While D'argo and the others had to follow the trail by slowly tracking scents, the three women were able to cover more ground and catch up quickly following Andar's trail markings. When they joined up, the more skilled members at tracking and stalking went ahead first leaving Chiana to follow behind with the Priestesses and Andar. Even though she ached to charge ahead to find Jalen, at least the others had stopped trying to talk her into staying behind and letting them handle the situation. Inside she understood their reasoning and she knew that if they had been able, they would have made Jared remain behind also if he hadn't left so fast before they could stop him. In the lead, D'argo suddenly stopped and held up a hand demanding silence. The Luxan closed his eyes and tilted his head from side to side.
"Voices... coming from up ahead," he finally said to the others.
Chiana started to push her way forward through the rest of the group, but was stopped by Aeryn's strong hand.
"Hold up a micron!" the ex-Peacekeeper hissed. "I know you're worried but if you go losing your frelling head now, your son... and Berret may die."
Chiana cocked her head ready to stubbornly start arguing with the woman but Aeryn cut her off before she had the chance. "We don't know what's going on up there. Let D'argo, Jothee, and John go in first. Andar and I will cover them while Zhaan and Malika get ready to go in, in case there is wounded. You stay here with them until its safe." Aeryn looked her hard in the eyes.
"Chiana, you have to trust us. You know I'm right about this," she finished, her tone soften as she knew she was getting through to the Nebari. Chiana's look became less frantic and more of helpless worry as Aeryn spoke; she finally nodded her head in agreement, and with a pleading look asked,
"Please get them out, Aeryn."
The Nebari was too close to Jalen so Berret left his Pulse pistol holstered as he stepped out of the shadows.
Captain Stoma clutched Jalen to his chest and leveled his Pulse pistol at boy's father. When it seemed the man was going to ignore the threat of the gun and rush forward anyway, Stoma redirected the muzzle of his weapon until in was press up against the boy's temple. That tactic halted the advancing man in his tracks.
"I see that there is something here you care about. I was wondering which one you were," Stoma said, then as Berret made to take another step closer he twisted the barrel harder against the Jalen's flesh, making the boy wince.
"Ah!" he warned. "Not another frelling step closer. Lose the gun belt," ordered the Nebari Officer.
Berret froze in place again and hit the release for his pistol belt. The pistol hit the floor and the Nebari next ordered him to kick it away and to lock the heavy metal door behind him.
"It's over, let him go. I only want my son back," Berret told the man after he did what he was told.
Stoma gave a low humorless laugh, "It's never over, not while those that oppose us have a weak point.
I'm almost impressed; I didn't even hear you come in. I have to say I'm surprised a Syndicate assassin would have time or even care enough to raise a family. They can be just such a exploitable... weakness."
Without warning the Nebari shoved Jalen towards his father. For Berret, everything went into slow motion as the event unfolded. Before the boy covered half the distance to his father, Berret saw Stoma smile and raise his pistol, pointing it at the running boy's back. The weapon barked and spat its blue pulse bolt just as Berret was able to react.
"No!" his cry sounded long and drawn out to him as he started to move forward toward his son.
To Berret's horror he saw the bolt strike his son in the back and exit out his chest. Jalen stumbled from the impact, a stunned look of pain and surprise on his young face as his knees gave way and he started to collapse to the ground.
"Jalen!" Berret cried out as he managed to reach his son and catch him before he hit the cold floor.
Berret gathered his son into his arms and cradled him. His entire world having shrunk to the small battered body in his arms, he no longer cared that his enemy was now standing somewhere out of sight behind his back.
"Jalen?" he asked, begging his son to speak as he brushed the boy's sweaty hair out from in front of his eyes. The boy looked up at his father, his eyes filled with pain and confusion.
"D-Dad-dy?" he tried to get out through a mouth that had began to fill with dark purple blood.
"Shhhh... shhhhh.... It's all right, Baby. Don't try and talk," Berret said trying to sound strong and confident to comfort his child, but his voice broke despite his effort.
"You'll be alright, just hold on," he told him over and over again, rocking the dying child. Jalen looked up tried to touch the tears running down his father's face.
"Mom-my...." he said slowly closing his eyes, going limp and still in his father's arms.
Berret's grief overcame him as he hugged his son's body tightly to him, his forehead press against his son's. Great sobs racking his body. He no longer cared about the man behind him even when he walked up and stood over him.
"You see, love can be a weakness... in your case it was fatal. In the new Nebari Order, such weakness will not exist," lectured Stoma, before taking a step backwards and pointing his pistol at the back of Berret's head. "Good bye, Shrike. It was better this way. The boy didn't have a place in the coming order anyway," he said and started to put pressure on the trigger.
Berret waited for death, no longer caring to live after helplessly watching his child die in his arms. He closed his eyes and whispered to his son, "It's okay, Daddy's coming."
There was a loud bang and crash as the door was blown off its hinges, followed by a pulse bolt. Three more bolts followed in quick secession and the sound of a body hitting the floor. Heavy footfalls pounded pass the Shrike and then Crichton's voice filled the room.
"J.B.! Are you all... OH, GOD! No!" he said as he saw the scene.
Berret looked up from Jalen's body. Crichton filled the doorway for a microt and then was roughly pushed aside by Zhaan and Malika. Aeryn and Andar stood watch in the hallway, Pulse rifles held at the ready. The Delvians rushed to the pair on the floor.
"Let me see him!" demanded Zhaan in a shout, trying to get through Berret's shock and grief. Malika helped her by prying his hands from their death grip on the small form. Once free they moved Jalen over to where they had room to work on him. In a daze, Berret looked behind him and saw D'argo and Jothee standing over the still living, but wounded Stoma. D'argo towered over the Nebari man, one massive boot pining the man to the floor and the blade of his Qualta sword almost piercing the man under his chin.
"Go ahead and blink!" growled the Luxan in pure hate. Beside him Jothee stood covering the man with his Pulse rifle, the look of enraged hatred on his young face matching his father's.
Crichton was saying something to him, but Berret really wasn't listening. The vision of Jalen being shot and falling played over and over again in his mind. There was a commotion coming from the hallway. Aeryn and Chiana's voices drifted into the room as Aeryn tried to keep her from entering.
"Let me go!" the Nebari woman demanded. "Jalen! Jared! Where are they? I want to see them!"
Aeryn not being able to hold the frantic woman and her Pulse rifle at the ready, lost her grip on Chiana's twisting arm. Chiana pushed her way into the room before anyone else could stop her.
"Jalen?" she called and stopped dead in mid-stride as she saw the two Delvian women bent over the small body, the dark purple blood of her offspring on the floor told her the rest of the story.
"No! Jalen!" she screamed, attempting to go to him. Crichton holstered his pistol and caught the woman before she could make it over to the group. Bodily picking her up off her feet at times, he dragged her struggling back over to the doorway, trying his best to calm her and keep her out of the Delvians' way. Aeryn left Andar to guard the door and went to help her husband. Chiana sobbed, begging and pleading with her friends to let her go to her son until no longer able to stand, she slid to the floor. John hugged her tightly to him as she sobbed uncontrollably against his chest.
Numbly, Berret regained his feet and stumbled over to the Priestesses. Zhaan looked up at his approach, the tears welling up in her blue eyes told him the dire news.
Against all hope he begged, "Help him, Zhaan. Please!"
She reached out to him, her own heart breaking and her own pain forgotten, "We're trying, Jared. We're doing all we can."
Beside her Malika fought her own sobs and wiped away tears that were only replaced by fresh ones as she worked over the small body. Berret knees gave out on him and he dropped straight to the floor besides his son as the reality of his what had happened hit him again. Chiana had curled into a sobbing ball on Aeryn's lap, Crichton was kneeling beside her quietly talking in a low reassuring tone while stroking her back. During that time, D'argo and Jothee had bound Stoma's hands and feet together. Both Luxan father and son stood nearby on guard... the true horror of the situation sinking in but having to put their grief and worry aside until everyone was safe. Andar in the doorway was doing his best to follow their example. Stoma seemed lifted by the group's heartache, and most especially by Chiana's anguish.
"You see what happens to little Tralks that frell alien scum and bear half-breeds! You will all learn that the Nebari way is the only true way!" he crowed.
John's voice turned cold and deadly, "What did you say?" he demanded as he turned toward him.
"I said the frelling Tralk and half-breed got what they deserved!" Stoma sneered at the human.
In an uncharacteristic blind rage, John was on his feet in an instant and stormed over to the Nebari Officer.
The man was about to say something else to taunt the man, when John's booted foot smashed into his face, knocking him backwards and sending teeth and blood flying.
"You f**king child murdering bastard!" screamed Crichton. His foot landing several more blows into the man's ribcage before Jothee and D'argo could drag him away. "You son of a bitch! I'll kill you myself!" raged John as he went for his pistol. His hand met empty air in his holster as D'argo had wisely thought of removing the weapon from the enraged man just microts before as they pulled him off the Nebari captain.
"Easy John!" rumbled the Luxan, "We may yet kill him, but now is not the time or place."
Crichton realized that his Luxan friend was curbing his own urge to execute the madman.
"All right, D'argo. We'll do it your way for now," relented Crichton. Shaking himself to get his self-control back as father and son released him. "But gag that bastard so we don't have to listen to his frelling mouth." D'argo nodded to his son, who found a rag to make a gag out of. The young warrior being none too gentle as he forced the dirty clothe into Stoma's mouth and tied it tightly behind his head.
"I hope you choke on it," hissed the young half Luxan, his eyes bright with barely leashed anger.
Berret watched this transpire as if it were happening to someone else. Looking over at his wife, he found her watching him with pain filled eyes. She held his gaze for a few microts, "Where were you?" they accused him before she turned away, burying her head back in Aeryn's arms and weeping anew. Berret hung his head.
"It's all my fault," he said to himself. Repeating the phrase over and over again in his head. More tears of his own beginning to fall. With the pounding of armored shod footfalls, Rygel's Guard arrived and began to fill the room. The Luxans turned their prisoner over to them, advising that it be best if the Nebari was removed to a cell before Crichton became enraged again or worse yet, the Shrike or Chiana recovered from their shock. Aeryn placed Chiana's weapon off to one side in case the woman decided to take revenge against the prisoner, but the Nebari only had tear-filled eyes for her son and ignored the man being taken out. A few microts later Zhaan turned to the nearest guard and ordered,
"Get a stretcher here now and inform the Med-quarters of the emergency!" She grabbed an offered Med-pack from a field medic and began to tear it open.
"He still lives, but barely.... and we are losing him!"
The crewmates sat around the waiting area at the Med-quarters of Rygel's huge government complex located near the Palace. It was fortunate that the room the tragedy took place in was near an outside wall of the Palace. After the stretcher was bought in, the Elite guard used a controlled explosion to create an opening up and into the exterior wall. Jalen was taken through the opening to a waiting air ambulance and air lifted to the Med-quarters instead of wasting valuable time in having to take the seriously wounded child back through the maze of corridors. The boy was wheeled directly into operating room, the Delvian women at his side the whole time and the only members of the crew allowed to remain as they were assisting and guiding the medical personnel through Jalen's unique Nebari/Human physiology. Chiana and Berret were ushered off immediately to donate blood for their son, even though there was a risk of passing on the illegal microbe technology from father to son. The Med-staff did their best to run the donated human blood through several filters before fusing it with Chiana's. Half an arn later Crichton was called upon to donate some of his for plasma, Sebacean blood or plasma not being compatible for the boy. Rygel arrived just as John was being lead away to a room for the procedure and ordered that donations be taken from the Nebari prisoners, by force if necessary.
Berret had insisted they take almost twice the amount of blood from his veins as was normal, trusting the same microbes that had to be filtered out to replace it as quickly as possible. Chiana had given half again the normal amount and was feeling faint not having the microbes to fall back on but still on her feet waiting for news. Berret approached the woman from behind as she started out one of the windows at the sunrise.
He expected his wife would turn on him in a rage for letting their son come to harm. Instead, instinctively knowing he was there without turning to look, she leaned back against him. Berret folded his arms around her and together they watched the sun rise on Hyneria.
A few microns later he whispered in her ear, "I'm sorry."
Chiana rubbed his forearms idly and shook her head, "It's not your fault. You did the best you could."
"My best wasn't good enough to save him," answered Berret.
Chiana turned her head so she could look up at him; her eyes still bloodshot blue from her earlier weeping.
"There's no news yet, so that means he's still fighting. We can't give up hope if he won't... so don't talk like he's already gone." She touched his cheek to make him hold her gaze. "There is nothing different you or I could have done to change what happened... now we pray to the Goddess and hope she hears our prayers."
She swayed a little bit from the blood loss and Berret tightened his hold to support her. Chiana would have let the Med-techs bleed her dry if they hadn't refused to remove any more of her blood. His wife had taken a much bigger risk donating so much blood without the microbes as a failsafe. He kissed the top of the courageous woman's head and then rubbed his cheek against hers in Nebari affection.
"Yes, you're right. He is a fighter... like his mother," he murmured to her.
After what seemed an eternity the crew had either nodded off or where half dozing in their seats. Rygel floated in the middle of the room on his thronesled, lightly snoring. The only fully alert beings in the area were the members of the Elite Guard standing watch over the crewmates. The swinging door to the O.R. opened and an exhausted Zhaan and Malika stepped out. The crew was instantly awake as the Delvians appeared and all speaking at once. Zhaan loosened her surgical gown as she tried to wave for them to settle down.
"QUIET!" the Luxan roared. The shout stunned the over-tired companions into silence. D'argo then nodded for Chiana to speak first.
"How is he Zhaan? Will he live? Is my Baby gonna be alright?" Chiana would have kept rapidly asking the same question over in a number of different ways if Berret hadn't stopped her from going on.
"He is doing better then we expected but he's not in the clear yet," said the Delvian, the tired bags under her eyes testament to the long arns spent standing in surgery. During that time, someone had changed the dressing on her head wound. It amazed Berret that she was still on her feet at all.
"Jalen is still being purposely kept in a coma induced state. The damage to his internal organs was quite extensive and required massive amount of reconstructive surgery. However the blood and plasma you all donated went a long way in helping."
Zhaan turned to Rygel and asked, "Where did you find all the Nebari plasma?"
The Hynerians ears and eyebrows lifted in a smirk. "Let's just say that we found some volunteers who were more that happy to give what they could."
The Delvian was too tired to go into further detail about the source. "What ever you did Rygel, Thank you... and to you also John. Your blood plasma was badly needed."
Chiana hugged the Priestess. "It's Jared and me who thank you the most," she said, "and Malika of course." Chiana began looking around for the younger Priestess, but didn't see her. A microt later everyone else started scanning the room until a small murmur directed their attention to a back corner of the waiting area. Malika sat curled up in a large chair, still in her surgical gown, peacefully asleep.
Crichton went and got something hot for Zhaan to drink. D'argo made room for the tired Delvian to sit down on the room's sofa. Sighing with the pleasure of removing her weight from her feet, she went into further detail about the operation and it's outlook. Despite Zhaan's insistence that Jalen had a long way to go if he recovered, Chiana looked optimistic and for that alone Berret was grateful after the long arns of misery his wife had endured. After a few microns, Berret wandered over to a corner and keyed his comm.
"Pilot?" he asked.
"I'm here, Jared. What word on Jalen?" Pilot asked right away, the worry prominent in his voice.
"Zhaan and Malika have just come out of surgery. Jalen still lives and is doing better then expected."
Berret started filling Pilot and Moya in on as many details as he was able. Both Pilot and Leviathan were concerned about his son. Rygel had reported that when they heard the news of the boy's wounding by the Nebari that Moya's distress was so great that she was jamming many of the communication bands around Hyneria with her cries of mourning. Like the rest of the crew, Moya and her pilot considered all the children born to the group as their own. Pilot once explaining that Moya viewed the children no different then she did Talyn. Berret felt a pain of guilt for not having considered the whole group's feeling as they have all help raise his children as much as Chiana and himself.
"Moya and I are relieved to hear that young Jalen is still with us. Moya has been offering prayers up to her Creators on his behalf," Pilot told him.
"Please give Moya... and yourself, Chiana and my thanks and love, Pilot, " said Berret. "Now if you will, my friend. I need you to do something for me," the Shrike asked.
"Of course, Jared," Pilot replied.
During the long course of the day, Chiana and Berret arranged to stay at the Med-quarters to watch over Jalen even though Zhaan said it might be several solar days before they would attempt to bring him out of the induced coma. They send a message to Joban's home that John and Aeryn would be by to take Chulee home with them when the picked up Andrea and Missy. If it weren't for the tubes and machines connected to their son, Jalen would almost appear to be sleeping. Chiana moved the other bed in the room over to be close to her son. The Nebari woman lay down next to him, her small hand holding one of his even smaller ones. Berret sat quietly in a chair next to the two until his exhausted wife soon fell into her own deep sleep. Berret watched them slumber for a few microns and then silently rose. He smoothed the wild Nebari hair on his son's head and bent to kiss his forehead. His wife stirred in her sleep as he stood over her, committing her face to his memory, he bent a second time to kiss her cheek and paused to inhale her scent.
"Forgive me," he said almost inaudibly. Raising, he quietly left the room, stopping only long enough to assure that the man Joban had hand-picked to stand guard over Jalen was still on duty. Once outside the Med-center Berret keyed his comm,
"Pilot has everything been prepared?" he asked.
"Yes. All is as you requested, Jared," replied Moya's helmsman.
"Thank you," he said simply, then keyed the comm over to another channel and spoke a string of code words. Closing the channel he started to jog toward the Palace landing pad.
A third of an arn later, Berret arrived at the gates of the Landing Port. He passed through them and headed for a secluded section of the area. Microns later found him standing in front of the shadowy shape of the newly refitted Wraith. The data collecting scanning panels that also served the craft as wings folded up and back so the ship could perch on it's three landing struts, the engines ticking as they cooled. Berret walked over to the hatchway and slapped his palm against the access pad. In response the hatch cycled open allowing the Shrike to enter. On the floor in the middle of the operations station was his armor. Pilot having had the DRD's bring it from his apartments and place it aboard the Wraith before it departed. Berret stripped off his clothes and donned the ballistic suit; even after almost ten cycles it still fit him like a second skin. While he was strapping and buckling on the armor plates he asked the AI system aboard the scout ship,
"Wraith, status?"
"Upgrades to stealth systems online and functioning. Weapon's systems fully charged and armed. Craft is currently under full stealth status and has not been detected by planetary defenses," said the metallic voice.
Berret had just finished putting on his second gauntlet when a voice behind him said,
"I wouldn't say it has totally avoided detection."
Berret snapped his head around to see D'argo filling the hatchway. The Luxan's Qualta blade resting point downward on the Wraith's deck, both huge hands resting on its pommel.
"You don't think you're going to do this alone, do you?" his rough voice asked.
"How did you know?" asked Berret. The Luxan held up one finger.
"One, It's what I would do. Two..." he said tapping the finger against his ear, "While the Wraith can avoid electronic detection, it's braking thrusters are still recognizable to someone who has served with many different kinds of warships. When I heard it land, I knew you'd called for it and where going after that Hyril fellow."
"I see," said the Shrike. "But this is something I must do alone."
D'argo flared at the statement, "I will not let you go by yourself! My honor... Luxan Honor, will not permit a battle-comrade to go into combat unaided while a warrior still had strength in his fingers to grip a sword."
D'argo proudly pulled himself up to his full height, thinking he had the Shrike beat with his logic and reasoning.
"I notice Jothee isn't with you.... what about his Luxan Honor?" the man asked him.
D'argo let out a curse. "That is not the same thing!" he spat, not willing to admit he'd purposely left his son behind.
"Since you seem set on quoting Luxan Codes of Honor to me, then I invoke the ritual 'Czar't tal'Vorn', The Blood Vendetta," said Berret.
"You are not Luxan!" D'argo bellowed, not expecting to have his own customs thrown back at him.
"But I am your friend... and you will honor me and my son," replied the Shrike. D'argo uttered a string of curses again, this time using words that not even Berret had heard before. Not having any choice now but to accept the situation he had created.
"Do you know what you are doing? Its still not a good idea to do this yourself," The Luxan tried to reason with him, hoping he'd change his mind.
Berret shook his head, "At this point I'm flying by the seat of my pants as John likes to says. I know you are far from being a coward Ka'D'Argo, and I appreciate the honor of your offer to fight at my side. But I caused this situation and it is up to me to settle it with the Nebari. I do ask according to the Blood Vendetta, that should I fail... that at some point in the future, you avenge me."
D'argo looked at Berret for a few microts, then shaking his head said, "I should never have told you about Luxan culture and custom." Then getting serious he continued, holding up his Qualta Blade with the point pointing downward.
"It shall be done, should you fall in battle... your honor becomes mine," he ritually vowed.
Berret nodded in thanks to the warrior, after a few microts he said,
"You and I have come along way, D'argo."
"That we have," affirmed the Luxan, both remembering the cycles of distrust between them. "You know Chiana's going to have both our hides for this," comment the warrior.
The Luxan turned to leave the Wraith and Berret asked him one more favor. "D'argo!" he called.
The Luxan stopped just as he was ducking his head to clear the hatch.
"Asking as a friend. If this goes wrong and I don't come back.... take care of my family for me."
"You know you don't even have to ask," the Luxan replied.
Berret nodded. "Thank you... for everything," he said.
"Kill the bastard," said D'argo and then he was gone.
"Voices... coming from up ahead," he finally said to the others.
Chiana started to push her way forward through the rest of the group, but was stopped by Aeryn's strong hand.
"Hold up a micron!" the ex-Peacekeeper hissed. "I know you're worried but if you go losing your frelling head now, your son... and Berret may die."
Chiana cocked her head ready to stubbornly start arguing with the woman but Aeryn cut her off before she had the chance. "We don't know what's going on up there. Let D'argo, Jothee, and John go in first. Andar and I will cover them while Zhaan and Malika get ready to go in, in case there is wounded. You stay here with them until its safe." Aeryn looked her hard in the eyes.
"Chiana, you have to trust us. You know I'm right about this," she finished, her tone soften as she knew she was getting through to the Nebari. Chiana's look became less frantic and more of helpless worry as Aeryn spoke; she finally nodded her head in agreement, and with a pleading look asked,
"Please get them out, Aeryn."
The Nebari was too close to Jalen so Berret left his Pulse pistol holstered as he stepped out of the shadows.
Captain Stoma clutched Jalen to his chest and leveled his Pulse pistol at boy's father. When it seemed the man was going to ignore the threat of the gun and rush forward anyway, Stoma redirected the muzzle of his weapon until in was press up against the boy's temple. That tactic halted the advancing man in his tracks.
"I see that there is something here you care about. I was wondering which one you were," Stoma said, then as Berret made to take another step closer he twisted the barrel harder against the Jalen's flesh, making the boy wince.
"Ah!" he warned. "Not another frelling step closer. Lose the gun belt," ordered the Nebari Officer.
Berret froze in place again and hit the release for his pistol belt. The pistol hit the floor and the Nebari next ordered him to kick it away and to lock the heavy metal door behind him.
"It's over, let him go. I only want my son back," Berret told the man after he did what he was told.
Stoma gave a low humorless laugh, "It's never over, not while those that oppose us have a weak point.
I'm almost impressed; I didn't even hear you come in. I have to say I'm surprised a Syndicate assassin would have time or even care enough to raise a family. They can be just such a exploitable... weakness."
Without warning the Nebari shoved Jalen towards his father. For Berret, everything went into slow motion as the event unfolded. Before the boy covered half the distance to his father, Berret saw Stoma smile and raise his pistol, pointing it at the running boy's back. The weapon barked and spat its blue pulse bolt just as Berret was able to react.
"No!" his cry sounded long and drawn out to him as he started to move forward toward his son.
To Berret's horror he saw the bolt strike his son in the back and exit out his chest. Jalen stumbled from the impact, a stunned look of pain and surprise on his young face as his knees gave way and he started to collapse to the ground.
"Jalen!" Berret cried out as he managed to reach his son and catch him before he hit the cold floor.
Berret gathered his son into his arms and cradled him. His entire world having shrunk to the small battered body in his arms, he no longer cared that his enemy was now standing somewhere out of sight behind his back.
"Jalen?" he asked, begging his son to speak as he brushed the boy's sweaty hair out from in front of his eyes. The boy looked up at his father, his eyes filled with pain and confusion.
"D-Dad-dy?" he tried to get out through a mouth that had began to fill with dark purple blood.
"Shhhh... shhhhh.... It's all right, Baby. Don't try and talk," Berret said trying to sound strong and confident to comfort his child, but his voice broke despite his effort.
"You'll be alright, just hold on," he told him over and over again, rocking the dying child. Jalen looked up tried to touch the tears running down his father's face.
"Mom-my...." he said slowly closing his eyes, going limp and still in his father's arms.
Berret's grief overcame him as he hugged his son's body tightly to him, his forehead press against his son's. Great sobs racking his body. He no longer cared about the man behind him even when he walked up and stood over him.
"You see, love can be a weakness... in your case it was fatal. In the new Nebari Order, such weakness will not exist," lectured Stoma, before taking a step backwards and pointing his pistol at the back of Berret's head. "Good bye, Shrike. It was better this way. The boy didn't have a place in the coming order anyway," he said and started to put pressure on the trigger.
Berret waited for death, no longer caring to live after helplessly watching his child die in his arms. He closed his eyes and whispered to his son, "It's okay, Daddy's coming."
There was a loud bang and crash as the door was blown off its hinges, followed by a pulse bolt. Three more bolts followed in quick secession and the sound of a body hitting the floor. Heavy footfalls pounded pass the Shrike and then Crichton's voice filled the room.
"J.B.! Are you all... OH, GOD! No!" he said as he saw the scene.
Berret looked up from Jalen's body. Crichton filled the doorway for a microt and then was roughly pushed aside by Zhaan and Malika. Aeryn and Andar stood watch in the hallway, Pulse rifles held at the ready. The Delvians rushed to the pair on the floor.
"Let me see him!" demanded Zhaan in a shout, trying to get through Berret's shock and grief. Malika helped her by prying his hands from their death grip on the small form. Once free they moved Jalen over to where they had room to work on him. In a daze, Berret looked behind him and saw D'argo and Jothee standing over the still living, but wounded Stoma. D'argo towered over the Nebari man, one massive boot pining the man to the floor and the blade of his Qualta sword almost piercing the man under his chin.
"Go ahead and blink!" growled the Luxan in pure hate. Beside him Jothee stood covering the man with his Pulse rifle, the look of enraged hatred on his young face matching his father's.
Crichton was saying something to him, but Berret really wasn't listening. The vision of Jalen being shot and falling played over and over again in his mind. There was a commotion coming from the hallway. Aeryn and Chiana's voices drifted into the room as Aeryn tried to keep her from entering.
"Let me go!" the Nebari woman demanded. "Jalen! Jared! Where are they? I want to see them!"
Aeryn not being able to hold the frantic woman and her Pulse rifle at the ready, lost her grip on Chiana's twisting arm. Chiana pushed her way into the room before anyone else could stop her.
"Jalen?" she called and stopped dead in mid-stride as she saw the two Delvian women bent over the small body, the dark purple blood of her offspring on the floor told her the rest of the story.
"No! Jalen!" she screamed, attempting to go to him. Crichton holstered his pistol and caught the woman before she could make it over to the group. Bodily picking her up off her feet at times, he dragged her struggling back over to the doorway, trying his best to calm her and keep her out of the Delvians' way. Aeryn left Andar to guard the door and went to help her husband. Chiana sobbed, begging and pleading with her friends to let her go to her son until no longer able to stand, she slid to the floor. John hugged her tightly to him as she sobbed uncontrollably against his chest.
Numbly, Berret regained his feet and stumbled over to the Priestesses. Zhaan looked up at his approach, the tears welling up in her blue eyes told him the dire news.
Against all hope he begged, "Help him, Zhaan. Please!"
She reached out to him, her own heart breaking and her own pain forgotten, "We're trying, Jared. We're doing all we can."
Beside her Malika fought her own sobs and wiped away tears that were only replaced by fresh ones as she worked over the small body. Berret knees gave out on him and he dropped straight to the floor besides his son as the reality of his what had happened hit him again. Chiana had curled into a sobbing ball on Aeryn's lap, Crichton was kneeling beside her quietly talking in a low reassuring tone while stroking her back. During that time, D'argo and Jothee had bound Stoma's hands and feet together. Both Luxan father and son stood nearby on guard... the true horror of the situation sinking in but having to put their grief and worry aside until everyone was safe. Andar in the doorway was doing his best to follow their example. Stoma seemed lifted by the group's heartache, and most especially by Chiana's anguish.
"You see what happens to little Tralks that frell alien scum and bear half-breeds! You will all learn that the Nebari way is the only true way!" he crowed.
John's voice turned cold and deadly, "What did you say?" he demanded as he turned toward him.
"I said the frelling Tralk and half-breed got what they deserved!" Stoma sneered at the human.
In an uncharacteristic blind rage, John was on his feet in an instant and stormed over to the Nebari Officer.
The man was about to say something else to taunt the man, when John's booted foot smashed into his face, knocking him backwards and sending teeth and blood flying.
"You f**king child murdering bastard!" screamed Crichton. His foot landing several more blows into the man's ribcage before Jothee and D'argo could drag him away. "You son of a bitch! I'll kill you myself!" raged John as he went for his pistol. His hand met empty air in his holster as D'argo had wisely thought of removing the weapon from the enraged man just microts before as they pulled him off the Nebari captain.
"Easy John!" rumbled the Luxan, "We may yet kill him, but now is not the time or place."
Crichton realized that his Luxan friend was curbing his own urge to execute the madman.
"All right, D'argo. We'll do it your way for now," relented Crichton. Shaking himself to get his self-control back as father and son released him. "But gag that bastard so we don't have to listen to his frelling mouth." D'argo nodded to his son, who found a rag to make a gag out of. The young warrior being none too gentle as he forced the dirty clothe into Stoma's mouth and tied it tightly behind his head.
"I hope you choke on it," hissed the young half Luxan, his eyes bright with barely leashed anger.
Berret watched this transpire as if it were happening to someone else. Looking over at his wife, he found her watching him with pain filled eyes. She held his gaze for a few microts, "Where were you?" they accused him before she turned away, burying her head back in Aeryn's arms and weeping anew. Berret hung his head.
"It's all my fault," he said to himself. Repeating the phrase over and over again in his head. More tears of his own beginning to fall. With the pounding of armored shod footfalls, Rygel's Guard arrived and began to fill the room. The Luxans turned their prisoner over to them, advising that it be best if the Nebari was removed to a cell before Crichton became enraged again or worse yet, the Shrike or Chiana recovered from their shock. Aeryn placed Chiana's weapon off to one side in case the woman decided to take revenge against the prisoner, but the Nebari only had tear-filled eyes for her son and ignored the man being taken out. A few microts later Zhaan turned to the nearest guard and ordered,
"Get a stretcher here now and inform the Med-quarters of the emergency!" She grabbed an offered Med-pack from a field medic and began to tear it open.
"He still lives, but barely.... and we are losing him!"
The crewmates sat around the waiting area at the Med-quarters of Rygel's huge government complex located near the Palace. It was fortunate that the room the tragedy took place in was near an outside wall of the Palace. After the stretcher was bought in, the Elite guard used a controlled explosion to create an opening up and into the exterior wall. Jalen was taken through the opening to a waiting air ambulance and air lifted to the Med-quarters instead of wasting valuable time in having to take the seriously wounded child back through the maze of corridors. The boy was wheeled directly into operating room, the Delvian women at his side the whole time and the only members of the crew allowed to remain as they were assisting and guiding the medical personnel through Jalen's unique Nebari/Human physiology. Chiana and Berret were ushered off immediately to donate blood for their son, even though there was a risk of passing on the illegal microbe technology from father to son. The Med-staff did their best to run the donated human blood through several filters before fusing it with Chiana's. Half an arn later Crichton was called upon to donate some of his for plasma, Sebacean blood or plasma not being compatible for the boy. Rygel arrived just as John was being lead away to a room for the procedure and ordered that donations be taken from the Nebari prisoners, by force if necessary.
Berret had insisted they take almost twice the amount of blood from his veins as was normal, trusting the same microbes that had to be filtered out to replace it as quickly as possible. Chiana had given half again the normal amount and was feeling faint not having the microbes to fall back on but still on her feet waiting for news. Berret approached the woman from behind as she started out one of the windows at the sunrise.
He expected his wife would turn on him in a rage for letting their son come to harm. Instead, instinctively knowing he was there without turning to look, she leaned back against him. Berret folded his arms around her and together they watched the sun rise on Hyneria.
A few microns later he whispered in her ear, "I'm sorry."
Chiana rubbed his forearms idly and shook her head, "It's not your fault. You did the best you could."
"My best wasn't good enough to save him," answered Berret.
Chiana turned her head so she could look up at him; her eyes still bloodshot blue from her earlier weeping.
"There's no news yet, so that means he's still fighting. We can't give up hope if he won't... so don't talk like he's already gone." She touched his cheek to make him hold her gaze. "There is nothing different you or I could have done to change what happened... now we pray to the Goddess and hope she hears our prayers."
She swayed a little bit from the blood loss and Berret tightened his hold to support her. Chiana would have let the Med-techs bleed her dry if they hadn't refused to remove any more of her blood. His wife had taken a much bigger risk donating so much blood without the microbes as a failsafe. He kissed the top of the courageous woman's head and then rubbed his cheek against hers in Nebari affection.
"Yes, you're right. He is a fighter... like his mother," he murmured to her.
After what seemed an eternity the crew had either nodded off or where half dozing in their seats. Rygel floated in the middle of the room on his thronesled, lightly snoring. The only fully alert beings in the area were the members of the Elite Guard standing watch over the crewmates. The swinging door to the O.R. opened and an exhausted Zhaan and Malika stepped out. The crew was instantly awake as the Delvians appeared and all speaking at once. Zhaan loosened her surgical gown as she tried to wave for them to settle down.
"QUIET!" the Luxan roared. The shout stunned the over-tired companions into silence. D'argo then nodded for Chiana to speak first.
"How is he Zhaan? Will he live? Is my Baby gonna be alright?" Chiana would have kept rapidly asking the same question over in a number of different ways if Berret hadn't stopped her from going on.
"He is doing better then we expected but he's not in the clear yet," said the Delvian, the tired bags under her eyes testament to the long arns spent standing in surgery. During that time, someone had changed the dressing on her head wound. It amazed Berret that she was still on her feet at all.
"Jalen is still being purposely kept in a coma induced state. The damage to his internal organs was quite extensive and required massive amount of reconstructive surgery. However the blood and plasma you all donated went a long way in helping."
Zhaan turned to Rygel and asked, "Where did you find all the Nebari plasma?"
The Hynerians ears and eyebrows lifted in a smirk. "Let's just say that we found some volunteers who were more that happy to give what they could."
The Delvian was too tired to go into further detail about the source. "What ever you did Rygel, Thank you... and to you also John. Your blood plasma was badly needed."
Chiana hugged the Priestess. "It's Jared and me who thank you the most," she said, "and Malika of course." Chiana began looking around for the younger Priestess, but didn't see her. A microt later everyone else started scanning the room until a small murmur directed their attention to a back corner of the waiting area. Malika sat curled up in a large chair, still in her surgical gown, peacefully asleep.
Crichton went and got something hot for Zhaan to drink. D'argo made room for the tired Delvian to sit down on the room's sofa. Sighing with the pleasure of removing her weight from her feet, she went into further detail about the operation and it's outlook. Despite Zhaan's insistence that Jalen had a long way to go if he recovered, Chiana looked optimistic and for that alone Berret was grateful after the long arns of misery his wife had endured. After a few microns, Berret wandered over to a corner and keyed his comm.
"Pilot?" he asked.
"I'm here, Jared. What word on Jalen?" Pilot asked right away, the worry prominent in his voice.
"Zhaan and Malika have just come out of surgery. Jalen still lives and is doing better then expected."
Berret started filling Pilot and Moya in on as many details as he was able. Both Pilot and Leviathan were concerned about his son. Rygel had reported that when they heard the news of the boy's wounding by the Nebari that Moya's distress was so great that she was jamming many of the communication bands around Hyneria with her cries of mourning. Like the rest of the crew, Moya and her pilot considered all the children born to the group as their own. Pilot once explaining that Moya viewed the children no different then she did Talyn. Berret felt a pain of guilt for not having considered the whole group's feeling as they have all help raise his children as much as Chiana and himself.
"Moya and I are relieved to hear that young Jalen is still with us. Moya has been offering prayers up to her Creators on his behalf," Pilot told him.
"Please give Moya... and yourself, Chiana and my thanks and love, Pilot, " said Berret. "Now if you will, my friend. I need you to do something for me," the Shrike asked.
"Of course, Jared," Pilot replied.
During the long course of the day, Chiana and Berret arranged to stay at the Med-quarters to watch over Jalen even though Zhaan said it might be several solar days before they would attempt to bring him out of the induced coma. They send a message to Joban's home that John and Aeryn would be by to take Chulee home with them when the picked up Andrea and Missy. If it weren't for the tubes and machines connected to their son, Jalen would almost appear to be sleeping. Chiana moved the other bed in the room over to be close to her son. The Nebari woman lay down next to him, her small hand holding one of his even smaller ones. Berret sat quietly in a chair next to the two until his exhausted wife soon fell into her own deep sleep. Berret watched them slumber for a few microns and then silently rose. He smoothed the wild Nebari hair on his son's head and bent to kiss his forehead. His wife stirred in her sleep as he stood over her, committing her face to his memory, he bent a second time to kiss her cheek and paused to inhale her scent.
"Forgive me," he said almost inaudibly. Raising, he quietly left the room, stopping only long enough to assure that the man Joban had hand-picked to stand guard over Jalen was still on duty. Once outside the Med-center Berret keyed his comm,
"Pilot has everything been prepared?" he asked.
"Yes. All is as you requested, Jared," replied Moya's helmsman.
"Thank you," he said simply, then keyed the comm over to another channel and spoke a string of code words. Closing the channel he started to jog toward the Palace landing pad.
A third of an arn later, Berret arrived at the gates of the Landing Port. He passed through them and headed for a secluded section of the area. Microns later found him standing in front of the shadowy shape of the newly refitted Wraith. The data collecting scanning panels that also served the craft as wings folded up and back so the ship could perch on it's three landing struts, the engines ticking as they cooled. Berret walked over to the hatchway and slapped his palm against the access pad. In response the hatch cycled open allowing the Shrike to enter. On the floor in the middle of the operations station was his armor. Pilot having had the DRD's bring it from his apartments and place it aboard the Wraith before it departed. Berret stripped off his clothes and donned the ballistic suit; even after almost ten cycles it still fit him like a second skin. While he was strapping and buckling on the armor plates he asked the AI system aboard the scout ship,
"Wraith, status?"
"Upgrades to stealth systems online and functioning. Weapon's systems fully charged and armed. Craft is currently under full stealth status and has not been detected by planetary defenses," said the metallic voice.
Berret had just finished putting on his second gauntlet when a voice behind him said,
"I wouldn't say it has totally avoided detection."
Berret snapped his head around to see D'argo filling the hatchway. The Luxan's Qualta blade resting point downward on the Wraith's deck, both huge hands resting on its pommel.
"You don't think you're going to do this alone, do you?" his rough voice asked.
"How did you know?" asked Berret. The Luxan held up one finger.
"One, It's what I would do. Two..." he said tapping the finger against his ear, "While the Wraith can avoid electronic detection, it's braking thrusters are still recognizable to someone who has served with many different kinds of warships. When I heard it land, I knew you'd called for it and where going after that Hyril fellow."
"I see," said the Shrike. "But this is something I must do alone."
D'argo flared at the statement, "I will not let you go by yourself! My honor... Luxan Honor, will not permit a battle-comrade to go into combat unaided while a warrior still had strength in his fingers to grip a sword."
D'argo proudly pulled himself up to his full height, thinking he had the Shrike beat with his logic and reasoning.
"I notice Jothee isn't with you.... what about his Luxan Honor?" the man asked him.
D'argo let out a curse. "That is not the same thing!" he spat, not willing to admit he'd purposely left his son behind.
"Since you seem set on quoting Luxan Codes of Honor to me, then I invoke the ritual 'Czar't tal'Vorn', The Blood Vendetta," said Berret.
"You are not Luxan!" D'argo bellowed, not expecting to have his own customs thrown back at him.
"But I am your friend... and you will honor me and my son," replied the Shrike. D'argo uttered a string of curses again, this time using words that not even Berret had heard before. Not having any choice now but to accept the situation he had created.
"Do you know what you are doing? Its still not a good idea to do this yourself," The Luxan tried to reason with him, hoping he'd change his mind.
Berret shook his head, "At this point I'm flying by the seat of my pants as John likes to says. I know you are far from being a coward Ka'D'Argo, and I appreciate the honor of your offer to fight at my side. But I caused this situation and it is up to me to settle it with the Nebari. I do ask according to the Blood Vendetta, that should I fail... that at some point in the future, you avenge me."
D'argo looked at Berret for a few microts, then shaking his head said, "I should never have told you about Luxan culture and custom." Then getting serious he continued, holding up his Qualta Blade with the point pointing downward.
"It shall be done, should you fall in battle... your honor becomes mine," he ritually vowed.
Berret nodded in thanks to the warrior, after a few microts he said,
"You and I have come along way, D'argo."
"That we have," affirmed the Luxan, both remembering the cycles of distrust between them. "You know Chiana's going to have both our hides for this," comment the warrior.
The Luxan turned to leave the Wraith and Berret asked him one more favor. "D'argo!" he called.
The Luxan stopped just as he was ducking his head to clear the hatch.
"Asking as a friend. If this goes wrong and I don't come back.... take care of my family for me."
"You know you don't even have to ask," the Luxan replied.
Berret nodded. "Thank you... for everything," he said.
"Kill the bastard," said D'argo and then he was gone.