Chapter 2 - Rescued

She was in space. Sakura stood in the cockpit and looked out at the many passing stars as they flashed by. A frown marred her face as she thought about what she had discovered. She had gone in search of the ship's storeroom and found that there was no spare parts. And travelling with no spare parts was something that made her gut churn. She had no choice. She flipped on the distress signal. There was a possibility that she could attract space pirates, Anteks - or worse - Controllers.

But she had no choice. Her only other choice was to wait for the Orana to incubate fully. That would solve the problem of her miserable existance, but it wouldn't help her people. Genuine fear gnawed at Sakura, and realizing how badly she wanted to live surprised her.



Two days passed before a ship responded. Sakura was crouched in front of the open stardrive casing, studying a technical schematic, when the incoming message alert activated. She scrambled to the control panel. Before answering the hailing ship, she studied the sensor readings.

The approaching ship appeared much larger than her shuttle, possibly three or four times its size. Although the sensors classified the ship as a private long-range cruiser, they also indicated it was loaded to the hilt with advanced scanning equipment and armaments. Nuclear rockets, particle accelerators, laserlances, and more.

Only Controllers or their agents were allowed to operate spaceships so equipped in this sector. Dread settled over Sakura, but she knew she had to answer the hail or raise suspicions. She opened voice communication.

" Who are you and what are you doing in this sector? " a male voice demanded over the communicator. It was a deep, cold, arrogant voice. Not the wavering, whispery utterance of a Controller. But the voice could belong to an Antek.

" I'm Sakura Avalon. " she answered, dropping the dan from her name. Only Shielders used the system of naming their sons and daughters after their fathers.

" I'm on a pilgrimage to Zirak to honor our mother goddess Shara. " she lied.

" Turn on your video transmitter. "

With trembling hands, Sakura did so, then sighed and lifted the hood of her pilgrim robe over her head, allowing her honey/brown tresses to fall freely down her back. She opened her emerald eyes and starred into the video transmitter. She pressed the pad, watching the screen. No visual of him appeared. So it was to be like that she thought. He could see her, but she couldn't see him. She stood stiffly while he completed his one-way persual.

She jumped when he suddenly barked. " Why is your distress signal on? Are you ill or injured? "

His curtness offended her. Although Sakura couldn't see the man, she decided she didn't like him. She starred levelly at the videocorder

" My stardrive is inoperable. I need assistance repairing my ship. "

He snorted contemptuously.

" Pilgrim, your ship looks older that the Zirak sun. I don't have the parts you need for repairs, and I doubt they would be for sale anywhere. When I get to the next station, I'll send a tow ship for you. "

Alarm edged aside Sakura's genuine dislike for the man. With the Orana incubating deep inside her she couldn't wait for a tow ship. If her ship couldn't be repaired, she needed a ride to the nearest space port. From there she could use the coins Tori gave here to buy passage to Sonoma.

" It'll take days for a ship to get here, " she argued, trying to keep her voice calm.

" I can't wait that long. "

" I don't have time to play rescuer. A ship will be here in a week. If you're low on supplies, I can give you some. What do you need? Be quick about it. "

A week! Full-blown panic surged through her. Sakura gripped the console, searching for words to convince the insolent, cold person to help her without revealing her identity.

" I can't wait a week. I need to go to the shrine of Shara. I must be there for the eclipse. Please, you have to help me. "

" I don't have to help anyone pilgrim. If you don't need supplies, I'm on my way. "

" No, wait! " tremours shook Sakura, and she feared she'd have a seizure then and there. Sucking in a deep breath, she willed herself to calm.

" The eclipse coinciding with the festival of Shara occurs only once every fifty seasons. I'll never have this opportunity to recieve the full blessing of the goddess. "

She paused, mentally sorting through arguements.

" Take me with you. You can leave me at the star base. I'll catch transport from there.

Please. This is very imporant. "

A long, tortuous interval of silence ensued. Sakura's emerald eyes bored pleadingly into the videocorder hoping he could see her desperation.

" How many are aboard your ship? " he finally demanded.

Sakura hesitated, suprised. His scanners should have provided him the info.

" Answer me pilgrim. How many? "

" Just one. "

" That's odd. I'm picking up two life forms. I don't give passage to people I can't trust. No deal. "

Her thoughts whirled. His readings made no sense, unless - Kero.

" I also have a pet aboard. " she told him. " But that's the only other living thing on the ship. I swear on the goddess. "

" I don't give a flying meteorite about your goddess. " an irratated sigh rumbled over the com line.

" But since you foolishly carry no viable aramant, you probably won't last the week against pirates if I leave you here. Prepare for boarding. "

Relieved, she sagged against the console, easing the weight off her throbbing leg. The arrogant voice thundered through the com line again.

" You may bring only what you can bring. I'm not a freighter service. And be fast about it. I leave in five. "

Startled, she bolted upright. Seeing no need for further discussion, she nodded and cut the visual. She rushed to gather her few belongings. The pouch with the money in it, went in the inside pocket of her tunic. She slipped her magnasteel dagger, her only weapon, into her knee-high boot.

She filled a large knapsack with her meager supplies that accounted for food, and stuffed Kero into her smaller backpack.

" Not a word out of you. " she stated firmly, when he chattered away in protest.

Her last act was to erase all the records from the computer. No information that might lead to Liron was left behind. The Controllers were known to offer rewards that lead them to any Shielder colonies.

As she finished wiping the computer's memory clean, she felt the thudd of a ship docking with hers. Her rescuer - whoever he was - had arrived.

Sakura slipped the small pack with Kero over one shoulder, then picked up her supplies. She faced the airlock as the panel slid open. The man stepping through the panel towered over her, but he wasn't an Antek. The apelike Anteks were stupid brutes. She sighed in relief, realizing her rescuer's obvious intelligence should have negated that possibility in her mind. The innate ability to sense her own kind - which all Shielders possessed - told her he wasn't a Shielder either.

He was massive, broad of shoulder and through the chest. He was dressed in dark black clothes. Cold amber eyes pinned her to the spot, glaring at her from a harsh, chiseled face. He had dark messy chesnut/brown hair that hung low over his eyes. Distracted by his appearance, she realized belatedly that he held an activated phaser trained on her.

He moved rapidly, strinding over to her and skimming her with a hand scanner. His sudden sneeze sent her heart pounding.

" Blazing hells, the dust in here! Your air filtration system must not be working properly. " scowling fiercely at her as if it was her fault, he resumed scanning.

" Remove your weapon. "

Defiance was risky, but Sakura hesitated giving up her only source of protection.

" What weapon? "

His eyes narrowed into slits.

" The weapon in your boot pilgrim. Don't play games with me. One more deception from you and I'll leave you here to rot. Is that clear? "

She nodded, slipping the dagger out and offering it to him. He slid the scanner into his lose shirt and took the weapon, his hand engulfing hers. He sneezed again.

Muttering under his breath, he whirled and strode to the open stardrive. He squatted and peered inside. After amoment, he released a low whistled.

" The primary driver coil is cracked right down the middle. The whole unit will have to be overhauled. This ship isn't going anywhere. "

He rose and sneezed again.

" By the fires of the Absyss, your polluted air is going to suffocate me. We'll finish up on my ship. Come on, get moving. "

Picking up Sakura's bag of supplies, he swung behind her, prodding her toward the airlock. Well aware of the Phaser still aimed at her, she did his bidding.

But her leg, stiff from standing for so long, refused to cooperate. It collapsed and she pitched forward. The man snaked an arm around her and yanked her up before she hit the ground.

" What's wrong? " he demanded.

Mortified at the contact, Sakura balanced on her good leg and tried to pry his arm away. It didn't budge.

" Nothing's wrong. " she gasped, still tugging. " I tripped. "

He released her and she nearly pitched forward again.

" Try to be less clumsy. Let's go. "

Sakura started forward. Her leg held the weight this time, although she couldn't control her limp. He didn't comment, but then, he was too busy sneezing - three times - before they got through the airlock into his ship.

He closed the hatch and lowered her supplies to the floor. His relentless gaze settled on her again.

" What's wrong with your leg? "

Sakura didn't discuss her injury with anyone, not even Tori.

" Nothing. I'm just stiff from standing for so long. "

He didn't say anything and started leading her over to a small room.

" Over here pilgrim. No one boards my ship without being decomtaminated first. "

" What's that? " she asked digging in her heels.

He gave her an impatient jerk, pulling her towards the room.

" Just some sterilizing rays that remove germs and dirt. " He stopped in front of the panel, pointing at her tunic.

" Take off that filthy rag. I'll clean it in the conclave. If that doesn't do the job, it's refuse. "

Sakura clutched her tunic, panic rising swiftly. She had never barred her body to anyone.

" I will not. You can't destroy this. I have nothing else to wear. "

He started to speak and then sneezed again - twice.

" By the gods! " he snarled. " You try my patience, lady. And you brought that polluted air in here with you. Either that, or something on you is irratating my allergies. "

He jerked up her bag of supplies and began rifling through it.

Allergies? This incredible specimen had allergies? Sakura found his behaviour bewildering. And her people thought she was crazy. Tossing the supplies down, he spun her toward him.

" Let me see the other bag. "

Kero was in that bag.

" No. " Sakura tried to hang onto the knapsack, but he wrested it from her grasp. He raised the flap and Kero lunged at him, hissing angrily and latched onto his finger, biting hard.

Sakura watched helplessly as the man flung poor Kero all over the place, but Kero refused to let go.

" A lanrax! You brought a frigging lanrax on my ship. I knew you were trouble the minute I saw you wretched excuse for a space vehicle. " he grabbed Kero by the scruff of the neck and pried the little creature away from his finger.

" That's the last time I stop for anyone! " he roared. " By the gods, a pilgrim with a lanrax. It's not staying here. " he strode down the corridor, sneezing repeatedly.

Kero writhed and snarled, to no avail.

" What are you doing? " Alarmed, Sakura limped behind, cursing her leg for slowing her down.

Halting, he opened a window airlock and stuffing Kero in.

" I'm allergic to lanraxes. Any lanrax crossing my path regrets it. I'm jettinsoning this creature out of here. "

" No! " Sakura yelled and lunged forward and latched onto his arm, pulling him away from the airlock.

" You can't jettinson him into space. He'll die! "

A diabolical grin spread across his face.

" That's the idea. "

Hysteria flooded her. Losing all restraint she threw herself against him, screaming.

" Nooooo! You can't do this. You don't understand . . . he's all I have. Please don't do this. Please .. don't . . He's all I have! "

Sudden streaks of light flashed behind her eyes and she felt the beginning of spasms rock her body. No, no! Not now! . . .

It was her last concious thought.

**

" It's about time you came around. " the gruff voice penetrated Sakura's conciousness, but she didn't respond. Although a life in the wilderness had tuaght her to sleep lightly and waken instantly, the seizures always left her sluggish and disorientated. And for some reason that she couldn't grasp, she didn't want to wake up.

" Come now pilgrim, I know you can hear me. Open your eyes. "

She knew the commanding, arrogant voice from somewhere . . No, she didn't want to rmember that voice. She shook her head.

" Still trying my patience. How about this: Either open your eyes or get a stimulant injection. "

Her eyes flew open wide. Amber eyes, set in a cold face etched with disapproval, stared back. Him. Memory returned - every excruciating detail of the moments before her blackout.

Kero. Grief slashed like a sharp blade through her body. She arched her back in agony. He had jettinsoned Kero. Tension curled through her and light sparked behind her eyelids.

" Oh, no, you don't. " a sharp twinge pierced her neck and the tightness flowed out of her muscles immediately.

Limp, she sagged to the surface beneath her. But although her body was relaxed, her thoughts flowed clearly. The seizure. He must have stopped it.

Amazed, she opened her eyes again. He watched her, a frown on his face. His gaze shifted to the medical monitor he was scanning over her chest. Over the metallic blanket covering her bare chest. Her tunic was gone! As she struggled to absorb this information, he set the monitor aside.

" What just upset you so badly that you almost sent yourself into another episode? I assume it's not my face, since you didn't react this way when your first saw me. "

The painful memory rushed back, forming a burning knot in her chest. Grasping the blanket in her fists, she silently glarred at the man responsible for Kero's demise.

His amber brows shot up as his gaze moved to the knotted cover.

" There you go again. " his warm hand slid over her cold one. " Don't tell me all this stress is over that damn lanrax. "

Her stricken expression must have been answer enough. He shook his head in disgust. Moving back, he motioned toward the opposite wall.

" That particular lanrax? "

Her head whirled to the side. There in a plexishield case, Kero starred back at her, very much alive. He was plastered against the side, his mouth opening and closing in indignant protest. Her eyes lit up with joy and then they dulled and she looked warily over at the man beside her that was no longer sneezing. He seemed to read her thoughts.

" Don't worry pilgrim. That worthless creature is safe. " he shot a damning glare at Kero. " As long as he stays in that plexishield. I figured it was better to let him live than to see you go into a seizure every five minutes. "

A determined expression crossed his face.

" Now, how long have you been having these seizures? "

Shame and humiliation engulfed her. No, she couldn't bare to go through this again. To go through the degradation and disgrace. If he thought she was possessed . . he might jettinson her. Tori wasn't around to protect her this time. Scrambling upright, she grabbed the blanket .

" There's nothing wrong with me. "

She strated to get down from the table, but he moved at light speed, grabbing her waist and pinning her there. His eyes bored into hers.

" My examination and medical monitor say differently. Not just these episodes, but your leg - "

" My leg is fine. " Sakura insisted, struggling in earnest now. He restrained her easily, but she continued thrashing, mindless from rushing adrenaline.

" There's nothing wrong with my leg! It's fine, it's fine, it's - "

" Stop it! I saw your leg, Sakura. And I want to know why it wasn't tended. "

She slumped back, trembling, uncontrollably.

" There's nothing wrong with me. " she whispered.

He starred at her, his expression incredulous. He eased hs tight grasp.

" Your leg could have been repaired. And you should recieve treatment for your

seizures. "

She focussed her gaze on her clenched hands.

" I'm fine now, I tell you. "

" There's no shame because you have seizures. You have a condidtion - a medical condition that has a name - and a treatment. You don't have to suffer these episodes. And there are surgical procedures that can help your leg. "

Sakura refused to listen, refused to accept what he was saying. She had survived too long by convincing herself that she was okay, or at least functional. She didn't dare dwell on farfetched hopes beyond her reach. She shook her head in denial.

" I can get by. Just take me to the nearest star base. Then you'll be rid of me. "

He exaled angrily and released her.

" Fine. Get dressed, " he chucked her clean tunic at her. " Meet me in the cockpit when you're done. It's at the end of the corridor. We'll discuss the rules of this ship. Believe me, there are plenty. "

He walked out, not taking a second glance.

**

" Well, well, well. You don't look like a prisoner to me. " someone drawled and Sakura jumped and looked to her left where a man was starring at her from behind a force field.

" Who are you? " Sakura asked, surprised that her rescuer wasn't alone.

" Nathan Long, at your service. " he answered with a bow.

He looked at her with calculating eyes, assessing her from head to toe.

" I'd be delighted to foster an acquaintance with such a lovely lady. If you'd be so kind as to deactivate this force field for me, we could get to know each other better. The deactivation pad is to your right. "

Knowing full well that no man would ever find her attractive, Sakura ignored his charming smile.

" You're a prisoner? " she eyes his cubby hole curiously.

She had never seen a ship's brig before.

Nathan smiled.

" I'd prefer to call it temporary custody. What's your name? You look like you could use some assistance yourself. If you'd release me, I could - "

" You could rot in the blazing hells of Nasdor. " a cold voice rang out.

Sakura whirled. Her rescuer strode toward them.

" As a matter of fact you will burn in agony Long. I'll personally see to it. "

The prisoner shrugged indifferently.

" I doubt that Showron. You don't have anything on me. No proof. Just your derranged hallucinations. "

So her rescuer had a name. Showron. Showron barred his teeth in a feral grin.

" Oh yeah? Then why do you suppose the Controllers have a galaxy-wide call out for your capture? One with a reward of five thousand miterons attached? "

At the mention of the Controllers, a shiver went up Sakura's back. Nathan wasn't uneffected either, apprehension filled his face and then it disappeared and he smiled.

" Just a little misunderstanding, Showron. I'll be freed quickly. You'll regret the day you crossed my path. "

" I'll have no regrets when you suffer a slow, painful death. " Li growled.

Grabbing Sakura's arms, he marched towards the end of the corridor, dragging her with him, heedless of her stumbling gait.

He marched her towards the cockpit and told her that she still had to undergo decontamination. He whirled around and went to collect Kero, still in his cage. Sakura starred at the computer mainframe in front of her and looked around nervously. Knowing what she was doing, she tapped into several differnt things searching for anything that might give her a clue as to who this mysterious person was that her rescuer. She gasped when his profile came up holographically. He wasn't a Controller agent, but to Sakura he was something far worse. He was a Shadower - A Bounty Hunter.



And in this quadrant so cruelly ruled by the Controllers, Shielders were the prey.

To Be Continued . . .

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BW2 I'd just like to give you a little visual of what Sakura looks like incase you haven't figured it out yet. I mentioned before that she wears knee-high boots. She wears a pilgrims tunic which barely goes to her knees and it belted around the middle, so it's like a short dress if you like, plus a hood on the back. She has long hair like Natasha does in Card Captors/Card Captor Sakura.