Chapter 3: The Living Death
Planet Pyrite
Underground Base #145
Scarran prison cell
"Frell, Scorpius looks pretty bad." John told D'argo in a low voice.
Scorpius was sitting cross-legged with his back up against the wall of the cell he and the others were sharing. He had his eyes closed and was gritting his teeth against the pain and oncoming delirium. Sweat was already forming on his brow caused by his overheating body. He had his fists clenched but not because of the pain.
"I'm alright John," Scorpius lied.
"The frell you are!" John spat, "I mean look at you! You're a mess. Why did you have to be so damn reckless! What were you thinking shoving your *only* cooling rod down that bastard's throat?"
"I hadn't anticipated that we would fail so miserably, John," Scorpius said blandly.
"We?" John raised an eyebrow. "So you *were* intending to rescue Sikozu and not kill her."
Scorpius remained silent and he wondered himself what his true intentions were. 'I came here to stop a Peacekeeper-Scarran War from breaking out and that's what I *still* intend to accomplish. And if Sikozu gets in my way then I *will* terminate her. But I must concentrate if I am to keep my head long enough to make any sort of a difference. Already I can feel the delirium sinking in and it won't be long before-' Scorpius cut himself off at the thought and decided to try and be optimistic. If he knew Sikozu at all she would try to see him and then he would have his chance.
Meanwhile elsewhere in base #145 Seker and Sikozu were receiving an unexpected guest - a Scarran dressed in dark robes with a deep scar that passed over one eye.
"Father?" Seker exclaimed upon his father entering Sikozu's recovery room. "What are you doing here?" Seker asked trying not to sound too enthusiastic but only curious.
"I got a strange tip that you were up to no good. Would you mind telling me what this is all about?" King Obsidian demanded of his son before his eyes traveled the room and rested on Sikozu, who was seated in a hospital chair with a dazed expression on her face. Seker had given her drugs to ease her pain, among other reasons. "And what is the meaning of this?"
"She is to be my Queen," Seker revealed.
"Queen? What are you-" The King started to object but Seker took out a dagger with a curved blade and attacked his father. In one swift movement Seker used the dagger to carve out his father's heat producing gland. Blood began gushing from Obsidian's throat and spilling onto the floor. Sikozu watched horror-stricken at the scene before her knowing that because of her this Scarran would die.
"Son-!" Obsidian tried to speak but his lungs were already filling with blood.
"Still alive father?" Seker asked with a malicious gleam in his eyes. "Good, I wanted to try my Sikozu's latest invention on you. They're called 'cooling rods' she makes them to keep that half-breed Scorpius alive, don't ask me why. But they certainly did a number on me." Seker rubbed his sore throat that was still healing. "I wonder how many it will take for you to die."
Obsidian began to back away from his crazed son but Seker already had a cooling rod in hand and lunged at his father. He then pinned him to the floor and shoved a cooling rod down his throat just as Scorpius had done to him. "Hurts doesn't it father? Feel how it burns when it's supposed to cool? Feel how your lungs are closing because of the cold and giving the blood that is now trapped inside them no way out?"
Obsidian's body convulsed from the cold and it was obvious he was dying, but with the last of his strength he grabbed onto his son and pulled him close, "Your Kalish mother gave me this scar - *secret*." Obsidian struggled to say as he coughed up blood. The last word his father had spoken unsettled Seker.
Sikozu, who had heard every word, had her eyes wide in torment and fear. She had the strong urge to run away but Seker had pumped her full of so many different drugs that she could barely move her neck to the side of her own freewill.
Seker looked over at Sikozu suspiciously, "You don't know what his gibberish meant do you?"
Sikozu tried to speak but the drugs made it hard to do so, "No I-"
"I didn't think so," Seker said with a wave of his hand, "Now what to do about this body?"
Just then two Scarran guards came in to complain to Seker about the prisoners in cell #10. When they walked in they saw their King dead on the ground in a pool of his own blood.
"The King Obsidian-" One of the guards began but stopped short not really knowing what to say when it was obvious that Seker had been the one to murder his own father.
"Ah, Seb and Pyre I'm so glad you're here," Seker greeted, "You can help me get rid of the former king's body."
The two guards looked at each other before nodding in agreement. There was really nothing that they could do because of tradition the Prince was now their King.
"In case you have forgotten the Old Code I want to make it clear that as of now I am your King." Seker informed seeing their hesitation at following his commands.
"Of course Prince- I mean King Seker." Seb stammered to correct himself.
"Yes, King Seker." Pyre agreed and then turned his eyes curiously to Sikozu, who was watching their interaction mutely.
Seker followed his gaze and had to suppress the tremendous urge to kill the Scarran on the spot for such blatant admiration at the scantily clad Kalish woman seated in the chair. "Beautiful isn't she?" Seker asked coolly.
"Uh, why yes, very beautiful," Pyre agreed.
"Make sure not to look at your new Queen that way ever again or else you will share the same fate as Obsidian." Seker growled.
"Queen?" Pyre looked over at Sikozu. "I see, forgive my insolence."
"Tomorrow I am going to make the formal announcement of my succession and my appointed Queen. I'm putting you in charge of getting everything ready. Is that alright with you Pyre?"
"Yes, of course, I'll go and get started," he assented, "Your majesty - Highness." He addressed with a bow before leaving.
Seker turned to Seb who was already making his way out of the room, "Seb I want you to take extra good care of our prisoners in cell #10." Seker smiled slyly. Sikozu made a mental note.
"I understand." Seb started to try and leave but not before giving Sikozu one last look over for himself.
"Seb," Seker scowled, "aren't you forgetting something?"
"Uh, what King Seker?" Seb replied nervously thinking he'd been caught staring at Sikozu.
"CLEAN UP THIS MESS! GOT IT?" Seker bellowed. 'such idiocy!'
"Oh, yes, of course."
Seker walked over to pick up Sikozu into his arms and walked out of the room with her.
***
"You poor thing," Seker comforted Sikozu while dunking a sponge into the water, "You've been through so much haven't you? But now all your worries can come to an end. I'm going to make you Queen, my love." Seker rang out the sponge and brought it up to wipe Sikozu's brow. He had taken Sikozu back to his own room to 'assist' her in taking a bath.
Sikozu flinched at his unwanted touch, "Why me?" She asked.
"Because it's always been you that I've wanted; no one else. Don't you see Sikozu - you were made for me. We are meant to be together. Ever since we made love I couldn't get you out of my head. And then when you ran away - Sikozu I was lost without you. I knew then I had to do whatever it took to get you back. I sent Scarrans to search the Uncharted Territories for you with no luck until someone finally let me know where you were. I was so happy I gave him enough Krindars to buy a small planet."
"Who? Who told you where I was?" Sikozu questioned anxiously.
"Oh, I can't really tell you that my dear. It may make things difficult for him when you're Queen. You know, I'll let you have power too. It won't just be me ruling but *us*. Together we will rule all of space after we've conquered the Peace Keepers. The one that told me where you were also told me something interesting - he said he knew for a fact that the Peace Keepers still knew nothing about Wormhole Technology. So that means there is no reason for us not to take over Peace Keeper Space. All this waiting and they were bluffing all along! Finally the ones who deserve the power will have it."
"But how can you be sure your source is reliable?"
"Ah, my dear, naïve, Sikozu, I know. He was right about you wasn't he? So he's right about the other thing too. So you still haven't told me what you think about my plans for you? Are you pleased? I must know. You can't keep me in the dark much longer." Seker waited impatiently to hear her response.
"I was under the impression that you liked it when I kept you in the dark."
"*Clever*, but you always were. That's what I love about you; you're almost as intelligent as I am."
Sikozu was buying some time as she thought about how she would answer Seker's question. 'I can't believe he's chosen me to be his Queen, and Queen of the Scarran Imperium. I'd rather die first. I can't belong to him - to anyone. I have to think of something. What am I going to do? First, I must think of a way to help the others in peril that came to rescue me. Then I'll decide what to do about myself and how to prevent the Scarran-Peacekeeper War. I'll kill myself if I have to - but then again maybe I can get someone else to kill me. Yes, I know he will do the right thing.'
"I've been thinking a lot about how you've chosen me to be your Queen, Seker," Sikozu began, "And I have to admit I'm flattered. I mean, you had your choice of any woman and yet you chose me. Even after I ran away from you." Sikozu finished running out of things to say. Lying was a lot harder than she thought it'd be.
"And?" Seker pursued, "How does it make you feel about me?"
"I-I'm intrigued by you," Sikozu lied through her teeth.
"Is that so?" Seker asked running the sponge down Sikozu's bare chest.
"Yes," Sikozu said resolutely.
Seker eyed her closely. Her words were almost too good to be true. This is what he wanted. "So intrigued that you wouldn't mind if I joined you?" Seker held his breath waiting for her response.
"I would be a lot more fun if I wasn't so tired. Isn't there something you can give me so that I'll have a little more energy?"
"Actually I do have something that will counteract the affect of the drugs I gave you to keep you under- what I mean is- take away your pain." Seker said excitedly stumbling over his lies. "I'll go and get it." Seker left Sikozu alone in the bathroom.
'Thoddo, he really shouldn't have left me alone in my current state. I just might drown! Actually, that wouldn't be so bad - I'd be stopping a Peacekeeper-Scarran War. If only I had the strength to submerge myself. Oh, it's no use. And anyways I still have to figure out a way to save the others. Ok, Sikozu take a deep breath Plan A is going to take a lot of work.'
***
Sikozu had made sure to tire out Seker thoroughly so that he wouldn't hear her when she left their room in the middle of the night.
Sikozu made sure that Seker was sleeping soundly before getting out of bed and wrapping herself in a robe Seker had given her. He thought that gifts would buy her love. Sikozu frowned at the thought - she would never love him even if he was the last *being* left alive in the entire universe.
Sikozu decided to tie up her hair so that she could shift her gravity center and travel the halls without being seen. Walking on the ceiling she had to pass a few guards causing her to hold her breath but they didn't detect her. She then stealthily made her way down to the prison area where she began to search for cell #10. Finally arriving at the cell she saw that there was a guard lying right in front of the door fast asleep.
'Frell! What am I going to do now? I suppose I could try and fight him but that will probably make too much noise and wake up more guards. Think Sikozu think. You're supposed to be brilliant remember.' Then Sikozu noticed a freckle under the Scarran guard's eye. 'I remember Seb having a similar mark. It must be him and if it is I just might have a chance.'
Sikozu dropped to the floor in front of Seb. Without waking him she straddled him and whispered into his ear, "Seb, it's your Queen, wake up."
The Scarran's eyes shot open and he at once thought he was dreaming. "Your Highness? What are you-"
Sikozu put a slender finger to his large mouth, "Shhh I need a favor from one of my loyal subjects."
"You mean me?" Seb questioned in his husky voice.
"Yes," Sikozu agreed, "I need to see the ones that are being kept in this cell."
"But King Seker said-"
Sikozu leaned over to speak into his ear, her hot breath was blowing on the Scarran's neck driving him mad, "Oh please Seb, do it for me." She used her finger to draw little circles on his chest.
"Alright," Seb assented.
When Sikozu entered the cell the sight that meet her wasn't pretty. Scorpius was suffering from the affects of the Living Death - his body was trembling, convulsing, and he was foaming at the mouth. John and D'argo were looking on apprehensively.
"Scorpius?! What happened to him?" Sikozu exclaimed upon seeing Scorpius in such a horrid condition and coming to kneel beside him.
"He used his cooling rod to try and kill Seker," John explained.
"What?! Oh no, I must go and get another one before it's too late. If it isn't already," Sikozu said looking at Scorpius. "I'll be right back."
Sikozu left the cell in a flash and silently made her way back to Seker's room. She had to hop down from the ceiling to open the door and she held her breath as she reentered the room. Seker had forced Sikozu to make a bunch of cooling rods seeing how effective it had been against himself. He could now use them against his enemies. Sikozu had wondered how he knew she could make them and now she knew the whole story.
Sikozu saw the metal briefcase in the corner that was filled with the cooling rods and crawled over to it. She slowly opened the case keeping one eye on the still sound-asleep Seker. When the suitcase *clicked* open Sikozu jumped at the sound and hoped Seker hadn't awakened. And luckily he didn't - she had done her job well.
Sikozu grabbed a few cooling rods and made her way back to the cell but this time Seb wanted to be difficult.
"You know, Highness, nothing is for free here in the Uncharted Territories even if you are a Queen. So what are you going to give me?" Seb asked her.
Sikozu hesitated wondering what she should do. She really didn't want to kill Seb if it wasn't necessary so instead she decided to try something else.
"How about a kiss," Sikozu asked coming up to the Scarran. She leaned in and tried not to gag as she kissed him. After she pulled away the Scarran seemed pleased enough not to stop her from entering the cell.
She then rushed over to Scorpius and quickly inserted the fresh cooling rod. Opportunely, she had been able to make cooling rods far superior to the ones she was forced to make on Moya due to the lack of resources. If all went well the new cooling rod would be able to cool Scorpius faster than usual and so save him.
"Scorpius, this is all my fault." Sikozu said in a hushed voice as she watched over Scorpius.
It didn't take long for the cooling rod to do its job and soon Scorpius' breathing became regular again. His body ceased trembling and he stopped foaming at the mouth.
Scorpius blinked a few times and when he saw Sikozu in front of him he grabbed her by the neck and slammed her against the wall. "It's you." He said.
"Scorpius, you're hurting me." Sikozu choked out desperately searching Scorpius' eyes for an explanation.
"Scorpius what the frell are you doing?" John demanded.
"Stay out of this," Scorpius warned John and turned to Sikozu. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you Sikozu."
Sikozu thought for a moment and then she understood. This was what she had wanted all along. "Go ahead Scorpius. Kill me."
Scorpius stared at her unbelieving but didn't make a move instead he loosened his grip on her neck imperceptibly so that John and D'argo wouldn't see - only Sikozu felt the difference. They stood there like that for several seconds just staring at each other. Scorpius could see the unshed tears in Sikozu's eyes that had come there when he had slammed her against the wall, and for once he regretted something he had done.
"Scorpius you know it must be done." Sikozu pleaded. "There is no other way to stop this war."
"Are you so quick to die?" Scorpius snarled.
"What is my life compared to the lives of so many others that are at stake."
"The war may happen regardless of whether or not I kill you now." Scorpius said more to himself than to Sikozu.
"Scorpius if you don't let her go I'll tongue you," D'argo threatened.
Scorpius released his hold on Sikozu's throat.
"I'll just kill myself if you won't." Sikozu told Scorpius.
"Then kill yourself." Scorpius growled exiting the cell.
John turned to Sikozu, "Thanks Sikozu, but you're coming with us aren't you?"
"I can't, I have to stay behind and think of someway to stop this on my own. Go, now John, before its too late."
"Right,"
"Try to think of a way to end this war that doesn't involve your death ok?" D'argo said trying to be lighthearted.
"I'll try D'argo," Sikozu promised. "But its hard worrying about a life that no one really seems to care about."
"If you mean Scorpius - I've never seen him act so kind towards anyone Sikozu. He cares about you more than he knows." John said.
"Yeah, maybe," Sikozu said as John and D'argo left the cell.
To be continued...
Planet Pyrite
Underground Base #145
Scarran prison cell
"Frell, Scorpius looks pretty bad." John told D'argo in a low voice.
Scorpius was sitting cross-legged with his back up against the wall of the cell he and the others were sharing. He had his eyes closed and was gritting his teeth against the pain and oncoming delirium. Sweat was already forming on his brow caused by his overheating body. He had his fists clenched but not because of the pain.
"I'm alright John," Scorpius lied.
"The frell you are!" John spat, "I mean look at you! You're a mess. Why did you have to be so damn reckless! What were you thinking shoving your *only* cooling rod down that bastard's throat?"
"I hadn't anticipated that we would fail so miserably, John," Scorpius said blandly.
"We?" John raised an eyebrow. "So you *were* intending to rescue Sikozu and not kill her."
Scorpius remained silent and he wondered himself what his true intentions were. 'I came here to stop a Peacekeeper-Scarran War from breaking out and that's what I *still* intend to accomplish. And if Sikozu gets in my way then I *will* terminate her. But I must concentrate if I am to keep my head long enough to make any sort of a difference. Already I can feel the delirium sinking in and it won't be long before-' Scorpius cut himself off at the thought and decided to try and be optimistic. If he knew Sikozu at all she would try to see him and then he would have his chance.
Meanwhile elsewhere in base #145 Seker and Sikozu were receiving an unexpected guest - a Scarran dressed in dark robes with a deep scar that passed over one eye.
"Father?" Seker exclaimed upon his father entering Sikozu's recovery room. "What are you doing here?" Seker asked trying not to sound too enthusiastic but only curious.
"I got a strange tip that you were up to no good. Would you mind telling me what this is all about?" King Obsidian demanded of his son before his eyes traveled the room and rested on Sikozu, who was seated in a hospital chair with a dazed expression on her face. Seker had given her drugs to ease her pain, among other reasons. "And what is the meaning of this?"
"She is to be my Queen," Seker revealed.
"Queen? What are you-" The King started to object but Seker took out a dagger with a curved blade and attacked his father. In one swift movement Seker used the dagger to carve out his father's heat producing gland. Blood began gushing from Obsidian's throat and spilling onto the floor. Sikozu watched horror-stricken at the scene before her knowing that because of her this Scarran would die.
"Son-!" Obsidian tried to speak but his lungs were already filling with blood.
"Still alive father?" Seker asked with a malicious gleam in his eyes. "Good, I wanted to try my Sikozu's latest invention on you. They're called 'cooling rods' she makes them to keep that half-breed Scorpius alive, don't ask me why. But they certainly did a number on me." Seker rubbed his sore throat that was still healing. "I wonder how many it will take for you to die."
Obsidian began to back away from his crazed son but Seker already had a cooling rod in hand and lunged at his father. He then pinned him to the floor and shoved a cooling rod down his throat just as Scorpius had done to him. "Hurts doesn't it father? Feel how it burns when it's supposed to cool? Feel how your lungs are closing because of the cold and giving the blood that is now trapped inside them no way out?"
Obsidian's body convulsed from the cold and it was obvious he was dying, but with the last of his strength he grabbed onto his son and pulled him close, "Your Kalish mother gave me this scar - *secret*." Obsidian struggled to say as he coughed up blood. The last word his father had spoken unsettled Seker.
Sikozu, who had heard every word, had her eyes wide in torment and fear. She had the strong urge to run away but Seker had pumped her full of so many different drugs that she could barely move her neck to the side of her own freewill.
Seker looked over at Sikozu suspiciously, "You don't know what his gibberish meant do you?"
Sikozu tried to speak but the drugs made it hard to do so, "No I-"
"I didn't think so," Seker said with a wave of his hand, "Now what to do about this body?"
Just then two Scarran guards came in to complain to Seker about the prisoners in cell #10. When they walked in they saw their King dead on the ground in a pool of his own blood.
"The King Obsidian-" One of the guards began but stopped short not really knowing what to say when it was obvious that Seker had been the one to murder his own father.
"Ah, Seb and Pyre I'm so glad you're here," Seker greeted, "You can help me get rid of the former king's body."
The two guards looked at each other before nodding in agreement. There was really nothing that they could do because of tradition the Prince was now their King.
"In case you have forgotten the Old Code I want to make it clear that as of now I am your King." Seker informed seeing their hesitation at following his commands.
"Of course Prince- I mean King Seker." Seb stammered to correct himself.
"Yes, King Seker." Pyre agreed and then turned his eyes curiously to Sikozu, who was watching their interaction mutely.
Seker followed his gaze and had to suppress the tremendous urge to kill the Scarran on the spot for such blatant admiration at the scantily clad Kalish woman seated in the chair. "Beautiful isn't she?" Seker asked coolly.
"Uh, why yes, very beautiful," Pyre agreed.
"Make sure not to look at your new Queen that way ever again or else you will share the same fate as Obsidian." Seker growled.
"Queen?" Pyre looked over at Sikozu. "I see, forgive my insolence."
"Tomorrow I am going to make the formal announcement of my succession and my appointed Queen. I'm putting you in charge of getting everything ready. Is that alright with you Pyre?"
"Yes, of course, I'll go and get started," he assented, "Your majesty - Highness." He addressed with a bow before leaving.
Seker turned to Seb who was already making his way out of the room, "Seb I want you to take extra good care of our prisoners in cell #10." Seker smiled slyly. Sikozu made a mental note.
"I understand." Seb started to try and leave but not before giving Sikozu one last look over for himself.
"Seb," Seker scowled, "aren't you forgetting something?"
"Uh, what King Seker?" Seb replied nervously thinking he'd been caught staring at Sikozu.
"CLEAN UP THIS MESS! GOT IT?" Seker bellowed. 'such idiocy!'
"Oh, yes, of course."
Seker walked over to pick up Sikozu into his arms and walked out of the room with her.
***
"You poor thing," Seker comforted Sikozu while dunking a sponge into the water, "You've been through so much haven't you? But now all your worries can come to an end. I'm going to make you Queen, my love." Seker rang out the sponge and brought it up to wipe Sikozu's brow. He had taken Sikozu back to his own room to 'assist' her in taking a bath.
Sikozu flinched at his unwanted touch, "Why me?" She asked.
"Because it's always been you that I've wanted; no one else. Don't you see Sikozu - you were made for me. We are meant to be together. Ever since we made love I couldn't get you out of my head. And then when you ran away - Sikozu I was lost without you. I knew then I had to do whatever it took to get you back. I sent Scarrans to search the Uncharted Territories for you with no luck until someone finally let me know where you were. I was so happy I gave him enough Krindars to buy a small planet."
"Who? Who told you where I was?" Sikozu questioned anxiously.
"Oh, I can't really tell you that my dear. It may make things difficult for him when you're Queen. You know, I'll let you have power too. It won't just be me ruling but *us*. Together we will rule all of space after we've conquered the Peace Keepers. The one that told me where you were also told me something interesting - he said he knew for a fact that the Peace Keepers still knew nothing about Wormhole Technology. So that means there is no reason for us not to take over Peace Keeper Space. All this waiting and they were bluffing all along! Finally the ones who deserve the power will have it."
"But how can you be sure your source is reliable?"
"Ah, my dear, naïve, Sikozu, I know. He was right about you wasn't he? So he's right about the other thing too. So you still haven't told me what you think about my plans for you? Are you pleased? I must know. You can't keep me in the dark much longer." Seker waited impatiently to hear her response.
"I was under the impression that you liked it when I kept you in the dark."
"*Clever*, but you always were. That's what I love about you; you're almost as intelligent as I am."
Sikozu was buying some time as she thought about how she would answer Seker's question. 'I can't believe he's chosen me to be his Queen, and Queen of the Scarran Imperium. I'd rather die first. I can't belong to him - to anyone. I have to think of something. What am I going to do? First, I must think of a way to help the others in peril that came to rescue me. Then I'll decide what to do about myself and how to prevent the Scarran-Peacekeeper War. I'll kill myself if I have to - but then again maybe I can get someone else to kill me. Yes, I know he will do the right thing.'
"I've been thinking a lot about how you've chosen me to be your Queen, Seker," Sikozu began, "And I have to admit I'm flattered. I mean, you had your choice of any woman and yet you chose me. Even after I ran away from you." Sikozu finished running out of things to say. Lying was a lot harder than she thought it'd be.
"And?" Seker pursued, "How does it make you feel about me?"
"I-I'm intrigued by you," Sikozu lied through her teeth.
"Is that so?" Seker asked running the sponge down Sikozu's bare chest.
"Yes," Sikozu said resolutely.
Seker eyed her closely. Her words were almost too good to be true. This is what he wanted. "So intrigued that you wouldn't mind if I joined you?" Seker held his breath waiting for her response.
"I would be a lot more fun if I wasn't so tired. Isn't there something you can give me so that I'll have a little more energy?"
"Actually I do have something that will counteract the affect of the drugs I gave you to keep you under- what I mean is- take away your pain." Seker said excitedly stumbling over his lies. "I'll go and get it." Seker left Sikozu alone in the bathroom.
'Thoddo, he really shouldn't have left me alone in my current state. I just might drown! Actually, that wouldn't be so bad - I'd be stopping a Peacekeeper-Scarran War. If only I had the strength to submerge myself. Oh, it's no use. And anyways I still have to figure out a way to save the others. Ok, Sikozu take a deep breath Plan A is going to take a lot of work.'
***
Sikozu had made sure to tire out Seker thoroughly so that he wouldn't hear her when she left their room in the middle of the night.
Sikozu made sure that Seker was sleeping soundly before getting out of bed and wrapping herself in a robe Seker had given her. He thought that gifts would buy her love. Sikozu frowned at the thought - she would never love him even if he was the last *being* left alive in the entire universe.
Sikozu decided to tie up her hair so that she could shift her gravity center and travel the halls without being seen. Walking on the ceiling she had to pass a few guards causing her to hold her breath but they didn't detect her. She then stealthily made her way down to the prison area where she began to search for cell #10. Finally arriving at the cell she saw that there was a guard lying right in front of the door fast asleep.
'Frell! What am I going to do now? I suppose I could try and fight him but that will probably make too much noise and wake up more guards. Think Sikozu think. You're supposed to be brilliant remember.' Then Sikozu noticed a freckle under the Scarran guard's eye. 'I remember Seb having a similar mark. It must be him and if it is I just might have a chance.'
Sikozu dropped to the floor in front of Seb. Without waking him she straddled him and whispered into his ear, "Seb, it's your Queen, wake up."
The Scarran's eyes shot open and he at once thought he was dreaming. "Your Highness? What are you-"
Sikozu put a slender finger to his large mouth, "Shhh I need a favor from one of my loyal subjects."
"You mean me?" Seb questioned in his husky voice.
"Yes," Sikozu agreed, "I need to see the ones that are being kept in this cell."
"But King Seker said-"
Sikozu leaned over to speak into his ear, her hot breath was blowing on the Scarran's neck driving him mad, "Oh please Seb, do it for me." She used her finger to draw little circles on his chest.
"Alright," Seb assented.
When Sikozu entered the cell the sight that meet her wasn't pretty. Scorpius was suffering from the affects of the Living Death - his body was trembling, convulsing, and he was foaming at the mouth. John and D'argo were looking on apprehensively.
"Scorpius?! What happened to him?" Sikozu exclaimed upon seeing Scorpius in such a horrid condition and coming to kneel beside him.
"He used his cooling rod to try and kill Seker," John explained.
"What?! Oh no, I must go and get another one before it's too late. If it isn't already," Sikozu said looking at Scorpius. "I'll be right back."
Sikozu left the cell in a flash and silently made her way back to Seker's room. She had to hop down from the ceiling to open the door and she held her breath as she reentered the room. Seker had forced Sikozu to make a bunch of cooling rods seeing how effective it had been against himself. He could now use them against his enemies. Sikozu had wondered how he knew she could make them and now she knew the whole story.
Sikozu saw the metal briefcase in the corner that was filled with the cooling rods and crawled over to it. She slowly opened the case keeping one eye on the still sound-asleep Seker. When the suitcase *clicked* open Sikozu jumped at the sound and hoped Seker hadn't awakened. And luckily he didn't - she had done her job well.
Sikozu grabbed a few cooling rods and made her way back to the cell but this time Seb wanted to be difficult.
"You know, Highness, nothing is for free here in the Uncharted Territories even if you are a Queen. So what are you going to give me?" Seb asked her.
Sikozu hesitated wondering what she should do. She really didn't want to kill Seb if it wasn't necessary so instead she decided to try something else.
"How about a kiss," Sikozu asked coming up to the Scarran. She leaned in and tried not to gag as she kissed him. After she pulled away the Scarran seemed pleased enough not to stop her from entering the cell.
She then rushed over to Scorpius and quickly inserted the fresh cooling rod. Opportunely, she had been able to make cooling rods far superior to the ones she was forced to make on Moya due to the lack of resources. If all went well the new cooling rod would be able to cool Scorpius faster than usual and so save him.
"Scorpius, this is all my fault." Sikozu said in a hushed voice as she watched over Scorpius.
It didn't take long for the cooling rod to do its job and soon Scorpius' breathing became regular again. His body ceased trembling and he stopped foaming at the mouth.
Scorpius blinked a few times and when he saw Sikozu in front of him he grabbed her by the neck and slammed her against the wall. "It's you." He said.
"Scorpius, you're hurting me." Sikozu choked out desperately searching Scorpius' eyes for an explanation.
"Scorpius what the frell are you doing?" John demanded.
"Stay out of this," Scorpius warned John and turned to Sikozu. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you Sikozu."
Sikozu thought for a moment and then she understood. This was what she had wanted all along. "Go ahead Scorpius. Kill me."
Scorpius stared at her unbelieving but didn't make a move instead he loosened his grip on her neck imperceptibly so that John and D'argo wouldn't see - only Sikozu felt the difference. They stood there like that for several seconds just staring at each other. Scorpius could see the unshed tears in Sikozu's eyes that had come there when he had slammed her against the wall, and for once he regretted something he had done.
"Scorpius you know it must be done." Sikozu pleaded. "There is no other way to stop this war."
"Are you so quick to die?" Scorpius snarled.
"What is my life compared to the lives of so many others that are at stake."
"The war may happen regardless of whether or not I kill you now." Scorpius said more to himself than to Sikozu.
"Scorpius if you don't let her go I'll tongue you," D'argo threatened.
Scorpius released his hold on Sikozu's throat.
"I'll just kill myself if you won't." Sikozu told Scorpius.
"Then kill yourself." Scorpius growled exiting the cell.
John turned to Sikozu, "Thanks Sikozu, but you're coming with us aren't you?"
"I can't, I have to stay behind and think of someway to stop this on my own. Go, now John, before its too late."
"Right,"
"Try to think of a way to end this war that doesn't involve your death ok?" D'argo said trying to be lighthearted.
"I'll try D'argo," Sikozu promised. "But its hard worrying about a life that no one really seems to care about."
"If you mean Scorpius - I've never seen him act so kind towards anyone Sikozu. He cares about you more than he knows." John said.
"Yeah, maybe," Sikozu said as John and D'argo left the cell.
To be continued...