Chapter TWO

Morgan stood just behind Bian, watching as the Peacekeeper transport landed in the clearing. She was uncomfortable in the clothing the Sebacean woman had provided her when she told Bian her plan. A full headscarf was wrapped around her head and neck, hiding the transponder.

The settlers had helped her hide Talyn within the large rock caves a metra from the settlement. Morgan had studied the rocks as she left the Leviathan inside. Nothing could scan the through the rocks except for a thin, narrow band transmission. She had left Crais' unconscious form in Shantar's care, the ex-Peacekeeper Officer sarcastically thanking her on her way out. Morgan could barely feel Talyn.

"Keep your eyes down and play mute," Bian softly said as the transport pod's access ramp lowered.

Two Peacekeeper officers approached the group, the rest fanning out around the square. "Who is the leader of this group?" the man demanded, his eyes gazing over the faces before him.

"I am," Bian answered, stepping forward. "Welcome to Zorosa 3."

The man holstered his pulse pistol, signaling for the others to lower their weapons. "I am Lt. Torsin, Sr. Officer of this mission. We have been following up on reports of a Renegade gunship in the sector." He gazed over the group again, looking for familiar faces.

Bian smiled at the Lieutenant. "We are a small farming settlement and what sensor equipment we have is not capable of long range scans. We have not seen or heard anything. I am sorry."

The other officer who had approached the group with Torsin, a woman, stepped up to her commander, pointing at Morgan. "What happened to her?" she asked, noticing the medical brace peaking out from under her skirt. One of the settler's, a close friend of Shantar's laid a protective hand on Morgan's shoulder.

Bian turned and looked. "She hurt her leg while out on a hunting expedition." She looked back at Torsin and the woman. "It is healing remarkably well."

Torsin's eyes narrowed as he looked at Morgan. "What's your name?" he asked, walking towards her. He had seen her before, but he couldn't quite think of where.

Bian moved to Torsin's side. "She is mute. Her name is Breen. She is my sister."

Morgan watched as Torsin contemplated her. Oh, just what I need, she thought to herself, an admirer. She looked away, hiding her face.

Torsin turned back to Bian. "Well, since you have not had any sort of trouble, you will not have any objections to us looking around." He turned to the female Peacekeeper. "Have the others set up camp and radio the ship. Let them know we will be conducting a routine check of the area before returning." He looked at Morgan. "Food and drink for my officers."

Bian smiled and nodded demurely. "This way, please," she said, leading them towards the settlement's common hall. Her eyes briefly met Morgan's. This was not good, not good at all.



Crais felt like he had a troop of Luxan warriors marching through his head. He sat up slowly, finding himself in his quarters, the lights very dim. "Talyn, what is our status?" he asked. He concentrated on the gunship, wincing in pain as he absorbed the report the Leviathan was feeding him. He turned as Shantar walked in, accepting the flagon of water from the man. Crais felt the side of his head, the flesh tender from where Morgan had kicked him. How could I have been so stupid? he berated himself silently. He took a swig from the flagon and promptly spit the water out in shock. "She's WHERE?" he bellowed, getting to his feet. He grabbed his pulse pistol from his desk, holstering it as he stormed through the corridors to the bridge.

Shantar ran to catch up with Crais almost slamming into him as he walked onto the bridge. He observed Crais' stiff back and aggravated expression. Shantar walked around him, grabbing Crais' face. "Easy, Bialar," he commented, carefully applying a salve to the angry blue bruise on the Captain's temple. "Morgan managed to get Talyn and us safely hidden before the carrier could scan the planet." He stepped back, closing the jar of salve and tossing it to Crais. Shantar chuckled. "I must say, she knows what to do in a tense situation."

Crais' lips thinned and he began to pace the bridge. Everything was dark outside and he felt vulnerable. "Do we have any idea who we are up against?"

Shantar leaned against a bulkhead. "No. I just hope Bian can get rid of them before we are discovered."

Crais marched over to Shantar, grabbing the older man by his shirt, slamming him against the bulkhead, one hand wrapped tightly around the settler's throat. "Who contacted them, Shantar? Who?"

Shantar wrapped his hands around the Captain's wrists, his eyes locking with Crais'. "I am the only one among the settlers the Peacekeepers want. We have been here for almost three cycles, Bialar. If one of my people wanted to turn me in, they would've done so by now." Shantar stared at him, knowing that if Crais didn't believe him, the Captain could, and would, kill him without blinking an eye. "Let me go."

Crais released Shantar, backing away. He pointed at him. "If I found out that you have lied to me, I will personally pull you apart, piece by piece," he growled. He turned and marched off the bridge, fists clenched at his side in frustration.

Shantar rubbed his neck as he gazed after Crais.



Morgan slipped out of the settlement, moving as fast as she could through the trees towards the caves. She stopped, glancing back, listening, using every little bit of survival training she had to keep from being discovered. She moved out from the trees and jumped when a hand clasped her shoulder and spun her around. She found herself staring into the face of Lt. Torsin.

"Well, well. Where are you going, quiet one?" he asked. "What could be out here that would make you sneak out of your warm bed in the middle of the night?" He backed Morgan up against a tree, one arm around her waist, the other leaning on the tree above her head. "A secret rendezvous' with a lover, perhaps?" he whispered, stroking her face.

Morgan slapped his hand away, pointing at the sky where Zorosa's two moons shone full and bright over the farming settlement. She looked at him in anger.

Torsin looked up, realization dawning on his face. "Looking at the moon's? Well, it is dangerous out here." He took her arm, carefully leading her back towards the square. "A young woman should not be out unsupervised this late at night. Especially with a renegade ship in the sector." He chuckled. "If I told you half the things I know about Captain Crais and his ship, you'd faint." He escorted her back to Bian's dwelling, once again capturing her against the wall. He tilted his head as he gazed at her lecherously, his intentions painted across his face. "If you need some companionship later, quiet one, come find me." Torsin leaned towards Morgan, tucking a strand of hair back under her scarf, pressing his body against her. "I can show you how a Peacekeeper pleasures a woman."

Morgan smiled, hoping she was convincing, nodding as she pushed Torsin away, doing everything in her power not to ram her knee into his groin. She opened the door as he walked away, closing it and leaning against it, shutting her eyes. "Like hell you will," she muttered to herself.

"Torsin?" Bian asked as she walked into the front room, a pulse rifle in her hand. The Sebacean woman moved to the window, peering out towards the makeshift camp. Torsin stood with a few of his officers, gazing back at the dwelling. Bian motioned for Morgan to follow her.

"Uh-huh," Morgan answered, pushing the scarf off her head. "If I know Crais, he's having a fit by now."

Bian nodded in agreement. "You'll have to try again later."

"Yeah, much later."



Three times Morgan tried to slip away, and three times Torsin stopped her, cornering her, watching her, waiting. By the fourth night, Morgan managed to slip past him with a little help from Bian. She still could still faintly hear the rowdy Peacekeepers as they drank the homemade Fillip Nectar the settler's shared with them. Morgan walked through the dark caves, feeling the floor tilting downwards. As she drew closer to Talyn, and the gunship recognized her presence, a soft light appeared, glowing faintly to light her way. Morgan stroked the gunship's side as she stepped through the access hatch, the light disappearing.

She slipped onto the bridge, watching Crais pace back and forth. Morgan cringed at the bruise on his face, having faded to a purplish color. "Hey Captain," she said softly.

Crais stopped and looked at her. "Once again I find myself in the uncomfortable position of being indebted to you," he simply commented. He walked towards her, halting in the middle of the bridge, hands behind his back, anger barely held in check.

Morgan couldn't help the smile that was inching across her face and she watched as his grew redder in anger. "I love it when you're pissed," she finally laughed.

"This is no laughing matter, Morgan. All of our lives are at stake!" he snapped.

Morgan approached him slowly, the hem of her skirts rustling softly around her ankles. Her smile never wavered but her blue eyes grew icy as she stopped in front of him. "I'm not laughing over the situation, Bialar. But after four days of trying to get here with the information I know you need, I had hoped you wouldn't be so mad at me as to jump down my throat when I walked in. I'm laughing because, as always, you have remained true to form." She laid her hand on his chest, feeling the steady beating of his heart beneath her palm. "Are you okay?"

Crais looked down at her, his expression softening. "Yes. Only my pride is hurt."

"And your face," she replied mischievously.

"Who are we up against?" he asked. He reached out and plucked the scarf from her hair.

"A Lt. Torsin. Creepy guy." She involuntarily shuddered. "He…uh…seems to think that I am the perfect candidate for his next recreational romp."

Brown eyes flared angrily as Crais grasped Morgan by the shoulders. "Has he harmed you in any way?"

Morgan shook her head, laughing. "After I cold cocked you, you honestly think he'd walk away unscathed?"

Crais gazed at her for a moment. "No." He sighed. "You are right. I tend to forget that you know how to handle yourself." He leaned down, giving in to the temptation that had been plaguing him since she walked on the bridge, kissing her passionately. "As I have said before, you would have made an excellent Peacekeeper."

Morgan laid her head on his chest. "What do you know about Torsin?" she asked quietly. They stood there for a few moments until she reluctantly pulled away from him to limp over to the system console.

Crais stepped up behind her. "Nothing. His name is not familiar to me. Talyn, search the databanks for any record of a Lt. Torsin." He gently turned Morgan around to face him, capturing her against the console with his body. "I have…missed you." His lips met hers again in a hungry kiss.

Shantar turned the corner just in time to see Crais and Morgan kissing. He stopped, turning around as Talyn closed the bridge doors, beating a hasty retreat back to his own quarters, chuckling to himself.



"Captain Garell Torsin, special operations commando with high-ranking connections in High Command." Morgan stared at the image Talyn displayed on the clamshell. "That's him," she snorted to herself. "I didn't think there was anyone else as nasty as you in the Peacekeepers, but I see I was wrong." She looked at her lover. "This guy makes you look like a choir boy."

Crais turned and glared at her, tempted to shoot her, his mood was so foul. He was beyond angry. "I now know why his name was not familiar to me." He ran his hand over the console, viewing Torsin's service record. "He went by Lt. Orn when he served under me. I should've killed him when I had the chance."

Morgan rubbed her chin in thought. "Wasn't this the guy that wanted to terminate you when Maldis kidnapped your…your…" She crinkled her face, trying to think of the correct word. "Spirit?"

Crais nodded. "Yes," he hissed.

Shantar scanned the records over Crais' shoulder. "A plant."

"So it would seem." Crais cut the feed, the clamshell going blank. He turned to Morgan. "All the more reason to expedite the repairs to Talyn and get the frell off this planet."

Morgan sighed, running her fingers through her hair. "At least it explains why the Scarrens tucked tail and ran." Crais and Shantar simply looked at her, confused expressions on their faces. "You know, ran away, fled, got out of the sector." She pointed to the clamshell. "This guy is the Senior Officer of a trio of command carriers, two of which are now playing with the Scarrens. Would you want to stick around?"

Shantar nodded, folding his arms. "She's got a valid point, Bialar."

Crais tapped his lower lip with the side of his thumb in thought. "How many men would you estimate is with him in the settlement?" he asked Morgan.

She shrugged. "About twenty." She looked at her watch. "I better get back. I'm sure he's wondering why I haven't been out and about this evening." Morgan headed towards the entrance of the bridge, pausing on her way out. She turned back to Crais, a questioning look on her face. "What I don't understand is why he said he was only a lieutenant."

Shantar and Crais exchanged glances. It was a common ruse when one was fishing for information, a ruse the Peacekeepers had down to a science. "He knows something we do not," Crais answered.

"Or suspects something, but can't prove it," Shantar added, looking at Morgan. "Make sure Bian knows what we found out and suspect. She'll get the word out to the others."

Morgan nodded, pulling the scarf over her head as she left. She walked down the corridor, slowing at the footsteps behind her. Crais grabbed her upper arm, his fingers tightening as he turned her around. "Crais, don't," she said softly.

Crais looked down at her, the worry visible only in his eyes. "I do not want you anywhere near this man. Do you understand me?"

Morgan's eyes met Crais'. "Yes, Captain." They stared at each other, locked in a battle of wills neither of them would back down from. "Are you going to let me go?"

Crais reached down and unholstered his pulse pistol, pressing it into her hand. "Be careful. And shoot to kill, if necessary. He would not hesitate to kill you." His head warred with his heart, knowing that he had to let Morgan leave in order to maintain their cover, his heart aching at the thought of her being away from him in so much danger. He let his Peacekeeper training take over and released her, kissing her roughly before turning on one heel to march back to Talyn's bridge. He stopped, gazing back at her. "What are you waiting for?"

Morgan shook her head, a small smile slowly appearing on her face as she took a good look at the man she loved. "I'll be back," she said, limping down the corridor towards the access hatch.

Crais watched as she turned the corner, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. "You better come back," he whispered to himself.



Bian nervously paced the kitchen of her home, waiting for Morgan to return. The Peacekeepers were starting to stir and she knew Torsin would be there bright and early looking for her. Movement caught her eye and she quickly opened the door, shutting it behind the human. "Well?"

Morgan put the basket of berries she had collected on her way back to the settlement on the counter. It was the best explanation they could come up with to explain her being out so early if Torsin caught her. "Torsin is a command carrier group Captain." She relayed to Bian the information they had gathered from Talyn's databanks. "We have to get them out of here," Morgan insisted.

A knock at the front door silenced the two women, both turning to look towards the other room. Morgan slipped into her bedroom, hastily removing the cloak she had wore and her scarf as she slid into the bed, one hand wrapped around the hilt of Crais' pulse pistol that she had pushed under the pillow. Muted voices drifted back to her and she closed her eyes, feigning sleep as the door opened, Torsin marching in.

"Please, don't disturb her. She has not been well since she hurt her leg," Bian whispered.

Torsin approached Morgan, gently pushing a strand of hair from her forehead. He noticed her cloak tossed on the chair, the hem slightly darker than the rest as if wet. His eyes narrowed slightly as he turned back to Bian. "She has been here the entire night?"

"Yes."

He picked up the cloak, fingering the hem. "Then why is her cloak damp with dew?"

Bian put her hands on her hips. "I borrowed it to pick berries for our morning meal. Mine need to be repaired." She took the cloak from Torsin, laying it back on the chair. "Now, please," she remarked, her hand pointing towards the door.

Torsin took one look at Morgan and left, closing the door behind him. Her hand relaxed, sliding from the pulse pistol. "That was too close," she whispered to herself.



Morgan looked behind her warily. She kept hearing something in the underbrush, unsure whether it was an animal or a Peacekeeper. Satisfied it was an animal, she continued slowly up the path. Her leg hurt and she wished for a bottle of Tylenol to ease the achiness that seemed to have permanently settled in her shinbone. Her foot tangled in a vine and she fell, headed first face into a pile of decaying leaves.

Two strong arms caught her from behind, gently lifting her to her feet. "For someone with a hurt leg, you move well, quiet one," Torsin remarked as he set her on her feet. His hand drifted up from Morgan's waist, brushing her breast. "I was disappointed when didn't take me up on my offer."

Morgan lashed out at Torsin, taking him across the face with her open hand. It was all she could do not to speak.

Torsin returned the slap, backhanding Morgan, knocking her to the ground before she could react. He landed on top of her, grabbing a fistful of hair and yanking her head back. Morgan grabbed his wrists and using her body, pulled Torsin over her head, the Peacekeeper landing flat on his back in the dirt. There was only one problem. Torsin didn't let go, pulling her with him and pinning her down, his lips coming down on hers in a crushing kiss. Morgan bit down on his lip, tasting blood, and forcefully brought her knee up between his legs, connecting with his groin. Torsin rolled off of her. "You frelling tralk!" he hissed.

Morgan allowed herself a small, satisfied grin as she scrambled up the hill away from the Peacekeeper. But he recovered faster than she expected. With a predatory growl, Torsin stood and launched himself towards her, grabbing Morgan around the waist and wrestling her to the ground. He pushed her face in the dirt. "I like a woman with spirit," he whispered in her ear as she struggled beneath him. Torsin pulled the scarf from her neck, his eyes immediately landing on the transponder. "Well, well. Look what we have here." He stood up, dragging Morgan with him, slamming her into a tree. "I knew I had seen you before. On a wanted fugitive communication from High Command. You're Crais' woman. Where is he? Where is Bialar Crais?" he yelled.

Morgan's eyes narrowed, a vicious smiled appearing on her face. "Wouldn't you like to know, dickhead," she snarled.

Torsin slapped her again and Morgan licked her lips, tasting her own blood as it pooled in her mouth. "You just made a grave mistake," he answered. He turned her around, binding her hands as he pulled off the clothes Bian had given her, revealing her everyday clothing of tank top and jeans. He snatched the pulse pistol from its holster on her leg and shoved it into her back. "Move."

Bian watched as Torsin marched Morgan back into the settlement, watching helplessly as he tied her to a tree just outside of the Peacekeeper's makeshift camp. He looked at the gathering group of Sebacean settlers, taking a swig of water from a flagon he had grabbed from one of his officers. He handed the flagon back and pointed at Morgan. "The penalty for harboring a fugitive is death!" he announced. "But, since I am in a generous mood, I will give you 48 arns to produce Captain Bialar Crais!" He grabbed Morgan's chin, still looking at the crowd. "Then, I will start delivering punishment!" He smiled at her. "And you, Captain Langtree, will be the first to die!"

Copyright 2002, Beth A. Carpenter