Another chapter here for you! Thank you to my reviewers, it really makes my day to hear from you! I always appreciate it. So please continue to read and review. Enjoy!

The Impercipient

Chapter 4: To infelicity

"The last of your kind?" repeated Rhade, unable to believe such a thing.

Elena nodded. She hurriedly swiped at her eyes, removing some of the grime that was on her face. "Many years ago, my people achieved space travel through slip stream. For the first time, we finally had a way to leave our planet. For years our planet had been dying, it could support life no longer. So it was decided that a team of explorers and their families would take a ship and attempt to find allies as well as a new home. I was the youngest adult on that ship, and spent the days tending to the children as our inexperienced crew wandered through the stars.

"The first people we came across were the Taherians. We came to orbit their planet and we believed we had found help. It was not so. The Taherians did not know of us and were suspicious. We were a peaceful people that believed in beauty and fairness. They thought we would be a threat to their way of life, a threat to their slave trade. So the Taherians captured the ship."

She took a moment, briefly closing her eyes in distress. "They slaughtered my people and my family. All because the ship was foreign to them and they were frightened. When the first warnings came, I tried to protect the children. I hid them in secret compartments, and tried to lure the men away from them. The Taherians found me as I had hoped, but they did not kill me. They questioned me, but I would not tell them anything of our world. So when they eventually found the children, they killed them in front of me, so I would always remember what my insolence brought."

Elena swiped at her eyes again, determined not to cry. "The Taherians kept me around as a memory of their victory over the helpless. They enjoyed seeing me working with the slaves, for it reminded them of their power. They did not know of my abilities at first. All on my planet could heal as I can, but I did not want to endanger myself further. I worked in various sectors with those enslaved as I was. The other slaves, most captured from the Taher's enemies gave me the name Elena, which means 'of the stars' in their ancient tongue.

"After several years they still did not know of my ability. Then one day in the quarry, I was bringing water to the workers. One of them was careless and his leg became broken. I didn't even hesitate, for he had always been kind to me, and the Taherians would kill those who could work no longer. I healed him, taking the broken leg upon myself. One of the guards saw me and told the Taher Nine." She shook her head. "That was the end to my days of relative freedom.

"They then kept indoors, for fear of me running off. Since that day I have been Healing for Colus. At first, I tended to the injured slaves, allowing Colus to keep up his productivity. But eventually they had me forget the slaves, and tend to the government's personal needs. Once, a child slave was badly injured. Her wounds became infected, and disease ravaged her body. I would have been able to withstand such injuries and live. But Colus' wife - she had severe internal bleeding from a careless accident. She would have recovered in time, but they did not want to take the chance. They ordered me to heal her, as opposed to the one most in need. The child died because I could not heal her as well and endure more than the internal bleeding. I could not stand to see such innocent life slip away because of some idle fancies of the Nine. I have tried before to run, I have tried to refuse to work. But each time they threaten me with taking the life of another, saying if I do not work they will kill them.

"Finally, I saw an opportunity to escape. The Taher Nine have encountered resistance from small groups throughout the countries, from those that oppose their rule. There had been a bloody battle and the Nine's men had to retreat. The drop ship flew in and I was rushed to it, though I could not have done much in my current condition. I was helped on board and told to 'do what I could' for the unmoving soldiers while the rest were helped inside. The two men were already dead. I waited until the last of the Taherians left before I climbed into the pilot seat and took the ship. I had seen enough men pilot it to know how to fly it, but anything else was beyond me. Colus found out and ordered me to land, but I couldn't. He fired on me for I do not know how long. The last thing I remember was crashing into your hanger."

Her tale finished, she sat and looked at the crew's reactions, while trying to collect herself. Remembering always hurt. Trance and Harper looked saddened by her tale while Rommie just looked down and shook her head. Dylan and Beka seemed angered by the injustice. Rhade's face was impassive, but she could almost feel the tension raining off of him as he watched her, his eyes dark.

"So what do we do now?" asked Beka, her arms folded. "I'm starting to agree with Harper, we should just shoot him."

"No, we can't do that," said Dylan, shaking his head. "He's a member of the ruling government. If we're going to change things, we would need him. Elena, what about these rebels in the countryside? What do you know about them?"

Elena frowned. "Not all that much. Some believe that the few slaves that have managed to escape are the origins of these bands, but none are sure. I know they are a significant threat to the Nine. When the drop ship landed, not one of those soldiers was uninjured. But the rebels are too few and they are not equipped to overrun the Nine or free all the slaves."

Dylan frowned, tapping a finger to his chin. "Captain?" asked Rhade, wondering what he was thinking.

"Elena, if the slaves were given the opportunity, would they revolt?"

Elena's eyes widened. "If the chances for success were there, I believe so. Many plan on escaping or starting a riot, but few do, and fewer succeed."

Dylan nodded thoughtfully. He then clasped his hands behind his back. "We will come up with a plan in order to help you and the other slaves. Trance, why don't you take Elena to wash up?"

Trance nodded and came to Elena's side. Rhade stepped forward and helped the woman slide off the table. Elena looked at each of the crew. "Thank you for helping me," she said quietly, general sincerity in her voice. She squeezed Rhade's hand briefly before letting go and turning to Trance. She leaned heavily on the golden woman as they left the Med Bay, her left leg still too tender to place all her weight on it.

"So you're thinking of helping these rebels?" asked Beka, turning to Dylan once the doors closed.

Dylan nodded. "Possibly. But we would need more than that. We need to coordinate some sort of attack with those from the inside as well."

"That may not be a problem boss," said Harper. He held up the data cards he had confiscated from Colus' ship. "I haven't finished looking through all of them yet, but I did find out some relevant information. Like the fact that anyone can land on the planet, but those that want access to the more underground trades, such as slave dealing, have to have certain codes. And aren't you lucky, but you have a genius on board that can identify those codes from these few cards!" Harper waved them proudly.

"But that's not all! Nope, your amazing engineer here has even figured out the reason why Colus was in the air at all!"

"He wasn't chasing Elena?" asked Rhade.

"Nope, well, not originally. Turns out, they're expecting some big shot trader to come into the system around now. Colus was out in his Garuda with an additional escort to greet his guest. Elena just had some bad timing."

"I have not detected any other ships in the system, from the planet or exiting slipstream," said Rommie.

A smile slowly crept onto Dylan's face. "This could be our way in. Pretend to be that slave trader and plant the seeds of discontent on the inside." He paused. "Let's take the time to plan this. Rommie, go get the guard that Colus came with. Tell him that Colus is still speaking with me and that he was told to communicate with the surface of the planet, let them know he's going to be a while longer." Rommie nodded and promptly left the Med Bay.

"Dylan?" Trance entered into the Med Bay, her hands folded in front of her. "Elena is currently cleaning up. She will need to rest after she is done as she is still very weak."

"Trance, do you think she would help us try to liberate those on Taher?"

Trance sighed and shrugged. "It is possible. I believe that she wishes most for freedom. But I do not know how much she is willing to do. She has suffered greatly over the course of her life. I simply do not know."

"Looks like we're going to have to talk to her, see how far she's willing to go," said Beka.

"You're right," said Dylan, turning to her. "But I don't think it should be you or I asking her."

"What, are you backing out?" asked Beka, surprised.

"No, I just think it might be easier if it was just Trance and Rhade in the room with her, as opposed to the entire crew."

"Captain?" asked Rhade, surprised. "Why us?"

"Well, she obviously accepts Trance. And she seems to have warmed up to you as well. She would probably listen to the two of you more than me." Trance and Rhade both nodded in understanding. "Then let's figure out what we need to ask her."

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TBC

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So, what did you think? I thought it kind of dragged a bit, but you can't have action in every chapter! Don't worry, as long as things go according to plan, there should be some action in the next chapter. You know how those pesky plot bunnies are. Sometimes I really wish I had a force lance of my own....

Anyway, thanks again, until next time!