The Ties That Bind

Malik's escape from this one came because of sheer luck. Elliot and Jess had gone out to the saloon to celebrate that day. A messenger from the Council of Seven had come by to tell Elliot that he was accepted and would start there next month. So he took his wife out to dinner to raise a toast to this latest development and discuss their future; would they still live here or move completely into the dormitory in the lab. But as they passed the house where Maria and Francis lived, they heard a gunshot. It was the very fatal round that killed Maria, and they worried about what was going on inside the house at that exact time.

"Jess," Elliot said to his wife, "You go fetch the sheriff. I'm going in there to see what's up." He knew that letting her go in would be suicide. Jess's temper would be the end of her one day. So he was more secure risking his life to go inside; he'd know enough to run away when and if Francis fired on him.

The woman nodded; understanding Elliot's motive. Then she ran off in order to find the sheriff. In turn, the man went up to the house; noticing the door had been left ajar after Maria returned. When he took a look inside, he saw Francis looking overjoyed at the sight before him. Malik's eyes were wide with pain and fear. But that wasn't the worst of it. Maria lay on the floor before them; the stillness of death upon her.

"Malik, come over here! We're getting you out of here. I don't think your ma wants you hanging around this place; it's dangerous," Elliot called. That seemed to snap the boy back to reality. His life was still in danger even though his mother was gone. Still clutching his wounded shoulder, he ran over to Elliot.

Francis was still shooting, just trying to kill the ones who knew about the homicide. However, unlike Maria, Elliot was well trained in the art of self defense and ARMs battling. So he was easily able to avoid the shots and keep them from hitting Malik. The boy and man ran outside in order to get away and go to the sheriff's office to meet up with Jess. Francis, meanwhile, ran off upon realizing he was out of ammo and had not the skill needed to shoot the younger man. He couldn't let himself get caught by the law now.

The two bust into the office around the time the sheriff was agreeing to come with Jess to check out the mysterious shots. Elliot heard her say, "And my husband went inside to make sure the family got out ok; the mother is a good friend of ours and we're worried about the eight-year-old son. We think it may be the husband, but have no proof." Just as the sheriff told her he would go, the door opened to reveal a tired looking Elliot and a crying Malik. The boy was covered in the blood his mother had spilled after the hit.

The sheriff looked to the two with shock. Elliot hung his head in sorrow as to tell Jess that they had not been able to save Maria. Taking a look at her husband and the young boy was enough to tell the story. But the sheriff didn't know exactly what had occurred. So he turned to the two new arrivals. "What in the name of Ge Ramtos happened there?" He was actually a Baskar who had been bored with his life there.

"My stepfather got mad at me," Malik sobbed, "He said it was my fault that he couldn't do what he wanted with Mamma. Then, after he beat me up, he pulled out a pistol and fired. I was hit in the shoulder. Mamma came home and pushed me out of the way of the next shot. But it hit her instead. Then…she told me to get away from there and died." He stopped talking and began crying all the louder. Jess walked up to the boy and put her arms around him. This was the last straw; she was going to wring Francis's neck.

"As my wife most likely already explained, we heard the shots on our way home. I walked in and saw the aftermath, so I ran to get Malik out of there. We were followed until the perpetrator ran out of ammo and fled to avoid capture. I've got some photos of him at home, since Maria left some of her pictures at our house while trying to slowly sneak her necessities out so she could escape that life," Elliot sadly finished.

. . .

The next few weeks were a blur to the young boy. He was staying with the Enduros until they left for their new home in Humphrey's Peak; Elliot wanted to be closer to his job and not have to get up early in the morning, and Jess wanted to have a house to live in. Then, they were shipping him to Claiborne to live with his Aunt Jenine. He would have gone right away but the sheriff wanted to have the prime witness in the crime there to identify the killer. It didn't take long either; Francis was found trying to buy a ticket to the Southfarm Station near Boot Hill the next day. He was brought in for questioning, and identified by Malik.

It wasn't long before the trial occurred either. Malik, Elliot, and Jess all had to testify to what they had seen or knew prior to the shooting. Jess explained how they were planning to sneak out of the house while Maria acted extra nice and obedient to Francis to lull him into thinking he'd won at last. She'd been afraid that immediate action might do more harm than good. After all, you never can tell how an abusive spouse might react to escape. Others testified to the odd behavior Maria had shown after getting married.

But Malik's vivid description of the shooting was enough to convict Francis of being the killer. He tried to defend himself by saying it had been pure rage and she wasn't the target anyway. Not like anyone would be any sympathetic to someone who tried to kill a child. He was sentenced to be hung the very next day. Malik had no desire to watch it, so he was seen to the train and then right to his aunt in Claiborne.

After dropping him off, Elliot and Jess got on another train to East Highland Station. As it began to ride out of sight, Malik got to thinking. Elliot was going to work on a scientific project to better the planet. His mother had always known that he was smart enough to make a difference. So what if he followed his old babysitter to such a place? That made his resolve grow. He was great at science, especially biology, and wanted a job in one of the scientific fields when he grew up. So why not he simply study the science of life to its maximum potential? Then, he too would apply for the Council of Seven when they needed a new member. It would offer a chance to do just what he always told his mother he'd do; help others with his knowledge. Who knows, maybe his research will eventually show him a way to bring his mother back here.

He thought, 'Mamma suffered a whole lot in life. But through it all, she always cared for me and my future. She saved my life at the expense of her own. It is only right that I return the favor by bringing her back. Then, when Mamma comes back to life, she can finally live the way she wanted to before everything began going so wrong. This I vow on my name. I will save Mamma! Even if it takes me a million years.'

- - - -

Teefa's Last Words…

Well, I figured that all the hint dropping of Malik's potential would eventually lead him to go down the path he did travel. Yes, this does seem like a simple eight-year-old dream at first. But it sticks in his mind in the future due to the trauma he's suffered at the hands of his stepfather.