Sorry this is kind of late, but things have been rather hectic lately and I'm posting on the run. Enjoy and let me know what you think!

The Impercipient

Chapter 5: Why always I must feel as blind

Elena sat quietly on her bed in the quarters given to her. Her back was braced against the wall, her legs outstretched in front of her. She marveled at the feeling of simply being clean again, no more dirt caked in her dirty blonde hair, no more blood dried on her pale skin. Trance had even had her dress washed. Even though the bottom of the skirt had been torn off ages ago, she was happy that the garment was clean once again.

Elena held her hands out in front of her, examining them carefully. Trance had healed the cut on her palm. Elena turned her hands over again and again, staring at that which had caused her so much misery.

A chime sounded at the closed door and Elena started. She wasn't sure what it meant, or what to do about the sound. A knock sounded on the door next. Rhade's voice reached her ears. "Elena? May Trance and I come in?"

Elena hurried over to the door and activated the panel, letting the door slide open. "Of course," Elena answered. She stepped aside to let them come into the room, and closed the door behind them.

"How are you feeling?" asked Trance.

Elena smiled. "Much better thank you. I cannot remember the last time I was actually clean." She observed them, making note of the slight anxiety in their stances. "Is there something I can do for you?"

Rhade sighed. "Elena, you should know that we are going to help you and free those that are enslaved on Taher. But we made need your help."

"My help?" asked Elena, immediately wary. She clasped her hands together in front of her, a nervous reaction that did not go unnoticed. "What do you mean?"

"Would you be willing to speak to Colus?"

Elena's eyes went wide and she backed up a step. "Colus? Why?"

Trance took a step forward, keeping her voice calm as she spoke. "Colus may have some information that we can use. He would not speak with us, but he might speak to you."

Elena shook her head. "He would not just offer up information freely."

Rhade nodded. "We know. We think he might brag about what is going to happen on the planet, try to make you feel guilty. We can use information like that."

Elena nodded. She dropped her eyes in thought and turned away from them, slowly walking further into the room. Trance glanced over at Rhade before speaking. "We will be there in the room with you, you will not be alone."

Elena turned and looked at them. She slowly sighed. "Then I will help you in what way I can. I trust you in this."

Rhade frowned. "Elena, I am curious. Why is it that you trust us, but not the rest of the crew?"

Elena shrugged. "I have always been more inclined to trust those that heal as opposed to those that kill. I believe that while I was unconscious I was still aware of your efforts to heal me. There have been few people in my life that have stood up and tried to protect me. When you stopped Colus from hurting me, I felt that for once there might be someone that was on my side, someone I could trust."

Rhade smiled. "You are right, you can trust us. You can trust me."

She nodded and carefully unclasped her hands. "Then let us see to Colus."

Trance led the way out of her quarters and Elena followed with Rhade walking beside her. Rhade watched her out of the corner of his eye, seeing her clasp her hands together again.

"Why is it that you always clasp your hands when you are nervous or scared?"

Elena looked up at him. "Well, it just seems that anytime that I become hurt in anyway, it is because of my hands. I heal with my hands, I can read people with my hands. When they are clasped nothing can happen. It's just kind of a nervous reaction I guess."

They halted in front of a closed door. "Colus is inside," said Trance. "Are you sure about this?"

Elena took a deep breath. "Yes. The horror on Taher needs to come to an end."

Rhade nodded. "It does. If at any time you want to leave, just say so." He keyed the lock on the door and stepped in first, his bone blades extending ever so slightly. Elena followed him and stopped inside the door.

Colus stood in the center of the room, glaring at Elena. Several guards stood against the wall, evenly spaced for an emergency. Colus snarled at the new arrival. "So you survived did you? Pity."

Elena seemed frozen for a second, but she gathered her wits and stepped up to stand next to Rhade. "It is over Colus. Every injustice you have ever committed is over and you will be made to pay."

Colus sneered, showing partially yellowed teeth. "Not likely. I only wish that trader had showed up instead of your friends."

"Why? So you could buy more slaves and subject them to your cruelty?"

Colus snickered. "Hardly. He was coming to make me an offer on you actually."

Elena blanched. "What?"

"That's right. He heard about your talents through one of our normal traders. He was pretty interested. Said he needed a good healer. And even though you aren't exactly one of the prettiest slaves, he wanted to use you for other things as well."

Elena's eyes widened in fear. She faltered and Rhade put an arm around her waist to hold her up. Trance moved to her side. "We can go."

But Elena's attention was on neither Trance, nor Rhade. "You're lying."

Colus laughed, an unpleasant sound. "I don't think so. And just so you know, I made sure to send a message back to the planet before I went after you. If you aren't back after a certain amount of time, many of those worthless slaves you care for are going to be dealt with. You think I'm lying? Well, you're never going to find out are you?"

Trance and Rhade were trying to ease her out of the room. But Elena could feel her fear turning into anger. She pushed away from them and stomped over to the restrained Colus. "We shall see," she said venomously.

Colus eyed the woman uncertainly as she stopped right before him. She placed her hands on either side of his face and closed her eyes, breathing deeply. Slowly, her hands fell from his face to rest on his chest. Colus watched her in confusion for a moment. Then his expression turned malicious and he lunged forward as Elena gasped.

Colus would have crushed her underneath his own body weight had Rhade not acted in time. Just as Colus moved, Rhade pulled Elena against him and away from the Taherian. Their momentum sent them to the floor, while the security guards restrained Colus.

"You little harlot!" screamed Colus, struggling against the guards. "How dare you keep secrets from me! Do you know what you have done? Now I will make sure every slave child on the planet dies because of you!"

Rhade leapt up from the floor and pressed his bone blades against Colus' neck. "I will not hesitate to kill you," he snarled, causing the Taherian to stop struggling. Rhade glanced up at the men holding him. "Take him back to his cell." The guards quickly dragged the enraged man from the room.

Rhade then quickly turned to face what was behind him. Elena lay on the ground, her stomach against the floor. She had her hands over her ears, apparently trying to block out the sounds around her. Her shoulders were shaking with barely suppressed sobs. Trance was on her knees next to her, trying to comfort the shaken woman.

"Elena," said Trance, her hands resting lightly on her back. "He is gone now."

Very slowly, Elena took her hands down. She placed them beneath her and pushed herself to her knees. Trance let her hands fall to her lap and Rhade crouched next to them. "What is it?" he asked, knowing she had read Colus' feelings.

Tears fell silently down Elena's face. "He wasn't lying, not about any of it," she confessed. "The trader was coming to buy me. Right before he lunged at me I could feel his hatred. I know he wanted me dead. And worst of all now every child on that planet will die because of me!"

"No they won't," assured Trance. "He won't be able to give an order like that. They will remain safe, we will make sure of that."

Elena shook her head. "That may be so, but my fate is still decided. The trader will come and he will take me - "She stopped talking and put a head over her mouth, her eyes full of fear.

"He will not," said Rhade with conviction. "I will not let him. No one deserved slavery, least of all you. I will keep him from you."

Elena turned her eyes to him, using her hands to wipe her face. She nodded slowly, as if she didn't quite believe it. Trance stood up and pulled her to her feet. Elena leaned over and hugged the golden woman. When Rhade stood, Elena hugged him as well. She lightly kissed his cheek as she pulled away. "Thank you."

"I think you should get some more rest," said Trance. "You are not yet fully recovered."

Elena nodded. She gave a shaky smile at Rhade and let Trance help her out of the room. A long sleep would do her good. Rhade watched them leave.

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TBC

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Well, there you have it! I hope everyone is still enjoying this. There won't be another post for at least a week I think because I am moving into my dorm next week and things are going to be rather hectic. I will try though. Maybe I could have some nice reviews to cheer me on?

By the way, just a little side note: If you are trying to catch up on past episodes and you run to Blockbuster, get a few volumes and then watch five episodes in one night, followed promptly by sleep, you WILL have dreams about Andromeda. Definitely one of the weirdest things, let me tell you...

Anyway, thanks to all my readers, until next time!