S3, 21 Nothing is Forever Part 2 (FB) (February 12, 2017)

Corresponding text underneath each picture.

**26th January 2097: Present Day**

It only took half an hour to reach the apartment block that Riley lived in. I took the elevator up to her floor in silence, not having uttered a single sound since leaving the bar. My jaw set, my fists clenched, I could feel my insides boiling, filling me with an anger that had begun to replace the surprise and shock that I had initially felt.

The elevator doors 'swooshed' open and I marched out and along the corridor towards Riley's apartment.

When I reached it, I tried the handle but found it locked. Quickly prising open the access panel, I hotwired the circuit and the door unlocked. I stormed into her apartment and was slightly surprised to hear the sound of sobbing.

I followed the noise to Riley's bedroom and stepped through the open doorway.

She was curled up on her bed, bawling her eyes out. Still dressed in the catsuit she'd been wearing at the bar, and at all her previous murders, she was sobbing so hard, taking gasping breaths, that she hadn't even heard me arrive.

Tank: "**Why?** " I demanded. With a shocked gasp, Riley rolled aside to the edge of her bed, drawing a blaster as she did. I leapt for cover behind the door as she fired at me and the laser struck the wall.

Tank: "**WHY?** " I bellowed again.

Riley: "Tank..." She sobbed. I went to move out from behind the door, assuming that she'd shot at me purely out of instinct, but as soon as I moved another laser hit the wall beside me. No - she was trying to kill me. I drew my own pistols. I didn't want to have to use them, but I could see no alternative.

Tank: "You bastard..." I cursed as another laser struck the wall. I quickly poked out and fired a couple of shots back across the room. Riley was crouched behind the bed and ducked behind it to avoid my shots.

I retreated behind the door as Riley fired at me again and the lasers penetrated the wood, showering me in splinters.

Flinching, I took a couple of pot shots to cover myself and then dived from my hiding place, back through the doorway. Lasers flew past me, missing me by inches, as I took shelter in the corridor.

Riley: "Tank, I didn't want this!" She called.

Tank: "Yeah; I believe you." I replied sarcastically, taking a moment to catch my breath.

Riley: "It's true!" She shouted back and I by listening to her voice, I could tell that she'd moved across the room, closer to the door.

I had a feeling that we were on opposite sides of the same wall. I quietly turned and blasted several rounds into the wall and heard Riley cry out in alarm. She leapt through the doorway to avoid my lasers and we both fired blindly at each other as we scampered up the corridor in opposite directions.

Panting, I had my back to the wall, just beside the corridor.

Riley: "I really didn't want this, Tank." She announced from the other end of the passageway.

Tank: "So why are you shooting at me?" I questioned and suddenly noticed a flicker in the corner of my eye - a reflection of Riley in a framed picture on the wall. She was slowly creeping along the corridor towards me.

Thinking quickly, I turned and jogged through the living room, towards the other end of the passageway and sprung out behind Riley, guns blazing. Not expecting it, Riley screamed in alarm as she sprinted away from me. Unharmed, she fired behind herself as she ran and I had to dodge several lasers that came too close for comfort.

Tank: "Your aim is shit!" I shouted, jokingly.

Riley: "Speak for yourself!" I heard her reply and couldn't help but smirk. No! I snapped myself back into the moment. She was trying to kill me. There was nothing to smirk about. I had to forget who I was fighting and just go for it. Riley wasn't hesitating to kill me, so I shouldn't hesitate killing her.

I crouched down and crawled quickly back along the length of the passage. It was lucky I was crouched because seconds later Riley burst around the corner and started firing up the corridor, over my head.

I launched myself at her and tackled her to the ground. Her pistol clattered away across the floor as I pinned her down. Panting, I aimed my own pistols at her face, but in a flash, she knocked them out of my hands and brought her knee up into my crotch.

I groaned in pain and, distracted, Riley managed to throw me off, using strength I didn't know she had!

Riley: "Aww... Want me to kiss it better?" She winked as she pinned me down and despite my struggles, I couldn't get free.

Tank: "Sorry!" I replied and she frowned - just as I head-butted her in the face.

She cried out and clutched at her bloody nose and, ceasing the moment, I rolled us over once again, so I was on top.
But it didn't last long as she wrapped her legs around my waist in a vice-like grip. I tried to stand to free myself, but she grabbed my tie and I just succeeded in pulling her up with me. She punched me in the face and I rammed her backwards into the wall. Screaming a battle cry, she slapped me repeatedly across the face as I continued trying to shake her off.

I spun her around and slammed her head into a glass-fronted side cabinet. She shouted in pain as glass rained everywhere and she and fell to the floor, grabbing a vase in the process. She kicked out and caught the side of my knee.

I cried out as my leg buckled and I fell to my knees. I barely had time to see the vase before it smashed into the side of my head and knocked me to the ground.

I groaned, my vision blurred and my head swam as I pushed myself onto all fours.

Riley: "Is it true?" She asked as she leapt onto my back, forcing me back onto the carpet.

Riley: "Are you really Frank Foster?"

*WHAT?!*  How did she know that?! I really had no idea what was going on tonight... But, as Riley tried to wrap her hands around my neck, I knew that it wasn't over yet. There was no way I was dying now!

I heaved myself up and pushed backwards. We crashed into the back of the sofa and Riley let go as we both tumbled over.

Nose to nose on the sofa we grappled with each other. We both tried to get a blow in on the other person, but we were evenly matched and nobody struck a single hit.

Tank: "You bitch!" I growled.

Riley: "Bastard!"

Finally, I slipped a hand through her guard and grabbed her by the neck.

She gasped in surprise and we both froze, eyes locked. In an instant, the entire situation turned. Neither of us decided to change it, it just happened.

Our lips met briefly the first time, but then began to pound together frantically, locked in a battle of their own.

I grabbed the zipper on the front of her catsuit and hastily yanked it all the way down. Riley sat up and shrugged the leather all-in-one off of her shoulders, letting it fall to her waist, revealing her beautiful bust and I began kissing around her neck as she undid her bra.

She sighed at the touch of my lips and slid her hands down my chest. Down, down, until she grabbed my still aching crotch and I winced in pain. It didn't go unnoticed.

Riley: "Let me kiss it better." She repeated urgently in a husky tone, and this time, I had no objections!

**Later…**

The evening had not gone at all how I had imagined it would. In fact, the entire day had been full of surprises. And it wasn't over yet.

Our, um... 'session', had taken us all over Riley's apartment and had concluded back where I'd first found her - her bed. Now, as we lay in various states of dress, Riley in my arms, I couldn't help smiling. That was until I realised that she was silently crying.

Tank: "What's wrong?" I asked, concerned. We were both bruised and battered from our vicious fight, but I somehow knew it wasn't a physical pain that was hurting her.

Riley: "I'm so sorry." She sobbed, rolling over and crying into my chest. "Tank, I'm so scared."

Tank: "Scared? Of what?"

Riley: "Of my Dad."

Tank: "What? Why are you scared of your Dad?" I asked, confused.

Riley: "He's powerful. More than you know. In his circles, he goes by the name 'The Boss'..."

Tank: "Wait! Your Dad is The Boss?!" I asked, surprised.

Riley: "You've heard of him?"

Tank: "Yeah. He's a rival of the man I work for!"

Riley nodded.

Riley: "The Brain."

I frowned.

Tank: "How do you know that?"

Riley: "You’ve always been so vague about what you do… and then, when you showed up after I had killed Barnaby Walsh and we fought, I knew he must have sent you to protect him. My father had suspected for some time that Walsh had been leaking information to The Brain. I didn't want to fight you. I couldn't bear it - I was so scared that you'd find out who I was."

I took a deep breath.

Tank: "Looks like we both have secret identities." I commented sadly and there was a brief pause.

Tank: "Why did you kill all of those men? Do you realise you beat me to several others recently?”

Riley: “Which others?”

I quickly recalled the names of the other men she’d killed and Riley looked disheartened.

Riley: "My Dad made me. McTene had been leaking information. Jake Tapworth was loyal to my father, but Dad guessed that The Brain would want revenge for the death of Rex Harrison, so sent me to kill him purely to beat the Brain, or as it turns out *you*, to it. Harrison himself was killed because he turned out to be a mole.”

Tank: "The Brain was not best pleased with me when I was beaten to it every time."

Riley: "You should have been faster." She smirked, but I didn't feel the humour.

Riley: "Is it true?" She asked, changing the subject.

Tank: "Is what true?"

Riley: "Are you really Frank Foster?"

I didn't reply. I didn't want to admit that I'd been lying to her all this time. My silence acted as my answer.

Riley: "Why didn't you tell me?"

Tank: "I couldn't. For all I knew, you'd turn me over to the police. You work with the Governor of Qoter! I'm still a wanted man. I was imprisoned for killing my parents! I didn't know what you'd do if I told you."

Riley: "I wouldn't have told anyone, Tank, you know that."

Tank: "I do now, but didn't at the start. I couldn't believe my luck when we bumped into each other again that day at the coffee shop. I'd finally found a link to my old life. One I never thought I'd see again... But of course, once I'd started lying to you about who I was, I couldn't then change my mind and tell you the truth."

Riley sighed, but I could tell she understood.

**Elsewhere…**

The door bleeped as the security pass was successfully swiped and a moment later, the door opened.

Alberto Rinse, The Boss, entered the dark warehouse, looking around carefully, a concerned scowl on his face.

The Boss: "Hello?" He called aloud, but was greeted only by silence. He'd been given the security pass to the warehouse months before, but until this time, had never actually been here.

He wandered around for several minutes before he spotted the glow of lights coming from an alcove.

He stopped when he found what he was looking for and then announced,

The Boss: "I have news regarding Frank Foster..."

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Tank: "You still haven't told me why you're scared of your Dad though." I reminded as we lay together.

Riley: "He... He's punished me before."

Tank: "For what?"

Riley: "For not completing a job!" She explained, looking up at me. "Tank, he told me to kill you!"

Tank: "Why? What have I ever done to him?"

Riley: "No, not you. *Frank* ! He wants Frank Foster dead! He doesn't know that you're the same person."

Tank: "Have you told him?"

Riley: "No. I've not told anybody. After I left the bar, I came straight back here."

Tank: "What about when you realised I worked for The Brain? Does your father know that?"

Riley: "No. I didn't want to put you in danger. Anybody who works for his rivals are enemies and I didn't want to put you in that position."

I thought for a moment.

Tank: "So you're scared he'll find out you couldn't kill me."

Riley nodded, looking genuinely terrified.

Riley: "When he told me who I had to kill, I didn't want to. Frank Foster - I loved you as a friend when we were kids and I really liked your family. I was devastated when they were killed and you were locked away. When my Dad told me I had to kill Frank Foster, I...." She paused, struggling with the words. "I didn't want to, but I had to. I didn't want to be punished again..."

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The Boss: "I located Foster and as a gesture of goodwill towards yourself, sent my best assassin to take care of him." He began to explain, but fell silent as, silhouetted against a dozen computer monitors, Darkblade rose from his chair and turned to face him.

Darkblade: "You **what** ?!" He demanded and The Boss was taken aback at his anger.

The Boss: "I... I sent an assassin to take care of Foster. You said you wanted him dead, yes?"

Darkblade: "I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO KILL HIM!" He bellowed and surged forwards, grabbing The Boss by the neck.

Tank: "So why does your Dad want me dead?"

Riley: "I'm not sure. He didn't get on well with your father. They were civil with each other, but they never saw eye to eye apparently. My Dad has always believed that your parents weren't the saints everybody believes that they were. He thinks that some of their fortune came from illegal activities."

Tank: "He's one to talk..." I muttered. But now, a seed of doubt had been placed in my mind. Was it true? Where had all their money come from? Money that had been left entirely to me. Was my new found wealth comprised of dirty money?

Riley: "But that's not all. Recently, he's been working with someone else. Someone who wants you dead. I don't know why. All I know is this other guy has a grudge against you."

I frowned. I could think of several people with a grudge against me. Wolfhide. Colonel Ramson. The rest of Beta Squad. And there were sure to be others.

Tank: "Ever heard his name?"

Riley: "Only a code name - Darkblade."

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Darkblade slammed The Boss backwards into the wall, holding him by the throat using a single hand. With his spare hand, he drew his long, black sword and held it to The Boss's throat.

Alberto tried to groan in pain but all that came out was a strangled squawk. His feet a good foot off of the ground, he batted at Darkblade's arm, but the armour-clad man's grip was like steel.

Darkblade: "Your job was to dig up dirt on the parents. *NOT* kill him!"

The Boss: "He's alive!" He gurgled. "The assassin failed! That's why I came. To apologise for the missed opportunity." He was struggling for breath now.

Darkblade's grip stayed vice-like around the crime lord's throat.

Darkblade: "So he's alive?"

The Boss: "Yes!" He gasped desperately.

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Tank: "Darkblade?"

Riley: "Yes. Do you know him?"

Tank: "No. No, I've never heard of him." I replied, wondering why a man I'd never heard of before wanted me dead.

Riley: "Well, that's who my father is working with. And from what I've heard, he's more dangerous than my Dad."

I sighed, concerned and for a good minute, we just lay in each other's arms. Then Riley spoke again.

Riley: "Tank, why are you hunting Zeth Stripe?"

Yet another surprise this evening.

Tank: "How do you know that?"

Riley: “You spoke to Judas about him, quite a while ago now, back in May. Remember? He was helping you locate him.”

In all honesty, I had forgotten, so I was surprised that Riley had remembered the name so clearly.

Tank: “I… I need to find him. I’ve been searching for ages now but just keep running into dead ends. A friend of mine told me that he was trained by an organisation called ‘The Core’ and that he left, but that’s the closest I’ve gotten. Riley, Stripe… Stripe killed my parents.”

Riley: "What? Really?"

Tank: "Yeah."

Riley seemed to think before speaking again.

Riley: "Tank, Stripe was the one who trained me."

Tank: "What?!" This evening was full of revelations!

Riley: "He was still in The Core when my Dad hired him to train me as an assassin and he trained me for quite a while. Even after he left, before he was arrested. But, I hated him. He was abusive and cruel. He was so harsh on me. I was only a child!” she confided, a tear back in her eye. “Every time I did something wrong, he would beat me. But what’s worse is that my father knew and did nothing! He told me I deserved it for being a failure! I know now that he was just pushing me to become strong and to do better, but that’s not what I needed. Tank, I’m so sorry about your parents. It’s… I can imagine Stripe being the sort of person to have done it though. When I heard you were going after him I was worried. I still am. Tank, he’s tough. He’s tough, he’s mean, he’s strong. Please… be careful.” She pleaded.

Tank: “Always am.” I replied with a cocky smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. Riley sighed sadly and nuzzled her head into my neck. I could tell that she was still scared, so I pulled her close in to a hug.

Tank: “Don’t worry about your father.”

Riley: “I hate him.” She replied, trying hard not to cry. “I hate everything he does and everything he makes me do…”

Tank: “So why work for him?”

Riley: “Do you think I have a choice?!”

Tank: “Then stop! I’ll help you!” I promised. “I’ll protect you. Help you break free from him, from his grip. Riley,”

Riley: “Cat.” She interrupted and I frowned, confused. “I only use Riley officially. Cat was my assassin’s name. It’s what my father has always called me.” She explained and I briefly remembered the conversation I’d had with her at the dinner table in her father’s house. “As much as I hate him… I prefer the name. It reminds me of who I really am. What I can do.”

I nodded in understanding.

Tank: “Cat,” I started again, but it felt odd calling her by a different name. I guess that’s how she felt now that she knew who I really was, too! “You can’t stay under his control forever. You’re not that child any more. He doesn’t own you. What can he threaten you with?”

Cat: “You.”

I took a moment to take that in.

Cat: “Tank, when he first started digging up dirt on your parents, when he made me get involved – I didn’t want to! I loved your parents, your family. They were always so kind to me, it was such a change from my own Dad. I didn’t want to A, believe that they were criminals – scumbags like my father, or B, get involved with bringing down their legacy. But my dad threatened to have you hurt or worse. Every time I wanted to back out, he threatened me with that. That’s the only reason, Tank. The only reason I’ve done all of this.”

I ran a hand through her soft hair, tracing down her blonde streak.

Tank: “Then it’s time to break away. Now that I know – he can’t use me against you anymore. Let me help you.” I reasoned. “Please. Cat, yes? Everything up until now has been your first life. Let me help you escape from your father and you can begin the second of your nine lives. With me.” I added and after a few seconds of thought, Riley replied;
Cat: “Okay.”

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The Boss began to gag as he failed to get any oxygen into his lungs, Darkblade’s gloved hand still wrapped around his neck.

Darkblade: “Are you sure?”

The Boss: “Yes! Please!” he could barely make a sound now.

Darkblade’s grip remained tight for a few moments more, but finally, he released him and, gasping for air, Alberto fell to his knees.

The Boss: “I had a spy tail the assassin – I always do. The spy saw everything. Foster is still alive.”

Darkblade: “He had better be.” He responded threateningly.

The Boss: “But… I thought you wanted him dead?”

Darkblade: “You miss the point.” He warned, jabbing the very tip of his blade into The Boss’s shoulder, making him wince. “*I* want to kill him. Nobody else is to lay a finger on him. That’s why I hired you to tackle the finances - *NOT* hunt down Foster himself.” He explained and removed the sword. The Boss clambered back to his feet, still breathing heavily. “Has there been any progress with the finances?”

The Boss: “Slight. I found a bank account linked to Frank Foster, but it was impossible to access. My only other lead at present is the name of somebody who worked as chief financier in Jeremy Foster’s company…”

Darkblade: “Send me the details and leave him to me.” He commanded.

The Boss sighed heavily.

The Boss: “As you wish.” He muttered.

Darkblade: “Go. I have a feeling that you’ll still be of use to me.”

The Boss’s lip curled. He hated not being in control and this deal with Darkblade seemed to be getting worse all the time.

Darkblade: “Leave.” He put bluntly and Alberto turned on his heel and marched back out of the warehouse, leaving Darkblade alone once again in the shadows.

**Elsewhere…**

The pack of shadows swept through the darkness. Unseen, the group of four made virtually no sound as they crept towards their prey.

They were heading for a pub in one of the seedier areas of Etrion - which was, in itself, a feat. The pack's leader had finally gotten a lead on the case that they'd been working on for some time now.

They knew that their quarry was inside the establishment right at this moment and so time was of the essence. If they waited too long, he would be gone and they'd have to start all over again.

However, this time, they arrived in time and the four blew through the dingy pub like a hurricane, quickly locating the man they were after. Just a minute later, the pack leader was stood in the doorway, using a single hand to toss the man with ease out into the street. It had been raining recently and he landed with a crash and a cry in a dirty puddle.

He attempted to crawl away, but found himself staring at a pair of black boots - another of the pack. He looked up in fear, rolling into a sitting position as they rest gathered around. Now they were moving less quickly, he noticed that they were all female with porcelain white skin.

Man: "Who are you? What do you want?" He demanded, sounding terrified.

The leader of the pack strode forwards, a helmet covering her head, but her slender figure giving her away as a female.

Leader: "Now now, Relheart. I don't think you're in a position to ask questions, are you." She chided in a mocking, yet sensual tone. Crouching down on her haunches just in front of the male, she reached up and removed her helmet, revealing her own white skin and big green eyes and letting her brown hair, tied up in a high ponytail, hang down.

Aurora: "Now, tell us where Zeth Stripe is."

Aurora - daughter of the High Priestess of Fuyoria. Seven months ago, she had made a promise. A promise to a friend that she would help him track down his parents killer. And Aurora, legendary warrior and Fuyorian royalty, was not one to break promises.
She had spent the past months travelling the system with her two younger sisters, Meissa and Calaeno and her best and most loyal friend Talitha, searching for any trace of the mysterious Stripe. Now, finally, they had a lead - an old acquaintance.

Aurora: "Come on Relheart. Give him up."

Relheart: "Go to hell!"

The pack leader didn't move but suddenly there was a large sword, glinting in the little light that there was, pressed against his throat.

Aurora: "Poor choice." She smirked.

**BONUS PICTURES**

The set for Riley's bedroom.

When I was writing the episode, I quickly sketched out this plan for Riley's apartment so that I knew where everything was located.

During the making of this episode, I went on a trip to Disneyland and of course I took Tank with me!

The set for the final scene with the Namorians and Relheart.

An alternative photo of Aurora throwing Relheart out of the door.

As my series is going to be jumping around though time, I will include a date on each episode and add it to the timeline at the end of each episode so that you can follow it.

TIMELINE