Out in the Open Part 2

[Mac Calhoun]

“My parents just murdered an entire world they can burn in hell.” Mac said coldly, those voices still haunting her.

[Clint Cross]

Clint nodded his head. "I'm sorry Mac." he said softly. "JT... I'll call you both when the other ships arrive."

Tali got up and wiped the tears from her eyes. "I'm going to throw very sharp things at something... and I'm going to scream. And drink and scream some more. So... don't go into the training room for a while. Not unless they want a migraine."

"Right..." Clint nodded his head and winced. As he looked out the window he wondered what the hell would make them go from heroes... to the big bads.

[Ezekiel Ryder]

Later -- 'Around Tea Time'

Clint was sitting in the center seat, JT was at the helm and Mac and Tali were at Mission Ops and Tactical Ops. The mood on the bridge of the Viper was tense, but it seemed to lighten a bit when Ezekiel Ryder's face appeared on the viewscreen.

"Director, since the XDF can't be 'officially' here... I decided to go rogue. So Commander Ryder of the TAS Ether." he said with a half smile.

"Ether? Seriously... are we running out of names?" Clint chuckled.

"Place holder name and Decker's briefing didn't exactly give much hope that this bird will last another engagement." Zeke said with a wince. "Million year old ship that they found in the Boneyard, but she's got a cloak and other fun stuff."

"Zeke... can you switch to a private channel, your ready room... there's... more than we told Decker." Clint said and glanced at Mac. "Lots more."

"Do I need to have a bottle near me after you tell me what you need to tell me?" Zeke said and got up from his chair.

"Maybe." Clint glanced at Tali who's eyes were still bloodshot and clearly slightly hungover, but she was hiding it well. "Mac... can you come with me?" Clint asked her as he walked over to her. "Best he hear it from you."

[Mac Calhoun]

She frowned but nodded in agreement and followed Clint. Telling everyone was the part of all of this that she really hated. She still hadn’t worked out how to tell Jason. Especially, now that he’d gotten comfortable enough to start his own family.

“Hey Zeke.” Mac said as his face popped up on the display. “How’s xenex?”

[Ezekiel Ryder]

"On edge as everyone else is." Zeke replied. "Keira sends her love. But I don't think you wanted to talk in private to make small talk." he sighed heavily. "I've known you too long. You found out something... look, whatever it is, we'll face it together. As family. Like we always have."

[Mac Calhoun]

“Well...we found out that Dominus has been destroying worlds. Cracking them open and murdering entire populations.” Mac said looking to Clint for support. She took a deep breath to steady herself. There wasn’t any way to say it other then to just say it. “Zeke...he did use a weapon it was...it was Jack and Kinsey. She’s alive and it looks like he may have gone rouge. She destroyed those planets and Jack helped her.”

[Ezekiel Ryder]

"Grozit..." Zeke blinked and shook his head. "Seriously?" he just stared at her. "If it was anyone else telling me that I'd think they were full of shit but... dammit." he pounded the armrest of his chair. "Well clearly he must have found someway to manipulate them or mind control or... something. They wouldn't agree to do that otherwise. But... you mean Kinsey can crack entire worlds open and Jack can control an entire population with his mind? Our Jack and Kinsey? Jack who needs a hypo of anti inflammatory after he deals with a class of college kids and Kinsey who would rather shoot something than use her TK powers." he shook his head. "If that... if they can really do that. No one is safe. They need to explain themselves... but... planetary destruction and mass murder... that's... there's no really coming back from that is there?"

[Mac Calhoun]

“I felt the minds of all of their victims screaming out as they died Zeke. I can’t forgive them and I don’t think our young versions will either.” Mac replied coldly. “Nor should they.”

[Ezekiel Ryder]

"Yeah... I agree." Zeke said softly. "I never thought they would be capable of that in a million years. Then we need to stop their threat and Dominus' and the Ajem'dasis... never easy is it?"

[Mac Calhoun]

“No, it’s not.” Mac said as she looked over at Clint. “I need to know why they did it. I have to know. I can’t go home and tell Mackenzie and Jason without knowing. Price isn’t going to want to know why. Selene would want to know.”