Chapter Six (A/N: unésl – abductor)

For a brief moment Zelenka's dreams were shattered, invaded by a third presence, another man. Instantly he clenched his fists in anger, waking in the capsule. The shadowy man loomed in front of him, a threat in his mystery.

Emboldened by his anger, Radek shouted fiercely, "Who are you?"

The shadowy figure moved even closer, saying softly, "Do not be afraid. My name is Frung. Please, return to your dreams. You are creating a great deal of energy."

"What are you talking about? Tell me who you are and why we are here!"

"Come now," Frung soothed, "You must see why I need your thoughts. They are so... powerful."

Radek struggled, but the jelly was impossible to force against. He snapped, "Let us out! You cannot keep us here. My thoughts are my own, you... unésl!"

Frung raised his eyebrows and chuckled, "You think so? You have the strongest dream power I have seen for a long time. She is sending you so much extrapolation, it is glorious. Now, if you would be so kind as to reciprocate, I can fully recharge the Lucidian!"

Frung giggled this time, and his shadow melted away along with his jabbering. The greenness and the slight warmth of the jelly faded into the night sky with shooting stars flying overhead.

Radek found himself standing on the balcony. He could smell the salt of the ocean and could feel the crisp breeze blowing through his hair. He was thinking this was such a beautiful night; one that should never end.

"Radek? What are you doing here?" echoed Elizabeth's voice as if it was right beside him.

"Elizabeth, is that you?"

Radek looked around but no one could be seen. He looked through the glass to the control, expecting at least to see technical staff, but there was silence and the room was empty. He asked hesitantly, "Where is everyone?"

A figure started to fade in beside him and he was sure that it was Elizabeth, but the features were too obscured to make out.

The figure slowly approached him, warning, "Radek, you have to get out of here."

"What's going on? Where is everyone?"

"Radek, this is a memory, an illusion that has been created from your past experiences. It's the only way that we can have a connection."

The figure now stood in front of Radek, it seemed to have the outline of a female but it seemed to be made of energy. He moved forward, trying to discern if it truly was his Elizabeth.

Radek started uncertainly, "Frung mentioned something about that..."

"You have to stop him!" demanded the figure, becoming larger with the command, "Radek, for the sake of you, the others and myself you have to wake up and stop this memory."

"But I remember when we stood here, only a week ago. We were so happy."

"Don't let him use that memory!" Insisted Elizabeth's figure, "The more you show him the more quickly he can take it. Once the bond is broken, we'll die..."

Her form started to fade away. Radek reached out to it but only felt a strange warmth as his hand passed through it. He watched as she vanished, helpless to keep her with him.

She whispered, "I love you Radek and I know you can do this."

He stared where she had been and immediately felt alone. He knew what he had to do but his first task would be to break out of this memory.

He closed his eyes and thought; he took his mind to the one place he hated, the Army. He found himself standing in a guard tower on the Czechoslovakia/West Germany border; his job was to stop escapees. Usually he looked the other way, diverting attention away from anyone he saw near the border. Only this night he'd been forced to fire.

"Stop, go back to the memory of the balcony," cajoled a soft voice, "Please go back. I need you. Only you can stop the hurt."

It sounded so much like Elizabeth, her voice causing the watchtower to slip away, taking him back to the balcony. She stood there, her arms open and inviting.

She pleaded, "Stay here with me; keep me safe."

Radek stopped. That wasn't her voice, her voice was softer. This voice had a harsher edge to it, crueller. He pulled away and said firmly, "No, you are not her."

He landed at the watchtower again. The voice growled, contorting into Frung's laugh, "You are not the only one who can manipulate dreams."

Lights blazed across his vision and the alarm started to scream shrilly into the night. Radek's hands shook as they clasped his weapon. The searchlight burned through the darkness, picking out the shape of a woman with dark curly hair.

His CO called, "Zelenka, over there to the East. There by the wire."

"Elizabeth," Radek murmured.

"Fire! Fire, that's an order!"

Zelenka closed his eyes and pulled the trigger.