briggsy."

Jack moaned, blood dripping from his broken nose, but it was nothing he hadn't dealt with before. He rolled Clayton off of him with a sudden, violent burst and kneed him in the groin. Diers crumpled and Jack knelt over him slamming his fist into his chin. He gasped, though; his right arm was on fire. Clayton had hurt him when he had twisted his arm behind him.

Clayton grunted, spitting out a spray of blood and a dislodged tooth at Jack. He was grinning, which annoyed Briggs even more, and then Clayton had headbutted him spectacularly. Jack stumbled to his feet, stars dancing in his vision as he struggled not to lose consciousness. Clayton was on his feet quickly, and he began striking Jack with little punches as Briggs tried to regain his composure. "C'mon Jack. You can't be done already." Jack raised his fists, finally, blocking the next hit that Clayton had aimed for his face. "I'm not," and he ducked the next strike, closing in for another good punch to the gut. When Clayton doubled over a little bit, Jack grappled his shoulders and thrust a knee up into Clayton's face. Once, twice, Clayton pulled away, his face a bloody mess.

Jack wiped the blood from his nose, finally, a satisfied smirk creasing his lips. "You wanna -talk me some more, Clay?" It had been a while since Jack had boxed anyone, but the moves were coming back to him. Diers was looking rough. One of his eyes was swelling quickly and he had to spit more blood from his torn mouth. He was unsteady on his feet, but still came at Briggs. Jack ducked the next swing Clayton made, which was a little off anyway, and came up with a left hook to his unprotected temple.

Clayton dropped, heavy and limp.

Jack swayed on his feet a moment, staring at the man who he had once called his friend. He moved forward, kicked him hard. Then he stumbled to Sian, not even bothering to check if Diers was alive or not. "Sian. You alright?" he asked, dropping to his knees with a painful hiss and pulling the knife Ari had given him once more. He began cutting her free.

[Sian]

Sian sat by watching as the two men fought, every time Jack took a hit she winced. The tears still fell down her cheeks. Despite knowing trying to get lose was useless she still squirmed beneath the ropes. If only she could get free.. When Clayton dropped to the ground her eyes didn't leave him. She kept expecting him to get back up as Jack began to move towards her. His words broke through the worry and attention she had about Clayton. The monster wasn't coming back.

When Jack cut the last of the ropes from her, finally free. Getting to her own feet was hard, she was sore and bruised all over. Not to mention she couldn't put too much weight on her leg. The bandanna was still strapped over the wound by her belt, though it had long stopped bleeding. Ignoring the pain that ran through her body she tried to help Jack to his feet. Sian was still crying, except now it was grateful tears.

Once to his feet she wrapped her arms around the man who had just gave her back her freedom. Unable to contain herself she clung to him. Her words were a sob and mumbled, she was obviously weak, "I can't believe you came..for me..thank you.." It was an unexpected show of emotion. The gratefulness for her rescue, the worry for Jack's well-being, the shock that he perhaps cared enough to come after her at all.

After what might have been minutes she pulled back and held his face in her hands, the worry clear in her eyes. "Are you okay Jack?" What was she saying? Sian shook her head slightly, of course he wasn't, but still she had asked. They both seemed to be in poor shape at this point.

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

As he finally cut her free, Jack rocked back on his heels and sighed heavily. He leaned against her now-empty chair for a moment before standing up beside her, gripping her hand as she helped him up. Glancing at her, he smiled as he brushed her tears away. "Ain't no reason fo' tears anymore, luv..." he murmured.

She hugged him and, after a moment, he hugged her back. The knife Ari had given him slipped from his fingers and clattered to the floor. His left hand tangled itself in her hair as he held her with that arm; his right slipped away and dangled numbly by his side. "Hush, now. O'course I came for ya. Did you doubt me?" he teased. His cheek rested against the top of her head and his eyes closed for a moment.

When she pulled away, he shied away from her touch on his face, wincing a bit. "Been better, luv, but I also been worse." He met her gaze suddenly, as if stuck by a thought. "Maybe I'll tell ya about it sometime..." He pulled away from her completely. The bleeding from his nose seemed to have stopped, but he was still a ghastly sight; it was bruising purple and the coagulated blood beneath his nose and sprayed over his cheeks was drying. "What say let's get outta here an' get cleaned up...?" Supposing the Lenore crew had been successful, of course. He took her hand and began tugging her towards the door.

[Sian]

Sian smiled softly at Jack when he brushed her cheek, wiping away the tears that were falling. Happy when she felt his hand entangle in her hair as she clung to him. "No..I jus..I'm sorry." She knew he was only teasing her, but she was unable to react in the same manner.

The worry was clear in her face when Jack pulled away from her, leaving her to stand on her own. Which surprisingly had turned out okay, she hadn't fallen over. Of course she wasn't moving yet either. "If you like..a topic for the trip back to home yeah?" Sian tried to smile but it was only slight.

Jack might have been concerned with how he looked after his fight with Clayton, but the Companion wouldn't be winning any beauty pageants for awhile herself. She had a fair share of her own bruises and such. Not to mention the not so minor injuries like her leg and shoulder.

Sian happily let Jack take her hand, again an attempt at a smile, "Sounds perfect...I think I'll spend a week in my bath once I get home.." He tugged her, she did her best to keep up but it was slow going. Every movement she made was full of pain, wincing slightly with each step. "One second..please." She had to stop, had to focus. Otherwise it'd take her forever to get out of here. Sian took a deep breath and let it out, telling herself to just ignore the pain for a little while longer. Her pace quickened slightly now and she winced less, it was an improvement.