It's been over the three-week standard i'm trying to keep, but this one took a lot of tweaking.
There's a little Emma in here, for those of you who missed her, a bit of humor (of which we never have enough), and some questions - because really, it's been a while since I tried to confuse anyone, wasn't it?
So, as usual, read, enjoy and let me know what you think!
10. "If There Be Sorrow"
Mushra and Kutall arrived at the infirmary to find Sago and Zhane playing cards and eating pizza. Sago's face brightened considerably when he saw them.
"I was beginning to wonder if you forgot me", he said.
"Didn't want to disturb your sleep" said Kutall diplomatically.
"How're you feeling?" asked Mushra.
"Much better". He shot Zhane a look. "Well enough to get out of bed, as a matter of fact"
"You are not getting out of bed until Emma clears you", said Zhane firmly.
"What happened to 'doctor's orders are meant to be ignored'?" Shot Sago back; it was obvious he and Zhane had this discussion several time already.
"Not when she has my wife on her side"
"Can't you make it up to her later?"
"Sure, after she blasted me six time to next week"
"She doesn't look intimidating"
"Most everyone who thought that are dead, and can't tell you how wrong you are"
Sago opened his mouth to reply, but never got to.
"Uncles!" something small and fast shot across the infirmary, and caught Mushra's legs so as not to run headlong into the metal bed. The little girl looked up and smiled. "You're awake!". She held out her hands. "Pick me up?"
Mushra obliged.
"You're Mushra" she declared, jabbing her finger in his ribs.
"That's right"
"You fought the bad one"
Mushra smiled cockily. "That's right I did"
"You'll have to fight him again", she told him seriously. "You'll have to beat him, and you'll have to be you to do that"
"What do you mean? I am me"
"No you're not; I know it here" and she put her hand over her pendant. Then, completely ignoring Mushra's befuddled expression, she wriggled about in his arms until she was facing Sago. "Feeling better, uncle Sago?"
"Yes, I do"
"Why does he get called 'uncle' and I don't?" demanded Mushra.
" 'Cause he's uncle Sago", she said, "and he's uncle Kutall and he's uncle Zhane", she said, pointing at each in turn, "and she's auntie Emma, but you're not uncle or auntie. You're something else. Closer and further"
"Huh?" Mushra seemed genuinely confused.
"Don't push her", said Emma gently. "The gem's feeding her a lot of information, but she isn't ready for most of it yet. Don't confuse her. Now", she turned to Sago, "Let's see how you're doing".
"Let's go, guys", said Zhane suddenly, getting up from his chair. He gave Sago a very pointed look.
"Wha…"
"Yes, we were just leaving", said Kutall, just as suddenly. Both he and Zhane had a certain gleam in their eyes.
"Wha…" begun Mushra again, but Kutall put his arm on Mushra's shoulder and steered him towards the door. Within seconds, they were gone.
Sago and Emma looked at each other in silence.
She heard screaming, shouting and the unmistakable noise of objects crashing; Ashley's instincts, honed by a life of fighting, sent her running down the corridor and rolling into the room before her conscious mind had the time to process and recognize the sounds.
Kutall, Mushra and little Yakumo – all of whom had their hands covered up to their elbows with floury dough – stared, wide-eyed, at the battle-ready Ranger who practically flew into the kitchen and landed in a perfect battle crouch, blaster in each hand. For one or two seconds, nobody moved; then Mushra began laughing hysterically, and was promptly followed by just about everyone else. It was several good minutes before any of them managed to catch their breath – and by then, all four were collapsed on the floor.
"Oh, god, I made such an idiot of myself", whizzed Ashley.
"I was not aware", said Kutall, catching a stitch at his side, "that baking cookies is a mortal sin"
"I heard something crashing – someone screaming - "
"We were having a bit of fun with the cooking", said Mushra.
"That's one way to put it", said Kutall. "Mushra and Yakumo played tug-of-war with the bawl", he explained to Ashley, "they bumped into me, and I accidentally knocked down a shelf"
"So what I heard was Karen squealing, you shouting and china breaking". Ashley shook her head. "Guess I'm a bit high-strung, huh?"
"That's one way to put it", agreed Mushra sarcastically. "Do you always aim blasters at random people inside your own base?"
Ashley laughed and shook her head. "No, it's a special favor for you guys"
"It's nice to know we're loved", said Kutall. "No, Yakumo, don't - "
Too late. The little girl tried to reach the forgotten bowl of cookie dough, and accidentally knocked over the flour, wrapping the room in white powdery cloud. Kutall's subsequent swearing was lost between the little girl's squealing, Mushra's "gotcha!", and Ashley's belly laughter.
"Emma?" asked Sago carefully after a few moments. "Are you crying?"
She nodded, biting her lip. "Don't you ever scare me like that again!" she burst suddenly. "Don't you ever! Do you have any idea how terrified I was when you teleported in like that, in that state?"
"Uh…"
"I've had enough! It's enough that Shiera always disappears on me and comes back half-dead, I can't take it if…" she stopped abruptly, as if she just realized what she was going to say. "Please don't go disappearing and risking yourself like that again in the near future, okay?" she asked more quietly. "Everyone is scared enough as it is"
"Sure", he agreed, a touch too quickly. Those words she swallowed back – were they what he hoped them to be? Could there be a chance?
He maintained his silence as she surveyed the different monitors surrounding his bad, as she took out a pale blue crystal and hovered it over his body in a ritual familiar to one he once saw her performing for Mushra, humming softly as she kept the crystal in the air.
"I'm sorry", she said after she finished. "I shouldn't have run off as I did, after that talk. This could have been prevented, if I hadn't been so scared. I…"
"Don't", he said, catching her hand with his and squeezing it gently. She lowered her gaze. "Don't go blaming yourself for anything, Emma. I couldn't – I can understand why you hid like you did, it was your right. Don't blame yourself"
Her other hand closed over his, ever so hesitantly, but she did not meet his gaze. She looked so utterly vulnerable, and he wanted so much to reach out and hold her, but was afraid she might turn away if he did. She's so afraid. I can't do this to her, especially not now. And in the back of his mind: what if…?
"It was wrong of me", she finally whispered. "I shouldn't have been so selfish. If…"
He snorted, and managed to shock her enough that she finally raised her eyes. "Don't go all righteous on me", he told her. "It's your damn right to retreat and lick your wounds when something happens that takes getting used to. Everyone do that. And I came out okay, so let's not talk of what-if's, okay?"
"Sago, if you died…" she reached out as if to touch his cheek, but recalled her hand, flushing. Sago's heart skipped a beat – so there is a chance! – but he said nothing, just waited for her to continue. "I've had enough of war"
"We're going to finish it", he promised her earnestly. "It already started"
"I didn't thank you, did I", she said quietly. "You saved more than lives, bringing her back to us". She swallowed and closed her eyes.
Sago has had enough. "Hi", he said softly, reaching forward with his one hand – the other was still holding hers – to touch her cheek.
She opened her eyes. "You're going to be okay, with time", she said, again in healer mode. "You've passed the worst of it, so there's not much point filling your system with medicine, but there's one which I'd rather if you take – it's the stuff Karone gave you during the night. One drop in a glass of water each time before you go to sleep"
"What does it do?" he asked, resigning himself to her sudden distance. Later; don't push it.
"It makes the pain manageable. It doesn't heal and it doesn't make anything hurt less, but it's good for dealing. I suppose three to seven days should do it – we'll see as time goes by"
"What's so funny?"
"It's a song – an old song - " she shook her head. "That life is gone, now". She squeezed his hand, as if reassuring herself that he really was there and okay, before pulling back and walking away quietly.
"Emma?" he called when she was already at the door. She turned and looked at him, and he could find no words to say what he wanted; her eyes spoke volumes, and he knew that she knew.
Problem is, he thought as she turned again and left without a word, that I don't know.
"It's a dangerous plan"
"It will give us quite the leverage; and we have the element of surprise"
"It will give him reason to fight"
"It will give him reason to worry"
"You underestimate him"
"I do not"
"Why should he fall for such an obvious trap?"
"Because it's his one weakness"
"You are so certain"
"Because I know". Pause. "You never doubted my sight before"
"Never before was the risk so high"
"Or the potential gain so promising"
"It is reason for caution"
"It is a reason for a daring strike"
"If it fails…"
"It will not"
"…it will double the enemy's strength"
"Are you afraid?"
Slap.
"Never doubt me"
"You doubt yourself"
"On the contrary. As a matter of fact, you are doubting me doubly"
"This argument is pointless"
"Indeed"
"I offer you the only viable option"
"We can wait them out"
"You said yourself that the current situation must not be allowed to continue!"
"Yet the potential price of your plan is high"
"But is it too high? And what is the possible price of procrastinating?"
"You do not realize the danger that he poses"
"I have. I met him"
"Not in battle"
"He wears his weakness openly"
"Bait him, and his temper will rise"
"His temper will rise and his control will shatter. All we need is a crack, not more"
Amusedly: "You truly believe in the merit of your suggestion, don't you?"
"I do"
Pause.
"If I choose to go through with it – and I'm not saying that I will – and should it fail, I will kill you"
"If that is how you wish"
"Are you not afraid?"
"Of death? No"
"Or are you so certain?"
"That too"
"I should kill you now"
"Go ahead, then"
"Damn you for being so stubborn"
"I only aim to please"
"Then do so"
"Pardon?"
"Go. Prepare yourself. I will follow with this plan of yours"
Confidently: "It will not fail. It is a perfect trap"
"Ah, but for whom?". Pause. "Enough talking. Now go"