Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Andromeda. CRIES! But I do own Pearl and the DD's...sort of.
Authors Note: I'm bAAAAAAAAK! And I'm truly sorry for this late updated. I've been pulling my hair because of this chapter. No lie, I must have rewritten it at least ten times. But here it is, it's close to my liking. But you are the judge.
Enjoy the chapter…! And thanks for all your encouraging reviews.
Title My one & Only Pearl
Author GreenLeaf7
Chapter 24: Conspiracy behind Knowledge
The tightened fist slammed into the unprotected jaw, causing the owner to spin from the impact. Blood spewed from the mouth as the Nietzchien dropped to the floor, unprepared by the blow.
Gaheris didn't think twice when he punched Gerksand right off his feet. For Gaheris, it actually felt pretty damn good to punch the bastard. But inside himself, he wanted to kill Gerksand right then and now.
But he had to know the Truth first…
Not giving Gerksand a chance to recover, Gaheris grabbed him by his shirt collar and yanked him up to his feet.
"Listen Gerksand, and listen good." Gaheris started in a dangerously low voice.
"Either you tell me what the Abyss wants with Pearlana…"
While grabbing Gerksand's wrist, Gaheris did a hard snap to the right…causing Gerksand to cry out in agony.
"Or I'll render you useless…piece by piece." To make a point he completely twisted the wrist, causing the bones to snap.
Just as Gerksand cried out in pain, the floor beneath them rumbled like an angry beast. Gaheris took a quick side-glance over the rail, and noticed that whatever had caused the rumbling had actually fractured one of the tanks. Seeping out of the tank was the green liquid.
Gaheris knew for a fact that the explosions were happening in the core of the ship. If the fire reached them…that green liquid was highly flammable.
"I've got to get Pearlana out of here…" Gaheris knew that time was against him, but he had to know the truth first
Turning his attention back to Gerksand, Gaheris was too late to block the clear punch to his gut as Gerksand swung at him.
But the pain only lasted a second as the adrenaline from everything that had happened, pumped into Gaheris' veins; from the anger at Pearlana's current condition too the hatred of Gerksand's betrayal. It all accumulated with Gaheris, causing every rational thought to escape him.
When Gaheris released Gerksand's wrist, the nietzchien stepped as far away as possible from Gaheris. While gripping his broken wrist, Gerksand still made a quick side-glance towards the entrance to the control room.
In blind rage he had thrown Pearlana unto the glass and into the control room. Even though the Abyss had ordered him to bring Pearlana to Him alive, he didn't say anything about keeping her in perfect health.
"Besides, the Ivory Core has already entered her. They are currently 'one' now. A perfect package for my master…"
Snapping his attention, however, back towards his former Captain. Gerksand knew with out a doubt, that Gaheris would not hesitate to kill him. Just the same as Pearlana wouldn't have hesitate to kill him either.
But the fact that Gaheris hadn't yet, spoke more words to Gerksand than could be said. Gaheris hadn't killed him yet, because he was the only one who knew the Truth behind the Abyss' plan.
But what Gerksand didn't know, Gaheris was actually placing a time for himself. Timing was everything and if he didn't get the information he needed out of Gerksand before the explosions below reached them…then he won't hastate to illuminate the Nietzchien.
So the two circled. Like birds of prey, the two Nietzchiens eyed each other...never loosing eye contact as they circled on the catwalk.
Gaheris, with his weapon drawn, had it directly pointing towards Gerksand's heart. Gerksand however, was weaponless. With his arms spread out, he circled around Gaheris with a malicious grin.
Below them, the ship trembled and shook as the virus slowly began to creep upwards towards the Garbage Center of where they stood on the catwalk. It was a constant reminder for Gaheris that the clock had started to tick.
"It's not too late, Gerksand." Gaheris began, hoping that the nietzchien would listen. "You can still be pardoned for what you did. Just tell…"
"Don't waist you time, Gaheris." Gerksand interrupted with a malicious grin. "Why ask me that question, if you already know the answer."
This caught Gaheris by surprise. What was Gerksand talking about?
But there was no time for Gaheris to ponder over this question, since Gerksand rounded on him.
Fists, punches, and kicks flew between the two as they battled. Swinging punches left and right, Gaheris aimed at anything to render the Nietzchien fightless. But Gerksand had his own plans.
He grabbed Gaheris' arm with strength not even a Nietzchien could possess. With a cunning grin towards the stunned Captain, Gerksand swung Gaheris off his feet and threw him against a wall.
Gaheris' chest slammed against the wall, causing the wind to be knocked out of him. Like a stone, he dropped to the ground. Swallowing gasps of air, Gaheris was just able to see through the haze of his vision, Gerksand briskly walking straight towards him.
Already knowing what Gerksand was thinking of doing, Gaheris brought his arms up and braced himself to protect his face as the former second in command aimed to kick him in the face.
The kicks came, making Gaheris grind his teeth from the pain. Vaguely, he took notice Gerksand kicking his forcelance out of his reach. For a moment he watched as it skidded across the floor, making a stop directly in front of the broken entrance to the control room.
But his attention was brought back as he was being pelted by punches, kicks and everything else Gerksand could throw at him. Soon enough, however, Gaheris had had enough.
With quick reflexes, Gaheris swung his leg upward and right underneath Gerksand's leg. The nietzchien didn't have a chance as gravity took over as he began to fall backwards.
This gave Gaheris enough time to jump up and round on Gerksand. But Gerksand had immediately jumped up when his back had collided with the floor.
Now the two nietzchien faced each other, both breathing heavily and completely ignorant to the explosions below.
For a moment, Gaheris focused his sensitive hearing towards Pearlana. He clearly hear that she was breathing, her heart beat slow…but beating.
As Gaheris tried to listen to anything amiss in Pearlana's state, he almost missed Gerksand at what he just said.
"Come now Gaheris, why are you killing yourself over something you already know the answer to." Gerksand stated, his eyes once again turning soulless.
"What are you talking about, Gerksand?" Gaheris questioned, his fists clenched.
"Don't you remember the stories? About the Engine of Creation?"
"That's all they were, stories! You know as well as I do that it's a myth." Gaheris answered, even though he knew it was false.
"Nice try, Gaheris. But 'you know as well as I do' that the stories are true." Gerksand then turned his eyes towards the broken mirror of the control room.
"And the alien entity that now resides within the teenage body of that girl, is all the proof you need." Gerksand stated as he pointed towards the control room.
Gaheris stayed silent, hoping that Gerksand would spill his guts on what all of this was about.
Smirking slightly, Gerksand looked over towards Gaheris. Beneath them, the floor lurched and trembled as the explosions below were reaching them. It rocked the C.O.U. causing one of the tanks to dangerously lean forward; it's green liquid seeping out more.
"Since you're gonna die soon, I'll leave your mind at ease." Gerksand began, all the while smirking.
"We both know how the stories began. It started with a strange alien from a different dimension, who came to ours."
Gerksand began to circle Gaheris, all the while talking without stopping. Gaheris, however, kept his senses on high alert just in case Gerksand pulled something.
"This 'alien', by what the stories described in having four legs and skin of blue, came to this dimension and having discovered that it was an exact duplicate of her own, decided to leave something behind."
"Should I continue?" he questioned, but upon seeing the face of Gaheris, he continued.
"Well, by the so-called myth. The alien left an energy life form behind, calling it the "Creations Soul".
But the alien hid it deep in the center of a planet. Now which planet was never known for certain? But by what information I could gather from the Counsel Archives…"
"How could he get those files? They're protected with the highest security. Probably the Abyss' work." Gaheris thought to himself.
"… these humans you care so much about, discovered the energy life form and called it the Ivory Core. Now you tell me if that's not a coincidence."
Seeing the death glare play all across Gaheris' face, Gerksand ignored it and continued.
"It wasn't long before they found out that only a selective few could be a hostess for this 'Ivory Core'. Such few were the Harper family. And that's when it clicked…"
Turning his gaze towards the control room, Gerksand took a quick glance towards Gaheris before continuing.
"There's something inside the Harpers, something that can coexist with the "Creations Soul". It could be their brains, a link, or maybe it's something in their genes. Who knows!" Gerksand stated with excitement in his voice.
It was then that Gaheris noticed something. Gerksand seemed actually excited about all of this. And then it came to Gaheris, that maybe Gerksand was actually loosing his sanity.
"But one thing is certain, not all the Harpers had it. And if they did, it wasn't what the Ivory Core was looking for. Why do you think it kept on hopping from person to person? It was searching for the perfect one."
Absentmindedly, Gaheris looked over towards the point where Pearlana was.
"That's right, Gaheris. From her entire family, Pearlana is the only one who has that one link with the Ivory Core. To its eyes, she's the Perfect One."
Like a blow to the chest, Gaheris allowed this information to seep in. Was it true? If so, then how could the Counsel allow her to be a part of the crew when she was obviously in danger.
Like reading his mind, Gerksand answered Gaheris' silent question. "The Counsel knew quite well Pearlana's 'family secret'. Even if she didn't know about it herself."
"You're lying." Gaheris answered, his fist clenched.
"Am I? Just look at her, Gaheris! She's glowing!" Gerksand confirmed, his voice rising.
Suddenly, both nietzchien were thrown off their feet as an explosion below rocked the catwalk. What Gaheris feared, had arrived. The virus and reached them, bringing with it explosions that erupted the area into flames. Below them, the tanks exploded. In doing so caused the green gas to mix with the roaring fire.
Another burst of explosions erupted, making the two men to slam against the wall from the sheer force of the explosion.
Below them, the gas and fire became as one. Swirling like drainage, it began to slowly rise towards the catwalk. Green mixed with red and orange, it swallowed whole the garbage…leaving nothing behind.
"Looks like my cue." Gerksand stated as he made a dash towards the control unit.
But he never got the chance since Gaheris jumped on him from behind. The two struggled, with Gaheris flattening Gerksand against the floor as the other nietzchien tried to get to Pearlana.
"Don't even think about it..." Gaheris threatened through gritted teeth.
Ignoring Gaheris' warning, Gerksand rolled away from Gaheris and kicked the bent nietzchien in the groin.
Groaning, Gaheris tried shook it off before quickly jumping up and heading straight for Gerksand.
Again he tried to reach Pearlana, and again Gaheris stopped him. This time, grabbing the back of his shirt and yanking him back. When he was in range, however, Gaheris elbowed his face; making sure he felt the bones of Gerksand's nose break.
Blood poured freely from Gerksand's nose as he tried to pitifully cover it. But Gaheris didn't stop there. He knocked heavy blows on Gerksand, all the while making him move backwards and against the railing of the catwalk.
Roughly grabbing the collar of Gerksand's shirt, Gaheris pulled his arm against Gerksand's neck. Instantly his boneblades spread out, dangerously pressing against Gerksand's exposed neck.
"Wait! Wait! If you kill me, then you'll never now the reason…." Gerksand cried out, his eyes wide.
"I don't give a damn! Just getting rid of you is enough."
About to slash Gerksand's throat, the floor beneath them lurched as half of the catwalk started to break off.
For a moment Gaheris watched as half of the catwalk, that they were facing, broke off from the wall and fell into the inferno below. Cables exploded with sparks firing in all directions.
Taking the chance at Gaheris' unawareness, Gerksand switched the play boards. Moving away from Gaheris' boneblades, the nietzchien slammed his head against Gaheris' forehead.
Instantly, Gaheris backed away as pain shot up to his brain from his forehead…making sure he would be seeing stars for months.
As Gaheris tried to see past the stars of pain, Gerksand took the opportunity to duck to his knees. Silently and swiftly, he pulled out a dagger that had been hided inside his boot.
"This is the end for you, Gaheris." Thinking to himself, Gerksand dived away from Gaheris but only to come up from behind him.
Forcibly pushing away the pain, Gaheris heard the distinct sound of boots stepping up behind him. Knowing it was Gerksand, Gaheris swiftly turned around.
Upon seeing the dagger, Gaheris quickly grabbed the wrist that was holding it and started to push it away from his face.
With the attention on the dagger, Gaheris didn't notice Gerksand swiftly turn him around until his own back was facing the railing.
Now currently having the upper hand, Gerksand pushed Gaheris right up against the railing of the catwalk. The vapors from the fiery inferno below were already seeping into the back of Gaheris' shirt.
Instant heat spread onto Gaheris' back. He started grinding his teeth as the pain almost became almost unbearable.
With a crazed look in his eyes, Gerksand began to press the dagger closer and closer towards Gaheris' face. The only thing stopping him was Gaheris' hand tightly holding on to his wrist and pushing the dagger back.
But Gerksand knew that he wouldn't last forever.
"Any last words, Captain?" Gerksand questioned in mockery.
For a moment, however, Gaheris' attention wasn't on him but on something behind him. Gaheris' eyes winded for a second before turning his gaze towards Gerksand.
"Pearl..." He answered with vigor.
Gerksand merely smirked as he brought the dagger down. Thinking that Gaheris was talking about 'leaving Pearl behind…' he answered with malicious grin.
"Don't worry Gaheris, I'll take good…"
But Gerksand stopped in mid sentence with a face a mirror of surprise and pain. He suddenly released the hold on his dagger; the sound of it clattering to the ground was barely heard among the roaring below.
Gerksand staggered forwards like he had been pushed from behind. His eyes bulged open with horror and surprise.
Gaheris merely shoved the nietzchien away and quickly stepped as far as possible from the railing. His back felt like it was smoldering, but he knew it was just the material of his shirt that had caught most of the scorching heat. He'll live.
But Gaheris saw the fallen dagger on the floor and immediately picked it up. Better safe than sorry.
Gerksand, on the other hand, was stunned. The center of his back felt like it was on fire, like someone had shot him from behind. Slowly he fell to his knees, pain coursing through him. But that was impossible. The shot should have gone right through…unless the master…
"Unless He had abandoned me." Gerksand thought as he slowly turned around.
His vision began to blur, but it wasn't hard to see the fiery red hair belonging to that one teenager who was now holding Gaheris' forcelance in hand.
Pearl was weakly leaning against the wall, the forcelance tightly held while pointed directly towards Gerksand. Her face was decorated with cuts and bruises, her hair mixed with dried blood.
But what really made Gerksand get a double take were Pearl's eyes. Her appearance clearly gave the notion that she could barely stand on her own two feet, but what her appearance lacked…her eyes enhanced.
Her eyes were glowing with a mixer of blue and gold. Gerksand knew that Pearl and the Ivory Core were one now But the amazing fact was, that Pearl was in control and not the Ivory Core.
"You see what I mean, Gaheris?" Gerksand cried out.
Pointing towards Pearl, he continued. "Only those two can coexist as one! Within her lies the Power…"
But Gerksand was cut off as Pearl spoke up. Her voice was low and stressed, but that didn't make her any less to be feared of.
"The only power within me, Gerksand. Is the strength to destroy you once and for all." Pearl dangerously whispered, her voice low but carrying volume.
Gerksand, now seeing that this was it, looked around wildly for any chance of escape. But seeing that he was cornered, with Gaheris holding his dagger and poised to strike. He turned towards Pearl.
"I can overpower her. Just look at her, she can barely stand up."
And it was true. Pearl herself was trembling from the sheer exhaust of just standing. The forcelance trembled in her hand as her arm began to tire.
Gerksand took his chance. He jumped up and started running full speed straight at Pearl. He ignored the pain from his back and instead brought up his fist to deliver a deadly blow to Pearl. But he never got the chance.
In unison, both Pearl and Gaheris delivered their weapons straight at Gerksand. Gaheris threw the dagger with deadly accuracy, causing it be imbedded deep in Gerksand's stomach.
Pearl, on the other hand, fireda shot at Gerksand. Aiming directly at his chest.
Pushed back by the shots, Gerksand found himself pressed against the railing. But with all the explosions and tremors, the railing itself could not hold his weight. It began to creak and bend backwards.
Gerksand looked at Gaheris and then at Pearl with a mixer of shock, hatred, and malicious.
"It's not over, you know." He whispered. The railing started to crack.
Rolling her eyes, Pearl looked straight into Gerksand's eyes. The blue in her eyes, having already faded. All that was left were her natural golden ones as they stared straight into eyes of the former second in command.
"Just shut up and die already!" With that said, Pearl flipped her forcelance and fired once more.
The shot was enough to send Gerksand flying backwards, causing the railing to completely break away.
With screams of defeat Gerksand flew out into the open, his body already beginning to fall into the blazing inferno below.
He screamed as he fell face forward into the green and fiery flames and smoke. The instant he made contact with the inferno, his clothes immediately began to melt away as the green toxin began to eat away his skin.
Soon, not even his screaming could be heard as the toxin ate away everything that made him alive. His skin, his muscle…even his bone melted into nothing as the toxin did it's job.
Within a few minutes, Gerksand was no more.
Gaheris stood there, his eyes glued to the spot where Gerksand was standing only a few minutes ago. That was it; in a blink Gerksand was gone. And Gaheris was more than relieved that at least one enemy was gone.
His attention however was drawn back to the sound of a clear moan coming from the real hero.
Snapping his head towards Pearl, he had just enough time to watch as she dropped his forcelance before her she fainted. Rushing towards her side, he caught her before she hit the ground.
Slowly kneeling down, Gaheris brought Pearl close to him and immediately raised a hand to cover the back of her scalp. Gently searching for the tear on her skin, Gaheris found only a small stitching of sorts, surrounding the area where the wound had been.
Lifting his hand up to view, Gaheris saw that only his fingertips had little drops of blood on them. But that was still incredible for a deadly wound like that, to be partially healed so quickly by the Ivory Core.
"Gaheris…?" Pearl's voice whispered.
Gently he positioned Pearl so that he was cradling her in his arms. While looking down at the young woman in his arms, Gaheris could easily see that the simple effort of standing up and firing his forcelance had weakened Pearl to the point of loosing consciousness.
"And she calls us stubborn beings." The unison voice of the Ivory Core whispered through Pearl's lips.
Gaheris had to smile, even though he didn't know what Ivory meant by that.
Soon Pearl slowly blinked before she fully opened her eyes, allowing Gaheris to see the golden eyes he missed so much.
But seeing the weakness she was in, Gaheris looked at Pearl with a disapproving look…his arms absentmindedly tightening their hold on her as if she'll fade away.
"You should have saved your strength."
Even in her state, Pearl was able to give her knowing smirk before answering.
"I couldn't…let you have…all the fun." Pearl slowly answered, catching a breath at a time.
Gaheris lightly chuckled. He couldn't stay angry at Pearl for long, even if he wanted to. Just seeing her alive and hearing her voice was enough for him.
But themoment wasn't going to last for long as the obvious rising of the swirling fire and toxin, brought Gaheris back to reality.
"We have to get out of here." He stated as he picked up his forcelance and pocketed it.
Swiftly he stood up with Pearl safely in his arms. She gladly leaned her head on his chest as a wave of weakness washed over her. She began to close her eyes, but found herself being shaken awake.
"Don't close you eyes, Pearl. Stay with me." Gaheris ordered as he started to climb over the entrance to the control unit.
Soon he was standing inside the control room, when the sudden sound rumbling along with metal creaking made him look back. The catwalk, they had just been standing on, had broken off from the wall.
In slow motion, Gaheris watched in silent horror asthe catwalkfell into the inferno below, making the growing mass of toxins grow.
"My…forcelance…" Pearl muttered, breaking Gaheris out his stunned reverie.
Pearlwas already in that stage between asleep and awake, where your surrounding doesn't matter but your thoughts do.
Snapping his eyes away from the once-catwalk, Gaheris quickly looked around the floor that was littered with broken shards of glass. Finally, his eyes spotted the golden forcelance.
With quick movements, Gaheris brought his foot underneath the forcelance and kicked it upwards. As it sailed straight up, Gaheris caught it with his free hand and held it tightly.
Just as he grasped it, the ground trembled as last explosion rocked the foundation. A blast of fiery heat shot upwards, exactly where the catwalk was.
"Perhaps we should flee now." Ivory calmly suggested but with urgency.
Gaheris could only nod his head before running at full speed out the door and down the corridor.
Like a nightmare, the roaring flames with the green toxins erupted from below and started to explode into the control room. As if chasing after Gaheris, the fire spreads itself outside the door and started to erupt down the corridor.
With the flames right on his heels, Gaheris picked up the pace as he turned the corner.
"HARPER!" Gaheris called out, hoping that they would hear him through the speakers.
He could only hope that the two could guide him away from the flames and towards the hanger.
Taking a quick glance down at Pearl, he saw that she had indeed gone against his direct order to stay with him. She had lost consciousness.
"Perhaps it's for the best." Gaheris thought to himself.
The chance of even surviving the inferno behind was bleak. But when he looked straight ahead, hope raised through him as he saw that they were heading straight towards an automatic blast-door that was beginning to close.
Able to withstand intense heat and firepower, Gaheris knew that the door would protect them from the inferno that was coming up from behind.
"It would buy us some time…" Gaheris knew this was it.
So with a new burst of strength, he sped forwards with determination and concentration written all over his face. The heat from the fire behind him was just licking his back, but hepushed the tingled pain away as they neared the door.
Just as they were closing in on the door, Gaheristook aleap forwards, arching his body so that he was in mid air with Pearl safely held in his arms. Keeping her out of harms way, Gaheris sailed right into the next corridor with the blast-doors shutting close behind him.
Just as Gaheris landed hard on his side, with Pearl tightly held against him, the deafening roaring of the flames smashed against the tightly closed blast-doors.
It created a thundering echo that sent waves of tremors down the corridor and beyond…
OMG! (Runs away from pissed off reviewers) I cannot say how sorry I am for this late chapter.
I made it extra long for my readers. It's thirteen pages long! I hope you forgive me (gives puppy dog eyes)
But I have an excuse…writer's block. Believe it or not, I wrote this chapter ten times before coming up with this.
I've read it, and reread it…and read it again. Finally the chapter is to my liking. I hope it's to your liking too.
I've already started the next chapter, and it should be coming by this week. I really really really, hope you like the chapter. I have a feeling it's crappy though…please tell me I'm wrong.
GreenLeaf7
P.s. Have you seen my fanvids? There located in by bio. It's not against the rules to post them is it? Well, I would love your impute in them.
Thank you all for reading my story. Even if you don't review, though I wish you would, I hope that for a few minutes I entertained your curious minds.
ENJOY LIFE & EAT CAKE!