It's Lonely at the Top

Jon was bathed afterwards, then put in a small cage like area. It was built into the wall of one of the complex rooms, just one of many. Only one way in or out of that cage. All the other sides were padded thickly to prevent him from injuring himself. He was brought out only when the Master of the complex desired it during that first week he was imprisoned. After that he was given over to the brothel mistress to rent out to whomever requested and paid for him.

Time had lost mea meaning to him by then. He ate or drank what was put in front of him without tasting it. He no longer felt what was done to his body or the number of times he had been taken. The drug inflaming his uncontrolled passions and desires. When he was not being used, he was either asleep or staring off into nothing. Silent as the rest of the Master's 'pride of cats.'

"He shattered to soon."

"How was I to know he was so fragile in mind?"

"Its your job to know these things."

"Am I to be blamed for a flawed piece of art?"

"What's the situation from where he came from?"

"So far it has been quiet."

"Good."

While events were taking place there, others were taking place elsewhere.


"I don't like this one bit. He should have been back by now." Stargazer said softly to himself. He looked at the clock again and frowned. Granted it had only been a couple of hours since Lieutenant Quicksilver's leave time was up, but he was never late for anything. Not without calling in and informing them he would be late at any rate.

Tension rose as hours passed and still no sign or word from Quicksilver. The commander took to pacing first his office, then the command center, finally he went to the hanger and paced.

Everyone knew Quicksilver had gone on leave two weeks prior. No one kne had had been a ordered leave.

When twelve hours had passed from the official time he was to be back, Stargazer called everyone to assemble in the command center.

"Alright. Lieutenant Quicksilver is official considered missing. I want everyone to start looking for any sign of him here in Limbo. I'll contact officials down on Bedlama to have them start a search there. If you can think of any place he could be, check it out. Dismissed." Without another word he returned to his office to contact those people on Bedlama that needed to be notified. He didn't want to contact Earth until all possibilities here had been exhausted.

The gathered 'Hawks exchanged glances. Concern, worry, some glimmers of fear even could be seen in their faces. They were at a loss of what to do at the moment. Quicksilver had always been the leader, always been there to give orders. Now that he was not there, how would they do this? By rank? It seems everyone came to the same conclusion when they shifted their eyes to Bluegrass. He was a colonel after all.

He mental winced. He was a hotshot maverick pilot, not a leader. With a mental sigh he closed his eyes and reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose. "All right., We'll do this by sectors. No one goes alone. We'll need someone to stay here to-"

"I'll stay and man the com station." SteelHeart said before anyone else got the chance.

"You sure about that?"

"Yes. I can contact Phantom also, she'll have a better chance at things beyond the Limit."

"She's not a 'Hawk" MoonStriker pointed out. "Do we really want anyone that's not one of us to know?"

There were muttered agreements.

"No, she's not a SilverHawk, but I trust her." Bluegrass said. "Do it 'Heart."

SteelHeart wisely didn't salute, but nodded headhead instead and moved off to the com station.

"All right, lets move out SilverHawks. Anyone that sees Seymour, contact 'Heart immediately. That's an order." He waited till the others had broken up into groups and left. He turned to look at 'Heart. "Thanks."

"For what Cowboy? I should be thanking you for backing me."

He just smiled slightly shaking his head. "Still…. Thanks."

"Get out of here Jay, the others are waiting for you." She said softly, with a small smile of her own, before sitting down and running her fingers over the board, logging in, and doing a check.

As soon as he left she punched in a com code. "SteelHeart to Phantom, SteelHeart to Phantom, come in Phantom."

A few moments of silence then static comes across the board. "…. Phantom here, what can I do for you?"

"Are you on a secure channel?" 'Heart asks.

"..No. Give me 15 to finish up and get back to the HummingBird. Phantom out." Then the come went dead.

She leaned back with a slight sigh and waited. Time seemed to slow down and drag.

"This is always the hardest part, the waiting." Said a gruff, but quiet voice from behind her.

She turned, slightly startled. "uh.. Sir…" she would have stood and saluted, but he waved her off.

"Don't bother Sergeant…." He said taking a seat in a chair at the next station over. He sat hunched over elbows on knees, his hands dangling between them. "It's like this every time I have to send one of you out, I have to wait. Wait and hope you return."

She didn't have anything to say, but she did listen to him. A miasma of guilt hung about him like cloud.

"He's like a son to me. A pain in the keister sometimes, but a son none the less." Glancing up he sighed and shook his head, "Aww… Who am I kidding? All of you are like my kids to me."

More would have been said but the com started beeping. SteelHeart turns and hit the button. "SteelHeart speaking."

"All right Em, what's going on that I need a secure channel for?" Phantom asked. All that could be seen of her face was the lower half. The rest was covered by the visor of her helmet.

"Quicksilver's gone missing Zan." She said.

"Say what?"

"Lieutenant Quicksilver is official missing." Stargazer said appearing behind SteelHeart.

"Hmm… You want me to keep a listen out beyond the limit I take it?"

"I'd appreciate it. I know you don't get along with him but-"

"I know what your saying Commander. And I understand." She replied. "It's hard dealing with things when someone has gone MIA" the last said softly.

He nodded. "Yeah"

"All Right. I'll keep an eye out. If I find anything I'll let you know. Anything else?"

"No, that covers it Phantom."

She nodded "Phantom out." And the come went blank as the connection was cut.

"Think she'll find anything?" he asked SteelHeart.

"If there is anything to find sir, she will." 'Heart replied.

He nodded and squeezed her shoulder before heading back to his office.

She watched him go, a small smile on her features. It was nice to know that he thought of them all as his children. But it was saddening that it had to come out like this. With a shake of her head she turned back to the com station and settled in to wait.

Phantom had been drifting slowly just beyond the limit and the asteroid field as she spoke with Commander StarGazer and SteelHeart. When she finished and cut the com she sat there in thought. Finally she brought the HummingBird to lide and headed home. She had a few people she needed to contact now.

After she landed and disembarked, she headed for the lift. "Hunter, prepare the Com Dis to a coded transmission to New Eden. Haven Galaxy"

"Acknowledged." Cam a computerized voice.

'I really need to get that changed' she thought absently as she punched in the code to take her to level 4, her private quarters.

When the lift doors opened she stepped out removing her jacket and tossing it onto one of the couches as she went to her study. Sitting down behind the desk she tapped the controls, bringing up the screen. Her fingers flew across the keyboard.


To: doc_Richardson@ziveu.com
From: ziv@ziveu.com
Subject: Need clinics opened.

I need you to put together at least 3 medical teams to be dispatched to Bedlama Limbo. Several clinics are to be opened ASAP. Covering from general health to specialized treatments. Also Rehab, Primary Drug and alcohol.

I also need a combat medic team formed to be stationed in the wild lands beyond the local law's jurisdiction. They do not need to be as advanced as the teams being sent to Bedlama. If they can't take care of something, they are to offer sending the patient to the advanced clinics.

REPEAT NEED TEAMS ASAP.


Z. I. V.

She looked it over once more then hit the encode command andn sen sent it. Sitting back she stared at the screen for a long while. "Hunter, reconfigure Com dish for another transmission. Earth, Sol Galaxy"

"Acknowledged"

to: nyteblade@shadowland.com
From: shadowlady@ziveu.com
Subject: Can you locate?

Heroin has come to Limbo, can you track the source? Need info. Also need to stop it, badly. Usual fee.


Again she encoded it before sending it, then sat back. She turned the chair slightly, one hand under her chin. All she could do now, was wait.


Within hours, one of the patrols found Seymour the Cabbie.

"SprintHawk to Hawk Haven"

"Hawk Haven. Go ahead SprintHawk"

"We've spitted Seymour. Do you want us to question him or have him head to the Station?"

'Heart thought a moment, making a decision. "Send him in. The Commander can talk with him"

"Alright. SprintHawk out." The com went quiet again.

She informed the Commander that Seymour was coming. He grunted an acknowledgment. She then hit a few buttons, setting the broadcast to all SilverHawks. "Hawk Haven to all SilverHawks. Seymour has been found. Report confirmation please."

"SteelWill, affirmative"

"Hotwing, affirmative"

"Condor, affirmative"

"Bluegrass, affirmative"

"MoonStryker, affirmative"

The Copper Kid whistled an affirmative

"Acknowledgements received. Continue Patrols, Hawk Haven out." She leaned back in the seat and sighed. Maybe they would get closer to finding him.


Hours turned to days. Days turned to weeks. Still no sign of Lt. Quicksilver anywhere. Moral dropped and tempers flared. instead of taking it out on each other, they turned it outwards and used it against the Mob.

They hit the Mob harder and faster then ever before. The SilverHawks didn't wait for the Mob to start something and bring it to them. They took the fight to the Mob.