Chapter Fifteen

It took them a while to work their way down to the base of the cavern, the path slowly winding its way along the walls. Countless birds continued to fly across the open expanse, moving from tree to tree, calling out as they went. The air was considerably warmer the deeper they went, but only slightly less moist. O'Connell had unzipped his jacket, but was still sweating profusely.

"Tropical?" Ashe glanced at him while wiping drops of perspiration from her forehead.

O'Connell nodded. "I'd say. Wasn't expecting this. Would have dressed differently," he said with a laugh.

It was a relief when they neared the end of the path and Burke led them into a side chamber.

"Her work room is in here. She's been busy trying to integrate the community's thermal furnace interface with a mechanical 'buffer' if you will, that might allow our people to vary the degree of distribution as necessary."

O'Connell followed Burke into a large, well lit room. Computers covered the walls, their lights flashing at irregular intervals; a massive table filled the center of the room. O'Connell couldn't stop the sigh that escaped him. The room was cool, the temperature and humidity more resembling the MorBui than what he had seen of Haven.

Ashe touched his arms and motioned to the vents that lined the ceiling. He could just make out the soft whisper of wind as it was pulled past the grating, more than likely being recycled and returning moisture free.

Two men were bent over a diagram that covered a portion of the table, while a dark haired female sat at a terminal across the room. Her back was to them and she seemed intent on her work. One of the men looked up, saw them and smiled.

"Hello Don, Theresa." He turned to the woman. "Kara, your parents are here."

Kara gave no indication that she heard him.

Burke moved across the room. "Kara. Your attention please."

Kara fingers stopped their movement, her spine rigid, then turned toward her father, her face expressionless. "Yes, father?"

"I need to introduce you to some guests, Kara. Please cease what you are doing and join us."

"Yes, father." Kara stood, her movements at once both graceful and wooden. It was an odd mixture.

"Kara, this is O'Connell. Do you remember me telling you stories about him?" She glanced at her father and then at O'Connell.

O'Connell estimated she was almost as tall as Ashe; her hair was black, like her mother's, her skin a shade lighter, more like Burke's, but it was her eyes that were her most compelling feature. They were violet, a deep, dusky violet that glowed in contrast to her skin. At the same time that he noticed their beauty, he also noticed their complete lack of emotion. Where he was accustomed to seeing anger, curiosity, laughter, affection, there was only a void; an emptiness that he found profoundly disturbing.

"Yes. I do. O'Connell." She reached out her hand and O'Connell took it. Her handshake was firm.

"Kara. It's nice to meet you." O'Connell tried a smile and was met with no response.

"This is Ashe." Kara extended her hand again.

"Hello." Ashe kept her response short.

Burke continued, "And Maluk."

Kara extended her hand but Maluk only looked at it. "Go ahead, M, she's not going to bite," Ashe prompted.

Kara dropped her hand to her side, her expression still void of any emotion she said, "I am aware I am different from most humans. My father and mother have explained this to me. If the child does not wish to shake my hand he is not required to. The act holds no meaning for me. It is a custom my father and mother have explained helps alleviate some anxiety other humans feel in my presence. If the act stresses the boy then its purpose is nullified." She dropped her gaze to Maluk. "Perhaps a simple hello?"

Maluk nodded. "Hey."

"Father, may I return to work now?"

Burke shook his head. "No. I need to speak to you. Come with us to the solarium."

Kara glanced back at the computer where she had been working, then back to her father her face completely still. "Yes, father."

Theresa moved to her daughter, slipping her hand in Kara's, asking questions about her work as they continued down the path. Burke followed, just slightly behind them, his eyes as dark and expressionless as his daughter's.

O'Connell moved behind them glancing from one to the other. The girl definitely had her father's features. It was almost a little uncanny. He had seen those features, countless times, carved into a stony silence that was terrifying to most men; however it was nothing when compared to his daughter's complete lack of expression. Where the General's appearance, for better or worse, always inspired his men, Kara's was simply unnerving.

The path came to an end, emptying out into an immense open expanse at the base of the cavern. The ground below their feet was dark and moist, and as they meander along the path Ashe could identify at least ten different varieties of fruit baring trees. It took almost a quarter mark for them to work their way through the orchard to where the path ended and the farm began. Two large barns stood to the north, their doors open revealing hay bales and feed. Acres of vegetable gardens grew to the south, and to the west livestock roamed peacefully behind wooden fences.

O'Connell acknowledged the reality of a complete working farm at the base of a canyon with a grin. 'Only Burke', he thought and then glanced upward, the sight of the cavern walls rising above in a perfect circle mesmerizing him. He jumped when Ashe spoke.

"What the hell did this?"

He glanced at her and saw she too stared at the open expanse above them. "I don't know." O'Connell shrugged and mumbled angrily, "And you know how I hate not knowing."

Ashe chuckled, then motioned that they should follow the others. Maluk had already nicked two pieces of fruit and was eating them simultaneously. Juice dripped down his chin and his face held a look of pure ecstasy.

"This city is simply remarkable," Ashe volunteered as they caught up to the others. "It's truly amazing."

Burke and Theresa grinned. "Thank you. It's been almost two decades of work, but we are very pleased with the result."

O'Connell's gaze took in the trees, the gardens and the livestock pens; he had trouble keeping his unease off his face. O'Connell did not like farming or livestock. It annoyed him. Though he wanted to pull out his M-9 and shoot the animals as they raced to the fence, following them, he decided ignoring them might be the better choice. He did take a moment to glare at Maluk as the boy offered a fat, hairy cow his apple.

He turned instead to the General, recognizing the miracle he had worked here, and angry that he was not willing to try again someplace safe. "You could take this knowledge, and work the same magic on another planet."

"Captain. This is our home and our decision." He glanced at Theresa and she nodded. "Enough. I simply wanted you to understand the scope of what we have accomplished here. And why I will not abandon the fifteen hundred inhabitants of this city."

O'Connell whistled softly. "That many, eh?"

"More arrive each day," Theresa added. "The war will not be a surprise when it comes. We will be as prepared as we can be."

"We'll be damn well prepared, woman! I didn't outmaneuver those bastards in the DS wars with my head up my ass!" Burke growled. "We may not have legions of android armies, but we've got this." He pointed to his left temple. "Four decades of military training, wife! It will get us through this, I promise!"

Theresa patted her husband on the chest. "Yes, yes dear. I didn't mean to imply anything less. You're a brilliant strategist."

"Damn straight I am," Burke mumbled.

Ashe turned away so the man would not see the grin she couldn't keep from her face.

"Father," Kara's monotone voice startled them. "Are we finished now? May I return to my work?"

Burke and Theresa exchanged glances, and then he straightened his shoulders. "No, daughter. I have another task for you."

"Why?" There was no curiosity in the tone.

"Because I have re-prioritized your work." Burke watched his daughter's face, wanting a change of expression, wanting some sign she was annoyed, confused, excited. Her blank expression did not change, and for the thousandth time since she was born, his heart broke for her.

"What is my assignment now, father?"

"I have decided you need to go with Captain O'Connell. You will travel with him and his companions to the planet Ashram where you will meet with the priests at the holy city. You will continue your work there as is possible and await your mother's and my arrival."

Kara glanced at her mother, and then turned back to her father. "I understand, father."

Theresa put her hand to her face, brushing away the tears that fell. "We'll join you as soon as we can, darling. I promise."

She turned her blank expression on her mother. "Yes, mother," she said, then turned to O'Connell with an abruptness that startled him. "Shall we depart for your ship, Captain?"

"Ahh, yeah." He glanced at Theresa, feeling incredibly guilty.

"General, the message?" Ashe asked.

Burke nodded. "First central communications, then the MorCai." Without looking back he strode purposefully out of the cavern. They followed him through an archway into a corridor that circled south. It was lined on the right with open doorways that were filled with various farming tools and equipment. It took a few moments before he entered one of the open doorways.

This room was filled with an array of communications equipment. Some of it looked fairly new, but most looked like it had been pieced together from broken components. Four men stood at various terminals, carefully monitoring the equipment's transmissions. The room was filled with the sound of garbled conversations, digital bleeps and blinking lights. O'Connell liked the sound of this room. He was much more at home here, than with those damn animals.

"Sir." One of the men stood and saluted.

"Enough, Harold. How many times must I tell you it's just Burke now?"

O'Connell stared at the man, wracking his brain. "Wait… Harry? Harry Tisdale? Lieutenant Commander Tisdale?"

"Yes, sir…" the man said, confused for a moment, then a grin split his face in two. "Captain O'Connell?"

O'Connell pulled the Lieutenant into a warm embrace. "Good gods, man, I haven't seen you since…"

"Since the ceremony on Farthium, when you and General Burke received your honors."

"Gods that was a lifetime ago," O'Connell said with a grin. "What are you doing here? Did he drag you along?"

Harry laughed. "No, quite the opposite. Took me about three years to track him down, but when I did I wouldn't let him out of my site."

"It was embarrassing actually. Had to find him a job just to get him off my back." Burke grinned at his friend. "Best damn communications officer I've ever had though."

Harry straightened. "Thank you, sir."

Burke burst out laughing. "You know it's funny, for a communications officer, he never listens." He gestured toward the consoles that filled the room. "Have there been any new developments?"

"No, sir. Planet wide communications have been quiet the past few days. I had intended on finding you later and mentioning it. It's not that I mind quiet, General, however…"

"However it's out of the norm, isn't it?"

"Very much so, General."

"Damn…" Burke glanced at his daughter, his concern evident.

Harry turned to O'Connell, pretending he had not seen the General's fear.

"What brings you here, Captain?"

"I need to send a message to Ashram, Lieutenant. Coded and hopefully untraceable."

Harry nodded. "Easily done. With the General's daughter's… sorry…" he nodded to Kara, "Kara's help, we've been able to reprogram our communications systems to be untraceable."

"Actually," Kara interrupted, "there is a point zero zero zero nine percent chance it may be detected and deciphered. However both father and Harry have agreed that is within acceptable limits."

"Quite acceptable, Kara," Burke said proudly.

"I have the frequency you need, Lieutenant," Ashe added, her sense of urgency carried in her tone.

"Yes, m'am." Harry nodded. "Please follow me." He worked his way across the room to a console at the back.

"We use this console for interplanetary communications."

"Do you communicate much off-world?" Ashe asked.

Harry nodded. "It will not surprise you, Captain," he glanced at O'Connell, "that the General has a great many friends, in high and low places."

"Me being the 'low' I presume?" O'Connell grunted.

Harry shrugged. "I would not presume to know," he said, grinning wickedly.

"Oh… he's the low. I guarantee it," Ashe said and winked at Harry.

"Just send your damn message, babe."

Ashe turned toward the console, not holding back her laughter. It took her a moment to make sense of the layout. Harry pointed to a button array. "You can enter your frequency here. I can initially oscillate the EM to be erratic. Then as it gets closer to Ashram it will self-clarify. This will help it appear as simple background noise as it leaves the planet. Also, if you give me a moment I can try and piggy back it with another outgoing message."

"Yes, perfect!" Ashe grinned excitedly, "You really are amazing, Lieutenant."

"If you say so, m'am," his tone was humble, but the glance he shot O'Connell was mocking.

"Yeah, yeah." O'Connell laughed. "Get it done, Lieutenant. We have a mission to get back to."

Ashe keyed in her short message to Master Ling. It was only three quick tones, but they told Master Ling, 'All is well and I'm on my way.'

She hoped the message would allay any concerns he may have due to her late arrival. A rush of fear washed over her as she thought again about O'Connell's words. She hoped Ling was alive and well and would receive her message, but the look she gave O'Connell was filled with concern.

O'Connell nodded then turned toward Burke, his tone impatient. "We need to leave now, General."

Burke and Theresa exchanged glances. They stared at their daughter who stood unmoving between them.

"Understood, Captain. Harry, would you be so kind as to take the Captain, his friends… and my daughter, to Paradi? O'Connell will be borrowing the MorCai."

Harry stood to attention, none of the questions he had showing on his face. "Of course, General."

"O'Connell… I…" Burke faltered, uncertain. "I… thank you."

O'Connell nodded. "Certainly, sir."

Theresa was not so restrained. She threw herself at O'Connell, wrapping her arms around him and sobbing quietly into his shirt. Burke gave her a moment before he pulled her off. O'Connell could not hide his discomfort.

"Thank you… with all my heart, thank you. All of you." Theresa turned to Ashe and gave her a tearful embrace. Ashe's face showed only slightly less discomfort than O'Connell's had.

Maluk surprised them all by reaching up and wrapping his arms around Theresa's neck. They hugged each other for a long moment, until Theresa's sobs quieted. When she pulled away he added, "Don't worry, T. I'll take care of 'er."

Theresa grinned through her tears. "You are a good man, young Maluk. A very good man. Thank you."

"Yes m'am."

Burke extended his hand to the boy. "I agree. Fine young man. You'd make a good soldier, boy."

"Yes sir!" Maluk's tone was a perfect copy of Harry's.

Harry moved toward the corridor, his face almost as expressionless as Kara's. "If you'll follow me, sir, m'am. We can take a transport from the stable dock and be in Paradi in an hour."

O'Connell nodded. "General. Theresa. Good luck." He cringed inwardly at how inadequate the words were.

"And to you, Captain." Burke shook his hand. "Keep her safe."

"Yes sir. Oh and sir, the MorBui's at dock 12. She may need to be… moved at some point. Try not to scratch her." O'Connell grinned then moved toward the door. Ashe mumbled a thank you and followed, Maluk by her side.

They stood awkwardly by the door, allowing the family a private moment for their goodbyes. The other men in the room had found excuses to leave, Theresa's tears more than they could handle.

"You'll be fine, darling. Just going on a trip, really. A holiday." Theresa tried to be positive.

Kara stared at her mother, none of what she was thinking showing on her face. "Yes, mother."

"O'Connell's a good man, Kara. He'll look after you and make sure you make it to the holy city safe."

"Yes, father."

"Here I have this for you." Theresa handed Kara the holodisk. Kara stared at it blankly.

"Thank you, mother."

Theresa sighed, knowing the gift meant nothing to her daughter. "You may be glad of it… later."

"Unlikely, mother. But…" Kara paused for a moment, "the gift is appreciated."

Theresa sighed. Kara was only parroting what Theresa had taught her to say to people when she was presented with a gift. She knew Kara could not feel the emotions inherent in the words, but they were welcome all the same and she was proud of her daughter for remembering them.

Burke straightened his shoulders. "Well then, daughter, off you go. O'Connell is your commanding officer now, Kara. Listen to him as you would me."

"Yes, father."

"Don't reprogram anything on the MorCai unless you clear it through him."

"Yes, father."

"And remember…" Burke took a deep breath, his veneer of calm cracking slightly, "remember your mother and I love you very much."

Kara glanced from one parent to the other. "I am aware of the intensity of your emotional response to me. I acknowledge the difficulty for you in my departure. Though I am aware of the burden this places upon you, does it not lighten this burden to know I am unaffected?"

Theresa broke into sobs.

"Apparently not. Father?" The face she turned to him was expressionless.

"I'll take care of her, Kara." Burke spoke as if he were commanding his troops. "Now hug your mother."

Kara reached out and placed her arms around her mother. Ashe cringed. It was the perfect replica of a hug, and yet also a horrible parody.

"Have you received some comfort from this, mother?" Kara asked.

Theresa nodded, trying to grin and failing. "Thank you, Kara. I love you so much, sweetheart. Please be careful."

"I will avoid injury, mother. I believe father will ensure you do as well."

Burke nodded.

Without a word Kara moved toward the doorway, as she reached the group she paused for a moment, and turned back toward her parents.

"I am aware that you wish to hear me say the words, 'I love you', though we know that that is impossible. However your training has given me the skills necessary to survive apart from you. I acknowledge this achievement, and thank you."

This time Theresa's grin was real. Burke reached out and took his wife's hand. "O'Connell." Burke found himself incapable of more.

"Sir." O'Connell nodded, then followed Harry down the hall toward the transport bay, focusing on what he needed to accomplish and not the heartbreak of his friend.