Chapter Nineteen

Vila glanced nervously behind him as he went towards his cabin for the night. He could swear that someone or something was watching him. Was he just being paranoid? The corridors were empty.

Why would someone be watching him? It didn't make sense.

He shivered involuntarily and gave a nervous laugh. This was something he had in common with Avon. Not the nervous laugh, it was their constant wariness of possible dangers or traps; and they were usually right. Avon calculated his in his head. Vila felt his.

Maybe he was just tired and his mind was playing tricks on him. Worries about Avon and Reya had been weighing him down all day on top of which, it had been a long and intense day of planning and preparation with the others. He really wasn't very good at that end of things, or even interested in it, truth be told. He had gladly let Cally, Marlena, Trey and Lt. Dain take the lead, while he tried to listen without yawning and added the occasional nod of agreement.

Sometimes he would glance surreptitiously at Corinne, who was sitting next to her mother. She had given him a brief smile once. Or at least he thought it was to him. It was hard to tell since Cally had been speaking at the time and she was sitting next to him. At that point, his mind had wandered off and he imagined that she really had been smiling at him. Not the brief hint of one he almost caught but a great big smile. One that brightened the whole room and was just for him.

Of course at that moment, Marlena had asked him something important and he hadn't been paying attention. He had feigned a coughing fit and they passed onto something else until he was ready again.

Marlena was a gentle woman with a soft but firm voice and quick intelligence. Her presence made people feel comfortable but when her eyes bore into you, all the clothes in the galaxy was not enough to hide the truth from her. Vila really hoped that she hadn't noticed him secretly glancing at her daughter.

Corinne never seemed to be alone; she was always with one of her parents. She walked with the same confidence as her mother but sometimes, Vila thought that she seemed nervous and a bit overwhelmed. He wouldn't blame her under the circumstances, he often felt that way himself.

Vila reached his cabin and passed his hand across the door panel. As the sensor recognized him, the door slid open. He turned around quickly to look behind him again. There was still nothing but empty corridor.

I must just be tired. Time to get some sleep. Tomorrow was going to be an even longer day and there was going to be lots of action as they began helping the Chandarans. Now if only he could arrange to be alone with Corinne or if she was assigned to his team. Vila smiled and went inside.

**********

Argus moved restlessly and hit his head on a weight bench. He was sleeping in the gym again because it had proved impossible in his cabin. Everything reminded him of Reya there. Being in the converted gym reminded him of her too but at least here, he wasn't comfortable.

Guilt ate at him. He needed the discomfort and the pain in his side, it didn't make him feel better but at least it didn't make him feel worse. He missed her so much that it hurt. He felt hollow inside, as if a large part of him was missing, the only part that mattered.

Argus knew he should sleep, should rest himself for the big day ahead but every time he closed his eyes, he could see them hurting Reya and it filled him with rage. Argus struck out with his fist and hit the bench.

He had failed them both, Reya and Avon. Argus had sworn to himself that none of his people would ever die again because of him. He was not going to rest until he rescued them both.

**********

Cally had a severe headache. She rubbed her temples. Every moment she was not helping plan for the activities tomorrow or tending to her charges in the medical bay, she was trying to contact Avon with her psi abilities. Marlena and her daughter had offered their assistance with the injured. For that she was grateful but it did little to alleviate her anxieties.

She was filled with frustration and worry. The only thing she could sense was Avon's pain and his presence at the periphery of her consciousness. She was afraid that he was being tortured again. That above all troubled her the most.

She knew that Avon would be able to withstand it. He had proved more than capable of weathering anything that was thrown at him. But at what cost?

Cally alone knew what being at the Detention Centre had done to him. The few times he had allowed her to enter his mind had shocked her. She was not able to read his thoughts but she could feel the shape of him, could wander the landscape of his consciousness and could experience in an even deeper way his emotional state.

There was so much that was broken inside that she couldn't imagine anyone being able to survive. The strength of his mind and will were the only things keeping him together. She could sense the fragile and broken shards of him; the hardness and sharp edges that came out in anger, suspicion and self-protectiveness, and the surprising gentleness that he never allowed anyone to see, that he rarely admitted to, even to himself. That part that had reached out to Anna and gave his life to her even though he could never tell her.

The ever-present pain and fears lurking just below the surface; the deep emotional and psychological scars that seemed to touch almost every aspect of him. And the wall that was never high enough or thick enough to protect him from the things that hurt even after the pain stopped.

She could not read Avon's mind but she knew him in a way no one ever had before. He had allowed her that. It was a frightening step of faith for him, one that was completely against his nature, but one he had been willing to take because it was important to her.

He was not a perfect man and neither was she a perfect woman. But he was all that she had thought he could be. And that hidden gentleness that was once Anna's was now hers. In many ways it was even more important than his willingness to die for her.

Cally never wanted him to be hurt again but she knew that it was a vain hope. Many things drove him on, never allowing him to rest except for brief moments of respite. The happy and restful weeks they had spent together on Pleasure City had confirmed something for her. She hoped that one day they would be able to go back there, or somewhere similar, and make it their home.

Ignoring the headache, she reached out with her mind again.

**********

* Avon. I am here. * Avon opened his eyes as a wave of calm and reassurance washed over him. Hang on, Avon. Argus has a plan to rescue you. They are going to try it tomorrow.

He concentrated again in a vain attempt to externalize his thoughts. Agony filled his mind and splintered his thoughts. He gasped at the suddenness of it and stopped. It was no use.

* Avon, don't try to speak. *

She was aware of what he was trying to do. Avon realized that she must be able to sense his pain and connected it with an effort to reach her.

Another wave of reassurance and healing calm washed over him again, easing the tension.

A weak moan drew his attention. Avon struggled to a sitting position and checked on Reya. Her forehead felt hot to the touch. She opened her eyes and looked up at him.

He told her, "Hang on." He wanted to tell her what Cally had said to him but he couldn't risk it in case they were being overheard.

Reya's breathing was in shallow, ragged gasps that were painful to hear. Her eyes could barely express anything more than pain now but there were still the occasional flashes of an unbroken spirit. She looked small and alone.

Avon imagined that he had looked like this at the Detention Centre. Alone in his cell, with nothing but pain for company; his arms wrapped around himself and his body curled up, just to feel some illusion of warmth. Another wave of reassurance from Cally washed over him. He was no longer alone; he would never be alone again.

He looked down at Reya's broken and bleeding form. There was no one to reach out and send her the same comfort and reassurance.

No one. Except him. Hesitantly, Avon reached out and took Reya's hand in his.

**********

Reya held onto Avon's hand as it were a lifeline and she would drown if she let go. The pain made it hard to think. Just breathing took most of her energy. Reya tried not to contemplate how much longer she had before they came back. Instead she occupied her mind with thoughts of Argus, drawing up memories and images of him in her mind. The way he stood, tall and straight and with shoulders back.

At times she could almost see the burdens weighing him down. The tiredness he would get sometimes and the grim determination in his eyes as if he owed something that he could never repay. And sometimes the fear he would have, quickly hidden, when the control slipped and he hit with greater force than he intended to.

Most of all she dwelt on his nobility of spirit, his willingness to sacrifice himself for others, his fierce protective nature, the mischievous twinkle he had in his eyes and the way he did everything with passion and honesty.

A smile touched Reya's lips at the memories. Sometimes he frustrated her to no end with his inability to communicate how he felt or his complete lack of communication when he got it into his head that he had to do something. He could be very stubborn and dense sometimes. There were things he was curiously ignorant of, as if he had never lived a normal life where people had families and lives outside of the military.

A typical Alpha male as the Federation had made him but also not very typical. From the beginning of their relationship, he had always treated her as an equal. She knew that it had never entered his head not to. It was a very curious thing coming from someone of his background and it was one of the first things that had drawn her to him.

"Are you alright?" Avon's voice interrupted her thoughts.

Reya opened her eyes, stifling a groan as her mind returned to the here-and-now and the reality of her battered body reasserted itself in her mind. "Why…do…you ask?"

"Your face changed."

She told him, "I…was thinking."

"That was apparent."

"It's not…a topic you…would be interesting…in."

"Ah." Avon could guess what it was. He had done it often himself at the Detention Centre. For a man who never admitted to needing anyone, it was thoughts of Cally and the others that had meant the most to him during those dark, cold days.

"Avon, can you…do something..for me? A message? If I don't…"

Avon stopped her. "You will get out of here."

Reya managed a crooked, wry smile, "Even you…can't…guarantee that, Avon. You're a…practical man. If it were…you. Would you not…want to leave a…message for Cally?"

Avon had never thought of that before. He remembered leaving a message for the Liberator crew when he went down to the fiasco that had been Terminal. But it had been no sentimental communication. Just a detailed explanation of the events leading up to his insane decision to go after…Avon's stomach twisted in pain. It had been a long time since he thought about Blake.

Even though she spoke in a bare whisper, Reya still managed to convey instant concern. "Avon! Are you alright?"

Now was not the time for thoughts about Blake. Avon wondered if it would ever be. He wondered if it was his mind's way of protecting itself from something he was not ready to deal with yet.

Avon reassured Reya, "I'm fine."

Reya tried not to laugh, "You're an…even worse…liar..than Argus."

"I must be…out of practice."

At that Reya did laugh but immediately started coughing. Avon gripped her hand tighter until she stopped.

As he waited Avon contemplated this idea. Something as sentimental as a message wasn't something he had considered leaving. He knew that other people considered it important. Reya certainly did.

Would Cally want one? She already knew how he felt about her. He had demonstrated it in a way that left no doubts. He was afraid that she most likely would want one. She was very human that way.

A last communication. A confirmation of things they both knew. A final expression, a memory to leave her. It would be the last thing he would be able to do for her.

Avon's eyes brightened with understanding. Now that he could understand. It was the last thing he could do for Cally in a situation when he had nothing else he could do for her.

Avon resolved to remember it for the next time that he came into an impossible situation. For now he fully expected to be rescued. Cally had reassured him Argus was coming for them. Reya didn't know though. She still had this need for a last message.

Avon asked, "You wanted to say…something earlier?"

"Yes."

Chapter Twenty

Reya asked, "Avon…can you…tell him that…"

The door of the room slid open.

Avon looked up at their captors, expecting them to pick him up and shove him into the corner again, like a bag of unwanted refuse.

Grenthel said curtly, "Bring him."

Him? They were after him this time? Had they finally decided that he had outlived whatever limited usefulness he had and were going to get rid of him? Then why not do it in this room? Was it going to be a public execution like had been mentioned for Reya?

Two of them approached Avon and grabbed him roughly by the arms and pulled him up. Unexpectedly Reya reached out for him and caught his leg. She gasped, "No. Leave him…"

Grenthel kicked her in the side. Reya cried out in pain and let go.

As the two men dragged Avon to his feet and carried him from the room , Grenthel said with twisted sneer, "Don't worry, we'll be back for you once we take care of this one and this time we will finish what we started. You are NOT the Champion of Chandar!" He kicked her again.

**********

Argus stood like an immovable tree in the midst of a large open field; the only one who didn't seem affected by the strong gusts of wind that whipped up the assorted shrubbery around them. The Chandaran President stood beside him. The two men were calm and seemed outwardly untouched by the tension and danger; every inch the level-headed and fearless leaders that they were. Several soldiers were ranged behind them, their hands lightly touching weapons that were ready to be drawn into service at any time.

Argus's eyes sought out any tell-tale signs of his other men, the ones that would ensure that there would be no surprises. He didn't spot any; he hadn't expected to. There were no indications of the Chandaran insurgents yet either.

He had to stay controlled, he had to do his job if Avon and Reya were to be rescued.

As his eyes continued to sweep the field, Argus remembered the conversation with Sester, and suppressed an urge to bare his teeth at the thought of the insufferable psychostrategist. Though he would never trust him, Argus knew that his rival had a personal reason for what he was doing. Sester would never endanger Reya's life or Avon's. It was the only reason Argus had agreed with this plan.

"Alright, that might work to get Avon back but what about Reya and the President? How do we know that they won't kill him the moment he's in their hands? How do we know that they will take him to Reya? What if they've already killed her? " Argus's stomach felt ill at the thought. This secret fear that he refused to voice, had been haunting him even as he refused to give up.

Sester was excruciatingly confident as he said, "They won't kill either one of them and they will bring the two of them together."

"How can you be sure of that?"

Sester had the kind of look on his face that set Argus on edge. The psychostrategist knew something. "Why don't you ask the President why they won't kill Reya yet? Or him for that matter."

President Brent appeared perplexed but a look of understanding came over Marlena's face. She said, "Of course, the title."

Argus was mystified, "What title?"

Brent finally appeared to understand as well as he said, "Ahhh. I should have remembered. My mistake that started all of this. The Champion of Chandar. They need me to revoke it. And they will want it to be as public a ritual as possible."

Sester said, "There is another way but obviously they haven't been able to utilize it. That means Reya is still alive. She is the only other one who can revoke the privilege."

Marlena asked him, "You are not a Chandaran, how did you know?"

Sester smiled unbearably, "I have my ways."

Argus was the only one who had no idea what the others were talking about. He did not like this feeling, especially when his nemesis was involved. "What's special about this title?"

Brent and his bond-mate looked at each other.

The Chandaran party entered at the edge of the field.

**********

Cally contained her reactions as she saw caught a glimpse of Avon at the back of the group. He was being half-dragged along by two Chandarans. Avon's face contained as little reaction as she was trying to maintain but she was aware of his confusion and the tightly controlled fear. He didn't know what was happening to him.

She called out to him with her mind, * Avon. We're all here. We're here to rescue you. *

Cally saw his head lift up and felt a flash of excitement across his consciousness that matched her own. She sent him a sense of calm and reassurance and tried to keep her worry from him. A nasty head wound caked in blood explained the pain she had been sensing from him and why he hadn't been able to externalize his thoughts so that she could pick them up.

She could hear Argus asking in a low voice, "Are you ready, Mr. President?"

Brent responded, "I'm ready."

"Remember. If you feel your life is in danger at any time, give the signal and we'll pull you out."

Brent gave a slight nod. "I understand." He turned his head towards Argus and said with the resolve of a man who felt responsible, "We'll get her out. I will not let them them kill her."

The Chandarans came into hearing range before Argus could say anything further. One of the insurgents stepped forward. Just from the way he carried himself, there was no doubts about the man's proud arrogance, not that it would be unusual in Chandaran society, but he seemed even more so.

Brent said frostily, "Grenthel. I should have known you were involved in this."

Grenthel said, "Too late for you."

Brent said, "It's good to know who my real friends are."

Grenthel said with a cruel sneer, "Don't worry, you won't have many for long. I guarantee you that. I should have known you were weak. That's what comes from letting yourself be influenced by a female. Giving yourself up for a stranger you don't even know? You're a fool, Brent. You're not fit to lead us."

Argus said, "Let's get on with it."

Grenthel directed his sneer towards Argus. "All of you are weak."

Brent said, "I would be careful, Grenthel. You can call me weak but I wouldn't recommend calling any of these people that. Remember you made that mistake with Reya."

Grenthel spat out, "We will take care of her too."

Brent said, "She'd better still be alive, Grenthel."

"You're not in a condition to dictate anything."

"That's where you're wrong but we will discuss this after the trade."

Grenthel suddenly smiled. It was an expression that was tainted with aggression. "Yes. After the trade, we will have much discussing to do." He gestured behind him and the two men holding Avon began to drag him forward.

Argus whispered under his breath so that only Brent could hear, "Be careful, Mr. President."

Grenthel said, "Now you, Brent. Slowly."

Argus said to Brent, "Good luck." Two soldiers accompanied the President as he went forward.

Suspicions were high. The open expanse between the two groups was charged with tension as the men walked towards each other. At any moment each expected the other to do something that would cause the field to be bathed in blood and death.

It was almost an anti-climax as Avon was exchanged for Brent and both groups left with their respective prizes.

Cally immediately put her arm around Avon to support him and checked his head wound. * We'll get you back to the ship. * Avon stared at her and then he nodded. The pain in his head was excruciating now, he could barely think. There was something he had to tell them before he could allow himself to relax and to feel relief.

He managed a weak, "Cally…there's…"

"It's alright, Avon. Everything's fine now. We'll get you back to the ship."

"No, there's some…"

Argus had been watching the Chandarans exit the field with the President. He said, "Alright get Avon back to the ship."

Cally took a spare teleport bracelet from her medical bag and snapped it onto Avon's wrist.

Avon tried again. His voice was barely a whisper, "Reya is…"

Argus said in a gentle tone, "It's alright, Avon, I know. We have a plan to get her out. I have people following the President and they should lead us right to her. You get back to the ship with Cally."

Before Avon could tell them that he know where Reya was, that they had both been imprisoned together, Cally called for teleport and they transported back to the ship.

**********

Vila breathed a sigh of relief when Avon appeared on the teleport pad, but it was a short-lived sigh as he saw the dried blood on Avon's head. He immediately came forward from his seat behind the teleport controls but there was little he could do besides offer his presence as support. Cally was there and the soldiers had Avon well in hand. They didn't need any help from him.

Marlena and Corinne, who had been hanging around the teleport room with Vila in case any word came about Brent, also came forward to help.

Marlena said to Cally, "I would like to offer my assistance."

After seeing Marlena handle the wounded soldiers in the medical unit, Cally welcomed her support.

Marlena said, "Corinne, why don't you stay with Vila in case your father needs some help."

"Yes, mother."

**********

Vila was trying not to stare at Corinne. Of course, he had been really trying not to the whole time Marlena and Corinne had been there. First, it was rude to stare and second, and most important of all, he wasn't sure if her mother would like someone like him staring at her beautiful daughter.

In Vila's experience, beautiful women expected far more than he was likely to be able to give them. Not that he didn't think himself worthy, he just knew that no one else did. Even though the people on this ship seemed to appreciate him, he doubted if that was enough.

His restless fingers played absently with a small disk he used to keep his fingers nimble. It was a comforting movement that helped to soothe some of the tension he was feeling.

For a man who was an incessant worrier, expecting that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong, wasn't just a trite axiom, it was a way of life. There were so many things to be anxious about that his mind didn't know where to concentrate.

Avon looked bad when he came back onboard. That head wound with all the blood couldn't have been good. Vila didn't like the sight of blood on any day of the week, especially not his own. When it was that of someone he cared about, it was just as bad. Avon seemed out of it too, trying to mutter something that no one could understand.

More injuries to his head was the last thing poor Avon needed. The man did have a hard head but there were limits, even if he wouldn't admit them to anyone else. Cally must be worried sick.

They were all very worried about Reya and what the Chandarans could be doing to her. Vila didn't even want to imagine what his fear was trying to tell his mind was most likely happening. Other than President Brent and his people, the Chandarans he had come across on the planet, did not fill him with any warm feelings.

There was more than enough worrying to go around for everyone.

Sitting teleport duty, waiting for the group on the planet to ask for emergency teleport any minute, was making things worse. Even though Vila knew it was important, at the moment, it didn't feel like he was helping anyone.

He glanced up at Corinne who was pacing nervously, her fingers lightly touching objects as they came into range. Her face looked as worried as he was feeling. He wondered if he looked the same to her.

Vila wished he could do something to make her feel better but all he had were words; words that didn't seem half as good enough right now. All he could do was sit and wait.

He had to say something. "You don't have to worry. Argus would die before he will let anything happen to your father."

Corinne turned to look at him. Vila's own worried face had not escaped her notice. She pointed out, "But you're worried."

"I…well…yes. Just a little. It's my nature, I guess. It's hard not to with everything going on."

Corinne's came over to sit beside him. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't just be thinking of myself. You have a lot more to worry about."

Vila could see that she was feeling guilty on top of being worried now. This was the last thing he wanted. He had been trying to help. "No. It's your father. That's important. If my mother were still alive, I'd be worried sick too."

"You're mother is dead? I'm sorry."

"It was a long time ago." The sorrows of Vila's past crept up on him from out of the depths of his memories. He hadn't thought about these things in quite a while, there were too many regrets to face. In this he was like Avon. Sometimes regrets needed to be kept a small part of life if you were to function at all.

Vila always wished that he had become a master thief while his mother was still alive. He wished he could have been able to give her the things that she deserved.

He told Corinne, "Let's not talk about that. It's in the past and we both have people to worry about now. Do you want to see your father?"

"You can do that?" A hesitant smile brightened Corinne's face.

Vila pointed to one of the moving dots on the locator panel in front of him. "You see this? This is your father."

Corinne looked intently at the dot as if she wanted to see more than it was able to reveal.

Vila pointed to the other moving dots at the edge of the screen. "This one's Argus. And these are the soldiers."

They could see that the team was arranged in small groups, following Brent's dot at a discreet distance.

Unexpectedly, Corinne leaned towards Vila and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "This is wonderful. Thank you for showing it to me."

Vila's mouth dropped open in surprise and his hand went to his cheek where she had kissed him. "It's…nothing. Glad to do it. I thought it might help if you could see him. I mean, sort of…"

Corinne gave him a warm smile, "It does very much. Thank you, Vila."

**********

In the medical unit, Cally and Marlena were working to relieve the pressure that had been building up in Avon's head. Sester stood discreetly by the doorway, keeping out of their way.

Avon kept trying to push their hands away.

All Cally could feel from him was pain and increasing tension. She tried to reassure him, "Avon, it's alright. You're safe now. No one's going to hurt you. We're only trying to help."

Marlena said, "Perhaps it's me? I'm an unfamiliar presence. His mind is in such a state of confusion now that any stranger may seem threatening."

Sester told them, "He's trying to tell you something. Something important." He walked over to them.

"How do you know that?" Cally asked suspiciously. She couldn't believe that Sester could notice something about Avon that she hadn't.

Sester, reading the mistrust on her face, said, "Ask him."

**********

As Reya lay waiting for Grenthel's promised return, the door to her cell slid open.

**********

Sester rushed into the teleport room waving a clear data sheet in front of him. He stopped to catch his breath.

Vila and Corinne blinked in surprise at their unexpected and out-of-breath visitor. Vila asked, "What's wrong?"

Sester waved the sheet at him. "We have to get this information to Argus. It's Reya's location."

Vila's eyes widened like saucers and he took the data sheet eagerly. It wasn't just a vague location, it was also a rough sketch of the building where Reya was being held. "How?"

Sester explained excitedly, "It was Avon. He was being kept in the same cell. Quickly, Vila! We can save her!"

Corinne was excited at the news too, she added, "That means my father won't have to go through with the plan. We can get him out now too!"

Vila extended the sheet back to Sester and said, "You'll have to go and give the information to Argus. You can't operate the teleport."

Sester said without hesitation, "Alright." He immediately kitted himself out with a bracelet and went over to wait by the teleport pad while Vila contacted Argus.

Vila pressed the comm button. "Argus."

Argus's muted voice came over the speakers. "Yes, Vila? What is it?"

"I'm sending Sester down."

Argus's voice was not pleased. "Why would you want to do that?"

"He has the Commander's location and a drawing of the building that she's being held in."

There was a pause. Vila could imagine the look of surprise or shock on Argus's face.

Argus said urgently, "Send him down. You can save the explanations for later."

Chapter Twenty-One

The door to Reya's cell slid open. Aiken and a group of men she didn't recognize came in.

Aiken in his scratchy voice said, "Quickly! We have to get her out of here before Grenthel and the others get back."

Several of the men lifted Reya up; she tried not to groan at the pain that the movements caused. They supported her between them as they headed towards the door.

Reya gasped out, "Why…are you…doing this?"

Aiken was not as cruel-sounding a man as Grenthel. Perhaps it was because he was a medical man and that presumed at least a modicum of caring for those who were hurt, regardless of whom they were. There was no question what his loyalties were as he said, "Don't make the mistake of thinking that we're doing this for you. We're not here to rescue you."

"Then…why?"

"You'll find out soon enough. Now be quiet or I'm going to have to knock you out." The group moved quickly but cautiously down one hallway after another.

**********

Argus and his team arrived at the building where Reya was being held and headed straight for the cell. The door was open and they entered cautiously only to find it empty. Everyone stared at the blood on the floor and the chains along the wall.

Sester said, "She was here."

Argus's voice was tight with tension even as his heart sank. "We're too late." He could barely keep his eyes off the blood that indicated that something terrible had happened in this room. It seemed as if all of his fears were coming true. The man of action was suddenly frozen, unable to act.

Sester bent down and touched one of the pools of blood, he grimaced at his findings. "This is still fresh. And warm. She couldn't have left that long ago. Reya may still be in the building."

Argus still stood stunned, staring at the blood, barely paying attention to what Sester had just said.

Sester shook him. "Argus! Snap out of it!"

This was a mistake as Argus instinctively reacted and slammed Sester against the wall. Argus's eyes bore into Sester's with dark anger and violence. For a brief moment, Sester wasn't sure if Argus was going to kill him but the control quickly come back and Argus let go of him.

Argus took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to contain the anger that was inside of him. He said, "You're right." This was as much of an apology as he was going to give his rival. "Everyone split up. Teams of two. We need to find her. Use a radiating pattern and head for the exit points first. Keep in touch using the teleport bracelets."

Argus looked at Sester and then he directed one of the soldiers holding a rifle, "Give him your sidearm."

The soldier removed the pistol from his holster and offered it to Sester who immediately held up his hand in refusal of the weapon. He said, "That's not a good idea. I'm not very good with weapons. I'll probably end up shooting you in the leg. By accident, of course, and then you'll be forced to kill me because you think I did it on purpose."

Argus took the gun and shoved it at him. "Then make sure you don't."

**********

Sester followed Argus as they looked for for Reya. Argus was a grim figure, like a predator intent on catching a prey that it intended to devour whole. Sester held the pistol tightly. He didn't like weapons; he generally considered them the last resort of people who didn't have the brains to think their way out of situations. Not that he wasn't conversant with the realities that did require them; he just had never come across one personally until now.

They hadn't run into anyone yet but that could change at any moment. They had to find Reya before Grenthel and his group arrived with the Chandaran President. If they didn't, things would become even more complicated.

Argus peeked carefully around the corner as they came to another junction. "It's clear." They turned into the corridor and began running down it. Suddenly at the end of the corridor, a group of people came into view. Two of them were dragging a battered and bleeding figure.

There was no freezing of motions this time, no hesitation from Argus. Recognition became action as he yelled Reya's name like a battle cry, instilling fear in those whom it was directed at, "Reya! " Before the shout ended, Argus had already shot the two men in front before they had a chance to bring their guns up.

The two men holding Reya were shocked to suddenly find themselves in the direct line of fire as their compatriots fell to the ground. There was a split second of indecision as they tried to decide if it was better to go for their weapons or to use Reya as a shield. Neither of them was dumb enough to risk drawing after witnessing what Argus had just done with blinding speed and precision.

Each man tried to pull Reya in front of them, which might have worked, if they were working together rather than pulling in opposite directions. Instead, both of them fell as well as Argus shot them both.

It had all happened so quickly that Sester was still trying to decide whether he could risk shooting at the insurgents when the two holding Reya died.

Argus rushed forward to catch Reya before she touched the ground, his pistol clattering to the ground beside him. He cradled her gently in his arms and his face was filled with grief. He whispered her name softly as if he was afraid of hurting her with his voice, "Reya."

There was no response. With trembling fingers he felt for her pulse. The beat was weak but she was still alive. He expelled a breath of relief and hugged her tenderly. The warmth of her body and the faint rising and falling of her chest was all he wanted to feel. Argus no longer looked like the strong soldier he had been moments ago, the agent of death who had dispatched four men before anyone could blink.

Sester watched the two of them, his pistol hanging limply in hands that wanted to reach forward and touch Reya as well. The wounds on her body filled him with anger. He had seen ones like these on Avon before; he could guess what had caused them.

There were feelings of guilt and regret when he thought about Avon. When he looked at Reya now, the guilt over what he had done to Avon mixed with the horror at what had been done to her. For some reason, it felt like he was responsible for her pain too.

They had come close to losing Reya. It suddenly hit him how precious and fragile her life was. She deserved someone better than a man who could not help playing with other people's lives. It was who he was; just as being a thief was who Vila was. He couldn't change. Reya deserved someone who loved her enough to stop playing games.

Sester did a double-take. He said with alarm, "Argus, look!"

Argus lifted grief-stricken and uncomprehending eyes to look at him. Sester pointed. "They're not Chandarans!" Argus's eyes moved slowly, as if he was stunned and could barely register where he was, and followed the direction of Sester's pointing finger. His eyes widened in shock at the sight of the men he had just killed, because they were no longer men. They had become green blobs. Argus grabbed the gun he had dropped on the ground just as Sester heard the sounds of a door sliding open behind him. He turned around and saw men entering into the hallway from an outside door.

He saw the Chandarans bring their rifles up to fire. Sester didn't know how he managed it but without thinking, he placed himself between them and Argus and Reya and immediately began firing.

His first shot hit one of Chandarans in the head and the man went down. Sester was sure he hadn't been aiming at anyone's head but he didn't care. He may not be good with weapons but he knew that as long as he continued firing, the enemy would feel the need to duck out of the line of fire and that was exactly what they did.

The Chandarans flattened themselves against the wall; others sought the shelter of the rooms along the corridor. Anything to get away from this madman who was firing wildly at them, seemingly knowing no fear as he stood like a standing target.

Argus was also galvanized into action but Sester was in his way. He recognized the man who had fallen with Sester's first shot; it was Grenthel, the man who had been at the exchange. There was no sign of Brent but he didn't have time to worry about that. Argus tried to shoot around Sester and said, "Get out of the way! You're blocking my aim!"

Sester heard the shout but continued firing madly. A shot hit him in the shoulder but he didn't seem to notice. With his free hand, he unclipped the extra teleport bracelet from his belt and tossed it behind him to Argus. "Get her out."

Argus hastily snapped the bracelet to Reya's wrist. He thumbed the comm button, "Vila, teleport! Three of us to come up! And get Cally!" Sester stopped firing as he heard the request for teleport. Another shot hit him in the chest and he began falling as the teleport whisked them all away.

**********

Argus, Reya and Sester appeared on the teleport pad just in time for Sester to complete his undignified fall to the ground. President Brent was standing by the teleport control panel when they arrived.

Cally and Marlena rushed in with medical kits in their hands. Argus wondered why the hell this ship didn't have any portable stretchers or medical conveyors of some kind as he moved Reya gently off the pad. The others helped Sester as he groaned in complaint.

Argus said, "Vila, get the others back up."

Vila asked, "Are we getting out now?"

Argus said, "No! We have unfinished business. The aliens are here. They're involved in the coup and we've just killed several of them."

He went to the comm panel and contacted the flight deck. "Sergeant, have Zen bring the battle and navigation computers online. Have it monitor all activities within range and plot an escape path in case we need it. What's the status of the anti-detector screen? Is there any indication that anyone's aware of the ship yet?"

The duty sergeant's voice responded, "They don't appear to know we're here yet, sir."

"Good, let me know the moment the situation changes."

The sergeant acknowledged the orders.

Argus bent down by Reya again and asked Cally, "How is she?"

"We have to get her to the medical unit. She needs immediate treatment."

Argus picked Reya up gently and stood up. He looked down at Sester. There was no instant hatred for this man anymore, only an uncomfortable feeling because he wanted to hate him. "How is he?"

Marlena had been tending to Sester. "He will live but we have to stop the bleeding. We need to get him to the medical unit as well."

The injured pair was rushed to the medical unit while Vila began bringing the soldiers back and Corinne stayed to assist.