Happy Wednesday fellow Oncers.

Here's the next chapter of this epic fic.

Thanks to ultraluckycat as always, thanks for all your support and encouragement on this adventure.

Chapter 10 - Love is a Funny Thing

Emma left Arion and plotted a course to Aylosa. It was nestled in the Outworld region, brushing the edges of the Dark One's Legion Federation. Aylosa was a world trying desperately to comply and become part of the Dark One's protected worlds. After the war, members of the Royals fled to outlying areas to avoid prison, death, or being pressed into service for the Dark One. Aylosa was one of the worlds they fled to. Over the past six years, that world was in turmoil, becoming a haven for cutthroats and raiders. The governments of the world needed order, and for that they petitioned the Legion governments for admittance into the Federation.

The first sensor net was easy to avoid but as she got closer, there were more and more. The final ones before high orbit of Aylosa were manual stations. Her ship could avoid the automated ones; it would be hard to explain to a real person, though, why they could see her ship. Especially when it hadn't shown up on their sensor screens until it had reached the manual nets.

Emma quickly backed away. She was going to need information and then help.

…

"Okay, give me the symptoms again." Graham ran his medical scanner over Killian one more time. Nothing. He was perfectly healthy, but Graham could tell Killian was anything but that. The man looked tired, on edge, thinner, and his hands hadn't stopped fidgeting since he entered Sickbay.

"I don't know! I just think I have a cold or something. Maybe one of those bugs that make you puke your guts out."

"You've been throwing up?"

"Technically, no." Killian thought about it for a moment. "Would it help if I did?"

Graham just shook his head and put away the scanner.

"You need sleep, Killian. When's the last time you really slept?"

Killian just shrugged. It wasn't high on his priorities.

"Okay, when's the last time you ate?"

Again. Not really big on his 'to do' list.

"Killian."

Losing patience, Killian jumped off the medical bed. "Just fix me! I don't have time for this. I can't sleep. I have no appetite. I feel sick inside, and my body feels hollow. I get headaches, and I don't feel like doing anything except work."

"And this started when?" Killian just shrugged, but Graham had a suspicion. "Say, about a fortnight?"

"About that."

Graham nodded with understanding. "When Emma left."

Killian stalked around Sickbay, agitated. "This has nothing to do with her!" Graham just watched as Killian worked himself into a frenzy. He could feel his friend; feel his emotions and his confusion.

"You're in love with her," Graham said amusement.

Killian stopped pacing and hopped back on the bed. "Great. You figured it out. So fix me."

"Killian..."

"Just give me a damn shot for it or some medicine so I can go back to work."

"It's not that easy." Graham sighed at the confused look on Killian's face. "There's no treatment for being in love, Killian."

"So it's an incurable disease? I'm going to die?"

Graham laughed and sat next to his friend. "We're all going to die eventually. But no, this isn't a disease. Not really. It does resemble an illness at times because it can make you miserable. But at other times, it actually feels great."

"No shot then?" Graham just shook his head no. "Okay, then get to the point where it feels great."

"I can't. That's a place you just get to on your own."

Killian rubbed his forehead. "This love thing...does it go away?"

"Sometimes we learn to live with it, and it pains us less and less, but in true love matches? It never goes away. If it did, then it's not love."

"I heard of this 'love' thing. It makes no sense to me. I always thought it was like a stomachache."

"Does your stomach hurt?" Killian nodded. "Then there you go."

"She did this to me. This is her fault."

"Emma?"

"Who else?

"I should've made sure she was disease-free before I agreed to sleep with her. She probably knew this was going to happen, and after infecting me, she left."

"Killian, it's not something you catch. It's how you feel."

"About Emma?"

Graham just nodded. It was too hard to explain a concept to a person who had no frame of reference to compare it to. Areenians didn't understand the concept of love. It was the one conflicting violent emotion they seemed not to have, or maybe they just refused to admit they had. Areenians understood anger, hate, revenge, and even friendship and loyalty. But love was something they couldn't recognize. They had never given it a term, almost as if having a meaning for how they felt about the strong ties they built with their friends and family would weaken them. So 'love' on their world became something they ignored. This evolved over many generations, around the time they started the bonded mate ritual. They couldn't have bonded pairs broken because one of the members of the bond was 'in love' with another.

"I'll tell you how I feel about Emma. She's a royal pain! She is strong and opinionated, stubborn and unrelenting. Her hands are everywhere. She can't understand the concept of 'don't touch' or even 'no'. She gets up in the fucking middle of the night and just leaves! Not even a word, or a goodbye. She just left. I don't know where the hell she is, if she's okay, or even if she's coming back..."

Graham remained quiet as Killian jumped off the bed and began pacing again flopping his arms around.

"She is incredibly untidy. Her crap is all over our place. I've been picking up after her since she left. Her clothes were all strewn about and they all smell of her. I can even smell her in our bed."

"Change the sheets," Graham offered.

Killian scowled at Graham. Change the sheets? Then it would be like she was really gone. "That's not the point."

Graham laughed at that. There was a point?

"Shut up, Graham! Dammit, just give me something to help me sleep, or get her off my mind, or...anything! There has to be something you can do."

"Sorry, Killian."

In exasperation, Killian rubbed his forehead and then looked at his friend. "Your people...they feel this love thing all the time?"

"We wait our whole lives wanting it, wishing for it, and welcoming it."

Killian just shook his head and turned to leave. "You're a sick people."

Graham just laughed as Killian left. After he was alone again, his laughter subsided, and the smile left his face. His poor friend. He had no clue what he was in for.

…

"So you want to play Three-Tier poker tonight?" Will asked Killian as they moved through the corridor to the Bridge.

"No."

"You wanna play a different game?"

"No."

"What do you want to do?"

"Nothing."

Will just made a noise of disgust. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Graham says I'm stricken with the love thing."

Will stopped in his tracks. "Oh damn, Killian. I'm sorry. How long?"

"Forever, if Graham is to be believed."

"Can't he cure you, or make it go away?"

Killian just shook his head no. It was nice to finally have someone who could commiserate with him.

"Graham says it's something most species want."

Will just slapped Killian on the back. "Sick bastards." Killian had to agree. "Did you tell David?"

"No way! He'll just make fun of me. Bad enough I was unbonded my entire life, but now this..."

Will just silently supported his childhood friend. He couldn't imagine anything worse than a sickness that made you not want to eat and be uninterested in gambling. It was the deadliest of diseases.

…

"Captain, I've got a distortion field opening up fore starboard," David nodded at his helmsman.

"Killian?"

"I've got it. We're clear of it, but I've never recorded anything like this." Killian looked at the science station where a quiet Regina sat. "Regina?"

"It's almost like a slipstream corridor. Different, but I think the same principle. More like a wrinkle," Regina's brow creased as she checked her data output. "We've got a ship coming out."

"Killian."

"On it, David." Killian quickly raised shields increasing power to all shields along the hull plating of essential areas. His weapons were powered and standing ready.

"Bring us about, helmsman, and then full stop." David watched as the small ship came out of the drift.

"Captain, we're being hailed."

"Open channel."

"Enchanted, this is the Zephyr Bug. Request permission to dock," Emma's voice filled the Bridge.

"Power down, Killian. Com, open a channel." David waited as the communications officer established a connection to Emma's ship.

"Permission granted, Zephyr, and welcome home." David turned to his operations officer. "Inform fourth level aft bay that the Zephyr is docking."

Regina looked up from her station. "David, Emma just transmitted some coordinates to my station."

The two men looked at each other. David nodded.

"Transmit them to the helm. Archie, lay in a course once you receive the information. Once you plot, open us a slip stream."

"Aye, Captain."

Emma had obviously found them her first location.

"David."

David turned in his chair and looked towards Operations and Killian's station. "Go."

Killian didn't even hesitate. He was off the Bridge.

By the time he got to the docking bay, she was already docked and gone. Quickly moving from the bay to the nearest lift, he went to their quarters. Her bags were by the door, almost like she couldn't carry it another step, but the rooms were dark.

He found her.

Emma was curled up in the middle of their bed, sound asleep. She hadn't even bothered to change. It was like she immediately went to sleep the moment she hit the bed. He stood looking at her, his eyes wandering over her entire body checking for marks and signs that she hadn't taken care of herself.

Finally, he went to the bed and slowly removed her clothes. She was already shivering, so he quickly undressed her, and slid her under the covers. Leaving the room, he went to retrieve the bags she had dropped and called David.

"David?"

"Take the time off, Killian. Get some sleep. I'll have a call put through to you when we reach the coordinates Emma gave us." David disconnected.

Killian stretched in tiredness. Taking her bags, he dropped them on a chair in their bedroom. Slowly taking off his clothes, he never once stopped watching her. When he climbed into the bed, she turned to him naturally seeking his greater warmth. Killian closed his eyes and sighed when she nestled up against him making a soft sound in her sleep. For the first time in over two weeks, he could sleep, too.

…

The sound from the com system was annoying and unwelcome. Emma turned in her sleep and burrowed even more into Killian's body, trying to block out the annoying sound. Killian, a normally slow starter, couldn't believe he was living with someone even slower than he was. He reached across her to answer the hail.

"Yeah?"

"Commander, we are approaching the set coordinates."

Killian yawned. "Understood." Closing the connection, he looked down at his sleeping bedmate. "Emma? Emma, wake up."

"No." Her voice was low and slurred against him.

"We've entered the system."

Emma slowly opened one eye and trained it on him. "When?"

"Just now. You want to get up and tell us what's going on?"

"Yes. No." Emma sat up a little and looked at him. "First, I want to say hello to you."

She pulled his head down to her, but Killian took control. He set his mouth on hers and opened wide, thrusting his tongue in her mouth, aggressive and burning hot. She didn't protest, just moved around in his arms and further up his body, making a noise in her throat. What she did was kiss him, long and deep, kiss him like someone who she knew well.

Killian rested his forehead against hers, breathing deep. "I'm bloody pissed at you, love."

Emma moved against him, wrapping an arm around his neck. "Why?"

"You left without telling me, or even saying goodbye."

"I did."

"You didn't. I woke up and you were gone."

"Technically, you woke up before that. I tried to wake you, but you kept making these shushing noises. So, I just covered you up and left you with a kiss on your forehead."

Killian was quiet for a moment. "Really? You should've left me a note. I thought you just left."

Emma frowned at him before laying a hand on his cheek, the feel of his facial hair familiar under her palm. "I wouldn't do that. Of course, if you didn't cling to sleep so deeply, I'd have been able to wake you."

"I was tired."

Emma sat up in bed and looked at him. "Why? Why did you think I'd just leave?"

Killian was silent for a moment, then just shrugged. "You weren't really too happy with me before you went to sleep, and..."

Emma remembered the conversation and turned her head away from him slightly before asking, "So did you take care of 'business'?"

"I went down to the planet, but if you're asking if I picked up a whore, the answer is no."

Emma looked down at the bed in relief. "I'm..." Stopping before she said more than she knew or could say, she looked at him again. She smiled slightly, and then leaned down and kissed him again.

Killian liked it when she kissed him, instead of him doing it all. When they first started sharing a room he was always the one kissing her, but over the past few weeks that had changed. So he just leaned back and let her lead. She leaned over and kissed his mouth generously. Opening up to the kiss, he felt her tongue lick inside, just their mouths were touching, nothing else. He lifted upward and forward, angling his head so they could go deeper. They lay there on the bed, not touching, but making out - just with lips and tongues and teeth. Emma hummed a little as she pulled away, and Killian could see the flash of gold in her soft green eyes and her bright smile in the dim light.

"So we should go?" she whispered but she buried her nose into his neck instead of moving.

Killian groaned. Yeah they should go. "Shower first." Killian was off the bed heading for the bath, dragging her behind him, before he did something he should regret but wouldn't.

"Did I ever tell you that you have a nice ass?" Emma smirked as she followed him.

Killian looked at her with shining eyes while adjusting the temperature of the water. Pushing her inside under the spray, he laughed at her small yelp as the water hit her skin.

"Don't mess with me. We've got places to be." Killian crowded in behind her, and reached around for some soap. Leaning down, he whispered in her ear, "You have a very nice ass as well."

Emma laughed and looked over shoulder down her back. "Really?" Killian cruelly pushed her directly under the water and laughed at her. "Aye."

…

Emma was frowning into her coffee cup. Blasted thing was empty again, and she didn't remember drinking it. Looking over at Killian to her left, she became suspicious when he was still sipping on a cup. No way she beat him through. He had to have switched their cups.

"Emma, you want to tell us what planet in the system we're going to, and why?"

Emma nodded at David. "Aylosa is the fourth star in a binary star system."

"This is an Outworld system." Regina said quietly.

"True. The planets in these joint systems have been trying to get admittance into the Dark One's Legion Federation. The rules and regulations are very strict. Last few years they had systematically submitted all inhabitants' genomes for consideration. It caused an explosion of violence and civil unrest."

Regina frowned. "The Lomada system lords have been in dispute for almost five years. This part of Outworld was declared a war zone two years ago. Most inhabitants fled to other stars to avoid the dispute."

Robin knew the dispute well. He and his men had landed in Outworld when the war was first over but it proved too volatile, so they took to better worlds and systems with better opportunities. Lomada was the name given to a Rebel Federation of five large ruling systems that struck a peace after the war, but jealousy and greed tore their alliance apart.

"Do you blame them?" Robin asked the group. "Most of the inhabitants that settled this region were Royals fleeing genetic purity under the Dark One's reign. Now their new governments are forging an alliance and giving up their genomes, all against their will."

"It is very unstable, but Aylosa is where I must go," Emma said with some regret. "The first gem is housed there. And with the first gem is the translator key I need to translate the next book, the red manuscript."

Killian looked at Emma sharply. "How do you know?"

"Pardon me?"

Killian spoke slowly and very exact. "How do you know the region is unstable?"

"I staked it out for over a week." Killian sat up straighter cursing under his breath. He knew it! Or at least he suspected it. She was out messing in dangerous places, and then acting like it was nothing.

"Killian, settle down." Regina turned to Emma. "What did you learn?"

"I couldn't attempt to land on Aylosa. The scanning arrays aren't very sophisticated, but the atmospheric ones are manual. My ship would have been seen, not detected. I couldn't take the chance. Otherwise, I'd have landed and found the gem without your help."

Killian sneered at that. She was still pissing him off. Independence was fine, as long as he knew what she was doing - and he was with her.

"How unstable are we talking, Emma?" David asked.

Emma just shrugged. Looking at Regina, they shared a silent communication.

"Full scale war. The civil unrest is strong enough to make the Legion guards assigned to this region a little trigger happy. Their techniques are brutal and very exacting." Emma held her coffee cup out as Will walked around refilling them. "Three days ago, the main citadel of the Capital city of Riaas on Aylosa was split into two factions. The controlling Legions were fighting against the Royal terrorists entrenched in the city."

Graham sat sideways looking out the port at the stars and discreetly watched the group. He had remained silent until that moment. "Where do you need to go, exactly?" he asked, already suspecting her answer.

"Riaas." All the men in the room moaned. Riaas - the city under siege and split.

David looked at the woman whom they had pledged their help. "What are we looking at?"

"They have sensor grids layered in a tier formation ranging between the different stars. The Legion government will allow us to land, but only after scanning the ship."

"You can't go."

Emma scowled at Killian. "I have to go, or there's no reason to go at all."

"This is insane. They will scan you, and that will be it."

"I have a plan."

Killian just groaned and rubbed his face. Of course she did.

…

They had just been cleared to land in a Legion part of the city. Killian was in the pilot seat of his runabout, Jolly Roger, and Emma was in the co-pilot's. The others were in the back compartment except Regina, who couldn't take a chance going down to the surface.

"They're scanning us now," Killian said tightly, not able to keep the anxiety from his voice.

"I know," Emma answered shortly, not wanting to look at him and see how angry he was.

"Emma..."

"Don't worry. I told you I could mask my life signs."

Killian just shook his head. "But when we land, how do..."

Emma looked at him. "You're Areenian, correct?" Killian just nodded. "I'm your mate."

"Technically you're not..."

"I'm your mate," she insisted. "They know that Areenians don't mate outside their species, so they will assume that I am..."

"Areenian." Killian could understand her reasoning, but it still didn't mean they wouldn't scan her. "We should've landed on the Royals' side. We're Royals, and..."

"They don't trust that easily, and the place we need to go is on the Legion side."

"I hate this! This is bloody foolish!"

"So you've said. Dammit, all these negative vibes. I swear...if we get caught, it will be your fault."

"My fault? Your plan has too many holes, and it's going to be my fault?"

"You could be a little less negative about it. I can read you as positively negative from here. They're going to take one look at you, and just know."

David and the others in the back of the runabout rolled their eyes. The arguing continued non-stop until finally they landed.

Killian and Emma were still arguing when they stepped from the runabout. The scanning crew entered the ship to scan for hidden cargo and stowaways. The chief of the scanning crew was waiting for Killian's papers. He didn't look at the man, just tossed them over his shoulder.

"Next time, I get to make the plan."

Emma rolled her eyes with impatience. "What the hell is wrong with my plans? They are simplistic and easy to execute."

"They're too simplistic and obviously going straight through the most dangerous areas. A little caution, love, and..."

"Caution? For how long? We could die of old age waiting for one of your plans to come about." The man tried to interrupt them. Emma just stared him down. "Excuse me! Do you not see me talking to this infuriating rat bastard!"

"Rat bastard?" Killian's eyes narrowed. "I like you better when you're asleep. And my plans are not safe!"

Emma just snorted.

"They stink of caution. When the hell did you get to be so old? You're like a little..." The group ignored Emma high pitched squeal when Killian grabbed her.

The man turned to David, who handed over his papers. "Areenian?"

David nodded. "He's my brother, and that's his mate."

"Oh!" The man stepped away from the arguing couple. Areenian mates were noted for their volatile natures, and only an idiot came between them. The man turned back when the arguing stopped to find them no longer fighting, but kissing passionately.

"Um, the nature of your business in Riaas?"

David took back his papers and Killian's. "They're renewing their marriage vows."

"Are you sure?" the guard asked. "I think they need a divorce broker."

"Divorce is unheard of in our world," David returned with a bored voice. "I wish it weren't so. It would be easier for us all if they could part ways."

"I suggested marriage counseling," Will butted in, "but that only made them argue more."

"She wanted it; he thought it was a fool's errand to take that route," Graham chimed.

"It's easier just to let them go for it," Robin finished.

"More entertaining, as well," Will leered, gazing his eyes back to Killian to Emma, his eyes trained on her butt. Completely for the guard's benefit, of course.

The group left the poor confused man, all the while snickering and making rude comments. David paused to pull Killian away from Emma and escort her from the docks.

"That went exceptionally well." David said.

"Told you." Emma beamed a smile at the group.

Emma left the group for a moment, and stopped a woman in the street. They watched as she conversed, and the directions were given and pointed out. They proceeded to the center of the town, towards the main citadel. The closer they got to their destination, the more ruins there were.

"She said we must be careful. That this area of town is often raided, and the terrorists set out landmines and attack at random times."

"Great." Killian pulled his weapon and checked his active rounds.

Graham watched the streets, not liking how quiet the area was. "Captain..."

"I feel it." David looked around. "Graham, you and Will come up to the rear. Killian, you take Emma into the sanctuary, and Robin and I will cover the front."

They cautiously separated at the front of the Temple of the Honorable. Part of the outer structure showed damage from the war. Entering with Killian, Emma pulled her weapon as well. Stopping in the door, she quickly laid her weapon to the ground and pulled off her boots. Standing in bare feet, she waved her hand over the sacramental waters in the sanctuary, and Killian heard chimes sounding in the background.

A hushed voice came from their left. "You seek knowledge?"

Emma remained staring straight ahead. "I seek enlightenment in the House of the Honorable."

"Your journey is long?"

"My journey has just begun. I seek the weaver of the voyage."

Killian watched as a group of cloaked men came out of the shadows. He watched as Emma dropped to her knees, and bowed her head. Neat trick. He wondered if he could get her to remember to do that for him.

"The path is set. If you can walk it, then your way is clear."

Killian watched as Emma quickly stood and walked down the long aisle to the front of the cathedral. He tried to move after her, but he could not. His feet felt cemented to the ground.

"The path is for the One. You are not sanctioned."

Killian looked at the man, and then after Emma. Looking down at where he stood, he noticed the ornate crest in the floor, the stones demarcating the separation of the Temple. Placing his gun to the ground, he quickly removed his boots as Emma had done.

"Why do you seek to enter?"

"I follow her."

The man looked at him. "You follow the One?" He looked at his brethren. "Perhaps the path is clouded, or the walk too long? You seek what is there, but you follow no one."

"Aye, whatever. I just need to go with her."

"Why?"

"Well, if you knew her better, you'd wouldn't ask. Nor would you allow her to enter your Temple without restraints and supervision."

"Then she is yours to guard?"

Killian didn't get it, but he understood her being his responsibility. "Aye, just born lucky that way."

They bowed away, and Killian looked at them for a moment before stepping over the crest stones into the main Temple. Moving quickly, he found Emma in a room of lit candles. Outside Killian could hear voices rising, the sounds of blasters being discharged.

"Emma."

"I hear. Shush." He looked around, and reached for his weapon, but his holster was empty. He had left his weapon on the floor as he entered. Idiot.

Emma walked forward between lines of candelabras to stand in a middle of a circle of lit ones. Slowly circling, she withdrew a medallion she wore around her neck, and she slowly opened her palms out and upward.

Killian didn't hear the wall move, but suddenly in the dim light stood a woman wrapped in full cloaks of yellow. She stood quietly and almost timidly. Her voice was young, and lacking inflection.

"Princess."

Emma stopped and walked towards the woman. Taking her arm, she gestured to Killian to follow.

Killian rushed after Emma, looking back at the room of candles. What the hell? Where the fuck was the gem?

"Who's the girl?"

"Killian, no time. We must leave."

The sounds of a battle increased outside. Emma and Killian quickly stopped to put on their footwear, and pick up their guns. Killian reached for the young woman's arm, but Emma stopped him.

"Don't touch her! She cannot be touched."

"Okay, then you touch her. Come on, hurry!"

They exited the Temple in time to see a structure close to them explode. Killian couldn't grab the young woman, so he grabbed Emma instead. He pulled her along with him, and she pulled the young woman. They sheltered by a low wall, as David and Robin joined them.

"Did you get the gem?" David asked breathing harshly. He looked over the wall and saw Will and Graham clearing the way toward the only road out of the citadel. They were bottlenecked in and being threatened by impending fire.

"Yes," said Emma, as Killian said no. They looked at each other.

"This is the gem." Emma pointed to the woman.

Killian and David shared a look. "Your gems are women?"

"Yes."

David swore. "You might have mentioned that, Princess," he sneered. "I take it she has no papers?"

"Doubtful." Emma ignored his princess remark for the moment.

Killian swore as well, and David just scowled. Killian looked at Emma as if she was insane. "How the hell do you expect us to get her on board without papers, or without her being scanned, Princess?"

Emma's face became dark at Killian's question. "Don't call me Princess! She'll wear my dampening field emitter. We'll create a diversion, and while no one is watching, she will go aboard."

"Aye! We're screwed!"

"Stop with all the negativity. I'm telling you it'll work!"

Killian saw the break in the fighting, and Will was gesturing for them to quickly follow. He roughly pulled Emma to her feet, and dragged her with him.

"And what if they scan you without your dampening field, Princess?"

"You'll just have to make sure they don't!"

David went ahead of them to see if the ship was through being scanned. Graham, Robin, and Will couldn't stop watching the cloaked figure. She was covered from head to toe in a soft yellow wrap, and she kept her head down.

"What about your translation key?" Killian asked quietly.

"She's the key."

Killian snorted. Great. "I thought she was the gem."

Emma reached out and took the woman's arm. Pushing the cloth away, she showed Killian a tattoo on the woman's forearm of symbols.

"The translation key." Emma covered the arm. "Satisfied?"

Killian just grunted as David came back to join them. "The ship's ready. We just need to have any packages we have searched."

Emma nodded. "David, you take…" Emma looked at the devote. "Your Holy Honorable, is there a name you go by?"

The woman looked up with soulful blue eyes. "Belle. They call me Belle, Princess."

…