A Flight Not Broken • Tam X Biana (KOTLC)

3 Tonight

In a cramped, musty room there was a television playing an international broadcast, showing off faces one by one.

"So we're terrorists now," a wickedly happy voice commented. It came from a man sitting on a large, rickety chair facing the TV, his long, wild blonde hair bouncing as he laughed.

"Surprised it took them so long to label us as such," sitting on a beaten up couch was a woman drinking a glass of wine, looking perfectly calm and smiling ever so slightly as she watched the broadcast.

"Those fuckin' geezers! Ahahahaghghkkkaka!" The blonde man coughed violently, black spittle flying from his mouth.

"Ugh, disgusting," a dark, low voice said. The man raised a hand to his cheek and wiped off the specks foul smelling spittle, "Can't you keep your mouth shut?"

"Oh shut the fuck up greenie! Tellin' me what to do... I'll fucking kill you," the blonde man eyed "greenie," shooting him a wild glare.

"Oh don't say that Toni, you'll scare the kid," the woman leaned over on the couch to her left and gently grabbed "greenie's" shoulder. "You all right kid?" She smiled, her azure blue eyes inspecting his face.

He didn't say a word.

"Nervous? No need to be so quiet around your seniors kid... I won't bite," she continued, playing with a strand of his hair.

"If you could stop touching me captain, that'd be great," he eventually said, eyes steely.

She chuckled as she pulled away, taking another sip of wine.

"When do we move out huh! Huh cap' huh! I'm sick of sitting on my ass!" Toni jumped from his seat, sparks ripping through the air around him.

"Patience Toni, we'll be going soon," the captain replied, taking a hand through her long red locks.

"Ah fuck! So fucking tired..." Toni sat back down grumpily, how a child might after being denied something they wanted.

"You really think we can pull it off?" The "greenie" said, "The Hidden Qabu has never even been seen by anyone other than a handful of councillors. I really doubt your stupid boat will be of any use."

"Hush now kid, just trust me ok? It'll go off without a hitch, especially with you around," the captain gave him an alluring smile.

"Tch."

She chuckled.

***

Later that night, the "greenie" felt something slip though his mind, a presence.

Tam?

It spoke to him.

Tam? I know you can hear me, just answer! Come on! At least tell me if you're ok! Everyone's worried you know... especially Biana.

He felt his heart tighten a little.

Please! We can help you! Linh will be safe, so just tell us where you are!

Silence.

The Hidden Qabu, tomorrow.

Huh? Tam? What's that supposed to mean—?

Tam forcefully expelled the presence from his mind.

He turned over in his cot, thinking.

"Fuck... I shouldn't have told her that." A whisper, disappearing into the darkness of night.

***

"The Hiddem Qabu? The hell is that?"

Sophie, Biana, Dex, Fitz and Stina were gathered around in a circle, sitting down on the floor of Sophie's room.

"I'm not sure, but that's what Tam told me last night before he kicked me out of his head," Sophie said.

"Woah, woah, woah. Tam could block your telepathy? How the hell did he pull that off?" Fitz looked concerned as he spoke.

"I'm not sure... I have no idea as to how he pulled it off," Sophie replied, her brow creased.

It was quite a marvel. The strongest telepath being beaten at her own game by a shade, another question surrounding the Neverseen had surfaced.

A voice broke their ponderous silence.

"This Hidden Qabu thing though, the hell is that?" Biana said, glancing at them, seeing if anyone knew.

"Never heard of it."

"Me neither."

"No idea."

No one knew what it was.

"Well whatever it is, it's happening tonight," Biana said, "so we better figure it out quickly. Dex, can you look for this in the Council's classified files?"

"On it."

Dex tapped away on a laptop like machine.

Tam... please be ok, please. Just wait a bit longer, I'll find you, somehow, someway.

Biana held her head in her hands.

Soon. Tonight.

Biana had a distinct feeling that she would be seeing him soon.

How tragic it is that she was right.