Chapter 5

Li strapped a blaster and a phaser onto his belt. He appeared oblivious to Sakura's presence as he reached into the weapon vault for a pair of blast gloves. Pulling those on, he closed the vault, then strode, toward the hatch. His actions strenghtened her suspicion that he'd traveled to Saron to pursue a criminal.

Fingering the vial of capsules in her pocket, she followed him to the hatch. He'd offered them one ship cycle ago, claiming they would help prevent her seizures. While she knew better than to cling to false hopes, she had accepted the vial. She didn't truly believe anything could eradicate her affiction. . . yet she hadn't been able to resist swallowing a capsule this morning.

Right now, however, her attention focused on the fact than they'd just landed on Saron, with Li preparing to leave the ship. Panic edged her thoughts, raising apprehension at this delay in reaching Sonoma.

She halted beside Li as he snapped open the portal cover. " Captian Showron? "

"Hai? " he answered, his voice flat. He appeared distant, withdrawn.

Sakura recognised that withdrawal. She had seen it many times before, in Shielders preparing to go into battle against the Controllers or the Anteks. A shadower stalking a wanted criminal wold need the same emotional distance. This was no game Showron engaged in. The hunt could readily become a matter of life or death.

" How- how long will you be gone? "

He looked at her then, his eyes cold and expressionless. " As long as it takes. "

Her breath froze in her chest. How could she possibly have allowed her perception of this man to soften? SHADOWER! He was a shadower. She must remember that, in spite of his surprising compassion abnd assistance, his indoctrination would assure her swift demise if he ever discover her true birthright.

Slipping a visor on, ( AN: in other words - dark a sunglasses. ) he punched the hatch control, then turned to her one final time.

" I've programmed the brig force fields so you can't deactivate them. Stay away from Long. We'll take off as soon as I return. "

He still didn't trust her, and probably would never would. Well, she didn't trust him either, which made it imperitive that she gain full access to his computer system. Realizing he waited acknowledgement of his orders, Sakura nodded; then he strode out, the hatch whirring shut behind him.

" Sakura! Sakura, come here, " Long wheedled from his cubicle.

Ignoring him, she hurried to the cockpit. She needed to find her supplies and her weapons; needed to find to exert control of all her computer functions - just in case.

Delving into the computer, she began searching for the hidden files every system contained. It took some time, but she finally found what she was looking for. The PWL file, which contained the security codes and passwords necessary for accesssing all operational ship functions. The heart and core of the computer.

As she had expected, the file was encrypted. An hour later she was still working on creating a program that would decode it. Thanks to Tori's teaching and hands-on experience he'd allowed her, she knew exactly what was expected of her and she listened with her heart in her mouth for the opening of the hatch, announcing Li's return.

Breathing a sigh of relief when it was dne, she finally closed the computer file, her decrytion program hidden and running. It would take a few days for it to work, and even then, she didn't know if it would work.

Delving into the read-only files, she located Li's supply storage room and went in search of her supplies.

She slipped her knife in her boot and hid her bag in her cabin. Pleased with her accomplishments, she retunred to the computer in the cockpit to browse the IAR files until Li returned.

The hatch opened some time later and Li stood with his back to the hatch, taking off his glooves, then his visor, exposing bleeding scrapes on his face. Sakura was surprised to see him alone. She'd automatically assumed the trip to Saron had been in pursuit of a wanted felon. Scowling fiercely at her, Li turned and headed down the corridor, yanking off his belt.

" Captain, " she gasped when she saw his bledding wound on his upper back, near his left shoulder blade. " What happened? "

" My sources were wrong, " he growled back, not breaking his stride. " This trip was a total waste! "

Sakura hurried after him. " But what happened to your shoulder? "

He jerked to a halt and threw his visor against the wall.

" A damn Jaccian decided he wanted my weapons and any gold I may have had. "

" Too bad he didn't want your head as well. " Long sneered.

Li scowl darkened and he opened the weapons vault and threw his phaser and his blaster back into it and slammed it closed. Appalled by the blood oozing from his back, Sakura stepped closer.

"Captain, your shoulder - "

" I'll tend to it! " he snapped. " Just leave me alone! "

" Let him bleed to death. " Long advised.

Li levelled a glare hotter than a nuclear explosion at the prisoner.

" Shut up Long, or I'll put you under for the rest of the trip. "

Li strode to his cabin and opened the panel.

" Captain! " Sakura protested, alarmed he wasn't heading to the lab. " Your shoulder is bleeding heavily. "

Li stood ramrod stiff, his entire body was radiating tension. " so? " he ground out, not turning.

" You can't let it go. Surely you have suplies in your lab for treating wounds? " she persisted, concern overiding the desire to avoid his wrath.

He turned to her, his expression cold. " You let me worry about that, pilgrim. "

" It will be hard for you to do your back. I-I can help you. "

Some of the tension eased from hom. " Can you now? "

" I can try. " she hesitated, wondering why in the universe she was offering to help a shadower. " You've helped me so much, Captain. Dozo let me help you in return. "

With Li guiding her through what had to be done, Sakura finally managed to seal the wound and bandaged it. Li's skin was smooth and warm even through the glooves. She'd never touched anything like it before. Everything about him seemed to make her feel strange again. What was he doing to her?

Sakura had often longed for normal life like everyone one else back on Liron. She recognised her yearning as follish and futile, but still, she wondered what it would be like to have a lifemate, to enter into the mating act, to bear children . . Pian slashed through her, and she unintentionally dug her fingers into Li's shoulder.

" Damn! " flinching for the first time, he turned his head and squinted up at her.

" What in blazing hells are you doing? Is the bandage on yet? "

She stepped back quickly, her heart skittering into an irregualr beat. " H-hai. I think it's done. "

He swung himself up and shifted his legs over the edge. His sharp gaze scanned her.

" Are you all right? You're flushed. "

Her hand through to her heated face. " I-Im fine. But we need to tend to those scratches on your face. "

" I can do that. "

She suddenly, desperately wanted to touch him again.

" No, let me. Do I use the compound in the silver flask? "

He nooded grudgingly and she went straight to the task.

He jerked slightly as she cleaned the cuts, and she drew back, concerned. " Does it hurt? "

" Only when I fly too low. "

" Nani? "

He grinned wryly, and her heart skipped a beat.

" It's an old joke Sakura. Haven't you ever heard it? "

She shook her head silently and returned her attention to the cuts. He remained as silent as she, and by the time she was finished, every nerve in her body stood on edge, and her skin tingled with odd sensations. She stepped back, at a loss for words.

He slid off the table and put on his shirt. " Arigato Sakura. I'll clean up. "

She nodded and watched as he set to work, cleaning up everything that she had used. She had accepted a long time ago that she would never have a lifemate. Who would want a cripple who suffered from unexplainable and frightening seizures? Even without her defects, she'd still be undersirable. She was too thin, too pale.

" It was best to keep her focus on her mission, to remember time was running out. Sakura shudred, assailed by thoughts of what would happen is she failed. No, she refused to think about that now.

Instead she headed for the cokpit, where she could lose herself in IAR, and the kowledge it supplied about myths, treasure and folklore.

Where she could pretend - if only for a little while - that she was normal. And maybe just a little bit pretty . . and desirable.

To Be Continued . . .

BW2 Hi guys, I hope you liked that chapter. I just wanted to warn you that my year 11 exams are next week, so I may not be back for a while k? You guys are great and please review. Mata ne!