Chapter 2 – Springing the Trap

"I don't understand, By." Liza said, shaking her head. "You received a weird transmission. That isn't grounds to have you imprisoned or even killed."

"I don't understand it either." I said, grasping her hands with my own. "But the Captain is a wizard. He believes that the Unitologists sent to get us aren't going to let us come back again. They're relentless. They'll stop at nothing when they've got their sights set on a goal. And right now, their goal is the Captain and I. So we're going to have to go with them. At least, we'll let them think we will."

The Captain had sent for the three muggles shortly after he and I came up with a simple, yet (hopefully) effective plan to ensure that this was not our last hour on the Mactire. After that, I had gone back down to the engine room and requested an emergency meeting with Liza. I had taken her back to her quarters, unsure of how she was going to take the news of my sudden and, possibly, permanent departure.

"So…you're just going to leave me here?" She looked up at me, her eyes filling with tears. "With no way to communicate, no way of knowing if you've made it or not? I don't want to lose you, By."

I drew her close, kissing her ever so gently. Her lips locked with mine as we both held on to that one moment. When we broke apart, I held her head very close to mine, whispering softly to her. "I will be fine. They're only muggles, after all. And no, you won't be out of the loop."

I let her go before digging around in my pocket and pulling out my com-link and my wand.

"I thought you didn't like muggle technology." She said with a smirk.

"Normally I don't." I said with a smirk of my own. "My com-link and my flashlight are just about the only things I do use. Now shush, and watch this."

I pointed my wand at the com-link in my hand.

"Gemino!"

The com-link duplicated in my hand, so that I now held two identical com-links. I held one out to her, which she took.

"Now watch this." I said with a wink. "And hold very still."

I pointed my wand at Liza.

"Biocouno!"

There was flash of light, and her com-link was gone. I then repeated the same thing to my own com-link.

"What was that about?" She asked, looking around for the com-links. "Where did they go?"

They're a part of us now. I thought, smiling at her.

She stared at me, looking very shocked.

"Did I just hear you in my head?" she asked, dumbfounded.

You sure did, babe.

"No way…" she said in awe, tilting her head one way, then the other, as if she could feel the com-link rolling around. I laughed at her.

"It doesn't work like that." I chuckled. It's transfiguration, Liza. And some very complicated transfiguration at that. It's a bit of tricky magic I picked up in my fifth year of school. It's taken the technology and biologically fused it as a part of our own brains. It's thought activated. And it's only communicable to each other, nobody else. It works just like the com-link does, so we can communicate back and forth with each other, and we'll hear each other in our heads. To activate it, all you have to do is have the will to contact me, and the technology responds. But it's more than a communication device.

With a mere thought, I activated the holographic display in my own mind. Liza gasped.

I can see what you see! Her voice spoke clearly in my head. I see me and…is my hair really that greasy?

I laughed. I think you're beautiful, babe. I'll take your grease monkey over Miss. Universe any day. I glanced down at my watch. The Unitologist ship would be arriving in fifteen minutes. I locked eyes with Liza, and she understood.

With this, we'll be able to talk to each other no matter how far we are…within half a parsec at least. Odds are, they'll be taking us to the Sprawl, so I won't even be that far away.

Liza just smiled, but her eyes gave her away. To top it off, she forgot to deactivate her com-link.

Please don't go…

Her eyes shone with tears again. I could see the fear within them; truth be told, the same fear echoed in my own mind.

"I'll be fine." I said with a reassuring smile. "You know me. I can take care of myself."

In her fear, in those green-tinted eyes, I also saw her passion, the fire in this woman that had made me fall head-over-heels in love with her. I could see that she would do anything to make sure I stayed here. But I also saw her control. She was letting me go, knowing the possibilities that lie ahead. She was every bit as strong and able as she was kind and sensitive. I pulled her in a close embrace, wanting nothing more than to hold her here until the end of time.

Our lips met again, as we came together for one final romantic moment before my departure. Liza suddenly became quite forceful as she reached around and grasped the back of my head, kissing me with more passion than either of us had dared to test before. I didn't fight her one bit. I had been waiting a long time for us to experience passion like this. Our tongues intertwined as we learned more about each other than we'd ever learned before. Our breathing synchronized as we pulled each other as close as humanly possible. I wished beyond anything else that we could have explored this passion even further, but time had other plans.

My watch beeped the ten minute mark, signaling that I had to leave right now. Our lips parted as our eyes traced down to my wrist. I looked back at Liza, back into those fiery green eyes.

"I love you. So much. I promise, I'll come back to you."

"I love you too." She whispered, a single tear trailing down her cheek.

And, my heart aching at the mere thought of what I was doing, what I was walking away from, I released her from my arms. With one last smile, I turned away, and walked out of the room.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Ten minutes later, Captain Tracy, the three muggles, and I stood in the loading hanger of the Mactire, watching on a holoscreen as a small sub-space shuttle drew closer. The muggles stood a distance away, chatting nervously amongst each other. They hadn't been told anything other than EarthGov was going to be intercepting us. The fact that it was due to the wayward transmission was left out, though I had a hunch they knew that was the reason. They talked in hushed voices, glancing over at us every now and then. Captain Tracy eyed them for a moment before turning to me.

"Remember what I told you." He whispered.

I nodded. The plan was simple in theory, but putting it into action was a separate matter entirely.

A deep computerized voice spoke on the intercom in the hanger.

"This is Shuttle Mushan, requesting access to the hanger of the U.S.G. Mactire."

"Permission granted, Mushan." The computer's collected voice spoke back. "Pressurized doors opening."

The holoscreen showed the large outer doors of the hanger opening and the small shuttle entering. The doors closed.

"Depressurizing commencing." The computer said calmly.

There was the sound of a great amount of air being forced quickly in the small space.

"Depressurizing complete. Opening hanger doors."

The large metallic doors before us began to slide open, revealing the pure white shuttle hovering behind them. A set of landing gears descended from beneath the shuttle, and it touched down on the hanger floor, hissing as it depressurized itself. I breathed deep, hoping that whatever would happen from here would not be as bad as I thought it was going to be.

The entrance door opened, and five men, all dressed in white military outfits filed out, followed by another man dressed the same. It was clear that he was not military, however. He was far too skinny and flimsy to have ever made it into the military. He had blonde hair, combed over in a swoop to the left, and was bespectacled. The wrinkles on his forehead accentuated a pair of stern looking, gray eyes.

"Good afternoon, gentlemen." He said in a surprisingly high, slick voice, giving a professional looking smile. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Lieutenant Daniel Strizer of the Unitology Research Sector of EarthGov. I apologize for this inconvenience. The officials at the Sprawl just have a few important matters to discuss with the event you witnessed. After that, we'll have you back on the Mactire in no time."

Captain Tracy stepped forward and shook Lieutenant Strizer's hand.

"I am sure this whole matter can be cleared up quickly." The Captain said, with an equally professional smile.

"As am I." Strizer replied. "If you five would please step aboard the Mushan, we can make this as quick as possible.

A shiver ran up my spine. Just this man's presence alone was chilling. I got this feeling around all Unitologists; there was just an air of falseness about them, that they were hiding something or that they knew something I didn't deserve to know. Reluctantly, I followed the Captain as he boarded the shuttle. The three muggles shuffled behind me.

The shuttle interior was small, but not cramped. It was, as the exterior was, pure white and spotlessly clean on the inside. I never realized how much Unitologists enjoyed the brightness of white. Maybe it had something to do with being as pure as possible. I wasn't sure, and I really didn't care to find out.

As the Captain headed to a seat at the back of the ship, I noted thankfully that unless there was a secret compartment behind the seats, we would never have our backs to any of the Unitologists. It made our defenses much stronger, though my nerves were still going crazy. There was still a million things that could go wrong or unexpectedly.

There was a sudden buzzing in my head.

Byron?

Liza?I thought frantically as I watched the five military Unitologists file into the seats across from us. I eyed their pistols on their sides. Now was not the time for distractions. As much as I loved her, I needed to be completely in my own mind right now. Liza, now's not the best time. I'll contact you when it's safe.

Please talk to me soon, Byron. I can't stand not knowing what's happening.

Do you want to watch? I thought quickly, turning on my holographic projector.

I...I don't know.

Liza, it's now or never. Lieutenant Strizer sat directly across from the Captain at that moment, that professionally fake smile ever present on his stern face.

She hesitated for a moment. I guess…yes. I'll watch.

Ok. But I need you to stay quiet for a while Liza. I need to think. I can't have you in my head if things go south.

Ok, By.

Her voice faded. I glanced over at the Captain. The ship vibrated slightly. We were on the way.

Lieutenant Strizer sat up in his seat and looked at all five of us.

"Do you all know why you've been taken from the Mactire?" He asked, his eyes lingering for a half a second longer on my face.

"We received an odd transmission from the U.S.G. Ishimura." The Captain said without hesitation. "We've been over this part. What we don't understand is why we need to be taken to EarthGov. We're just the messengers. We delivered the transmission to you. That's all."

"Sadly, you delivered a transmission that we've already had in our possession for quite some time. About two years, in fact." Lieutenant Strizer said, his eyes fixated on the Captain.

"Two years?" I asked, incredulously. What did that mean about Alissa then? Was she even alive? Could she have even survived that long in that kind of environment? And did the same go for the creatures?

"That's right Engineer Cheak." Strizer said with a more genuine smile, which was, if at all possible, even creepier than his professional one. "You see, two years ago, a beacon had been launched from the Ishimura when the events you learned from that transmission occured. The beacon contained the exact same message that is beaming from the Ishimura at this very moment. We received it and, upon discovering its' contents, we classified it as private records, and only accessed people were allowed to view it."

My blood ran cold at his last words. So far, my suspicions about our fate were starting to come to fruition.

"Why is it still broadcasting then? Why did we receive it?"

"Why it's still broadcasting, I do not know yet. However, I was hoping you could tell us how you managed to receive it." Strizer looked at me curiously. "You see, that transmission, the one you received, is beaming on a loop from the Ishimura itself. EarthGov has been searching for the Ishimura these last two years. We found it a month ago and finally managed to dock it at the Sprawl mere hours ago. Unfortunately, we currently have no safe way of going aboard and stopping the transmission. So we jammed every communications array in the vicinity until we could infiltrate the ship."

"Our communications satellite had maintenance this morning." One of the muggles replied shakily. "It's been down for two days. Cheak here came and fixed it this morning."

"And the second he turned it on, that transmission came on the holoscreen." The chubby muggle chipped in.

Strizer sighed softly, thinking for a moment. When he spoke, it was in a calculated and collective tone. "So it was merely a miscalculation on our part. We didn't pick up your communications signal, so we didn't jam it. Very well then."

He stood up.

"I am sorry gentlemen, but as I've said before, that transmission was classified as a private document two years ago. This whole mess has been one big mistake, but it's a mistake that EarthGov as well as the Church cannot forgive. This must be kept silent."

He nodded to the five military Unitologists sitting across from us. Simultaneously, they all stood up and pulled their pistols from their pockets. In a flash, I too had stood up and slipped my wand from my sleeve, pointing it at the six men before us.

"Incarcerous!" I cried, as another voice echoed with my own. The Captain's wand was pointed in the same direction as my own. Two sets of ropes shot from our wands and wrapped tightly around the six Unitologists. They all cried in shock as, in mere seconds, they became a tightly wrapped pile on the floor.

"Byron, quickly!" the Captain said with urgency, "Go to the cabin and take out the pilot!"

I nodded before turning down the shuttle and opened the door to the cockpit. I pointed my wand, ready to stun anybody inside, but there was nobody.

"It's empty." I called back over the shouts and cries of the muggles in the room, including the three communications operators.

"What the hell is this?" the chubby one yelled.

"How did you guys do that?" The bald muggle said, looking back and forth between the Captain and I. I met eyes with the Captain, and he nodded. We both directed our wands at the three muggles.

"Stupefy!"

At once, all three muggles fell back into their seats, unconscious.

"What is the meaning of this!" Strizer yelled from within the pile of tangled limbs and ropes. "Untie us at once! You are jeopardizing the secrecy of the Church! You must be silenced at once! It is for the good of the Marker! You must remain silent!"

With a roll of my eyes, I pointed my wand at his exposed head.

"Silencio."

From then on, Strizer's mouth flapped around but not a peep came from his throat. When he realized this, his eyes grew wide and he stared up in fear at the Captain and I.

"I have no interest in your religion, Lieutenant." I said flatly. "I just want to make sure that whatever kind of monster or parasite is on the Ishimura doesn't spread onto the Sprawl."

"That's enough Byron." The Captain spoke up. "Let's just wipe their memories and turn this ship around. Once we're back on the Mactire, we can bewitch them to pilot back and tell EarthGov that we've been effectively silenced."

"But the Ishimura! What about the parasite?" I asked.

"We'll figure something out. Right now, we have to get ourselves to safety."

"Right."

Together, the Captain and I wiped each and every muggle's mind in the shuttle. Soon enough, they all were unconscious on the floor. Satisfied with our work, Captain Tracy and I headed into the cabin to turn the ship around. The shuttle was on autopilot on a direct course to the Unitology Sector of EarthGov. The captain took the pilot's chair.

"Computer, this is Captain Tracy of the U.S.G. Mactire. Initiate access override code 3345."

"Access denied. Captain Nathanial Tracy, fugitive of EarthGov, is under arrest for treason. All orders given by Captain Tracy are to be disregarded."

"What?" he asked in disbelief. "How is that possible?"

"Let me try." I said, taking the copilot seat. "Computer, this is Engineer Cheak of the U.S.G. Mactire. Initiate emergency override code 4554."

"Access denied. Engineer Byron Cheak, fugitive of EarthGov, is under arrest for treason. All orders given by Engineer Cheak are to be disregarded."

"What the-?"

I glared around at the Captain, who too had a look of shock and anger on his face.

"How the hell is this possible?"

"I don't know Byron." He said, staring out the window as we drew closer to the Sprawl. "But we need to think of something, and we need to think of it fast."

"Incoming Transmission." The computer said flatly.

The window became enveloped with a holoscreen, showing Admiral Jenson's face. There was a strange look of overwhelming revelation in his eyes. He looked positively jubilant.

"Well now gentlemen, this is quite a surprise. Up until now, your kind has remained quite a mystery to us Unitologists. I eagerly await your arrival. I have a lot of questions for you both."

"Jenson!" Captain Tracy shouted, "Release us now! We've done nothing wrong, and you have no right to capture us like this!"

"On the contrary, I have every right, Captain Tracy." Jenson replied with a wicked smile. "The Marker desires it. Your abilities will be greatly helpful to the cause of the Marker."

"If you think I'm going to use an ounce of my magic for your bullshit religion, you've got another thing coming!" I shouted back at Jenson.

"I had a feeling you both would be reluctant." The Admiral sighed. "We have ways of dealing with stubborn ones."

Pain suddenly enveloped my entire body as the chair I sat in began to electrocute me. I cried out in agony, barely registering that Captain Tracy was also screaming away next to me. Neither of us could move from the seats. The electricity kept on coming from the chairs themselves, holding us forcefully and excruciatingly down. I was quickly losing my vision. Everything was growing black as the pain kept coming in droves.

Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime, the electricity stopped. I sat slumped in the chair, gasping for air. I couldn't see anything and my head was spinning quickly. As I slipped into unconsciousness, I heard one final voice; the voice of my girlfriend's anguished cry.

Byron!

DUN DUN DUUUNNNNNN...

Sooo...yeah. I think it's safe to say this story is taking over my psyche at the moment. Kinda like what the Marker does to those who come near it. But we'll get to that later.

I'm a little proud of myself with coming up with the Com-link transfiguration idea. The spell 'biocouno' is one of my own making. It's a combination of the English word 'Bio', intending the meaning of "Body", and the latin word 'Couno', meaning "Fuse".

Also...this was my first attempt EVER at any kind of romantic scene. If you review, please let me know if I did a decent job on it or if I just pissed all over the word 'romance'. Thanks guys! Expect Chapter 3 soon.