Warnings: AU world, violence
Disclaimers: I earn no money from this and I own no part of the canon Stargate world, only the characters that I create for myself.
Spoilers: Set in established AU world, set in equivalent time to late season 2.
Note: Sequel to 'First Contacts' (therefore still a prequel to 'Late Night Visitors'), set in my Alliance AU world.
It's taken weeks, but this story is complete and I will be posting up chapters as frequently as I am able. Thank you to all who encouraged me to keep writing in this AU universe, and I hope you all have as much fun wading back into it as I have :)
-------
The planet was cold, its surface frozen and desolate.
Through the hood wrapped around her head and shoulders, she could hear her boots impact on the platform as she moved out into the frigid air. The cold air reached in through the small space between her hood and face-covering trying to freeze the moisture of her eyeballs. She blinked against it, lowering her thick eyelashes down to protect her eyes. Beneath her boots, the platform was heavily ridged against the ice that continuously clung to it, laying itself over everything. Even the chains on either side of her where frosted to the point of failure. She ignored the support those chains offered to those who walked across the platform, and instead strode confidently forward towards the massive complex ahead.
It was a square bulky dark shape set amidst the cold frosted surface of this planet, its true depth lying far beneath the surface that could be seen, as was the case with most things on this planet. Life survived by adapting, and here it hid beneath the surface, warmed by the deep heat of the planet that still fought back against the eternal cold.
Her boots crunched against the frozen compacted snow that had fallen across the platform, the ever-encroaching cold trying to engulf all it could. Her progress took her out into the open between the two buildings and the wind tunnelled between them thrust against her shoulder, but she did not break her step. It pushed at her, attempting to force her off the platform and into its cold grip. She ignored it and continued on.
The complex grew closer and with its nearness its protection from the gusting air. As she stepped onto the next section of platform she could feel the vibrations travelling through the thick metal from the building ahead. It was indistinct at first, but as she neared, the rhythm of the vibration became clear and as she gained more distance towards the tightly closed heavy doors ahead of her, the sounds from its other side became discernable from the howling wind against her hood.
She gripped the thick ice-cold handle of one door and pulled it forcefully open, and the heat and sound escaped out into the cold air around her.
Two faces turned towards her, their eyes sharp and assessing, and their weapons displayed openly on their hips. The door swung back behind her as she reached up and pushed her hood back from her head. The door slammed shut loudly, demarcating the new environment in which she now stood, and the pressure from the cold eased away from her body. Only a few scattering snowflakes had followed her inside and they melted instantly as they hit the heated metal floor on which she stood.
She smiled at the warmth and freedom she felt to be able to pull down her face covering, exposing her skin to the growing warmth the complex offered. The male guards' assessment of her shifted as they saw her face and she smiled at them in greeting. As she did, she assessed them with a training she had learnt so long ago that it was as normal as breathing for her.
The one on the right had heavy wide muscular shoulders, his hands looking as if they spent almost all their time curled into fists, with scars and cuts clear across his knuckles. His body was strong and filled out with maintained muscle, and his hand set on the butt of his gun looked at home in its position. He was a man used to fighting and his eyes held the natural suspicion of a guard. He was strong and experienced. He would also be slow, burdened by his muscular bulk and too reliant on the weight and power of his fists and arms.
The man on the left was of a narrower build, his stature telling of one used to swiftness and subterfuge, as his watchful gaze echoed. He would be the speed and agility of the guarding partnership before her. He would be one more inclined to step back and wait, easily persuaded to avoid a fight to protect himself.
In the moment it took her to make this assessment of the two, they had made their judgement of her, and it softened their postures and eased their gazes, which glinted with new interest in the dim toned light of the small entrance. She graced them with a smile and their interest deepened as they inclined their heads officially admitting her entrance.
She turned to the left, her eyes remaining on them as she smiled again, her gaze lingering on them with new consideration, but despite the hopeful glint in the smaller built man's eyes, she moved on and pushed against the door now blocking her way. A metal staircase was on the other side and the heat rushed up against her from below, carrying the loud vibrations with it. She descended the three floors worth of open staircase to arrive at the bare room at the base. Attendants, or possibly slaves, moved forward at seeing her presence, and as she neared them she tugged off her over coat and face-covers, handing them to the waiting hands of the first slave to her side. Another stepped forward holding up a metal tray upon which a variety of alcoholic filled tankards stood for her to select. She ignored the offer and it was withdrawn.
Beyond the hovering slaves two doors stood closed, but beyond them she could hear the roar, the rhythm now loud and desperate to break through the barrier ahead of her.
She lifted her hands to her inner coat, untying and unbuttoning to finally be free of the restrictive clothing that had been welcome above on the surface. She slid the coat from her shoulders letting it fall away down her back, but it never hit the floor as slave hands caught it.
She took a breath and rolled her shoulders now free of the weight and oppression of the coats, and then moved towards the doors before her. Two slaves stepped forward and drew open the barrier and the light and sound surrounded her as she stepped through – away from any touch of cold and into the heat and dark living life within.
Dark light, flashing colours and heavy pounding music filled the massive chamber before her. She strode forward, towards the railing just ahead at which she paused and looked out across the immense chamber below, filled to bursting with people. She cast her eyes over the swaying, sweating dancing press of humanity. As the music shifted speed and tone the lights shifted their spectrum, and those below leapt and swung their bodies with increased speed.
There were eyes on her already where she stood on the balcony, and as she turned making her way to the steps to the floor below the crowd parted for her. They did not know her, but crowds always parted for her. She wondered idly if it was the subtlest edge of one tattoo that she allowed to show at her throat that told them to make space for her. She mused at how much further they would move away from her if they were to see the further markings that graced her skin under her clothing.
She made her way down the steps to the dance floor level and the music grew around her, its pulse penetrating right into her body, making her chest vibrate with its rhythm. She paused at the base of the steps and absorbed the sensation of the music. She let it flow into her, exciting her and letting her blood dance with its base. Smiling she moved on, her steps and hips moving with the rhythm of the music as she walked.
The lights changed, flickering on and off with the rapid rising crescendo of the music. In the changing light she caught sight of the shadows that clung to the chamber walls overhead. Hollow shadows cast by the bones set on the walls, creating leaping living shadows of the Wraith that would have once animated the skeletons.
She smirked at the display and as she moved around the tightly pressed dance floor she saw the hanging displays of Wraith arm and hand bones. The ropes of bones juddered with the vibration of the music through the air, and as she passed some she reached up and ran her fingers along the bleached boiled bones. She wondered if they had been killed by Alliance warriors, the bones sold over the border to the outlying worlds such as this. Or perhaps these displayed Wraith had been left in the wake of Elite warriors, and she wondered if she herself had slain the Wraith whose inner arm bone she lingered her fingertips along now.
She moved on, aware of heavy eyes upon her. She glanced around her, the tight clothing, sweat and exposed flesh drawing her eyes and interest. Dark and light eyes met hers, some looking away, some studying her body further, others lingering on the tattoo at her throat. One man, his skin dark and glistening caught her interest and she made her way towards him, letting him look upon her.
He turned towards her, his thick muscular chest straining against the tight thin shirt he wore. She ran her eyes over him, and then as she reached him she looked right into his eyes. She imagined what she could do with him, where she would like him. His eyes where on her in turn and she felt the frisson of excitement and arousal of her body. Yes, she could enjoy herself with this one. He looked back into her eyes, his blatant agreement echoing hers. She smiled at him, but as he returned the smile, his large strong hand settling on her waist, over his shoulder she saw a face she recognised appear through the crowd. She watched the thin reedy man approaching her, his eyes nervous and disapproving of her distraction.
She sighed, and looked back to the handsome male she had discovered.
"Later," she ordered him, running her fingers over his encased chest.
She lifted her hands from him and pressed past towards the reedy man waiting for her. He looked nervous and concerned, behaviour that only made his presence more obvious. She strode towards him, heading straight at him until she was almost upon him, frightening him to dart back to avoid her colliding with him, but she stopped after he had retreated a step.
"We were expecting you sooner than this," he told her in presumably what was supposed to be a loud whisper. She only understood his words over the music because she knew his language. Though travel through the portal system allowed everyone to understand even the most obscure and diverse of languages and dialects, it did not alter how people spoke. Her ability to lip read had been a skill since she had been young, and her fascination at the fact that if one concentrated, which she did with everything, it was clear that a person's lips did not move with the words one heard in one's head. Whatever gift of understanding the Ancestors had bestowed with the translation had not been able to alter that fact. She had made it her mission as a youngster, even before her initiation into the Elite, to read the true words on another's lips. It had been a most useful skill, and one rather unusual, even among the Elite.
She waited, refusing to offer any explanations or excuses to this man or any other. He waited, until he realised she was not going to answer him.
"They are this way," he said with a frown as he indicated to one side of the chamber. She waited for him to move first. He frowned again, clearly unnerved by her, and that turned her distaste to amusement for a moment.
He turned and headed away, looking over his shoulder as he moved into the tightly pressed crowd, but she was already on his heels. He stumbled with surprise at how close she was and he almost lost his footing completely against two dancers. He recovered though, aware of his foolishness, and marched forward instead. She held back slightly now, her attention widening to the chamber and those around her.
He led her through the dancers and out the other side, which was presumably his attempt to lose anyone following them. On the far side of the chamber there was a large archway cut into the wall, through which a series of further chambers could be accessed. The first chamber ahead was narrow, but stretched out a good distance before them, two lines of balconies running along both side. He led her up a staircase to the left, set against the wall, which led up to the balcony above, overlooking the smaller dance floor in this chamber.
As they proceeded up and along the first level balcony, she cast her gaze across the revellers below and then across the balconies set along the opposite wall of the narrow chamber. Tables and chairs were set into alcoves but into the wall along each balcony, and inside those alcoves she could see a variety of activities. Several held people enjoying various substances, others held heated discussions, quiet meetings or prices of intimate trade being haggled over.
She turned her attention to the alcoves along this balcony. Here the alcoves held more of the quiet meeting variety, though one held a piercing vendor, currently attending to two men enjoying the piercing of their nipples and other areas of their anatomy. With amusement she turned her attention away and onto the next alcove, in front of which reedy man had stopped. He displayed a rather false boredom as he waved her to the alcove as way of introduction to those already sat at the small table inside. She paused by the man's side, breaking his fakery with intimidation. He stepped back, his head dropping in silent acquiesce. That was better.
She turned her full attention to the three occupants of the alcove, two of which had stood as she arrived, but the last had not. She moved into the alcove, as one man waved to the single empty chair for her, but she ignored it and pushed past him. He stepped back surprised, but he moved and she settled down into his seat, leaving him with the chair he had wanted her to sit upon, one which would have exposed her back to the entire chamber beyond. Foolish.
Now she was seated, the other two sat back down, and reedy man disappeared somewhere unimportant. All she was interested in was the woman sat opposite her, who had not stood. Larrin was an interesting woman, and one who was worthy of careful respect.
"It's good to see you again, Iketani," Larrin greeted her.
Larrin was sat back in her chair, her manner casual, but alert. Iketani studied the woman in the single light source of the alcove. She was a beautiful woman and very sure of herself. Or at least that was the image she presented.
"Likewise," Iketani replied, as she considered what it would be like to break through the presented image of Larrin. The woman smirked back at her, their eyes holding and challenging each other.
"We have spoken to the others and they have all agreed to meet," the man to Iketani's right said. Iketani kept her eyes on Larrin though, for she understood that it was from her that these words were arriving, though they had been spoken by one of Larrin's men.
"When?" Iketani asked Larrin.
Larrin's eyes moved away from her slightly as she looked to the other man sat at the table. "We plan to meet in four standard Alliance cycles from now," Larrin replied.
Iketani studied her for a long moment. There was something she was not sharing. Of course there was likely to be much she would choose not to share with Iketani, but clearly whatever it was would have some impact on their plans.
"Meaning?" Iketani asked.
Larrin looked back at her, with that disinterested tilt to her expression still in place. "We're hoping to bring another party into this, and hopefully they will bring with them far more interesting opportunities for us in the future."
Iketani considered asking Larrin who this 'other party' was, but decided that the woman would most likely not answer her, so Iketani did not ask. "Do you trust this 'other party'?" She asked instead.
"We have dealt with them several times before and we believe them to be reliable enough."
Iketani looked away from Larrin now, turning her gaze onto the two men, seeing more information in their manner. They were not so sure of this other party's cooperation. Ultimately, it did not matter to Iketani anyhow.
"In four cycles then," she concluded.
"We need to work out somewhere to meet," the first man said quickly, as if Iketani had forgotten that issue, or perhaps it was his anxiousness. "We obviously can't meet in a place like this again. We'll need to be able to talk."
Iketani watched him glance over his shoulder as several women walked past the alcove's entrance, their eyes passing over them all before them moved on. He looked back to Iketani, but not before scowling slightly towards Larrin.
"There are places to discuss matters quietly in 'a place like this'," Iketani replied with amusement.
The man seemed to flush slightly. "We do not intend to arrange what could be the most significant advancement against the Wraith and the Alliance in some dank sex filled back room," he replied.
"Nevvic," Larrin said with a warning yet amused tone.
Iketani kept her gaze on Nevvic. "Instead you would prefer an open trading port, in a quaint village near a portal perhaps?" She asked sarcastically.
"The Alliance can't have ears everywhere, and if they do, then I would imagine a place like this to be full of watchful eyes and ears," he replied, again glancing over his shoulder cautiously.
"These places offer anonymity, where the Alliance has no influence and they offer a crowded location into which all parties can arrive and disappear as they see fit," Iketani explained. "Or would you prefer we meet in a village tavern, where the barman's sister turns out to be from a world that is looking to become part of the Alliance? We cannot know who everyone is around us, but in places like this one, everyone is looking to be anonymous and it is neutral ground for all concerned," she told him.
"It would be safer to meet onboard a ship," he argued, though he did not look as convinced by his own argument anymore. "It is not safe here," he added.
"Nowhere is safe," she replied as she looked back to Larrin. "Not when the Alliance is involved. You know that more than anyone," she added for good measure.
Larrin's expression shifted slightly, showing Iketani that the bitterness the Travellers held against the Alliance remained as strong as ever. Good.
"Where then?" Larrin asked as her expression turned back to amused disinterest.
"On Rimba," Iketani replied. "In the Old City."
"Under the water distillery?" Larrin asked.
"Yes, that club will be active in four cycles, and they have rooms that will be to your liking," Iketani added as she glanced back to Nevvic. Who frowned deeply, but held his tongue this time.
"In four cycles, when the suns set over Rimba's Old City," Larrin added.
"If you are not there, then I will not be meeting with you again," Iketani clarified.
"We will all be there," Larrin replied with confidence and the subtlest touch of rebuke to her voice. Amused at someone attempting that on her, Iketani held Larrin's eyes, watching and waiting. Larrin held her gaze though, making her point stubbornly; that she was not to be intimidated. So, Iketani shifted her gaze, letting it travel over Larrin's features and down to the low open neck of her shirt, then back up to her eyes. Larrin glared at Iketani with a hint of amusement, but there was the subtlest hint of discomfort now. Amused, Iketani sat back in her seat.
"I shall see you in four cycles then," she concluded.
There was a pause as no one moved from their seat. Nevvic broke the stalemate and got up, muttering about the need to get back to their ship. Iketani inclined her head in acknowlegement as she reached for one of the tankards stood at the centre of the table. They may only see this location as a place to meet, but Iketani intended to enjoy her time here tonight. She held her full tankard in front of her as the two men and Larrin moved away, and she lifted her drink in silent salute as they left the alcove.
Iketani waited, listening with acutely trained senses and instincts until she was sure the Travellers had left, and then she set down the tankard. Elite did not drink in a strange place, and especially not from a tankard left for them at the centre of such a meeting table.
She sat and listened to the music from below for some time, her mind wandering through scenarios and possible consequences. The new party that the Travellers wished to include could be problematic, and currently Iketani did not have the resources to research fully who they may be. Though, ultimately it did not matter. She had little to lose or gain from this meeting, so if it failed it would be no great loss to her.
She reached past her tankard to the small display unit set into the centre of the table, and pressed a push button to bring up its display. It was primitive and basic technology, but it displayed the time clearly enough. The Alliance centralised time was displayed next to this planet's time. There was time enough tonight for her to find that muscular man again, and there would be others she would enjoy, and perhaps one to take back with her.
She stood up from the table and moved out of the alcove, assessing the balconies and dance floor below once again. Most of the alcoves held the same individuals as before, but some had altered. She noted the changes with ease and quickly dismissed any threat. The music was growing louder again as she moved down the balcony, towards the steps that lead down to the archway at the far end of the chamber, through which the first massive dance chamber throbbed with music. She would dance for a while she decided, and then see who interested her.
She was halfway along the balcony when she felt the sense of being hunted. She immediately stepped aside and into the shadow of an alcove, merging into the meek darkness if offered as she turned her gaze back down the balcony and then across the chamber. Something was certainly not right, something was out of place. She cast her eyes over the alcoves across the chamber, letting her gaze defocus to let what was 'wrong' stand out to her.
Her attention drifted to the alcove in which the price of intimate negotiations were being discussed. The smaller rooms where the actual 'trading' was exchanged were further back in the complex, the small 'sex filled' rooms that had so turned Nevvic's nose. But, up here the deals were made first, and the alcove across the chamber currently held two men in deep conversation with two large older women, whilst several others hung around nearby, trying not to appear that they were waiting for their turn to discuss 'trade'.
Iketani studied them vaguely, letting her gaze shift to the thin young man who was trying to appear casual as he watched the dancing below the balcony. Behind his narrow inexperienced shoulders stood thick shadow through which someone walked. She did not follow that movement, instead she looked deeper into the shadow – for it would be where she would wait.
As the music shifted pace the lights altered and began dancing up and around from chamber floor below, sending thin stripes of light flashing up over the balconies. Fingers of light danced across the shadow and passed over a human shape within its depths.
Aware that their position had been discovered, the dark patch of shadow moved forward so that in the next pass of the fingers of light from below, they were revealed.
The light flashed over a large male form, his shoulders thick and strong, and as his face was lit up briefly, Iketani saw the scarred side to his face. The black Wraith Queen tattoos wove around the scar, deepening the shadows over his face in the brief burst of light, but it was enough to see his expression and for her to identify Oneakka.
She had no idea how he had found her, especially out here beyond the Alliance's border. They had not made her face and tattoos public, for she had been able to move around freely through the outermost Alliance worlds until now. But, it appeared that they knew full well her part in their near culling several months ago. Oneakka's expression told her all she needed to know.
In the second it had taken for her to process all this, she saw his arm move and the barrel of a stunner rise up to point towards her. She was surprised at his open very public move, but she did not stop to consider further. She darted to her right, reaching in and pulling out a metal chair from inside the next alcove along the balcony. As she moved onward, she heard the buzz of the stunner firing and she threw the chair just in time to intercept the energy burst. Someone shouted out in alarm, but with so much music and vibrant lighting as there was in here, it would be missed by most. Even the stunner blast would likely to be missed in here, which meant that Oneakka would be unlikely to hold back his weapons fire. He was never an Elite to hold back. She wondered if he had orders to take her back alive, or perhaps crippled. She darted diagonally across the balcony, grabbed the railing and threw herself over the edge.
There was a flash of heat and light just past her head as his next blast just missed her as she sailed down over the railing and fell down towards the dancers below. She twisted her body, making herself an unpredictable target as she fell and so that she would land among the densest area of the floor below. As she landed, her legs easily taking the impact with long learnt experience, she shoved one dancer aside and turned. She had seconds to get a head start on him. Oneakka was a heavily built Elite, but he was fast. She ran towards the archway through to the main chamber, aware of people shouting and tumbling to the floor behind her, no doubt under Oneakka's descending presence from the balcony above.
She did not look back, but ran on, around as many stricken onlookers as possible, using them as cover. A flash of light streaked past her as she moved abruptly, and the energy engulfed a woman just ahead of Iketani. The dancer floor between her and the archway ahead was fast clearly of people, which would present a problem, so she leapt up and turned her body into a sideways cartwheel across the floor towards the archway just ahead. She tumbled out of the series of rapid movements, the stunner's blasts having passed so close to her that she was sure she had felt and smelt the edges of her hair singeing.
The archway over her, the pounding music around her again, and she darted off at an abrupt angle from the archway and plunged into the dance floor. In here no one had noticed the stunner fire in the next room when this chamber was so loud and flashing with light. She made herself slow down, sliding herself between and around dancers, rather than shoving them aside as she really wished. Elite tended to avoid exposing their fighting to 'innocents', though she had to wonder how many in these chambers truly fell into that category. These dancers were her cover for now and once she reached a dense central area of the floor she stopped and turned, assessing the exits she had noted earlier.
She had studied the plans of the complex before she had arrived here, and so knew that there were three main exits up from the underground club, as well as two tunnels that joined it to the other outlying buildings. However, there were also several other less standard exits she had noted. There were the air circulation systems, but they were set up high in the chamber. There were the cabling systems and the water channels which would be too small or too dangerous. But, there had also been the older 'fire exits' she had noted from when this place was originally a working factory. She turned, her eyes turned up to the far walls, past the skeletons to where ladders were fixed to the walls. They could only be accessed from the balcony where she had entered, or if she found a way to scale up the wall. She would be too exposed climbing out that way.
She scanned her eyes over the entrance balcony, looking for any other recognisable faces. Oneakka was usually joined at the hip with Halling, but they did work separately on occasion. She did not see any hint of other hunting eyes, but moved on through the dancers, keeping to where it was dark to hide her progress from any eyes above. She paused at one point, reaching down to her right boot, and pulled out two pieces of a small stunner. Somehow Oneakka had smuggled his large stunner in here, but she had gone for more subterfuge. She clicked together the two pieces of the stunner, and pulled out its tiny energy cell from the back of one boot heel and snapped it into place. Then from the other boot, she pulled out two small blades. She slid them into her belt and rose, just as she heard shouting and cursing behind her.
She turned and saw the crowd parting before Oneakka's big aggressive presence. As soon as the dancers saw his size, his tattoos and the stunner they practically fell over themselves and each other to get out of his way. Iketani moved again, but awareness among the crowd of Oneakka's presence moved even faster than her, and the dancers were clearing out of her way. Her back exposed to him, she changed tactics and caught up a woman who was slower than the rest, turned and pinned the human shield against her front. Hauling the woman backwards with her, Iketani backed up further from Oneakka's fast approaching figure through the dividing sea of people. She did not wait for him to get a clear line of sight, so instead lifted her own small stunner and fired.
He leant aside just in time, surprised briefly by her stunner fire. She set off two more shots before she got back behind the woman, pulling her further backwards despite her kicking. Oneakka lifted his stunner and fired. Iketani shoved the woman forward so that her body caught all of the stunner's blast and at the same time tumbled at Oneakka. He caught the woman in one arm, dipping only slightly and keeping his stunner arm held aside, during which Iketani pulled out one of her small knives and threw it at his hand holding the stunner.
She heard his curse but in that moment from when the knife had left her hand, and the stunned woman was still falling into Oneakka's other arm, Iketani turned and fired her stunner up at the junction box set on the wall that she recalled from the plans. She sent three rapid consecutive blasts into it and it exploded in fire, fizzling spectacularly for a split second and the entire chamber lapsed abruptly into darkness and shocked silence.
The sudden absence of the music was louder in her ears than the screaming and shouting that broke out around her. She did not wait for anything and instead ran, shoving people aside now, for they were all doing the same to each other as they all panicked. The emergency lighting was flickering on as she reached the lower exit out of the main chamber. She shoved her way through the stunned surge of people who had also decided now was the time to leave.
As she passed two women she grabbed at their clothing, tearing as she passed. The first attempt resulted in just a handful of cloth, but Iketani used it to tie together her distinctive pale hair, and over it as best as she could. The next grab from a passing woman heralded a partially torn shirt, which Iketani pulled on, tying it up at the front. Disguised enough she moved on, using her elbows and shoulders to shove her way through the crowd remaining in front of her and then she was at the front.
She ran at full pace down the dripping concrete tunnel that would lead all those behind her to the next building, but she was more interested in the old escape exit she recalled down this tunnel. She saw the outline of the doorway ahead, cast in the emergency red light, and shoved her shoulder against it. It burst open and the cold air in the tiny concrete space was abrupt against her thin clothing. She turned and pushed the escape door back into place. She fired three stunner blasts towards the lock, melting it and slowing the Elite if they found her escape route. She tucked the stunner into her belt and turned to the escape ladder that was set against the wall of the narrow vertical tunnel above her. She began her hurried ascent up the long ladder.
With each rug she climbed she berated herself, the Elite and Breack. He had failed her, as so many did, and had clearly told them everything. They had not made her face or tattoos public in the Alliance, and she had been enjoying quiet, free movement around the outlying Alliance worlds. Now, it appeared the Elite had finally come after her. She would have to remain outside the borders for most of the time, but even this world was outside the Alliance – how had they found her?
Fortunately, she had planned for this, but it angered her that they had found her, that so much had gone wrong, and that now she would be forced to run like a Wraith Queen – hiding away, with the Elite on her heels. She had become the hunted.
She reached the top of the ladder, the emergency glowing red bulb at the top revealing the simple hatch directly over her head. She paused, gathering her breath for a moment. It was possible that the Elite could be waiting above this hatch, but it was also likely that Oneakka was alone or with only one other. Maybe they had found her here by accident or chance had found them in this area. She had no choice – she had to leave this planet as quickly as possible, not wait to be found.
She freed the catches locking shut the hatch above her and pushed upwards, but it resisted. Swearing to the Ancestors and the determination of ice, she tried again, pushing with her shoulder and both hands, her legs entwined around the rungs of the ladder below. With a crack of straining metal the hatch finally broke free of its thick layer of ice and freezing air rushing in around her through the thin slither of a gap she had opened. She shuddered against the cold as she turned, her shoulder still set against the hatch to keep it open, and she peered outside. The cold wasteland stretched out in one direction, but the other direction held the back wall of the complex. She pushed the hatch up a little further, almost expecting to see the sudden arrival of Elite boots into her view, but nothing moved, except for the cold air chilling her face.
Unwilling to wait any longer she pushed the hatch up further, its weight pressing oppressively down on her neck and shoulder. She shoved the hatch up, getting her hands around its thick cold sides. The freezing broken layer of ice clung to her fingers, stealing her heat and attempting to claim her fingers permanently. She shifted her grip, missing the protective layer of gloves, as the cold seeped in further but she pushed up enough for the massive hinge of the hatch to catch. Free of the weight of the hatch, she climbed quickly out onto the planet's surface, the cold wind wiping around her as she stepped out from behind the limited protection the open hatch had provided. Dressed in nothing but thin layers of cloth she was at risk against the cold, so she quickly turned and shoved the hatch back into place and ran to the dark wall of the complex.
She pressed herself to the wall, claiming as much protection as the tiny overhang could provide against the new flurries of snow that were falling from the dull clouds overhead which were darker now with the press of night approaching. Her senses alert, and moving as quickly as possible, she made her way along the wall, scanning its flat surface for any air vents or windows that would provide her with a means to escape the cold gusting wind. However, those that had built this complex had smartly not given any entrance for the cold wind that pressed against her.
She reached the corner of the building, ahead of which there was a massive space between this building and the next. She would be out in the open for all to see as she crossed that divide. She held still at the corner and peered cautiously around the edge, and discovered that the door through which she had entered the complex was located a short distance away, and through it a crowd from inside the club were escaping. They were bustling their way through the door and across the platforms to the other building. They hurried as if there truly were a fire at their backs.
The wind pushing past Iketani towards the crowd did not allow her to hear anything that was being said or shouted among the agitated moving crowd. But, she scanned the faces, looking for anyone's lips that would reveal their words. Several held still long enough for her to watch the movements, but she did not recognise the language. Until one woman at the furthest end of the platforms stopped and pointed back towards the complex. Her arm was extended, the bared skin of which was decorated with leather bands spaced down the length of her long limb. Iketani latched her gaze onto the woman's mouth and recognised one of the central Alliance languages; a Vancet dialect.
"…Elite, real Elite here!" The silent lips declared as the woman pointed back to the complex. "There must be a Wraith inside! Here!"
Someone next to her in the bustle of escaping revellers said something to her.
"No, I've heard that Wraith sometimes disguise themselves as human! The Elite were chasing someone, but it was too dark to see," she added, but Iketani had heard enough. She had the chance of escape now.
She pulled back from the corner and despite the harsh cold of the wind against her, she pulled off the stolen pieces of clothing, freeing her long pale hair from all its binds save one. She pulled open the collar of her outfit, allowing the tattoo that ran around the back of her neck to the sides of her throat, like a shirt collar, to be clearly seen. She adjusted the knives and stunner in her belt so that they were more obvious to others.
She glanced back round the corner and saw that the Vancet woman was gone, but the shoulder of the one she had spoken to was still there, and Iketani saw with delight that it was the thinner guard she had seen before. He was calmly guiding people through the door to the other building. There was a small risk that Oneakka might have warned the guards about her, but since the Elite had so far been unwilling to share the Elite's troubles with the public, she believed she could take the risk.
She stepped out from the corner and strode towards the platform. The cold was overwhelming against her back, but she held tall and uncaring. Oneakka's attack had made it clear that her freedom would now be severely restricted, but she could still walk and act the role of an Honoured Elite.
Faces were already turning towards her, but she ignored them, except to note that no one began pointing to identify her as the target of the fight inside the club. She doubted these people would have been able to process what had happened fast enough to store any details of the fight. She marched towards the guard and saw his recognition and then the flush of understanding as his eyes dropped to her tattooed throat and then down to her weapons on her hips.
She reached the side of the platform and, ignoring the chain railing, leapt up the short distance to the platform and stepped over the chains. The crowd streaming past abruptly no longer needed to fill as much space on the platform as they held back to give her space. Iketani kept her eyes on the guard, though every sense was assessing the sound of the boots around her for the heavy set that might be Oneakka's.
"There has been an incursion," she stated to the guard. "I need transport back to the portal now," she ordered.
The guard looked shocked, but reacted quickly enough as she neared him. "There's transport vehicles in the bay," he replied gesturing behind him, his eyes wide with the usual mix of fear and amazement that normals had for the Elite.
Iketani nodded as she simply walked at him, forcing him to turn and hurry ahead of her. Though he had to push his way forward, the crowd parted for her on his tail. The warmth of the building engulfed her and she let out a silent breath of relief, drawing in the warm air, soft and comforting compared to the sharp painful cold air she had been inhaling. She felt her throat and lungs relax, but her body remained tense, expecting at any moment for Oneakka or another Elite to arrive, though it was likely that if he was alone Oneakka would still be trapped in the lower levels of the complex by the escaping crowd. He would have no idea which escape route she had used, but she did not underestimate her fellow Elite, especially not Oneakka.
The guard led her down a corridor to where the smell of fuel and oil filled the air. The open door ahead brought them into the parking bay of the large transport vehicles that were used for carrying the ore that was mined in the next valley, but also the large numbers of public to and from the distant portal.
Heads turned at her arrival, but she ignored them, her chin held high as she followed the guard, who himself began to walk taller for those around him. To be seen assisting an Elite would give him some standing, even in a backwater planet like this one. They may not respect the Alliance here, but they certainly respected military skill and the reputation of the Elite.
The guard led her to a massive armoured transport vehicle, pulled open the door and respectfully stood back for her. She paused at the door and regarded him for a moment. "You will pilot the vehicle," she ordered, but with enough invitation to lessen the command.
His eyes lit up with renewed pride and he nodded as he climbed up into the vehicle ahead of her. She followed, lithely settling into the thick seat as she slammed the door shut. The heaters were turned on, but not at their fullest setting and she resisted the urge to alter them, not wishing to show how chilled she had been by the wind. Iketani glanced out of the side window, her eyes on the entrance to the bay as the vehicle began to roll towards the open exit of the bay. But no wide shoulders of Elite appeared to stop her, and as they rolled out of the bay and along the trails of the road that constantly fought to keeps its presence against the snow and ice, she allowed herself to take a breath.
She kept her attention partly tuned into the radio that played at a low volume, connecting all the drivers out in the wasteland together. But, no reports came in, no orders to return. It was only when in the distance ahead that she saw the small cluster of parked vehicles around the portal did she let herself relax further. She realised that this state of being hunted was something she may have to get used to for a while. The Elite would hear of her presence here this day, but even if Oneakka's discovery of her had been an accident, it was clear that the hunt was on for her.
She had enough of what was hers to protect herself and safe places enough to hide, but she disliked the unease she now felt at having to watch her back. She was used to being the hunter, not the hunted. With that unsatisfying thought she glanced at the guard beside her. She studied his wide cheekbones and considered the way he had behaved for her – unnerved, efficiently and respectfully – qualities she admired. She kept her eyes on him as he brought the vehicle to a rest at the back of the small queue waiting to gain assess to the portal. He felt her attention and looked round to her, and his eyes displayed a new curiosity and excitement. She understood that look – he was a man who felt bored with his life and dreamt of excitement and adventure. That he was working on this world suggested that he was either born here or was hiding from some trouble he had no doubt caused.
"What is your name?" She asked.
"Madesh," he replied.
She smiled at him. "I believe, Madesh, that you may be able to assist me further."
Again she saw the flash of surprise to his expression before he looked away, easing the vehicle through towards the hut set before the portal, inside of which stood the dialling device, protected from the ice and cold.
"How can I assist you further?" Masesh asked as he brought them to a rest by the hut. He used the overly polite words that everyone seemed to use when talking with an Elite, but she had heard the growing anticipation in his voice.
She reached for the latch to open her door and looked back at him, invitingly lifting her eyebrow. "Looking for some adventure, Madesh?" She asked before she turned and jumped down to the cold icy ground outside.
She walked around the front of the vehicle towards the hut containing the dialling device, her attention divided between the road behind them, which still showed no indication of pursuit, and Madesh through the window screen. She saw him ponder for a moment, his gaze turning to look back towards the ice covered bleak world around them.
As she reached the hut, moving inside to activate the address she wished, she heard the vehicle's door open and slam shut. As she stepped out into the cold again, the portal activated with its customary explosive rush of power, and she saw Madesh heading towards her.
With no loud shouts, or threats of stunner blasts from any direction, she smiled as she turned to the portal. She held great amusement to think of the anger and frustration her escape would provoke in Oneakka, and it almost made the entire encounter worth it. She strode towards the portal, Madesh behind her, and her smile became a grin as she stepped away from the planet, totally unimpeded.
-------
TBC