Chapter Seven:  Memories

She was dreaming.  It had to be a dream.  Because…she knew everyone in it was dead.  But for the moment they were dancing; the music was so fast and loud!  It was her cousin Bella's wedding.  These were her people's Winter Lands.  It was October, a great time of year to be married.  Everything was changing color.  The days were not too warm – and the nights were perfect for two bodies to get together to guard against the coming chill.  The Gypsy caravans were close together – two great Families were becoming one.  Everyone was dancing – children were running to and fro.  The air was thick with the smell of roast pig, venison and beef.  There were cakes, cookies and pies!  Wine and liquor was being drunk – and spilt – all over.  She was so small!  What year was it again?  It was a few moments before the date came to her.  She knew her age – she was six years old…

"1934," Nala said, rousing herself from sleep - in Carl's embrace.  Carl gave her a puzzled look.  He pushed a few stubborn strands of hair away from Nala's face with his fingertips.

"Feeling better?" he asked softly.  Nala smiled sadly – the dream was fading away.  But a new dream was replacing it – and he was holding her in his strong arms now.   She sighed deeply, squeezing Carl's arm.

"Yes," she answered finally.  "Thank you, Carl.  I was in no shape to take her alone." She ran her hand down to his and raising his hand to her lips, kissed it.  It was then that she realized everyone except for Carmen was staring at them intently.  "What?" she asked.  "Did I eat the family dog?"  Higgins and Brutto laughed out loud; the others smiled appreciatively.  Rico held out his hand to her.  She hesitated before taking it.

"Don't worry," Rico said softly.  "There isn't a thing in my head that needs to be kept private.  Besides, General Redwing said it's okay."  She took his hand, smiling broadly.  She stood up and then turned to Carl.  "How are you?" she asked.

"Don't worry about me.  You're the one that scared the hell out of us all," he answered, getting up off the floor and sitting in the jump chair behind him.  "What happened?"  Nala began to pace the floor, her face a mask of concentration.  "I don't know.  She – the Queen, just reached into my mind and latched on.  She couldn't get anything of importance out of me – thank The Maker.  But she realized I was with others whose minds didn't have the defenses I have – so she tried to get into your minds."  She looked to the floor.  "Everything moved too fast.  The only way I could stop her from picking up anything useful from any of you was by putting something quite forceful in the way.  I simply channeled some of her attack on me - into all of you."  She looked at Carl more closely.  "Your nose bled, did it not?"  Carl began to deny it; then simply shook his head in acknowledgement.  "I am sorry, Carl.  Forgive me."  She then turned to the others.  "I apologize for hurting you all.  I was caught off guard.  It will not happen again."  Rico put a hand on her shoulder.

"It's not the first time we've been under psychic attack," he said softly.  "The question is – can she do it again?"

Nala nodded.  "She can try.  But I will not give her the opportunity to do so again."

Static from the overhead speakers cut through as Carmen's voice came over them.  "We're coming in to Waialua.  But it looks like they're getting ready to evacuate Oahu again.  We may not have enough time-," she began.

"Fly directly to 'Seattle' hospital and we'll wait for you at the landing pad," General Redwing said to her.  "I have received clearance to do so.  You have five minutes before you'll be meeting the former Sky Marshall, Commander Nala.  SICON has given us twenty minutes before they have to move everyone off the island.  We are to then rendezvous with the Marauder Operators that are being assembled at Kailua on the island of Hawaii itself."

"Acknowledged, General, " Nala said aloud, turning to Rico.  "I guess you and your people should remain here.  It may be too distracting – if you understand my meaning."

Rico nodded.  "Gotcha," he answered softly.  She then turned to Carl.  "I am not sure if you should come either, Carl."  At that, he stood up, rising to the full height of his frame – which was about seven centimeters taller than Nala.  Even Rico took an involuntary step back.

"Where you lead," he said resolutely.  "You're not leaving me, Nala.  Besides, you may need my help."  Nala smiled – and another memory played in her mind.  It was of a young lieutenant from a barracks so long ago…Heinrich was his name.  He always said to Nala that she could never leave him behind; that he would always find her.  But in the end, she left everyone behind.  "Wherever are you now?" she whispered softly in her native tongue.  Carl again gave her a look; it was then she realized that she had spoken aloud.  She held her hand out to him.  "Right then.  Together," she whispered.

--------------------------------------------

There was a flurry of activity on the ground as the ship touched down at Waialua.  Luckily, not everything had been unpacked since the first time Oahu had been abandoned.  So, leaving wasn't entirely the moving nightmare everyone had originally assumed.  Drop ships coming from all over the island were abandoning smaller outposts, then collecting large equipment and personnel to transport everything and everyone to awaiting starships off shore.

The Roughnecks stood at the open doors of the ship, amazed at the efficiency of the operation.  Carmen Ibanez went in search of a fuel truck for the ship.  It was a long way to Kailua and she wanted to make sure there were no crash landings in her immediate future.  When she passed Goss on the way out she surprised him with a broad smile and a light tap on his shoulder with her hand.  She smiled all the way down the gangplank.  Doc, Goss, Brutto and T'Phai went looking for extra ammunition, Zim's orders.  They had depleted a great deal while fighting the Bugs at HQ in Honolulu.  It was just something to keep the majority of the Roughnecks busy until Carl and Nala returned. 

Redwing remained on board in the cockpit.  With her headset on, she was talking to Sky Marshall Angelica Ramirez and at least thirty of her counterparts in MI and Fleet, filling them in on all present information and coordinating a defense against the Arachnid armada that was bearing down on Earth.  She felt a hand rest on her shoulder.  Miriam Redwing turned around to see Nala staring at her, smiling softly.  Fear played across the General's eyes as she looked into Nala's.  What if – she thought to Nala, then stopped.  Nala squeezed Redwing's shoulder; then let go.  You will not fail, General, she whispered into her mind.  You cannot.  Nala then smiled broadly.  Have a little faith in your fellow Citizens.  I do, she said, motioning to the Roughnecks; then pointed out the cockpit to all the Troopers on the ground, scrambling to complete their missions and leave.  Never give up, General.  And never give in.  She then stood at attention and saluted Redwing.  The General returned the salute.  "Dismissed, Commander.  And…thank you."  Nala silently nodded, and then departed.  Nodding to Carl, he then embraced Johnny and Dizzy, promising they would be back with good directions.

Robert Higgins was sending a direct feed live to FedNet, trying to send out the news without giving away too much.  The world was already aware of the fall of Hawaii for the second time.  Higgins suddenly thought of Rome; how many times was it sacked before the Goths and Visi-Goths gave up and moved on?  What was it about these rocky volcanic islands that had the Bugs enamored with the place?  The words of Lieutenant Razak then came to him; it was during the Pluto Campaign and Razak was chewing out Rico for using his radio.  Bugs have antennae!  If any of them picked up that transmission, no one is coming out of that compound alive!  He was going to make sure his report was cut and dry – no embellishment.  No extra information that could be used against them later.  The Bugs already had the upper hand numbers wise– he would be damned before he'd gift-wrap the war for them.

Armed with a SICON order endorsed with the signature of General Redwing, Carl and Nala were whisked away as soon as they disembarked the retrieval ship to an awaiting escort.   On this side of the island the SICON/MI Compound housed several buildings; the majority of them were Trooper Hospital facilities, code-named Seattle.  The psychiatric facilities were off to a side on a cliff face.  Carl mused that the view was quite restful.  Nala smiled broadly at him.  Planning a little getaway? She asked playfully.

"Ha, ha-ha," Carl said aloud, looking at Nala with laughter in his eyes.  We must be mad, he mused.  This isn't funny.

No, she agreed.  It isn't.  She then turned to Carl.  There are going to be others in there…other psychics.  You will not see them, but you may feel their minds.  I could not help them.  Their minds…were too fractured to return them to any kind of normalcy.  Perhaps…perhaps you should remain outside, she began and then stopped.  She took Carl's hand in hers and gripped it tightly.  I will not abandon you, Carl.  Just let me know if it becomes too much for you.  He gripped her hand tightly in return.

Where you lead, he began.

"I follow," she said aloud as their escort led them into the building, and then holding the doors open for them, allowed them entry.

Inside the building, Carl marveled at the power a vid-signature had.  Especially when it's General Redwing's signature, Nala mused.  You do realize I could have just flashed us into his room?  Carl now smiled.

What?  And miss all this Cloak and Dagger stuff?  They were being granted access to some of INTEL's most secured facilities.

When a Trooper was declared a Section Eight – basic procedure was to have the Trooper secured at a location such as this one and have him or her psychiatrically evaluated.  Once the evaluation determined what caused the mental breakdown, an INTEL Psychic would remove all memories and the Trooper would go to a new unit.  The Trooper would have no memory of their previous life, previous friends, nothing.  But sometimes the psychic blocks installed in their minds would not take.  Memories of the past would bleed back into the Trooper's consciousness, leading to disastrous results.  The end product would be a Trooper suffering from irreparable damage to their psyche.  They would be beyond repair – and so returned to the facility where their odyssey began.  A facility such as Trooper Hospital Seattle.

As they began their entry into the secured areas of the hospital, armed MI Troopers now replaced their escort.  Every now and again, Carl would squeeze Nala's hand tightly.  She nodded her head in acknowledgement.  They were passing the area where the psychics were housed.  She whispered something in a language Carl could not understand – Not yet, a voice whispered to him.  But soon – everything will be open to you. The restless minds they could feel; some very disturbed, suddenly calmed, then were silenced.  It was later recorded that all psychics in the ward were moved without incident during the evacuation.

The facility Director, Doctor Emily Watkins, was quite unhappy with this recent turn of events. She was unhappier still with the invasion of these two persons into her little kingdom.  Nala and Carl now stood before the doctor in their black Powersuits, hands clasped behind their backs at ease, awaiting entry into Former Sky Marshall Julio Sanchez's quarters.  She eyed the vid-signature of General Redwing once more as she looked the two of them up and down.

"I will have to verify this," she said snidely.

"No," said Nala softly.  "You do not.  You received word that we were going to arrive ten minutes before we landed by your commanding officer."  Nala turned to Watkins, staring her dead in the eye.  Carl watched the woman flinch suddenly.  "Allow us access NOW – or I will have to inform the Sky Marshall of your poor hospitality," she whispered.  "YOU know EXACTLY which Sky Marshall I mean," she added when Watkins opened her mouth.  After a moment, Doctor Watkins thought better and dialed in the keycode to open the Sky Marshall's door.  She turned to Nala and Carl as she pulled on the doorknob.  "He does not speak," she began.  "He just stares out the window and does nothing else.  I seriously doubt you're going to get anything of worth from him."  Nala turned to her and smiled as she caught the open door.

I do not need him to speak – I just need him to think, she said into her mind.  "You may leave now," she said aloud to the armed Troopers.  "We will not need you to escort us out."  Carl simply smiled as he passed through the open doorway into the room.

"Have a nice day," he said softly.

"I'm not leaving!" Doctor Watkins yelled.  "You're not going anywhere near my patient without me!"  Carl and Nala looked at her with indifference.  "Then stay," Carl answered.  The three then entered the room.

The room was brighter – brighter than the hallway; Doctor Watkins held her hand before her face for a few seconds as her eyes adjusted.  The large windows of the room overlooked the cliff face.  With their curtains pulled back the horizon was filled with nothing but sky and sea.  Two people were in the room.  A male orderly sitting in a corner reading a magazine and another man sitting in a hover chair, mute and immobile.  He did not react to the door opening; he simply continued to stare out the window.  The orderly began to stand, putting his magazine behind him, then sat back down when he saw the Doctor behind the two visitors.  Carl and Nala nodded to each other and bowed their heads.  The Doctor stood back.  It was no secret that she detested psychics, but these two were worse.  They were something…else.

Doctor, Nala said into her mind.  If you are going to continue with these distracting thoughts – you are going to have to leave.

"Sky Marshall Julio Sanchez," she said aloud.  The man in the hover chair jumped, Doctor Watkins gasped.  He hadn't so much as blinked in her presence in the week or so that she had him in her care.  Carl looked to Nala.  "Too much for him," he said softly as he walked up to the figure in the hover chair.

"What happened there?  Why did he jump?" Doctor Watkins asked.  Nala didn't bother to answer the doctor.  "We've used psychics before this -," Watkins began, but was silenced by Nala's raised hand.

 "No," she said softly.  "You haven't used psychics like us.  Please," she continued.  "This is delicate work."  She moved towards Carl and stood in front of the hover chair with him.  "I am ready, Carl," she whispered.  Carl nodded and morphed out of his Powersuit into his dress battle uniform.  Taking his lead, Nala morphed back into her black jumpsuit, black boots and thick black cloak.  Doctor Watkins walked back until her back hit the wall of the room with a thud.  The orderly simply stared in wonder.  Unlike the Doctor, he wasn't afraid of psychics – he thought they were cool.  Carl and Nala both smiled at him.  Nala knelt down, looking at Sanchez intently.  He continued to stare at the horizon – then his eyes moved towards her.  "What is your name, orderly?" Nala asked without breaking eye contact with Sanchez.

"Simmons, sir," he answered.  She smiled.

"Call me Nala.  How has your patient been, Simmons?"

"Quiet," answered Simmons.  "He eats what he is given – but will not eat on his own.  He does not function normally, s...Nala.  He simply stares out the window.  He would stay in that chair all day and all night if I didn't move him."

"Does he speak in his sleep?" Carl asked suddenly.  Simmons now looked to the floor.  Carl chuckled softly.  "What does he say, Simmons?"

"It happens around 3am very night.  He sits up in his bed, his eyes wide open – but not seeing.  He doesn't scream, he just huddles himself into a corner, grabs the bedclothes in a deathgrip and says, 'She's coming!  She's here!' over and over again.  When I turn on the lights, his eyes focus on me and then he lies down and acts like nothing ever happened.  It was pretty freaky the first couple of nights – now I just expect it."

Carl looked to Nala.  If you're going to do this, it's now or never.  He smiled at her.  I'll yank you out the second I feel something.  He held his hand over Sanchez' head, his head bowed and eyes closed.  He then withdrew his hand, sighing heavily.  Hurry, Nala.  He is not much longer for this world.

Nala nodded in agreement, closed her eyes, then put her hands on either side of Sanchez's face.  "Sky Marshall Julio Sanchez," she said again, softly this time.  Both shuddered; Doctor Watkins walked forward, Carl stopped her.  "How long have you've known about the Sky Marshall's heart?" he asked.  The Doctor's eyes narrowed.

"How did you -?" She then stopped.  "Psychics," she muttered. 

Carl turned back towards Sanchez and Nala.  She was doing well on her own – but Carl didn't trust that everything was as it seemed.  This man had been in the presence of the Arachnid Queen – and had been allowed to leave in one piece.  Something wasn't right.  He put his hand out pushed into Nala's mind.  Nala was viewing The Sky Marshall's capture as Sanchez saw it.

He was standing in front of dozens of Trooper Squads assembled before the podium.  FedNet reporters were filming the entire event.  He was so proud.  Earth – SICON had won.  The Bugs were done.  He was about to give his speech when the ground began to shake. Earthquake? He asked himself.  Then, the ground opened…Troopers began firing their weapons.  The Sky Marshall's Guard came forward but were cut down by Warrior Bugs.  It was then that Sanchez got an inkling of what was in store.  They want me alive, he said to himself.  One of the Warriors then grabbed him – and he passed out.

Carl put his hand on Nala's shoulder.  We have to speed things up, he whispered.  She nodded in agreement.  She began searching his memories, opening them like so many doors in his mind.  Each one that she opened she felt was bringing Sanchez closer to his end.  She could feel his damaged heart racing.  Hold on a little longer, Sky Marshall, she whispered.

Carl began to doubt if there was enough time.  He knew Nala was not a hundred percent yet.  The Queen's attack had left her weak.  What if she couldn't get herself out before the Sky Marshall died?  I almost have it, she said suddenly.  We're both okay, she added, feeling Carl's apprehension.  I'll let you know if I'm in trouble.  I promise.  Carl squeezed her shoulder again.  Ah!  she yelled in surprise.  Got it!

A Warrior Bug collected Sanchez from a jail cell of sorts cut out of the volcanic rock below Oahu.  He knew he was not alone down there.  He heard the cries of other humans.  He heard footsteps – and then he realized that humans were helping the Arachnids!  As he looked closer at the humans, he saw that the backs of their necks looked deformed.  He then he remembered – the Mind Control Bugs that were used on Tophet and the Mind Control Bug Invasion that was stopped on Tesca Numerosa.  They have those things inside of them, he said to himself, shuddering.  They have Bugs controlling them from the inside.  Oh God!  Help me!

The Warrior dumped him unceremoniously on the floor and stepped back, screeching and stooping, bowing its head.  Sanchez turned and saw HER.  She was a sight to behold.  She was HUGE!  The first thing Sanchez noticed was her color.  He remembered from the reports made after the first failed attack on the Queen on Klendathu that stated she was of even color and had great strength – both physical and telepathic.  Now she was…gray. Almost white.  Her great crown hung to a side – as if the weight of her own skull was too much for her neck to take.  The great protective scales on her body were now discolored and almost see-through.  Some were bulging – as if abscesses underneath them were threatening to pop them out. The second thing he noticed – to the point of making him gag – was her smell.  She smelled like she was rotting from the inside out.  And in the heat of these underground caverns, it made the smell that much worse.  It was then he realized she was dying.  Looking down at him, she spoke into his mind, the contact making him scream out loud in pain and fear – no, abject terror.  Yes, she whispered, her voice sounding like the song of a thousand snakes.  I am dying.  But I will not die alone. I will fill the lining of my final nest with the corpses of your kind.  I am dying – but your species will join me.  You will live long enough to see that, she whispered – and then tore into all the secrets and memories he had stored in his mind.

Nala gasped out loud, letting go of the Sky Marshall's last thoughts.  She felt him slipping away, but she refused to let him die in that hell.  She entered his mind one last time – and found a memory that made him feel safe – and loved. He was a small boy of eight running into the arms of his grandmother.

They had gone to the mall together and were separated in all the hustle and bustle of people.  An MI Trooper, in Battle Dress Uniform recruiting at the mall, found him and helped him find his grandmother.  That was the first time he wanted with all his soul to be a Trooper.  You are safe now, the Trooper said to him.  The Trooper then melted away – and a beautiful woman dressed in black stood in his stead.  You are safe, Sky Marshall.  Be at peace, she whispered.

Former Sky Marshall Julio Sanchez grasped her hand firmly.  She looked up into his tear-stained face, he stared into her illuminated green eyes – they simply stared at one another for what seemed like a century. "Thank you," he finally whispered.  "Thank you…," and then he let go of her hand and fell into her.  She cradled him in her arms on the floor until he breathed his last.  Reverently, with the help of Simmons and Carl, she laid him out on his bed.  Doctor Watkins opened the door and summoned MI Troopers to call her superiors.  The Former Sky Marshall was dead.  Nala turned to Carl.  She was crying quite openly now.  Carl grabbed a few tissues from a dispenser near the bed and handed them to her.  "Perhaps we should be leaving now," he whispered.  Nala nodded in agreement.

"I will not fail you, Sky Marshall Sanchez.  I will not fail," she whispered, more to herself than to anyone else.

"Nala – ma'am?"  They both turned around to the speaker.  It was Simmons, still standing at the foot of Sanchez's bed.  "Whatever you do, whatever happens…know one thing.  You helped him leave this world happy."

Nala smiled softly as both she and Carl vanished in a flash of blue-green light.

------------------------------------------------

On the ship, the others had returned from their scrounging missions rather satisfied.  Not only had Doc, Goss, Brutto and T'Phai found more than enough ammunition – they were also able to bring back some breakfast for everyone from the mess.  Strong black coffee, bagels and scrambled eggs were being passed around as Carmen and Goss were hooking up a fuel tanker to the transport.  Like Ibanez, Goss also did not have a burning desire to see the ship fall out of the sky anytime soon – especially while they were in it.  As Goss was busy fiddling with a wrench and the connector tube, Carmen sidled up to him.  "So…how have you been, Corporal?" she asked.

Goss smiled broadly, putting the final spin on the tube connection.  "Pretty good.  And yourself?"  He then turned the pump on and smiled as he saw the fuel going into the ship's tanks.

"Not bad," Carmen continued.  "I know this is going to sound strange…but I made a promise.  And I'm sticking to it.  When all of this," she said waving to all the commotion around them.  "Is over – would you consider going out on a date with me?"

Goss put down his wrench and looked at Ibanez hard.  For a split second he thought he was just hearing things – until he saw the look on her face.  It was then he realized she was serious!

"A date?" Goss asked.  He scratched the back of his head, smiling a small smile.  "Lieutenant," he began.  Carmen stood up straight.  She knew this was stupid.  It hadn't worked between her and Rico.  How was it going to work with Gossard?  He was MI, she was Fleet – and ne'er the twain shall meet, right?

"Carmen," he said, putting his hand on her shoulder.  "It's been a while since I was out on a date.  If you don't mind hanging with a man that might embarrass the hell out of you, then sure.  I'd love to go out on a date with you."  Carmen smiled warmly at him.

"I live for challenges," she said softly.

While the others were enjoying breakfast and Goss and Ibanez were outside, General Redwing finally took off her headset and leaned her head back into the headrest of the co-pilot's chair.  She sighed deeply, closing her eyes.  Oh Jean!  she thought.  I am so happy you're not around to see this…But deep down inside, she knew he would have enjoyed this.  He lived for the fight.  He would have made sure that the human race would survive – no matter what.

The smell of coffee suddenly broke her out of her reverie as Charlie Zim brought her a steaming cup with a plate of scrambled eggs and a bagel.  She smiled at him – he returned the smile.  Without saying it, he already knew who she was thinking about.  He missed Jean almost as much as she did.  He was his best friend – even before basic.  He didn't know Razak quite as long as Johnny knew Carl, but he understood the LT's protection of the team psychic.  Had he been there when Razak bought the farm – he figured MI would have lost two experienced men instead of one.  Putting his coffee cup to his lips, he smiled suddenly – he knew Jean would have loved this!

"Penny for your thoughts," Redwing said to Zim.  Zim cleared his throat.

"Just thinking," he said softly.  Redwing nodded in understanding.  "Miriam – when all of this is over – you think you and I can just go somewhere and drink in Jean's honor until we can't see straight?"  Miriam Redwing looked up into the eyes of the only other person who mattered to her.  "You promise you'll come back in one piece – and I'll buy," she answered softly.  Zim held out his hand to her.  She took his in hers and they both shook on it.

"Deal," Zim said smiling.  "You do realize I'll just drink you into another plate washing fiasco."  Redwing laughed out loud, remembering their first R&R after basic.

"You never did pay me back for that, did you?  Neither did Jean, come to think of it," she said, a smile on her lips.

As Zim and Redwing were laughing in the cockpit, Rico was sitting in a jumpchair enjoying his bagel and coffee (he shied away from eggs since being trapped inside a Transport Bug on Hydora), smiling at the laughter coming from all around him.  The rest of his team were eating their breakfast, razzing each other and commenting on the latest news.  Higgins had wrapped up his report and was joining the fray, grabbing a bagel before they were all gone. T'Phai was sitting across from him in the other row of jump chairs.  He knew that Nala and he had spoken earlier.  Whatever she told him had dampened his mood.  He needed to speak to him about it.  Ibanez and Goss had come in from outside, grabbed their breakfast and were now quietly speaking to one another off in a corner.  He had a feeling Goss had made a move on Carmen and finally won.  Or maybe it was the other way around…he smiled.  It didn't matter; at least they were happy for now.  And that was what truly mattered.  He turned to his side – and suddenly found Dizzy sitting next to him.  She smiled softly in return. 

After he had admitted his love to her and she had spurned him, it was kind of hard for the both of them to function around each other.  But when Razak died, everything changed.  It was understood they cared about each other very much.  Carl had even tried to hook them up, but they both agreed that perhaps their feelings needed to be on a back burner until the war was over.  Now, Rico wasn't so sure about that.  He remembered the time when they took Jean Razak's ashes to Luna Lake and how General Redwing lamented the lost time between herself and Razak.  The would haves, the should haves, and how it was all gone.  He simply put his open hand out to Dizzy; she took it without hesitation.  Nothing needed to be said.  But he looked into her eyes anyway and mouthed, "I love you."  She nodded, her eyes suddenly shining.  "I love you too," she whispered.

A flash of blue-green light appeared in the main area.  Carl and Nala materialized in front of everyone.  Nala was still crying, tears streaming down her face.

"We have the way to the Queen," she said softly, dabbing her face with the tissues Carl had given her.  "And…Sky Marshall Julio Sanchez is dead."