Gwen looked out at the stars, wishing that she could be as calm and serene as space looked. That she wasn't petrified by the idea that they were the first line of defense against a group of terrifying pirates. That they weren't in horrible danger with this whole situation. Gradually, she shifted, until she was leaning back against Angel's chest as she looked out the window. He was a pleasant shape to lean against, all male muscle and he smelled good. It was only now that she realized that he was noticeably cooler than she was, and that he always was that way. How had she… she'd just explained it away in her mind.
"Did you ever think that you'd be here? I mean, in space?" The question slipped out, an effort to avoid thinking about the possibility of failure.
"No. When I was young… When I was young, the whole idea of flying at all was considered impossible. And then… the idea of going into space almost seemed like it would be too much. Like Prometheus and the taking of fire, or Daedelus and Icarus. What would happen if people dared to reach so high?" One arm slipped around her, holding her close to him.
"What did happen?" The idea that he'd been witness to so many changes was amazing, and almost frightening. There was also the little nagging doubt – if he'd seen so much, what could she possibly offer to him?
"Other than some amazing pictures? People wanted more. It was…. There was a whole new era of dreams. Of exploring and colonizing other worlds, of traveling between the stars. And so many people started working towards it, or telling stories about it. People started to think that there was no end to what could be accomplished." Angel's fingers were rubbing slow patterns on her arm.
There was a pause, and Gwen considered how much things had changed within her own lifetime. The television series and movies. The science fiction stories. The phenomenal strides in technology. "There were some disasters on the way."
"There always are problems." His voice was right by her ear, and cool fingers brushed over her shoulder. "And some people started to think that science held all the answers, that there was no greater power than man and knowledge."
"You don't believe that?" Gwen twisted in his arms, turning to face him, flushing faintly at the closeness of their bodies.
"I've seen magic, and had it cast on me. I don't know about Heaven, but I know there is a Hell. There is a soul that is separate from the body." He wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her forehead gently. "There are so many strange things out there… Aliens almost aren't a surprise."
Gwen trembled, wondering how he knew there was a hell, and not quite daring to ask. Instead, she placed on hand on his chest, right over his heart. "Are there… any special cautions that I should be aware of? If we were to… I like you, and we've been… I'm pretty sure that you're interested in me. Where do we go from here?"
There was a trace of some emotion that flickered too fast for Gwen to decipher, and Angel smiled. "I do like you, Gwen. But there are… complications, and some of them result from magic. If we were to be… together, there are a few things… I would have to be very careful to begin with, so that you didn't get hurt."
"I'm not that fragile, Angel. I don't break in a strong wind." Gwen reached up, her hand sliding through his hair. "Why do you keep acting like you might break me by accident?"
"Because humans are more fragile than vampires. Because when things get passionate, there's the urge to bite." His fingers brushed over her pulse. "Because a vampire is stronger than a human, and we have more endurance. Because it would hurt to see bruises on you and know that they were my fault."
Part of her mind had raced along a sexual tangent, wondering just where and how those bruises might get there. If it would be painful, or if she'd be so caught up in pleasure that she wouldn't notice until too late. What it would be like to be with Angel, naked flesh against naked flesh, with him nibbling along her throat. She shivered, knowing that some of the idea was very appealing, even if there was an element of risk. "Maybe you're worth the risk? Maybe it's worth being careful?"
Angel's eyes flickered golden, and there was this noise from deep in his throat, not quite a growl, not quite a moan. He kissed her, his lips insistent against hers, tongue teasing, demanding entrance as he nearly took her breath away, leaving her knees weak and Gwen leaned against him. "You really mean that?"
Her fingers touched her lips, almost still feeling his lips and tongue, her stomach fluttering in the aftermath. "Wow… now that was a kiss. You really think that I'd walk away from you just because of this?"
"There's something else… apart from the physical." He glanced from her eyes to her lips, and his own fingers brushed over them. "One of those encounters with magic… it's a complicated and unpleasant story, but… I can't be too happy. It wouldn't be safe."
Gwen looked at him, certain that the levels of pain, guilt, and half smothered rage couldn't be faked. "What happens if you get too happy?"
His words were barely a whisper, but they sent chills down her spine.
"I lose my soul and become evil."
End part 19.
Willow leaned against a wall, looking at one of the technical manuals for the medical equipment. There were diagrams to show how it should be put together, and for all the proper ways to perform maintenance and inspections. It showed where to look for the readings, and had everything carefully labeled. Frustrated, she turned the page. Yes, it probably explained everything, but it wasn't in English. It was in that same curling script that was over the surgery door.
Just on the other side of a surprisingly comfortable thin bed, a group of nurses seemed to be going over an analysis of her check up and blood sample. Doctor Teirell was currently frowning as a little device hovered near Cordelia's head, scanning for… something. Apparently, she'd wanted something for her headaches.
"umm…" Willow tried to catch the attention of one of the nurses that didn't look busy. "You might want to check on J… Commander Taggert's leg. There was a Fangor Beast, and it left him with a few gashes. I think your medical expertise and technology here is better than the doctor that he visited on Earth."
"A Fangor Beast! But… how would one have gotten to the planet below?" The nurse seemed a bit alarmed.
"We have no idea on that part. We're pretty sure that there weren't any others, and the one that attacked the… The one that got his leg is now very deceased. But he's still limping when he thinks that nobody's looking." Willow sighed, and closed the technical manual. Maybe she could ask Gwen if the computer could translate from Thermian to English?
"Do you have reason to believe that this should be dealt with immediately?" There was an oddly hopeful look in the nurse's dark eyes.
A moment's flicker showed that all of the medical staff had the same swirly-shaped auras as Laliari. Rather than give a direct answer, Willow simply asked "Well… Do you really think that he'd be very good at sitting back in a chair on the bridge and waiting while his leg is still healing?"
"A very good point. I will have him brought to the medical areas." The nurse gave a slight nod and moved away, chuckling a bit. Apparently, Commander Taggert was a difficult patient.
She tried not to laugh at the situation. But really, Jason Nesmith, the arrogant actor was about to be kidnapped to the medical area by concerned security, and forced to get his leg examined. And Willow had the feeling that some of them would be enjoying it far too much… Maybe she should see if Alex wanted to watch?
Finally, she spotted him, mainly because he was just enough taller than the other medical staff that the elaborate make up for the head fins could be seen above everybody. Smiling, she walked over, her arm only a little sore where a blood sample had been carefully drawn. "Umm… Doctors? I believe that one of the nurses just went to have security bring Commander Taggert here to have his leg examined. If there's anything that can be prepared before he gets here, it might be good."
"Of course, his leg is still healing from the Fangor Beast." Alex seemed almost as amused as the nurse. "There should be something that can be done. Especially as his knee has been bothering him."
As the medical staff began a flurry of preparations, many of them with gleeful twinkles in their eyes and slightly stiff smiles, Doctor Teirell approached Willow. "What precisely do you mean when you say that you study Quantum Manipulations? Is this related to physics?"
Realizing that he was genuinely curious, Willow tried to figure out a way to explain her magic without calling it magic. "It's basically applying willpower, theory and knowledge to directly manipulate the quantum fluctuation and potentiality in order to cause changes. I'm still learning, although it's the sort of thing that you can study for a lifetime and still have a lot that you don't know."
"How can the mind directly affect the Quantum?" The question came from another Thermian nurse, one who looked slightly less human than Laliari and Malthesar. "The Quantum particles are too small to observe even with advanced devices."
"It's… sort of a talent. Some people have it, and others don't." Willow faltered, not quite certain that her explanation would hold.
"It this part of the reason why you were chosen to be the Handmaiden? Because of this quantum manipulation?" He was looking at her, his head tilted at an almost painful looking angle.
"Partly." Willow decided to seize the offered explanation, and not even try to explain that 'Princess Mirabanna' was really Cordelia, an actress. "Partly for the manipulation, and partly to help keep her highness over there from forgetting important things when she gets caught up in a vision. Partly to make certain that things operate smoothly, that the equipment is in good repair and the records are properly filed. It's complicated."
"So many things are complicated. Especially traditional ceremonial roles." The nurse nodded, and moved to a cabinet, removing a tray of gleaming silver objects that might have been probes or thermometers or tubes.
"We see a great deal of complicated on the Protector." Teirell's voice held a trace of amusement. "Perhaps you would find it informative to watch the procedure? And I believe that there may have been a few advances in procedure while Doctor Lazarus has been away, perhaps he would prefer to observe rather than perform the procedure himself?"
"That sounds agreeable." Alex spoke, his dry tone giving no hint that he really had very little idea about medical procedure at all. "I have every confidence in you, Doctor Teirell."
Willow moved to the side, curious what would happen. She was also wondering if Doctor Teirell knew that Alex wasn't really a doctor, if the people from earth weren't really the great heroes that they'd seen in the broadcasts. If he did, if she could find out, then maybe… maybe what? Yes, it would be good to know, good if there was someone else that they could relax in front of, someone to ask for help. But how could she learn this?
More disturbingly, would she have time to learn carefully, before it was too late? Before the bad guys caused utter chaos?
End part 20.
In a carefully converted warehouse on the edges of Los Angeles, a group of individuals surrounded a holographic projection of the solar system. The planets were laid out in their elliptical orbits, with the glow of the sun in the center. A touch at the controls by a finger encased in green chitin caused the image to zoom in on the third planet, and enlarge. Soft noises were made at the resulting image of the planet that they were currently on; it's single orbiting moon, the scattering of primitive satellites, and the Thermian starship currently in orbit.
"Naturally they sent ships looking for us. Our departure would be viewed as a threat." The slick looking man in his dark gray suit was shaped like a human, but he didn't quite look right. His skin was too flat, too pale and glossy, and his eyes were as blandly empty as a pair of dark pebbles.
"Can you determine which ship it is, or can the instruments not determine that without revealing themselves?" The woman had the same near-human appearance as the pale man, and held a small, rectangular device in her hand, her fingers caressing the strangely marked keys below the pale green screen.
The green figure snorted, glaring at the smaller figures in the converted meeting room. He pulled himself up to his full seven feet, and folded his arms over his armor. "It is the Protector, and according to an intercepted transmission, they are commanded by Malthesar, and have brought aboard Taggert."
"Taggert? The human depends on luck and bluster." The pale man made a dismissive wave of his arm, the limb moving in a fluid manner that denied the presence of anything so rigid as bone. "He has no grasp of the subtleties and range of the equipment available to him, and little concept of the potential for power that a proper Thermian ship commands."
"Not a failing that you share?" The glowering figure asked, one cheek twitching in time with the antennae at the top of his head. "We must determine a way to be rid of them."
"Without destroying the ship. The vessel that we arrived on is no match for a warship, I would like to… what is the word? Upgrade?" The woman's smile showed a row of pearly, even teeth, displayed without warmth.
"We have additional resources available, in addition to the local…. What did they call themselves? Vampers?" The words were not spoken in any language native to earth, and the sounds emerged from what looked rather like an octopus of a deep reddish purple color. "Considering that they are expendable, do you think that it would be worth causing a distraction? Something notable enough that the fools on the ship will try to attend to it personally? If we can remove the command element from the ship… chaos, panic, confusion. A voice speaking with calm authority could take over before they even realized."
"Calm authority…" There was an undertone of anger and distrust in the voice of the insect-like figure. "So long as it comes from another Thermian."
"You were their enemy." The pale man shrugged, his face a blank mask. "Your presence would cause more confusion, or perhaps provide a focus to rally against."
There was a clicking sound that emerged from the armored man as he turned back to the hologram. "Do you suppose the vampires could manage to distract long enough on their own, or would they need led?"
"They are weak willed and foolish. Very aggressive, but the ones that I have seen show little true intelligence. They are only suited to follow careful orders and to fight." The pale man shrugged, and wiped at the sleeve of his dark jacket. "But at least they are easy enough to recruit. A few promises of power, the fact that I do not care about their internal squabbles… You may need to kill a few to establish that they must respect your authority. It is simple enough, and should provide one of your warlike past with no trouble. The do not even seem to consider this a problem in command style."
"Then with better weapons, they should make an excellent distraction. And if we can eliminate the command crew during this distraction…" The words trailed off, and there was a calculating light in the eyes of everyone in the room.
"Yes, their elimination would make things much simpler. Especially as Taggert's style is rather difficult to predict. His death… It is so simple to baffle those who only follow procedure." The pale man's words echoed slightly in the room, followed by an odd sounding chuckle.
End part 21.
"Did you ever think that you'd be here? I mean, in space?" The question slipped out, an effort to avoid thinking about the possibility of failure.
"No. When I was young… When I was young, the whole idea of flying at all was considered impossible. And then… the idea of going into space almost seemed like it would be too much. Like Prometheus and the taking of fire, or Daedelus and Icarus. What would happen if people dared to reach so high?" One arm slipped around her, holding her close to him.
"What did happen?" The idea that he'd been witness to so many changes was amazing, and almost frightening. There was also the little nagging doubt – if he'd seen so much, what could she possibly offer to him?
"Other than some amazing pictures? People wanted more. It was…. There was a whole new era of dreams. Of exploring and colonizing other worlds, of traveling between the stars. And so many people started working towards it, or telling stories about it. People started to think that there was no end to what could be accomplished." Angel's fingers were rubbing slow patterns on her arm.
There was a pause, and Gwen considered how much things had changed within her own lifetime. The television series and movies. The science fiction stories. The phenomenal strides in technology. "There were some disasters on the way."
"There always are problems." His voice was right by her ear, and cool fingers brushed over her shoulder. "And some people started to think that science held all the answers, that there was no greater power than man and knowledge."
"You don't believe that?" Gwen twisted in his arms, turning to face him, flushing faintly at the closeness of their bodies.
"I've seen magic, and had it cast on me. I don't know about Heaven, but I know there is a Hell. There is a soul that is separate from the body." He wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her forehead gently. "There are so many strange things out there… Aliens almost aren't a surprise."
Gwen trembled, wondering how he knew there was a hell, and not quite daring to ask. Instead, she placed on hand on his chest, right over his heart. "Are there… any special cautions that I should be aware of? If we were to… I like you, and we've been… I'm pretty sure that you're interested in me. Where do we go from here?"
There was a trace of some emotion that flickered too fast for Gwen to decipher, and Angel smiled. "I do like you, Gwen. But there are… complications, and some of them result from magic. If we were to be… together, there are a few things… I would have to be very careful to begin with, so that you didn't get hurt."
"I'm not that fragile, Angel. I don't break in a strong wind." Gwen reached up, her hand sliding through his hair. "Why do you keep acting like you might break me by accident?"
"Because humans are more fragile than vampires. Because when things get passionate, there's the urge to bite." His fingers brushed over her pulse. "Because a vampire is stronger than a human, and we have more endurance. Because it would hurt to see bruises on you and know that they were my fault."
Part of her mind had raced along a sexual tangent, wondering just where and how those bruises might get there. If it would be painful, or if she'd be so caught up in pleasure that she wouldn't notice until too late. What it would be like to be with Angel, naked flesh against naked flesh, with him nibbling along her throat. She shivered, knowing that some of the idea was very appealing, even if there was an element of risk. "Maybe you're worth the risk? Maybe it's worth being careful?"
Angel's eyes flickered golden, and there was this noise from deep in his throat, not quite a growl, not quite a moan. He kissed her, his lips insistent against hers, tongue teasing, demanding entrance as he nearly took her breath away, leaving her knees weak and Gwen leaned against him. "You really mean that?"
Her fingers touched her lips, almost still feeling his lips and tongue, her stomach fluttering in the aftermath. "Wow… now that was a kiss. You really think that I'd walk away from you just because of this?"
"There's something else… apart from the physical." He glanced from her eyes to her lips, and his own fingers brushed over them. "One of those encounters with magic… it's a complicated and unpleasant story, but… I can't be too happy. It wouldn't be safe."
Gwen looked at him, certain that the levels of pain, guilt, and half smothered rage couldn't be faked. "What happens if you get too happy?"
His words were barely a whisper, but they sent chills down her spine.
"I lose my soul and become evil."
End part 19.
Willow leaned against a wall, looking at one of the technical manuals for the medical equipment. There were diagrams to show how it should be put together, and for all the proper ways to perform maintenance and inspections. It showed where to look for the readings, and had everything carefully labeled. Frustrated, she turned the page. Yes, it probably explained everything, but it wasn't in English. It was in that same curling script that was over the surgery door.
Just on the other side of a surprisingly comfortable thin bed, a group of nurses seemed to be going over an analysis of her check up and blood sample. Doctor Teirell was currently frowning as a little device hovered near Cordelia's head, scanning for… something. Apparently, she'd wanted something for her headaches.
"umm…" Willow tried to catch the attention of one of the nurses that didn't look busy. "You might want to check on J… Commander Taggert's leg. There was a Fangor Beast, and it left him with a few gashes. I think your medical expertise and technology here is better than the doctor that he visited on Earth."
"A Fangor Beast! But… how would one have gotten to the planet below?" The nurse seemed a bit alarmed.
"We have no idea on that part. We're pretty sure that there weren't any others, and the one that attacked the… The one that got his leg is now very deceased. But he's still limping when he thinks that nobody's looking." Willow sighed, and closed the technical manual. Maybe she could ask Gwen if the computer could translate from Thermian to English?
"Do you have reason to believe that this should be dealt with immediately?" There was an oddly hopeful look in the nurse's dark eyes.
A moment's flicker showed that all of the medical staff had the same swirly-shaped auras as Laliari. Rather than give a direct answer, Willow simply asked "Well… Do you really think that he'd be very good at sitting back in a chair on the bridge and waiting while his leg is still healing?"
"A very good point. I will have him brought to the medical areas." The nurse gave a slight nod and moved away, chuckling a bit. Apparently, Commander Taggert was a difficult patient.
She tried not to laugh at the situation. But really, Jason Nesmith, the arrogant actor was about to be kidnapped to the medical area by concerned security, and forced to get his leg examined. And Willow had the feeling that some of them would be enjoying it far too much… Maybe she should see if Alex wanted to watch?
Finally, she spotted him, mainly because he was just enough taller than the other medical staff that the elaborate make up for the head fins could be seen above everybody. Smiling, she walked over, her arm only a little sore where a blood sample had been carefully drawn. "Umm… Doctors? I believe that one of the nurses just went to have security bring Commander Taggert here to have his leg examined. If there's anything that can be prepared before he gets here, it might be good."
"Of course, his leg is still healing from the Fangor Beast." Alex seemed almost as amused as the nurse. "There should be something that can be done. Especially as his knee has been bothering him."
As the medical staff began a flurry of preparations, many of them with gleeful twinkles in their eyes and slightly stiff smiles, Doctor Teirell approached Willow. "What precisely do you mean when you say that you study Quantum Manipulations? Is this related to physics?"
Realizing that he was genuinely curious, Willow tried to figure out a way to explain her magic without calling it magic. "It's basically applying willpower, theory and knowledge to directly manipulate the quantum fluctuation and potentiality in order to cause changes. I'm still learning, although it's the sort of thing that you can study for a lifetime and still have a lot that you don't know."
"How can the mind directly affect the Quantum?" The question came from another Thermian nurse, one who looked slightly less human than Laliari and Malthesar. "The Quantum particles are too small to observe even with advanced devices."
"It's… sort of a talent. Some people have it, and others don't." Willow faltered, not quite certain that her explanation would hold.
"It this part of the reason why you were chosen to be the Handmaiden? Because of this quantum manipulation?" He was looking at her, his head tilted at an almost painful looking angle.
"Partly." Willow decided to seize the offered explanation, and not even try to explain that 'Princess Mirabanna' was really Cordelia, an actress. "Partly for the manipulation, and partly to help keep her highness over there from forgetting important things when she gets caught up in a vision. Partly to make certain that things operate smoothly, that the equipment is in good repair and the records are properly filed. It's complicated."
"So many things are complicated. Especially traditional ceremonial roles." The nurse nodded, and moved to a cabinet, removing a tray of gleaming silver objects that might have been probes or thermometers or tubes.
"We see a great deal of complicated on the Protector." Teirell's voice held a trace of amusement. "Perhaps you would find it informative to watch the procedure? And I believe that there may have been a few advances in procedure while Doctor Lazarus has been away, perhaps he would prefer to observe rather than perform the procedure himself?"
"That sounds agreeable." Alex spoke, his dry tone giving no hint that he really had very little idea about medical procedure at all. "I have every confidence in you, Doctor Teirell."
Willow moved to the side, curious what would happen. She was also wondering if Doctor Teirell knew that Alex wasn't really a doctor, if the people from earth weren't really the great heroes that they'd seen in the broadcasts. If he did, if she could find out, then maybe… maybe what? Yes, it would be good to know, good if there was someone else that they could relax in front of, someone to ask for help. But how could she learn this?
More disturbingly, would she have time to learn carefully, before it was too late? Before the bad guys caused utter chaos?
End part 20.
In a carefully converted warehouse on the edges of Los Angeles, a group of individuals surrounded a holographic projection of the solar system. The planets were laid out in their elliptical orbits, with the glow of the sun in the center. A touch at the controls by a finger encased in green chitin caused the image to zoom in on the third planet, and enlarge. Soft noises were made at the resulting image of the planet that they were currently on; it's single orbiting moon, the scattering of primitive satellites, and the Thermian starship currently in orbit.
"Naturally they sent ships looking for us. Our departure would be viewed as a threat." The slick looking man in his dark gray suit was shaped like a human, but he didn't quite look right. His skin was too flat, too pale and glossy, and his eyes were as blandly empty as a pair of dark pebbles.
"Can you determine which ship it is, or can the instruments not determine that without revealing themselves?" The woman had the same near-human appearance as the pale man, and held a small, rectangular device in her hand, her fingers caressing the strangely marked keys below the pale green screen.
The green figure snorted, glaring at the smaller figures in the converted meeting room. He pulled himself up to his full seven feet, and folded his arms over his armor. "It is the Protector, and according to an intercepted transmission, they are commanded by Malthesar, and have brought aboard Taggert."
"Taggert? The human depends on luck and bluster." The pale man made a dismissive wave of his arm, the limb moving in a fluid manner that denied the presence of anything so rigid as bone. "He has no grasp of the subtleties and range of the equipment available to him, and little concept of the potential for power that a proper Thermian ship commands."
"Not a failing that you share?" The glowering figure asked, one cheek twitching in time with the antennae at the top of his head. "We must determine a way to be rid of them."
"Without destroying the ship. The vessel that we arrived on is no match for a warship, I would like to… what is the word? Upgrade?" The woman's smile showed a row of pearly, even teeth, displayed without warmth.
"We have additional resources available, in addition to the local…. What did they call themselves? Vampers?" The words were not spoken in any language native to earth, and the sounds emerged from what looked rather like an octopus of a deep reddish purple color. "Considering that they are expendable, do you think that it would be worth causing a distraction? Something notable enough that the fools on the ship will try to attend to it personally? If we can remove the command element from the ship… chaos, panic, confusion. A voice speaking with calm authority could take over before they even realized."
"Calm authority…" There was an undertone of anger and distrust in the voice of the insect-like figure. "So long as it comes from another Thermian."
"You were their enemy." The pale man shrugged, his face a blank mask. "Your presence would cause more confusion, or perhaps provide a focus to rally against."
There was a clicking sound that emerged from the armored man as he turned back to the hologram. "Do you suppose the vampires could manage to distract long enough on their own, or would they need led?"
"They are weak willed and foolish. Very aggressive, but the ones that I have seen show little true intelligence. They are only suited to follow careful orders and to fight." The pale man shrugged, and wiped at the sleeve of his dark jacket. "But at least they are easy enough to recruit. A few promises of power, the fact that I do not care about their internal squabbles… You may need to kill a few to establish that they must respect your authority. It is simple enough, and should provide one of your warlike past with no trouble. The do not even seem to consider this a problem in command style."
"Then with better weapons, they should make an excellent distraction. And if we can eliminate the command crew during this distraction…" The words trailed off, and there was a calculating light in the eyes of everyone in the room.
"Yes, their elimination would make things much simpler. Especially as Taggert's style is rather difficult to predict. His death… It is so simple to baffle those who only follow procedure." The pale man's words echoed slightly in the room, followed by an odd sounding chuckle.
End part 21.