Plain of Sorrows

Author: Milady Dragon

Disclaimer: I've wished as hard as I could, but Earth 2 still doesn't belong to me…

Rating: PG-13

Author's notes: Good to see you haven't given up on me! Thanks and much appreciation for reading!


Chapter Twenty-Three

Devon berated herself for not noticing the strain among the crew much sooner.

It practically slapped her in the face that night, as she and Uly joined the others for dinner. Of course, she had been so wrapped up in what had happened with John…but that didn't stop her from blaming herself for not seeing just how stressed everyone was. It was in the way that Baines's eyes kept darting about, as if searching for the next worst thing to jump out at him. Julia and Alonzo sat together, as they usually did; however, the pilot was leaning into her, his manner entirely far too overprotective. She'd never seen him like that, and wouldn't have thought Julia would have been the one to put up with such behavior…if the situation hadn't been so out of the ordinary. Walman sat by himself – which was weird, since he was usually one of the most social of the group – staring into space as if expecting something to drop down into his lap. True was missing from the gathering, which was to be expected. Yale, usually so unflappable, was fiddling with his cybernetics. Everyone else huddled together, and Devon knew it wasn't for warmth.

But the strangest behavior came from Morgan and Bess.

Devon had seen those two go through a lot since they'd been stranded here, but they'd always come out the other side with their relationship even stronger than ever. The Martins always relied on each other, and it was evident in the way they interacted with one another that they were even more in love now than they had been on the Stations. As Danziger had once put it: "Bess and Martin are always in each other's hip pockets…it's so sickeningly sweet I can feel the tooth rot setting in."

However crude he'd put it, the mechanic had been right; Bess and Morgan Martin were one of those rare couples who truly belonged together. And what she was seeing now was so out of character for both of them.

They sat beside each other, but instead of the casual affection they always shared, there was now a tension between them that practically hummed over the whistling wind. Bess sat so straight that Devon wondered if her back could handle the strain. Morgan slouched, as usual, but that hid a steel in his posture that Devon had never seen before. Plus, they sat separated, not one part of their bodies touching. It was so unnatural it made her want to scream at them to stop.

And, yet, there was nothing Devon could think of, to make it all better. For one of the few timesin her life, she was drawing a complete blank. This situation had gotten so far out of control that she honestly believed there was no way to make it go away, barring John's miraculous return and their exiting this thrice damned plain with all due speed. She tried telling herself that they'd all voted to come this way, that this had been the only viable direction to take if they expected to get to New Pacifica before the colony ship arrived.

It didn't help.

Devon missed John desperately. Despite their very different backgrounds, the two of them complimented the other…and, if she had to be honest with herself, they belonged together. She'd grown to dread the day that he would leave, heading back to the Stations and to the life he'd left behind there. It had never occurred to her that she might very well lose him here…despite John having become a magnet for any and all sorts of trouble.

In her heart of hearts, Devon Adair needed John Danziger.

Not that she'd ever admit that to him.

"Julia." She had to break this smothering silence. "How's True?"

The doctor started, then looked at Devon. There was just a hint of tiredness in her eyes. "She's still sleeping. But it's not a very restful sleep; her theta waves are elevated, and her vitals are fluctuating a bit. I'd say she was having some sort of nightmare."

Devon couldn't help but notice Bess's jerk at the word "nightmare."

"Alonzo and I moved her into my tent for tonight," Julia continued. "I'll want to keep an eye on her."

"Let me know if anything changes, or if she wakes up," Devon replied.

"I will." With those words, Julia practically jumped to her feet. "I'm going on to bed, and I'd recommend that we all get some rest."

Alonzo stood up as well. "Goodnight, everyone." He followed the doctor into her tent, obviously not caring who noticed.

Not that anyone did. Julia's rising was a cue that they'd all seemed to have been waiting for; within seconds everyone was up and scattering in different directions.

"Everyone seems really nervous, Mom," Uly piped up.

"Yes, they do," his mother agreed. She put an arm around his shoulders. "But it's still a good idea, kiddo. Let's get some rest."

"Okay." Hand in hand, they headed back to their own tent.

"Devon!"

They'd taken about four steps before Bess's call halted them. Devon turned around; Bess was hurrying toward them from the direction of hers and Morgan's own tent. "What is it?" Devon asked.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Certainly." She turned back to her son. "Uly, why don't you go and get ready for bed? I'll be right there."

"Sure, Mom." He looked up at Bess. "G'night, Mrs. Martin."

"Goodnight, Uly," Bess answered.

After Uly had gone, Devon asked, "What's wrong, Bess?"

Bess chuckled nervously. "Is it that obvious?"

"Yes. I'm only ashamed to admit that I didn't notice it until just now."

"That's okay, you've been upset about John."

"But that doesn't mean I get to ignore everyone else."

"But when you care that muchabout someone, those feelings take priority no matter what your intentions are."

Devon hoped her surprise was hidden from the other woman. Just what had Bess seen that had led her to say that? Well, she wasn't going to ask, she'd be too embarrassed. "What can I do?" she inquired instead.

"Look, can we go somewhere more private? I…I don't want to talk about it out in the open like this."

Devon led her around the back of her tent, where they would be out of sight of casual observers. Out here, they would only have the wind for company. "Is this better?"

"Much, thanks." Bess sighed. "Look, I might be blowing this all out of proportion…but…" she hesitated.

"Go on," Devon urged.

"For the last couple of days, Morgan's been acting…different."

"What do you mean?"

"Well…he's been distant. Distracted. Cold, actually. He tells me that there's nothing wrong, but it's been like living with a stranger. Ever since the dreams started –"

"Morgan's been dreaming?" Devon's heartbeat increased, and she knew it was in fear.

"Yeah, but he claims he doesn't remember the dreams. They're pretty intense though… here, let me show you." Bess turned, untucking her shirt then pulling the brown fabric up.

Devon gasped. In the bright moons' light she could make out the darkness of bruises on Bess's pale back. "Morgan did that?"

Bess lowered her shirt. When she looked at Devon, there was anger in her eyes. "He didn't mean to, Devon. He thrashes about a lot when he dreams, and since I'm in the same bed with him…well, it's like being caught in the war zone, if you know what I mean?"

"I think I do. Go on."

"Well, what really made me notice was the fact that he never goes into V.R. anymore. And you know how much he enjoys doing that…"

Devon did. Sometimes it was like pulling teeth to get Morgan out of whatever fantasy world he'd disappeared into. "I…can see why you'd think something strange was going on."

"And, today when I was talking to him, I realized that all this started after John started seeing that cat-person. I also remembered that Julia thought that somehow John had been dreaming, even though he was wide-awake. It can't be a coincidence, can it?"

"I…don't think so, Bess." Oh, God…another one of them was being affected by this place. Was it also coincidence that the two people who had voted against coming this way – Morgan and John – were the ones suffering?

"What are we going to do?" Now Bess was sounding frantic.

Devon could sympathize with her completely. "Look, I hate to say this, but there's nothing we can do without more information."

"But Morgan…!"

Devon took the other woman by the shoulders. "Bess, I know what you're feeling, believe me."

"I do…" Tears formed in her eyes.

"Look, today Uly felt something to the north, using whatever power the Terrians gave him. He thinks it might be the clue we need to find out just what's going on. In the morning, Alonzo and I are planning on heading there."

Bess was definitely puzzled, but she was giving Devon her attention. "What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to keep an eye on things here while we're gone. Julia will help you. If anything happens, you take it to her immediately, and we'll tell her to do the same thing with you. I trust that the two of you will be able to handle anything that comes up."

The other woman stood up a little straighter under Devon's hands. "You can count on me."

Devon smiled. She so much wanted to hug Bess, tell her that everything was going to be fine…but that wasn't something she felt comfortable doing. "If you can get Morgan to open up, so much the better. Any information you can come up with will be helpful, Bess. I realize this is really hard on you…"

"Don't worry, Devon. I'll do my best."

"I know you will." Devon felt grateful, that she had yet another ally in this mess. She only wished she'd been the one to initiate contact, but then Devon had never been one to share responsibility…at least, that had been the case before they'd come to G889.

She suddenly felt something very much like hope...