Okay, this is a bit longer chapter than normal, but I needed to get some stuff established. The next chapter should be out relatively soon because I am definitely in a writing stride right now. Which is good for you! So, of course, please leave me some feedback, tell me what you think. I always appreciate it.

The Impercipient

Chapter 8: Abides a mystery

Rhade sighed and straightened his vest, which gave him a distinctly mercenary look. The Maru stood behind him, ready to be launched. Beka had just left after giving him a thorough talking to, explaining in great detail what should happen to him if anything happened to her ship. He had no doubt that she would follow up on her threats.

Harper walked over and handed him a flexi. "This should be all the information that you need. All we know about the trader is that he comes from the Teid system and his name is Sunev. On this card are the codes you need to get into the seedy part of Taher. You should be good."

Rhade nodded and tucked the flexi into an inside pocket. Dylan approached him next. "You know what you have to do?"

Rhade nodded. "I do."

"Good. Try and keep in contact. I know you and Trance can take care of yourselves, but watch out for Elena."

"You do not have to say anything," answered Rhade. "Of course I will watch over her."

Dylan studied the Nietzschean. A small smile crept into his eyes. "I know." He turned away and motioned to Harper. "Let's go." They left to go board a slipfighter, Rommie already awaiting them.

Trance and Elena then entered the hanger. Trance was very plainly clothed in a simple gray dress, which would allow her to pass among the slaves easily, despite her foreign looks. Elena was clothed in the same white dress she had always worn, even though the hem had been torn off at her knees.

Trance nodded at Rhade. "I will go do a final check of the ship." She disappeared up the ramp.

Rhade turned to Elena, who stood staring at the ship. "Are you sure about this?" he asked, reaching forward to take her hands within his own. "You don't have to do this."

Elena shook her head. "I do have to do this. Those people need my help. I will do what I can to free them."

Rhade nodded and squeezed her hands. "All right then. Let's go." She nodded and preceded him up the ramp. Though she had managed to fly the drop ship away from Taher, she knew very little as to the intricate workings of any ship, let alone one so patched together as the Maru. Beka had spent some time with her, briefly going over the controls of some of the less important equipment so that she could help out on the flight down to the planet. Elena was just happy she wouldn't have to fly again.

Trance took a place at one of the main stations while Rhade strapped himself into the pilot chair. He eased the Maru out of the hanger and headed for the planet.

Hardly a minute into their flight, they were noticed. "We're being hailed," reported Trance. "The transmission is coming from the planet." Elena eased into the shadows of the corridor so that she would not be seen as Trance patched the communication through.

A worn woman with streaks of grey in her auburn hair and hard eyes came onto the screen. "This is Tenree of air control for the planet Taher. Vessel Eureka Maru, please transmit codes before preceding." Rhade sent the codes Harper had specified, silently hoping the engineer had gotten it right. The woman's expression changed to one of surprise a moment later. "Sunev. You are late."

Rhade shrugged. "I had more important matters elsewhere."

The woman suddenly took on a distinctly uncomfortable look. "Sunev, about the slave you were coming to look at-"

"I know of the situation," interrupted Rhade, his voice and face hardening. "I caught her myself as she was trying to escape. She is with me now. I had not thought security on your planet was so lax."

The woman snarled. "One instance, Sunev. Colus, no doubt had much to say on the subject."

"I'm sure he would have had he been conscious." Rhade enjoyed the woman's shock. "His fighter was damaged and he is currently being held on my other ship as we treat him. Though I doubt he will be very happy once he recovers."

The woman nodded, her face going blank. "Indeed. You have permission to land in dock 1036 Alpha. We will meet you there. Tenree out." The screen returned to the image of the rapidly growing planet.

"Things will be disorganized, now that they know Colus will not be back right away," observed Elena. "They will most likely spend their efforts in trying to entertain you and forget about Trance and I."

"Good," Rhade mumbled under his breath. He easily landed the Maru in the specified port and let the ship power down to standby. He sighed and stood, not happy with what he was about to do.

Elena moved before him. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Slowly letting it out, she turned around and put her hands behind her. "I'm ready."

Rhade nodded. Carefully, he took a pair of binders and fastened them around her wrists. They had to keep up the illusion that she was still a slave, as much as it pained them to do it. He then looked to Trance, who nodded that she was also ready. Rhade grasped Elena's binders in one hand, his other holding a gun. They walked toward the door and Trance hit the panel, opening it.

A group of guards and officials stood at the bottom of the ramp, waiting for them. Rhade made a show of pushing Elena before him, though in fact it was she that made the move convincing. Trance trailed after them, her eyes downcast. Tenree stepped forward, nodding to the group.

"Sunev, we thank you for returning the slave to us. She will be punished accordingly."

Rhade's eyebrows raised. "I would advise against that actually. I must confess that I had decided to purchase her, especially after I spent some time with her. If any harm were to come to her, I might have to rethink the significant sum I was prepared to pay."

Tenree hesitated, her eyes sliding to the gun clasped in his hand. "Very well. She will not be harmed for the time being. As long as she does not step out of line." Tenree reached forward and grasped Elena's arm, pulling the woman towards her. Rhade tried not to flinch as she stumbled.

Rhade holstered the gun, noticing the guards relaxing once he put away his weapon. "I must admit, this slave of yours has made me curious. I wish to see the others that you keep here."

Tenree's eyes narrowed. "Why? We have no more like her."

The Nietzschean crossed his arms before him, flaring his bone blades for emphasis. "There are other uses for slaves, aren't there?" Rhade thought he was going to be sick, based off of what he was implying.

Tenree nodded, not even batting an eyelash. "Of course. However, I cannot accompany you at the moment, there are other duties that I must attend to."

Rhade shrugged. "That is of no matter to me. I can go myself. I feel it would be best if I knew where she was at all times."

Tenree studied him for a moment before slowly nodding. "Very well. I will escort you to the slave quarters." She pushed Elena ahead of her, starting the procession to the desolate part of the compound, locked away from prying eyes and casual visitors.

Rhade looked around him in seeming disinterest, but in truth was gathering as much information as he could. There were no obvious signs that Taher was involved in the illegal slave trade, besides an unusual amount of armed guards. Everything he saw was well maintained. He knew the same could not be said for the slave quarters.

They soon reached a barred metal door, guarded by four men. Tenree turned to Rhade. "This is the entrance to the slave quarters. There are guards stationed everywhere, you only need to call out for their help." She nodded at Trance, who had remained silent the whole time, trailing the party. "Your own slave may stay here if you wish it."

Tenree nodded to the guard who opened the door, letting a musky stank permeate the corridor. Dim lights lit the hallway beyond the door, but no one was visible. She took off Elena's binders and turned her around. Tenree then clasped her hand around Elena's arm, squeezing hard enough to bruise. "Don't cause trouble," she advised. "Or you won't be able to move again when Colus gets through with you."

Elena quickly lowered her eyes, but Rhade was able to see the flash of fear within them. Tenree pushed Elena into the passage. At a nod of his head, Trance followed her, the two of them disappearing around a corner of the corridor. Rhade pulled out his gun and started to follow but Tenree placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him.

"Hey, Sunev? Try not to kill the merchandise, okay?"

Rhade wanted to hit the woman for calling people merchandise, but knew he could do no such thing. So instead, he simply let a sneer cross his face and entered into the hallway, listening to the door clang shut behind him. He sighed and put his gun away, then ran a hand through his hair. He hated this. But if he was going to help Elena at all, it was what he would have to endure.

He turned the corner to see Elena and Trance waiting for him. "Are we ready?" The two women nodded and the three started off, Elena leading them.

-I-I-I-I-I-

Dylan, Harper and Rommie traipsed through the overgrowth of a forest they had landed near. Rommie had picked up what appeared to be an encampment of humans and were hoping to meet with these rebels.

Harper slapped at his neck and groaned. "I swear, why is it that all bloodsucking bugs are attracted to me?"

"Harper," warned Dylan. They needed to be quiet so they could find these rebels and hopefully not get ambushed.

"No, I quite agree with him."

Dylan turned and came face to face with an old gun pointed at his head. More people appeared from around the trees, surrounding the three members of the Andromeda's crew. The leader, the man who had spoken and was pointing the gun at Dylan, looked surprisingly young. Long brown hair was tied behind his back and wolfish gray eyes sized them up. He was smirking. "The bugs can be bothersome." The smile disappeared. "Now why don't you tell us why you are here."

Dylan sighed and threw a sour look at Harper, who shrugged sheepishly. "I am Captain Dylan Hunt. I am here to help you."

The man's eyes narrowed. "Help us? Help us do what?"

"Stop the injustices that the Taherian government have committed."

The man's expression did not change. "We've been trying to do that for a while now. Somehow I doubt your help would change anything."

Dylan looked him squarely in the eye. "Except we have someone on the inside." The man was silent. "Look, just listen to us. We can help you if you give us a chance."

The man let his eyes wander over the three people before him. Slowly, he lowered his gun and motioned for the others to do the same. "I am Niaran. I will listen to your proposition. But if at any time you show that you are a threat, you will die."

Harper shrugged. "What else is new?"

-I-I-I-I-I-

TBC

-I-I-I-I-I-

And there you have it. I wanted to get a lot further than I did, but oh well. It just means that you might get the next chapter quicker! So please, please, please let me know what you think.

And a quick note on the chapter titles. I've realized they really no longer make sense. In case you don't remember, I'm getting the titles from the lines of a poem called The Impercipient. The entire poem can apply to Elena. I plan on posting the poem at the end of the story, just so you're aware.

Until next time!