Author: Milady Dragon
Disclaimer: same as always
Author's note: Did the last chapter get your attention? Heehee…I think there will be one more chapter. Thanks for coming along for the ride, and be alert for the sequel!
Chapter Twenty-Six
Reflexes that Cameron had thought long gone kicked in.
One hand snapped out, pushing palm-first into House's chest to keep him from involuntarily moving. The other hand went up in front of them, between them and the gun.
Her mind reached out, her telekinesis doing what she wasn't even aware of until precious seconds later.
She used her power to bat the bullet aside as if she were shooing away an insect.
Cameron could actually "taste" the bullet in her mind: bitterly metallic with a hint of copper, the heat of the friction of its flight causing a slight burning sensation across her frontal lobe, as if someone had stroked her brain with a freshly-extinguished match.
The bullet smacked into the white tile wall near the shelves.
Before Greer could pull the trigger again, Cameron reached out with her mind once more, insinuating her power among the weapon's workings. It only took a simple mental twist, and the mechanism was damaged irrevocably.
Just to be on the safe side though, she snatched it away, flinging it into the far corner.
Only after Greer was disarmed, did she relax enough to reign her power back in. She turned to look at House, to see if he was all right.
He was looking at her with palpable awe.
It saddened her a little. She wanted him to respect her, not just be amazed at this display of her abilities.
"Very well done."
Cameron glanced over her shoulder at Elizabeth. She could sense the pride radiating from the older woman, and it warmed her enough to almost make her forget House's reaction. "Thanks."
"Do you see now?"
She turned her attention back to Andrew Greer. He was standing with his back against the glass window, staring at Cameron fearfully.
"Dr, House, don't you see what you're supporting?" Greer went on, spittle flying from his mouth. "These…people…can just roll over us with no regard to normal human beings! The only way to protect ourselves is to make sure no more of their kind are ever born!"
House didn't say anything. Cameron was distinctly aware of her hand, still pressed against his chest protectively. She could feel his heart pounding against it. He was still looking at her, the awe replaced by a calculating gaze that made her want to cringe. If she'd ever been afraid before, this was infinitely worse. Yes, she'd wanted him to respect her, as a doctor and as a Tomorrow Person. But what if what she'd just done – albeit to save their lives – tipped him against her? House had never really seen just how powerful she truly was. Would that make him listen to what Greer was saying now?
He pulled away from her, leaving her hand resting in the space where his body had been. She wanted to lower it, but something was preventing her. House stepped around her outstretched arm, limping toward Greer and examining him with a look that spoke volumes. It said, "You are an uninteresting piece of shit and I don't have to put up with you."
Cameron's heart eased its hard clenching. Her mouth curved upward in a knowing smile.
House's left hook spoke even louder.
The smile on her face began to seriously threaten the stability of her ears.
Greer actually squeaked in surprise as House's fist struck him in the jaw. He slid down the wall, his eyes fluttering shut as his ass hit the floor.
"Damn, shit, fuck, hell, son-of-a-BITCH!" he snarled, snapping his hand back and forth. He struck Greer's unresponsive leg with his cane for good measure.
"Let me see." Cameron reached out to take his hand.
He pulled away from her. "It's fine!"
"Quit being a baby and let me take a look!" She snared his hand in both of hers, examining it. Cameron used her fingers to probe gently, ignoring his hiss of pain at the touch. "Nothing broken, but it's going to swell up like a balloon." She surreptitiously poured a little of her own energy into the injury, to help in healing. "You're going to have fun explaining this at the hospital. Was it worth it?"
"Oh, yes. Condescending, evil bastard."
"He is that." She released his hand, suddenly very aware of having held it.
"If you're finished…" Both of them turned to Elizabeth. She was holding Greer's palm pilot; Cameron hadn't even been aware of her picking it up. "According to this, we're about to have company down here."
"Then maybe we should go and meet them," Cameron answered. "At least we should thank them for turning off the dampening field."
"I'm going to get to meet an alien?" House was practically bouncing up and down, the pain in his hand apparently forgotten.
"Oh, God," Cameron sent to Elizabeth, "this might just set any form of relation with the Sharrion back centuries."
"Allison, you are bad…" came the amused reply. "Let's lock Greer in here," she said aloud.
"Good idea." House smacked him with his cane once more as they all filed into the airlock.
"That's not necessary, doctor," Elizabeth chided softly.
"Sure it is. Makes me feel better."
Cameron rolled her eyes, and kept silent.
Once outside, she used her telekinesis again, this time to jam the mechanism and prevent Greer from getting out. Then, together, they headed down the corridor, House on one side, Elizabeth on the other.
It felt really good.
The Sharrion were just exiting the elevator when they arrived.
The commander, Ur'harup, was with his men, wearing their usual armor and each holding an energy weapon. He held up his free hand to stop his men as he caught sight of the three of them approaching.
"Dr. Allison Cameron," he greeted her, his voice the same deep bubbling sound Cameron remembered so well.
"Commander Ur'harup," she greeted in return, bowing slightly. She introduced her companions, putting special emphasis on Elizabeth being an Ambassador for the Federation. "Thank you for answering the call."
"Thank you for calling us," he returned. "I admit that I did have my doubts that you would."
"Umm…Cameron?" House asked in a stage whisper, "you can understand them?"
She glanced at him. The only word she could use to describe his expression was "gobsmacked." She had to admit, a part of her was enjoying it. "My telepathy allows my brain to translate." She didn't bother to add that it didn't work for every alien race.
"Cool," was his reply. "This is just so frickin' cool…"
Cameron wanted to laugh so badly she couldn't breathe. Of course, she'd been the same way with her first alien contact, so she could hardly blame him for being completely blown away.
Should she or shouldn't she…? Oh, why not? "Tim, can you send me a matter transporter belt with a translator attached?"
"Oh course, Allison. I shall be glad to."
Cameron turned her attention back to the Sharrion commander. "You can collect your stolen property now. Thank you for trusting us enough to give us a chance."
The belt appeared in her hand as she spoke, surprising Ur'harup. She handed it to House, who slipped it on. "Is your companion also one of the Federation, Dr. Allison Cameron?" he inquired.
The muffled curse from House was enough to tell Cameron that the translator was working. She stifled a grin. "No, Commander. Dr. House is human, from Earth here."
"Is he one of those who stole our technology?" the Commander's voice grew rough with threat.
"Not at all," she hastened to correct him. "Dr. House is a colleague of mine, and was being held hostage down here. We came to rescue him."
"I see." The alien motioned his men forward. "Fan out and find what we have come for." His men obeyed. "And the ones responsible?"
"They're going to find Greer," Cameron replied silently. "How are we going to explain him?"
"Tell the truth, of course." Elizabeth took a closer step toward the Sharrion. "One of those you're looking for is locked in one of the rooms down the hallway."
Ur'harup gurgled. Cameron translated that as a laugh. "Then you have doubly lived up to your word. You have proved yourselves to be honorable beings."
"Is this the right thing to do?" Cameron asked her companion.
"We can't try Greer in a human court. It's either turn him over to the Federation, or the Sharrion. Since the Sharrion are the wronged party here…"
She accepted Elizabeth's response with a single nod. Of course, she was right. Turning Greer over to the Sap authorities wouldn't make a damn bit of difference. Chances were, Greer and his ilk wouldn't serve a day in prison for what they'd done. In fact, they'd most likely be called heroes for their advances on behalf of the human race…if it were even understood just what they'd done to achieve such advances in the first place.
"His name is Andrew Greer," Elizabeth went on audibly. "He's but one of those involved. He, himself, isn't one of those who in actuality stole your property, but it is now in his possession."
"According to Sharrion law," Ur'harup claimed, "that makes him as guilty as those who committed the original theft."
"You should also be aware that there are others here on Earth who were involved. I should like to have time to find those people and also bring them to justice as well."
The commander regarded Elizabeth closely, then nodded. "That is agreeable. We only ask that we be given our due."
"We will gladly share all the information the Federation gathers, and to make any guilty party available to Sharrion law."
"On behalf of my people, Ambassador Elizabeth, I thank you." Ur'harup bowed deeply.
There was a sudden, explosive noise down the corridor. Cameron spun, and was in time to witness seeing a couple of Sharrion troopers enter the lab where Greer had been left. They pulled the struggling human out of the room, and back toward the group at the elevator.
"You have to help me!" Greer was positively blubbering. "You can't let these…aliens… take me!"
"You'll find that we can," Elizabeth answered sternly. "You've broken Sharrion law. It's up to them to decide what your punishment will be."
"I demand asylum with the Galactic Federation!"
"You won't get it," Cameron snapped. "You've threatened genocide on a member race."
"Plus you're a scabby little asshole," House drawled. "I think the Federation has better taste than to let you in."
Greer licked his dry lips. "Look, I have information you might want – "
"I'm sure when the investigators get here, they can discover for themselves whatever you know," Elizabeth replied. She dismissed Greer, turning back to the Sharrion. "Commander Ur'harup, if I might ask a favor of you?"
"I am at your service, Ambassador Elizabeth."
"I don't want the Saps to be able to regain access of this place. If you and your men wouldn't mind destroying all the exits before you leave…"
"We shall do as you ask. We can annihilate the entire complex if you desire."
"No, we'll need to keep this place as intact as possible for the investigators. There are so many things we still need to know about what's gone on here."
"I understand. And, again, I wish to thank you, Dr. Allison Cameron, and Dr. Gregory House for the return of our property." Ur'harup bowed once more, then motioned to his troops.
Cameron and her companions stood aside as the Sharrion departed, with their technology and with the terrified Greer. "I'd still like to know who blew up the aboveground complex," she replied.
"And who tipped off the Sharrion," House added.
"We might never know," Elizabeth answered them. "It's entirely possible that, whoever it was, was killed in the actual explosion."
"They could have escaped," Cameron mused.
"Hell, they could've been alien for all we know!" House exclaimed. Then he looked surprised. "Did I just say that?"
Cameron snickered. "Yes, you did."
"You know what I'm really worried about, in this whole affair?"
"No, House. What?"
"That this is some sort of delusion and I'm actually living in a straitjacket somewhere."
"Don't worry about that," Cameron snorted. "If you were going to end up in an asylum, it would have happened long before now."
Elizabeth laughed. "I do believe that's Allison's version of 'welcome to my world'."
House's own laugh echoed through the white corridor long after they jaunted home.