Title: Sojourn: Part 4 – Restoration
Author: JadeHeart
Located/Archived: If anyone would like it, please ask me first!
Creation Date: 1994
Fandom: Blakes 7
Rating: M
Timeline: A few years after the end of the TV series.
Original Characters: Kitra and Griffen are mine.
Summary: Fate brings the players from the past to gather again.
Disclaimer: I do not own the idea/outline/characters of Blake's 7, this belongs to the original creators, nor am I making any profits from this.
Part 4: Chapter 1
"What's that?" one of the guards asked, pointing. The other shrugged.
"Some sort of art form, I think. The High Commissioner brought it here years ago."
"Why not to Headquarters? She never comes here anymore."
"Guess it's not worth her bother. It's only art." They walked out of the room, the door closing behind them and the lights dimming.
Some time after, a faint glow surrounded the object of their discussion. Upon first glance it appeared to be a sculpture of a man suspended in liquid, with leads attached to various parts of the body; arms, legs, head, torso. It actually had a soothing aspect, with bubbles rising gently upwards. It hung there, still and lifeless. But as full darkness descended in the room, the leads began to quiver, then slowly the arms and legs began to jerk in a parody of walking.
If you had been able to examine the leads it would be found that they were stimulating the muscles within the body, making them react as though to exercise and heavy work load. The heart rate increased, the blood pressure rose. If the body was able to sweat it would have. In this manner, the muscles were kept firm and reasonably fit. There was little deterioration of the physique except that made by the general passage of time. After an half hour of this intensive, silent workout the electrical impulses ceased and all was still once more.
What was happening? the thought formed. How long had he been like this - in pure darkness, no sound, no sight, no taste, no feeling. He didn't even know if he had a body or not. He knew time had gone by but how much - a day, a week, a month, longer? It was commonly believed that no thinking organism could survive for long when deprived of all sensation. For humans, they tended to go mad very quickly. But he wasn't mad yet. Maybe it hadn't been that long after all. It was difficult to think in terms of time with nothing to gauge against. And he was not one to give up.
At first he had thought he would go mad. He came to his senses to find everything gone, there were only his thoughts - jumbled, confused, guilt ridden, painful. Past memories came flooding back; past loves, past mistakes. His every thought and deed came back to haunt him. Then he truly did think he would go mad. The emotional onslaught threatened to tip him over the edge to insanity. But he confronted that attack, refusing to give way before the barrage. He examined every thought, word, emotion, action, in its separateness and entirety. He pulled, probed and prodded the most inner and hidden aspects of his personality from his earliest memories to the most recent. And each ghost he faced and laid to rest.
Some were harder to deal with than others, refusing to be placated but he persevered. The hardest were those that forgave him, when he could not forgive himself. He knew they forgave him - was that part of madness? - and there was a sense of unfulfillment where one was concerned, as though he had cheated her of something. Yes, there was unfinished business, and until it was completed that ghost would not be satisfied.
'Then we will finish it.', he thought to it, or himself, and the ghost accepted his promise and faded.
How long this self analysis took he could not tell. When finally his thoughts had settled and he had purged the worst, the darkness was the next threat, waiting to engulf him. But he escaped it by reciting every bit of knowledge he had learnt; mathematical equations, computer components, programming, information gathered from the data banks over the years, old children's stores. Yes, he would bide his time, until he was able to do more. For some reason he was certain he would have another chance. Maybe that was his madness.
The inky blackness made another attempt to overwhelm him and resolutely he pushed it away.
'Not this time', he thought to it - himself. 'Not ever', and a stream of Machule's theories on quantum physics overrode the darkness as Avon waited.
"Well, this is more like it!" Vila said with pleasure, throwing himself down onto the bed.
Tarrant grinned and appraised the room also. "You've got a better view than mine," he admitted.
Vila stood up to look out the window. "They must know better quality when they see it," he said loftily.
Tarrant snorted and turned at a knock on the door. Opening it he found Kitra and Soolin standing there, Griffen tucked under Kit's arm. He beckoned them in.
"Nice view," Soolin said. Vila smiled smugly.
"So, have you decided what to do?" Tarrant asked, taking a seat.
Kitra placed Griffen on the table and sat also. "I'll meet my contact and decide from there." she shrugged. "It doesn't really matter. Either way we've got a couple of days to spare. The meeting's tomorrow evening, and if I don't accept the contract we won't have any trouble. At least for another day or two."
"There have been problems before," Tarrant reminded her, thinking of the last couple of times where they had barely escaped with their lives.
Kitra remained unperturbed. "There will always be a few troubles," She grimaced, "You can't be in this type of business and not expect some problems, but this time I'm pretty certain. I've dealt with this contact before and I know them. They wouldn't sell me out to the Federation for anything. That's why I know we'll have at least two days grace after the meeting, whether I accept or decline. After that we'd be pushing our luck. There are too many others who would sell me out. It would take probably two days for the information to filter down that I'm here before someone will act. We'll be gone before that happens."
"Then I think we should have a bit of relaxation. For medicinal reasons, of course." Vila said.
"Of course," Soolin agreed sarcastically.
"What you decide to do is up to you. You've all got your own funds. Just remember, if you blow it all in the first day, you don't get anymore." The last statement was said directly to Vila who tried to look innocent. "I'll show you around a little tomorrow to give you a rough idea of what's here and places to avoid. After dinner I'll keep my appointment."
"I don't like you going alone." Tarrant put in.
"I'll be fine," she assured him. "I told you, I know these people. And they won't meet me if I come with anyone else. They know that I've always worked alone. I haven't made it known that any of you are with me. That keeps us all safe." She stood up. "I don't know about any of you, but I'm going to have an early night." She tucked Griffen under her arm and turned to the door. "Good night," and was gone.
"Well?" said Vila, looking at his two remaining companions.
"Well what?" Soolin queried.
"I know there's a casino downstairs. Care for a quick drink?"
Soolin glanced across at Tarrant and then smiled.
"Why not?" agreed Tarrant.
Vila's smile stretched from ear to ear.
The next morning found Kitra up early as usual, carrying Griffen along the corridors. She knocked on Soolin's door and it quickly opened to admit her. Soolin was just finishing the touches to her hair. She had braided a brilliant blue ribbon through her blond plait. Kitra was quite envious of Soolin's hair, she kept her own fairly short.
"Ready?" she asked.
"Yes." Soolin replied, standing. She locked the door behind them and they moved onto Tarrant's, a couple of doors down. He, too, was ready and stepped into the corridor immediately upon seeing who was there.
When they reached Vila's door they had to knock three times before it was opened by a bleary-eyed man.
Kitra looked him up and down and sighed. "Did you spend all your money on drink?"
"Don't shout," Vila said with a pained expression, although Kitra had spoken quite normally. They entered his rooms as he slouched across to a dispenser and ordered a coffee.
Tarrant chuckled at Vila's miserable state. "We told you not to try those drinks."
"What drinks?" Kitra asked.
"They were called a Verin's Special." Soolin said, also amused at Vila's condition.
"Gutrotters!" Kitra said with a laugh.
"What?"
"They're commonly known as 'gutrotters'," she explained. "The locals don't touch it unless they are determined to become blind drunk in a couple of glasses. They can be addictive, and if you drink it too much it literally rots your innards. Something in the mixture breaks down the molecules of the internal organs. I would strongly advise not trying it again."
"You mean I'm going to die!" Vila exclaimed, eyes widening.
"Of course not, Vila. You only had a couple of drinks. You'll probably feel sick most of the day but you'll be fine. Just don't drink anymore of them."
"I won't be. I can promise that."
He had finished his coffee and now disappeared into the bathroom to try and freshen up and change. Whilst he was gone Kitra went to the dispenser and began punching in a code. Soon a half glass of a greenish liquid appeared.
"What's that?" Soolin asked indicating the mixture.
"A cure for Vila's hangover."
"Does it work?"
"I've had it on good authority it does, on about four different planets. So I think it should work on Vila."
Just then Vila emerged, looking a little better but his skin still had a greyish tinge. Kitra handed him the glass.
"What's this?" he asked, suspiciously.
"A vitamin boost," Kitra lied with a straight face. "You need it."
"It looks horrible."
"Just drink it."
He brought it closer to his face and screwed his nose up. "It smells horrible too."
"Vila," Kitra said, warningly.
He tried to pass the glass back. "Thanks, but no thanks. Anything that looks, and smells, that bad can't be good for me."
Not taking the glass, Kitra replied patiently. "Vila, if you do not drink it yourself, I will sit on you, hold your nose and pour it down your throat. One way or another, you will drink it."
Vila looked at her a moment more and then closing his eyes, he downed it in one swallow, screwing his face up in distaste. He opened his eyes and handed the glass back to her.
"Happy?" he said grumpily.
"Delirious," she answered with a straight face.
Suddenly Vila's face changed to a look of surprise, his hands grabbed his stomach, his eyes opened wide and he rushed into the bathroom. They could hear violent retching coming through the door.
Tarrant looked over at Kitra. "Is it supposed to do that?", indicating with his head towards the closed bathroom door.
She shrugged. "I don't know. But I'm betting that whatever's in Vila's stomach is probably better out than in."
Not long after Vila emerged from the bathroom. He looked a little pale, but his skin had lost that grey/green hue and he didn't stagger any longer when he walked.
"You look better." Tarrant told him.
"I feel awful," he said mournfully. He glared at Kitra. "Are you trying to kill me?"
She laughed. "If I wanted to do that, Vila, there are a lot more direct methods for doing so. Come on, or the whole day will be wasted."
"I can't walk," Vila moaned, seating himself.
"Oh, yes, you can," Tarrant said, hauling him to his feet and propelling him towards the door. "You are going to be bursting with energy and keep up with whatever we do today."
"That drink actually was a vitamin boost, Vila." Kitra assured him. "You'll have plenty of energy soon."
Vila did not look convinced but had little choice but to follow them.
"How did it go?" Griffen asked as soon as Kitra entered the room.
She threw herself down on the bed before speaking. "Fine. I didn't pick up anything out of the ordinary on this one. It's very tiring doing this." She rubbed her eyes with one hand.
"I know, Kit, but we've had too many close calls in the past couple of years. Now with Vila, Tarrant and Soolin on board, we have to be doubly careful. If the Federation get any idea that they are with us we'll never escape them." There was a ring from the dispenser nearby. "Take that. I rang up a restorative."
"Thanks." She took a sip and felt the soma immediately begin to relax muscles tensed up. She lay back on the bed with a grateful sigh, as Griffen continued speaking.
"We need this extra edge to stay ahead of the Federation, Kit. We can't let them know anything more about us than what they already do. And we have to try and keep the others a secret from them as well."
"I'm surprised they don't already know." She said, taking another sip from her glass.
"I'm not. It's pretty hard to put all the bits and pieces together and we've not exactly been leaving a trail for them to follow. That Vila's escaped I'll admit that they are probably aware of that. But from what I can gather, the Federation always seemed to pass Vila off as an inconsequential anyway, so they may not be worrying overly much about him.
In Tarrant's case, since he was buried in a new identity it may take quite some time for word to get back to the people initially responsible for his condition that he has gone missing. Don't forget that the Federation files list him as Saran Turak, Federation Space Captain, not as Del Tarrant, wanted felon.
As for Soolin, well, she probably isn't listed anywhere. They probably had no idea if she was dead or alive when we found her, and certainly wouldn't have any idea that she is gone. Remember what Vila and Tarrant said about the place? There are no records kept or anything on the state of the prisoners so if they died the Federation doesn't do anything and wouldn't even know half the time.
So for the moment, all three of them are still anonymous and that's the way it needs to be. Also none of them are linked with you yet, which keeps us safer. The Federation would like to get their hands on you badly enough, without the added incentive of knowing they are with you."
"I know, Griffen. But I don't think I can keep this up. It's too difficult." She finished the drink and stood up to look out the window, rolling her neck to ease the muscles.
"You can, and you know it. We need that added edge of knowing what they are feeling."
"But it's not accurate enough this way." She argued, though it was an old argument. "To get a clear picture I need to have physical contact and to be in a position that I can enter deeply into the other person. This way I'm only getting a superficial reading."
"Which is better than nothing," Griffen put in firmly. "What about Pasten III? That contract looked fine on the surface, even Orac couldn't find out any information that would make us think twice about it. If you hadn't used your empathic abilities at the meeting you would never have known that there was a blood feud that the contact blamed you for and was setting you up. If you hadn't picked that up we would have all been dead. I don't like causing you this pain, I know what it does to you and why, but we've got no choice now. To stay alive we have to do it."
Kitra sighed as she turned away from the window, shutting memories away, and walked to where Griffen lay. She rested a hand on his shell. "I know you're right, Griffen," she said softly. "And, yes, I'll continue to do it. I just don't like it. I worry that I will lose what little sanity I have left."
"Kitra, if you ever feel that things are totally beyond your control, tell me." Griffen said firmly, "I am not asking you to kill yourself for us. But I sometimes think that you need to use your abilities more to bring them under control. By letting them lie dormant as you have done and only using them in times of great stress or need, could be what's straining the bonds of your control. If you use them you may be able to refine them, hone them, and put some restraints upon them. Work with me on this and we can try and help you."
She sat next to him on the bed. "You may be correct. Maybe I do need to use the powers more and see if I can build my barriers better. At the moment it is a case of all or nothing. If I drop my barriers I leave myself wide open to every emotion that is being emitted from anyone in the vicinity which it way too over-whelming. I need to find a way to break the barriers down a step at a time, so I can filter the emotions and pinpoint the ones I want to read."
"Then we can try different ways of doing so," Griffen said. "We can do this, Kitra. But you have to be willing to try yourself."
"You mean it's time to stop running away from the past?" she said with a grim smile.
"Yes. Now it's time to face it, and fight back."
"How is it, Griffen, that you always know the right things to say to me?" she said fondly, looking at him with a gentle smile.
"Maybe because you were there for me when I needed you, now I'm here for you because you need me. And, maybe because we have both been to the brink of insanity and fought our way back from it."
Kitra thought Griffen was far too correct in his assessment. She suddenly stretched, saying, "Well, I'm ready for some sleep. I'm not going to sit up waiting for the others to return from where ever they've gallivanted off to for the night. There's nothing to tell them that can't wait till morning."
"I'll check in with Orac." Griffen said as she moved off the bed.
"All right," Kitra disappeared into the bathroom whilst Griffen patched into the communications frequency and contacted Orac on the 'Pegasus' at the space port.
"How's everything going?" he asked.
"All systems are functioning normally. Repairs have been carried out. Some minor adjustments will need to be made by the human personnel of the ship."
Kitra exited from the bathroom wrapped in a towel as Griffen replied. "Good. Anything else?"
"I urgently request that yourself and Kitra return to the ship."
"What? Why?" Kitra said, startled by this request.
"I do not wish to discuss it over the communication channels. I will await your arrival."
"I'll contact the others." Griffen said.
"I do not advise doing so." Orac words halted him.
"Why not?" Kitra asked, becoming more puzzled and not a little alarmed.
"I do not believe it would be advisable. Only the two of you can be privy to the information I will impart, and only the two of you can act upon it."
Kitra looked at Griffen in bewilderment, wondering what was going on. "Don't ask me." Griffen said to her unspoken query. "I have no idea what he's up to - and he's not going to tell us now. We may as well get back to the ship."
Kitra sighed. She had been eager to have a hot bath and get some sleep. She always felt drained when having used her empathic abilities and sleep was the best restorative. Still she nodded in resignation. "I'll get changed, then we'll go."
When they reached Pegasus's flight deck the interior lights came on as Orac registered their presence. Griffen settled on the counter next to Orac's humming box while Kitra took a seat, resting her elbows in front of her, chin in her hands.
"Okay, Orac, what is it?" she asked wearily.
"I believe I have located Kerr Avon."
Kitra stared in shock. Orac had had no luck in finding any traces of what had happened to Avon after Guada Prime. It was as though he had vanished completely. Privately Kitra and Griffen had concluded that he had perished on that planet and would not be found.
Now here was Orac saying that he had found him. And Orac would not say that if he were not nearly 100 certain.
"Where?" she finally managed to ask.
"It would appear that he is to be found in the Space Headquarters located in the Guntina Sector."
"Space Headquarters!" Griffen said, shocked. "Good grief, Orac! We can't try and raid Space Headquarters for someone! What's he doing there? Is he in the interrogation section? A technician? What?"
"None of those mentioned. He is being kept a prisoner but you will locate him in the private rooms of the Supreme Commander."
Kitra's eyes widened further and she shook her head. "Orac, it would be suicide. There's no way we could dock at Space Headquarters undetected, enter the Supreme Commander's private rooms, grab someone, and get out again." She shook her head again. "No, it's impossible. We can't risk that much for one person."
She got to her feet tiredly. She could keep this a secret from the others, but she felt that she should tell them that there was no possible way for Avon to be rescued and they should give up the hope of doing so.
Orac's voice brought her back to the present.
"It is not impossible, by any means. This particular Space Headquarters remains vacant, except for minor personnel. It has been abandoned by the Federation military and is to be modified into an engineering academy so only technicians and a few Federation troopers are based there. There are no restrictions on space traffic arriving as freighters dock there frequently to off-load goods and also to remove any salvageable items. The Supreme Commander has visited there a total of three times in the past four years. It would be no more difficult to enter this station than it has been other times. In fact, it would prove far more accessible at this time."
Kitra couldn't help but mull over what Orac had said. If it was all true, then Orac was completely correct. Now would be the best time to go. "What do you think?" she said, turning to Griffen.
"It actually does sound like we could do it." he agreed almost reluctantly.
"You think so?" She chewed on her lip, still thinking. It was still a risk though.
"We should try, Kit. This may be the only chance we'll have of getting Avon out if he is actually there. When's the modifications to be finished?" he queried from Orac.
"Two months."
"Hmm. Doesn't leave us much time, and the closer to the due date the more people will be present and that makes it harder for us."
Kitra made up her mind. "All right. When do we go?"
"I would suggest that you leave now." Orac put in.
"Now? Why?" Kitra was a little startled by Orac's insistence.
"The best time to put this plan into practice is at this moment. We are closer to the Guntina system from here than our current base, so flight time is less. Also you have no pressing engagements at the moment whilst later you do."
"There is that," Kitra agreed. "I'll get the others to meet us here."
"No," Orac said emphatically.
"No? Now what, Orac?" Kitra was beginning to feel exasperated with being blocked at every turn. "Why don't you want us to tell the others?"
"I do not know in what state of mind Avon will be in. He was a complex example for a human being."
"That's an understatement from what Vila and the others have said," Griffen put in.
"That may be so." Orac continued, "However, if his mind is unstable or he attempts to trap you, you may be placed in a position of having to destroy him."
Kitra sat back down heavily. "So you think I'm the only one that may be able, or willing, to do that? You don't think the others would?"
"I didn't think Tarrant or Soolin would have a problem." Griffen said. "There doesn't appear a great deal of love lost there."
"They would hesitate simply because of the fact that they had known Avon previously. That hesitation could prove fatal." Orac stated.
"Makes sense," Griffen agreed with that assessment.
"Okay," Kitra accepted the decision. "Get the ship ready for lift off. Orac, clear my bill at the hotel and leave a message for Vila at his room. Say we've had to leave to do a job and I'll be back in a couple of days." She looked at them. "Let's go."
"What do you mean she's gone?" Tarrant said, glaring at Vila.
"Just that!" Vila shouted back. "She's gone!"
"Why?"
"I don't know! All I've got is this message slip that I found this morning. I checked the space port and Pegasus lifted off last night. Look!" He thrust the note at Tarrant who took it to read. After scanning the couple of lines he passed it to Soolin.
"She says she's doing a job." Soolin looked up. "Could it be the one she met about last night?"
Tarrant shook his head. "No. I know she wasn't expecting to do anything for a few days, and she can pretty well pick and choose when she does a job so it brings in the best profit or least danger. Besides, if it was that job she would have told us and had us go along. It's not like anything was a secret between us. As far as work is concerned. No, this is something different. Something unexpected came up and it's something that she didn't want any of us to know about."
"Maybe it's dangerous and she thought we'd try and talk her out of it?" Vila put in beginning to sound worried.
"It's a possibility," Soolin agreed. "Or it could be something from her past. Griffen's gone with her and if it was just an issue of danger he would be as adamant about caution as we would. Worse actually."
"But Griffen has to go along anyway," Tarrant said.
Soolin shook her head. "No, he doesn't. If she wanted to, Kitra could have left him here as well. She can pilot the ship on her own, and she would still have Orac. No, she wanted Griffen along so it must be something that the two of them are in agreement with."
"Well, what do we do now?" Vila said plaintively.
Soolin shrugged, "We wait. She says that she'll be back in a couple of days. We can't exactly get passage back to the base. It looks like we'll have that holiday you wanted after all."
"I don't want it now." Vila moaned.
"Look, Vila, we can't do anything about it. So enjoy yourself."
Vila still didn't look happy.