[dcs_p]”My father was in THAT city when THAT plant blew.” Beckett pointed to the
screen. “Though you can’t tell, news spread awfully slow about what had actually
happened. My family living on Blackstone was never informed of this “accident”.
We actually had to travel to my father’s final destination before we even
discovered what had happened. After learning of Lyran officer Kenneth Ryan’s
involvement in my father’s death, my brother William traveled to Butte Hold. He
was captured by Ryan, then agreed to serve under him as a pirate. But Will had
plans of his own. He was plotting Ryan’s death but was discovered sneaking
weapons around one night. Ryan tortured him, recorded it, and sent it home to
Blackstone. Just weeks after viewing the vid with me, my mother killed herself.”
Beckett pointed out to the vidscreen. “Right there,” he said, pointing his finger to
the small corner of the screen where an image of the pirate dropship could be
seen, “that’s why I am here.” Beckett bit his lip until the flesh turned white around
his teeth. “I’m here to fry that bastard for killing my entire family.”[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]Xandar turned around to face Beckett, his lips curling back across his face. “You
are risking all this just to kill him?” Xandar shook his head. “Revenge? Revenge
shouldn’t be that important. I would hardly say you’re coming any closer to getting
your revenge than your brother William did. Besides, what is killing him going to
do?”[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]”Killing him is going to save you, for one thing. You’re the moron that fouled up his
plan all those years ago. The only reason this dropship was attacked is because
Redjack Ryan wants you dead Xandar Harlow.” Beckett turned to Joanna. “This
Harlow character is Savior of Oberon. Maybe you’ve heard the title before?”
Joanna nodded, seeming confused. “Yeah, the one man team that foiled that bio
weapons plot back on this system’s capital planet. I remember the newsvid. The
guy, the Savior of Oberon, had kicked the hell out of a whole pirate band…guys
that were trying to destroy the capital and leave it uninhabitable. I had no idea it
was this moron Harlow.” Joanna pointed to Xandar, shaking her head slowly. She
turned to glare at Beckett. “No that can’t be Harlow. You handed him his ass in
the fight earlier. The Savior of Oberon can surely carry himself in a fistfight.”
“That’s because I blinded him earlier. Or do you not recall the gas?” Beckett took
a few steps towards Joanna, pointing the gun at her now. “The only reason I
could take Harlow down is my own special training, and the gas that robbed him
of one of his senses.”[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]”Thanks for giving me a say in all of this,” Xandar laughed. “Enough with my
history. Let’s get Beckett’s ‘master plan’ in action!” he exclaimed sarcastically.
“What are we gonna do? Destroy all those fighters, and then just trash his
dropship?” Xandar closed his eyes. “I sure hope you have some idea of what you
are doing, Mr. Beckett.”[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]”The name is Strider by the way, not Beckett. Now watch this.” He pointed to the
screen again. The reporter cut off in mid sentence. Flashing black then white,
another scene played out. A young man was kneeling directly in front of the
camera. Suddenly a pistol lowered into the foreground of the screen.[/dcs_p]