Smugglers have a Code

Posted on Mon Feb 10th, 2025 @ 5:43pm by Lieutenant Adrianna Baciami

1,955 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well
Timeline: Past

Adrianna had always known this moment would come.

The Pendragon’s crew tolerated her, but she wasn’t one of them. All the hazing in the world couldn't buy her a true place here. She was an outsider, a translator on a ship full of criminals without so much of a blemish on her undercover record, aside from a bar fight, but that was self defence. Vance had vouched for her, but that wasn’t quite enough for everyone.

Especially not for Rook.

He was an old contact of Vance’s– big, scarred– the kind of man who solved his problems with fists before words. He had been drinking with the crew when his gaze landed on her in the corner of the room by herself, her feet on the table as she was reading a phrase book for their next run to brush up on the language in question.

Something mean curled in his expression. “Tell me, Adams,” he drawled, not bothering to look at Vance, “What’s she really here for?”

The mess hall quietened.

Lutz watched without interfering. Even Vance, usually so quick to shut things down, said nothing. He just leaned back, letting it play out as he saw Adrianna look up from her book, hearing herself being spoken about.

Rook turned to Adrianna directly, “Smuggling’s got a code, sweetheart. We pull our weight. What about you?”

Adrianna met his gaze, unflinching. She’d seen men like him before– men who underestimated her, who thought soft words meant soft hands.

So she smiled, placing her book on the table in front of her. She removed her feet from the table and stood up with a shrug, as if addressing the room, but her focus was on Rook. “You’re right,” she said smoothly, “Smuggling does have a code. And you? You’re breaking it, cucciolo.”

Rook blinked, thrown for a moment, “The hell are you talking about?”

She gestured vaguely, “You’re sitting here, drinking, questioning my value– while doing absolutely nothing of value yourself. Wasting supplies. Taking up space. Wasting oxygen.” She tilted her head with amusement, “If we’re weighing usefulness, Rook, let's start with you– what do you contribute aside from a little bit of muscle and a lack of mind making you a brilliantly expendable person in times of crisis– a goat for sacrifice, if you will.”

Lutz let out a low chuckle.

Rook bristled, “I’ve done more jobs than you’ve had hot meals.”

“Maybe,” Adrianna mused, “but you know what happens to smugglers who stop being useful, don’t you?”

She let her voice dip, quiet but deliberate, “They get replaced or used as bait.”

Rook frowned.

Adrianna leaned forward, voice softer now, almost conversational. “You think I’m just a translator?” she let the moment hang, watching him, watching the flicker of uncertainty behind his eyes, “you don’t know what else I do. You don’t know why the Capitano trusts me– and that– that should bother you.”

She saw the moment it did.

Rook’s fingers twitched against the table, and for the first time, his bravado wavered.

Adrianna kept her smile, “Now, if you’d like to prove you’re still useful, by all means– pick a fight. Let’s see how that ends for you.”

Silence.

Then Vance chuckled, breaking the tension, “tread carefully, Rook. We've all had a bit to drink.”

Rook held Adrianna’s gaze for a moment longer before leaning back with a muttered curse. The moment Rook’s expression darkened, Adrianna knew he wouldn’t let her win with words alone. In one sense, that's what she wanted. Perhaps a fight would help her gain some credibility on the Pendragon.

His pride was bruised, and men like him didn’t take that lightly.

He lunged out of his seat, fast, but not fast enough.

Adrianna moved smoothly, sidestepping just as he reached for her. Using his own momentum, she twisted, guiding him off balance. His knee hit the floor with a sharp thud, and before he could react, she had his arm pinned behind his back, her knee pressing into his spine forceful enough to tell him that she knew where his old injury was that caused him grief.

The mess hall fell into stunned silence, a few standing up to get a better view of a fight that may break out fully.

Rook tensed beneath her grip, breathing hard, squirming. Adrianna didn’t hurt him, didn’t push further than necessary– just enough to remind him that underestimating her had been a mistake. She leaned in slightly, voice calm but firm, her hot breath almost sultry by his ear, but her words were filled with venom, “You should learn when to stop, ‘sweetheart’.” She hated the way the pet name felt on her lips, but she wanted to prove a point.

A few heartbeats passed. Then, just as quickly as she had moved before, she released him and stepped back, offering him a hand up that she knew he wouldn't take. Rook exhaled sharply as he pushed himself up, rolling his shoulder and swatting her hand away in frustration. His pride was clearly wounded, but he didn’t make another move.

Vance, who had been watching silently, finally leaned forward with a smirk, “Well, that settles that.” Whilst Vance had been expecting to break up a fight, or taking Ade to the medbay, he hadn't quite expected Adrianna to be able to get one over on someone twice her size.

Lutz let out a low chuckle, crossing his arms, clearly entertained. He had also been ready to step in to help Vance break it up. He exchanged a knowing look with Vance.

Rook muttered something under his breath but didn’t argue.

Adrianna simply straightened her sleeves and walked past him, her point made. She made her way back to her perch in the corner.

Rook pulled himself back into his seat with a grunt, rolling his shoulder again as he shot Adrianna a look that was equal parts irritation and disbelief. He didn’t say anything at first– just turned back toward his seat, muttering under his breath. “I only lost this ‘cause I had a drink,” he grumbled, grabbing his ale again, “It would’ve gone differently otherwise, sweetheart.”

Lutz smirked, raising a brow in amusement, but said nothing. He had a subtle feeling that Adrianna was about to show her true colours– the ones he'd heard about before tracking her down.

Adrianna, frozen, feeling the promise of this continuing. She could still win this and ensure that she had a place on the crew– especially when Rook was yet to be silenced, making him an easy sacrificial lamb to her cause to solidify her place for the sake of her Starfleet mission.

As Rook lifted his glass of ale to his lips, she moved in one smooth motion, pulling a small dagger from the base of her spine and flicking her wrist. The blade sailed clean through the air– fast, precise– before striking the glass dead centre.

The glass shattered in his hand, ale spilling across the table and all over him. The blade itself embedded deep in the table, humming slightly from the impact.

Silence fell across the mess hall.

Rook stared at the ruined drink in shock before slowly looking up at her.

Adrianna strolled over, plucked the dagger from the table, and twirled it effortlessly between her fingers before tucking it back into its sheath with a satisfactory and contented sigh. Then she leaned in just slightly, a sharp grin on her lips. “If you’ve got a problem, Rook, and you are intent on finding flaws in how I operate within this crew,” she murmured, though it was just loud enough for the room to hear, “I can assure you that the next time, I won’t hesitate to put you in your place, or– better yet– next time I won't miss.”

She patted his shoulder twice, casual and unbothered, before turning on her heel and walking away.

Rook sat there, dripping in ale, fists clenched at his sides.

“Spilled your drink, Rook,” Vance chuckled, “I’d get another one, mate– something stronger perhaps.”

Lutz snorted and the rest of the crew laughed at how easily Adrianna had put him in his place. Equally, they were all surprised that she could handle herself so well. Only a few had seen what had happened at the poker game.

Rook scowled but he didn’t say another word.

Vance leaned back against the wall, arms crossed, watching Rook stew in his seat. The tension in the room had settled, replaced by the quiet hum of conversation as the rest of the crew went back to their drinks.

Lutz smirked, shaking his head as he leaned toward Vance. “Didn’t think she had that in her,” he admitted, “You sure she ain’t more trouble than she’s worth? I mean– sure, she's a great translator, but this?”

Vance chuckled, eyes still on Adrianna as she walked away, tucking her dagger back into its sheath. His gaze was thoughtful. “She’s a damn good find, Lutz,” he said, “and you’re the one who found her and wanted her to interview, remember?”

Lutz scoffed, “Interview? That’s generous. I just said we could see if she was useful and brought her in.”

Vance shot him a knowing look, “not that she needed it after that poker game.”

Lutz exhaled through his nose, “you’re still going on about that?”

“She saved my life.”

Lutz shrugged, glancing at Adrianna, who had settled at a table across the room, casually going back to the phrase book as if nothing that happened. “Fair enough,” he admitted, “still, she’s a wildcard.”

Vance smirked, “true but she’s our wildcard.”

Lutz took a long sip from his drink, watching Adrianna with mild amusement as she casually pulled her dagger back out and flipped it between her fingers as she read. “Wildcard is just one of the ways that I would put it. She's certainly a gift that keeps on giving. We’ve been profiting so much because of her negotiations,” he muttered.

Vance huffed a quiet laugh. “We needed a translator,” he admitted, eyes still fixed on her, “But you? You might’ve found me something more than that.”

Lutz raised a brow, smirking. “Oh yeah? What, an enforcer? A bodyguard? I know she's Italian but it's a bit in the nose to refer to her as a capo or consigliere.”

Vance shook his head, a rare softness creeping into his voice, “My soulmate.”

Lutz nearly choked on his drink, “You serious?”

Vance didn’t even hesitate. “I’m gonna marry that woman,” he smirked slightly, “she just doesn’t know it yet– well, I told her outright and she thinks it's a joke. But, I'm telling you, there's something undeniably right about her.”

Lutz let out a low chuckle, setting his glass down with a shake of his head, “that’s bold, even for you.”

Vance shrugged, “I know, but she’s worth it.”

Lutz leaned back, folding his arms. “Well, good luck, Cap. If what just happened with Rook is anything to go by, you might want to tread carefully.” He gave Vance a pointed look, “she’s got a temper and is clearly somewhat psychopathic. I'm not sure an argument would end with you sleeping on the couch– you'd end up sleeping in a hospital bed or snoozing in a body bag.”

Vance grinned, finally tearing his gaze away from Adrianna to glance at Lutz. “You may have a point there,” he said, “but I’ve always liked a challenge.”

 

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