Sorry for the delay, but you wouldn't believe the writer's block that hit me. There isn't a whole lot left to this story, only a few chapters. So please leave me some feedback to let me know what you think, I would greatly appreciate it!

The Impercipient

Chapter 9: Yet I would bear my shortcomings

Elena led Rhade and Trance through the dank corridors, making her way to the main gathering place of the slaves, one of the few places that was not continually monitored by the guards. She hated being back in the dirty hallways, but there was little else for her to do.

A group could be heard up ahead, traveling towards them. Elena stopped walking, listening to the three voices she could hear. Rhade placed a hand on his gun, but Trance placed her hand on his shoulder, stopping him.

Three men rounded the corner and drew up short. The man in the forefront, who had a rather wily look about him, let his eyes widen. "Elena?"

Elena smiled and nodded. "Yes. I have returned with help."

The man stepped forward, his dark eyes disbelieving. "How can this be? We thought you had either escaped or been killed. How is it that you return to this place of damnation with help?"

Elena sighed and gestured to Rhade and Trance behind her. "These two have helped me. They are from the Commonwealth."

The name of the ancient regime brought the man to a halt, his mouth hanging open in a very undignified way. The sight made Elena laugh quietly. She turned to Rhade and Trance. "This is Isret. When he isn't trying to be a leader to those of us trapped here, he can always be found regaling the children with tales of the commonwealth." She turned back to the man. "We need to speak to the collective group. There is a chance they can be free."

Isret let his eyes travel over the group, taking them each in turn. Slowly, he nodded. "Alright. I will gladly take any chance at ending this darkness. Come with us and we will give you your audience."

The group turned and entered into the central gathering of the slaves. Elena was greeted by joyful cries and smiles on many filthy faces. Most simply ignored Rhade and Trance, casting them unsure looks as they passed after Elena. The room itself was large, though it seemed smaller with the sheer amount of bodies within it. In the center of the room was a small platform, constructed out of wood that rose only a foot in the air. It was to this platform that they were led.

Isret stepped onto the platform and raised his hands to call for silence from the assembled crowd. "My friends!" he began, quieting the people with his voice. "Long have we suffered from the unjust rulers of the Taher Nine. But our dear Elena has returned to us with help! With our cooperation, we can all be liberated from this tyranny!"

The crowd cheered and Elena grasped Isret's hand to step onto the platform. "I have brought friends to our aid," she announced, gesturing towards Rhade and Trance. "They come from the new Commonwealth!" A murmur of approval and surprise rippled through the crowd. "And they have come with a great warship that rests in space. Their captain is organizing the rebels from the outside." Her voice quieted, but did not lose its intensity. "But now it is our turn to organize a rebellion from the inside."

A great outcry arose in the room. Rhade watched Elena strengthening under the praise of the slaves. She had changed drastically from the crumpled woman he had found not too long ago, and not just in a physical sense. There was hope within her now. And hope was a very powerful force.

Isret motioned for them to be quite so Elena could continue. "I have been here many years and have seen many atrocities. These two have brought us hope. There is hope for us and hope for our children! I ask you to be prepared to help us fight for the freedom we deserve. Do not stir up the guards yet. Now we must look and listen and prepare for when the time comes. We will have our freedom back, but we must wait with courage and patience. Can you do that for me friends?"

A great cry to the affirmative rose up and penetrated the room. Elena smiled. She felt such joy knowing that she would be able to help these people. And her happiness grew once she realized that she felt the feelings for herself, not through another. Her smile was wide as she stepped down from the platform.

Trance smiled at her. "These people now have a reason to hope again. It is all because of you."

Elena shook her head, her smile turning wistful. "No, not because of me. These people have always had hope within them, they never lost it. I simply have been able to justify it." She smiled as the slaves thanked Rhade and Trance, no longer wary of the strangers.

Isret stood before the group, his face impassive, though his eyes betrayed his happiness. "We thank you all for your help. When will you need us ready to attack?"

Rhade produced a communicator from his pocket and hailed Dylan from it. "That is going to depend on Captain Hunt."

Dylan's face appeared on the small screen. "How are things Rhade?"

"Things are well," Rhade answered. "The slaves are more than willing to help. All we need now is your signal."

Dylan nodded. "Well, that could be either tomorrow or the day after. We have met with the rebels and are organizing as well as we can. We will start moving to your coordinates as soon as possible. Keep me updated. Hunt out."

Rhade nodded and pocketed the communicator. "He will be in place as soon as he is able."

Isret nodded. "That is well. Once the fire is started, it is hard to put out. Will you be remaining here?"

Rhade shook his head. "I am afraid that I must keep up appearances. Elena and Trance will remain with you though."

Trance stepped closer. "I would like to see your wounded and do what I can to help."

Isret nodded. "Any help you could give would be much appreciated. Please follow me." The group preceded out of the large gathering room where conversation had risen to a fevered pitch.

"We are going now to our own healing ward," said Elena, speaking to Rhade and Trance as they walked. "It is where I would spend most of my time, at least when Colus did not hold me captive elsewhere."

They turned into another room, though far smaller than the first. Rhade nearly stopped walking, for the smell that assaulted him was so brutal. The room smelled of one thing: death.

Trance and Elena immediately started moving among the patients that were stretched out on makeshift beds throughout the room. Rhade stood in the doorway, bleakly observing the many wounded, their weak cries reaching his ears.

Isret stayed at his side. "There was a collapsed tunnel several days ago, with many caught inside. It was part of what accounted for Elena's injuries when you undoubtedly met her. By the time she had finished healing the guards, as Colus ordered, she was far too weak to help much with the slaves. We could never blame her though, she helps when she can."

Trance came over, through with her initial assessment of the situation. "I believe we can help many of these people. Do you have the medical nanos?"

Rhade took off a small pack he had been carrying with him. He handed it to Trance who started off to treat some of the most grievously injured patients.

"Isret?" Elena returned to them, her eyes weary with the pain around her. "Where is Tolines?"

Isret sighed. "I am sorry Elena. Tolines passed only yesterday evening."

Elena closed her eyes and shook her head. "I could have saved him. If I had not thought of myself-"

"Stop that," cut in Isret, beating Rhade to the words. "If you had healed Tolines, you would have died and you know that. Tolines knew that. Do not blame yourself for something you cannot prevent."

Elena sighed and nodded. She was about to ask something else when a small voice cut through the air crying, "'Lena! 'Lena!" She turned to catch a small girl that nearly launched herself into Elena's arms, outstretched to the child.

"Why, there you are Pastin!" She hugged the small girl to her and then pulled away, a frown immediately coming across her face. "What happened to you sweetling?"

Rhade and Isret moved to see Pastin's face. Her skin was horribly pale in comparison to the small river of dried blood that was on her face. The blood originated from a nasty cut at her hairline. Pastin's smile was uneasy and a closer look at her eyes showed her pupils to be uneven. "I was not careful when Sindor came to check on us."

Elena's face grew angry. "He struck you?"

Pastin nodded, then stopped the movement and leaned against Elena when nausea threatened her. Without hesitation, Elena laid her hand on the cut over Pastin's head and closed her eyes.

Rhade frowned and bit back a curse when he saw what she was doing. He could not stop her though. Slowly, a cut opened on Elena's forehead, allowing a small trickle of blood to flow down her face. She opened her eyes and smiled weakly, allowing her hand to fall to her side.

Pastin grinned and violently hugged Elena, her knowledge only extending to the fact that she no longer felt sick. "Thank you 'Lena!" She jumped down and scrambled out of sight to go play with the other children.

Elena staggered and Rhade caught her. He turned her face towards him and noted the tell-tale signs of a concussion. "You should not have done that," he admonished, helping her to sit down. He crouched in front of her. "We need you to be well."

Elena shook her head and groaned, a hand going up to her forehead. "Pastin is a innocent child. I was able to help her. You could not have stopped me."

Rhade sighed and glanced up at Isret, who only shrugged, accepting the behavior as normal. Rhade used his sleeve to wipe away the blood that was trailing down her face.

Trance looked up from where she was tending another patient. Her eyes landed on Elena and Rhade, noting the way he was caring for her. She sighed and turned back to the patient, carefully setting broken bones. She wished she could spare her friends the pain that they would go through.

-I-I-I-I-I-

TBC

-I-I-I-I-I-

There you have it. I'll try to make the next chapter come quicker. Shouldn't be too hard since my muse has returned... for now... Feedback please and I will get back to you next time!