12
It was supposed to be a simple drop and run but as they reached the planet Phoenix was the first to feel quiet alarm.
"Cariad, something is wrong down there" Ianto's voice made Jack rise from the Captains Chair and demand an all stop, turning to face his mate with open concern.
"We feel" the dual voices were unnerving to some on the bridge who turned to face the Firebird as the air undulated around him, "We feel …danger. Something had happened, it is silent. Too silent, there is no soul."
Leia stepped aside as Toshiko stepped forward and canted her head, her eyes rolling back as she communed with the vessel, contacting the base on the planet and then after a few moments the Vessel suddenly banked away from the planet at speed.
"Marauders" she said quickly, "I apologise, I could not wait for permission. Emergency Code 68007 stipulated that I can decide a course of action from several choices. There are three vessels in orbit and we have not been detected. I suggest we run."
"Those on the planet surface?" Phoenix asked as he regained control of himself.
"There are none left alive …well, our variation of it" she said with a genuine sorrow that seemed so Tosh that Phoenix felt Ianto sigh.
"If we must flee, do so" Jack agreed, "At the highest speed, let's put space between us and them, then send back word to the surrounding plants once they can't reach us to retaliate."
"Yes Captain" Tosh nodded, then addressed the crew via the internal coms.
"Attention all crew, entering warp speed. Brace. Brace. Brace. In Three…..two…..one…engage"
The ship lurched as Tosh leaned forward, as if flying and the stars blurred as she moved her cargo away from danger.
"Those poor people" Phoenix said sadly, "There was a colony of over 400 there last time."
"It appears that the marauders attacked a week ago, that's when the last transmissions were sent" Tosh informed them, "I am sorry. This sector must now be avoided until cleansed by the authorities."
"Yes, of course" Phoenix sighed, kissing Jack and heading back to check his chicks. Finding them all content and involved in their own things was not a surprise, the melancholy it left Phoenix with was. Bennu was asleep with his boy and Phoenix found himself alone in his nest.
Jack had Tosh working to find another drop off point for the cargo that had been intended for the planet now blacklisted and Phoenix became increasingly annoyed that at a time where he wanted attention he was unable to garner any.
Then he felt shameful for thinking in such a way when entire families had just been wiped out.
Phoenix settled back in the nest and felt the vessel bank again, changing course for another port and he sighed, settling deeper into the cold nest with a morose pout. He tried to keep it from the bond, not wanting to be selfish when his children were studying and his mate was busy.
When his chick moved in his gut he rolled and cupped the small bump, crooning softly to it to be calm, Taddy was tired.
The sharp pain in reply was both unexpected and unwanted. Phoenix gasped softly and then rose, heading for the bathroom and a hot bath already running as he called to the vessel. As Phoenix slid into the warm water the pain gripped again and he was forced to finally call for Jack.
Softly, gently and without panic he asked his mate to come to him through the bond.
Jack's silence was a bit of a shock and he sent a query through the coms.
"I'm busy babe, can't it wait?" Jack snapped, his voice harsh in the quiet room.
Phoenix winced at the level of anger and knew he had felt the plea for comfort. For some reason this made his anger more than the pain and he found himself slamming shut the bond as well as the com link.
Fine.
He would suffer this alone.
To hell with him.
A pain he had known many times now gripped him and Phoenix moaned softly as the labour began.
Too early.
Too soon.
Another chick would be born before fully ripe.
As his waters broke so did his heart and Phoenix watched the blood colour the water as his tiny chick was expelled from his body. His fears that the many failed sparkings would come to this had proven true.
Now, for all those lost lives, he was being punished.
Phoenix wept.
