Koenig could hear the pounding footsteps running somewhere behind them in the corridor. Using Helena's commlock, he hit a button and the doors to Eagle Bay Five slid open. He shoved Helena inside just as a security team rounded the corner. He fired his weapon, and knocked out the first two men. He stepped inside the door and closed them, pushing Dr. Russell toward the Eagle sitting on the pad. As they entered the ship, the security team ran through the bay doors, firing their weapons in Koenig's direction. He fired back before closing and locking the doors to the Eagle. He roughly grabbed Helena's arm, shoving her in front of him toward the cockpit.
Her voice was filled with fear, "John..... John, please don't do this. Please."
Koenig looked at her with no emotion. "Sit down and shut-up."
Russell hesitated, "John, no..."
He grabbed her and threw her down toward the co-pilot's chair, pointing the stun gun at her. "I said sit down and get strapped in. Now."
She moved to comply, but spoke again. "John, I know you're in there. Please, help me. Don't let this happen."
Koenig grabbed his head in pain. Natarak howled as the spirit within roared at her with all his might. Helena started toward him, but Koenig pointed the gun at her, still grimacing in pain. After a moment, it was gone, and Koenig was once again composed. Helena opened her mouth to speak, but he switched the stun lever to kill and pointed the weapon at her.
"One more word, Dr. Russell, and it will be your last."
Shaking with fright, Helena looked at the man she loved more than any other. Tears filled her eyes, and even as he strapped in and began his launch sequence, she prayed that John Koenig would find a way to take back control. The tears spilled down her face as they lifted off, and she realized it wasn't going to happen. As her desperation overwhelmed her, Helena Russell broke down and cried, harder than she had ever remembered.
The being inside Natarak's consciousness screamed out in anger.
"Stop! I will not allow you to harm her!"
"There is little you can do, John Koenig. And soon enough the two of you will be inferons to Zentor and Peratha. They are the two oldest and most venerable of our people. It is an honor to be chosen for them."
"An honor? It's murder. You're going first to rob us of our bodies, and then our minds. We'll be dead within minutes. It's murder."
"Fine. Call it what you like, it will not change it. Zentor and Peratha will take the two of you, and once the rest of your people have evacuated to Bintoss, they also will become inferons to our people."
"My people will fight you."
"Your people have no options, Koenig. In less than an hour, they will be without oxygen."
Koenig didn't answer her. The reality of the situation on Alpha bringing on an all too familiar sense of despair. He could only hope that Paul would somehow find a way to prevent it from happening. His immediately problem was looking for a way to help Helena......