We need to know who is in charge of this entire operation.
Who: Nat and Stahma What: plans on dealing with Stahma's legal problems go awry When: Tuesday Where: Russia status: complete Rating: PG-13
“You know, I don’t think this will even go to trial,” Natasha noted, shuffling through some paperwork. “We drew a good judge, and your lawyer might be able to talk her into throwing out the case on the merit of you having an airtight alibi.”
Frankly, they could sue, but that wouldn’t lead Stahma to the big fish, to the people behind all this. That would require old fashioned spy work, and Nat didn’t want to scare the fish away.
“Excellent. My lawyer is ready to talk the judge into such an outcome.” Stahma had always ensured the lawyers on her payroll were the best at what they did. She could afford them, and she certainly didn’t pay them to sit on their hands.
“Which leaves us free to follow the trail ourselves. And perhaps dangle the true culprit somewhere that law enforcement is able to find him.” Let them chase the actual murderer while she and Natasha went after the ones higher up the chain.
“I’ve always enjoyed spinning a web.” She said that entirely seriously, as she thought about when and where it would be best to trap the murderer. They’d have to get information out of him, but in a way that wouldn’t link them to the case.
“You and me both,” Stahma replied. She was notorious for spinning her own webs, and she tended to be excellent at not getting her hands dirty when it could be helped. Of course, sometimes she did take matters into her own hands, but that tended to only be when no one was doing things the way she wished to. “So the true question is how to glean information from the murderer without us being tied to it.”
“I’ve got a few ideas. While I was doing an errand the other day I picked up a few things.” She winked at Stahma, and walked over to her. “Do you want to get started now, or wait until tomorrow?”
She hoped Stahma would say today. Natasha was all ready to kick some serious ass and make a pig squeal.
“Why don’t we get started now? We have leads, if we wait they could go cold.” Or someone could take care of loose ends before they could snag them. Stahma smiled at Natasha. “Perhaps this calls for my changing clothes.” Meaning she should probably put on some pants. Stahma was currently wearing a dress that really didn’t lend itself for tracking people down and interrogating them. It did wonders for showing off her figure and cleavage, but that was about it.
“Good thing I already took care of my other errand then,” Natasha agreed. She went to get her pack. It would be easier if she could keep more of her things here, but that was a conversation they hadn’t really had yet. Natasha had only just started leaving a toothbrush, after all. Weapons and hardware meant things were serious.
“I shall just be a minute,” she said as Stahma went into her closet to grab some more appropriate clothing. She then changed clothes. She also knew that sooner or later, they’d probably need to have that conversation about Natasha keeping more of her things here. Perhaps even actually moving in together, but baby steps.
Baby steps. Even if Nat was thinking about those steps now thanks to Jemma. She waited for Stahma to change, then led her out of her house. “We’ll take one of the special toys. Won’t be tracked. On loan from a friend.”
Stahma wasn’t opposed, she was mostly afraid of making Natasha feel boxed in or tied down or something that may also result in her bolting. “That sounds rather promising,” Stahma responded, taking her charge blade and a gun. She also ensured to put on her human disguise while she was out and about.
Being tied down wasn’t the real concern. Natasha still worried about her other life somehow bleeding into this one. Stahma wasn’t incapable of caring for herself, but Natasha’s secrets were the special kind of secrets she didn’t want others involved in.
Which was a little funny, Nat didn’t want others involved in her blood, but was willing to get involved in the blood of others. “Lets go, I’m driving.”
“I won’t argue that,” Stahma said with a little chuckle. Natasha could drive if she wanted to. She tended to like watching Natasha show off a bit, whether it was driving too fast, in the bedroom, or when chasing down people that needed to be interrogated. Or taken care of. Their first target would get the interrogation. Everyone after that? They would be taken care of.
Or driving too fast while doing bedroom activities while they chased people down that needed to be interrogated.
What.
It was only one time.
She peeled out down Stahma’s long driveway, the gates opening at the last possible second. It was a thirty minute drive to where they’d get their airborne ride, and Natasha was silent for most of it.
Doing all three at once certainly wasn’t objectionable. They had come out of it alive and unharmed. Nevertheless, Stahma’s mind was more focused on what to ask their target. And she was also thinking ahead. Sure it was probably petty that she and Datak kept taking these shots at each other, but she was more than happy to cut the head off of the snake and ensure he couldn’t move against her again. As much as she wanted to kill him, she would rather leave him alive so he could watch her build her own empire and become stronger than he ever had been.
And do it all with a sexy and dangerous girlfriend by her side. The thought made her smile, though there was a dangerous edge to that smile.
Instead of going out to the Outreach Center, Natasha turned out onto a dirt road on the way there. Logan had parked the Blackbird in a clearing, thought it wasn’t visible when Nat parked the car in a place where it could be concealed.
But it shimmered into view once she’d walked closer to the clearing. “I really need to get a quinjet.”
Upon arrival, Stahma wasn’t quite certain why they’d come here. Unless they were waiting for air transport to arrive. However, once the jet shimmered into view, Stahma tilted her head curiously. “That is certainly an exquisite jet.” No doubt they could get to their destination in no time and go undetected on radar and the like at the same time.
“It’s beautiful. She’s called the Blackbird.” The ramp lowered, and Nat led Stahma on board. To her surprise, Logan wasn’t there. She’d half expected him to tag along. “Guess it’s just us, Logan must have thought we needed a girl’s night out.”
“Blackbird, a fitting name,” Stahma praised as she eyed the jet while following Natasha on board. It was unlike anything Stahma had seen before, even in her dreams. “Suppose that means all the more fun for us.” Stahma said with a smile.
“Strap in. It’s going to be a rough ride.” Natasha warned her. Take-off, at least, was like a rocket, and the bird too a course nearly into space before it started to drift down towards Russia. “We’ll be there in an hour.”
Stahma strapped herself in. The ride up would’ve done anyone with a weak stomach in, but Stahma managed to keep her wits about her. But the view was amazing. “It feels like it has been ages since I have seen Earth like this.” Stahma had seen it from on board her own Ark before she’d first set foot on the planet. Then, later, she’d seen it from on board the Omec ship when Kindzi had taken her there. But it had been awhile since she’d dreamt that.
“When we’re done, I’m thinking we take this bird somewhere nice,” Natasha suggested, as the gravity went away and she floated up against the seatbelt. There was one thing she never got to experience, and she glanced at Stahma with a glint in her eyes.
“I would like that very much,” Stahma said. She was never opposed to spending time with Natasha, regardless of what they were doing. She looked over at Natasha, seeing that glint in her eyes. “Is there something on your mind?”
She unbuckled, floating up, and then drifted over to Stahma, cupping her face and kissing her deeply. “There’s something.”
Stahma kissed her back deeply, threading a hand into Natasha’s hair on the back of her head. “Mm I like the way you think,” she practically purred.
Someone should rename the Blackbird the pussy wagon at this rate. But that someone was not going to be Natasha. Still, she was very much going to enjoy making love to Stahma in zero G. They had about an hour. Plenty of time.
Making love in zero G was definitely something Stahma hadn’t done before. She was definitely up for the experience, undoing her restraints so that she also started floating. She slid her arms around Natasha, pulling her close with a little smirk on her face.
By the time the hour was up, Natasha had a few unique bruises and a story to tell. The Blackbird landed in a clearing outside a little town a hundred miles from Moscow. “My intel says we’ll find our first target here. He’ll be able to lead us to the person pulling the strings.”
Stahma had her own share of unique bruises. That was certainly an experience to remember. However, once they landed she was back in business mode. She ensured her gun was loaded, and that her charge blade worked. “Excellent. This should prove quite invigorating.” As if zero G sex hadn’t been invigorating enough.
“That’s going to be an understatement.” Natasha winked at her, leading her down to the ground The plane flickered and disappeared behind them. “Remember where we parked.”
The town was quiet, but there was something very strange about it. It was the too-quiet kind of quiet, and as Natasha peered through some night goggles she counted a dozen guards. “Something tells me this is more than just personal. Those are government guards.”
Stahma smirked and followed Natasha out of the jet. She took note of the area they parked in so they could find the thing again. It was really handy that it could cloak itself like that.
She situated herself beside Natasha, then frowned at the report. “Government guards?” Stahma asked, brow furrowing. “That bastard must’ve known we would come eventually and took precautions. Or it’s my father helping him. Which is unlikely though I suppose my father is bitter I scorned him as well.” Things just got a lot messier.
“There’s more going on here than is clear.” She could recognize some of the markings, and wondered if her own activities had drawn Stahma into her web. Or her into Stahma’s web, or both. “Change of plans, we need to figure out what the government is doing here, then we can interrogate our target.”
“Agreed. So, do we try to interrogate one of the guards or shall we take a different approach that involves hacking into their communications?” Stahma was up for any method that got them answers.
“I’d like to save the interrogation for our target. Lets try the comms first.” Nat pointed towards one of the walls. “There should be some wiring that runs through there. Give me two minutes to tap into that and watch my back.”
Nodding, Stahma looked over to where Natasha pointed. “I will cover you.” Stahma would ensure no one came close to discovering Natasha. That was part of why she’d also brought her charge blade. It ensured that she could stealthily take someone out in close quarters and not alert anyone else in the area like a gunshot would.
Nat moved like a ghost, or perhaps a dancer, as she raced to the wall. Once she was situated, she started to fiddle with something, then attached it to the wall. Within ninety seconds she was back with Stahma. She handed her an earbud. “Lets listen in.”
Stahma kept a close eye on Natasha and looked for guards moving towards her. Luckily, no one came close enough where Stahma had to intervene. When Natasha handed the earbud over to her, she took it and slipped it into her ear. “You are the best at what you do,” she commented.
“What I do isn’t very nice.” Somewhere, Logan was going to sue her for stealing his catchphrase. Natasha grinned, and tilted her head. “Did they just say your ex-husbands name?”
“Neither is what I do,” Stahma replied with a grin of her own. However, she turned serious when she heard that name. “They did.” She listened a bit closer, trying to discern just what part the man played in all of this. Government forces seemed to scream her father’s involvement. Though her ex-husband had resources of his own. Ones that Stahma probably should’ve severed when she’d crippled his organization to make him give her the divorce in the first place.
“I think I love you,” Natasha murmured, though she was distracted by this sudden revelation. “Something’s fishy. What if this is linked to you being framed?”
And indeed, they started talking about Stahma, one man expression frustration that ‘the bitch’ had so easily gotten out of jail.
“It will be taken care of. Datak will have his reward for his loyalty, your problem will be solved. And as a bonus, we will be able to eliminate our wayward Widow.”
“She’s gotten too close to our plans. She stole a fucking submarine and she knows too much, she needs-”
“Natalia is a traitor and will be dealt with.”
Someone interrupted them, and the feed wasn’t clear, but Natasha could make out ‘explosives’ and ‘house.’
Stahma frowned, concentrating on what was being said. This was distressing news. Datak had new friends that also wished to take Natasha out. Well, Stahma wasn’t having that. “It would seem these government guards and my ex-husband joined forces against us.” But who was calling the shots? Datak certainly wasn’t, he was only a side figure in it.
“We need to know who is in charge of this entire operation.”
“We’re not going to find this out here,” Natasha murmured. “We’re going to need to go to Moscow.”
They just needed to get away from that town without being caught.
“All roads lead to Moscow.” Stahma murmured back, meaning that in more ways than one. She started looking around, seeing what path of escape they could take.
Natasha suddenly pushed Stahma down as a shot rang out. She hissed in pain, grabbing her shoulder, feeling warm blood pour over her fingers. “Keep moving, I’m fine!”
Stahma shot Natasha a concerned look as she got up and started to move as ordered. She didn’t need to be told twice to move. She just hoped that she herself didn’t get shot because she didn’t have red blood. The last thing they needed was for the Russian government to get their hands on alien DNA.
The plank lowered as they got closer to the hidden plane. Natasha followed Stahma up the ramp, then hit a button to raise it. “I preprogrammed an escape trajectory, press zero alpha three on the main console!”
She ran up to the main console and entered the code Natasha told her. Their escape was underway, and she only took one breath before she turned back to Natasha. “Do you need help?” She asked, obviously referring to the bullet wound. She could pull the bullet out if she had to.
Natasha just nodded. Their relationship wasn’t worth squat if she couldn’t trust Stahma to tend to her wound. She unzipped the top of her suit and peeled it off. “That was sloppy of me.”
Coming over to Natasha, the acute smell of hot metal, gunpowder and blood hit her nose. She wasn’t certain if her Castithan sense of smell was a good thing or a bad thing currently. She first looked at the wound itself before doing anything else. “Is there a medical kit in here?”
She glanced at Natasha. “That could go for both of us. Though I never anticipated Datak getting into bed with the government. He was a very jealous man, so perhaps he’s jealous enough of you to join forces.”
“There.” Natasha nodded towards a box on the wall, then tried to get a look at her own wound. “I think there’s a bit of good luck on their parts. We both have our hands in things and there’s a good chance it’s converged enough to draw their attention.”
Getting up, Stahma went and grabbed the kit, coming back and opening it. She sifted through it for the necessary items, disinfectant, bandages, tweezers. She shook her head a bit. “Luck always comes with the territory. We should be more careful going forward, once we figure this out.” She settled herself in front of Natasha. “This may hurt. I’ll be as gentle as possible to get the bullet out.” Of course, she ensured she sterilized the tweezers first before she tried sticking them in the wound.
“Yes, we need to be more careful.” Natasha watched Stahma work, grimacing at the pain. This felt like one of those moments. The kind of moment where Natasha’s nature could catch up to her. Go to ground, spend weeks and months alone, working the field until she was sure the danger had passed.
It would destroy what she’d built with Stahma. “Stahma. I love you.”
Stahma had a steady, gentle touch. Though obviously there was only so much pain she could save Natasha while pulling a bullet out of her. But it certainly said something that she was doing this, and she wasn’t shying away from it. At Natasha’s statement, she lifted her gaze up to hers. “I love you too, Natasha.”
So much so that she’d pull a bullet out of her. And shortly thereafter, the bullet did come free of the wound. She then pressed some gauze over the wound to staunch the bleeding.
“I’m glad we have that established, because normally, I’d go to ground. For the safety of those I care about.” Which implied that normally, she’d have dumped Stahma. But this wasn’t normal, and she wasn’t giving Stahma up.
“Understandable, though in this case they’re after both of us, not just one. Besides, I would be rather upset with you if you just left like that.” Stahma said as she applied pressure to the wound. She lifted the bullet to look it over, wondering if it would yield any clues for them. “We are in this together, and we will finish it together.” Stahma said, sliding her gaze back to Natasha.
“I considered that,” Natasha quipped. She put her hand on Stahma’s knee. “And we will finish it together. Which reminds me, I need to radio ahead. I want Logan to check out your house. They mentioned something about explosives.”
Stahma smiled, pleased with Natasha’s choice. It made her feel special. She couldn’t recall the last time anyone had chosen Stahma over instinct. “Perhaps an excellent idea. I would not wish to go back home only to potentially get blown up.” She pulled the gauze away. “This may sting a bit.” She warned before she disinfected Natasha’s wound. “Do you wish me to stitch it shut?”
It hadn’t even been that hard of a choice. Natasha would never have a normal life, but she’d take what she could get. She was lucky to find someone so willing and able to keep up. That was precious. She hissed. “Just stables for now, I’ll get it later.”
Nodding, Stahma then put a bandage over it. It was as good as she could make it now. Once she had her hands free of that, she reached up and grabbed Natasha’s head, then planted a very sound kiss on her lips. It was partly out of the heat of the moment with the admissions, and partly out of the fact clearly Natasha had taken a bullet for her.
“I want to say, lets go home,” Natasha whispered. “But I think we should stay somewhere else tonight, and tomorrow we have more leads to follow.”
“That sounds fine to me. Let Logan check my house out, and go from there,” Stahma whispered back. She rested her forehead against Natasha’s.
“Sounds good to me.” She ran her hand up to Stahma’s cheek. “Someplace with some Vodka. I could really use a drink.”