Silver Saint

Twenty-Four: Gilded Cage

//Report: Quinn, Jackson.

//Saint Corp Plaza.

//Horizon City.

//Greece.

//Resume log.

"How the hell did this happen?" Laura barked. "I thought the point was that Blackwell was to be under armed guard at all times!"

The elevator rushed down the side of the tower, moving almost silently despite its immense velocity. Through the window, the lights of Horizon City glittered brighter than the stars in the sky, a beating pulse of life despite the late hour.

Dan, Lucas, Amani, Kedrick and I stood together in one corner, trying to distance ourselves from Laura as she paced back and forth in the tight space. Only Garrick dared to stand directly in her path, the frame of his MTT exoskeleton acting as a point for Laura to pivot around. He followed her worried pacing with his eyes, but didn't otherwise move.

"As per our deal, we allowed Commander Locke to see Director Blackwell in his room downstairs," he announced. "The room was indeed guarded-we had four security officers present at the time."

"Then how?" Laura snapped. "Four armed guards and she still managed to get a blow in?"

"Three blows," Garrick replied. "I'm told it was like someone flipped a switch-the Commander was calm and civilized, even amicable, until the second she had a line of sight on Blackwell. Before any of the guards could prevent her, she struck him twice in the face, and once more as they were pulling her off of him."

"Where is she now?" Laura mused.

"Contained in a room of her own," Garrick stated. "I'm told she has already apologized several times since the incident occured."

"As if that would help." Laura inclined her head. "And Blackwell?"

"The wounds appear to be superficial at best," Garrick concluded. "He's shaken, but suffered no permanent injury."

Was that a hint of disappointment in his voice?

Garrick turned on the spot, being careful not to move his feet, and glanced down at me, fixing me with a curious look.

"He has, however, refused to aid us any further until he speaks with Commander Quinn."

"Yeah, that tracks," Lucas blurted. "Bastard has had a weird obsession with Jax for as long as we've known and hated him." He seemed to realize his own mistake and raised an apologetic hand. "Sorry. That was the alcohol talking."

I was thankful that both Leto and Carver had both been too drunk to join us-Tanaka, dependable as usual, had offered to babysit the two and clean up from our party. I made a mental note to thank him later.

"I'll do it," I replied. "I've been meaning to check up on him since we arrived... things just got busy."

"I'll join you," Dan nodded. "It's clear you can't trust Locke, so I'm the next closest source of aid with an Axion computer terminal."

"I will stay with them," Garrick stated. "I wasn't present for the last incident-there will not be another."

I realized that this was the most I'd heard the stoic mercenary speak since I'd met him. Garrick seemed less quiet without Leto present-I imagined that the more talkative mercenary was used to being the communicator of the pair.

"Much appreciated," Dan nodded. Even he had to stare upward to make eye contact with Garrick, but the man silently returned his gesture.

We were almost at ground level now-I could see the immense concrete courtyard outside the plaza, still filled with dropships and soldiers. A makeshift encampment had been established to one side of the space, composed of several tarps, folding tables and floodlights all propped up beneath one dropship, and Saint Corp employees were moving with purpose, assisting the refugees from The Forge. Despite the late hour, the atmosphere was surprisingly energetic, the bright floodlights casting a warm glow over the scene and making the whole area feel alive.