Zakharov moved Shila's head slightly so that it rested on his sack.  They'd been in the tunnel for ten minutes since Meskha had closed the connection, and the damp undergrowth of the base was beginning to get uncomfortable.  But Zakharov wasn't thinking about that…he looked down at the girl, who was just now beginning to wake up.  Her voice was rasping as she spoke.

"Prokhor…"

He shook his head.  "Don't take.  Save your energy."

She ignored him.  "Prokhor…she accessed the files of Ground Level Sea Base."

Zakharov attempted not to wince.  "Yes…yes."

Shila shook her head.  "I…never should've come along.  The mission, and now our faction, is doomed.  I'm a walking encyclopedia to our enemies, and now our last base is doomed."

Zakharov fingered the Datapod in his pocket.  "It's not your fault, Shila.  I've been too eager.  That's all I thought about…getting my faction back and getting to Meskha.  For that, I risked our base, and the girl I love."

Shila smiled.  "Aww…" her smile turned into a wince.

Zakharov pulled the Datapod out of his pocket and stared at it.  "There's only one thing we can do."  He picked up his monitor and pushed down on its buttons.

Shila stared at him.  What are you doing?"

"I'm going to transfer your program to Yang."

Shila cried out as she sat up.  "No, Zakharov, you can't!"

He shook his head.  "This mission is over.  If you stay, you'll be captured."

"I can't leave you here alone!"

Zakharov punched in the comm. link to Yang.  The newfound face on the monitor was bright in the darkness of the tunnels.  Yang sighed.

"I take it things aren't going as planned, if you're calling this early."

Zakharov fiddled with the Datapod.  "Salem betrayed us, Yang.  Me and Shila are in the tunnel system, and it won't be long before we're intercepted.  I am going to transfer a file to you, be ready to activate it."

Yang had a confused expression.  "I don't understand…Shila?"

Zakharov looked at his with tired eyes.  "You'll find out soon enough."  He then turned off the visual display on the monitor as he looked at Shila.  "I'm sorry you're not a secret anymore.  I refuse, however, to let you be destroyed…or worse, integrated as a workhorse in Meskha's factories.  You have to do what you can to stop Meskha.  You won't be able to do that if you're captured."

He leaned towards her and kissed her forehead, then pushed a button on his monitor.  Shila's eyes gleamed of tears as she faded away.

"Prokhor…"

Zakharov shut his eyes and exhaled slowly.  "Goodbye, Shila…"  He then leaned back against the wall of the tunnel and fell into a deep sleep.

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earthprokhor.

"You know, I was wondering why I wasn't dreaming.  How're you, Voice?"

is no time talk?

"Nah, go right ahead.  I've got nothing to lose, anyways."

planetmeskha.  demon.  spy.  destroy.  destroy earthprokhor.

"Very good pep talk, Voice.  Anything you can do to help?"

planetbase no guarded planet.  mindworms.  destroy planetmeskha.

"No, voice…we need those codes.  Planet won't be safe without them."

earthprokhor care planet.

"Of course."

confusion.  planetmeskha destroy earthprokhor.  yet earthprokhor care planet.

"Meskha is not Planet.  Because she was born on Planet does not make her Planet."

planetmeskha planet.  planet planetmeskha.  care planet, care planetmeskha.

"If that's the case, then, I care for my fellow faction leaders, particularly Yang.  As I'm sure you probably know, Meskha has made Deirdre breed thousands on mindworms intent on destroying the other factions, just as I have been destroyed.  Then, when all of the factions have been overtaken, Deirdre will be disposed of.  Total planet-wide control.  No, Voice, I don't care about Meskha.  I do however care for the fate and future of Planet."

want assist earthprokhor.  how?

"Any way you can get the codes out of Meskha's head?

mind. cannot. impenetrable.

"Then unless you can get me out of these tunnels within the next 20  minutes, there's nothing you can do to help me."

attempt.  try for earthprokhor.

"Voice, I have a question.  Why are you helping me, or even talking to me?"

earthdeirdre connect Planet.  earthdeirdre pop!  earthprokhor discontinue pop.  therefore, Planet assist earthprokhor with pop.

"Well…thank you.  Now please release me."

as wish, earthprokhor.

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"I think he's coming out of it."

Zakharov slowly opened his eyes and was looking into the face of a young woman dressed in battle armor, carrying a large gun.  Around her were about five other soldiers standing near a land transport.  She seemed to be pressing him against the wall. 

"Provost Zakharov of the late University of Planet.  We have been instructed to extract you from this place and bring you before our superior."

Zakharov was still groggy.  "And just who are you?"

"I am a corporal.  That is enough for you."

"Fair enough.  So where exactly are you taking me?"

"To our ship."

Zakharov attempted to stand.  "Oh, a boat ride!  How exciting!"

The girl pushed him back down the ground.  "Show your respect!  You'll need more of it before long!"

The girl took his hands and bound them.  Zakharov chuckled to himself at the site.  This girl, who was probably decades younger then him, needed an old man to be restrained.  Zakharov's smile, however, turned to a frown when he noticed the girls crest.

"You're Gaian."

The corporal nodded.  "Does that surprise you?"

Zakharov suppressed a chill.  "That means you're taking me to Deirdre?"

"That's classif-"

Zakharov struggled with his restraints before the girl could finish.  The other guards surrounded Zakharov and knocked him to the ground.  One of the guards had grabbed his hand weapon and smashed it against Zakharov's head.

Everything seemed to fade to black.

~

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Next chapter will be bigger.  I promise.  ^^;