Danziger and Alonzo were uncertain about how to proceed. The tracks led them to the outskirts of a camp. They could see a group of people, penal colonists from the looks of them. Isolated piles of rags indicated most still slept. A few men were up and wandering about. The man they followed had decided not to enter the camp. His trail had suddenly veered off into the woods.

Alonzo pushed for this route while Danziger wanted to check the camp out first. They decided to split up to cover both options, keeping in contact with gear.

Within minutes, Alonzo was on to more then a few scuffed marks in the dirt. The sight, the sounds, the smell of the area drove him like a hound to the scent. Ahead, death waited patiently.

xxx

Julia waited for the blow that never came. She opened her eyes to see Sully sitting on the ground, a look of bewilderment on her face, an arrow protruding from her chest. The circle of blood around the shaft grew wider, and dribbled out the corner of her mouth..

The sight terrified Julia who was already trembling with fatigue and fear. He had found them. Would he shoot her next? She cried softly knowing she could be seconds away from dying. Not only was she an easy target, but her grip on the branch was slipping. Before the marsh could swallow her, an arrow pierced her back.

Ethan waited, ready to shoot again, but the girl didn't move. He raced forward, making his way down to Sully. He bent close and told her,

"Be glad you can only die once. This was for trying to make a fool out of me."

Sully coughed blood in an effort to speak. "Bastard..you are."

He kicked her off to the side and she rolled down the hill past Julia to land head first in the muck. The quicksand sucked her greedily into its depth leaving just her legs to shake spasmodically on the surface for a few seconds before they too disappeared in a loud gulp.

With Sully out of the way, Ethan laid his bow aside to concentrate on removing Julia. It was no easy job to pull her free. The suction was strong and her body was coated and slippery with slime. Only when she was safely landed, did he break off the end of the arrow which held her.

There was no metal point, only a sharply shaved wooden tip which had buried itself deep in the ground. Ethan lifted her through the broken shaft. The wound bled freely but the puncture wound was small. The arrow had pierced the soft tissue just under the clavicle, doing little damage but guaranteeing a maximum hold. He was amazed, the chances of a shot like this were a million to one shot, hell maybe more, and no one was here to appreciate it.

The convict slung the woman over his left shoulder, placed the bow across the other and picked his way up the hill. He hadn't gone three paces from the top when a voice as cold and hard as the steel placed against the back of his head stopped him.

"Don't move."

Ethan froze.

"Julia?"

There was an intake of breath, a click of metal and the hum of a weapon right beside his ear. The penal colonist began sweating. The next words were more a statement then a question and the tone was that of barely controlled rage.

"You shot her, just like the Grendler."

He had to risk a reply, "I did it to save her life."

The gun barrel jabbed him in the head but Ethan went on. "I'm telling you the truth. Look below you. There's a pit of quicksand. She was almost up to her neck. I knew I couldn't reach her in time so the best I could do was try to pin her with an arrow. You can see that by looking at her, she's covered with the muck."

"And the Grendler? Were you saving his life too?"

"The Grendler was a thief that got what he deserved. He stole my bow on top of what I traded for the girl."

"Save it. I'm taking you back with me. I'll let the others decide what to do to you. If it was up to me, I'd blow a hole in your back, just like you did to them."

Alonzo angrily activated his gear. "Danziger, come in. I found Julia. She hurt but alive. Do you read?"

Ethan heard the crackle of static and another male voice. The odds against him suddenly went up. He'd better take this guy out before the other one showed up. Somehow, he 'd have to get the gun from this would-be-rescuer.

"I got our shooter too. I'm taking them back to Rail. Meet me there. Do you copy?"

There was a scratchy "Affirmative" and something that sounded like "careful."

Ethan was poked and directed . "Before we go anywhere. Hold your right arm out."

Alonzo removed the bow and tossed it away. "Keep your arm up where I can see it and don't give me an excuse to pull this trigger."

"You'd shoot an unarmed man?"

"You'd better believe it."

But Ethan knew better. He waited until they were close to breaking free of the woods to act. "I need to stop for a moment."

"Keep moving."

"Okay, but if I fall over and hurt the girl, don't blame me."

Alonzo didn't trust him. "Put her down, slow and gentle, then back away."

The convict did as he was told, using her body to mask the handful of dirt he scooped up in the process.

Ethan almost smiled at the other man's concern for the girl. A weakness the convict could use to his advantage. He decided now was as good a time as any.

As Alonzo bent to tend to Julia, the convicted watched. "What happened to her leg? Did you have anything to do with this too?"

"It was already that way when the Grendler dumped her at my feet last night. He had her all drugged up. I guess he figured she'd be easier to carry and wouldn't make a fuss about being stuffed in that bag of his."

Alonzo shot him a dirty look. Was he trying to blame her condition on the Grendler?

Ethan noted the younger man's heightened color and smiled inwardly. "You know, I almost passed on the trade thinking she wouldn't make it but even under all the dirt I could see a young desirable woman. Even if she only lasted a few hours, it was only going to cost me a few worthless trinkets, you know what I mean?"

The fire in the other man's eyes gave him the answer.

Smirking deliberately , the convict went on to deliver the coup de grace. "I took her into the woods, where we'd have some privacy." Ethan winked at Alonzo. "She was spaced out on the Grendler's drug and thinks I'm someone named Alfonso -- or was it Alonzo? Not that it matters. Hell, in the dark, we're all the same anyway." Ethan laughed, "Yes sir, that was the best trade I ever made."

Alonzo exploded with rage and came charging at him. Despite his casual manner, Ethan was ready. He tossed the dirt into the pilot's eyes just before he made contact. Alonzo faltered, suddenly blinded. The convict seized the opportunity and delivered a stunning blow to the other man's groin.

The pilot fell to the ground rolling into a self-protective ball, his body racked with spasms of crippling pain. Ethan kicked him without mercy, concentrating on exposed areas of the back, ribs and arms that Alonzo used to shield his head. The pilot had no chance to fight back, he could only endure the incessant beating.

Finally, Ethan stopped to catch his breath and retrieve the MagPro.

Leaning over the fallen pilot, he grabbed a hand full of black hair and yanked his head back. His face, splattered with dirt and blood, was beginning to swell from the beating. Alonzo's dark eyes rolled back.

"I knew you wouldn't shoot me in cold blood. I can tell a killer by the eyes. You don't have what it takes. Now get on your communication device and bring your friend here. Tell him, I attacked you. During our struggle, I hit my head and was killed. You're hurt and need his help. Don't try to warn him or your girlfriend will have a nice hole where her face use to be. If you have any doubt about what I'm saying, look into my eyes."

"Why should I? You'll kill us anyway."

"True but if you do as I say, I'll spare your girlfriend. I'll leave her go when I tire of her. Of course, you may think that's a fate worse then death but I'll bet she'd rather live if given the choice. If you don't take my offer, I'll kill you both here and now, then go after your friend. I will take my people and hunt him down. You're both as good as dead anyway you look at it."

The convict stood up and placed the barrel of the MagPro on the center of Julia's face. "So what will it be?"

Alonzo needed to buy time. "I'll do what you want."

"Smart boy. I knew she must have seen something in you, Alfonso."

Alonzo didn't have to pretend he was hurt when he contacted Danziger. He found it hard to look the mechanic in the eye as he lured his friend into an ambush. The pilot only hoped Danziger would smell the trap before it was too late. Ethan pulled the gear away from him before he could say too much.

"That's enough. I take it he's close. How long before he gets here?"

"A few minutes."

"Before he does, answer me this, I found her tag." He held up Julia's Holo-ID for Alonzo to see. "Is Dr Heller from the Council? Is she here to test us? Find out for the government how we're adapting to this hell hole?"

"We're not from the government."

"If you're not with the government, what are you doing here? All penal colonists are branded with a destination. If you're one of us, show me your mark. Dr. Heller has none, I checked -- thoroughly."

Alonzo's sudden move was met with the business end of the MagPro.

"Haven't learned your lesson yet have you? You're an easy mark. Do you know that? I know all the right buttons to push to get you riled."

Alonzo glared at him.

"Before your pal gets here, I better set the stage a bit."

Ethan kept the gun trained on Alonzo and bent over Julia. He reached inside her shirt and smiled as he saw the pilot stiffen with outrage. He stuck his finger in the girl's shoulder wound. The hole, which was caked with clotted blood, reopened. Ethan painted his face with the fresh supply. "I'm suppose to be dead so I better look it."

"Bastard! Fight me fair and I'll guarantee it."

"Too late for that, pretty boy. Just remember, no tricks. I'll have the gun on your girlfriend the whole time." Ethan laid on the ground, the gun masked by his body's bulk, the barrel pointed toward Julia.

While they waited for Danziger, Alonzo took off his shirt, ripping the sleeve and applying it as a bandage to Julia's shoulder wound. She moaned as he wrapped the rest of it around her.

"Julia?" Alonzo touched her face.

Hauntingly pale, like glazed blue ice, her eyes opened and turned unseeing toward him.

"Julia, it's me, Alonzo You're going to be all right."

She gave no indication that she saw him or heard his reassurance.

'Shock,' he thought. 'She's must be in shock.'

Something cold clutched his heart and began to grow. It was a hated of this man who was attempting to destroy what Alonzo held dearest. How much time was left? Alonzo gathered Julia close to his chest.

Ethan hissed in a whisper, "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Both men froze as something rustled in the bush. Alonzo cried out. "Look out! It's a trap."

As he warned Danziger, he rolled backwards taking Julia with him, substituting himself as the target.

Danziger came crashing through the brush as Ethan bolted upright.

"Drop it or I'll kill them both." The convict swung the MagPro toward Alonzo and Julia.

For a moment they stood in silence, weapons trained, sizing each other's will.

"Okay, just don't shoot." John began to raise his hands in submission.

"NO! Shoot him, Danziger! Kill him! What the hell's wrong with you?"

Ethan stared at the mechanic. "Throw it away or watch them die."

Danziger tossed the rifle aside.

"Move away from it." The convict waved the weapon in the direction the mechanic was to follow. He had them within his range of fire.

"You okay, buddy?" Danziger risked a glance at his friends.

"Why didn't you shoot?"

"I couldn't risk it."

Alonzo swore. "Yea, we'll your not risking it just got us all killed."

The convict laughed and said to Danziger, "He's right you know. It's just a matter of who goes first. Since I'm judge, jury and executioner, I think I'll vote for you. I've got something special planned for pretty boy here."

Ethan turned toward Alonzo. "I'm going to take you apart slowly, piece by piece till only your eyes work. Then, just before I kill you, I'm going to show you how I plan to take care of your girlfriend. How do you like that?"

Out of the corner of his eye, Alonzo saw Danziger move. The big mechanic dove for the ground. The convict swung the rifle after him and pressed the trigger. There was an explosion of fire and Alonzo, who threw himself at Ethan, felt the concussion of a blast. The world crashed in on him shutting off the light.

For a time he laid stunned, feeling only the crushing weight of darkness. When it finally lifted, Danziger's face looked down on him.

"Can you walk? We have to get out of here."

Alonzo grunted with the pain of movement. "Julia? Where's Julia?"

"She was knocked free when this joker fell on you. Yale's checking her."

Danziger moved aside and Alonzo saw the black man just beyond him bending over the doctor's prone form. The convict's crumpled body lay next to Alonzo, his features barely recognizable in the ruined mass of charred and bloody flesh.

"What happened?"

Danziger helped the pilot to his feet. "Yale arrived too late to help the Grendler. He picked up our conversation on gear and decided to follow us. I ran into him just before I came across you. We decided to split up and come from opposite directions just to be on the safe side. Once I saw it was a trap, I played along to give Yale time to set up and pick his shot."

Yale added. "My shot must have hit the MagPro as he tried to fire on you. It caused an explosion putting you in more danger then I had intended. Fortunately, none of you seem to have been injured by the blast."

"So right now, we're down to the Commander's rifle and a MagPro against a camp load of goons who had to have heard the sound of the blast. It's time we got out of here. Yale, will you give Alonzo a hand? I'll take Julia."

"I can manage on my own. What about him?" Alonzo indicated the penal colonist. "You're going to leave him to go free after what he's done?"

"Alonzo, we'll be lucky to get back to the Rail before that mob comes after us. What are we suppose to do with him?

"He was ready to kill us."

"I don't think we have to worry about him anymore. It's his pals I'm concerned with now."

"Give me the gun. If you won't take care of him, I will."

Danziger suddenly caught the murderous look in Alonzo eyes. "What's got into you man? We may need every bit of our ammunition to get out of here. I'm not wasting it on someone already half dead."

Yale broke in. "Alonzo, Julia needs immediate medical attention. Every minute we delay prevents that from happening." Yale knew how to reach the pilot.

Alonzo blinked, and while his featurex and tone remained hard as stone, the edge was gone. "If he ever comes near Julia again, I'll kill him."

"I doubt he'll be causing any trouble for a long time. Let's go."

They started off. Danziger carried Julia. Yale took the MagPro and held on to the rifle until they were far away from the convict before giving it to Alonzo. The pilot kept glancing back. He was the first to see the convict stagger to his feet and stumble away.

Enraged, Alonzo turned to go back only to have Yale grabbed his arm. The sound of an approaching force reached them.

"There's no time."

They turned and quickly began their descent to the vehicles. A lethal shower of arrows fell around the Eden crew. A few well placed shots sent the ragged mob ducking for cover. They continued to back up Danziger until he placed Julia safely in the back of the Rail. He yelled for the rest of them to hurry. Alonzo and Yale fired at the crowd as they backed up. Just as they reached the vehicles, Alonzo ran out of ammunition. Yale stepped in front of him and was cut down by an arrow.

Screaming for Danizger to help, the pilot flew to the tutor's side. He took up the powerful weapon and swung it in the direction of the shooter. High above him, a dark figure wavered in the MagPro's sight. It couldn't be! He blinked and the figure vanished but he fired anyway, sending volley after volley into the spot.

"Okay, I got Yale. Let's get out of here. ALONZO!!"

The gun jamming was the only thing that moved the pilot. He cocked the weapon repeatedly. Frustrated, he finally threw it in the ATV and jumped into the driver's seat. Spinning wheels, Danziger took off in the Rail with Alonzo following close behind in the smaller ATV.

It seemed to take forever to get back to camp and Danziger's brow was creased with worry as he kept glancing over at Yale's ashen face.

The tutor gritted his teeth every time they hit a bump. The arrow remained imbedded in his thigh and the circle of crimson was spreading. Danziger fumbled with his gear and called ahead alerting camp that they were headed back. Devon's voice greeted him on audio. He couldn't risk taking his eyes off the terrain for a video link. Besides, he didn't want to see her face when he reported that Yale had an arrow imbedded in his leg and Julia was in worse shape.

"I have injured. Yale's been shot in the leg. You're not going to believe this but we found Julia. She's hurt too but I'm not sure how bad."

"We'll be ready for you." Devon tried to maintain a brave front but he could hear a slight tremor in her voice.

"Move out now! We'll catch up. There's a horde of angry penal colonists behind us and I don't want to give them time to catch up."

"But..."

Danziger pulled the gear off and handed it to Yale. "Here talk to your boss. Tell her to head south."

John heard the elderly man tell Devon he was fine. John glanced over, raising an eyebrow at the lie. He noticed Yale didn't bother to open the visual. He was able to deceive her about his condition by telling her he was busy with Julia and would see her soon. He managed to get her promise that the main group would head south as soon as they were able before signing off.

The TransRover was a slow moving mining vehicle. Its speed wasn't much faster than a walking pace so eventually the rescue team caught up with them. Julia and Yale were transferred over to a small area in the back of the craft, where a makeshift infirmary had been set up. Flaps were pulled down and piles of equipment shielded them from view.

Devon instructed Alonzo to turn the ATV over to Walman who now took a rear guard position. Danziger insisted he was fine and would scout the front in the DuneRail.

Adair turned her attention to Alonzo's battered face. "We need to get you taken care of, too."

"I'm all right, Devon, I just need to know that Julia and Yale will be, too."

She nodded her agreement and they climbed up into the Rover, ducking through the canvas that afforded some relief from the dust and sun. Bess had managed to extract the arrow from Yale's leg with the help of a painblock. Small beads of sweat glistened on his dark skin.

"Yale?"

"The worst is over, Devon. I will be fine."

"He just needs plenty of rest." Bess added.

"I'm glad you're okay, Yale. I think you took an arrow meant for me." Alonzo spoke over Devon's shoulder but the tutor could see the young man's eyes were on the cordoned off area beside them. "How is Julia?"

Bess seemed uncertain. "She's conscious. She was shot, too?"

"Yea, among other things." Alonzo swallowed remembering. "Her leg..."

"Will have to be broken and properly set." Bess finished.

Alonzo remember his own painful break due to the crash. "Maybe later. She can't go through that right now."

"Alonzo, no one wants to put Julia through anything more but the longer we wait, the harder it will be later."

"Did she tell you that? I mean, she should know best, right?"

Bess didn't answer him.

Devon looked from one to the other. "Bess?"

The young woman sighed. "Devon, Julia isn't responding. She just stares at me like she doesn't know who I am."

"She's just in shock. I mean, look what she's been though." Alonzo countered angrily.

Devon grew unsettled by the look in his eyes. "Okay." Devon held her hand up trying to calm the pilot down. "Bess, Alonzo has a point. Julia has been through a lot. Why don't we wait until later to discuss this. Alonzo, I want you to rest, too. Julia isn't the only one who needs time to recover from this ordeal."

"Devon?."

"Bess, a few hours won't make much difference. We'll talk about this when we stop for the night."

Alonzo stationed himself close to Julia's tent and bushed aside any nursing care. He seemed content to glare at anyone that came close so Devon left him and the TransRover to find Danziger. She had to trot to catch up to the DuneRail. Luckily, True had given up the heat of the open for the shade of the cab in the big vehicle. John glanced up as she jumped in beside him.

"Danziger, what happened out there? Alonzo just went off on Bess about treating Julia. He's acting like a guard dog, not letting anyone near her."

Danziger repeated what he knew, ending with what happened after they separated. "Alonzo found Julia first. This convict must have been there too because he told me he had the guy who shot the Grendler. He was bringing them both to the Rail where I was to meet him. A little while later, he calls on gear and says he needs help. This guy must have turned the tables on him, because it was all a set up. He was luring me into a trap. I'm sure this Ethan threatened Julia or Alonzo would never have gone along with it. Maybe he's just upset about getting his ass kicked. This guy just got the better of him."

"No, it's more than wounded pride."

John glanced over at Devon. She looked straight ahead, lost in thought. Small worry lines creased her otherwise perfect features.

"Yea." He agreed. "You may be right." Off her look, he added. "But I'm as much in the dark as you are. I only know Alonzo was mad enough to kill this guy. Whatever caused that, you'll have to get from him."

Alonzo nodded with exhaustion. The slow rocking motion of the TransRover and the afternoon heat proved to be a formidable combination in robbing the pilot's will to stay awake. One side of the vehicle rose as the tires clawed their way over a half-buried rock. The wheel slipped causing a jarring impact.

Alonzo woke to see Bess poised over Julia with a hypo-spray. "NO!"

Bess screamed as he ripped the sedi-derm from her hand.

Hand on her heart, Bess retorted angerly, "What the hell do you think you're doing, Alonzo?. You scared me half to death."

"What am I doing? What are you doing to Julia?"

"I'm trying to make her as comfortable as possible while I remove this crud she's covered with. I have to move her and given the shape she's in that could be painful."

"Why didn't you ask me? I can do whatever you want done. You don't have to resort to drugs."

"Drugs? It's a simple painblock. What is wrong with you?"

Their shouting drew Morgan's attention and within seconds he was nose to nose with Alonzo as he took his wife's side. Soon push came to shove and Cameron jumped aboard to separate the antagonists.

Devon was alerted by gear of the fracas. Both she and Danziger exchanged glances before he swung the Rail around. Pulling close to the big mining vehicle, he dropped her at the tailgate which she quickly mounted..

"Bess, Alonzo, what is going on here?"

"Devon, you agreed that we would talk about Julia tonight before anything was decided on."

"That's right. Has something changed?"

"I just woke up to find Bess ready to inject Julia with this."

Devon eyes shifted from the hypo-spray gun the pilot was waving in front of her face to Morgan's wife.

"Bess?"

"I already explained to him, Devon. It's a simple painblock. This isn't the smoothest vehicle to ride in. I thought it best to make Julia and Yale as comfortable as possible. "

"What makes you think you know best? You're not a doctor." Alonzo challenged.

Morgan spotted Julia, awake and listening. "Well, why don't we just ask the doctor?"

Their gazes all shifted to where Julia lay huddled in the corner. Her eyes shifted from the small injection devise in Alonzo's hand to the woman who approached her.

Devon knelt down beside her. "Julia, how do you feel? Are you in pain?'

The younger woman's look was disconcerting to the leader of Eden Project. "We could use some advice on the best way to help you."

Julia looked blankly at Devon

"I don't understand. Why won't she answer me?"

Bess, who was more intuitive took another approach, asking gently. "Julia? Do you know where you are?" Bess read the lost expression in the doctor's eyes and continued. "Do you know who I am?"

Julia looked away and closed her eyes, bringing the conversation to an end.

Bess sighed and turned to the others. "I think we should let her rest." Morgan's wife pushed her husband and puzzled crew mates to the back of the TransRover.

Since Morgan was closer to her, he managed to whisper a question. "Bess? This isn't some kind of brain damage, is it?"

"I don't know, Morgan"

"Bess, how can she act like she doesn't know us? She's our doctor, for crying out loud. The only doctor on this God-forsaken planet for the next two years.!"

"Julia's been though a terrible ordeal. She's hurt and needs care," Bess addressed Devon but it was Alonzo's eyes she sought to win her point. "and part of that care involves straightening her leg before the bone hardens. It's not going to be easy. She has to be sedated or at least given a painblock."

"Okay, we'll be stopping for the night soon. Maybe it's best to get it over with so she'll have time to recover before we move on again tomorrow." Devon, having made a decision jumped down off the 'Rover.

She needed to consult with Danziger about the best place to camp in case they were being followed. That would be another battle because the mechanic was all for going on until they were well clear of the area.

Devon, wait!" Alonzo caught up to Devon and grabbed her by the arm.

She was stunned by his roughness.

"You can't let her pump drugs into Julia's system without knowing if it will cause some sort of reaction."

"Excuse me? Reaction to what? Alonzo, what is all this worry about a simple procedure Julia uses all the time?" She studied his face, saw the struggle taking place deep inside. "There's something more isn't there; something you're not telling me?"

"I don't know." He was torn, not wanting to believe what the convict told him. He raked his fingers through his hair.

"Alonzo, whatever it is, you have to trust me. I want to help."

When he didn't answer, she said, "If you're holding back something that puts Julia at risk.."

"I don't want to believe he told me the truth."

"Who?"

"That..convict."

The one you fought with?."

"Yes." He confessed to her.

"What did he tell you?"

Lost in the remembering, he told her, "He told me he bought Julia from the Grendler. That the Grendler had drugged her so that she was helpless." Alonzo's eyes were dark with torment. "He said...he took advantage of that and did things to her."

The meaning of his words hit her. The weight of responsibility for the people she led could be crushing and one more time she felt herself falter. A momentary stumble before her indomitable spirit rose angrily, fighting the rising flood of circumstance with rage and indignation.

Devon found herself challenging Alonzo. "A penal colonist goaded you into dropping your guard. He would have said anything to gain such an advantage." To her own ears, it sounded like nothing more then hopeful conjecture.

"But, she's acting drugged. If he told the truth about that, maybe the other things are true?"

"There are tests that will tell us if there are any drugs in her system. We'll need to know before we administer anything else." Devon forced herself to deal only with facts to quiet the emotional storm that stirred within her. Her voice changed, becoming compassionate. "Alonzo, there may be ways to determine the truth of this man's statements but I'm not sure it's in Julia's best interest that we know everything."

He closed his eyes against the pain of that statement.

Devon laid a comforting hand on his arm. "She's back, safe and among friends whose care and support will help her through whatever needs to be dealt with. We'll be there for you too, Alonzo."

"You don't understand Devon, I let the man who did this to her get away!" His anger turned inward and he wouldn't allow Devon to comfort him. He brushed off any objection and strode away.

As she watched him go, Devon thought that a burden shared didn't always lessen the weight.