Disclaimer: Oh, you know.
Many thanks to Carrie and Loog for the gratifying reactions to that last chapter. And to Dagmar, Rach and ScarletDeva for all the encouragement. Rach, I tried to clear this up a bit. Hope this is better.
Okay, I know this is derivative, but what can I do? Sci-fi's not really my thing, at least not this part of it. Anyway, bear with me.
Legacy, part 24
Tommy scanned the readouts in front of him. There they are, he said silently to his partner, whose forehead was creased in concentration.
How many? Aji shifted in her seat, smoothly altering their fighter's course to stay out of their enemy's scanning field.
Three.
Okay. Worst case scenario we engage them one on one.
Tommy's hazel eyes widened. Aj, did you see the size of those things? he asked, referring to the Citadel warships that lay in wait for the Rangers' pod. We'd be about as much trouble as a mosquito. He corrected himself at the look of confusion that crossed her face. An insect on Earth. A particularly annoying one.
She smiled. Many insects carry venom, Tom. And I did say worst case. How much time left?
ETA fifteen seconds. We better suit up. With a thought they summoned their shared power, white and black power flowing to cover them simultaneously. Aji spoke shortly into the commlink.
Behind the nearest of Xerya's moons in a slightly larger fighter, Deorth leaned forward in anticipation, nodding at the message that came across his comm. "Ready to lock on."
The space before them shimmered, the shadow of the pod beginning to take shape. The three warships moved in. Shadow glanced at Light. Let's make this convincing, Sparky.
Ready when you are, Shad.
They moved in unison, so smoothly in sync that they became two beings with a single mind, weaving shadows and light through the space around them. The ship under their control faded from view, dipping, swirling and weaving with them, cloaked in the invisibility that they created. Before them the pod solidified, then disappeared.
******************
On the bridge of the lead warship, the operations comptroller blinked in surprise. "Sir?" he spoke respectfully to his commanding officer.
"What is it, Comptroller?"
"The target appears to have… vanished, sir."
The officer studied the viewscreen, stroking his chin. "So I see. Sensors?"
"Still reading the ship, sir, but the location appears to have changed, although…" The ops comptroller squinted back up at the screen. "Do you see that, sir?"
The officer studied the viewscreen. Where the pod had been was an area that seemed… rippled, distorted slightly. And surrounding that were five… no, six more areas that were similar. He frowned. "Theories, anyone?"
One of the helmsmen swiveled his chair around. "Cloaking technology?"
The officer's frown deepened. "Explain."
"It is possible, sir, that these humans have achieved some sort of cloaking technology which renders them invisible to our sensors, and nearly invisible to view."
"But the center ship shows up on our sensors."
The helmsman shrugged. "True enough, sir. But we also had visual confirmation, though briefly. Is it not feasible that the cloak on that ship has malfunctioned, enabling us to detect it, though not accurately?"
The officer pursed his lips. "Interesting theory, Helmsman. What is your view, Comptroller?"
The comptroller shook his head. "It is certainly a viable theory, sir."
"Hmm." The officer paced a few steps. "Expand your scans, Comptroller."
"Sir."
****************
On the backside of the moon, Deorth's ship drifted quietly. Inside, he watched anxiously as a multicolored rainbow of light appeared in front of him, shadowy figures silhouetted within. When the figures had fully materialized, he spoke two brief words into the commlink.
"Got 'em."
Across space Light and Shadow nodded as one, shifting consciousness.
Adam leaned forward, his eyes on Deorth's readout screen. "Where are they?"
Deorth pointed to a fast moving speck, darting around the warships. "There, in that fighter. I've got a lock; I can 'port them out if they're discovered."
Zack nodded, looking over Adam's shoulder. "Let's hope you don't have to. Time to start the show."
****************
"Sir, sensors read no life aboard the primary vessel," said the comptroller in frustration. "And I am unable to get an accurate reading on any other vessel. I am reading…" he shook his head in confusion, "one small fighter, moving fast in a random pattern. It appears to be completely unrelated to the areas in question. "
The officer narrowed his eyes. Someone was playing a very deep game here, but what exactly it was he was still uncertain. "Target the primary vessel."
The harried comptroller grimaced. "Sensors or visual, sir?"
The officer thought about that; damned if he knew. He decided to pass the decision along. "Helm?"
The helmsman swallowed audibly. "Visual?"
"Very well. Visually target the primary vessel."
As the comptroller obeyed, the pod suddenly reappeared in a burst of static, as though something had shorted out around it. "Which location is that?" barked the officer.
"Visual, sir," came the reply.
The officer smiled. "Excellent. Fire at will."
A deadly barrage erupted from the lead warship, slicing through the aft end of the pod, which cracked and silently exploded, scattering debris wide. With that the six other ripples in space spread wide, forming up two on each warship.
"Sir?" said the helmsman nervously.
"Yes, I see," said the officer thoughtfully. Retreat? Or stand against this unknown foe? It seemed So'Vran had not been adequately informed about the level of technology the humans had achieved; certainly the cloaking technology was unexpected, not to mention the decoy sensor reading. What else could they be hiding? And how would So'Vran react to the loss of one or possibly more of his newest warships, on the eve of his triumphant push outward to conquer known space?
A salvo of laser fire blasted from one of the shimmering areas opposing the lead warship, laser fire that had to have come from a cannon of impressive strength. "Evade!" cried the officer, but the helm was slow to answer, and the warship barely avoided a direct hit, the sudden lurch throwing the crew around like so many beans in a jar. The laser volley slid by, glinting in the viewscreen like the edge of a sword.
His decision was made. "Retreat, full retreat," shouted the officer, and his order was echoed to the other two warships. They followed his lead, twisting in space to return to the haven of the Citadel.
****************
"They bought it," muttered Deorth with a grin. He thumbed the commlink. "Aji? Tommy?" Silence answered him, and Deorth uttered a succinct curse. "Aji, come in."
Trini shot him a worried glance. "They didn't take any damage, did they?"
"No, I don't think so. I think it's – come on, Aji, answer me!" No reply. "I think we'd better get over there." Deorth's fingers flew across the controls, and within moments they were pulling up along the smaller fighter. Nearby the pod hovered, undamaged.
"Man, that was one kickin' illusion," said Rocky admiringly. "For a second I thought the pod had gone up for real."
"I'm just glad So'Vran's goons believed it," said Kat with an affectionate arm around her boyfriend's shoulders.
Trini was leaning over Deorth's shoulder. "I'll go over," she was saying. "It flies like this one, right?"
He nodded. "About like this. Keep the comm open and I'll walk you through anything that throws you."
Trini gave him a quick nod and a grin; he pressed a few buttons and she faded in a column of red light. "Who's bringing in the pod?"
"I'll pilot, Rocky on ops," said Kat. "You sent over the coordinates?" Deorth smiled his confirmation and she looped her arm through Rocky's. "Then we'd better beat it in case those warships return for a closer look. See you down there." Two more columns of light, this time pink and blue, and the fighter was down to four occupants.
"Trini? Report, please," Deorth spoke into the comm.
*****************
She straightened, popping the commlink switch, eyeing the unconscious forms of Tommy and the unfamiliar redhead on the fighter floor. "Yeah. Everyone accounted for, but they're not in great shape. They must have overextended, as you thought."
Deorth's growl of irritation floated back through space at her. "I knew it. Aji has always been careless of her safety, but ever since her father – come on, let's get them home. Tai'll know what to do." With that the two fighters wheeled like birds of prey on the hunt and streaked toward Xerya.
*****************
"But it worked?" Taia asked Deorth, who was watching Trini, who was consulting with a medic.
"Hm? Yes, it worked beautifully. The warships had no idea what to make of their conflicting sensor readings versus what they could see, and in the end opted not to take the chance that there wasn't an army ready to destroy them." Deorth smiled apologetically at Taia. "Excuse me, I have to go see someone." Trini had finished her conversation with the medic and was turning to go. The blond soldier slipped after the lovely Red Ranger, leaving Taia shaking her dark head.
"Even in the midst of crisis…" she said softly to herself. With that in mind she began to look for Billy, who had spoken little since their confrontation with So'Vran.
She found him at the tactical station, going over attack strategies for the nth time. Beloved?
He answered her aloud. "What is it, Taia?"
"Your friends have arrived."
"Great." His tone was distinctly lacking in enthusiasm. "Anyone talked to Tommy yet?"
"No." Taia sighed. "Both he and Aji are still unconscious."
That caught his attention. "Unconscious? What happened?"
"Burnout. Remember what Father said?"
Billy finally focused on her face. "Yes, I remember…" He thought about the rest of that day too, the way he'd been greeted as a son by Iannos, how his own father had declared that Taia was his daughter too. And then the image of his father, clawing at his throat, the life spilling from him in a river of crimson… Billy looked at his love again, her dark eyes a lifeline as he drowned in fear and remembered anguish. Taia's expression reflected his sorrow; she knew exactly what he was thinking. "God, Tai… what am I going to do?"
She put her arms around him. "Whatever you choose, William, we will do it together."
************
They were nearly back at the cell; Kim's body tensed. Now or never. Now or never. It ran through her head like a litany, like a jingle from a catchy commercial. Like a bad 80's tune you can't get out of your head. So'Vran was insane, and far more powerful than she had dreamed. They wouldn't survive him. Their only chance was to take a chance.
Obviously they were less of a threat this time around, only two guards had been spared to escort Kim and the still-dazed Peter back to their cell. She touched his arm surreptitiously; he glanced down at her. Kim met his gaze frankly. Now or never, her brown eyes said. Now or never.
Astonishingly, he seemed to understand her, and gave her a curt nod. As they rounded the final corner before their cell came into view, Peter stumbled and fell heavily against the guard nearest him. Kim seized the opportunity and spun into a powerful kick that blew out the other guard's knee, sending him abruptly to the floor. Continuing momentum carried her around, and she grabbed his weapon away from him and bashed his jaw with it, knocking him out. Another fluid movement brought the muzzle of her weapon level with the head of the other guard, who immediately swallowed the yell he'd been preparing to give.
Peter wrested the other weapon free from the guard's nerveless hand, adjusted the setting, and shot him point-blank. Kim's jaw dropped. "Stun," he said tersely, showing her the setting.
She dodged around the corner and popped her head back. "All clear," she whispered, and Peter joined her, leaning against the wall as he used the keypad to open the cell door. Kim dragged the inert weight of the guards into the small room, grunting a little with the effort, and the two escapees looked at each other as the cell door swished shut.
"Which way?" Peter said, his voice still rough.
Kim looked around. "I don't know. Not back that way. What do you people use for secret escape routes? And please don't tell me we're going to dive into a trash disposal pit."
Peter grinned. "No, I have a better idea, Princess Leia."
"Oh?"
"Yep." At that his expression was all Billy, and Billy at his most mischievous. "Sewers."
Kim stared at him, then shook her head. "Today just keeps getting better and better," she muttered, slipping her shoulder under the older man's arm.
Many thanks to Carrie and Loog for the gratifying reactions to that last chapter. And to Dagmar, Rach and ScarletDeva for all the encouragement. Rach, I tried to clear this up a bit. Hope this is better.
Okay, I know this is derivative, but what can I do? Sci-fi's not really my thing, at least not this part of it. Anyway, bear with me.
Legacy, part 24
Tommy scanned the readouts in front of him. There they are, he said silently to his partner, whose forehead was creased in concentration.
How many? Aji shifted in her seat, smoothly altering their fighter's course to stay out of their enemy's scanning field.
Three.
Okay. Worst case scenario we engage them one on one.
Tommy's hazel eyes widened. Aj, did you see the size of those things? he asked, referring to the Citadel warships that lay in wait for the Rangers' pod. We'd be about as much trouble as a mosquito. He corrected himself at the look of confusion that crossed her face. An insect on Earth. A particularly annoying one.
She smiled. Many insects carry venom, Tom. And I did say worst case. How much time left?
ETA fifteen seconds. We better suit up. With a thought they summoned their shared power, white and black power flowing to cover them simultaneously. Aji spoke shortly into the commlink.
Behind the nearest of Xerya's moons in a slightly larger fighter, Deorth leaned forward in anticipation, nodding at the message that came across his comm. "Ready to lock on."
The space before them shimmered, the shadow of the pod beginning to take shape. The three warships moved in. Shadow glanced at Light. Let's make this convincing, Sparky.
Ready when you are, Shad.
They moved in unison, so smoothly in sync that they became two beings with a single mind, weaving shadows and light through the space around them. The ship under their control faded from view, dipping, swirling and weaving with them, cloaked in the invisibility that they created. Before them the pod solidified, then disappeared.
******************
On the bridge of the lead warship, the operations comptroller blinked in surprise. "Sir?" he spoke respectfully to his commanding officer.
"What is it, Comptroller?"
"The target appears to have… vanished, sir."
The officer studied the viewscreen, stroking his chin. "So I see. Sensors?"
"Still reading the ship, sir, but the location appears to have changed, although…" The ops comptroller squinted back up at the screen. "Do you see that, sir?"
The officer studied the viewscreen. Where the pod had been was an area that seemed… rippled, distorted slightly. And surrounding that were five… no, six more areas that were similar. He frowned. "Theories, anyone?"
One of the helmsmen swiveled his chair around. "Cloaking technology?"
The officer's frown deepened. "Explain."
"It is possible, sir, that these humans have achieved some sort of cloaking technology which renders them invisible to our sensors, and nearly invisible to view."
"But the center ship shows up on our sensors."
The helmsman shrugged. "True enough, sir. But we also had visual confirmation, though briefly. Is it not feasible that the cloak on that ship has malfunctioned, enabling us to detect it, though not accurately?"
The officer pursed his lips. "Interesting theory, Helmsman. What is your view, Comptroller?"
The comptroller shook his head. "It is certainly a viable theory, sir."
"Hmm." The officer paced a few steps. "Expand your scans, Comptroller."
"Sir."
****************
On the backside of the moon, Deorth's ship drifted quietly. Inside, he watched anxiously as a multicolored rainbow of light appeared in front of him, shadowy figures silhouetted within. When the figures had fully materialized, he spoke two brief words into the commlink.
"Got 'em."
Across space Light and Shadow nodded as one, shifting consciousness.
Adam leaned forward, his eyes on Deorth's readout screen. "Where are they?"
Deorth pointed to a fast moving speck, darting around the warships. "There, in that fighter. I've got a lock; I can 'port them out if they're discovered."
Zack nodded, looking over Adam's shoulder. "Let's hope you don't have to. Time to start the show."
****************
"Sir, sensors read no life aboard the primary vessel," said the comptroller in frustration. "And I am unable to get an accurate reading on any other vessel. I am reading…" he shook his head in confusion, "one small fighter, moving fast in a random pattern. It appears to be completely unrelated to the areas in question. "
The officer narrowed his eyes. Someone was playing a very deep game here, but what exactly it was he was still uncertain. "Target the primary vessel."
The harried comptroller grimaced. "Sensors or visual, sir?"
The officer thought about that; damned if he knew. He decided to pass the decision along. "Helm?"
The helmsman swallowed audibly. "Visual?"
"Very well. Visually target the primary vessel."
As the comptroller obeyed, the pod suddenly reappeared in a burst of static, as though something had shorted out around it. "Which location is that?" barked the officer.
"Visual, sir," came the reply.
The officer smiled. "Excellent. Fire at will."
A deadly barrage erupted from the lead warship, slicing through the aft end of the pod, which cracked and silently exploded, scattering debris wide. With that the six other ripples in space spread wide, forming up two on each warship.
"Sir?" said the helmsman nervously.
"Yes, I see," said the officer thoughtfully. Retreat? Or stand against this unknown foe? It seemed So'Vran had not been adequately informed about the level of technology the humans had achieved; certainly the cloaking technology was unexpected, not to mention the decoy sensor reading. What else could they be hiding? And how would So'Vran react to the loss of one or possibly more of his newest warships, on the eve of his triumphant push outward to conquer known space?
A salvo of laser fire blasted from one of the shimmering areas opposing the lead warship, laser fire that had to have come from a cannon of impressive strength. "Evade!" cried the officer, but the helm was slow to answer, and the warship barely avoided a direct hit, the sudden lurch throwing the crew around like so many beans in a jar. The laser volley slid by, glinting in the viewscreen like the edge of a sword.
His decision was made. "Retreat, full retreat," shouted the officer, and his order was echoed to the other two warships. They followed his lead, twisting in space to return to the haven of the Citadel.
****************
"They bought it," muttered Deorth with a grin. He thumbed the commlink. "Aji? Tommy?" Silence answered him, and Deorth uttered a succinct curse. "Aji, come in."
Trini shot him a worried glance. "They didn't take any damage, did they?"
"No, I don't think so. I think it's – come on, Aji, answer me!" No reply. "I think we'd better get over there." Deorth's fingers flew across the controls, and within moments they were pulling up along the smaller fighter. Nearby the pod hovered, undamaged.
"Man, that was one kickin' illusion," said Rocky admiringly. "For a second I thought the pod had gone up for real."
"I'm just glad So'Vran's goons believed it," said Kat with an affectionate arm around her boyfriend's shoulders.
Trini was leaning over Deorth's shoulder. "I'll go over," she was saying. "It flies like this one, right?"
He nodded. "About like this. Keep the comm open and I'll walk you through anything that throws you."
Trini gave him a quick nod and a grin; he pressed a few buttons and she faded in a column of red light. "Who's bringing in the pod?"
"I'll pilot, Rocky on ops," said Kat. "You sent over the coordinates?" Deorth smiled his confirmation and she looped her arm through Rocky's. "Then we'd better beat it in case those warships return for a closer look. See you down there." Two more columns of light, this time pink and blue, and the fighter was down to four occupants.
"Trini? Report, please," Deorth spoke into the comm.
*****************
She straightened, popping the commlink switch, eyeing the unconscious forms of Tommy and the unfamiliar redhead on the fighter floor. "Yeah. Everyone accounted for, but they're not in great shape. They must have overextended, as you thought."
Deorth's growl of irritation floated back through space at her. "I knew it. Aji has always been careless of her safety, but ever since her father – come on, let's get them home. Tai'll know what to do." With that the two fighters wheeled like birds of prey on the hunt and streaked toward Xerya.
*****************
"But it worked?" Taia asked Deorth, who was watching Trini, who was consulting with a medic.
"Hm? Yes, it worked beautifully. The warships had no idea what to make of their conflicting sensor readings versus what they could see, and in the end opted not to take the chance that there wasn't an army ready to destroy them." Deorth smiled apologetically at Taia. "Excuse me, I have to go see someone." Trini had finished her conversation with the medic and was turning to go. The blond soldier slipped after the lovely Red Ranger, leaving Taia shaking her dark head.
"Even in the midst of crisis…" she said softly to herself. With that in mind she began to look for Billy, who had spoken little since their confrontation with So'Vran.
She found him at the tactical station, going over attack strategies for the nth time. Beloved?
He answered her aloud. "What is it, Taia?"
"Your friends have arrived."
"Great." His tone was distinctly lacking in enthusiasm. "Anyone talked to Tommy yet?"
"No." Taia sighed. "Both he and Aji are still unconscious."
That caught his attention. "Unconscious? What happened?"
"Burnout. Remember what Father said?"
Billy finally focused on her face. "Yes, I remember…" He thought about the rest of that day too, the way he'd been greeted as a son by Iannos, how his own father had declared that Taia was his daughter too. And then the image of his father, clawing at his throat, the life spilling from him in a river of crimson… Billy looked at his love again, her dark eyes a lifeline as he drowned in fear and remembered anguish. Taia's expression reflected his sorrow; she knew exactly what he was thinking. "God, Tai… what am I going to do?"
She put her arms around him. "Whatever you choose, William, we will do it together."
************
They were nearly back at the cell; Kim's body tensed. Now or never. Now or never. It ran through her head like a litany, like a jingle from a catchy commercial. Like a bad 80's tune you can't get out of your head. So'Vran was insane, and far more powerful than she had dreamed. They wouldn't survive him. Their only chance was to take a chance.
Obviously they were less of a threat this time around, only two guards had been spared to escort Kim and the still-dazed Peter back to their cell. She touched his arm surreptitiously; he glanced down at her. Kim met his gaze frankly. Now or never, her brown eyes said. Now or never.
Astonishingly, he seemed to understand her, and gave her a curt nod. As they rounded the final corner before their cell came into view, Peter stumbled and fell heavily against the guard nearest him. Kim seized the opportunity and spun into a powerful kick that blew out the other guard's knee, sending him abruptly to the floor. Continuing momentum carried her around, and she grabbed his weapon away from him and bashed his jaw with it, knocking him out. Another fluid movement brought the muzzle of her weapon level with the head of the other guard, who immediately swallowed the yell he'd been preparing to give.
Peter wrested the other weapon free from the guard's nerveless hand, adjusted the setting, and shot him point-blank. Kim's jaw dropped. "Stun," he said tersely, showing her the setting.
She dodged around the corner and popped her head back. "All clear," she whispered, and Peter joined her, leaning against the wall as he used the keypad to open the cell door. Kim dragged the inert weight of the guards into the small room, grunting a little with the effort, and the two escapees looked at each other as the cell door swished shut.
"Which way?" Peter said, his voice still rough.
Kim looked around. "I don't know. Not back that way. What do you people use for secret escape routes? And please don't tell me we're going to dive into a trash disposal pit."
Peter grinned. "No, I have a better idea, Princess Leia."
"Oh?"
"Yep." At that his expression was all Billy, and Billy at his most mischievous. "Sewers."
Kim stared at him, then shook her head. "Today just keeps getting better and better," she muttered, slipping her shoulder under the older man's arm.
