Genie gripped Sorak's wrists and made sure he was firmly around her neck. She checked the phase pistol, the power looked to have just enough juice for two shots. "Great." She muttered to herself, and began to formulate how best to make those two shots count.

Sorak was too weak to block the flood of emotions coming through her skin. She was scared for everyone she loved, but defiant and resolved. He had never touched a human before, not like this, and he found the alien emotion made him feel bolder than his body would allow. He found himself wishing he was at full strength so he could fight along her side. "You are a brave woman, T'sai." He whispered into her ear. "No matter what happens I am honored to know you. Osu Soval is a fortunate man."

"Yeah, well, don't blow smoke up my ass yet, Sorak. " she peaked through one of the slats in the shack wall. The two guards were standing on either side of Gardener. Gardner wasn't armed, the guards were. She needed to take the guards down, if she was going to have any hope of escape. She looked around the shack. She had to get Sorak safe, she couldn't fight Gardner with him on her back. Then it struck her.

"Sorak you are strong enough to stand right?"

"Affirmative."

"You can hold a pistol right?"

He nodded his head.

She sighed , "Ok, this is how it's going to go, Sorak. I'm going to bust the door down, and I am going to dive straight at Gardner, I need you to use these two shots and neutralize the guards." She bent down and snapped off the cheap high heels, knowing she didn't want to snap an ankle or get stuck in the mud as she tried to kick Gardner's butt. She palmed both of the spikey pieces of wood and plastic. They weren't much of a weapon, but they were something. She leaned Sorak against the wall near the door. "Ok, Sorak, let's do this thing. If you see me go down do your best to get out of here." She nodded gravely at him, and he returned the nod in understanding.

O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_OO_O_O

Soval didn't alert Archer or Reed, he could feel her, and he knew she was hurting, he knew she was nervous. He wanted to open up the barrier between them, but knew if she was trying to enact a plan; it might serve to distract her. He reached out to feel for her emotions, he could almost feel the throb of her heart in his head, she was about to do something. What, he couldn't tell, but from the angst he knew it was dangerous. He pushed himself faster through the woods, trying to manage the awkward footing in the unfamiliar terrain. His lungs were already burning from the moist air.

He saw a large log in his path and he leapt over it, and fell gracelessly down the small chasm bringing him to a skidding skin tearing halt. He pushed past the pain in his head and leg. He pushed himself upward, and fell back again. He looked down; his left leg was pinned under mud and debris. He growled, yanking at his leg to free it, he bit back a shooting pain. He pushed his leg toward the blockage he pushed up on the tree piece he had slid under. He moved it an inch, but as soon as he tried to move he lost the leverage and it dropped again. He slammed his fists into the mud and then reached into his black costume for his communicator, he flipped it open, but there was no signal. He replaced the communicator and drew in a deep breath. He mentally reached out for Genie, she was scared and fighting. He pressed his eyes closed lifted his hands and with all his might tried to dislodge himself again. His mate needed him, and he would not fail her.

O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O

Archer and Reed milled around the party. They couldn't recognize anyone, everyone had taken great care to cover their face with some kind of mask, just as they had. Archer couldn't help but cringe under his mask as he walked through the maddening crowd of humans, like an oil slick of hate he could feel it in their laughter, and jokes. "How many Vulcans does it take to change a light bulb…." Contention and de-valuing silly little jokes, things to make them more comfortable in doing whatever was needed to keep "earth for the humans" and sanitize life on the planet.

As if reading his mind Malcolm was on his right shoulder whispering, "So this is how the other half lives." Archer turned to him, and nodded. He could hear the smirk in Mal's voice, and he had to agree with the disgust.

"So he is having her get rid of that little goblin boy, and I think he's going to announce her as his fiancé." Archer heard coming from a woman dressed as the queen of hearts, to a man well hidden behind the mask of death. He looked at Malcolm and flinched his head toward their direction.

"It's about time he gets rid of that thing, so unnatural and not very good at giving information. I remember my proving kill." The man replied and the woman giggled, playfully slapping him in the chest, "I remember it too, that horrid little denoblian who offered to make me ONE of his wives." They both started laughing, and Archer motioned for Malcolm to follow him.

When they were well away from the pair Archer leaned into Malcolm, "Ok, Mal, if you were about to have someone kill someone else, you wouldn't do it in your house right?"

Malcolm shook his head, "No, He looked out the window, the shadows of the woods loomed in the windows, "I think we need to go out there and help Soval."

"Agreed." Archer replied.

O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O

Genie looked at Sorak one last time. He was pale olive and flinching slightly as he stood, but he looked as determined as she felt. "Ok Sorak, " she took in a deep breath, praying quickly to anything or anyone who was listening, "Give me strength." She ran full bore at the door shouldering it open she dropped her head and made for Gardener. She saw the cracks of light from the phase pistol, her mind never veered from focus on Gardner, she didn't look to see if the guards had fallen, the next thing she felt was the thick chest of Gardner against her shoulder. She heard the UMPH of air leaving Gardner's mouth. She smiled, for the first time, but now wasn't the time for victory, she followed her shoulder as they both tumbled backward with a solid fist to his face. She roared like she was taught in MACO training, roar and tighten your stomach, brace for counter strikes, but none came immediately.

Moving as quickly as she could, she attempted to take control of him as they hit against the leaves and mud. She grabbed for his throat, but felt him grab her wrist like a vice, pulling it away. She felt the momentum shifting under her. He was trying roll on her. He had upper body strength, but women had the lower body advantage. She dug her heels into the thick mud and pushed hard against his roll.

She felt and explosion of pain against her already bruised face, her mind knew he was striking her repeatedly, but her adrenaline was keeping her upright. Somewhere in the dark primal side of her mind she knew she had to do something before she lost consciousness, she couldn't take that kind of abuse long. On pure instinct she brought her elbow up and began slamming it against anything she could connect. A third blow to her face though, found her legs going weak, and he took the moment to roll her over.

Genie's arms were pressed over her head, and as much as her body struggled the full weight of Gardner pressed her in the mud, she was only wasting her strength trying to dislodge herself. She fell still and sneered up at him.

Feeling he had her securely pinned Gardner spat at her, "My fear was right! You are a filthy alien lover!" Blood from his nose dripped down over her face and she tried to turn from his assault of fluids, but he jerked her to force her to look at him, "This face is the last face you'll see. It's the face of humanity, a humanity you betrayed by soiling yourself with those things." He hissed. "But you'll go to your grave a clean woman, Genevieve. I plan on making you clean before you die."

He pressed his lips against hers, careful not to let her bite him, as he trailed forceful kisses over her swollen jaw. She struggled against him, but he pressed her harder into the mud. "Struggle, I like that, it's like breaking a wild mare."

Sorak watched things unfold, he tried to fire the phase pistol but all it did was click in his hand, he threw it as hard as he could at Gardner's behind. His teeth ground as he righted himself. He knew he was probably going to die for what he was about to do….but the needs of the many, drove him forward.

A/N: Yeaaah, I'm sorry it took so long to get this out, life has been busy, but I hope to have another update today for you all. Cheers!