The Doctor looked over at Lacond. 'I'm going to confront the MechGuards.'
'That a bad idea, Doctor. You don't know the MechGuards like I do. They cannot be reasoned with.'
'Lacond, there's something deeper going on here. None of this conversion scheme makes any sense. Why would the Chosen live just as poor a life as you do? What are they gaining, other than a protected status? This Electorate Body, how does it all connect? We're never going to get those answers if we can't at least get through to the MechGuards.'
'Doctor, if you're just going in there just to get Sarah, then I have to caution you against it. It's not going to work.'
The Doctor glared at Lacond. 'You wanted me to help you, so let me help you and don't question my way of doing it. The Mechguards are going to be your element that is going to give you the victory over the Quadrant. Either you want that, or you don't. You are going to have to trust me.'
Lacond sighed. 'Fine, Doctor. This is all on your own head.'
~!~!~!~
Harry went into the med-tent and saw Susan curled up against Mirsaj napping. He cleared his throat, gently. 'The Doctor and I are going to investigate the Cyryllium mine.'
Susan sat up groggily, 'What do you mean you're investigating the Cyryllium mines? Why? We know that they're currently surrounded by two Mechguard units at all times. What else do you need to know?'
'The Doctor has a lot of questions. He has to see them to get those questions answered.'
Susan stood up. 'I know that area better than most. I'll take you there and show you around.'
'No Susan, you're going to help Lacond get the camp moved. She needs to get everything wrapped up quickly. You'll be of better use to her here.'
Susan nodded. 'I understand.' She hugged Harry. 'Please be careful, Dad. These Mechguards are unmerciful. If they catch you, I don't even want to imagine what would happen.'
'Don't worry Sue. I can take care of myself, and so can the Doctor. I'll meet you at the new camp before you even know that we're gone.'
Mirsaj watched the exchanged and caught Harry's gaze. Mirsaj shook his head slightly and glared, indicating to Harry that he knew that he was keeping something from Susan.
Harry continued to watch Mirsaj and when he was sure he had his attention, he mouthed the words, 'Look after Susan,' over her shoulder.
Mirsaj nodded in understanding.
~!~!~!~
The Mechguard formerly known as TeArin walked through the jail. Turning his head slightly, he focused his attention on the cell with a surviving occupant. 'You are not Trividian. Why are you here?'
The prisoner looked up at him. 'Why should I answer you?'
'Why were you helping the resistance?'
'I'm not telling you anything.'
Likaria's voice resonated through a speaker in the Mechguard's armour, but echoed through the cell. 'I understand the other human helping the resistance is a relative of yours. How much do humans value their relations? I will bring the young human here. If you don't tell me the information I want, I will do much worse to her than I've already done to you.'
Sarah threw herself towards the bars and TeArin, 'Touch her and I will kill you.'
Likaria laughed, 'You have no power to do anything. You can't even get out of that cell.' As TeArin walked away, Likaria's laugh remained, torturing Sarah even more than her words could.
~!~!~!~
Mijaco rallied his troops together. Standing at the top of a small hill, he was able to look out over the assembly. 'Today, we just received a piece of information that we fell should enable us to swing a death blow to the resistance and hopefully end this war once and for all.' He noticed that the troops didn't seem convinced. Steeling himself, he added the remainder of knowledge he'd been given. 'The Quadrant has taken control of the last known source of Cyryllium. With that final piece of control, the resistance cannot continue to power their weapons. We've also nailed down the location of Lacond's camp. At dawn, we will sneak in and destroy the resistance.'
Netran piped up. 'Is this an order from the Quadrant, or ramblings similar to what your now banished son dared to vocalize?'
Mijaco frowned. 'This is an order from the Electorate Body itself. This is an authorized battle, and one we are almost guaranteed to win.'
~!~!~!~
The Doctor spoke quietly to Harry, as they observed the Mechguard units standing near the Cyryllium mine. 'Just follow my lead.'
Turning to Edner, the resistance fighter that had previously taken them to Lacond, the Doctor leaned in and whispered. 'Harry and I are going to work our way around to the other side of the mine. Harry is going to try to create a diversion, and then I can sneak in. You and Mexlan stay here and out of the way. Lacond knew this was going to be dangerous and I promised her that nothing would happen to you. If something were to happy to us, you need to get back to the new camp and inform Lacond. She'll know what to do at that point. This should be a fairly easy in and out, I only need to see in the mine briefly.'
Edner nodded and primed his weapon as the Doctor and Harry began the zig zag across the landscape down towards the mine. As Edner watched, Harry jumped out and got the Mechguards' attention. One guard went after Harry, and the Doctor attempted to circle around behind him. Just as the Doctor reached the mine, one of the other guards wheeled around and grabbed him. Edner could see that the Doctor was talking, but couldn't make out the words. The other guard that went after Harry came back, pushing Harry in front of him. Edner looked over at Mexlan and just shook his head, sadly.
Mexlan frowned. 'Now what?'
'We do what the Doctor said, we get back to Lacond.'
~!~!~!~
Likaria observed the situation at the Cyryllium mine and smiled as she watched Mechguards capture the Doctor and Harry. 'The new aliens are in my control. This war ends soon.'
