Epilogue
182 - 2105
Zachary Foxx walked haltingly down a path to a bench hidden almost completely by the dappled shade of a large tree. He had no idea what kind the tree it was, but he was grateful for the shelter from the overhead sun. The weather had been mocking him for days. It seemed that the meteorological gurus had decided that sunshine and temperatures near 20º C would be the norm. The only rain that had fallen had been a light sprinkle at night when most of the inhabitants slept. Zachary knew because he had watched the droplets slide down his windowpane in those very wee hours.
Sleep had not been something he had indulged in more than a few hours here and a few hours there. The doctors that still monitored him on a daily basis did not seem alarmed by the captain's apparent insomnia. Given the amount of time his body had been in stasis in the psychocrypt, they surmised that his circadian rhythms would be erratic for some time. They didn't know the real reasons, and Zachary kept his peace. He wanted to return to active duty as quickly as possible. He had an agenda, and a lengthy medical leave was difficult enough; a psych evaluation would just make it even longer.
He knew the average psychologist would label him with posttraumatic stress disorder and who knows what else. If he divulged that he didn't sleep because his wife came to him at night to beg for her release from the Queen of the Crown, he would be put behind a desk indefinitely. A captain suffering from such delusions would be a liability. And, BETA needed all of the able-bodied men and women they could find if they were going to defend Earth from the army of slaverlords the Queen of the Crown had amassed from the Rymeans. Although she had yet to act, it was only a matter of time.
A piece of the concrete bench broke off into his left hand. Damn,still not right. We're going to have to modulate the bionics again. Pulverizing the chunk to dust, he released the fine particles and watched them swirl lazily to blend into the crushed rock path beneath his feet. An aroma of roses drifted across the quiet park. Zachary closed his eyes and inhaled the scent. Eliza loves these. His thoughts drifted down a tangent that he was reluctant to break. Ever since he had "seen" Eliza in the crypt, Zachary had stopped trying to block out his memories of her. He needed the fresh pain to stay focused.
Although the doctors had claimed Eliza's presence had been a construct of his mind, a coping mechanism he had created to survive the fracture of his mind from his body, he knew better, and he would never again allow himself to think of her as just sleeping in the cryochamber.
A soft hand touched his shoulder bringing Zachary back to the present. "May I?" a quiet voice asked indicating the empty space on the bench.
Zachary nodded his assent, and S'Kara slid to sit next to him. "It is beautiful," she whispered, her voice low as to not break the beauty encased in solitude of their location.
Zachary looked into the glazed eyes of the female Rymean and smiled sadly. "Yes," he agreed, matching her solemn tone. "I see that you decided against the bionic eyes."
A light smile graced S'Kara's lips as she continued to take in the atmosphere in front of her. "You humans are very particular about that sense," she noted wryly. "Surprisingly, I don't miss it very much. If I had taken the bionics, I would lose most of my abilities to see auras. The sense would be taken up trying to interpret the signals of the bionics. It is a price I refuse to pay." Sniffing the air, she changed topics, "What is that wonderful smell? Is it a flower?"
"Yes," Zachary answered, "They are roses. They were…are Eliza's favorite."
S'Kara nodded in response to his answer, and Zachary found himself expounding on not only the rose itself but of Eliza's preference. He talked about how she preferred the old English variety to the new hybrid teas even though she had admitted that the hybrid fragrances were superior. How she had planted a garden of rose bushes the first year of their marriage and nurtured them to be big, beautiful plants only to have some deer eat them to the ground the first day they bloomed. "I thought she might take my laser pistol and go after the rose thieves herself," Zachary laughed as he remembered his wife's anger and sadness at the nubs of the remaining plants. "But, then she saw a little fawn and changed her mind." Zachary's cheerfulness dipped back into melancholy as his mind fast-forwarded to the present.
"You will see her again," S'Kara promised.
Zachary shook himself from his mood and regarded his companion. "I know," he agreed simply. "What of RGelio?"
S'Kara shook her head. "He is in the stasis, cryogenic chamber with the other Rymeans. But, his crystal is so badly fractured that your scientists don't know if they will ever be able to free him. And, if they ever find a mechanism to do so, I'm not sure it would be the RGelio I know."
"We spoke," Zachary began, noting that S'Kara didn't even flinch at the revelation. "But, you already knew that; didn't you?"
"It was logical to expect."
"He had changed."
"Yes, to someone I did not recognize."
"Perhaps," Zachary agreed, "But in the end, I believe into someone of whom you would have been proud to know, to love."
"My love for him was never at issue." Though her choice of words was harsh, the sense she conveyed was acceptance laced with sadness.
"No, it wasn't. S'Kara, he knew that he wasn't going to be returning to you soon. He knew that his existence had been forever changed. While I know he regretted the choices he made working with the Queen, I want you to know, he never regretted placing himself in the line of fire to save you."
"Is it hideous?"
Zachary wasn't sure how to answer her question. "It was difficult," he answered, seeking a way to give her solace.
"Captain Foxx, you cannot hide the truth from a clairvoyant. Please don't attempt to spare my feelings."
Zachary nodded his head. "My wife has been caught in limbo for more than three years. Her existence in the psychocrypt has been nothingness. I cannot think of a worse fate."
S'Kara bent her head as she accepted the ranger's words. "Thank you," she whispered softly and rose to her feet. "I will leave you to your thoughts."
"S'Kara, wait." Zachary stopped the female with a gentle hand on her arm. "What are your plans?"
"I am going home to Ryman IV. My home is devastated from the Queen's raids as well as from the resulting violence that stemmed from the actions of the former Clan Council. I have agreed to be part of the new Clan Federation. We are going to rebuild."
"The Queen is still a threat."
"Yes, and that is why I must go. We may not be much of a civilization anymore, but we will not surrender to her either."
"The League of Planets has offered its support?"
"Yes, and we gladly accept its generosity."
"From what RGelio told me, the League is not blameless in this tragedy either."
"Don't worry, Captain Foxx, I am well aware of the pawns and masters in this plot. But, we can all rest assured that out of this adversity, the Queen has united us all."
"I will see you again," Zachary promised.
"Yes," S'Kara replied and surprised the human by quickly embracing him. Feeling a kinship with the female, Zachary gently kissed her brow in response. "Until then, be well, Captain Foxx," she whispered and pulled away from him to walk the path back to Longshot's cryogenic facility.
Zachary took another look at the botanical gardens sprawling in front of his bench. Absentmindedly, he scratched at the bioskin that was beginning to heal under his left ear. A new implant had replaced the overtaxed, original Series Five implant. Taking a deep breath of the rose-infused air, he stood. One more trip to see Eliza and then back to BETA, he decided and began picking his way along the same path S'Kara had traveled.
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"That should do it," Ranger Hartford announced to Q-Ball as he pulled the main component from what was left of the original portable recharging unit.
"I think so," the bald scientist agreed, removing his trademark yellow goggles and wiping the lens with a cloth. "You should run an additional check, though, and we'll need to study the nanotech as well to get a better understanding of the Queen's enhanced programs."
Pulling out his new CDU, Doc activated his badge and punched in the codes of Pathfinder and Tripwire. Two iridescent sparkles of energy floated around his head. "You heard the man," Doc responded, pointing the two programs to an access port in one of the main diagnostic computers. "Have at it."
"All right," whooped Pathfinder sliding into the port.
"I'm on it, Doc," chirped Tripwire as it too disappeared.
"So," Q-Ball coughed discreetly, "Is it true that Nimrod the Cat was part of all of this?"
Doc's nose wrinkled in distaste, and he unconsciously fingered the white bandage poking from the collar of his uniform. He had not quite decided what the Leonid's role had been in the entire scheme, and even though Nimrod had helped them when the odds were stacked against them, he still wasn't sure how he felt about the felinoid. "All I know is that somehow Nimrod was able to bypass BETA security and access this facility, your facility," Doc countered, highlighting the word to make his point. Q-Ball had the decency to look uncomfortable. "He doped the recharging unit and started this whole mess."
"But, he helped you against the Queen; you struck a bargain with him."
"He helped with the Queen," Doc granted, glancing at his handheld computer to check on the progress of his two programs. "Not like he had much of a choice. She was planning to kill him. And, yes, I granted him immunity, but he knew that wouldn't hold up in a World Federation hearing either. The cat is smart. He took off as soon as he could."
"So, is he on our side or what?" Q-Ball prompted.
"I can't answer that," Doc replied honestly. Both Tripwire and Pathfinder returned at that moment, distracting the computer genius as they uploaded data into his handheld. "Looks like the new unit is clean. I have the security tapes of the night in question. We'll need to fix this entry point here," Doc pointed. Q-Ball nodded and began working on increasing the security measures that Tripwire had found lacking. "As for Nimrod," Doc continued his train of thought, "All we really know for sure, is that he is on his own side. The bigger question is whether or not we're on that particular side."
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Gooseman rearranged himself on the uncomfortable chair in the corner of Niko's hospital room. He had taken up residence in the recovery room once the psychic had been moved from ICU. While her prognosis had been upgraded, she had yet to regain consciousness.
A nurse quietly knocked on the door as she entered to check on the fluids and update the chart. "Ranger Gooseman," she smiled looking at the young man who had become almost a fixture in the room.
Goose smiled back with a friendly look in his eyes at the pretty, young woman. "Hey, Nancy," he greeted. "Any changes?"
"She's still improving," Nancy replied jotting a few notes on the chart before moving to change out the IV fluid bag attached to Niko's right arm.
The nurse had not told him anything Shane could not tell himself. He had seen Niko's color improving and had been pleased when he arrived that morning to see that she no longer needed the tube to help her breathe. It had been replaced by an oxygen cannula.
"She began fighting the ventilator last night, so we extubated. Her vitals are looking better, and I dare say there is some color in her cheeks today. Now, if we could just get her to open her eyes and talk to us." The young nurse bent over and readjusted the brace aligning Niko's re-reduced left shoulder.
Shane didn't reply as he looked at the psychic who by all intents and purposes appeared to be simply sleeping. Nancy finished her work, taking a good look at the incision mark where the implant had been removed. Applying a fresh bandage to the site, Nancy looked wistfully at Ranger Gooseman and then quickly excused herself. She had seen the look in the young man's eyes before and knew there would be no further communicating with him. He had completely forgotten she was in the room. Some girls get the guy, and some don't, she sighed to herself and headed to the next room to complete her duties.
Gooseman moved his chair to Niko's bedside and took her hand. He was careful not to jostle the IV line. Closing his eyes, he tried to reach her, hoping for even a slight telepathic caress back; just a whisper reminiscent of summer nights would have made all the difference. As it had each time he had tried, emptiness responded. Frustrated, Shane leaned back, still keeping a gentle but firm hold on her hand, and stared into her face.
She had scared him back on the asteroid. Even with the assistance of the medics from the Hidalgo, she didn't begin breathing on her own nor did her heart respond to the automatic defibrillator. They had had to do an emergency evacuation to the sickbay where the ship's doctor had had to perform emergency surgery to remove the Series Five implant that had all but ruptured in her head. The result had been two weeks of recovery and an apparent coma.
"Ranger Gooseman," a sharp but caring voice cut through Shane's reverie. The tone of the voice caused the super trooper to drop Niko's hand and stand to immediate attention. "Oh my," the woman's voice almost giggled, "I do seem to have that effect on you."
Recovering, Gooseman bowed to the older woman standing in the doorway. "Ariel," he greeted and pulled back the chair on which he had been seated to offer it to Niko's mentor. "Please."
"Dear boy," Ariel said, a fondness in her voice, "why are you always offering me a seat? Do you think I am too old to stand?"
"No," Shane responded quickly, his face reddening in embarrassment, "I was just being…"
"Polite," Ariel finished for him. "I know." Ariel ignored the chair and moved to the small lavatory to fill a vase with water. Plunking a bouquet of strange looking orchids ranging in shades from an ivory blue to an alabaster purple, she turned back around to peer not at Niko but at Gooseman. "What have you noticed?" she asked her bright blue eyes accentuated by a pair of almost lime green glasses perched on her nose and held without earpieces.
"Her color is better. They took her off the respirator. Other than her vitals getting stronger, she's made no progress."
"And, have you tried to reach her like I taught you?" Ariel quizzed.
Shane nodded, and Ariel could tell by the look on his face that he had been unsuccessful. "Don't give up hope, dear. She's been through a lot. Sometimes it takes a little more time to heal." Ariel patted his hand kindly and changed topics. "Did you eat?"
"Yes, ma'am," Shane replied. He had learned early on that Ariel would not tolerate martyrdom. His ears still burned from the scolding she had given him when she had first arrived at the BETA Medical Center. After establishing the condition of her protégé, she had turned her attention to the bedraggled rangers. She had forcible ejected Gooseman from the waiting room until he had showered, changed and been seen by a medic. Only a clean bill of health had granted him access to sit and wait for news of Niko's status with the eccentric Xanaduan.
"Well then, be a dear and get me a cup of that, what did you call it, oh yes, java."
Shane looked once more at the still Niko, and then complied with Ariel's request. "Cream and sugar," he grinned, stopping the gifted woman from completing her request.
"Indeed," Ariel beamed back. "You do learn quickly."
A muffled, "So, I've been told," reached her ears as the door blocked the ranger from her view. Sighing, Ariel moved to sit in the chair that Gooseman had offered her earlier. He was truly a special young man. Even without her psionic senses of him, she could see how smitten he was with Niko.
Releasing those thoughts from her mind, the teacher sent a gentle probe into her student's mind. Ariel's heightened awareness could see the repairs that the Rymean had attempted to make in Niko's fractured psyche. Those triage mental shields had done much to protect Niko. A subtle sense floated to the top of Ariel's awareness, and the Xanaduan felt herself relax in relief.
Niko, dear child, it is I, Ariel.
Ariel?
Yes, my dear. Come now, it is time to wake up. Show the world those beautiful eyes.
I-I can't.
You can, and you must!
A soft moan greeted Ariel, and she discontinued her telepathic communication to look at Niko. Niko rolled her head slowly on the pillow and with great effort cracked her eyes open.
"Ariel," she croaked in greeting, her voice still raw from the airway tube.
"Hush now," Ariel admonished and reached over to let Niko take a sip of water from a cup with a straw that had been set on the bedside table. "I said to wake and show me your eyes, not speak."
Niko blinked tiredly and attempted to move. She immediately regretted the action as aches and pains made themselves at home in her returning consciousness.
"That is unadvisable as well."
The door to the room opened, and Shane stopped at the threshold unsure if his eyes were playing tricks on him. He felt a strange reassurance seep into his mind and took the step into the room that he had been beckoned to take. "Hey," he whispered as he looked into Niko's aquamarine eyes. "Didn't know you were up."
Niko said nothing, but a soft smile lit her face.
"Ahem, well then," Ariel interrupted and went to take her coffee from Gooseman. "Oh my," she exclaimed as the cup dropped to the floor spilling the contents all over.
"Ariel," Gooseman exclaimed. "I'm so sorry."
"Nonsense," replied the teacher as she used her mental powers to lift the liquid from the floor and deposit the mess into the lavatory. "It was completely my fault. You stay here and look after Niko. I'll go get another cup." Not waiting for a reply, Ariel quickly left the room.
Gooseman looked at Niko and then at the closed door. "She did that on purpose, you know."
Niko nodded her head in agreement and then winced at the unexpected pain. Reaching with her good arm, she touched a gauze dressing. "What happened," she rasped hoarsely.
Shane moved the collar of his civvies away from his neck and showed Niko a shiny line decorating the skin just under his left ear. "We all had our implants exchanged," he explained. "The nanotechnology that the Queen had used worked just as Doc had said. All of the Series Five implants were on the verge of malfunctioning."
"So they put new ones in?" Niko asked still a little hazy on the details.
"Sort of," Shane hedged, and at Niko's pleading look, he elaborated. "Zachary, Doc and I have new implants. They wanted to wait…"
"To see if I would live?" Niko asked, the venom in her words strangely lacking. "We certainly wouldn't want to waste the government's money on a lost cause."
"Niko," Goose sat down in Ariel's vacated chair before continuing. "Your implant took the most abuse. It basically fried while it was in your head. They aren't sure when they can replace the implant."
"When or if?"
Gooseman wasn't sure of the answer so he just stroked her hair out of her face. The strands of her auburn hair played through his fingers as a heavy silence weighed between them.
Finding her voice, Niko finally broke the silence. "I am just like her."
Gooseman looked hard into the psychic's face not sure at first what Niko meant. Then realization dawned actually making his heart hurt. He moved to sit directly on the bed next to her. "No."
"Yes," Niko affirmed attempting to quash the tears that suddenly seemed to stream from her eyes.
Ever so gently, Shane pulled the now sobbing psychic into his arms. "You are nothing like the Queen of the Crown," he repeated vehemently.
"But I am. I broke barriers. I entered your mind without permission. I stole from you, from Doc, even from S'Kara."
Shane's hands stroked down Niko's back and hair. "You didn't steal from us, Niko. We gave to you. You never would have taken something that we didn't freely give to you."
"I never asked."
"You didn't need to. Niko, we're Galaxy Rangers. You have used your implant to merge with all of ours before to save us. This was the same thing. We were never in danger from you. Hell, you saved us. If you hadn't acted, you and S'Kara would be slaverlords, and Doc and myself would be dead."
Refusing to listen to the super trooper, Niko shook her head against Shane's neck.
Goose pulled Niko away from him and hooked a finger under her chin to make her meet his eyes. A shade of orange mingled with the scents of leather, desert rain, coffee and a hint of cybersteed lubricant filled Niko's mind. Without you, I would be dead.
Niko closed her eyes and allowed the feeling of Shane to wash through her. His words echoed in her mind, resonated with what she knew to be the truth. A wave of exhaustion caused her to sway, and she felt Shane pull her close. Warm lips touched her temple, and Niko fell back to sleep.
Peering through the portal of the door to Niko's room, Ariel looked at the couple embracing on the bed. A gentle smile graced her face. Now, perhaps, the healing could begin.
--Fin—
A/N: Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed. It truly keeps me motivated to continue writing as well as to reach further for the best story telling I can muster. I plan on a third story in this arc. It probably won't begin until after the summer as a lot of stuff is happening in real life right now. Keep an eye on the profile to see where things stand.
A/N2: I am currently working on a one-shot of Niko to settle some of the aftermath of this story. Sidelined should be out sometime this summer. – Regards, RL