Project Boussh: Bad Place To Be
by Majick

    The Ambassador's hand emerging from the darkness, beckoning them. Her
head appeared as she lent forward in her seat.
    "Come with me," she said, "if you want to live."

    The Bousshers sank into the plush leather seats in the rear of the
Suburban. At the Ambassasor's suggestion, they availed themselves of the
mini bar, although Elassar checked all the drinks for unwanted flavourings
first. The Ambassador found this highly amusing.
    "I trust that you realise, if I wanted you out of commission I would
have had dear Captain Namor shoot you?" she said
    The Captain squirmed slightly under the attention of the Ambassador.
Mike filed that datum away for future use.
    "Besides, we have uses for people like yourself. You know, for a covert
operations team, you've been very noticeable. Blowing up 'Dubya's' building
like that. *Very* noticeable."
    "Compared to what you and the Empire are planning, I doubt anyone would
think badly of us. After all, you are planning to take over the world,"
Shalla pointed out.
    "This, of course, is true. I must say, you've discovered more than we
gave you credit for. I feel it is as well we bought you in now, rather than
when dear Eugor wanted to."
    "'Dear' Eugor?" Mike asked.
    "Oh yes. You don't think he would trust this Ambassadorship to just
anyone, do you? Rather, I'm the only person he could trust absolutely."
    "What do you mean? Who are you?" Shalla asked
    "I," began the Ambassador, "am Ambassador Rawa T'Cab, of Mendellia, as
you doubtless already know. I am also Eugor Atner's closest confidante....
and lover."
    Mike looked at her, blinked, and burst out laughing.
    "....haha...only person....snigger....he can trust....haha..."
    Suddenly furious, T'Cab gestured sharply at Mike, and Captain Namor
lifted his carbine, slowly, and fired a stun bolt at the helpless Terran.
Mike writhed momentarily as the azure energy bolt hit him, then slumped back
against his seat, unconscious.

    When the Suburban reached the Mendellian embassy, it was met by four
orderlies, whom Shalla recognised as stormtroopers in disguise. Their boots
were of stormtrooper grade, as were the blasters they had strapped to their
thighs. They manhandled Bror and Mike into the embassy, while the assassin
droid and Captain Namor kept their weapons aimed squarely at the two
conscious Boussh team members.
   "Place this one in the bacta tank," T'Cab ordered, imperiously. "We shall
fix that break for him, although his trousers are probably beyond repair.
Have my tailor take his measurements, Poe," she ordered the attendant droid.
"Your friend will at least be decently dressed," she said to Elassar and
Shalla.
    "I'm sure he'll appreciate it," Elassar managed, utterly confused.
    She looked at him, and smiled.
    "Young man, merely because we are at odds in the long term, does not
mean I cannot make your captivity rather more pleasant than you would find
aboard the 'Admonitor'. I rather think that you will be more inclined to
share information on the New Republic's presence, should you be well
treated."
    "Shalla Nelprin, Lieutenant, New Republic Armed Forces."
    "Elassar Targon, Lieutenant, New Republic Armed Forces."
    The Wraiths then clammed up, determined to say no more, lest they
compromise the rest of the Bousshers. The Ambassador's expression,
previously sweet, turned dark.
    "Very well. If that is how you want to play this game. Poe, Captain..."
She looked at the assassin droid. "You! Take them to my office, and insure
you do not let them escape."

    The two Wraiths paced the office under the watchful eyes of their
captors. They eyed each possible exit speculatively, but failed to formulate
any sensible stratagems. Even allowing for Poe's probable inability to shoot
them should they try and escape, they still had to deal with an Imperial
naval Captain, and an assassin droid, both armed and dangerous. They
wondered exacty what was happening to Mike and Bror, who had been separated
from their partners.