H1CENTERChapter 5: Revelation and Rejection/CENTER/H1
Healer Ka'Dalanis focused on the readings before her, trying to ignore the pounding of her head. Before her, suspended in a tube of translucent regeneration fluid, was Phoenix, recovering from the battle with the Zerg. Ka'Dalanis adjusted some controls and injected a series of proteins into the mix, then sat back and studied her charge./P
The only thing covering Phoenix was a mask that allowed her to breath. Her skin was a mottled gray-blue, and her long pigtail had been untied. Her hair flowed gently with the fluid. Every few minutes, she would twitch as though in the grip of a dream./P
Are those dreams of happier times, or the nightmares of the horrors you have seen? thought Ka'Dalanis sadly. Can you even dream, with no memories to draw from?/P
She turned as the door to the room hissed open, and Judicator Raetor entered. [How fares your charge, Healer?] he asked. [She has been in the tank for several hours.]/P
Ka'Dalanis turned to Raetor. [You ask me that? You should be thankful she survived at all, much less lived to fight off two humans, and return. When she got here, her brain was in an alarming state of decay. The psionic blast that hit us nearly killed her!] She turned away before she said something to alienate the Judicator. He was an ally, of sorts. He did not like Phoenix's presence here any more than she did, but for different reasons. When she managed to get her anger under control, she continued. [By the way, our stocks of dextorin are low.] Dextorin was used as a pain killer for the Templars when they over-extended their psychic abilities. Because of Ryoga's Shishi Hokodan, most of the Protoss at the base needed at least one dose to dull the pain of the psionic backlash./P
[I will make sure we are sent some on the next shipment our forces manage to smuggle past the human's blockade of the island,] he replied. [I must admit, I am pleased by her performance. According to the data recorder in her armor, she successfully challenged and defeated the two humans we have identified as 'Ghosts'.]/P
Despite herself, she felt a surge of pride. [Yes, she did do rather well, didn't she?] She shook her head in amusement. [We all do our jobs well.]/P
Raetor stiffened. [Not as well as we wish, sometimes.]/P
[Is the Praetor not listening to you again? Why doesn't that surprise me?]/P
[He-] Suddenly the doors hissed open and Praetor Halos strode into the room./P
[Greetings, Healer!] he said enthusiastically. [Congratulations on the success of Phoenix's first deployment. I'm very-]/P
[You!] she interrupted scathingly. [You sent her out there against a superior force for her first battle, *after* I said she wasn't ready, and *after* Raetor said she wasn't ready, and you expect me to be happy she returned to us barely alive?! You...you...Zergling! You brainless, arrogant, incompetent fool! You nearly killed her! She's spent the last day and a half in the Regen Tank, when it was projected that she would only need three hours per day. And she still needs to stay there until tomorrow! Get out, you idiot!]/P
[You can't-] started Halos, but Ka'Dalanis interrupted again./P
[I said get out or so help me I'll poison you the next time you use a Regen Tank! Go! Now!] Infuriated, Halos left. Raetor watched, then turned to Ka'Dalanis with a mixture of amusement and curiosity./P
[You wouldn't really poison him, would you?] he asked, half hopeful./P
[A Healer is queen in her own house. What do you think?]/P
[I think he should think twice before he next uses a Regen Tank.]/P
BR
Nabiki Tendo dismounted. Hiding the Vulture Attack Bike near the perimeter of the Protoss base, she cloaked and ran. Stopping at the top of a small ridge, she peered through her binoculars and saw several glowing signatures of Photon Cannons emerging from warp space. She did not know when they would appear, and did not care. She would worry about that after she got in. Praying there were no Observers in close proximity, Nabiki jumped off the ridge and charged the encampment./P
Leaping up to the top of the wall, her heart skipped a beat as she landed right beside a Dragoon. She waited for several seconds, ready to blast the thing to pieces if it saw her. It made no move towards her, so she jumped down into the base itself./P
Like most forts, internal security was relatively light in comparison to the external security. She looked around at the large number of buildings and felt her resolve crumble. She'd never find Akane before she lacked the strength to keep herself cloaked. Oh well, time for plan B./P
Picking a Zealot at random. She followed him until he entered one of the buildings. Making sure they were alone, she pulled out a mindblocker and attached it to his head. His eyes widened in surprise, then glazed over and he fell to the ground, unconscious. She pulled off her gloves and put one hand on either side of the Zealot's head. "This is really going to hurt," she said to herself. Taking a deep breath she plunged herself into his mind./P
Even unconscious, the Zealot had formidable psychic shields. She formed her thoughts into a spear of energy and tried to penetrate his defenses. The pain was intense! She was more of a telepath than Ranma, but it still hurt! After a seemingly endless fight against his shields and her own pain, she managed to break through to his mind. Once there, she asked two questions./P
[Human-Protoss warrior?] A swelter of images blurred through her mind before she caught an image of Akane./P
[Where?] She saw a vision of the Citadel of Adun. Pulling herself out of his mind, she sat back and wiped the sweat covering her face, a physical response to her mental exertions. Picking up the Zealot, she dumped him in a closet, knowing that the mindblocker should keep him unconscious until morning. Then she made her way to the Citadel./P
Following the mental instructions she had gleaned from the Zealot, she entered and slowly made her way to the top floor. Just as she reached the end of the stairs, the door hissed open and a Protoss in a flowing blue robe stepped out, a Judicator by his dress. Nabiki waited until the last moment then jumped over the Judicator and rolled through the open door before it closed. She stood and looked around./P
The room itself was nothing special. It was a box of a room with a couple of windows. The contents, however were much more interesting. There were a couple of chairs and other pieces of furniture. On the far wall, was Phoenix's battle armor on a small platform. Beside it, was a skinsuit composed of microcircutry, which allowed Phoenix to interface with the armor. A large console was hooked up to a tube filled with some kind of gel. Inside the tube was Phoenix./P
Nabiki hissed quietly, then noticed the tall Protoss female who was adjusting the controls on the console. Nabiki pulled out her pistol, attached a silencer to it, then sneaked up behind the Protoss. She then tapped her lightly on the shoulder./P
BR
Ka'Dalanis was in good spirits. It felt good to vent some of her frustration on that fool of a Praetor and have somewhat of a sympathetic ear of the Judicator. She made some minor adjustments, then felt something tap her shoulder. She spun around, startled. She thought she was alone! But there was no one there. Suddenly, a female human appeared out of thin air, and she had a gun pointing inches from Ka'Dalanis's face. The human put one finger to her lips, an obvious sign for her to be quiet, since humans used their clumsy lips to communicate./P
"I want her," said Nabiki, pointing at Akane, "out."/P
Ka'Dalanis thought frantically. [But you can't! She requires at least another eight hours-] Nabiki interrupted her./P
"Either you do it," she took a couple of steps back and unslung her Canister Rifle and pointed it at the Regen Tank. "Or I do it."/P
[No! Don't! I...I'll do it.] She turned back to the console, but froze when she felt the cool metal of Nabiki's pistol pressing against the back of her head./P
"No alarms. If I have even a vague suspicion that you're triggering an alarm, I'll blow your brains all over the console. Got it?" Ka'Dalanis nodded. "And no calling for help. I'm telepath enough to detect it." With a bit of fiddling, the regeneration fluid drained from the tank. Phoenix sank to bottom and then to her knees. The tube rose into the ceiling, and Nabiki was there barely in time to keep Phoenix from falling on the floor./P
"Akane? Akane, it's me, Nabiki, your sister. Akane? Akane, please, wake up." Phoenix's eyes fluttered, and they opened slowly./P
[So tired,] she said. [Dala, why-] Then she noticed that the person holding her was not the Healer. [You! Who are you?] Phoenix began to struggle against Nabiki's hold. [Let me go! Help! Dala, where are you?! Help me!] Fortunately for Nabiki, due to Phoenix's weakness, she could not project her mind-voice beyond the confines of the room./P
"Akane, please, don't struggle! I'm here to help you!" Nabiki tried to hold the increasingly violent woman./P
In the meantime, Ka'Dalanis had gotten a towel and the skinsuit, and was standing a few feet away. [Please let her go! You're hurting her!] she pleaded./P
Nabiki pointed her gun at the Healer. "You stay out of this!" Phoenix used Nabiki's momentary distraction to break the hold. She rolled away from Nabiki and to her feet. She ended up in front of the Healer in a combat stance. Phoenix felt her legs give out, and she fell back into the waiting arms of Ka'Dalanis. The Healer wrapped the towel around her and began drying off the thin film of regeneration fluid still covering her body./P
[Relax, Phoenix, I'm here,] said Ka'Dalanis reassuringly./P
[Who is this? Why is she here?] demanded Phoenix weakly./P
"I'm Nabiki. Don't you remember? I'm your sister!"/P
[Impossible!] Phoenix declared. [I am a Protoss warrior-]/P
"Don't be so blind! You're human!"/P
[The Protoss made me!] Phoenix stood still as the Healer helped her into the skinsuit. [I will not go with you.]/P
"Akane-"/P
[Don't call me that! My name is Phoenix!]/P
"You're name is Akane, and you're my sister! You had another older sister name Kasumi and a father name Soun. You were betrothed to Ranma Saotome-"/P
[Silence!] Phoenix felt a dull pain begin in her head. [My name is Phoenix, and I am a Protoss warrior!]/P
"Akane, please, talk to me."/P
[I am talking to you. And don't call me Akane!]/P
"No, I mean talk. Use you're voice, not your mind."/P
[Why?]/P
"I...its been five years since I've heard your voice." Nabiki's voice cracked on the last word. "The last sound...I hear was...you screaming..." Nabiki choked back tears. Her voice wavered as she continued. "I still have nightmares, you know. Seeing your skin and flesh melt away from the Guardian's Acid Spore. Please, talk to me Akane!"/P
Phoenix stumbled towards Nabiki. [I told you not to call me that!] Phoenix fell forward, slamming a fist into Nabiki's face./P
The blow itself was not hard. Nabiki barely felt it. But the emotional damage was considerable. "You...you hit me," Nabiki said in disbelief. A tear trickled down her cheek. "You actually hit me." A second fist hit her in the stomach, then a third in the face again. Again, the physical damage was negligible, but the emotional impact was devastating. As where Phoenix's words./P
[Yes! And I'll keep hitting you until you leave!] Phoenix drew back another fist, but was stopped by Ka'Dalanis./P
[No, Phoenix, that's enough. Don't strain your body any further.] The Healer turned to Nabiki. [You should leave.]/P
Nabiki growled. "Akane, they've done something to you, and I'm going to undo it, whether you want me to or not." She advanced on the duo./P
[No! I cannot allow this!] Ka'Dalanis pushed the weakened Phoenix behind her./P
Nabiki snorted and pointed her pistol at the alien. "Who's going to stop me, you?"/P
[You don't understand! If you take her from us she'll die!]/P
"If you expect me to believe that-"/P
[She must spend time in a Regen Tank in order to maintain her health. If she doesn't, the amount of astral energy she channels through her body burns it out. If you take her she'll be dead in a matter of weeks, maybe even days! Please, I implore you, do not take her! Look at her!]/P
Nabiki looked. What she saw was pathetic. And frightening. Phoenix was leaning against the console, her legs shaking. She barely had the strength to hold herself up, but her eyes were bright and full of anger. She could see that if Phoenix had the strength, that she would have killed Nabiki by now./P
[Please, leave. You are only causing her pain.]/P
"Why should I leave her with you? You've treated her like some kind of prototype. Modifying, changing, manipulating her to your needs and wants. You uncaring monsters-!"/P
Ka'Dalanis looked away. [We are not all uncaring.] She looked back at Nabiki. [Please, let her live among her people instead of dying with strangers.]/P
"I'm not a stranger! Damn you, she's my sister-!"/P
[She's not your sister and never was!] Ka'Dalanis roared. [You're sister is dead! Five years dead, and only Phoenix remains! Don't you understand? You're here to rescue a memory that doesn't exist anymore.]/P
A rage consumed Nabiki. A rage that she had never felt before. It was all she could do to keep from emptying her gun into this alien that had turned her sister into a monster. When she spoke, it was a hissing whisper./P
"I'm. Taking. Her. With. Me."/P
Ka'Dalanis stared at the young human for a long moment, then moved aside. [Very well. But if you take her, it will mean her death. You don't have the technology to keep her alive. It would be kinder if you just killed her now. Her death with you would be far more painful.]/P
Nabiki's expression was filled with anguish. She could take her sister back. But what if the Protoss was right? What if Nabiki got her back only to lose her again?/P
Nabiki's gun began to shake. "A-Akane?" Her voice shook as badly as her gun./P
[Go away,] replied Phoenix flatly. [And don't come back. The next time I see you, I'll kill you.]/P
Nabiki choked back a sob, and tears began running down her face. "I-I'm going to find a way to keep you alive, Akane. And when I do, I'll be back to get you. I promise." Nabiki stepped back and vanished./P
Ka'Dalanis sagged in releif. [She's gone! Thank Adun!] She saw Phoenix fall to her knees. [Phoenix? Are you all right?] Ka'Dalanis moved quickly to her side./P
[My head hurts. And I'm so tired.]/P
[There, there my child. Let's get you back in the tank.] Taking off the skinsuit, the Healer helped Phoenix into the tank. Minutes later, Phoenix was once again suspended in the regeneration fluid. Ka'Dalanis put one hand on the tank and gazed up at her charge. Leaning against the tank, she pressed her forehead against the glass. Her face was filled with sorrow and regret./P
[Oh Phoenix, I'm so sorry. May Adun forgive me.]/P
BR
Nabiki ran. She did not want to be here anymore. She tried to force the pain of rejection to the back of her awareness, but her usual iron control had deserted her. She stopped and leaned against a wall trying to halt the sobs that wracked her body. After gaining a measure of control she ran to the outer wall and leapt on top. From there she, jumped off. Unfortunately, she forgot about the Photon Cannons. They had emerged from warp space and were activated by her presence. Alarms rang through the Protoss stronghold and the cannons began shooting their deadly energy. Nabiki managed to dodge several shots. She twisted, rolled and leapt over near misses. Making it to a ridge, she jumped up. A last photon blast struck her in the side and her world became a blaze of light./P
End Chapter 5
Healer Ka'Dalanis focused on the readings before her, trying to ignore the pounding of her head. Before her, suspended in a tube of translucent regeneration fluid, was Phoenix, recovering from the battle with the Zerg. Ka'Dalanis adjusted some controls and injected a series of proteins into the mix, then sat back and studied her charge./P
The only thing covering Phoenix was a mask that allowed her to breath. Her skin was a mottled gray-blue, and her long pigtail had been untied. Her hair flowed gently with the fluid. Every few minutes, she would twitch as though in the grip of a dream./P
Are those dreams of happier times, or the nightmares of the horrors you have seen? thought Ka'Dalanis sadly. Can you even dream, with no memories to draw from?/P
She turned as the door to the room hissed open, and Judicator Raetor entered. [How fares your charge, Healer?] he asked. [She has been in the tank for several hours.]/P
Ka'Dalanis turned to Raetor. [You ask me that? You should be thankful she survived at all, much less lived to fight off two humans, and return. When she got here, her brain was in an alarming state of decay. The psionic blast that hit us nearly killed her!] She turned away before she said something to alienate the Judicator. He was an ally, of sorts. He did not like Phoenix's presence here any more than she did, but for different reasons. When she managed to get her anger under control, she continued. [By the way, our stocks of dextorin are low.] Dextorin was used as a pain killer for the Templars when they over-extended their psychic abilities. Because of Ryoga's Shishi Hokodan, most of the Protoss at the base needed at least one dose to dull the pain of the psionic backlash./P
[I will make sure we are sent some on the next shipment our forces manage to smuggle past the human's blockade of the island,] he replied. [I must admit, I am pleased by her performance. According to the data recorder in her armor, she successfully challenged and defeated the two humans we have identified as 'Ghosts'.]/P
Despite herself, she felt a surge of pride. [Yes, she did do rather well, didn't she?] She shook her head in amusement. [We all do our jobs well.]/P
Raetor stiffened. [Not as well as we wish, sometimes.]/P
[Is the Praetor not listening to you again? Why doesn't that surprise me?]/P
[He-] Suddenly the doors hissed open and Praetor Halos strode into the room./P
[Greetings, Healer!] he said enthusiastically. [Congratulations on the success of Phoenix's first deployment. I'm very-]/P
[You!] she interrupted scathingly. [You sent her out there against a superior force for her first battle, *after* I said she wasn't ready, and *after* Raetor said she wasn't ready, and you expect me to be happy she returned to us barely alive?! You...you...Zergling! You brainless, arrogant, incompetent fool! You nearly killed her! She's spent the last day and a half in the Regen Tank, when it was projected that she would only need three hours per day. And she still needs to stay there until tomorrow! Get out, you idiot!]/P
[You can't-] started Halos, but Ka'Dalanis interrupted again./P
[I said get out or so help me I'll poison you the next time you use a Regen Tank! Go! Now!] Infuriated, Halos left. Raetor watched, then turned to Ka'Dalanis with a mixture of amusement and curiosity./P
[You wouldn't really poison him, would you?] he asked, half hopeful./P
[A Healer is queen in her own house. What do you think?]/P
[I think he should think twice before he next uses a Regen Tank.]/P
BR
Nabiki Tendo dismounted. Hiding the Vulture Attack Bike near the perimeter of the Protoss base, she cloaked and ran. Stopping at the top of a small ridge, she peered through her binoculars and saw several glowing signatures of Photon Cannons emerging from warp space. She did not know when they would appear, and did not care. She would worry about that after she got in. Praying there were no Observers in close proximity, Nabiki jumped off the ridge and charged the encampment./P
Leaping up to the top of the wall, her heart skipped a beat as she landed right beside a Dragoon. She waited for several seconds, ready to blast the thing to pieces if it saw her. It made no move towards her, so she jumped down into the base itself./P
Like most forts, internal security was relatively light in comparison to the external security. She looked around at the large number of buildings and felt her resolve crumble. She'd never find Akane before she lacked the strength to keep herself cloaked. Oh well, time for plan B./P
Picking a Zealot at random. She followed him until he entered one of the buildings. Making sure they were alone, she pulled out a mindblocker and attached it to his head. His eyes widened in surprise, then glazed over and he fell to the ground, unconscious. She pulled off her gloves and put one hand on either side of the Zealot's head. "This is really going to hurt," she said to herself. Taking a deep breath she plunged herself into his mind./P
Even unconscious, the Zealot had formidable psychic shields. She formed her thoughts into a spear of energy and tried to penetrate his defenses. The pain was intense! She was more of a telepath than Ranma, but it still hurt! After a seemingly endless fight against his shields and her own pain, she managed to break through to his mind. Once there, she asked two questions./P
[Human-Protoss warrior?] A swelter of images blurred through her mind before she caught an image of Akane./P
[Where?] She saw a vision of the Citadel of Adun. Pulling herself out of his mind, she sat back and wiped the sweat covering her face, a physical response to her mental exertions. Picking up the Zealot, she dumped him in a closet, knowing that the mindblocker should keep him unconscious until morning. Then she made her way to the Citadel./P
Following the mental instructions she had gleaned from the Zealot, she entered and slowly made her way to the top floor. Just as she reached the end of the stairs, the door hissed open and a Protoss in a flowing blue robe stepped out, a Judicator by his dress. Nabiki waited until the last moment then jumped over the Judicator and rolled through the open door before it closed. She stood and looked around./P
The room itself was nothing special. It was a box of a room with a couple of windows. The contents, however were much more interesting. There were a couple of chairs and other pieces of furniture. On the far wall, was Phoenix's battle armor on a small platform. Beside it, was a skinsuit composed of microcircutry, which allowed Phoenix to interface with the armor. A large console was hooked up to a tube filled with some kind of gel. Inside the tube was Phoenix./P
Nabiki hissed quietly, then noticed the tall Protoss female who was adjusting the controls on the console. Nabiki pulled out her pistol, attached a silencer to it, then sneaked up behind the Protoss. She then tapped her lightly on the shoulder./P
BR
Ka'Dalanis was in good spirits. It felt good to vent some of her frustration on that fool of a Praetor and have somewhat of a sympathetic ear of the Judicator. She made some minor adjustments, then felt something tap her shoulder. She spun around, startled. She thought she was alone! But there was no one there. Suddenly, a female human appeared out of thin air, and she had a gun pointing inches from Ka'Dalanis's face. The human put one finger to her lips, an obvious sign for her to be quiet, since humans used their clumsy lips to communicate./P
"I want her," said Nabiki, pointing at Akane, "out."/P
Ka'Dalanis thought frantically. [But you can't! She requires at least another eight hours-] Nabiki interrupted her./P
"Either you do it," she took a couple of steps back and unslung her Canister Rifle and pointed it at the Regen Tank. "Or I do it."/P
[No! Don't! I...I'll do it.] She turned back to the console, but froze when she felt the cool metal of Nabiki's pistol pressing against the back of her head./P
"No alarms. If I have even a vague suspicion that you're triggering an alarm, I'll blow your brains all over the console. Got it?" Ka'Dalanis nodded. "And no calling for help. I'm telepath enough to detect it." With a bit of fiddling, the regeneration fluid drained from the tank. Phoenix sank to bottom and then to her knees. The tube rose into the ceiling, and Nabiki was there barely in time to keep Phoenix from falling on the floor./P
"Akane? Akane, it's me, Nabiki, your sister. Akane? Akane, please, wake up." Phoenix's eyes fluttered, and they opened slowly./P
[So tired,] she said. [Dala, why-] Then she noticed that the person holding her was not the Healer. [You! Who are you?] Phoenix began to struggle against Nabiki's hold. [Let me go! Help! Dala, where are you?! Help me!] Fortunately for Nabiki, due to Phoenix's weakness, she could not project her mind-voice beyond the confines of the room./P
"Akane, please, don't struggle! I'm here to help you!" Nabiki tried to hold the increasingly violent woman./P
In the meantime, Ka'Dalanis had gotten a towel and the skinsuit, and was standing a few feet away. [Please let her go! You're hurting her!] she pleaded./P
Nabiki pointed her gun at the Healer. "You stay out of this!" Phoenix used Nabiki's momentary distraction to break the hold. She rolled away from Nabiki and to her feet. She ended up in front of the Healer in a combat stance. Phoenix felt her legs give out, and she fell back into the waiting arms of Ka'Dalanis. The Healer wrapped the towel around her and began drying off the thin film of regeneration fluid still covering her body./P
[Relax, Phoenix, I'm here,] said Ka'Dalanis reassuringly./P
[Who is this? Why is she here?] demanded Phoenix weakly./P
"I'm Nabiki. Don't you remember? I'm your sister!"/P
[Impossible!] Phoenix declared. [I am a Protoss warrior-]/P
"Don't be so blind! You're human!"/P
[The Protoss made me!] Phoenix stood still as the Healer helped her into the skinsuit. [I will not go with you.]/P
"Akane-"/P
[Don't call me that! My name is Phoenix!]/P
"You're name is Akane, and you're my sister! You had another older sister name Kasumi and a father name Soun. You were betrothed to Ranma Saotome-"/P
[Silence!] Phoenix felt a dull pain begin in her head. [My name is Phoenix, and I am a Protoss warrior!]/P
"Akane, please, talk to me."/P
[I am talking to you. And don't call me Akane!]/P
"No, I mean talk. Use you're voice, not your mind."/P
[Why?]/P
"I...its been five years since I've heard your voice." Nabiki's voice cracked on the last word. "The last sound...I hear was...you screaming..." Nabiki choked back tears. Her voice wavered as she continued. "I still have nightmares, you know. Seeing your skin and flesh melt away from the Guardian's Acid Spore. Please, talk to me Akane!"/P
Phoenix stumbled towards Nabiki. [I told you not to call me that!] Phoenix fell forward, slamming a fist into Nabiki's face./P
The blow itself was not hard. Nabiki barely felt it. But the emotional damage was considerable. "You...you hit me," Nabiki said in disbelief. A tear trickled down her cheek. "You actually hit me." A second fist hit her in the stomach, then a third in the face again. Again, the physical damage was negligible, but the emotional impact was devastating. As where Phoenix's words./P
[Yes! And I'll keep hitting you until you leave!] Phoenix drew back another fist, but was stopped by Ka'Dalanis./P
[No, Phoenix, that's enough. Don't strain your body any further.] The Healer turned to Nabiki. [You should leave.]/P
Nabiki growled. "Akane, they've done something to you, and I'm going to undo it, whether you want me to or not." She advanced on the duo./P
[No! I cannot allow this!] Ka'Dalanis pushed the weakened Phoenix behind her./P
Nabiki snorted and pointed her pistol at the alien. "Who's going to stop me, you?"/P
[You don't understand! If you take her from us she'll die!]/P
"If you expect me to believe that-"/P
[She must spend time in a Regen Tank in order to maintain her health. If she doesn't, the amount of astral energy she channels through her body burns it out. If you take her she'll be dead in a matter of weeks, maybe even days! Please, I implore you, do not take her! Look at her!]/P
Nabiki looked. What she saw was pathetic. And frightening. Phoenix was leaning against the console, her legs shaking. She barely had the strength to hold herself up, but her eyes were bright and full of anger. She could see that if Phoenix had the strength, that she would have killed Nabiki by now./P
[Please, leave. You are only causing her pain.]/P
"Why should I leave her with you? You've treated her like some kind of prototype. Modifying, changing, manipulating her to your needs and wants. You uncaring monsters-!"/P
Ka'Dalanis looked away. [We are not all uncaring.] She looked back at Nabiki. [Please, let her live among her people instead of dying with strangers.]/P
"I'm not a stranger! Damn you, she's my sister-!"/P
[She's not your sister and never was!] Ka'Dalanis roared. [You're sister is dead! Five years dead, and only Phoenix remains! Don't you understand? You're here to rescue a memory that doesn't exist anymore.]/P
A rage consumed Nabiki. A rage that she had never felt before. It was all she could do to keep from emptying her gun into this alien that had turned her sister into a monster. When she spoke, it was a hissing whisper./P
"I'm. Taking. Her. With. Me."/P
Ka'Dalanis stared at the young human for a long moment, then moved aside. [Very well. But if you take her, it will mean her death. You don't have the technology to keep her alive. It would be kinder if you just killed her now. Her death with you would be far more painful.]/P
Nabiki's expression was filled with anguish. She could take her sister back. But what if the Protoss was right? What if Nabiki got her back only to lose her again?/P
Nabiki's gun began to shake. "A-Akane?" Her voice shook as badly as her gun./P
[Go away,] replied Phoenix flatly. [And don't come back. The next time I see you, I'll kill you.]/P
Nabiki choked back a sob, and tears began running down her face. "I-I'm going to find a way to keep you alive, Akane. And when I do, I'll be back to get you. I promise." Nabiki stepped back and vanished./P
Ka'Dalanis sagged in releif. [She's gone! Thank Adun!] She saw Phoenix fall to her knees. [Phoenix? Are you all right?] Ka'Dalanis moved quickly to her side./P
[My head hurts. And I'm so tired.]/P
[There, there my child. Let's get you back in the tank.] Taking off the skinsuit, the Healer helped Phoenix into the tank. Minutes later, Phoenix was once again suspended in the regeneration fluid. Ka'Dalanis put one hand on the tank and gazed up at her charge. Leaning against the tank, she pressed her forehead against the glass. Her face was filled with sorrow and regret./P
[Oh Phoenix, I'm so sorry. May Adun forgive me.]/P
BR
Nabiki ran. She did not want to be here anymore. She tried to force the pain of rejection to the back of her awareness, but her usual iron control had deserted her. She stopped and leaned against a wall trying to halt the sobs that wracked her body. After gaining a measure of control she ran to the outer wall and leapt on top. From there she, jumped off. Unfortunately, she forgot about the Photon Cannons. They had emerged from warp space and were activated by her presence. Alarms rang through the Protoss stronghold and the cannons began shooting their deadly energy. Nabiki managed to dodge several shots. She twisted, rolled and leapt over near misses. Making it to a ridge, she jumped up. A last photon blast struck her in the side and her world became a blaze of light./P
End Chapter 5