Author's Notes: Once again I like to thank my Beta Readers, Karen and SebaceanBabe for their endless assistance.
In his quarters, Stark lay in a crumpled heap on the floor, weeping and muttering insanely to himself.
"Please, please, please… Let it stop… Red eye devils! They come again and they leave nothing alive… They keep coming and coming and people continue to die… Let it stop!!!"
He sensed too much death. That the universe itself felt like it had suffered a fatal wound and was haemorrhaging. The soulless ones were inflicting all of this misery. They offered only death to all living things, cutting a devastating path through the galaxy and leaving only barren worlds in their wake.
Stark continued to mumble madly to himself. The Scarrans had forcibly brought him here to help with the passing of their dying warriors, but it was taking a terrible toll on his fragile mentality.
Through his fog of madness, a gentle voice called out to him, as if spoken by an angel, "Stark, my love…"
He stopped weeping and shot to his knees like a trap being sprung, looking anxiously about. "Who's there?"
From behind, a radiant golden light suddenly washed over him. Still on his knees, Stark cautiously turned to face the light that embraced him.
As he stared unflinchingly, a sebaceanoid shape formed as the brilliant light began to fade. He watched intently as a smiling Zhaan stepped forth from the dimming white aura.
Stark just stared in complete awe, his spirits rising. Tears of joy streamed from his eye. He held his hands together as if to say a prayer in thanks to whatever god or deity had made this miracle possible. He had at last found his love, Zhaan.
"My love," Zhaan said softly as she approached him. "We don't have much time. I need your help."
"Name it," Stark answered eagerly, willing to do anything for her. "Just please, don't leave me."
"I will always be with you, Stark, but Crichton and the others need your help. And we need you to deliver a message for us."
"Us?" Stark asked.
Another light appeared beside Zhaan and Adama faded into view. He thoughtfully regarded Stark before saying, "Their lives are in danger."
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Sheba came to and found herself, upon opening her eyes, unable to see. Which was a little disheartening, to say the least. Either the lights were out or she was blind. One moment, she was sitting and talking with the others and in the next, all she could see was a searing white light flooding her vision, all she could hear was an ear-shattering sound.
She rubbed her eyes and called out, "Can anyone hear me?"
Sheba prayed for a friendly voice to answer, but instead, a very deep female voice grunted back, "I can."
That sounded like a Scarran!
Sheba rubbed her eyes again, and thankfully the world started to come into focus. Through a dark haze, she could now make out shapes and forms.
Sheba determined that she was in a small white room, perhaps a cell, and just behind her was the Scarran she had just heard.
The huge creature was leaning over the still form of Chiana.
Seeing the Scarran hovering over the much smaller, and helpless, Nebari, she yelled, "Get the frack away from her!"
Kwenn, not taking kindly to the accusing tone from the Human female, answered abruptly back, "I'm checking to see if she's breathing freely."
"What do you care?" Sheba was startled into asking, taken aback by the sound of genuine concern in the gruff voice.
"She is not my enemy," the Scarran answered with a shrug.
Sheba listened to the Scarran's shaky voice and moved closer. "Are you injured?"
Sheba was finally near enough to see a black scorch mark on her lower torso armor, caked with dry blue blood.
She started to reach over. "Let me have a look."
Kwenn swatted the Colonial's hand away, as she slowly dragged herself over to the far wall to rest her back up against it. "Worry more about your Nebari friend."
Sheba didn't press the issue and left the Scarran alone, focusing on Chiana as the Nebari began to stir.
"Chiana, can you hear me?"
"Ya," the Nebari answered before opening her eyes. She blinked once, twice, three times, becoming alarmed. "Why can't I see?"
"Whatever they used to knock us out must have blinded us, but my eyesight is returning," Sheba explained. "Yours should return also."
Chiana sat up, rubbing her eyes, shaking her head as if it would help speed the process in returning her vision.
"Daniel? Daniel?" She called out, becoming increasingly agitated. "Where's Daniel? Why can't I hear anyone else?"
"I don't know where he is, none of the men are here," Sheba tried to calm the panicking Nebari. "But your eyesight will return, just give it time."
With her dark and unseeing eyes opened wide, Chiana swallowed hard before slowly nodding. Sheba could see that Chiana was doing her best to keep from jumping out of her own skin. The warrior leaned in closer, placing a comforting arm about her, saying sympathetically, "Relax, I promise nothing will happen to you and we will find Daniel and the others."
Chiana managed a weak smile. "On your word and honour to your warrior code."
There was no doubt in Sheba's voice as she answered, "You always have it."
Chiana felt a bit better, knowing Sheba was always deadly serious in keeping her promises.
Quietly, Kwenn watched the two women with great interest and witnessed something that had fascinated her from the moment that they and their companions came onboard. Their little group was a patchwork of different alien species, but they worked so willingly together. Unlike the alliance her people had with the Charrids and the Kalish, theirs seemed based more on bonds of fellowship than ownership. Would the Charrids or the Kalish honour their alliance if there were no monetary gain for them or veiled threats from the Emperor to enforce their loyalty?
Still feeling a little weak, Chiana rested her head on Sheba's shoulder. "What happened?"
Chiana nearly jumped when she heard the voice of a female Scarran answering instead.
"Most likely a coup, probably started by War Minister Ahkna or one of the Emperor's Field Commanders," Kwenn suggested.
Sheba kept one arm around Chiana, letting the Nebari use her shoulder as a pillow. "And what's going to happen to us?
"Hopefully we're being kept out of the way until one side or the other wins," Kwenn confessed. "What happens afterward, I cannot say."
Honestly, Kwenn didn't want to think of what might happen. Prisoners didn't last long under Scarran care.
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Captain Braca awoke to the staring faces of a dark skinned Jaffa and a Luxan scowling down at him.
"He is finally conscious," Teal'c announced to someone behind him.
"What happened?" The Sebacean captain demanded looking left and right. "Where's the commandant?"
"We were hoping you could answer that question," Teal'c replied with a heavy stare. The Jaffa was nowhere near as tall as the Luxan, but his body was powerfully built, making him just as imposing.
"Where are Crichton and the others?" D'Argo added ominously. "If you had anything to do with this…"
Braca would have backed away to flee from the two very intimating aliens if he wasn't already leaning up against a wall and locked in what appeared to be a cell with polished white walls.
"We were the ones who were attacked in the council chamber! by heavily armed Charrids and Kalish!" Braca said angrily at the Luxan's accusation before touching his bandaged left shoulder. "I'm wounded," he said with some surprise.
Apollo, O'Neill, Rygel and Daniel appeared from behind Braca's two interrogators.
"And who do you think tended to your injuries?" The Colonial Captain spoke evenly. "D'Argo, Teal'c, just back away for a micron, I want to hear him."
Frowning, D'Argo and Teal'c stepped away. Apollo moved in and knelt down beside Braca, saying calmly, "Start from the beginning. What happened in the council chamber?"
Braca relaxed, facing the friendlier Human. He gathered his thoughts before starting. "We were all there," he said. "Commandant Grayza, Crichton, Adama, that blond woman, myself, the Emperor and his War Minister…" His eyes became wide as saucers. "A Goa'uld!"
O'Neill now moved down next to Braca. His heart almost jumped into his throat. "Say that again?"
Had they discovered that Sam was a Tok'ra?
Braca looked over to the Colonel. "Your blond friend, she shouted that Ahkna was a Goa'uld before the Scarran attacked her. Crichton tried to fend her off, but Ahkna kissed him and that's when the Charrids and Kalish charged into the chamber and started killing everyone."
Rygel became incredulous, glaring at Braca. "Ahkna has a Goa'uld inside her and she kissed Crichton?! I don't believe him! D'Argo, Teal'c, start breaking some of his limbs to get this Peacekeeper to tell the truth!!"
Teal'c shook his head. "I believe he is telling the truth. That white flash and sound we all experienced before losing consciousness was a Goa'uld shock grenade. Samantha Carter would also be able to sense a Goa'uld in the Scarran War Minister if she got close enough."
"Oh, god!" O'Neill cursed. "And that lip lock the Scarran gave Crichton would give that Goa'uld a chance to jump right into him to take him as a host."
"And considering we're still all alive, it wasn't enough to set off his bomb," Apollo suggested.
A frustrated D'Argo paced slowly in their tiny cell. "Why would the Goa'uld be here?"
"Besides having a god complex, they're also infiltrators," O'Neill explained. "Maybe to gain intelligence, to steal technology, weapons or maybe even to see if the Scarrans could be suitable new hosts."
"What about Chiana and the others?" an anxious Daniel demanded. "Why aren't they here with us?"
Teal'c turned calmly to his friend. "Perhaps they're simply being held within another cell, Daniel Jackson."
"We have to do something!" Daniel pleaded to everyone.
"We will, Daniel, we just need the right moment to come along," O'Neill responded.
"But Chiana may not have that much time," Daniel countered, his voice raised.
"Hey!" Annoyed, O'Neill stood up and confronted the archaeologist. "May I remind you that we all have someone dear to us missing, too? Apollo's father is missing, so is Sheba and Starbuck and do you have any clue what the Goa'uld might do to Sam when they find out that Jolinar is alive and well inside her? To make matters worse, the Goa'uld seem to have Crichton now and all of that wormhole stuff in his head."
"I'm sorry, Jack." Daniel looked down in shame, finally admitting, "Before we were knocked out, Chiana confessed to me that she's pregnant."
For the longest time, the cell was silent and everyone's mouth hung open, even Braca's. Finally, Rygel broke the quiet.
"By the Yotz! You have my congratulations… Or my sympathy, depending upon how you're feeling."
D'Argo turned on the Dominar giving a low growl to silence him as Daniel continued on saying.
"The Goa'uld have taken away the people I love, like Sha're and Sarah. I know it sounds selfish, but I won't let them take Chiana away from me. I can't bear to go through all of that again."
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To Sikozu, Humans were rather an odd species, like this one who called himself Starbuck. He was built like a (handsome) Sebacean male, spoke with the cunning tongue of a Hynerian, and had the sex drive of a mentally unclean Nebari.
Luring him to her quarters had been so easy, but the next part of her plan would be difficult if she wasn't cautious.
"So, this is your place?" Starbuck said observing the small and rather barren looking living quarters that consisted of a living area and a bedroom. Furniture was very minimalist, just a few metal chairs and a small circular table. "Looks very, cosy."
"If you mean that you find it rather spartan, I don't like to burden myself with needless possessions." Sikozu responded, leaning up against another small table along the far wall.
Starbuck turned to her and Sikozu gave him a feline smile before wagging a single finger to him, beckoning the Human to come closer. Trying to appear casual, Starbuck walked over to her saying warmly.
"So, are there any Kalish customs or traditions I should be aware of before we …?"
The Human was being amazingly polite and thoughtful…or was it part of his deceiving charm? Not worrying about it, she reached out, tugging at his leather flight jacket to pull him closer. "Nothing worth citing," she answered, looping her arms over his shoulders to circle around his neck.
"Good, because I want you to be comfortable." His arms slowly encircled her waist, and he breathed in her scent, like flowers. "Would you like to go to your bedroom?"
She felt his strong hands along the bare spot on the small of her back; his Human flesh felt amazingly warm against hers. She glanced behind to the table she was leaning against.
She smiled slyly. "What's wrong with here?"
Starbuck found himself liking Sikozu even more. She was adventurous. He smiled. "I'm willing if you are."
His hands gripped her by the waist, lifting her gently up to seat her on the edge of the table, now eye level with him. Starbuck leaned forward cautiously at first to kiss her, pressing his lips gently against hers, feeling the soft touch. Her lips were cool as she responded, kissing back with a smile curving her lips.
With her arms draped behind Starbuck's head, Sikozu started to reach for a small compartment in her left armband were she kept a tiny medical injector. It contained enough drugs to put the Human out for arns, and then she would use a host of truth drugs on him. After learning all she could, Sikozu would be able to plant a few suggestions, leaving the Human to believe whatever she decided to plant in his mind.
Suddenly Starbuck stopped kissing her and backed away a bit, forcing her to stop reaching for the injector.
He stared at her questioningly. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, why?"
"You don't seem into this."
Sikozu realize she might have to try harder to keep the Human's interest. She smiled naively and lied. "You are my first alien. Please, let's try again."
Nodding, Starbuck reached his hand up, and brushed a few strands of her hair away, cupping her cheek and pressing his lips against hers again. As they kissed, her lips parted, opening his with them, before pushing her tongue forward. She felt his meeting hers, gently exploring and toying with the other.
The hand on her cheek slipped down to her chin, lifting it slowly, and he zeroed in, and set his lips gently against her neck, kissing her softly. She whispered in a tiny breath as he ran his hands, lightly, down the sides of her torso. She arched her back slightly in response to his exploring hands as his palms come to rest on her hips.
Sikozu almost sighed out loud. The Human was a very clever and talented lover, she found. Sikozu sensed his obvious next attempt was to start peeling the clothing off her body. For a moment, she considered letting this Human make love to her before drugging him, but just for a moment. The Kalish resistance fighter knew she had a job to do, and couldn't afford to indulge her own needs. Now, refocused to the task at hand, she started to reach for the injector again.
Before she could open the hidden compartment on her armband, the door to her quarters suddenly slid open and a force of several Kalish barged in with weapons ready.
"What?" Surprised, Starbuck pulled away from Sikozu to find six rifles aimed at him. He had little choice than to keep his hands up and visible.
Behind the heavily armed aliens, Vakali stepped forward, looking at Starbuck and to the female Kalish who was perched on the table next to him. "Sikozu Shanu, so nice to see that you are entertaining our guest."
A Kalish cautiously moved toward Starbuck, removing his blaster from its holster as the Colonial shot Sikozu a harsh glare.
"You set me up!"
Shocked, Sikozu started to shake her head. "I…" But she caught herself, turning her attention instead to Vakali. "Secretary Vakali, what is the meaning of this?"
"Haven't you heard, Sikozu? We have taken control of this base from our Scarran overseers," Vakali announced proudly, stepping towards her.
Sikozu would have laughed in his face, but stopped when she realized that Vakali was serious. The Vakali she knew would never even dream of double-crossing the Scarrans. He valued his life too much to risk it.
"Now, my hardworking assistant," Vakali said as he stood before her. "May I ask what you have been doing in your spare time?"
Sikozu became offended by such a personal question. "What I do during off duty time is my…"
That was all she got out before Vakali backhanded her, sending her crashing to the floor, stunned.
Shocked at first by witnessing Sikozu being assaulted, Starbuck became enraged and tried to lunge at Vakali, but the Kalish closest to him planted the butt end of his rifle into the Human's gut. The Colonial warrior dropped to the ground on his knees, almost retching the contents of his stomach out onto the floor.
Vakali stood over Sikozu, addressing his people. "Take the Human outside while I have a discussion with my assistant. This won't take long."
Standing silently, Vakali watched his men drag Starbuck outside into the corridor. When the door closed, he turned his eyes down to Sikozu as the female Kalish groaned. A trail of yellow blood escaped from her mouth as she looked up in time to see Vakali's eyes glowing briefly.
She gasped in shock when Vakali reached down, wrapping his powerful hands about her throat. The Goa'uld now spoke through him. No need to hide now, considering she wouldn't be alive after this.
"Now, Sikozu, I am not like that fool Vakali. He noticed suspicious behaviour on your part, but that self-important little man thought you were out for his position, trying to make him look bad."
Sikozu struggled to breathe, prying helplessly at the hands about her throat. "What… are you?"
"The real question is, who are you? You have been secretly accessing security files in the Scarran computers that have nothing to do with Cylons, such as Scarran ship movements, supply convoys and security installations throughout their empire. I smell a spy, but for who?"
Defiant, Sikozu said nothing, even as more pressure was slowly applied to her throat.
"I will ask again, who are you spying for?"
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Sparky calculated that he was at 98.1% combat efficiency. It was fortunate that he was left here amongst all these broken Cylons in this lab area. For what his damage control systems couldn't repair, he salvaged the parts he needed from the many dead hulks surrounding him.
However, he detected a glitch within his processing circuits. He was able to isolate the error and his diagnostic system determined that his protocol system had become corrupted and failed completely. This was serious; it governed and dictated his actions, overseeing everything he did. It even limited what he learned from his experiences so he couldn't become independent, or operate on his own. Now, he was completely autonomous but the Cylon had not fully realized that yet. His processing was operating unhindered now. Writing new subroutines, calculating and analysing new data that he couldn't hours before.
He disregarded this error for the time being. His main priority was to save his leader, Dominar Rygel, but how? He was outnumbered and alone. He needed help.
It was at that moment that an idea came to Sparky. An independent thought was taking root within his processing systems. He was beginning to think on his own, becoming an individual more and more with each passing micron.
Slowly, Sparky surveyed the mass of partially dissembled Cylons littering the room about him.
He needed an army to help him…
Why not make one?
TBC…