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     Captain Jarod Bentall |
Jarod sighed. Something was coming to an end and he knew it. He didn't know what yet but it would be soon. He sat in his chair on the bridge of his chip while his crew went about their normal duties. They were on their way to Reasora. He had unfinished business to deal with there. The past twenty-four hours had been rather eventful. Since his assignement to make contact with the unsubverted Xur he had approached the closest clean system and knowing time was of the essence he had gotten right down to business. Shortly after their arrival he had made contact with the local government. He had introduced himself, explained who he was and who he represented and then explained in as much detail as he could what he needed. After their inital shock the Xur had been surprisingly easy to talk to. At last they had potential allies to work with in ending the subversion of their race. After a two hour marathon discussion they had agreed to an official alliance with the Alliance forces. Jarod had deliberatly left it so that it was open ended and ready for future discussions with professional diplomats once the current crisis had ended. But for know they had agreed to help and that was enough. Shortly after he had concluded his meetings he had returned to his ship. Blackrazor, with three unsubverted capital ships and the technical experts they would need in tow, returned to Xanadu space. Upon arriving at Xanadu he introduced the three Captains and the technical experts to Xanadu's command team and Admiral Aldur. He then took the admiral aside and requested 24 hours to head back to Reasora to deal with the serial killer situation. Aldur resisted at first but Jarod made it clear he would return within twenty-four hours and he would be better suited to deal with what was coming if he didn't have this rather large issue hanging over his head. Finally Aldur relented but made it clear what would happen should Blackrazor not be back in Xanadu space within twenty-four hours. Jarod had originally wanted help with this issue. He had planned on trying to get Velorna to help him in hopes that she would set aside her dislike of a "transporter clone" long enough to learn the truth about his death and ressurection. Well, the truth of what he was, not what had occured as he himself didn't know. During his meeting with the Xur however he had come to the understanding that what had occured in the past didn't really matter anymore. It was his present that mattered and his present that would determine the path of his future. Once he realized and understood that he was able to stop worrying about what others thought of him, of what his future held for him, and finally he was able to let go of his fear for the future. He had sent a quick note to Velorna and basically told her what he knew and let her know that if she wanted to renew their friendship she knew where to find him. If she chose not to then he was content with that and would leave her alone. He clearly put the ball in her court. His thoughts of the past twnety-four hours where interrupted by his helm officer. "Entering Reaorsa orbit Captain." "Thank you Ensign Yang." Jarod replied as he stood up and looked back at Lieutenant Embry. "I'm heading for the transporter room. You know what to do." Embry nodded. "Aye, Captain. Good luck down there. " When Jarod had told his executive officer what he had planned, Embry had been totally against it. But knowing his Captain was set on this course he had come to respect his Captain more than he thought possible. A few moments later Jarod re-materialized in the living room of his apartment. He kept this place as somewhere to return too when he was on leave form his ship. He looked around and smiled to himself. This place wasn't home. His command was home but he had come to think of it as a home away from home. "I was wondering if my message had reached you or not. I expected you here two days ago." came a voice from the hallway. Jarod smiled at the intruder which clearly caused the intruder to blink. "So you're the one who has caused so much trouble. So much pain and anguish to so many." The killer quickly recovered. Seeing a smile of Bentall's face had been the last thing he expected. "You were told that your decisions would have consequences. I am the consequences." Jarod shook his head sadly. "Consequences of ones decision always affect the one making the decision. You're consequences did much, much more than that. You are murderer, plain and simple. I've come to put a stop to it Eric." Former marine Lieutenant Eric Moore smiled. "I was wondering if you would remember me. You seem to have forgotten much." Jarod nodded. "I have. I don't recall all the details. Frankly, I don't care to recall them. You were supposed to replace me in the hearts and minds of my friends after I "died"." Jarod paused. "That was a nice touch by the way. Convincing my friends I had been killed rather than just simply disappearing. You caused a lot of damage to my relationships doing that." Moore shrugged. "How was I supposed to know you had been told your journey would be a short one. Had you stayed away and had your friends simply accepted me none of this would have happened. So yes, your decision has consequences for all. If I could manage it I'd make the name Coronado and everything associated with it vanish from the record of time." "Sp much hatred Eric?" Jarod paused for a moment, then added after not getting an answer. "So it comes to this then? What will you do once you've killed me? Will you vanish or will you go after Coronado some more?" "I won't stop until Coronado is no more, Jarod. You must realize that by now?" Jarod nodded. "So be it then Eric, let's finish this." Seconds later he had tackled the former marine into the ground. That move caught Moore off guard and caused him to drop the knife he had been holding behind his back. Even without the knife or the element of surprise he had his training in hand to hand combat to fall back on and he quickly dove his fist into Jarod's stomach knocking the wind out of him. Jarod rolled off of Moore, gasping for breath as Moore used that time to recover his knife. A sharp pain ballooned in Jarod's shoulder as Moore plunged the knife into him, rendering his left arm useless. Jarod screamed in pain and kicked out with his legs knocking Moore off balance and to the floor. Jarod leaned over and slammed his left elbow into Moore's face, breaking the man's nose and knocking him sensless. As Moore lay groaning on the floor Jarod stood up and began kicking the man in the mid-section over and over as hard as he could, breaking Moore's ribs, severly bruising a kidney and eventually causing a lung to collapse. It had not gone at all as Moore had expected. He had figured that Bentall would go down just as easily as all the rest. But he had forgotten Jarod was a passionate man, his passion and anger at Moore for what had gone on had caused Jarod to lose control. It took a couple of minutes for Jarod to realize what he was doing before he stopped. By then Moore was in no condition to continue the fight. Moore lay there, in pain, almost ready to pass out as the pain in his mid-section was so great. He struggled for every breath. For the first time in his life he was looking death in the face and that face was an enreaged Jarod Bentall. But as he stared into that face it flickered with indecision and then sadness as Bentall stopped. The man he had intended to kill stood over him cradling his useless arm and just stared down at his want to be killer. "Go on Jarod" he croacked between gasps. "Finish it. You know I'll never stop so long as I live." Jarod just looked at Moore. "No Eric. You have to pay for what you've done but it won't be by me. You'll stand trail for it and you'll look into the eyes of the friends and family of all the people you murdered. And in the end, you'll spend the rest of your life in a small cell. And I'll be free to live my life with no regrets of my past and no fear of my future." Moore tried to laugh, not realizing he had been defeated. "Eventually your curiosity over what really happened to you for that year you were "dead" will get the best of you and you'll come looking for me." Jarod smiled again. "No Eric, no I won't. I'm content to live my life as it is know. Not as it was." He reached up and tapped his comm badge. "Blackrazor." The voice of Embry came back to him. "We're here Captain." "Have the authorities come pick Moore up. And have them bring a doctor, I'm in need of medical attention." "Aye Captain. Right away." Ten hours later Moore had been taken away to a secure medical centre, Jarod had returned to his ship. He wore a sling around his arm. The Doctor had been able to repair the damage to the arm but insisted he wear the sling for at least 48 hours. Jarod sat on his bridge with a content smile on his face. What ever was coming he would now be able to deal with. There was no longer anything holding him back. |