Challenge: 9. Eavesdropping - whether accidentally or otherwise, your character overhears part of a conversation... Whatever it is that your character overhears... how will he react?
Author's Note: Spoilers for like a whole lot of the series, set directly after Promises, episode 4:05 and episode 4:06 only some biology facts about Nebari, John being able to predict wormholes, and D'argo as captain, the rest of that frelling episode does not exist. No matter what happens, this is not the last part in the series, there will be more.
Summary: In the wake of the most devestating events since the sacrifice of Talyn with his Captain, Bilar Crais, the remaining crew of Moya grieve for their lost friend and family. Believing the worst has happened, Chiana makes a decision on an offer Nerri has made. After this decision, the crew of Moya proceed with their plans toward Hynerian space. Peace Keeper territory; the Sebacean armies are preparing for war as the armadas of three other species line up on their borders. In the midst of all this chaos, a revelation is made that will rock the foundation of all that they have been lead to believe. On an alien world, a Nebari awakens. All events have a purpose, a meaning for being. All have been leading to a single moment in time, a second that will be remembered for mellinia, the death of John Crichton.
Key Words: Nebari, Slash, Hybrid, Royal Planet
Story Note: Each *** is in a different time. An example of this would be that what is happening with Crichton does not happen at the same time as with Chiana. They will not match up until the next part.
Lyrics: "Banks of Claudy" by Loreena McKennitt.
________________________________________________________ Part 3 - B
"Oh it's six long weeks or better Since Johnny left the shore He's crossing the wild ocean Where the foam and the billows roar.
He's crossing the wild ocean For honour and for fame. But this I've heard, the ship was wrecked All on the coast of Spain."
Oh it's when she heard this dreadful news She flew into dispair. By the wringing of her milk white hands And the tearing of her hair.
Saying "If Johnny he be drowned No man on earth I'll take."
"Banks of Claudy." by Loreena McKennitt.
The shuttle bay was silent as the first group of Nebari was ushered out of the transport shuttle. Men and women watched shock as they started to flip them off while being hustled down the ramp towards the awaiting troop transport. Their armed guards hitting them with the butts of their riffles as they started to get roudy.
Jack Crichton watched in amusemed awe as a smaller white haired one, obviously female by the way flashed her breast as she moved, cussed out one of the guards. Of all the things for the first Aliens to ever see Earth to learn of their language, this was not the so called xenobiologists wanted to hear.
Still, it was refreshing to learn that Humans weren't the only species with rifraff. Even with the way they moved and continued to be defiant, he was almost sure they were merely disgruntled Human youths. They would learn more from the physicals they gave them, 'probably that even aliens know how to kick a pervert in the nuts.'
His laugh made the other men in the room look at him in concern. Shaking his head at them, Jack pointed towards the girl. "She reminds me of my youngest. Spit and hell fire at that age. All better beware when she came around, because trouble followed." He shook his head after a another thought. "She was not the only one, John had his fair share as well."
A few throats cleared in the uncomfortable silence the followed. They were still painfully aware of the loss, and the setback in the program it caused. After a few more moments of the akwardness, Jack turned around, still composed.
"Why exactly have you brought me here, gentlemen?" Hands folded behind his back, he gripped them tight in the leather gloves. "Unless there is something I am uniquely qualified for, which I have no idea about, then what is the summons for?"
A young major in gold trimmed dark blue air force uniform stood up and scratched his chin. "Uh, sir, with all due respect to your condition..."
"It is not just my condition, seventy-nine percent of the planet is suffering from the effects of the unknown plauge. Besides, I don't give a damn about my condition, I'm not dead, and I sure in hell am not contaigious." Absentmindly he ran a hand along his red cheek. "We all know what it is, who is to blame, and how much they suffered because of it. Now just get on to why I am here."
"Yes, sir." He started towards jack, a foulder in his hands. "As you know, the aliens were picked up and placed in quarantine nineteen days ago. What you don't know is that we had some of their belongings sent down for study. Amoung the things sent was this." He pulled out a plastic baggie from the foulder, a metal puzzle necklace inside on a chain. "This was found in the pocket of an old IASA flight suit worn by one of the Aliens."
Jack stared at the necklace in horror and shock. Slowly, he reached out a hand to take the packet. He didn't respond as the Major let the baggie fall into his gloved hand, while jerking his own back in fear. Tears welled up in his green eyes as he looked down at the puzzle. "Where did he get this?"
"I am sorry, sir, but we know nothing about the alien. He has been in a coma the intire stay of quarantien, it is believed he will not survive much past the journey to the planet." The Major discreetly hid his revulsion as Jack gripped his arm.
"I want to see him, now!"
"That is not possible, Jack, we are having them transfored to a facitlity in Groom Lake to keep them away from those infected with contaigion. Who knows what effect it would have on their immune system. That is why they are being unloaded in the air tight landing bay of the Bertha and Gladys."
Jack glared at the general. "Aeral, you have to let me see him. It could be..."
"No, it isn't. Look now, they are bringing him out."
As Aeral pointed, Jack turned around to face the cargo hold of the new shuttle. His hopes plummeted when he saw the male alien being carried out on a stretcher, as he watched, his ire rose. "What in hell is going on? Where are the doctors, I thought we were supposed to be Human beings!"
"They have done all they can, he is just too alien. We have no idea what has happened to him, all we can do is hope that what ever is killing him, didn't spread to the rest."
"What do you mean?" Jack faced him, anger cause his eyes to glow slightly.
"We made an error in judgement. They were all placed in the same transport bay to be sent down in the same shuttle. Unfortunately no one remembered to place him in an iso container and now they are all infected if it is indeed a virus." Aeral rubbed a hand over his thinning hair. "In fact, the entire crew of both station, transports, shuttles, and ground facility are in quarantine as well."
"What in hell has this program been doing? I thought we gave up training chimps and putting them in space back in the sixties!"
"Now hold on, Jack, they are the best we got..."
"Hardly! Most of them have lived in isolations rooms since before the plauge hit. Uninfected does not mean inteligent!" He let his eyes fall on the squirming major. "Get that rat out of my presence. As of now, I am taking over this project. I am sick of this incompetence!"
"Now wait just a minute..."
Jack turned burning bright green irises on the young major. "Get out!"
When the Major looked at him, Aeral nodded. "That is another reason why we brought him here. You can go squirm under another rock, Herak." He looked haggard as he plopped back in his leather chair. "I am sorry about that, the Omega Gens are always the hardest to deal with."
"So it is true?" Jack watched his old friend carefully nod his head.
"Yes, all sterile." From beneath heavey brows, he looked at Jack. "Yours are the future of our species, I'm afraid. When it becomes public knowledge there won't be a safe person on this planet, and one of our two peoples will die."
The green glow died from Jack's eyes as he too slumped in a chair. "I'm sorry. What about your grand daughter?"
"She's a Martian."
Jack frowned at the term. "You want me to take over this project, why?"
"As I stated, we are dying." He pulled out a cigarette and lit up. "Doesn't matter what we do now. Ours is the last generation of Humans with the smarts behind all our tech. You were right about them being chimps up there. Or atleast about them being as smart as one. Their isolation has preserved them from the plauge, but it is only a matter of time. We need you to control the project. What is left of the norms won't trust anyone but you when we are gone.
"They will believe it a trick by the Martians if anyone but you takes control. We have been singing your praises like a bird house at the Zoo, so the isolationists will think you are the second coming. What we need now is to brief you on all that has been going on because you, my old friend, are going to be the new leader of the world in less than six months."
"What in hell are you going on about?"
Aeral sighed deeply. "What part of we are dying don't you understand?" He gestured towards the other five men at the table, each in the middle of smoking or drinking. "Our wives are already dead or are Martians. The docs gave us six months before we die too. All of us who were not exposed to the first wave of germs but the later ones had no immunity. Who ever created this damn thing, and let it loose was thinking of killing all our political and financial leaders. Anyone rich enough, or important enough to be in their isoshelters at the time the plauge hit will be dead in a matter of months."
Taking a hit, and blowing out the smoke, he sighed. "With your recent status in the Scientific fields, and being the father of America's tragic sweet heart, you are the most influencial Martian on Earth. Our planet's future will be looking for a new leader, and you are perfect for the position. But you will need experience, and the President has decreed that this project be just that. You see, once he dies, all presidential files are to be made public, and this is one of those briefs to be stuck out on the line to be aired out."
He laughed aloud. "He wants Earth to be ready for Aliens, and who better to usher in the era of tolerance than the man who not only looks like one, but has previous experience? And don't think that we aren't ready, that we will never be, if this plauge has taught us anything, it is not to judge a book by its cover. With a good eighty percent of our planet all now the same race, and the originals dying out, prejudice will evaporate pretty quickly. Now if you handle this right, xenophobia won't take its place."
When Jack seemed still unconvinced, he sighed. "This is a golden oprotunity. We won't get another chance to deal with this. These people know about other species, if nothing else, get the intel and terminate the whole fuckin lot of them. In ten years their tech will be incorperated in our own, and we can defend our planet from possible invasion. Or you can follow Dr. Kings advice, and live in peace and brotherhood in a utopian society. Just say you will take the project."
Jack stood up and turned to watch as the last group of aliens were escorted from the shuttle, a man with them in an IASA uniform. "What is goin on with that man. I've known him all his life."
Aeral stood and looked out the window to see who he was talking about. "He was infected with some sort of alien injection. Claims he can talk with the grays, and understand them. His partner Mark Slonough agreed with him and told me that he interacted with the sick alien before he slipped into the coma. Incidentally, Slonough died three days ago of the plauge. It seems the current generation of Bacterium is deadlier.
"And Slonough, having been in isolation for the past twelve months since the first strain was released, had no immunity. So when he broke quarantine to confess his partner's abilities, he sentenced himself to a painful and slow death. Before he died, he was raving about tiny alien robots, shaped like floor buffers with eye stalks. When we asked Jim about them, he refused to acknowledge us. He is now considered Alien, he is to be bunked with the rest of them. Get him to act as translator and be on the look out for these remote controlled floor buffers."
Jack almost laughed except he noticed the deadly serious look in Aeral's eyes. "Fine, I accept it, all of it. Now that I know what is at stake, I won't subject my family to it if I can."
"How are your daughters and their children?"
"Fine, all Martians, too."
"That's good to hear." Aeral slapped him on the shoulder. "I want you to know that it was nothing personal, but we had to make sure you take the whole deal when you found out about John. It was too important to just let you get your answers and walk away. And the only way we could see how to do it was by making you mad enough to enforce your authority and take over."
"The same old Aeral, manipulating the public to the very end."
Aeral inhaled from his cigarrette and blew out the smoke through his nose. Holding the butt between his thumb and fore fingers, he sat back. "As you say, Agent Mulder, trust no one."
Only one watched as the tiny ship landed in the middle of the night. On the dark side of the third moon, Empriss Novia awaited. She did not have to be there long. Braking thrusters fired and the ship landed scattering the dust on the landing pad. She struck a regal pose to cover her impatience as the engines hissed off.
In the center of the ship's belly, a platform lowered a lone figure standing on it. As the platform touched the ground, she turned to face the Empress. Bowing to the Royal as custom demanded before she started off the platform, Sikozu spread her arms. "I am unarmed."
"You are with-out artificial weapons, but you are never unarmed." Novia turned from the Kalish, and started for her own ship. "Come, you have not come all this way for nothing."
"As always, my Empress, you are most astute." Sikozu limped as she followed the Sebacean. "There is a matter of grave importance I must discuss with you."
Novia gestured towards the entrance of her transport as she awaited Sikozu to catch up. "What could be so important to risk the exposure of your people. Our agreement was to resettle the refugees on one of our agricultural worlds. Was this not enough?"
"It was more than we could have asked for. After all, there was over fifty thousand of us."
"Was?"
"The Peace Keepers."
"Damn them all to Hezmana!"
"That is not all, they have launched a strike force large enough to wipe out a Scarran armada. It is heading this way. Expect them in four days."
Novia scoffed at the Kalish's reply. "They are hardly a threat with the other races breathing down their necks."
"That is why they are so desperate for your resources." They walked down a short hall to a chamber lined with cushions. "What's more the supreme council is no longer in control of the fleets. Their attention has been divided to individual commands or have been eliminated all together."
This time she did not hide her shock. Staring with wide eyes at Sikozu, Novia grasped for words. "Who..."
"Commadant Mele-on Grayza. She has been building for a take over for a hundred cycles. The Zelbenion's loss was what drove her to this decision. She knew the Nebari were coming, it was only a matter of time. For all her cycles she has belived them the greater threat, and so far she is not wrong."
"What do you mean? The Scarrans are the worste of the three."
"Not by half. They are merely the brutalest. The Nebari and this new race are close in threat, but their Standard Host Vessels are turning out to be deadlier by far. One solar day ago this was recorded on the farthest of the old Nebari controled systems, before they began their campaign of order." She pulled a data chip from the pocket of her red leather suit. After handing it to the Empress, she sat back and sighed with pain.
Novia ignored the distress of the Kalish as she removed a cushioned arm rest from her chair. Under it was a console which she incerted the data crystal. The chamber darkened as scene from space came into view.
Obviously a satalite in orbit of a planet, the recording device picked up the event horizon of a large ship exiting starburst. The squid shape of the Standard Host Vessel blocked the stars as it sailed between them and the satelite. Two microts later six spheres shimmered into being. One moment there was nothing there, and the next they appeared.
Watching with rapt facsination, Novia knew what was happening next. The Nebari vessel would fire on the alien ships and it would pass right through them as if they weren't there. She had seen it on the Scarran recordings as they were destroyed by the same vessels they couldn't hit. All six Sphere Ships turned as one and fired on the Nebari ship. What stunned her was when their weapons had no effect.
However she stopped breathing when the Standard Host Vessel primed the sail towers and fired a single blue beam like a cutting torch and sliced the alien Spheres Ships through their the centers. Novia covered her ears as a soul searing screech filled the chamber. She realized it was the death screams of the collective ships as it silenced when they exploded. The beam cannons of the Standard Host Vessel fired from their positions on the ring around the center shaft.
The constant bombardment from the energy cannons hit something. After fifteen hits it appeared in normal space, a Planet Killer. It had charged the weapons and was rotating, aimed at the Standard Host Vessel.
"Singularity cannons, they were using them to bring it out of the dimensional shifting it uses to hide its presence."
"Yes, Empress, but watch." After silencing her, Sikozu gestured to the Standard Host Vessel.
It was swinging around with astonishing speed. They were attempting to train their main cannon on the Planet Killer, but they would be too late. Already it was firing. The white singular beam locked on to the Standard Host Vessel and was followed by three pulses in rapid succession.
The Nebari ship didn't even rock from its trajectory with the impact.
Their ring lit up in bright blue as the certral shaft glowed of the same color. Sail towers blazing a darker blue, their energy fled towards the center as the shaft fired a single pusle of continuous energy at the Planet Killer.
The Planet Killer was highlighted in the blast wave, and disentegrated in the energy stream. Once again a soul shearing scream erupted as the alien ship died. This time she did not cover her ears at the death wail.
Only one thought was in Novia's head as she watched the debris from the alien ships float toward and burn up in the planet's atmosphere. She stared in cold shock as the Nebari Standard Host Vessel went into Starburst. A moment more, then the blast field caught up the satelite and the hollow ended. "There is no hope for victory, only limiting the damage of our defeat."
Finishing the zip on her new fly suit, she tugged at the shoulders to straiten it. The previous owner was a little bigger than her, but she could work around that. It wasn't like this was the first time she had worn someone else's clothes. In fact she was still wearing the boxers she took from John their last night together. That was also the last night they had spent on the dying Leviathan. She figured it was about time she started snurching from him, after all, had to keep in the habbit and they had just slept together.
Things were still hectic even after eighty percent of the room's occupants had already fled down the lift to the fighter bay. Her own wing, and their support crews were all that was left in the barrics. Helie was waiting for her to join them in their briefing, so she decided it was now or never. Mounting all the charm she had learned, not much, she sauntered over to the group of four males, a female, and Helie, all Nebari. "Hey, how's it goin?"
"You're late, Chiana."
"Well excuse me, I'm not used to having to get dressed under such short notice. Now the opposite is another thing all together." Chiana smirked at the snorts, but wisely remained quiet at Helie's glare.
"Cute, keep it to yourself next time. We got a battle to fight." Helie drew herself up to her full height, a few microdench taller than Chiana. "Now listen up, we have are about to go out, untested and unprepared. There is a fleet of fifteen highly trained Peace Keeper Command Carriers and their entire regiments. A grand total of almost a million Peace Keepers."
The group shifted nervously as she continued.
"We have never faced a group this large, most of you have never faced anything worse than a cold seat for your ema. I honestly don't expect a single fighter to survive these odds. That is why we are going to go out there and prove Nebari supperiority. From this moment on, your lives are for the cause, you live and you die for the safety of this ship. Remember all cowards go to the Halls of Manon, so don't fail!
"And why you may ask, is this ship so imporant? Well, this ship contains information and key members of the resistance, both vital to the future of our movement. At all costs, this ship must not be destroyed. If you have to, your ship's power cores, when detonated on full yield, will be strong enough to cripple the hetch drive of a Command Carrier.
"There will be six attack wings per squadron and twenty-five squads on this ship. Ours is the first attack wing of Ishtah squadron, also known as the Gray Shadow of Death. Stick close, and follow your wing commander's lead. I am your wing commander, so my word is law. Do not brake formation unless I say so. You are not experienced enough to take them in fighter to prowler attack. We will be given detailed instructions through our communications systems from flight and navigation control listen to them if you get lost, or are the last member of this wing."
Helie was silent for a moment. "If there are any questions, keep them to yourselves. I am God, my word is law. Brake any of my laws or disobey me, and I will smite you! If you happen to survive the battle, rejoin with the ship, if the ship has been lost or you get left behind, there is a trader's coloney two arns from here. Good luck and may Kahleen rest your souls."
They broke apart in stunned silence as Helie led the to the lift. None of them spoke as they traveled to the fighter bay. A nervous tension spread amoung them as the doors opened to a nearly empty bay.
Chiana watched as they scrambled to their ships, she to her modified module. The controls were clearly marked in Standard Nebari, she noted as she strapped herself in the black craft. All John's thrusters, original and Leviathan inhanced, were gone. Replaced by blue glowing oval thrusters she associated with a Nebari Star Runner, one on top, and one under each wing.
She put on her helmet as the hatch came down and sealed her in the cockpit. Gentle blue lights came on, as the controls glowed white. A standard Nebari coloring. One of there colors, shades of gray, blue, white, or black, nothing else would do for the most paranoid species in the galaxy. She couldn't help wondering if the resistance was as mentally frelled as the Establishment in their own way. John had a saying, he had many, but this one only now made sense, unlike the multitude of other completely farbhot ones.
"When you look into the Abyss, it looks back, and once you have, you are never completely the same again, for it is now a part of you." Or some trat like that. Now it wasn't trat, but a warning. A warning that might be too late.
But she had no more time to think on it as Helie's voice came on over her cockpit speakers. "Wake up, Chiana, we are ready to launch."
"Ready when you are."
"Seal your helmet, if your ship gets a breech, it will be the only thing to save your life in the sudden depressureization."
"Right." She screwed on the constricting device, cursing mentally about it. When she was completely sealed in the suit, she activated navigation, and took hold of the helm control. The inside of the helmet fed her information about the space around the module as the bay depressurized
"Ready..." Helie's voice cracked over the comms. "And launch!" Seven ships shot out of the fighter bay into space, Helie's large bird shaped fighter in the lead. Chiana was next on her starboard side, two others behind her, and the remaining three lined up on Helie's port side, each in their own various fighters.
There first sight of the battle group brought home how close they were to leaving this plain of existance. Four of the fifteen battle ships had turned from the main group and were engaging the fighter squads. Prowlers fanned out as they acted as a vanguard to the carriers. All fired at the Nebari ships. Two were destroyed during the first salvo, but the shields of the Nebari fighters held. Then they were in range to fire.
Unlike when the prowler's fired, the Nebari weapons only took one hit to destroy a ship. The cannons on their ships fired rapid pulses that pounded the Prowlers and exploded on contact. Chiana could hear as flight command on the carrier relayed instructions on their positions. Entire wings shifted positions weaving in and out of enemy ranks in precision movements. They would fly in, out maneuver, avoid getting hit, return fire, then weave out as the Prowlers exploded.
The longer she watched them, the more confusing the patterns became. It was like watching Crichton's shell game. Find the fighter, under which turn is the fighter, fire at the fighter. Ooops, you lose, oh, and check behind you. That's right, kiss your ema good bye because while you tried to lock on one of the many targets that flitted across your screen, another group snuck up behind you.
After she started to make out the patterns, her wing got their orders from command. They were to take out the Marauders and their Prowler escort on their way to board the carrier. With a battle cry, she gripped the controls and dipped the wing of her fighter to adjust corse.
"Charge weapons and shields." Helie's voice came over the comm. a moment before the Prowlers opened fire. "Rush them, all cannons blazing!"
"Yeeeehhaaaaaaaaa, yea yea yea yea yie!" Chaina surged forward in her seat. The module launched forward. Roll right, to avoid the bright red energy. Prowler in sight, lock weapons. Bright flashes lit up the horizons as weapons' fire surged around her spiraling ship. Computer beeped, enemy was in range. Chiana gripped the weapons control on the fighter steering column. Blue energy spheres shot from the tips of her wings, sixty a second. Prowlers exploded under the chaotic bursts.
"Yes!"
"Wing one, turn back, and come around, regroup and attack the Marauders."
Chiana leaned into the roll as the gravity drives surged with energy. She squealed with delite as the engines roared against the module. Blood pumping, felt like there was nothing she couldn't do. A moment to look for, and head to her wing, then they were attacking again. This time it was the Marauders themselves, the Prolwers already gone.
She squeezed the triggers again, blue pulses rapidly shot from the cannons. Watching in awe, she couldn't help but admire the destructive force of the weapons. It was kinda beautiful the way the blue hit the black ships, then the following red explosion of the atmospher burning when the engines went. All this just before it winked out forever because of the vaccume of space. Like jugglers, she watched as the Peace Keepers tried to avoid the knife blade which could cut their hands off. All too soon, they were gone, the Command Carriers retreating.
It was then she realized, there was no avoiding it. They were going to die, all of them. There could be no mercy, if one survived, they would only go and get more. With a grim note of satisfaction, she knew she could do it. Had done it. They were the enemy, their intent to harm, it could not be allowed to happen. She had to stop them, that fleet was bound for somewhere, to harm others. This could not be allowed to continue!
Charging her weapons to full, she activated her comms. "Chiana to command."
"Command here."
"We can't let them retreat."
"We had no intention of letting them go. A Battle Fleet has been summond and is on its way."
"Request permission to join in to pursue and destroy targets."
"Request granted. Fall back to grid nine nine five, decca salva lenarta. Regroup with your wing. You will be joined by the battle fleet when they arrive in one arn." The controler's voice held an edge that made Chiana shiver. "We lost Squadrons Five, Eight, Thirteen, and Twenty-two. Six more have taken heavy casualties. Make the Peace Keepers pay for this!"
"I wish you to know the joys of my people, Jim." Resoh stood close as they were being escorted to their new home. They walked through the dark cooridors of the Human military base. Many armed personnel walked about them ready to fire at a moment's notice. "We have so much to offer your species."
"Yeah, I'm sure you do." Jim glaced at him from the corner of his eye. "What exactly can you offer us?"
"For starters, I would be willing to teach your people about the proper way to treat their guests." Resoh glared at the guard that shoved one of his people who was limping. "Is there nothing that you can do to at least allow us the freedom of unrestricted movement?"
"Nothing, as you can see, I am similarly bound." He held up his hands in front of him. When he did, one of the guards butted him with the rifle to the gut.
"Get moving, traitor."
"Fuck you, jar head!" This earned him another butt.
Resoh picked the offending guard up by the throat. "This man is under my protection. You harm him again, and I will remove your Mivonks, and shove them down your mardash!" He released the man with a quick kick to the nuts.
The guards froze at the words. "Did that alien just speak to us?"
"Go to hell!"
Laughing, the guards picked up there fellow and josled the prisoners along again. "They have been listening to too many of them space rangers! Got mouths on them like whores." More laughter as they stopped at a security door. The leader moved forward, pulled out a key card, slid it down the slot, and stood back as the doors cycled open.
The large steel doors pulled back to reveal an even larger chamber beyond. A glass dome laced with steel gurders and mesh capped the crator shaped chamber. At the bottom was a jungle of plants and water gardens. At the far side were a dozen doors.
"Get moving, this is probably the last place you will ever see, so you will have plenty of time to explore later." The guard captain pushed them through the double doors down a catwalk to the garden below. "Those doors lead to the living and eatin quarters. This is the common room, you will meet here, there are enough chairs in here for all you aliens and a few dozen scientists. So get comfy."
All the guards walked out the way they had come leaving the Nebari and Jim to settle in.
"Well, that was fun. They didn't even release us!" As he yelled, an electric hum erupted from above and their restraints opened. "Thanks for nothing ass holes!" Sitting down on one of the couches, Jim threw the electronic cuffs at the far end of the crator. "Damn it all to hell!"
Resoh sat beside him smiling. "I do not believe such language is necissary."
"It is and I will keep on using it as long as I want."
Gripping the Human's leg just before the knee, Resoh smiled. "You will not."
As he cried out in pain, Jim nodded. "Jeese, can't a guy get to be angry."
"Only as long as it serves the greater good."
"How nice for you, to be so goal oriented in your life." Jim cried out again as Resoh gripped him.
"That will also be unnecissary for our good." Resoh held up a hand, and all his people found places around them to sit.
"Oh, but they are trained well. Raise a hand and they come to heel." Resoh gripped him again. "God damn you, stop doing that! Ow! Son of a bitch!"
"What is the meaning of this?" All went silent on the bridge of the Command Carrier as the cultured voice echoed across the expanse. "Who authorized this attack?"
A Sebacean female faced him in anger. "I was handling the situation, Commander."
"There was no situation until your unprovoked attack on the Nebari Transport."
"Sir, we are at war with the Nebari. High Command has given orders that all Nebari ships, civilian or other wise are to be boarded and searched. If they refuse, they are to be destroyed." Feeling quite smug with herself being in the right, she gave him a look that dared him to say she was wrong.
"That may be so, but it is an ignorant action when we are on a classified mission." Scorpius narrowed his eyes as she seemed ready to explode. "Especially this close to Nebari controled space."
"I know what I am doing. After all, I have earned the rank of Full Captain, Commander." She pointed to the insignia on her collar. "I am the veteran of thirty missions Special Directorate...."
"How wonderful for you." Scorpius stalked up to her arogant posture. "Since you are so qualified, you can command the secondary fleet that holds off the Nebari while the main fleet continues on with our mission. You will have one Command Carrier, thirty battle fighters, and an entire fleet of Prowlers. I suggest you leave now, we do not have much time." He turned to leave dismissing her with-out another word.
"What?"
Scorpius paused in his stride. "Do you have a problem with your hearing?" He looked back at her. "Or is the usual Special Directorate inferior training and mindset prevailant in you?"
The captain marched up to him. "Listen, half breed, Special Directorate is..."
"Has been abolished! Its members either exiled to the furthest reaches of our Empire or terminated for their lack of useful skills." His triumphant look made her back up a step. "The Supreme Council has sanctioned these actions, or what is left of them. It seems certain members also defied a powerful Nebari and met with a painful end for it. No ordinary Nebari Transport would be carrying that many fighters with-out a special reason. If my theory holds out, there is a battle fleet already amassing at the location of your unfortunate decision."
She paled at his words. "It can't be possible. There has to be some sort of mistake."
"There was no mistake except on your part. Now if you survive, I might consider requesting that your judges be lenient." He nodded to the guards on the bridge. "Escort her to her ship. Leiutenant Matross, you now have command. I want the entire fleet placed on battle status. All non essential personnel are to be restricted to quarters and readiness positions. I will be in special projects section." Scorpius walked off the command deck as the Peace Keepers scrabbled to comply with his orders.
Walking down the cooridors he growled out his anger. Even after all this time he was still treated as the outsider. Shaking off his anger, he continued on. This was something he wanted to personally inform the Commadant of. Even if only to see her reaction to the ignorance of the person she picked to command this ship.
His feet brought him to a large doorway near the heart of the ship. On the other side were the secrets to the future of the Peace Keepers. Raising his hand, he pressed a series of large indentations on the hatch. They lit from the inside and the door began to whine as it slid open. It stopped moving with loud thud, and he walked in, the door closing behind him.
"Did you handle it?"
Scorpius heaved a sigh as his plans for pleasure were lost yet again. "She is going to hold them off until we are clear from their range."
Mele-on's only responce was a slight nod of her head. Her attention was held on a replay of the battle. The dark chamber they stood in was lit only by the holographic replay of the battle.
"Did you anticipate she would be so careless with her command?"
"It was a calculated risk. She has proven her worth and value enough to have earned her rank. I am afraid that this only proves that your suspicions of Special Directorate were correct. They will all have to be terminated and their blood lines cleansed from our society. Such a waste, it was not anticipated, but all effort must be made to preserve the greater good."
"I agree, but do you not think that at least the blood lines should be saved if not the members?"
"You raise a valid point, they are a specialized branch of the species, and their blood may prove useful in the future." She waved a hand at the recording and the battle restarted. "Very well, kill off the elders, and half their younger members. Limit breeding to six a cycle."
"It will be done. Is there anything else you wish?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I believe there may be something we have missed." Another hand signal, and the setting froze in mid fight. Her hand pointed to an attack wing that decimated a group of ten marauders, their numbers not taking a single hit. "They are members of the resistance."
"How can you tell?"
"Their ships do not match up. The Establishment believes in order, and uniformity is a part of that. These ships, though armed with Nebari weapons, are not of the same classifications. Tell me," she pointed at one ship amoung the fleet, "what does this remind you of?"
Scorpius walked closer to the image narrowing his eyes in concentration. "I have never seen this craft before."
"Look again, remove the drives, and the weapons." The image shimmered and altered, the shape of the Module became clear in the light from the energy cannons. "Commander..."
"I will have it retrieved immeadietly."
"Use whatever force you deem necissary." She smiled as he nodded. "When you have the pilot in custody, kill the rest. We can not allow them to survive if there is even a chance that John Crichton might have given them worm hole knowledge."
"It shall be done as you instruct." He stared back for the entrance as the door opened for him. Pausing just in the hatchway, he cocked his head at her. "What made you decide to come all this way? When I left I was under the impression that I would be in control of this mission."
"You are, Scorpius, and shall remain that way. My presense is not to be made known to any outside yourself. I had made this clear upon my arrival."
"Yes, but you did not say why you came."
"Good bye, Commander. Remember to bring me the pilot of that ship unharmed."
Scorpius growled out in reply, but walked out.
"Who is really in that module, old woman?" Mele-on spoke when the door had sealed. "What am I risking my life for?"
"That is not important." Noranti came out from the shadows, her robe shifting in the lights of the holograms. "All I can tell you is that she must not continue with the Nebari."
Mele-on narrowed her eyes. "I can hold you and force you to talk."
"No, you won't." Noranti dissolved in a flash of light. "You can't hold what was not really there." Her disembodied voice echoed in the chamber. "You never did pay attention to what I was teaching you, selfish child. Do this one thing right, for once in your life."
"I am doing the right thing. Always have." But there was only silence, it seemed not even the universe would listen to her.
The light in the chamber glowed a warm orange-yellow as Jool slowly walked toward the center. It was round and nearly the size of Moya's neural nexus. At the heart there was a glowing cylinder of the light. Sitting around it were six figures in meditation on backless benches. One she recognized vaugely from her first moments after awakening on board Moya. Another she hardly had time to know before he left Moya, but he looked different. Others she did not.
As she drew near, he opened his eyes and stood. Jool paused as he turned and looked at her. "Stark?"
"It is I, Joolushka." His face was serene, voice calm.
"What is going on here? What is this place? I was following the symbols on this scroll, and it lead me here. How did I get here?" Feelings of hysteria started to overwhelm her. "What is here? Where am I?" She pointed at the blue figure. "Isn't she Zhaan? I thought she was dead. She was supposed to be dead? She is dead, why isn't she dead?" Whispering her next fears, she tried to bite back the sobs. "Am I dead? Did you help cross me over?"
Stark watched her with a patient smile. "It is all right, you have finally come. She said you would."
"Stark, what is going on here, please?"
Walking towards her, he held out his hand. "Come now, no more talking. Rest, we have time. Not much, but there is time. She said it would happen. We had almost given up hope that you would come, it has been so long."
"So long? How long have I been gone?"
"Gone?" He looked at her startled, the madness partially returning to his mind. "No, no, no, not gone, just not here. You were not here, we have been waiting, but you did not show. We need your help, but it can wait. Now that you are here, we have time."
"Damn it, Stark, you are still as mentally frelled as I last saw you." She sighed as he dragged her reluctant body around the pillar of energy to an empty bench. When she sat, her mind felt suddenly clouded with contentment.
"You must ignore that. Do not get caught up in the oneness."
Jool giggled as she slumped in her seat. A quiet lethargy filled her body and she longed to give into sleep. There was something there, a feeling of belonging. Others, there were many others, so many others. Closing her eyes, she saw it all. How everything came together, how it all fit. "An endless cycle," with alarm, her eyes shot open, "they wanted to brake the cycle!"
"Yes, they must be stopped before they do. Events set in motion long ago must play out or all is lost."
"We must stop them!"
"It is already being done. One has already been sent." Gently he laid her down on the bench as she fought to stay awake.
"Stark, what is happening to me?"
"Shh, Joolushka, rest, all will be well. When you wake up, all will be made known. So the Goddess says, so it shall be."
Jool fought to stay awake. "I don't wanna sleep. Wanna answears..." Then the lethargy became too much. She closed her eyes and gave in to sleep. In her dreams, a figure watched, and smiled.